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Home , 1986 European Super Cup, Alain Roche, Alan Hansen, Albert Riera, Al Ain FC, Andy Sinton

ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS

1 THE SQUALL Matt Thacker

It's worth repeating here the reasons We are very grateful to all of the people why we have set up The Squall, the who have waived fees and donated to The little brother to The Blizzard, a digital Squall since we announced the project. football magazine to give freelance writers a forum for their work. Not just Special thanks go to: Nick Ames, Philippe so they can get paid to write, but so Auclair, John Brewin, Kieran Canning, they have something to aim for, a sense James Corbett, John Cross, Martin da of job satisfaction at a time when such Cruz, Miguel Delaney, Andrew Downie, satisfaction is in short supply. Peter Drury, Ken Early, Emmet Gates, Sasha Goryunov, John Harding, Simon The Blizzard has never been about the Hart, Gary Hartley, Ian Hawkey, Frank here and now, it’s much more taken with Heinen, Tom Holland, Adam Hurrey, the there and then. And we see The Squall Elis James, Neil Jensen, Samindra Kunti, as serving the same function, showcasing Jonathan Liew, Simon Mills, James great football writing on subjects you are Montague, David Owen, MM Owen, unlikely to read about anywhere else. Simone Pierotti, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Gavin Ramjuan, Callum Rice-Coates, Philip We hope you enjoy this “What if…” issue Ross, Paul Simpson, Marcus Speller, Jon of The Squall. As Jonathan mentions Spurling, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Ed Sugden, over there, despite the generous waiving Jonathan Wilson, Suzy Wrack, and of fees and donations to date, if The Shinobu Yamanaka. And huge thanks to Squall is not to blow itself out, it will need Getty Images, for use of the photos. further funding.

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2 EDITOR'S NOTE Jonathan Wilson

Football is back, although it all feels But The Squall can’t be a charity. It has to deeply unfamiliar. It’s hot, there’s games stand as a magazine in its own right. We on pretty much every day and a lot of needed the donations to launch, but now the play is disjointed: it could be a major we need people to buy the product. Each tournament, except there’s none of issue will be available on a pay-what- the excitement or glamour. But at least you-want basis. We recommend £3, but we have our great distraction to bicker if that’s a stretch then pay what you can about on , and that probably is afford; conversely, if you can afford more, for the best. then every extra penny is welcome. And please do promote us however you can. But for freelances, the situation remains grim. Few journalists are allowed in Hopefully we won’t need to exist for too to games, several leagues have been much longer. We’re a temporary product cancelled and, with budgets limited, so to get us through the crisis and we urge too are opportunities. The Squall was you to support us on that basis. established as a short-term measure to July 2020 try to provide at least some work for at least some people and, perhaps more importantly, as a symbol that some opportunities do still exist, remains just as relevant now as it did when we launched. Which is to say that we will keep going for a little while longer – but we do need your support.

The magazine has been funded largely by writers for The Blizzard waiving their fees for last year, but also by kind donations from the public. In addition, all editorial and design staff are working for free. Such sacrifices to help the community of readers and writers suggests the initial spirit that fired The Blizzard’s launch a decade ago still burns.

3 AN UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE The Best of the First Five Years features 23 brilliant essays originally published between 2011 and 2016. Buy now at theblizzard.co.uk

4 CONTENTS The Squall, Issue Three – Sliding Doors

8. Alex Hess, The Eyjafjallajökull 48. Ben Kosky, The Width of a of Reason Crossbar What if the Icelandic volcano hadn’t What if had equalised in the last erupted in 2010, disrupting flights across minute of the final qualifier and Europe? hadn’t made it to Italia 90?

14. Shastri Sookdeo, The Habit of a 54. Dan Cummerson and Vadim Lifetime Furmanov, The Regrets of What if hadn’t stayed on Vitaliy Kosovskyi his feet in the 2010 World Cup final? What if Bayern hadn’t come back against in the 1999 semi-final? 20. Jim Keoghan, For the Want of a Nail… 60. Huw Davies, Not Always Him What if Everton had followed up initial What if Agüero had gone down against interest in in 1980? QPR in 2012, leaving to take the penalty? 26. James Eastham, Houllier, Ginola, and Two Men without 66. Nige Tassell, The Good Visas Christian If Kostadinov hadn’t scored against What if López had fouled Fairclough in 1993, how would we look at and prevented him scoring ’s Cantona and Stoichkov now? winner against St Étienne in 1977?

32. Tom Flight, Down the Pan 72. Richard Jolly, The Rejected What if had turned up Retraction for that game against in What if had retired in 1996-97? 2001, and Sven-Göran Eriksson had replaced him at ? 40. Rey Mashayekhi, The Flag of Fortune 78 The Contributors What might the consequences have been for Liverpool if ’s equaliser against Hoffenheim in 2013 had stood?

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6 About The Blizzard

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We want as many readers as possible for All advertising, sales, press and business The Blizzard. This is why we make three communication should be addressed to the free articles available to read for everyone, this office: every month, at www.theblizzard.co.uk The Blizzard Digital Version Unit 34, (Current & Back Issues) 4th floor Bedser Stand, All issues of The Blizzard are available Kia Oval, to download for Kindle, Android, iOS , and PC/Mac via the Amazon Kindle and SE11 5SS Google Play Stores. • RRP: £3 (or local currency Email: [email protected] equivalent). Telephone: +44 (0) 203 696 5730 Website: www.theblizzard.co.uk Printed Version Facebook: www.facebook.com/blzzrd (Current & Back Issues) Twitter: @blzzrd Purchase a physical copy of The Blizzard in all its luxurious, tactile, sensual glory About The Blizzard at: www.theblizzard.co.uk. If you haven’t Editor Jonathan Wilson felt our cover-varnish and smelled Publisher The Blizzard Media Ltd the inner genius, you haven’t properly www.theblizzard.co.uk experienced its awesome true form. Design TriNorth Ltd Read it, or leave it on your coffee table to www.trinorth.co.uk wow visitors. Copyright • RRP: £12 (+P&P) All content is © The Blizzard Media Ltd and may not be reproduced without explicit consent. Thanks to Jeanette G Sturis at the Kingsley Motel, Manjimup, for kind use of Warren Walker’s original sketches of Dog.

7 THE EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL OF REASON

WHAT IF THE ICELANDIC VOLCANO HADN’T ERUPTED IN 2010, DISRUPTING FLIGHTS ACROSS EUROPE?

BY ALEX HESS

The Inter manager José Mourinho talks to the referee Franck De Bleeckere

8 9 In April 2010, a burst of seismic activity just in time. There were no eruptions, no under Eyjafjallajökull, a small ice ash clouds. Aeroplanes continued to sail in southern , threatened to across the skies of Europe. come to an explosive head. As molten boarded their flight, landed in Milan magma rose towards the Earth’s surface, smoothly and escaped with a 1-1 meteorologists across the world quickly draw. Boarding the flight home, Guardiola sounded the alarm: a spate of eruptions watched as Pedro struggled to heave his seemed imminent and, despite being suitcase into the overhead locker. It was fairly minor in scale, they would have a sorry sight – the compartment was far huge consequences. Because the too high, the bag far too heavy – and volcano was situated directly under at last, sheepishly, Pedro asked Zlatan one of the Earth’s atmospheric jet Ibrahimović to do it for him. guess streams, an explosion would cause he has his uses, Guardiola chuckled to a disproportionately huge cloud of himself. Then he had a brainwave. abrasive, glass-rich ash to be projected five miles into the sky before spreading A fortnight later, as the final whistle out and billowing slowly across the sounded on a 2-0 home win at the Nou continent. The resulting meltwater Camp, Guardiola took to the pitch and would then flow back into the erupting danced for joy under the sprinklers: his volcano, which meant the rapidly men were on their way to another final. vaporising water would in turn re- He hugged Ibrahimović, the night’s two- enhance the eruption’s explosive power goal hero, and congratulated himself and the fast-cooling lava would further on the surprise change of game-plan: thicken the ash cloud. This was all very nothing risky at the back, a big lad up top bad news for . winning flick-ons, scrapping for second balls, Yaya Touré and Rafa Guardiola had spent the week preparing Márquez standing tall in midfield. Inter his Barcelona side for the biggest didn’t know what had hit them. He challenge yet in defending their laughed at the sheer simplicity of it all, Champions League title: a trip to San then scolded himself for not trying such Siro to face José Mourinho’s Inter. tactics sooner. But hey, better late than Despite what he’d heard, Guardiola liked never. Maybe this was a philosophy that Mourinho – an upbeat, charming guy could be worked on… who had been on the staff at Barcelona a few years earlier – but he knew this Inter In the honeymoon suite at Milan’s Hotel side were no mugs. To win in Milan his di Lowri, Mourinho poured himself a large players would have to be well-rested and port, his mood one of grudging respect. limber. The last thing they needed was Fair play, Pep old boy, he thought, I didn’t a 14-hour journey in a cramped , see that one coming. Mourinho didn’t like which they’d be doing if this ash cloud, as to be beaten, but there was no shame predicted, put the brakes on any air travel. in losing to a team of proper men. Men with big biceps and even bigger balls. Fortunately for Guardiola, the rumblings Besides, Inter were still on for the double within the Earth’s lithosphere stopped and for him, more important things were

10 on the horizon. Then his phone buzzed; to the final. It wasn’t long before his a message from Florentino Pérez. “Best imagination was running indecently free. leave it a year or two, hombre. I know The images came easily to his mind: Dirk we said we had a deal, but I think we Kuyt tracking back tirelessly, might give it another year with Pellegrini.” man-marking Murphy out of the In an instant, Mourinho’s goodwill had game, Albert Riera compressing the space evaporated into the ether. He felt the on the flank. Benítez licked his lips. Finally, old rage bubbling up in his chest. he pictured the end-of-match stats tally: think they’re too good for me?! He one shot, one goal, as he fell into a deep snatched up his stress ball and began to and peaceful slumber. squeeze. He counted slowly to 10, closed his eyes and tried as hard as he could to “Lewandowski. Big fella, a bit rough think happy thoughts – tailored jackets, around the edges. But strong, two good tactics boards, long alfresco dinners with feet – I think he could really bring the Rui Faria – but it was no good. He hurled best out of .” the ball across the room and poured was on the phone to his chairman. “I another drink. And he began to plot. know four million sounds like a lot but I reckon we should take a punt, and we On , Rafael Benítez was need to get a bid in before West Brom.” basking in triumph. By the skin of their Allardyce had been eyeing the Lech teeth, his Liverpool side had avoided a Poznań striker for a while and when tortuous train journey to face Atlético Lewandowski finally jetted over to check Madrid – Runcorn to London, London out Blackburn, his flight green-lit at to , Paris to Bordeaux, Bordeaux to the last minute, the manager had given Madrid – and flown direct. Needless to him the big sell: chip butties at the best say, his game-plan had been flawless: take-away in town followed by a tour of neither team had attempted a single shot the training ground and a pint of mild – all match. Nil-nil. ‘El juego perfecto’ – on the house – at the VIP they said it could never be done, Benitez bar. The contract had been shaken on thought. Ha! And the return leg had been in Allardyce’s kitchen over thick slices just as spectacular: one shot, one goal, of Bakewell tart. After long a pause, his one-nil. Liverpool’s league campaign chairman spoke. “Get the deal done,” might have fallen apart but Benítez came the answer, “before anyone else knew that winning the Europa League – gets wind of this guy.” against that press-darling , no less – would make him unsackable, Allardyce breathed a sigh of relief. He even to these American imbéciles. After knew his side could get drawn into that he’d have the whole summer to get the relegation fight next year if they fit and once that was weren’t careful, but he had an inkling done, he knew it in his bones: it would be Lewandowski was the real deal. Plus, Liverpool’s year. he knew a rabbit-from-the-hat signing could put a manager in the shop window. Benitez loosened his tie, set his Lay-Z-boy Allardyce thought back over the last few to full recline and let his thoughts wander weeks: the pieces had finally started

11 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS falling into place. With Barcelona blazing who could do the business here and a tactical trail, the world was at last now, not some lanky kid from the second waking up to the magic of the skyward division. Klopp was coming to the end punt. Already there had been faddish of his second season at Dortmund and imitators and he had no doubt there’d he’d taken them up the table, but they be more to come. But Allardyce was were still only fifth – as many points from ahead of the curve; he’d been doing this 12th as from first. Another year like that for years. He didn’t want to get ahead and his job could be on the line. The of himself, but rumour had it that Real Lewandowski news had been a wake-up Madrid would be on the lookout for a call: no time to waste. Klopp looked again new manager this season. He fished at his list of names and circled the second around in his pocket for the fortune one down. 25 years old, 29 league goals cookie he’d got with lunch and snapped in two seasons. And he knew Getafe it in half. He unravelled the paper and needed the cash. The more he thought chuckled knowingly. Your destiny lies about it, the more it seemed a foolproof away from these shores. “Too bloody move. Klopp let out a sudden, unhinged right,” he said to himself. cackle, then picked up the phone and dialled his secretary. “Get me Roberto Jürgen Klopp put down the phone and Soldado’s agent,” he barked. pulled out a list of names from his desk drawer. He put a red line through the In Iceland, the wind blew gently over name at the top: . Eyjafjallajökull as the volcano moved into Just as well, he thought, it would have its 188th year of dormancy. 1 been a risk anyway. He needed someone

The idea of The Squall is to help out freelance writers during the Covid-19 crisis. For it to survive and thrive, we are asking readers to pay what they can and we suggest a minimum donation of £3.

You can pay into The Squall's bank account (sort code 40-05-17 and account number 71515942) or via PayPal to paypal.me/thesquall.

Thank you in advance for helping out.

12 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS

1

The idea of The Squall is to help out freelance writers during the Covid-19 crisis. For it to survive and thrive, we are asking readers to pay what they can and we suggest a minimum donation of £3.

You can pay into The Squall's bank account (sort code 40-05-17 and account number 71515942) or via PayPal to paypal.me/thesquall.

Thank you in advance for helping out. THE HABIT OF A LIFETIME

What if Arjen Robben hadn’t stayed on his feet in the 2010 World Cup final?

BY SHASTRI SOOKDEO

Arjen Robben of the after defeat in the World Cup Final.

In the summer of 2010, I visited Europe blessed with great vision, Sneijder was just for the first time. It was the longest what you’d expect from an alumnus of journey I had ever made at the time, Ajax’s academy. flying from Trinidad to Tobago and then leaving the country on a plane bound for Then there was Arjen Robben. He is not Frankfurt followed by one to . the typical Dutch footballer. He is not the The flight to Frankfurt was only half full typical footballer of any national team. and consisted mainly of Germans, who Extremely left-footed with a tendency didn’t seem as deflated as I imagined to hold the ball, it’s unlikely he would they had to be feeling. had beaten have been allowed to continue with his in the World Cup semi-final less idiosyncratic style had he been trained than three hours before the flight had in the academies of Amsterdam or departed. For the first time since 1978 two and not in the more distant teams who had not won the cup would northern province of . Robben be in the final. had a reputation for being talented but injury prone with a predisposition to The other finalists, the Netherlands, cutting inside and shooting. He was also had qualified a day earlier by beating famous for being extremely quick with a Uruguay 3-2. They had not played well, tendency to exaggerate contact. despite scoring 3 goals. However, other than and a few scattered The final is predictably tense, while the dissenters, most people in the Netherlands robust tackling of the Dutch means there didn’t care how the team had played on is little aesthetically pleasing football. route to the final. It was only relevant that Eight of the Dutch starting eleven would the possibility of winning the tournament get yellow cards, as would five Spanish remained, even if they were generally seen players. climbing studs- as underdogs against Spain. first into ’s chest becomes one of the enduring images of the final. Dutch teams had played beautiful football There is little for the Dutch to cheer for in the past and had returned with little until Robben breaks through one-on-one to show for it. Despite being one of the with . The goalkeeper saves most influential and recognisable national with his foot, but he has dived the other teams in the world, there was only single way. It is at this moment that the crowd in Euro triumph in 1988 to speak of. The Rotterdam, where I watched the match, Dutch team of 2010 was a mix of veterans seems to believe that the Dutch can who would play in their last World Cup actually win their first trophy. and players approaching the zenith of their careers. There was also young talent, It has been said that Robben dives. At the some of whom would never replicate speed he runs, a seemingly minor touch the same levels of performance at that can result in a loss of balance but he’s tournament again, such as Gregory van admitted to exaggerating the effect. In der Wiel and . the 82nd minute , under was an archetypal Dutch footballer. pressure from Elia, misplaces a pass Technically gifted and two-footed, and Spain lose possession on the edge

16 of the Dutch box. Ramos is playing at Robben had gone to ground earlier, right-back, the last time he will do so in Puyol would have been sent off and the a major tournament for Spain. The ball Dutch would have a free kick on the edge is cleared by Nigel De Jong and drops of the area. Although they hadn’t scored just inside the Dutch half for Robin van a free kick in the World Cup, Sneijder Persie. Van Persie is facing his own goal or Van Persie would have had a decent when he makes contact with the ball. No chance to test Casillas. Spanish player is close enough to him to challenge him and his feet are still on the Spain going down to ten men is more ground after the ball touches his head significant. and his jump seems to begin after the ball has gone. His flick sends the ball into the A red card for Puyol would mean a path of Robben. substitution. or Raúl Albiol could come on, or perhaps Robben has started running from his own Alvaro Arbeloa be introduced with half. When the ball touches Van Persie’s Ramos moving into the centre. Either head, Robben’s foot is on the halfway line. way, Spain would have had to sacrifice The Spanish defence is undermanned, somebody, losing either midfield control but the ball doesn’t fall into the vacant left or attacking threat. Perhaps Cesc of the field. The header bounces into the Fàbregas, who was so influential in the centre of the field almost directly between winner, wouldn’t have made it onto the and Gerard Piqué. These two pitch. Perhaps the reshuffle would open won the Champions League together for up more space for Robben. Barcelona the year before. They’re good defenders. Neither is out of position to As it happened, Johnny Heitinga’s red cover the bouncing ball. Puyol seems card in the first period of extra time favourite to collect it. But Robben is fast. meant that the Dutch defence was He runs around Puyol to get to the ball first. overworked. It was ’s Puyol turns and tries to put in a tackle but weak clearance that fell to Fàbregas and he doesn’t succeed. and loses his balance. allowed him to pass to Andres Iniesta. While falling, he attempts to pull Robben Despite being the original intended back just outside the Spanish penalty area. recipient of the ball that Van der Vaart Piqué tries to get around and puts in a cleared, Iniesta was still completely free. tackle at the top of the box. He does not A man down, Iniesta would probably be make contact with either the attacker or the playing deeper in midfield and so not ball. However, his sliding challenge forces there for the pass. With ten men, Spain Robben onto his right foot near the penalty would probably have looked to retain spot. Robben, trying to find space on his possession, and wouldn’t have made the weaker foot, is unable to shield the ball incursion that led to Heitinga’s second perfectly and Casillas collects. yellow. With a complete back line, Van der Vaart is either not the final defender At no point during the play does Robben or there’s another defensive player fall. When he finally hits the turf, Casillas present to perhaps put pressure on either is almost ready to release the ball. If Iniesta or Fàbregas.

17 Maybe it’s the Dutch who get the goal get the Dutch team to the semi-final, gets and, in their third final, win the World them there again. This time the old guard Cup at last. In this alternate future parties from the previous tournament steps up continue deep into the night in Rotterdam and De Jong, instead of , goes and across the country. The welcome first and scores the opening penalty back party for the national team is much against Argentina. Gonzalo Higuaín more vibrant and joyous than the one misses Argentina’s fifth and Klaas-Jan actually held in Amsterdam for the silver Huntelaar converts the final penalty to medallists (though this was still fairly well send the Netherlands into their second attended). The weather remains sunny straight final. and the canals are packed with cheering supporters watching the team’s barge. In the final the Germans play a much There are no discussions of what should more open game, less wary of the Dutch have been done differently. The analysts attacking talent than that of Argentina. speak of the coach as an De Jong follows up his foul on Xabi immensely brave pioneer who was willing Alonso in the last final with a foul on Toni to go against the expected philosophy Kroos. This time he is sent off. With the of Dutch football. He, and the team, are extra space in the midfield Germany pass feted for playing for results instead of their way through the Dutch defence placing an emphasis on beauty. Cruyff, with regularity and the three-man of course, does not agree and says it is defence, cannot prevent better to play well and lose. from scoring.

The influence on the future Dutch football The Dutch public accepts the team has turns out to be minimal. Older players still overachieved to even reach the final, retire, albeit as champions, and players considering the youth in the squad. There such as and Sandro is little disappointment when Van Gaal Boschker never add to their tally of caps, still leaves to coach United. unable to see off the rise of younger The underperformance that would see goalkeepers and defenders such as Jasper the Oranje miss Euro 2016 and World Cillessen and . The Dutch Cup 2018 still happens and the associated still lose all their games at Euro 2012 managerial churn still consumes Guus and takes over from Van Hiddink, and . Marwijk, although criticism is tempered by his reputation and directed more at the On the way to their second final, the players than the coach. Van Marwijk retires Dutch beat Spain again in the group and so doesn’t lead to qualify stages, setting into motion the full for the 2018 World Cup and doesn’t coach abandonment of tiki-taka. At Euro 2016, Australia in either. in which they were feted after winning their first two group stage matches The team that goes to the World Cup in before losing the third to Croatia due to 2014 looks very similar to the one that their vulnerability on the counterattack, actually reached the semi-finals. Van it is possible they would have at least Gaal, who exceeded all expectations to developed secondary systems to deploy

18 in difficult matches. This may perhaps an era for a style that probably should have proven useful against who have been changed after retired would knock them out of the tournament in 2014. If the Dutch had scored late by crowding the midfield and restricting in Johannesburg, Spain perhaps would any space to play a passing game. have changed their style years earlier. And then, the Dutch influence on The football played by Spain in the 2018 international football visible in Spanish World Cup was barely recognisable style emanating from Barcelona by from its origins in tiki-taka. Notable the way of Amsterdam through Cruyff, mostly for slow and indecisive recycling becomes a little less visible. of the ball in the midfield, Spain set the record for most passes in a World Cup Would the Dutch have minded their match against Russia but did not have traditional philosophy not dominating their first shot on goal until the 45th for so long? At least some of them might minute, after Russia had scored an own have preferred the trophy. goal and a penalty. It felt like the end of

19 FOR THE WANT OF A NAIL…

What if Everton had followed up initial interest in Ian Rush in 1980?

BY JIM KEOGHAN

Ian Rush has the ball taken off his boot by .

“And it’s played across for Rush… that’s For Rush, such an outcome would another one! And that will make it safe have made sense. Everton had been for Liverpool.” his first love and the boyhood Blue had often made the pilgrimage to Goodison Brian Moore’s words cemented what growing up, heading there from his north those watching had felt for some time, home to watch the Everton sides of that the 1986 FA Cup was -bound. and . Outplayed by Everton and 1-0 down at the break, the Red Machine had turned His hero back then had been Bob the game in the second period, scoring Latchford. The teenage Rush had been in three without conceding. It was a the lower Gwladys Street to watch his idol determined performance that had broken make history on the final day of the 1977- Evertonian hearts. 78 season when Latchford scored his 30th goal of the campaign. It was a feat that With the league wrapped up a week won the Everton forward £10,000 from earlier, the victory meant that Kenny the Daily Express, who had put the bounty Dalglish’s side had done the double over up for the first player to reach that target, their city rivals, leaving the Blues as the its own attempt to encourage greater bridesmaid in both competitions. attacking verve amongst the First Division’s low-scoring forwards of the . Although Dalglish, as player/manager, had been the architect of this success, By that point in Rush’s life, with dreams for Evertonians, the role played by Ian of emulating his hero, he was already Rush could not be understated. Already taking the first steps on his own loathed and feared in equal measure professional journey, having recently as a player with an almost supernatural been picked up by Third Division eye for goal, one who had powered City. At , the teenager Liverpool to domestic and European would become the club’s best prospect glory in recent seasons, Rush had also in a generation. Inevitably, that attracted earned the ire of the Goodison faithful attention, not least from the two nearby by reserving a special place for Everton Merseyside giants. in his goalscoring exploits. The two that afternoon merely represented another Over the years, Rush has spoken about notch against the club to add to the his disappointment that Goodison never others he had plundered since arriving came calling, believing that Everton had across the park a few years earlier. come to look at him and returned across the Mersey unimpressed. And yet, it could have all been so different. But for the reluctance of the But that isn’t the full story. Although the Everton chairman, , to club did indeed pass on Rush, it was sanction the purchase of two rather than nothing to do with his ability. Far from just one promising youngster back in being unimpressed, the Everton manager 1980, Rush might well have been wearing at the time, Gordon Lee, thought that blue, not red on that May afternoon. Rush had it in him to become one of the

22 best strikers in the country. And he came recalled. “He was just ignoring the likes very close to signing him. of [Kenny] Dalglish, and [Alan] Hansen coming in. He called In the spring of 1980, Lee was looking them ‘the bigheads’ and would look after for ways to bolster his underperforming me and go and talk to the dinner ladies attack. With Everton languishing near the and people like that. That was how Bob bottom of the table and finding goals Paisley was. It was like a family club and hard to come by, he set out to find some he gave that impression to me. ‘We’re all fresh blood to change his side’s fortunes. in this together. It doesn’t matter who In an interview with the you are or why you are here, we’re all the Evening Post in 2003, the former Everton same.’ With that, I decided to give it a go.” boss outlined what happened next: “I went to watch Chester Reserves and a Rush joined Liverpool in April 1980. Tall, young boy called Ian Rush playing as an thin and ungainly, he seemed initially attacking . The next night, I to be the very embodiment of teenage was at Dumbarton and saw a raw striker awkwardness. And he has since admitted called . I went back to that it took him time to feel comfortable the chairman and told him that, paired at Anfield, particularly in the dressing together, they could be one of the most room. That nagging lack of confidence exciting partnerships in English football. that had briefly held him back proving Chester wanted £300,000 for Rush, so I difficult to completely shake off. signed Graeme for £80,000 because the board said I couldn’t have them both.” But it didn’t last for long. By the beginning of the 1981-82 campaign, Paisley had Everton’s loss ended up becoming seen enough of a change in the young Liverpool’s gain. Around the same time forward to warrant a regular start in the that Lee was running the rule over Rush, senior side. Although it would take nine the Liverpool manager had games for Rush to find the back of the been down to Chester to watch the young net, once he began scoring, he didn’t prospect. Encouraged by what he saw, stop; his 30 goals across 49 appearances the Reds made a move, offering Chester that season helping deliver yet another £300,000 for the teenager. But Liverpool’s league title to the Anfield trophy room. quarry took some persuading. “When they did come in for me, I turned them Meanwhile, over at Goodison, Sharp down first time.” Rush told LFC TV in 2014. was beginning to find his feet too. Like “People ask me why I turned them down. Rush, the young Scot had taken time Partly confidence but mainly I didn’t think to adjust to his new surroundings and I was good enough to play at that level.” during his first season with the club had been a marginal presence. But with Bob Determined to get their man, Liverpool Latchford moving to Swansea City in persevered. A few weeks after the initial the summer of 1981, Sharp began to rejection, Paisley invited Rush and his get more chances, an opportunity he Dad (a lifelong Red) down to . capitalised upon, ending as Everton’s top “He [Paisley] was so down to earth,” Rush scorer for the 1981-82 season.

23 But for the man who had plucked Sharp trophy along the way, defeating Rapid from relative obscurity, it all came too Vienna in the 1985 Cup Winners’ late. Gordon Lee’s Everton project had Cup final. It was a mini golden age at ultimately left the club mired in the nether Goodison, one that would see the club regions of the table and in the spring of reach five major finals and bring home 1981, he’d been sacked. His replacement two league titles between 1984 and 1987. was the Blackburn Rovers manager , an alumnus of Everton’s So great was the turnaround that Everton 1970s title-winning side. became the first club in some time to challenge Liverpool’s dominance of the But it would take time. Although Sharp’s domestic game. Sharp played a vital gradual improvement offered Kendall a role, delivering on the promise that vital outlet, his Everton project stuttered he had shown at Dumbarton. “Sharpy to begin with, two and a half seasons of was integral to those great sides of the struggle punctuated with numerous lows. mid-1980s,” recalls Andy Costigan of the And for many fans, one of the lowest fans website Grand Old Team. “He was of these came on a cold November a playmaking centre-forward, at times afternoon in 1982. unplayable in the air and no slouch with his feet too. He was a constant goal It was a game that would provide a threat and I can only imagine opposition painful reminder of how wrong Everton defenders had nightmares about playing had been to ignore Lee’s judgement on against him. What Sharpy lacked in finesse Rush. Kendall’s side were devastated by he more than made up for with a dogged the young striker, as he scored four in a determination and his ability to lead the 5-0 rout. It remains Liverpool biggest win line with different players around him.” at Goodison. By the mid-1980s, he and Rush had But, as bad as that was, it would get become indispensable elements in the worse before it got better for Kendall forward lines of what were the two and Everton. At one point during the greatest sides in the country. This was the 1983-84 season, with the club hovering era of Merseyside dominance of English above the relegation places, calls for football. It didn’t last for long, but while the manager’s head echoed around it did, the accuracy of Lee’s prediction, Goodison. Philip Carter resisted. It albeit splintered across Stanley Park, was proved to be one of his better decisions. clear for all to see. Form turned and from January 1984 until Kendall left the club in the summer Clear enough to frustrate Evertonians. of 1987, Everton were transformed. Because, for them, success was only part of the dream. “The aim had been not After collecting the FA Cup in 1984, just to return Everton to the pinnacle of Kendall’s men romped to the title the the game but also to eclipse Liverpool following season, finishing 13 points in the process, to restore the Blues to above second-placed Liverpool. They the dominance we had enjoyed over even collected the club’s first European our local rivals since the two clubs first

24 began playing each other in the 1890s,” permutations of ‘what if?’, not only does says Costigan. the tantalising prospect of a Rush-Sharp partnership under Kendall exist, but so From Everton’s perspective, Liverpool’s too does a Rush-less Liverpool. Could any pre-eminence in the 1970s and early Evertonian, if offered the chance, resist 1980s was an affront to the natural order. the opportunity to whizz back in time and Although Liverpool were blessed with whisper something different into Philip more than their fair share of playing Carter’s ear? and managerial talent in the mid-80s, the key element was that signing from It was a mistake that gifted Liverpool their Chester. From his first goal until he briefly record goal-scorer. Rush plundered 346 left the club for Juventus in 1987, Rush goals across a 15-year stint at Liverpool, scored 207 times across six seasons in so many during his mid-1980s pomp. all competitions, providing the kind of In his career, 25 of those goals were ammunition that kept the glory days scored against Everton alone, as time and rolling at Anfield. As good as Everton were time again he became the cause of so – and at times they were exceptional much heartache amongst the city’s blue – possessing a forward of Rush’s talent contingent. That fact he had once stood constantly kept Liverpool in the game. amongst the die-hards of the Gwladys Street only adding salt to the wound. one What would have happened had of Goodison’s own turning his firepower the Everton board been more against the club he once loved. accommodating to Lee? Within the many

25 HOULLIER, GINOLA, AND TWO MEN WITHOUT VISAS

If Kostadinov hadn’t scored against France in 1993, how would we look at Cantona and Stoichkov now?

BY JAMES EASTHAM

Eric Cantona with Zlatko Yankov

Eric Cantona may have been an era- earlier Stoichkov had helped Barcelona defining player for Manchester United win the European Cup for the first but he doesn’t meet the definition of time in the club’s history before going a great footballer. To be considered a on to finish second in the 1992 Ballon great in any period, a player normally d’Or award. During the same period, needs to excel on at least two of three Cantona’s stock had risen: he had won fronts: in domestic competition, at consecutive league titles with Leeds continental club level and playing for United and Manchester United and was his country. However difficult it may be gaining international recognition thanks for die-hard United fans to swallow, the to his transformative role in the first truth is that Cantona really only ticked Manchester United side to be crowned the first of those three boxes. English champions in more than a quarter of a century. When the 1993 Cantona would be viewed differently Ballon d’Or standings were revealed, a today but for the events of 17 November month after the fixture against , 1993. That night, the final round of the Frenchman was third, behind European qualifiers for the following and , year’s World Cup took place. So many ahead of Alen Bokšić and Michael of the fixtures that evening turned out to Laudrup. Stoichkov placed joint 12th. be theatrically gripping that the football writer Rob Smyth wrote an article in 2012 Face to face on the field that night, describing the date as a “sensory overload Cantona and Stoichkov might not have of authentic drama that included death, grasped the degree to which their ‘murder’, robbery [and] illegal aliens”. legacies were about to be shaped. Yet a place at the World Cup finals awaited At , Cantona’s France only one of them, meaning the outcome hosted ’s Bulgaria. France of the match was bound to play a pivotal needed only a draw, although their place role in how their international careers at USA 94 should have been secured would be defined. already: in their penultimate qualifier, a month earlier, they had let slip a 2-1 Cantona settled early French nerves lead in the final 10 minutes, losing 3-2 by putting his team ahead on 32 at home to Israel. For Bulgaria, it was a minutes. It was a lovely goal, too: Didier winner-takes-all situation: they arrived in Deschamps’s raking crossfield ball found Paris needing all three points, knowing Jean-Pierre Papin and his productive that victory would eliminate France. partnership with Cantona bore fruit once again, only this time with the men Born three months apart in 1966, switching their usual functions: turning Cantona and Stoichkov were close to provider, Papin cushioned his header the peak of their powers. If not Europe’s into Cantona’s path and the Manchester two greatest strikers of the era – United striker volleyed brilliantly past although Stoichkov has a claim to that Borislav Mikhailov. Cantona celebrated by title – they were the most broodingly standing on the advertising boards, arms charismatic at the time. 18 months aloft in triumph.

28 Bulgaria equalised five minutes later. intercepts via a desperate Krasimir Balakov took an outswinging lunge. Kostadinov makes contact with corner and Emil Kostadinov headed past such force the ball rolls out of the net and the France goalkeeper Lama. back on to the pitch. With the scoreline 1-1, France were still on course to qualify, but anxiety spread Nearly three decades on, the post-goal around the . Fans remembered scenes remain traumatic for France it was only a month since les Bleus had fans. Clutching the back of his head, blown their home lead against Israel. The appears to hyperventilate. hosts spent most of the second half in Deschamps leaves the field in tears. Ginola fearful defensive mode, willing the final – who would be blamed for the defeat by whistle to be blown. manager Gérard Houllier, sparking a feud that ended in court 19 years later – is on When the final whistle eventually came, his haunches, head bowed, slumped on it did so moments after generational the advertising hoardings. disaster had struck France. Following a short free-kick, the substitute David There had been tension in the France Ginola had the ball near the corner flag. camp before the game. Talk of splits Rather than wasting time, however, he between the PSG players (, sought Cantona in the penalty area, but Alain Roche, , Vincent overhit the cross. Bulgaria worked the Guérin, Ginola) and the / ball forward from the right-back position. ex-Marseille contingent (Desailly, Twelve seconds later, the visitors had Deschamps, Papin, Cantona) was rife. scored. “C’est la fin!” said disbelieving Further souring the taste of defeat, it French co-commentator Jean-Michel later emerged that Penev and Kostadinov Larqué. For Cantona’s hopes of playing at probably should have played no part in a World Cup, it was. As the ball struck the the fixture: the Bulgarian FA hadn’t applied back of the net, the clock in the top-right for visas for the pair in time. However, at hand corner of the TV screen read “44:59 the squad’s pre-game training camp in second half”. Germany, Mikhailov and Georgi Georgiev, both of whom played for Mulhouse in The drama of the climax – Bulgaria eastern France, suggested a route by scoring a winner in the final second of car across the border into France at a normal time to secure a place at the 1994 point where they knew security was lax. World Cup at France’s expense – means From there, Penev and Kostadinov took a the clear-headed brilliance of the goal is domestic flight to Paris to join up with the overlooked. An outside-of-the-foot pass rest of the squad. finds Lyuboslav Penev near the halfway line. Penev controls, turns and clips a The real legacy of the game was its role in beautiful ball over the France defence. France being crowned world champions Kostadinov collects, accelerates, deftly five years later. 17 November 1993 was manipulates the ball using several body the date France finally tired of being noble parts and hits a vicious drive in off the losers or bottlers, the two duties they underside of the crossbar just before had performed most effectively on the

29 international stage up until that point. No award. In Dallas and Chicago and New more, they appeared to say. Four of the Jersey he would have been surrounded players in the starting line-up that night by international teammates able to (Blanc, Desailly, Deschamps, Emmanuel bring out the best in him. Bulgaria and Petit) and two of the substitutes (Bixente – the two teams that made it Lizarazu, ) were automatic out of France’s qualifying group – both starters under Aimé Jacquet – promoted reached the World Cup semi-finals. from assistant to manager after Houllier France had the potential to progress just was sacked in the aftermath of the as far, suggesting Cantona was well- Bulgaria defeat – during the successful placed to have emerged as one of the 1998 campaign. stars of the tournament.

Even more intriguing, though, is to And how would we view Stoichkov consider what Cantona and Stoichkov’s today, had he missed out on USA 94? legacies might be had Bulgaria not netted As an excellent striker for Barcelona, but their late winner. Imagine Kostadinov’s perhaps little more than that. There would thunderous shot had flown just a couple have been no World Cup Golden Boot of inches higher and ricocheted off the for him, shared with Oleg Salenko for bar, and the ball had run back into play the six goals he scored during Bulgaria’s and been cleared. The game would have run to the last four. And no 1994 Ballon ended 1-1. France would have squeezed d’Or, either, won thanks to his World Cup through and it would have been the exploits. Cantona finished 13th that year. Bulgaria players falling to their knees in Unlucky for him. despair at the final whistle. Football is a game of fine margins and Cantona would have headed into the details. Fans are quick to forget how close following year’s World Cup at the top the roles of winners and losers were to of his game. He had helped Manchester being reversed. On that night in Paris, the United clinch the first league and FA specifics went against Cantona, depriving Cup double in the club’s history. He had him of his moment of crowning glory. won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year

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Check out the latest releases at www.theblizzard.co.uk theblizzard.co.uk/shop 31 DOWN THE PAN

What if Middlesbrough had turned up for that game against Blackburn in 1996-97?

BY TOM FLIGHT

Bryan Robson with as he signs for Middlesbrough.

On the morning of Friday 20 December I thought, Middlesbrough… I’m not so 1996 Eric Paylor of the Evening Gazette sure,” Robson recalled in Dave Allan and found in a bad mood. Adrian Bevington’s book Doom to Boom. The Middlesbrough manager had been “It didn’t really appeal to me.” cutting a forlorn figure for weeks; his Boro side hadn’t won a game in the Gibson would have understood. When he league in more than three months. joined the board a decade earlier Gibson But that morning Paylor found him remembered, “Everything, right the way particularly uptight. “Don’t ask me what through the club, was rotten.” In 1986 the team is going be, because I haven’t gates were low and finances so bleak that got one,” Robson snapped. the local news reported that the club had died, but behind the scenes Gibson had Middlesbrough were due to visit Ewood brought together a consortium that saved Park the next day. With injuries already at it with minutes to spare. crisis point, Robson learned that morning that a virus had gone through the club, What Robson didn’t realise was that officially taking out eight players. Robson the Middlesbrough he knew, the was left with 17 fit players, three of whom Middlesbrough everyone knew, was soon were goalkeepers, five of whom had to be a thing of the past. Everything you never featured in the first team. associated with the club’s identity Gibson was shredding and starting anew. Gibson Robson knew they would be heading saw the radical way in which the football to Ewood Park to receive a hammering. landscape was unfolding. He saw the At 10.30am he met with the club’s chief transformative cultural effect of Italia 90 executive Keith Lamb to discuss the and how the was making the drastic situation. The anxious club doctor a safer spectator experience. Most told them, “I’m uncertain how many of importantly he saw how Rupert Murdoch’s the 17 fit players will be fit tomorrow.” Sky deal was flooding the game with How many more players could wake up money. After accepting mediocrity for so the next morning with the virus? They long Gibson asked a question: Why not decided they needed to make a call to the us? Why can’t Middlesbrough be one of to see if there was a way the clubs that defines this new era? He set of delaying the fixture. The ramifications about a creating a revolution. of that call would completely alter the future of the football club. At 11am Lamb Gibson and Robson had dinner together picked up the phone. and after about half an hour, before the food had even been served, the former This story started two-and-a-half years England captain reached across the earlier. In the summer of 1994 Steve table with his hand and said, “You’ve Gibson, a businessman in his mid- got a deal.” The revolution began with a 30s who had recently become club pop of champagne. “I said, ‘Excuse me,’ chairman, was desperate to appoint the before going outside the room where recently retired former England captain I screamed the place down with joy,” as manager. Robson wasn’t keen. “At first Gibson remembered.

34 As player-manager Robson, who Times. The club went 12 games without memorably donned a suit-and-tie a win between mid-September and with shorts combo for the unveiling, Boxing Day. immediately got Boro promoted to the Premier League in 1994-95. The following The dressing room was fracturing. season they would be playing in the new Ravanelli stopped talking to his state-of-the-art . Today teammates while criticising the club to the Riverside is often viewed as basic and Italian newspapers. Astoundingly Emerson sterile, but in 1996 the second youngest disappeared to for weeks, his wife stadium in the Premier League was calling a “strange, terrible place”. , built in 1924. Playing at the Then came the call to the Premier League Riverside was like playing in the future. ahead of the match at Ewood Park.

And then Gibson and Robson set It’s impossible to know what exactly was about creating a super team of foreign said on the phone between Keith Lamb megastars. They fought off top clubs and the Premier League, but one thing all over Europe to sign the Brazilian remains clear: whoever Keith Lamb spoke Juninho in October 1995. The to did not have a clear understanding of following summer his fellow countryman, the league’s own rules. Middlesbrough the midfielder Emerson, who had just acted on the vague advice given to them been voted the Player of the by the league in their decision to call off Year, gave up Champions League football the game. with Porto for Teesside. Perhaps most remarkable of all Boro signed Juventus’s All hell broke loose. The press reaction top scorer Fabrizio Ravanelli, who had just was incredulous. “Later in the day, Keith scored in the Champions League final in got a call from a more senior official at his last game for the bianconeri. the Premier League, who’d been playing golf,” Robson remembered. “He said we And it started so well. Ravanelli opened couldn’t postpone the match, but we the 96-97 season with a euphoric debut said it was too late.” The Premier League hat-trick against Liverpool. Hammerings commissioned a hearing into events the of Coventry and West Ham followed. following month and, devastatingly, the Ravanelli couldn’t stop scoring. Emerson, club were found guilty and deducted with his shimmering soul glo perm, three points. Middlesbrough sank even sauntered around the pitch, banging deeper. Gibson’s revolution had quickly goals in from 25 yards. turned into anarchy.

And then it all went so, so wrong. In The harsh punishment did appear to have every revolution, there is chaos at the a galvanising effect. Juninho in particular beginning. Results started to turn. It went up a gear, producing a breathtaking quickly became apparent that this side stretch of form that lead him to being was terribly unbalanced. “If Boro’s attack crowned Premier League Player of the is full of virtuosi, their defence is manned Year. The midseason acquisitions of Mark by pub piano players,” wrote the Sunday Schwarzer in goal and the seasoned

35 centre-back 11 players in red fell to the floor. The improved the defence. The team went Brazilian, who had fallen in love with on a blazing run, winning four straight Teesside, who knew that if he wanted to in March. They also embarked on two be selected for France 98 he would have epic cup runs, both culminating in trips to leave that summer, was the last to rise. to Wembley, extraordinary for a side who had never reached a major cup final in Having been controversially deducted their 120-year existence. The football three points Middlesbrough were was often pulsating and they hit the net a relegated by two. remarkable 94 times in all competitions. The Blackburn fixture had to be If Middlesbrough could just stay up, and crowbarred into the calendar three maybe even win a trophy, who knew days before the Leeds match, adding what would follow. Robson tried to lure to an already exhausting schedule. If both Laudrup brothers at the same time. Middlesbrough had played the original and Jürgen Klinsmann fixture in December and kept the defeat were both targets. Most of these offers to no more than 7-0 they would have came to nothing but while Robson and stayed up on goals scored ahead of his side battled relegation, provisionary Coventry City. talks were taking place behind the scenes with , The FA Cup final against Chelsea the and . All three players following weekend was a disaster. The were reportedly keen and their clubs players were sick of the sight of each were willing to sell. Boro were on the other. Ravanelli and came to verge of assembling one of the most blows during the photo-shoot. It was extraordinary collections of international game over in the first minute as Roberto talent ever seen in club football at that di Matteo opened the scoring after 42 point in history. seconds on their way to a 2-0 victory. It meant no European football for Boro just had to stay up. Middlesbrough the following season. The revolution was over. of two cup runs and a relegation battle caught up with the team. Chelsea were going through a similar They lost the Coca-Cola Cup Final in period of transformation. They too demoralising fashion thanks to an extra- discarded the relics of a bygone era; the time goal in a replay. In the previous decade had been marred by league, they drew three games straight hooliganism and dismal form. Under the setting up a final day must-win contest management of their FA Cup against George Graham’s Leeds. victory signalled a return. They won the Cup Winners’ Cup the following season Leeds took the lead. But as his teammates and would be playing Champions League fell apart, the indefatigable Juninho football by the turn of the century, even kept battling and scored an equaliser. It before they were the catching the eye of wouldn’t be enough. At the final whistle Roman Abramovic.

36 If Robson’s men had survived relegation fan. In the summer of 1996 Gibson and and, buoyed by the elation of survival, Robson inspired more hope than Boro fans won the FA Cup, could they have bought ever dared to dream was possible. The way galácticos and strode into the next the season unraveled was almost operatic. century as a serious force in European football as Chelsea did? In Richard Foster’s book Premier League Nuggets Simon Banoub wrote that If they had stayed up how close were nothing ever “quite reached the fever Middlesbrough actually to signing Batistuta, pitch that had gripped the area in 1996- Roberto Carlos and Ince? According to 97. Even the subsequent success of Anthony Vickers of the Evening Gazette, winning the League Cup and reaching the “Robbo was always totally frank and he Uefa Cup final didn’t have the same buzz told us he thought the deal for Batistuta as our first brush with attracting top talent had been almost there, that he had a to our beloved northern wastelands had.” gentleman’s agreement with Ince and that Carlos would prove trickier but he Boro fans still harbour deep resentment thought another big push (we took that over the Premier League’s decision. It’s to mean with more money) might swing been said if Alex Ferguson or Arsène it.” Juninho, a friend of Roberto Carlos, Wenger had called a game off for the apparently was “going to have a word.” same reason they would have received a Get Well Soon card from the league. Relegation didn’t mean the spending The fact that Boro acted on the league’s stopped. Boro tried to recapture the advice and that it subsequently refused optimism of 96-97 but something was to accept responsibility is disgraceful, but missing. Gibson hit the restart button there’s no doubt that Robson and Lamb immediately by doubling ’s were naïve. wages to bring him to Teesside. He inspired promotion, but soon wanted out. The But at the same time, it was that naivety following year Boro signed that bred the optimism and audacity to who also only lasted a year. In 2000 Robson think they could pull off signings likes signed Alen Bokšić, who hung around for of Ravanelli, Juninho and then Roberto a few years, but judging by his work-rate Carlos and Batistuta. It was a classic Icarus and patchy form there was only one reason tale. And when they picked themselves up he was on Teesside. (Robson’s successor from the fall they found the footballing Steve McClaren released Bokšić by paying world a more cynical place. off his contract. When he bumped into the Croatian maverick years later he worried Rob Nicholls, editor of the long-running he’d receive a frosty greeting; instead Middlesbrough fanzine Fly Me To The Bokšić hugged him, took out his phone and Moon writes of that season, “Although said, ‘Thank you, mister, for letting me go, we ultimately bounced back I wonder you helped me buy this yacht!’) whether some of the glitter had gone for good. Maybe, in the massive, crushing They say it’s the hope that kills you. In disappointments of Middlesbrough truth, it is often the hope you live for as a people lost the ability to truly let

37 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS themselves go again and believe that club like Middlesbrough could compete dreams could come true.” financially with the elite were already over. They had returned to their typical The 1996-97 season at times does feel state of mediocrity and acceptance. If like a dream. An almost cosmic whirl of only Middlesbrough had played that game drama and emotion that almost stands against Blackburn, the dream could have apart from the rest of the club’s history. continued. Who knows how high they Following relegation, the club awoke with could have soared? a gasp. The days in which a locally owned

1

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38 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS

1

The idea of The Squall is to help out freelance writers during the Covid-19 crisis. For it to survive and thrive, we are asking readers to pay what they can and we suggest a minimum donation of £3.

You can pay into The Squall's bank account (sort code 40-05-17 and account number 71515942) or via PayPal to paypal.me/thesquall.

Thank you in advance for helping out. THE FLAG OF FORTUNE

What might the consequences have been for Liverpool if Dortmund’s equaliser against Hoffenheim in 2013 had stood?

BY REY MASHAYEKHI

Jürgen Klopp and celebrate.

40 41 It was all over. As the Gündoğan unleashed a curling effort from exploded into rapture — as Marcel 25 yards that Casteels just managed to tip Schmelzer’s unlikely low drive from off the crossbar. outside the box lay in the back of the net — it seemed certain that Hoffenheim Yet Hoffenheim managed to stay alive. were going down. Their reward was a Dortmund meltdown that began in the 76th minute, when Mats The Dieter Hopp-financed transformation Hummels clumsily fouled Kevin Volland of the former amateur club, based in in the penalty area. Four minutes later, the village of 3,000 people in southwest Hoffenheim’s young Brazilian forward Germany, was about to take a devastating Roberto Firmino played a perfectly step backward. Having risen into measured through-ball that released the professional ranks and attained Sven Schipplock. Roman Weidenfeller status in 2008, Hoffenheim rushed off his line and took Schipplock went to Dortmund on the final day of out, conceding another penalty and the 2012-13 season needing a win if getting himself sent off in the process. they hoped to stay in the first division. (As Dortmund had no more subs, Kevin Even then, meant that Großkreutz finished the match in goal.) Fortuna Düsseldorf and Augsburg above them almost certainly had to lose their Sejad Salihović slotted in his second respective matches if Hoffenheim were to penalty to make it 2-1 to the visitors, and claw their way into the relegation playoff. results elsewhere were going Hoffenheim’s way. But in the 93rd minute, Dortmund In their way stood Jürgen Klopp’s launched a free-kick up the pitch that powerhouse, a team one week from penned Hoffenheim around their own the European Cup final. Dortmund may box. The ball found its way to Schmelzer, have failed to claim a third consecutive who had just enough time to hit a drive Bundesliga, but they had become the from nearly 30 yards out. The shot dribbled actualisation of Klopp’s vision for his past two walls of players, just missed team. The result versus Hoffenheim was Lewandowski’s outstretched foot and practically meaningless for Dortmund; rolled past Casteels into the bottom corner. drastically more important was their condition and rhythm going into the final Pandemonium ensued. Several against Bayern. Hoffenheim players sank to the ground in anguish, while those in yellow Hoffenheim appeared doomed as early as surrounding them celebrated wildly. the sixth minute, when Robert Lewandowski But Casteels and others ran to linesman tapped Dortmund into the lead with his Benjamin Brand, and before long they 24th league goal of the season. From were joined by referee Jochen Drees. there, Dortmund had several opportunities After briefly conferring with Brand, Drees to finish off their opponents for good. In jogged over to the Hoffenheim penalty the first half, Jakub Błaszczykowski beat area, his arm raised. The call, rightly, was five men only to sidefoot the finish into offside against Lewandowski; the goal Koen Casteels’s arms; in the second, İlkay was disallowed.

42 On the touchline, Klopp was apoplectic. In the hysterically hyped world of He traded words with his counterpart Brazilian football, where vaunted teenage , who reciprocated with a prodigies are often whisked away to light shove. At the final whistle, when it Europe in deals worth millions, Roberto was clear that Hoffenheim had survived Firmino Barbosa de Oliveira emerged one of the most extraordinary afternoons from relative obscurity. This lends an in the Bundesliga’s recent history, an almost mythic quality to his evolution into animated Klopp made a beeline for Drees one of the world’s most highly-regarded and his assistants to voice his complaints. footballers — a player lauded as much, Hoffenheim would go on to make easy if not more so, for his intelligence and work of Kaiserslautern in the relegation commitment as his technique, creativity playoff, preserving their place in the and ruthlessness. Bundesliga, where they remain today. How did this unheralded young man from In an interview for a Bundesliga-produced Alagoas become a player of seemingly TV series, Klopp recalled the game against one-of-a-kind qualities, a linchpin of Hoffenheim. It’s both funny and striking one of this century’s greatest sides? He how — though he readily admits the parlayed his time in the youth ranks at offside call was correct — part of him his low-flying hometown club, CRB, clearly remains annoyed at an ultimately into a move to the larger southern club irrelevant result for his side. “Düsseldorf Figueirense, which he helped promote got relegated because we lost that to the Brazilian Serie A in 2010. Almost match,” he said. “I haven’t got any close immediately Hoffenheim snapped him up, ties to Düsseldorf, but it was all very part of a recruitment strategy that lured unnecessary.” Brazilians like Luiz Gustavo (who was out the door to Bayern just as Firmino arrived) It’s the sort of hyper-competitive attitude and, later, Joelinton to the club. that epitomises Klopp’s celebrated drive and intensity as a coach. And it’s all the By the time Hoffenheim went to Dortmund more amusing because, had things ended in May 2013, Firmino had become an ever- any other way — had Schmelzer’s goal present in the team, usually supporting an stood, had Dortmund converted any of inept hodgepodge of strikers up top. What their missed opportunities and dashed the 21 year old lacked in final product — any chance of a Hoffenheim fightback — he had only five goals and two assists in Klopp’s time at Liverpool might look very 29 league starts that year — he made up different. Because by relegating Roberto with the work rate and link-up play that Firmino’s Hoffenheim, Klopp would have have since become trademarks. Those almost surely condemned himself to traits were burnished at a club still heavily a future without Roberto Firmino. And influenced by the management of Ralf that’s a universe in which no Liverpool Rangnick, who had departed two years supporter, let alone Klopp himself, would earlier. Still, Hoffenheim struggled terribly want to live. in 2012-13, sacking two managers and having the worst defensive record in the league to show for it.

43 At the Westfalenstadion that day, Firmino committee really bought Firmino for played Salihović through on goal in the Klopp. may have been first half, only for the finish to be hit the manager, but he was on borrowed straight at Weidenfeller. Of course, his time; Fenway Group had eyes for most impressive contribution was the Klopp and it was only a matter of time even better through-ball to Schipplock in before they lured him out of his post- the 80th minute, which drew the penalty Dortmund sabbatical to replace Rodgers. that would save Hoffenheim’s season. In Hoffenheim’s highly rated attacker was that respect, Roberto Firmino is truly the effectively a housewarming present for master of his own destiny. the manager-in-waiting.

But what if Hoffenheim had failed It’s a far-fetched theory, albeit one to escape the drop? The following enforced by reports that Rodgers had season was Firmino’s breakthrough as not wanted to sign Firmino, as well a professional; in 2013-14, he scored as the odd way in which the manager 16 league goals and set up 12 more as deployed his new player at the start Hoffenheim improved to a ninth-place of his Liverpool career. One lasting Bundesliga finish. Perhaps he would have memory is the 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford moved to another top-division club, in September 2015, when Firmino in Germany or elsewhere, and put in a and were shunted wide similarly impressive season to draw the in support of (who attention of Europe’s biggest teams. Or scored a memorable consolation goal maybe Hoffenheim would have managed with an overhead ). Firmino to retain him for a push to return to the had a dreadful game — a makeshift Bundesliga, obfuscating his talents in the winger, exposed for pace, drifting on second division for the time being. the margins of the match before getting hauled off on 65 minutes. In any number of ways, his career would have progressed down a considerably Everything changed with Klopp’s arrival. different path. It was the following two The German had witnessed Firmino’s seasons that saw Firmino cement his emergence in the Bundesliga firsthand; status as Hoffenheim’s most influential he needed no convincing of his qualities. player, and one of the Bundesliga’s What’s more, given Firmino’s training most promising talents. Those were the under a Rangnick-influenced regime at circumstances that led him to Liverpool, Hoffenheim, Klopp knew he had a player where he moved for a reported £29 versed in the Gegenpressing principles on million in the summer of 2015. which he would build his Liverpool team. It was not long before Firmino established himself as central to Klopp’s plans, in more ways than one. There was a conspiracy theory that once made the rounds among Liverpool’s Firmino would become the nexus around sprawling online fan community, which which one of the era’s greatest football suggested the club’s infamous transfer teams functioned. Operating through

44 the middle of Liverpool’s frontline, he boomed around grounds across the proved the perfect centre-forward to lead world. He has become one of the most Klopp’s press, and the ideal facilitator for beloved players in the club’s modern the side’s devastating counterattack. He history and for many fans it would be remains one-third of the best front three unfathomable to consider this Liverpool in world football, a key link between the team’s success without him. eight men playing behind him and the blistering threat posed by and And yet, all it would have taken was for ahead. How effective the linesman’s flag to stay down on that would Mané and Salah be without the spring day in Dortmund seven years ago. selfless Brazilian between them, doing the Hoffenheim would have gone down, hard yards and tying together the play? and Firmino would have probably made his way to another Bundesliga club, It’s no wonder that many consider him or perhaps tried his hand elsewhere Liverpool’s most irreplaceable player, and on the continent. The only thing that the hardest one to find cover for. Imagine, seems likely, provided he stayed fit, is then, a world in which Liverpool didn’t that he’d continue his progression as a have him at all. footballer and eventually get a big move somewhere—though where, exactly, would be left to circumstance. It’s not hard to imagine him as one of Diego The Anfield Wrap’s Neil Atkinson once Simeone’s favourite sons at Atlético spoke of Firmino’s “spiritual” importance Madrid, or part of ’s to Klopp’s Liverpool — a factor at once world-beaters at . intangible and yet wholly essential to the ethos that has reared the club’s sixth Where would that have left Klopp’s European Cup and its first English title Liverpool? Christian Benteke was not in 30 years. Firmino is the embodiment long for Klopp’s world and even a fit of how Klopp’s Liverpool should play was clearly not in the football: an intoxicating union of skill manager’s plans as a regular starter. and technique with effort, aggression, has proven a serviceable self-belief, and tactical intelligence. His player for Liverpool (and a cult hero to is the swagger and exuberance of a man boot) but has never found the requisite who has not let the grind of professional consistency. Firmino’s presence meant football dampen his love of the game, nor that Klopp could prioritise his budget in sand down his personality into something other areas — specifically on pace and less eccentric. quality in wide areas, hence the arrivals of Mané and Salah in consecutive summers. For that, the man they call Bobby is Firmino’s absence would probably have adored by Liverpool supporters the world led to a different recruitment strategy; over. He is the recipient of perhaps the perhaps Gini Wijnaldum wouldn’t have most infectious chant bestowed upon a arrived for £25 million in the same Liverpool player since , summer as Mané if the Reds had also the refrain of “Si, Señor!” having now needed another striker.

45 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS

Prospective names from the recent past, of City on Boxing Day 2019, like , come to mind as options in which his number 9 scored two. “He they could have turned to. All in all, is not the only one who can play that you’d have backed Klopp to figure it out position, but he can play that position in a and build a winner. But as his tenure at very special way.” Liverpool has shown, the margins at the highest level are painfully thin. Replace And so you’re left to wonder whether one Roberto Firmino with someone who gives of the great football men of our time — you even 90% of what Firmino does and someone who well understands the fickle there’s no guarantee that silverware awaits. nature of this game we love — grasps how close everything came to being so “He is the connector for our team,” Klopp very different. said of Firmino after the 4-0 demolition

1

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46 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS

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What if Poland had equalised in the last minute of the final qualifier and England hadn’t made it to Italia 90?

BY BEN KOSKY

Bobby Robson talks with .

Gazza’s tearful night in , Bobby Cue sighs of relief from Robson, his players Robson’s redemption and the origin of a and all followers of the national team. national hang-up about penalty shoot- outs – for England football fans, these So what might have been the consequences are the abiding memories of Italia ’90. had the trajectory of Tarasiewicz’s shot been only fractionally lower? England’s unexpected run to the semi- finals, cruelly ended by spot-kick defeat at the hands of the Germans, would become treasured as a heroic near Robson Out, Kendall In? miss, a launchpad for rekindling public interest in football. That would swell into Most obviously, defeat in Poland would a large-scale rebranding of the sport undoubtedly have spelt the end for just two years later under the Premier Robson as England manager (as it was, League banner and a first step towards before the World Cup he accepted an the product that now generates billions of offer to take over PSV when pounds around the globe. his contract expired) – his legacy very different from that of the avuncular elder Yet for England it might never have statesman who came to be regarded with happened. general affection throughout the game. Robson had been pilloried by the tabloids It’s easy to forget, more than 30 years for some time. Only a year earlier, one later, that Robson’s under-pressure side newspaper branded him a “plonker” for were inches away from failing to reach confusing England’s opponents, Sweden, Italia 90 at all. England had slogged their with Denmark. He had also come under way towards qualification, sharing two pressure to resign after England flopped 0-0 draws with Sweden and needed at the European Championship in 1988, another point from their final game, away finishing bottom of their group with three to Poland on 11 October 1989, to book consecutive defeats. their place at the finals. After the disgrace of a failure to qualify, Having not let in a goal throughout Robson may not have gone on to pick qualifying, the veteran goalkeeper Peter up a series of plum coaching jobs around Shilton is still unbeaten in Chorzów as the Europe over the next decade. Nor would clock reaches 90 minutes. And then… the the CBE and subsequent knighthood have Poland midfielder Ryszard Tarasiewicz come his way. lines up a 30-yard drive. Shilton stretches frantically but cannot get his hand to the As to the identity of Robson’s successor, powerful shot, which thuds against his there’s a fair chance that the FA would crossbar and rebounds back into play. have looked beyond the claims of Within seconds the referee sounds the , the man eventually tasked final whistle and England are through, with building on the Italia 90 platform. albeit only as one of the best runners-up By then, Taylor had impressed by guiding across the European qualifying section. Aston Villa to the First Division runners-

50 up spot – but in the autumn of 1989, the However, it’s worth remembering that outstanding candidate to replace Robson Gazza was by no means an automatic would surely have been Howard Kendall. selection for England in 1989 – he didn’t feature in that game in Poland and his Kendall had transformed Everton into place in the World Cup squad remained genuine rivals to their city neighbours in doubt until a dazzling display against during the mid-80s, bringing the League in a warm-up match. title, an FA Cup and the European Cup Without the World Cup to showcase his Winners’ Cup to . skills, would Gascoigne’s career path have been different? Maybe the hype all Despite an indifferent spell at Athletic went to Gazza’s head, resulting in the in Bilbao, his stock was still high and loss of self-control that led to his reckless he would have been available – unlike challenge on Forest’s Gary the other outstanding English manager Charles in the 1991 FA Cup final and put of the time, , who had him out of action for more than a year recently taken over at Tottenham. So with a knee injury? no “Do I Not Like That” documentary, no superimposing root vegetables Of course, Gascoigne wasn’t the only on the face of the England manager member of the England team whose – and a different term than ‘wing- achievements in Italy would usher him back’ for that position. It was Taylor into the spotlight and ultimately bring who popularised the term by using about a move to a Serie A. , who it in in 1992 to describe his formed a potent midfield partnership with deployment of . Gazza during the tournament, boosted his reputation by volleying a dramatic last- minute winner against Belgium and then finding the net again in England’s quarter- No Italian Job For Gazza final win over Cameroon.

Paul Gascoigne attained the status of Platt emerged as a key figure during Aston a national icon the following summer, Villa’s title challenge that season and partly for his swashbuckling performances went on to sign for Bari in the summer of at Italia 90 and partly for his outpouring 1991 before moving on to Juventus and of emotion that captivated TV viewers. Sampdoria, as well as becoming England The Spurs midfielder’s tearful reaction captain. However, the Villa midfielder as it dawned on him that his yellow card did not even make his international in the semi-final meant a suspension debut until a month after that game in – should England progress – would Poland – and who can be certain that his become a defining image of the nation’s name would have been on the mind of disappointment. It catapulted Gascoigne Robson’s successor anyway? to superstardom, earning him a lucrative move to Lazio in an era when the Italian Platt might have ended up with league was regarded as the pinnacle of significantly fewer than the 62 England the world game. caps he eventually won, while Peter

51 Shilton would certainly not have Cole (2012) – might have felt under gone on to amass a final tally of 125 less pressure if and Chris had he conceded in Poland. Having Waddle hadn’t set the tone for such already broken ’s England public misgiving about the team’s appearance record earlier that year, penalty-taking abilities in 1990. Shilton – who had already turned 40 – would surely have felt compelled to retire from international football there and then. Birth of the Premier League

England’s Spot of Bother English football wasn’t in a good place back in 1989. Hooliganism had plagued England’s elimination from the 1990 the domestic game throughout much of World Cup came about after their first the decade, resulting in the 1985 Heysel brush with penalties, setting in motion a Stadium disaster and Uefa’s subsequent national inferiority complex that would decision to ban all English teams from endure for another 28 years. their competitions. Football fans were widely regarded as undesirables, to be Successive England managers would be herded in and out of grounds and the quizzed ahead of every major tournament tragic consequences of that approach about the extent to which they had had come home to roost at Hillsborough, prepared the squad for the possibility six months before the qualifier in Poland. of penalties – accompanied by an underlying tone of dread and foreboding. In the wake of Hillsborough, the Taylor The English public became conditioned Report forced clubs to begin upgrading to expect failure from 12 yards out and their and the need to finance those fears would be justified over and that encouraged them to seek ways of over again until ’s side increasing revenue through a reboot of finally triumphed on spot-kicks against the league and a new TV deal. But, while Colombia at the 2018 World Cup. the Premier League was in the pipeline anyway, it was the appeal of Italia 90 and Southgate, of course, had been one of the performance of the England team that the fall guys as a player – taking the kick triggered a renewed public interest in the that sealed another semi-final defeat to game, snowballing sufficiently to bring Germany at Euro ‘96 – and the fact that about that upheaval within two years. As the England’s old rivals were beneficiaries 1990s progressed, football’s image changed again can only have increased the growth and a second upsurge in its popularity after of this national trauma. But maybe England had hosted Euro 96 made the Southgate – along with Paul Ince and Premier League an attractive option for the (1998), and world’s players and wealthy investors. (2004), , and It’s also worth considering whether Sky (2006) and and Ashley Sports would have thrived – or even

52 survived – but for landing the contract to and Sky turned their losses into a £60m broadcast live Premier League matches profit at the end of that first season. in 1992. Perhaps they, like others, have reason At the time, the company had been to be thankful that Tarasiewicz was struggling to broaden their audience, but marginally off target that night in the Premier League proved an irresistible Chorzów. hook to football fans around the country

53 THE REGRETS OF VITALIY KOSOVSKYI

What if Bayern hadn’t come back against Dynamo Kyiv in the 1999 semi-final?

BY DAN CUMMERSON AND VADIM FURMANOV

The Dynamo Kyiv coach Valeriy Lobanovski during the game against Bayern .

It is 7 April 1999 in the Ukrainian capital goals. He kissed Lobanovskyi three times Kyiv – 82,000 fans are crammed into on the cheek and said, “Not only the roofless Olimpiyskyi stadium as the but the whole world saw your triumph rain lashes down and the atmosphere tonight.” The Dynamo squad were seen as reaches a deafening pitch – as the clock representing the Social Democratic Party hits the 62nd minute, it’s the opportunity of Ukraine, for which the club president every Dynamo Kyiv fan and player have Hryhoriy Surkis was an MP. dreamt about; a chance to make history and reach the Champions League final After the historic victory, Lobanovskyi for the first time in the club’s history. said, “This match showed that it is not only money, which allows you to acquire Through the 90s Dynamo Kyiv had superstars, that decides the outcome become the dominant force in the of matches. Finances, of course, are an Eastern bloc, having won the previous important component of football, but six Ukrainian League titles and three of still not the main one. We fought on the seven finals. Valeriy equal terms with Real Madrid, a mini- Lobanovskyi, an institution at the club national team of the world.” Dynamo, who had led them to seven Soviet league of course, were no paupers. Politically title and two Cup Winners’ Cups, was well-connected and financially well- back in charge for a third time after endowed, they were the dominant force spending six years managing in the Middle domestically. And this was a team with East. The front pair of some European pedigree: two Cup and were among the most Winners’ Cups, a European feared strikers in Europe. and two previous appearances in the European Cup semi-finals. An eye-catching run the previous season, which included Shevchenko announcing But they were still minnows compared himself on the world stage with a hat trick to Madrid. In a post-Cold War Europe, at the in a 4-0 dismantling soaring economic disparities between of Barcelona, saw Dynamo reach the West and East meant that clubs like Champions League quarter-final before Dynamo would never be able to compete losing to Marcelo Lippi’s Juventus. A financially. Their presence in the semi- season later, they had gone a stage finals was a holdover of a bygone era, further. After overcoming a tough group one where Central and Eastern European comprising Lens, Panathinaikos and the sides were able to keep hold of their best Premier League champions Arsenal, they players and challenge the historic giants had beaten the defending champions Real of Western Europe as near-equals. It was Madrid 3-1 in the quarters on aggregate. a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The national president, Leonid Kuchma, Only ’s Bayern Munich despite being embroiled in scandal, visited stood between Dynamo and a place in the players in the dressing room after the the Champions League final. Bayern, on 2-0 second-leg win over Madrid at the course for their 14th German league title Olimpiyskyi, with Shevchenko scoring both and a historic treble – just like Manchester

56 United in the other semi – remained advanced, Kosovskyi tried to heavy favourites to reach the final. chip him. He slipped on the wet surface as he did so and, as he fell, glanced over There was some history between the two. his shoulder to see the ball drift over the In 1975, a Dynamo side fresh off their bar. His “grimace of disappointment”, as first Cup Winners’ Cup Triumph thrashed he himself described it, told its own story. European Cup winners Bayern 3-0 over The newspaper Sport Express wrote that two legs in the Super Cup. Oleh Blokhin it was a “sin” not to have taken advantage scored all three goals in the tie on his way of the opportunity. to a Ballon d’Or. Years later Kosovskyi himself would In the 1976-77 European Cup quarter- acknowledge that “had I scored, Bayern final Dynamo overturned a 1-0 first probably would not have come back.” leg deficit with two late goals in Kyiv Bayern, as though galvanised by the to eliminate the three-time defending let-off, pulled one back through Stefan champions Bayern from the competition, Effenberg. Shevchenko had another before losing their own semi-final to chance to make it 4-2, but his effort was Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 on parried by Kahn and cleared off the line aggregate. More recently, Bayern had by Lothar Matthäus. then defeated Dynamo 1-0 in Munich and 4-1 turned in the box to stab in an equaliser in in Kyiv in the Group Stage of the 1994-95 the 88th minute. Champions League. Even though the match ended 3-3, it On the night of the first leg of the semi, felt like a defeat. It was not so much that the downpour was unrelenting, the wet Bayern had three away goals, but rather surface aiding Dynamo’s slick passing. the manner of the result. After being Twice in the first half Shevchenko struck. inches from a commanding three-goal pulled one back on the advantage, Bayern’s comeback was stroke of half-time but five minutes disheartening and mentally draining for after the break, Vitaliy Kosovskyi took Dynamo. advantage of some uncharacteristic hesitancy in the Munich defence to Afterwards Lobanovskyi rued his team’s steer Kyiv into a 3-1 lead. The Ukrainians missed chances, remarking, “I got the seemed on course for their own historic impression that the Dynamo players could treble, having secured another league title not imagine that they could score 6-8 by nine points from their emerging rivals goals against Bayern.” The newspaper Sport Shakhtar and with a Ukrainian Express tersely summed up the match: cup final to play at the end of May. “Hitzfeld rejoices, Ukraine is in shock.”

12 minutes later, Kosovskyi had the Lobanovskyi would later say the draw chance to make it 4-1, played through with Bayern was one of two matches by Alyaksandr Khatskevich. Score and during his three-decade long coaching Dynamo, even with two hours still left career that he could not explain or in the tie, were as good as through. As understand. The only other was the 4-3

57 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS defeat of his Soviet Union to Belgium in had kept it together so long. There the 1986 World Cup Round of 16. was a final Ukrainian Cup, Karpaty beaten 3-0 in the final with Shevchenko In the return leg two weeks later, Dynamo scoring twice. looked lost and aimless. A solitary goal in Munich gave Bayern a That summer Shevchenko moved to 4-3 aggregate victory to set up their Milan, while captain Oleh Luzhny signed final in Barcelona – a game that had its for Arsenal after impressing Arsène own obvious Sliding Doors moment. Wenger in the group stages. Kahn made several key saves, but overall Bayern looked comfortable, especially The following season Dynamo were still after going up 1-0. able to reach the second group stage of the Champions League, where they “If you want to talk about the match, you were drawn with familiar foes Real Madrid need to talk about two separate halves,” and Bayern. They were only eliminated said Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko. “If in the thanks to Madrid’s superior head-to-head first we played good, solid football, then record. That would be the club’s last the second was agony and we lost our deep foray into the Champions League style. In games like this, you need to for some time. Rebrov, the other crucial maintain a very high level throughout the piece of the 1999 side, followed Luzhny match, which we could not do today.” to North London in an ill-fated transfer to Spurs. It would take 15 years for Dynamo In reality, the tie had already been lost to once again appear in the competition’s 1 in Kyiv. knockout stages.

“This is surely the last time they will reach Vitaly Kosovskyi’s career was laden with the semi-final of the Champions League,” trophies. He won six Ukrainian league Simon Kuper wrote in of titles and four Cups. He played 25 times Dynamo. “The team will break up.” for Ukraine. But he must still think back to The idea of The Squall is to help out freelance that one-on-one and wonder what might Kuper’s words were prescient. Only have been. writers during the Covid-19 crisis. For it to survive Lobanovskyi and local political influence and thrive, we are asking readers to pay what they can and we suggest a minimum donation of £3.

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58 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS

1

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What if Agüero had gone down against QPR in 2012, leaving Mario Balotelli to take the penalty?

BY HUW DAVIES

Sergio Agüero holds the Premiership trophy aloft, flanked by Mario Balotelli.

‘93:20’ has become a pillar of Manchester falls under the challenge and Mike Dean – City’s brand. Giving its name to a who else? – awards the penalty. (There is documentary, a podcast, a hospitality no universe in which Mike Dean does not lounge and limitless merchandise, 93:20 award the penalty.) After a long delay, up was the time on the match clock when steps… Mario Balotelli. Sergio Agüero scored against QPR on 13 May 2012 to secure City’s first top- Unquestionably it is Balotelli, denied what flight title in 44 years. It was the moment would have been his first and last assist they avoided ‘doing a City’; the moment in 70 Premier League appearances, who they ended decades of self-destruction is on spot-kick duty. Why always him? and underachievement; the moment Because the Italian is City’s designated their £35m striker shoved out a foot and penalty-taker, always getting the nod stopped those sliding doors from closing. ahead of excellent practitioners such as Yaya Touré, and Agüero, Yet Manchester City’s true Sliding Doors and boasting a record of five from five moment came on 93:19. already in 2011-12, including a similarly high-stakes strike in the January rain On 93:19, Agüero is fouled by the QPR against Tottenham, also deep into defender Taye Taiwo. He’s clipped. stoppage time, also with the score poised There’s contact. He has Every Right To Go at 2-2. Down. But Agüero, with that poise and single-mindedness of a great goalscorer, As it happens, Balotelli is the character rides the challenge and, without looking such an occasion demands, too. The 21 up, powers the ball past Paddy Kenny. year old’s second season in England has been eventful. In October, he set part of What if Agüero had followed the his house alight by letting off fireworks in instinct of so many strikers and gone to his bathroom, before celebrating a well- ground instead? taken goal in the next day’s Manchester – a derby that City would win 6-1, There are infinite alternate universes at Old Trafford – by lifting his shirt to branching from this second. In our world, reveal a message that read “Why Always Agüero stays on his feet and scores surely Me?” In November, he was sent off within the most pivotal goal of 21st-century 20 minutes of appearing as a second- English football. In another timeline, he half substitute at Anfield; in December, stays on his feet only to skew the ball he shrugged in a goal against Norwich; wide, or straight at Kenny, triggering all and in January, that season-defining manner of inquests from “Do City lack penalty against Spurs came after Balotelli a winning mentality?” to “Was Agüero had avoided immediate punishment for too honest?” and, inevitably, “Do we stamping on . need VAR?” One moment, one decision, creates a Russian doll of Pandora’s boxes. In fact, it’s a surprise that Balotelli is even on the pitch to face QPR. A red But let’s imagine that the first step in this card against Arsenal in April, bringing flowchart takes us another way: Agüero his third suspension of the campaign

62 and his fifth in England, had prompted Certainly, from the stands to the pitch to an exasperated to say, the boardroom, any club would suffer “We have six games left and he will not psychologically from the blow of such an play.” And he didn’t, at least until Mancini avoidable last-gasp failure – not so much needed two goals in the season’s final falling at the final hurdle as tripping on a 15 minutes. Yet Balotelli has also shown shoelace and landing face-first an inch his elusive genius more than once and short of the finish line. For Manchester Mancini knows he won’t be cowed by City, however, getting over the trauma the enormousness of this occasion. could be uniquely, even impossibly hard.

Maybe Balotelli will dwarf the moment The way in which City have since doubled itself, even. There’s no shortage of their all-time haul of major trophies, football fans who remember City’s within just eight years, makes it easy crushing 6-1 derby win earlier in to forget the inferiority complex that the season as the “Why Always Me?” surrounded the club for such an extended game, even though it represented period. Their history is steeped in anti- so much more. It was Manchester climax and farce. “Typical City” was the United’s heaviest home defeat since phrase. Or, as their own manager, Joe 1955, featured the most goals they’d Royle, called it: Cityitis. conceded in a match at Old Trafford since 1930 and the emphatic scoreline Up until 13 May 2012, everyone would ultimately decide the title in City’s remembered that this was the club whose favour, months down the line. But the fans had watched gallop chosen image from that historic clash across the pitch as his Luton is… well, always him. If this penalty were side sent City down in 1983; watched to end up in the QPR net, Balotelli could their own team somehow succeed in – even unintentionally – find a way to time-wasting their own way to relegation overshadow his club finally becoming in 1996; watched City try their hardest champions of England. to lose a third-tier play-off final in 1999, four days after their cross-city rivals had Or, God forbid, he doesn’t score. Balotelli lifted the European Cup. In his book, is already at the apparent height of his Manchester City Ruined My Life, Colin fame and infamy, and such a pantomime Shindler – author, historian and City fan – villain that his likeness embodied a wrote: “Cityitis is not a bacterial infection towering effigy for a Guy Fawkes Night that can be cured by the antibiotics of bonfire. What happens if he then misses running the club in a professional manner perhaps the biggest penalty in English with a ‘winning mentality’. Cityitis is a football history? The striker’s “Why vitamin deficiency that we are born with.” Always Me?” shirt hit back at a media he perceived as obsessively critical; the That deficiency was laid bare for all to see fallout from this miss would be greater as Mancini’s City laboured against QPR. and probably uglier. And while he might “The clock ticked round,” David Conn well be cast as a lone sinner, Balotelli recalled in Richer Than God, “and this wouldn’t be alone in facing the flak. Manchester City of superstars seemed

63 to shed layers of skin and discover the fans and backroom staff within seconds, old City lurking within them.” Balotelli before filtering through to the players and was City’s expensive young talent, who Alex Ferguson, the news instead is: there’s was just as preternaturally predisposed a penalty. as his employers to shooting himself in the foot, possibly with a firework. If Celebrations end immediately. he were to miss the penalty that could Abandoning their applause for the define the club’s future, not its past, this travelling supporters, who are no longer would confirm what everybody knew watching them anyway, Manchester already: that whatever fineries they wore, United’s hitherto happy players run Manchester City would always do this to from the pitch to the themselves. Typical City. touchline, searching for a screen to enlighten them. United and “Nobody,” wrote Conn, “would ever forget fans alike are refreshing live feeds, or the Sheikh’s expensively-bought club huddling around a stranger with Sky choked like this.” Least of all Manchester Sports on their phone, or searching for City themselves. information from Twitter, from friends, from anyone, but this competing What, then, is the outcome? What desperation for bandwidth means nothing happens when Mario Balotelli, with the will load, no one can get through. The eyes of those at the Etihad, the Stadium rumours begin. There’s been a pitch of Light – where Manchester United have invasion at the Etihad; Balotelli and won, and sit top of the Premier League Agüero are arguing over who will take table as it stands – and the rest of the the penalty; City have scored; City have world on him, saunters forward to take missed. Each rumour spreads, becomes a penalty that, one way or another, will distorted, then falls to the floor beside change English football forever? the discarded programmes and empty crisp packets. Not a soul can hear the The waiting is intolerable, and not just announcer on the PA system. Something in Manchester. As it had in our universe, must be happening by now. Something the final whistle sounded in Sunderland must happen. while Manchester City were in their half, building the attack that led to Taiwo’s foul Balotelli steps up, and another set of on Agüero. But instead of the news of sliding doors begins to close. a goal reaching the Manchester United

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What if López had fouled Fairclough and prevented him scoring Liverpool’s winner against St Étienne in 1977?

BY NIGE TASSELL

Emlyn Hughes and .

16 March 1977, Anfield. There are just Borussia Mönchengladbach in the final in six minutes left of the European Cup . It will be the first of six occasions quarter-final between Liverpool and on which they’ll be crowned champions French champions Saint-Étienne. The of Europe. The seven years that follow visitors, 1-0 from the first leg, are 2-1 will be the most successful period of down but have that all-important the club’s history. And all because of the away goal, thanks to an extraordinary nerve of the young man forever known swerving shot from the midfielder as Supersub. Dominique Bathenay. But let’s play it again. Rewind the tape, That crucial third goal looks unlikely. adjust the tracking and see what might The home side are getting desperate, happen this time around. lumping the ball forward without much plan or precision. Back it comes into the Here we go. Kennedy’s lob takes the same Liverpool half and back it goes upfield trajectory and, again, Fairclough races like again. But there’s no on the a whippet to meet it. But this time López pitch now, no target man to hold up the doesn’t try to match him stride for stride, ball while his teammates flood forward. instead allowing the substitute an extra His replacement, a copper-headed yard in which to control the ball. There’s striker only a couple of months past his method in the Frenchman’s thinking. 20th birthday, isn’t a target man. David López’s left leg scythes Fairclough down, Fairclough is a runner. But the ball isn’t just two yards short of the box. coming to him. As the Dutch referee issues a yellow card, Until… places the ball exactly 20 yards out. Having already announced his Just inside his own half, , intention to leave the club at season’s ever the relaxed midfielder, calmly lobs end, he knows these might be his final the ball forward into the inside-left slot. few minutes of European football in a Fairclough – on the pitch for only ten Liverpool shirt. He missed a gilt-edged minutes and with legs still very much opportunity to score the third goal just a fresh – is on to it in a flash, bringing the few minutes earlier and needs to make ball under control while holding off the amends. That fluffed chance can’t be the attentions of the Saint-Étienne defender headline in tomorrow’s Echo. This free- Christian López. Fairclough is too quick kick has to fly into the top corner. It must. for him and, after another steadying He pauses. He charges towards the ball. touch, he slips the ball past the keeper He sends it high, wide and unhandsome, and into the net, where it disappears into nearly clearing the Kop. a mass of discarded toilet paper. The Kop tumbles forward in ecstasy. Half a The last few minutes feel like an age for dozen minutes later and Liverpool are the Saint-Étienne fans squeezed into into the semi-finals of the European Cup the Anfield Road End, but whizz by for for the first time since 1965. There they the Liverpool faithful. Bob Paisley’s men will brush past FC Zürich before beating launch attack after attack, but the French

68 withstand each and every assault. Three As announced, Keegan leaves the club sharp blasts on the whistle bring the flurry at the end of the season. The club aren’t to a standstill. Les Verts are ecstatic. The panicking, though. They’ve lined up Reds are numb. That march to Rome, that as his replacement and a charge to a historic Treble, is over. pre-signing visit to Anfield by the Celtic forward seems to go well. He heads back Even if their European ambitions have to to talk things over with his been put on hold for another season, wife Marina, but there’s an intervention. As Liverpool remain in a very strong position he relaxes in the first-class compartment to achieve their first-ever domestic of the train back home, mulling over Double. But the left leg of López didn’t the move south, Dalglish is joined by a only bring Fairclough crashing to the passenger who boards at Carlisle. His ground, it seems to have scythed through name is and this is a heist. Liverpool’s season. Confidence is shot. Clough spends the rest of the journey Keegan, the fulcrum around whom the explaining that he believes post-Shankly rest of the team draw their energy, in Liverpool to be a busted flush and that particular suffers a dramatic loss of form. there is a new force ready to dominate English football – a revolution that he just Liverpool do still make the Cup Final, but happens to be at the controls of. By the ’s backside intervenes, time the train slides into Glasgow Central, a cruelly freakish goal that takes the Cup Dalglish has agreed to become the to Manchester instead. Meanwhile, any country’s first million-pound footballer. ambitions of at least retaining the title He is now the star player of just-promoted implode in the final furlong. Liverpool Nottingham Forest, who’ve paid twice become football’s Devon Loch. Needing the fee that did for Keegan. The only five points from the final five country – and in particular the citizens of matches of the season, they manage Liverpool – are stunned. just one draw. The main beneficiaries of this collapse are ’s But Dalglish is level-headed enough to Town who, winning each of deal with the hype. At the , he their last six games, pip Manchester City forges an excellent partnership with his by a short head. Six years before David compatriot John Robertson and his 23 Pleat would show his own final-day goals drive Forest to the title at the first fancy footwork, Robson’s gallop onto time of asking, holding off the challenge the pitch at as the title is of champions Ipswich. But the Tractor confirmed will become one of English Boys aren’t too unhappy at failing to domestic football’s most heart-warming defend their crown. A FA Cup triumph is sights. There’s no dancing for Bob Paisley decent compensation, especially as this down at Ashton Gate. A final-day defeat their first season under player-manager to Bristol City condemns Liverpool to , following the appointment third place. The season that promised so of Bobby Robson – five years earlier much, even in its last couple of months, than expected – to the post of England ends without an addition to the Anfield manager after ’s surprise trophy cabinet. departure to the UAE.

69 Dalglish seems to have made the right Cup; it’s the third tournament in a row decision. Liverpool, having persevered that the national team will be absent from. with Bob Paisley for another trophy-free season, abandon principle The Nottingham Forest board obviously in the summer of 1978 and instead still rate Robson as a club manager, appoint a tail-between-the-legs Revie on though, and appoint him as Clough’s his return to the country. It doesn’t work successor. It’s effectively a job-swap. The out. The following season, only a final- board are right to put faith in his abilities. day 0-0 draw at – Revie’s In 1983, at the end of his second season first match there in the opposing dug- in the East Midlands, Robson leads Forest out – ensures Liverpool’s survival in the to the domestic Double, pipping his top flight. He’s given his cards within 24 former charges Ipswich to the title as well hours. Over the following few seasons, as beating them in the cup final, much to a string of similar short-term managerial the disappointment of his former captain appointments – including those of Ron Mick Mills. Both sides enjoy successful Saunders, and Terry Venables adventures in Europe throughout the – fail to bring the glory days back to 1980s. The Robson/Mills rivalry extends Anfield. With no-one to match him, the into the following decade when they are beatification of Shankly is complete. appointed as the respective coaches of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Clough is similarly anointed. After the league title in 1978, he takes Forest to And what of Clough? Having taken European Cup glory the following season, England to the runners-up spot at the when Dalglish launches himself at a 1984 European Championship, he goes hanging Robertson cross to nod home one better in Mexico two years later. the only goal against Malmö. Forest retain After publicly applauding his goalkeeper the trophy against Keegan’s Hamburg for taking out an airborne in 1980 and Real Madrid 1981. Keegan during the quarter-final, doesn’t score in either final. Dalglish Clough guides England to the World scores in both. Cup final against France. Two-nil down to a couple of penalties, This international success finally gives a monumental comeback sees Peter Clough the reward he’s been craving. Beardsley score a hat-trick in seven Having been overlooked for the job in second-half minutes, single-handedly 1974 and 1977, he is summoned to the FA winning the trophy for England and headquarters at Lancaster Gate, emerging pipping his team-mate to an hour later to inform the nation that he the Golden Boot. (Beardsley will later is the new England boss. “They’ve finally enjoy a highly successful media career on seen sense,” he tells the gathered press the back of this, ultimately becoming the pack. “Took them long enough, didn’t host of .) it?” But he’s got a proper task in front of him. The steepest of inclines. Robson’s Clough is generous in the praise he offers departure comes after he fails to secure to the crestfallen France manager. His England’s qualification for the 1982 World counterpart is a young man whose playing

70 career, like that of Clough, was cruelly cut ending injury in the process. It happened short by injury. He wasn’t the victim of in 1977 when he was just 24 years old. His a savage tackle; he was the one dealing name was Christian López. out the medicine, but sustained a career-

71 THE REJECTED RETRACTION

What if Alex Ferguson had retired in 2001, and Sven-Göran Eriksson had replaced him at Old Trafford?

BY RICHARD JOLLY

Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven Göran Eriksson.

Sir Alex Ferguson rang Maurice could not catch Arsenal in the Premier Watkins. He had changed his mind, the League. They came behind Liverpool, Manchester United manager reported. leading Gérard Houllier to claim United Or rather it had been changed for him. had been knocked off their perch as The Ferguson family, corralled by Cathy, cocks of the north. There would be no his wife, had informed him he was not Champions League final at Hampden retiring at the end of the 2001-02 season. Park, the ground Ferguson called home He was only about to turn 60, anyway, in his days as a Queen’s Park centre- and his friend Bobby Robson was almost forward: Bayer Leverkusen knocked a decade older and still going strong. So United out in the semi-final; Ferguson’s could he have a new contract? Three critics attributed it to his decision to sell years would take him up to 2005. It would the previous year, interpreting allow him to build a new team. it as a sign of decline.

It was then the conversation turned His mood was not improved as he stewed awkward. Watkins said he and the United in Wilmslow during Eriksson’s extended board had needed to plan for the future. honeymoon period. The Swede had been They had thought a man as decisive as hounded out of the England job but his Ferguson would not perform a U-turn. reputation was then enhanced when They had identified their preferred his replacement Steve McClaren was candidate, approached him and agreed outwitted by Argentina’s a deal. Only a select few knew because during a wretched group-stage exit from they were aware there would be a storm the World Cup and burnished as United when it was revealed United had poached reclaimed the Premier League title in England’s popular manager in a World 2002-03. Eriksson repeated his England Cup year, but Sven-Göran Eriksson would formula and appointed David Beckham succeed Ferguson at Old Trafford. captain, leading to record revenues for United’s commercial department as the For once, Ferguson was speechless, sponsorship deals flowed in. Beckham defeated by himself and a foe he did had never been more prolific and Juan not understand. Eriksson, with his bland Sebastian Verón produced his Lazio façade, seemed to lack his iron will but form for United, leading to further had outmanoeuvred him. Ferguson was unflattering comparisons with Ferguson. further annoyed when the storm broke Pelé declared was the best and some of his least favourite journalists player in the Champions League after and pundits suggested United had got watching him combine wonderfully well an upgrade in Eriksson, who had ended with in a holding-midfield the northern giants’ domination of Serie duo in Verón’s absence. But when the A to make Lazio champions and then Argentinian returned, Scholes was soon had orchestrated historic England’s 5-1 exiled to the left wing. Eriksson, some thrashing of Germany. He turned his said, could not find a way to resolve his attention to his final few months at Old Verón-Scholes conundrum. Eriksson Trafford but there was no happy ending. had spent heavily on his Lazio loyalists, December defeats cost United and they capitalising on the financial problems at

74 his former club by bringing in Hernán outspoken Keane, exploiting Lazio’s lack Crespo, to partner of money by replacing him with Diego in his preferred 4-4-2 formation, and Simeone. The notion that United could . The Italian defender’s prosper when one of their star players arrival sent cash-strapped Leeds, who had got another sent off in a World had had hoped to sell to Cup struck many as anathema. Eriksson another United for £30 million, on a path wondered what all the fuss was about. that led to administration. Meanwhile, Arsène Wenger picked up The odd man out in Eriksson’s midfield a young Portuguese prodigy who had was , who had propelled been on his radar. He loaned Cristiano to a World Cup final he missed Ronaldo back to Sporting for a after collecting a self-sacrificial caution in year and scarcely needed him as Arsenal the semi-final. But his mood took a turn went through the season unbeaten for the worse after losing the captaincy. while Chelsea and United continued He clashed with Eriksson’s explosive their footballing arms war by staging a assistant, Roberto Mancini, and struggled bidding war for the 17-year-old Wayne to hide his disdain for the Swede. “You Rooney. Ferguson won. Wenger accused can stick your Abba up your bollocks,” both of “financial doping” which Eriksson he told a bemused Eriksson in one row. shrugged off. Ferguson took particular “Fucking Dancing Queen.” Keane was delight when his Chelsea knocked Arsenal dropped for the Champions League out of the Champions League but the quarter-final against Real Madrid, came cracks in Eriksson’s United started to on and scored twice, goals he pointedly show when they were eliminated by did not celebrate, but United went out Porto: “first half good, second half not in a thriller that persuaded a watching so good,” said the Swede, but that had Russian billionaire, , to started to feel a theme. His reliance buy a club. He swooped for Chelsea. on 4-4-2 left United outnumbered in the middle of midfield, his side felt Ferguson, who had cabin fever at home, more of a star vehicle than a genuine was quick to put feelers out. Abramovich team and selling Solskjær to Ferguson was swift to sack and deprived him of a super-sub; Eriksson appoint a serial winner. Ferguson had one had instead pursued an expensive aim: to take down Eriksson and United. reunion with which few He started off by outbidding his old club thought had worked. Meanwhile, that for some young players he had identified unheralded Porto side proceeded to win before retiring, in , Arjen the Champions League and Liverpool, Robben, Petr Čech, and Glen looking for a successor to Houllier, hired Johnson. He tried to raid United, making a boyhood Liverpool fan: José Mourinho. a series of bids the men he deemed his disciples: Keane, Scholes, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who had been dropped for Crespo. Eriksson was happy It is of course all fictional. And yet the to take the opportunity to offload the pertinent element is how much of

75 what happened between Christmas of three great teams, at Old Trafford. 2001 and the summer of 2004 set the Without the post-2002 Ferguson, too, direction of the Premier League for would Scholes and Giggs have retired the next decade, if not longer. Most as one-club men, even if they came obviously, Ferguson remained at Old closest to leaving in the time after the Trafford for a further 11 years, winning Scot rescinded his retirement? It feels six more Premier Leagues, reaching a implausible to suggest that, without further three Champions League finals Ferguson’s influence or his time as his and lifting his second European Cup reserve-team manager, Solskjær would in 2013. He defied predictions of his be in charge today or, indeed, that his decline. In his own way, he outlasted recommendation would everyone: even Wenger, in the sense ever have been given the United job. that his last league title, in 2013, came nine years after the Frenchman’s. It was It may strike some as fanciful to suggest Ferguson who emerged as the major rival Eriksson could, like Ferguson, have to Abramovich’s Chelsea; as his family piloted United to the 2003 title. After suggested, he could build another great all, it remains the case that only Ernest team, and indeed began to do so soon Mangnall, Busby and Ferguson have after reversing his decision to retire. A made United champions. Louis van Gaal four-year wave of significant signings and José Mourinho have arrived with began: Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Rooney, more silverware-studded CVs than the Ji-sung Park, , Patrice Swede and not even staged a proper Évra, Nemanja Vidić and title challenge. There is a temptation to were all to start the 2009 Champions date Eriksson’s decline from the 5-1 in League final. Munich, or perhaps the 1-0 World Cup win over Bielsa’s Argentina, but he was at Ronaldo was one of many on Wenger’s the peak of his powers when Ferguson radar who eluded him; perhaps, contemplated standing down. Perhaps an otherwise, the Portuguese could have Eriksson-Mancini double act would have formed a very different successor to been formidable and the Italian had gone Dennis Bergkamp or . It is from being the on-field manager to the certainly possible to bracket Ronaldo Swede’s No.2 at Lazio. and as the two best ever Premier League players. Had Arsenal Maybe Ferguson’s on-field legacy would secured both, they surely would not have have been better had he quit in 2002. gone nine years without a trophy. They By 2013, his aura and winning habit had probably would have won the Champions compensated for other deficiencies and League. They might now be seen as he bequeathed an ageing defence and a English football’s real superpower; maybe substandard midfield. In 2002, the Class Wenger would even have Ferguson’s of 92 were all in their prime; so were Van status as arguably its best ever manager. Nistelrooy, Solskjær and Verón and it is tempting to wonder if Eriksson, either at Without Ferguson’s last 11 years, he may Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, could rank behind Sir , the builder have turned the Argentinian he twice

76 signed into a success in England. And yet, recognised, retiring at 60 would have especially considering the 2006 World been too early for a man of his incessant Cup, it is hard to escape the sense that drive. It would have rendered him the United’s descent into celebrity culture preeminent candidate for any ambitious would have come sooner had he replaced club once hints emerged he regretted Ferguson. The Scot lacked the damaging his departure. That he succeeded at big-name fixation United exhibited clubs as different as East Stirlingshire after his eventual retirement. Certainly and Manchester United, over times as Beckham may not have decamped to distant as 1974 and 2013, suggests his Real Madrid in 2003, when Ferguson was methods were sufficiently transferable far-sighted enough to make the young and his personality so forceful that he Ronaldo his replacement. could have flourished anywhere. And yet part of his strength stemmed from Ferguson was implacable in some control; the most important person at respects, flexible in others. A tactical United, he said proudly more than once, chameleon adapted to the era of was the manager. Mourinho and to the changing demands of the Champions League: while Eriksson The last great dictator would not have was stuck in his 4-4-2 straitjacket, been afforded the same authority Ferguson would usually field three in the elsewhere and an owner as impatient centre of midfield against elite European as Abramovich might not have stuck opponents (and erred, as in the 2011 with him during United’s awful autumn Champions League final, when he did of 2005, for instance. Ferguson can be not), and that shift accounted for United’s called a genius, but it took time to bring most consistent spell as a continental trophies to both Aberdeen and United. It force in their history. took time to develop a winning mentality. Once he did, United benefited for two Most damagingly, Ferguson’s second decades but that seemingly permanent coming brought the row with United domination ended with his departure. investors John Magnier and JP McManus Probably United would have fallen away over Rock of Gibraltar. Without that, sooner without him and without his they might not have sold their shares to extraordinary Indian summer; maybe, the Glazers and United would not have though, an early successor would have been loaded with debt and laboured with been better positioned to become the repayments. The more amenable Eriksson, fourth United manager to win the league. who seemed to glide through life without Ferguson could have facilitated Eriksson’s amassing enemies or bothering with triumph, though the younger man surely grudges, presumably wouldn’t have had would not have sustained success into any sort of fallout. The Swede sometimes his seventies. stood his ground against Ferguson, but the animosity felt one-sided.

Perhaps anger drove Ferguson. Certainly relentlessness did and, as his family

77 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS CONTRIBUTORS

Dan Cummerson is a freelance writer has written for 16 British national daily or who’s appeared in Times and Sunday newspapers. @RichJolly Racing Ahead magazine. He contributes to Grand Old Team, Black Watch Fanzine Jim Keoghan has written extensively on and Darts News. @dancummo Merseyside football, notably two books on Everton, Highs Lows and Bakayokos Huw Davies is a freelance writer and and Everton’s Greatest Games. sub-editor in , and previously the @Jim_Keoghan managing editor of FourFourTwo. When he isn’t being a professional pedant, he’s Ben Kosky is a London-based sports following Wales away, looking after a journalist and regular contributor to Sky three year old, playing board games or on Sports Digital Twitter @thehuwdavies. and BBC Sport, as well as several UK James Eastham writes about French national newspapers. @BenKosky1 football for FourFourTwo and When Saturday Comes. He was the founder Rey Mashayekhi is a writer and journalist 1 and editor of the French football fanzine currently based in Los Angeles. His Aux Armes! football-related work has appeared on and The Anfield Wrap. Tom Flight is a sportswriter from @reym12 Teesside who currently lives in Texas. His book Yer Joking Aren’t Ya? The Story Shastri Sookdeo is a Toronto-born, The idea of The Squall is to help out freelance of Middlesbrough’s 1996-97 Season is Trinidadian freelance writer. Based in published by Pitch Publishing. Paris, he has written for Football Paradise. writers during the Covid-19 crisis. For it to survive @ShastriRS23 Vadim Furmanov is a football writer and thrive, we are asking readers to pay what they originally from Ukraine, currently living in Nige Tassell writes for, among others, North Carolina, USA. @vfurmanov the Guardian, FourFourTwo and GQ. He can and we suggest a minimum donation of £3. is also the author of several sports books, Alex Hess is a subeditor at the Guardian including The Bottom Corner: Hope, and writes about football and film for Glory and Non-League Football, and Boot You can pay into The Squall's bank account anyone willing to pay him. @A_Hess Sale: Inside The Strange And Secret World Of Football’s (both (sort code 40-05-17 and account number Richard Jolly is a football journalist for Yellow Jersey Press). the National, the Guardian, the Observer, 71515942) or via PayPal to paypal.me/thesquall. the Straits Times, the Sunday Express, and FourFourTwo. He Thank you in advance for helping out.

78 ISSUE THREE SLIDING DOORS

1

The idea of The Squall is to help out freelance writers during the Covid-19 crisis. For it to survive and thrive, we are asking readers to pay what they can and we suggest a minimum donation of £3.

You can pay into The Squall's bank account (sort code 40-05-17 and account number 71515942) or via PayPal to paypal.me/thesquall.

Thank you in advance for helping out. Issue 3, July 2020, Sliding Doors

Featuring:

Alex Hess, The Eyjafjallajökull of Reason

Shastri Sookdeo, The Habit of a Lifetime

Jim Keoghan, For the Want of a Nail…

James Eastham, Houllier, Ginola, and Two Men without Visas

Tom Flight, Down the Pan

Rey Mashayekhi, The Flag of Fortune

Ben Kosky, The Width of a Crossbar

Dan Cummerson and Vadim Furmanov, The Regrets of Vitaliy Kosovskyi

Huw Davies, Not Always Him

Nige Tassell, The Good Christian

Richard Jolly, The Rejected Retraction