The Ace of Diamonds

[Brian W]

OK, its a new story. My last one suffered from a lack of interest in the save. This one I hope will be different, given that I'm a decade into the save. Also, the plan is for this to be a one-season story, incorporating much more detail than I usually do.

I have no idea what will happen on the pitch, as the season is yet to be played out, but I'm hoping for something fairly interesting on one front or the other, and not a season that effectively ends around February time.

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The last decade has seen the remarkable rise of a small club in the Midlands, under the leadership of a young manager who, despite opportunities to further his career at more fashionable clubs, has remained true to his roots. This loyalty was finally rewarded for both Quentin Quinn and his club, Rushden and Diamonds, in 2019, with promotion to the Premier League, a promotion which followed three promotions in four years in the early part of the 2010s before five years of consolidation in the Championship.

Promotion, although as champions, was said to have come a season too soon. And so it proved, as a terrible start to the season left just too much to do in the second half of the season. The final finishing position of twentieth and last surprised few, and neither did some of the results which included an 8-1 home mauling by an Arsenal side inspired by a record-breaking double hattrick from Khouma Babacar.

The Diamonds fans and management will be hoping that this time round, their side are more prepared for the prospect of Premier League football, and not just courtesy of the Rushden Stadium, which can accommodate over 16,000 spectators and was opened six weeks into their latest promotion season. Certainly, that promotion had much more of an air of authority about it than the previous one, with the centuries of goals and points both passed after their Premier League place had been clinched with six games to spare.

Pundits have contrasting opinions on the chances of the Diamonds avoiding the drop this time round. Many point to their form two years ago in the Premier League. Others counter that by pointing out the style with which promotion was achieved, and also the victories in the FA Cup against Premier League opposition, the highlight of which being the extra time win over Everton at Wembley in the semifinal – a win which provides more ammunition for the sceptics, with the resulting qualification for the Europa League courtesy of eventual winners Manchester United’s qualification for the Champions League. Will those extra games serve only as distractions and threaten survival in the league?

So, Quinn’s men embark on a second ever season of Premier League football, and also have the added enjoyment of their first ever adventure in European football. Who are the men joining him in this adventure?

[Brian W]

Goalkeepers

Matias Onesti, GK, 22 years old, Argentinian

4 seasons, 169 apps, 43 clean sheets, 6 MoM

Rated by many as the best keeper in Diamonds’ history after four seasons where he has produced some fantastic saves as the last line of defence. Only last season can he claim to have had the defence in front of him that he really deserved. Signed from his native Argentina for a club-record fee of £3.2million when aged just eighteen, he has missed just seven league games in four years, all of which came when he suffered a hernia in the middle of last season. Represented his country of birth twice at U20 level, and is eligible for both Argentina and Italy, both countries with vast stocks of goalkeeping resources.

Mladen Racic, GK, 23 years old, Serbian

1 season, 7 apps, 3 clean sheets

Another goalkeeper at Rushden with dual nationality. Racic won a solitary Serbian U21 cap, and could theoretically also represent Germany. He is unlikely to do so, with his career role likely to be one of reserve keeper. It is a role he filled more than adequately, conceding less than a goal a game when called upon to fill in for the injured Onesti last season

Defenders

Mark Lodge, D L, 22 years old, English

7 seasons, 261 apps, 1 goal, 11 assists, 3 MoM

The longest serving player at Rushden. Unbelievably, not 23 until after the first game of the season, he is ready to embark on his eighth season at the club. All eight seasons have been in the top two divisions of English football, and Lodge has been a first team regular throughout his stay at the club. He remains the club’s youngest player, having made his debut eleven days short of his sixteenth birthday. He has all the defensive ability required for a Premier League left back, and levels of energy and work rate which make him the complete modern-day full back. 51 under-21 caps suggest he will soon be Rushden’s first ever England player. Lodge’s first career goal arrived in his 260th league game, the penultimate game of last season.

Wael Galal, D/WB R, 25 years old, Egyptian (31 caps, 2 goals)

1 season, 36 apps, 3 assists, 1 MoM

The Egyptian full back was signed as right back cover behind Rodrigo. A combination of Galal’s performances at right back, and Rodrigo’s aptitude in the centre of defence led very quickly to a switch in the first choice back-four. Galal again has competition for his place in the first team this season, and will have to prove that he can grow into the role of a Premier League right back. His international record suggests that he is capable of fending off challengers for his number 2 shirt though.

Andy Hurst, D R, 25 years old, English

First season at Rushden

A real cut-price signing from Nottingham Forest, arriving for little over half a million pounds. Like Lodge, he has a bullet of a long throw which will concern the opposition defenders. He is also possible the marginally better footballer when compared to Galal. His signing for Rushden completes a rise from League Two football all the way up to the Premier League, having previously been on the books at Middlesbrough in the top flight, but never managing to make an appearance.

Rodrigo, D RC, 22 years old, Brazilian

2 seasons, 81 apps, 2 goals, 6 assists, 1 MoM

One of two Brazilians at Rushden, Rodrigo has had two contrasting seasons at the club. The first, he was a very disappointing Premier League full back, and in the second he was a very good Championship centre half. What he turns out to be this season will be very interesting indeed. The suspicion now is that he is better in the centre of the defence, and two years older and wiser, he should find the Premier League much easier to cope with, even if he is playing in a higher pressure position, and should make the £3.6million spent to acquire him from Dnipro look like a snip.

Joe Smith, SW/D C, 24 years old, English

2 seasons, 80 apps, 13 goals, 1 assist, 7 MoM

Although the goals of Carlos Garcia Valle grabbed the headlines, the rock-steady Smith in defence was arguably the key player in Diamonds’ promotion. Having played for seven different clubs already when he joined the club, a poor season two years ago in the Premier League could have sent the Manchester United academy product in search of an eighth club. However, Smith had other ideas, and knuckled down to form a bedrock from which the players in front of him could attack. Not only was he key in defence which let in only 39 goals in 46 games, but he also contributed a dozen goals in those games, plus three more in the cup run.

Sean Murray, D/DM/M C, 28 years old, Australian (43 caps, 2 goals)

2 seasons, 57 apps, 2 assists

The Australian is the oldest man on the books at the Rushden Stadium. His fee of not far short of £4million looks like a fairly poor piece of business, having been signed for a role in the centre of defence that he has lost to Rodrigo. His versatility has kept him at the club though, with a midfield role a second string to his bow. That versatility saw him take to the pitch in half the league games last season, and he remains a handy member of the squad to have around.

Blerim Lekaj, D RLC, 27 years old, Albanian (37 caps)

First season at Rushden

Another versatile player with experience. His primary role will be to supply backup to Lodge on the left, although he can play anywhere along the back line. Born in Germany to Albanian parents, he has already played football in Germany, Spain, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Greece and Turkey. Turkish club Kasimpasa recouped ten times the £170,000 they paid for his services a year ago when they sold him to Rushden.

Pavel Slavik, D/DM/M C, 20 years old, Czech

3 seasons, 10 apps

A promising Czech U21 international who has been unable to break into the Rushden squad. For three seasons, he has hung around hoping for injuries to be able to make his mark on the side. This season, a loan spell is more likely, with plenty of cover in both defence and midfield making his breakthrough into the first eleven more unlikely.

[Brian W]

Midfielders

Chris Grant, DM/M C, 25 years old, English

1 season, 42 apps, 2 goals, 10 assists, 1 MoM

Arguably the most unheralded member of the team which won promotion, Grant was a near ever-present after a £150,000 move from Stevenage. Grant’s career is one of failing to make it as a youth at Liverpool, and dropping down to League One to play football again. His reward for his effort has now come, with a real shot at Premier League football with Rushden. His combative style is ideal in the role of breaking up attacks, and he has enough nous to be able to find his more skilful team-mates with a simple pass.

Kristoffer Stormo, M RC, 24 years old, Norwegian

1 season, 30 apps, 8 goals, 1 assist, 2 MoM

Stormo has a good start to his career in his homeland before moving to Volendam in the Netherlands, where he started to attract the attention of scouts from further afield. A fee just short of £475,000 was enough to secure his services for Rushden, where he was able to forge himself a role as second choice in the centre of midfield behind the on-loan Ryan Blonbou, and third choice right winger. That was enough to see him play 38 times in all competitions, although almost half of those were appearances from the substitutes bench, making his nine goals an all the more impressive return.

Toni Zezovski, M C, 25 years old, Macedonian (58 caps, 8 goals)

First season at Rushden

The man earmarked to provide the creative spark in the centre of the park is the Macedonian international Toni Zezovski, signed from Bayern Munich for a bargain fee of £3.7million. His five goals in fourteen games last season indicate that not only is he a threat in creating goals for others, but also a threat shooting from outside the area, and breaking into the box from midfield. He is by far Macedonia’s best player, but such is the dearth of talent in that country, his true ability will be restricted to club football’s biggest stages.

Gennady Gus’kov, 18 years old, Russian

First season at Rushden

Gus’kov made fifty-eight appearances spread over three seasons for Dinamo Moscow since his debut aged just fifteen. Those statistics say enough about the talent this youngster has at his disposal at such an early age. He is likely to be an important squad member straight away in his first season in the Premier League. The only question mark over him is the role he plays in midfield, with him looking equally adept as a midfield anchor as he is going forward. With that degree of adaptability, he is likely to play in well over half of the club’s games in the coming season.

Carlos Vilaró, M/AM L, 23 years old, Spanish

3 seasons, 117 apps, 19 goals, 27 assists, 8 MoM

As with a number of players signed in the summer of 2018, Vilaró has questions to answer in the coming season, having performed terrifically well in his first season in the Championship, and even better in the season just gone, but struggled to make an impact in Rushden’s sole Premier League season to date. The ex-Inter and Real Madrid man signed for £550,000 and has more than repaid that fee already, being the second most important attacking influence last season, laying on no less than 23 goals for his team-mates in all competitions, with his performances in the FA Cup particularly impressive. He will remain a crucial player, and one desperate to prove his worth at this higher level.

Paulo Monti, M/AM L, 23 years old, Argentinian

2 seasons, 47 apps, 1 goal, 5 assists

Monti’s role since his arrival at the start of the Premier League campaign has been as backup to Vilaró. His performances, while adequate, have never reached the heights of his Spanish colleague, and only on very rare occasions has he shone brightly enough to prevent his supporters and manager long for the man he is replacing. That said, he has enough about him to fill the role when required, and criticism of him is more a reflection on the talent of Vilaró than any slight on Monti’s ability.

William, M/AM RC, 21 years old, Brazilian

3 seasons, 104 apps, 13 goals, 18 assists, 2 MoM

Like most Brazilians, William has the pace and skill to comfortably beat any full back. His ball into the middle is fairly good too, and something which improves season after season, as you would expect of someone barely into their twenties. £1.6million was a fearsome fee to pay for an unproven 18-year-old, but the youngster, a product of the Corinthians youth system, is beginning to repay the fee, chipping in with goals and assists regularly during the last two campaigns after a disappointing first season in England.

Raynathan Lodovica, M/AM RC, 25 years old, Dutch

1 season, 42 apps, 3 goals, 9 assists, 2 MoM

Lodovica is a good backup to William, with his assists ratio looking good enough even before the consideration is made that over half of his 42 appearances last season came as a substitute. Although nowhere near being a first choice with the highly promising William around, Lodovica is a squad member who has more than enough talent to remain at the club, filling in for William when the Brazilian is unavailable, or as a late-game substitute.

[Mark Snellink]

Interesting start, I shall be following this

[Brian W]

Thanks Mark. This next one won't be the most interesting update, as its really limited to what logically follows "Midfielders"

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Forwards

Carlos Garcia Valle, SC, 23 years old, Spanish

3 seasons, 118 apps, 78 goals, 30 assists, 19 MoM

AC Milan are one of a very select number of clubs who would be able to look back on selling Garcia Valle for just £400,000 and be able to cope with their decision without a huge sense of regret. Even for them though, the paltry fee received looks to be a massive undervaluation in hindsight. Garcia Valle has finished top scorer in the Championship on two occasions, and been supporters player of the year in all three of the seasons since his arrival. Only Darren Collins and Dale Watkins remain ahead of him in the club’s all-time scorers list, with their success coming in the club’s non-league days. As if that wasn’t enough, Garcia Valle forever etched his name into folklore at Rushden by scoring after just thirteen seconds in the first ever game at the Rushden Stadium, against Leeds United.

Julian Feitknecht, SC, 21 years old, French

2 seasons, 70 apps, 22 goals, 14 assists, 4 MoM

The French striker is a concern at Rushden. He is supremely talented, and performed very well in the Premier League in 2019/20, scoring eleven times in the season after his £9.75million signing, a fee which remains a club record. His strength and physique attract the most attention, but also help to mask a footballing brain which enables him to pick out a pass to a team-mate at will when his mind is on the task at hand. Last season, his mind was, at times, drifting. His seasonal goal tally was, once again, eleven goals, making him the only member of the squad to not improve on past performances last season. He will need to get his head back on the game this season to fulfil his potential at Rushden.

Damián Bottinelli, SC, 18 years old, Argentinian

1 season, 13 apps, 3 goals, 5 assists, 2 MoM

Feitknecht’s inconsistent form, and a concern over the depth of striking talent led Quinn to look at alternatives. The alternative found was an Argentinian teenager with a strikingly similar set of skills to the Frenchman and, for £3.5million winging its way to Lanús of Argentina, Bottinelli was signed in January. His performances exceeded those of the Frenchman in the remainder of the season, contributing much more in overall play, even if his return of three goals seems poor for a striker. It will be interesting to see who managed to play the big man in the front two for Diamonds this season. The younger option from South America is marginally the favourite as the season begins.

Marco Ackermans, SC, 25 years old, Dutch

1 season, 12 apps, 3 goals, 2 assists, 1 MoM

A pacey striker, signed for a minimal fee from the Netherlands. His main problem at Rushden is simply that he isn’t Carlos Garcia Valle, with the Spaniard almost always the man to has to succumb to an injury in order for the Dutchman to get a run out. His performances in the Championship were adequate, but it Is difficult to see him making much of an impact at Premier League level.

Tomas Duris, SC, 23 years old, Slovakian (8 caps, 2 goals)

5 seasons, 44 apps, 6 goals, 3 assists, 1 MoM

Duris is a player who has never been good enough to be anywhere near being a first team regular, but has managed to show enough potential to avoid being moved on. However, a goal every seven games when playing in the Championship does not bode well for a striker hoping to play in the Championship, and his best hope is a loan move away from Rushden. The more likely move though is a permanent move to a lower level, which he will hope reignites his career.

[salkster2102]

A young squad you seem to have there Brian. Good luck with this

[Brian W]

Yeah, they're ridiculously young. I got promoted with a young squad, then tried to inject experience into it first time. That failed, so I went back to youth for the second promotion, and am sticking to it this time. I think the period of the game I'm in is a bit of an issue too on that score. The good older players are the hot prospects IRL now, and their wages are ridiculous. The first few seasons don't seem to produce many good regens, so I'm stuck with the regens from 3+ years into the game, hence why my oldest regular starters are 24 or 25. That, and I like signing youngsters.

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Season Preview 2021/22

Arsenal

Manager: Tony Mowbray (since Nov 2014)

Last season: 2nd, Champions League winners

It now stands at six and a half years since the managerial merry-go-round struck Arsenal and Manchester City, with Tony Mowbray and Michael Laudrup swapping jobs, after Sheikh Mansour decided the Englishman’s time was up. Arsenal took a punt on the deposed manager, and despite the Premier League trophy heading to Manchester City for the first time in heartbreaking circumstances for the Gunners, the famous night in Stockholm last May means that the Londoners remain the happier of the two clubs.

The road to the ultimate glory had for so long seemed like it would never reach its goal for Mowbray’s side, with the Gunners being a model of consistency under his reign. Last season was the sixth in succession that they finished in the top two in the Premier League, yet on just two of those occasions have they stepped up to finish top of the pile. Similarly, prior to last season, progression through the group stage of the Champions League had been achieved six times in succession, but only three times did they make it to the quarterfinals, and only in the run to the final in 2016 did they make it beyond the final eight. That defeat, to a Rooney-inspired Manchester United side had started to look like Mowbray’s equivalent to Wenger’s defeat ten years earlier to Barcelona.

Unlike Wenger though, Mowbray engineered himself another chance and, through good fortune, and courtesy of a 91st minute equaliser over ten-man Milan, and a winner five minutes from the end of extra time, he and his side could hold Europe’s premier prize aloft. The Frenchman, though, could sit at home proud as, even more than a decade on, some of his young recruits were still key in the victory. Aaron Ramsay has been the top midfielder in Britain for some years, taking that crown from Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard missed the final through suspension, but another Wenger midfielder, Samir Nasri, was able to contribute from the bench in the win.

That is not to take away from Mowbray’s own signings, with the key player at Arsenal continuing to be Khouma Babacar, the Senegalese striker who has over a goal a game in his 82 international appearances, and has claimed the top goalscorer award in England two seasons running. A young and vibrant defence has been re-enforced over the summer, but the midfield, with the veterans from the Wenger era still playing a vital role, could begin to show their age this season. For that reason, we predict they will drop out of the top-two for the first time under Mowbray’s reign.

Prediction: 3rd

Aston Villa

Manager: Gary Neville (since Nov 2019)

Last season: 9th

Aston Villa have spent almost thirty years achieving little other than staying in the Premier League without too many scares. Last season’s ninth place finish was the fifteenth since any flirtation with the drop, but a high of fifth in those fifteen years shows exactly what Villa are all about – a solid Premier League outfit with fans frustrated at the inability to progress further.

There have been highlights for the Villains, but a chairman with his finger firmly on the trigger has prevented any continuity. Since O’Neill’s departure in 2010, Gerard Houllier, Alan Curbishley, Javier Aguirre, Ady Boothroyd, Stuart Pearce and Paul Jewell all came and went before Pearce returned for a second spell in 2017. His second spell ended in 2019 before the fortunate Gary Neville took over. The ex-Manchester United full back’s fortune was that he outlasted Randy Lerner who stood aside earlier this year. Should be make it to November this year, Neville will be the first manager to last two years at Villa Park in over a decade.

The squad Neville has at his disposal is one which is full of players who should be at their peak, aged in their mid-to-late twenties. Welsh all-time record goalscorer Sam Vokes is one of just a handful in his thirties and, like captain Ciaran Clark, also aged 31, he has two or three years left in him at this level. Clark will line up alongside England international Ian Brooks at the back, but Vokes will struggle more to get in the team. Connor Wickham, who will hope to add to last year’s England cap, Swedish international John Guidetti, Spanish hotshot José and last season’s best player, Marcos Allende are all fighting it out for the two striking positions, meaning goals should not be hard to come by for the Midlanders.

We predict ninth place again, with no fear of the drop, and no likelihood of significant improvement on last season

Prediction: 9th

Birmingham City

Manager: Kevin Doyle (since Dec 2020)

Last season: 15th

The second city’s second club survived last season, but not without a struggle, the like of which four comfortable, if boring, mid-table finishes had led their fans to believe was a thing of the past. Still, almost losing Premier League status will make Blues fans appreciate their thirteenth successive season in the division all the more.

Young Irish manager Doyle took over last season and did manage to guide the midland club to safety. His first summer transfer window saw nine new faces come in on a shoestring budget, which did not even come close to spending even the £8.5million that Liverpool paid for right back Serge Aurier. The two most interesting signings came from Manchester. From City comes Champions League and Premier League winner Ryan Shawcross to provide experience alongside the likes of Lee Wallace, James McArthur and Bébé. From United, on loan, at the other end of the age scale, comes 21-year-old midfielder Ryan Blonbou, who had a superb season in the Championship last year with Rushden. He will provide competition for the Scottish pair of McArthur and Iain Gallacher in the centre of midfield.

Birmingham’s problem last season was one of goals though, and it is one which Doyle – a superb striker in his day – has failed to rectify. Bébé’s eight goals were unmatched by any striker, and this season will see the same selection of strikers try to do better this time. On one hand, Raúl Nava and Franco di Santo are older and a year nearer to retirement. On the other, Kees Roest is also a year older and more experienced, and the most likely to return a double-figure tally of goals. Wayne Jones had a poor season, and at 26, will hope his promise at least sees him establish himself as a good Premier League striker, even if international honours are beyond him.

Despite the struggle for a consistent goalscorer, there is enough about this team in defence and midfield to suggest this will be a better season than last, and they should finish towards the back of the mid-table pack.

Prediction: 13th

[tenthreeleader]

I love a good Diamonds tale, and I know I'll get one from you, Brian. Will be following.

[Sheriff 1993]

As a Rushden and Diamonds fan I am loving this and the attention to detail

Good Luck, i'll be following

[Brian W]

Thanks guys. I hope I don't disappoint either of you!

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Blackburn Rovers

Manager: Graeme Jones (since May 2017)

Last season: 17th

Indian-owned Blackburn Rovers continue to survive in the Premier League despite being run on one of the smallest budgets in the league. Last season’s survival courtesy goal difference followed the previous season’s remarkable escape courtesy of two injury time Chelsea goals which dropped Sunderland’s goal difference to a point level with Blackburn’s, enabling the Lancashire outfit to survive by virtue of goals scored.

The retention of Graeme Jones as manager is indicative of the new culture to give managers a chance. Having spent two seasons hovering in and around the relegation zone, dismissal of the man in charge would have been an inevitable consequence earlier in the century. Now, though, as long as Premier League status is maintained, it is hard to see Jones being relieved of his duties, with the owners happy to collect the TV rights money each year to heavily subsidise a low base income resulting from a small fanbase and stadium in an area of the country with many larger clubs competing at higher levels.

On the pitch, teamwork is the key for Blackburn. They are a team of few stars. Henri Lansbury provides the spark in midfield, and Dani Pacheco supplies a steady stream of goals, with over fifty in the last four seasons. Blackburn will have to fight for survival, but probably have just enough about them to survive once again. We are even going to predict that they don’t need to look at goal difference this time.

Prediction: 15th

Bolton Wanderers

Manager: Phil Brown (since Oct 2017)

Last season: 12th

Bolton’s formula is a simple one. While many teams in mid-table rely on a solid outfit with few real stars, Bolton have two players who stand head and shoulders above their team-mates. The creative genius in midfield is Fabian Delph, a man credited with setting up around some thirty goals for his teammates in their last three Premier League seasons. The beneficiary of many of those chances has been striker David Morgan, a man knocking on the door of Paul Jewell’s England team. Since his debut for Bolton, he averages a goal every other game, a super strike rate at a mid-table side.

Behind those two sits a solid, if slightly inexperienced defence, with Mohamed Zouani, James Akonnor and Miles Poole all in their early twenties and marshalled by Vadim Demidov, the 34-year-old Norwegian defender. Demidov is just one of a smattering of older heads around the Reebok Stadium. Jamie O’Hara, Fabrice Muamba, Danny Welbeck, Chris Gunter and Michael Mancienne all fill out the squad, mostly used as substitute options to either see out a result, or try to rescue one.

All in all, Phil Brown has a decent squad with a couple of stars. On their day, they can trouble the best, but their speciality is beating the teams around them and below them in the league. Relegation should not be a fear, but threatening the top half is probably a step beyond them. A favourable draw in a cup would be their best route into Europe, and their fans would love to repeat the success in the 2014 FA Cup.

Prediction: 12th

Burnley

Manager: Jade North (since Dec 2020)

Last season: 10th

The clarets fans must have feared the worst last December when Russell Wilcox left them after over a decade as manager for another claret and blue side. Those fears would have been further exacerbated when the largely unheralded Australian Jade North took charge – a man whose only managerial experience had been a fairly undistinguished couple of years in Spain with Osasuna. The Lancastrians fears were unfounded though, as North guided Burnley into the top half. The delight was heightened amongst more mischievous elements of the Burnley support with Wilcox’s new club finishing bottom of the league and being relegated.

North’s first summer transfer window has continued to show his belief and ambition with Angel di Maria, Champions League winner with both Real Madrid and Arsenal, joining on a free transfer. Also in midfield is last season’s top scorer, Andy King, who seems to get better with age, as evidenced by his three successive supporter player of the year awards since reaching his thirties. Striker Lee Walker will hope to contribute more to the coming season after a disappointing three goals in an injury-hit season last time. If he can rediscover his 26-goal-a-season form from the Championship the season before last, Burnley will have little to fear in terms of relegation.

One player hoping to look beyond Turf Moor is left back Dick Sheppard, who will be aiming to attract the attention of Paul Jewell in the race for England caps. With Sheppard just one member of a solid defence, creativity and goals in midfield, and potential for consistent goalscoring up front, it would be a surprise should Burnley not manage to comfortably secure their place in the top flight for an eleventh season in the last fourteen. Not bad for one of the least fashionable clubs in the league.

Prediction: 11th

[Brian W]

Chelsea

Manager: Alan Shearer (since May 2015)

Last season: 6th

The Abramovich axe is still yet to fall, despite Shearer failing to guide the Russian’s side to any European football at all after eighteen successive Champions League qualifications. To add to that, a heavy 7-2 aggregate defeat to rivals Arsenal ensured no progression beyond the quarterfinals in Europe, and the Geordie manager’s former club Everton dumped them out of the FA Cup at the earliest opportunity. Surely anything other than a blistering start will see Shearer’s six-year reign come to an end?

The squad has a feel of one in transition, with the old guard led by England defenders Ryan Bertrand and Phil Jones, and the creative genius of Miralem Pjanic aided by Georginio Wijnaldum. On the other end of the scale is Emanuel Tula, last season’s box office signing, who will hope to repay even more of his £38.5million fee by adding to the 23 goals he accumulated mercilessly last season.

This time round, the money has been spent again, but spread more evenly with defender Pedrão, midfielder Thibault Cardon and forward Bart Casier coming in to strengthen the squad and eventually replace older team-mates for fees ranging from £9million to £11.5million.

Chelsea’s weakness last season is undoubtedly their strength this time, with no European fixture pile-up to contend with, they should be fresher than many of their rivals. It is for that reason that we tip them, despite the transitional nature of their squad and doubts over the manager, to return to the Champions League next season.

Prediction: 4th

Coventry City

Manager: Gary Johnson (since Oct 2018)

Last season: 14th

Coventry City managed their best finish in the Premier League this century last season with fourteenth place, a position secured in a method which was a throw-back to their first stay in the top flight when many of their thirty-four seasons concluded with improbable end-of-season runs to stave off relegation. Last season’s survival came courtesy of a seven-match unbeaten run, which ended in three wins, the last of which at Goodison Park which not only sealed Coventry’s survival but denied the Merseysiders a Champions League place.

Supporters will hope that Johnson has eradicated the tag of a yo-yo club which dogged his two most recent predecessors, both of whom achieved promotion, only to guide the Sky Blues straight back down.

With Coventry preparing for a second season in top flight for the first time in decades, the men charged with finding the goals will be last year’s top scorer, Italian Salvatore Caturano and the English youngster Amisy Collet, the forward with the physique to scare even the best defenders in the league. Josh Kelly will be key in midfield, while English-Italian Andrea Carli will again be the man in goal, with Garry Stevenson and Jamie Richards in the centre of the defence completing a predominantly British spine to the side.

Coventry have not made any significant additions to their squad, but the youthful nature of the key players in last season’s campaign should mean that won’t be a problem, and another finish in a similar position is definitely on the cards.

Prediction: 14th

Everton

Manager: Kevin Blackwell (since May 2017)

Last season: 5th

Life as an Evertonian is good now. At a local level, they are firmly set as the top club in the city, having finished ahead of Liverpool in six of the last eight seasons. On a national level, they now contribute four players to each England squad, with the defensive trio of Jack Rodwell, Peter Fuller and Fatos Kabashi allied with Danny Funnell, undoubtedly the best passer of a ball produced by England in a generation or more, and last season’s Footballer of the Year. Funnell is not even Everton’s best player though, with French striker Ishak Belfodil having clocked up 171 league goals in seven seasons.

Kevin Blackwell has done a superb job since his appointment four years ago, but the last six weeks of last season will haunt him forever. Having got the club into a position where even a league and cup double looked to be possible, seven defeats in eight games saw the Toffees crash to fifth in the league and fall to Championship side Rushden in the Wembley semifinal. The only excuse that could be offered was tiredness taking its toll after the club’s first Champions League campaign in nine years. Whatever the excuse, it was very disappointing for all involved at Goodison Park.

With that in mind, Blackwell has moved to bring in more players. Italian pair Jorge Carotenuto and Valerio Invernizzi have joined along with Brazilian Alex Sandro. The Brazilian will bolster the left-hand side, while Carotenuto is a right-sided player. Invernizzi’s job will be to shoulder some of the goalscoring duties to make the side less reliant on the goals of Belfodil.

Everton will undoubtedly be in and around the top of the league again. Challengers from London and Manchester will probably just have too much over a 38-game season, and leave Everton agonisingly close to the Champions League places, but having to settle for the Europa League again

Prediction: 5th

[Panpardus]

Fantastic read so far Brian, will be following along as well.

[Makonnen]

Ditto. I appreciate--and like--the effort to give us some grounding in the future league. It speaks well of the attention to detail to come!

[Brian W]

Thanks guys. Its actually slightly disappointing for me that so little has changed in the Premier League. The one big success story had been Huddersfield who got up to 9th two seasons ago, but were relegated last season. Nevertheless, three of the more interesting teams follow in this update:

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Fulham

Manager: Dennis Wise (since Jul 2021)

Last season: 8th

Fulham football club is the gift that keeps on giving to its fans. Those old enough to remember the three promotions in five seasons around the turn of the century would have thought the seventh place finish and Europa League final under Roy Hodgson in 2009 and 2010 were more than they could ever hope for. After a quiet few years, that would have seemed to be the case, but the last six years have taken Fulham to an unprecedented level of success.

Five top-eight finishes in six years would have been enough to satisfy many Fulham fans, and back-to-back finishes of fifth and sixth in 2016 and 2017 were the envy of many clubs deemed to be ‘bigger’. The league success, though, is barely noticed when compared to their cup exploits, which have seen the Cottagers travel to four Wembley finals in the last five years. The 2017 FA Cup remains the only domestic cup victory, with the finals in 2019 and 2020 both ending in defeat, as did last year’s League Cup final. 2020 was a historic league in Fulham’s history however, with Real Madrid and Benfica seen off before victory in the Europa League final against Hoffenheim.

The new season sees Fulham begin a new era after the retirement of Mick McCarthy. The new man is a Londoner who enjoyed success as a player with fierce rivals Chelsea. An unpopular appointment with fans, and without a managerial record living up to his new role, the diminutive boss will have to allay those fears with results on the pitch. Wise has managed to keep the squad he inherited largely together, with the best bits of business being the retention of Fulham’s Spanish international Rubén Vera in midfield, a player who oozes class whenever he is on the ball, with the annoying habit of making the game look far easier than it is. Israeli Omer Damari will again spearhead the attack but, at 32, repeating the 29-goal haul from the Europa League winning season will be a tough ask.

Eighth last season was par for the course. If the new manager can keep the team focussed, there is no reason to fail to repeat that feat. No-one will want to face Fulham in any cup competition either.

Prediction: 8h

Liverpool

Manager: Alex McLeish (since Dec 2020)

Last season: 7th

The all-too-depressing truth for the red half of Merseyside is that they are firmly entrenched in their position as the city’s poorer relations. Failure to win the title this year – an inevitability – will make it thirty-two seasons since they were crowned the nation’s best club. And, while the first sixteen of those years were bad enough for their passionate fans, there was at least the comfort of three FA Cups, three League Cups and successes in both European tournaments in two of the most memorable finals in history. The last fifteen seasons, however, have been a source of almost constant misery, with the 2006 FA Cup the last piece of silverware to enter the Anfield trophy cabinet. Only the 2017 Europa League run has even threatened silverware in that time, but a penalty defeat to PSV at the Nou Camp denied that dream.

The dreams of a new stadium were snuffed out by two sets of American owners, and expansion of the current Anfield is still not on the cards with the club back in English hands. The stability of life under Rafa Benitez is just a distant memory for Reds, with McLeish the sixth manager to take the hot seat since the Spaniard’s exit, with none of the previous five managing to celebrate a third anniversary in the job.

The squad has all the hallmarks of a side who has finished between 6th and 8th for eight successive seasons. Romelu Lukaku and Jack Wilshere both have time left in them, but both were deemed surplus to requirements at their previous clubs – Real Madrid and Arsenal respectively – and carry the tag of wonderkids who never quite made it. Regardless of that status, they are Liverpool’s best players, along with Lukaku’s partner up front, Frenchman Chris Gadi and the Norwegian midfielder Kjetil Hansen.

There is no reason to expect Liverpool to threaten the Champions League places, just as there is no reason to fear a finish in the bottom half of the league. Reds fans should brace themselves for another season on the borderline of mediocrity.

Prediction: 7th

Manchester City

Manager: Michael Laudrup (since Nov 2014)

Last season: 1st

The taunts are over. Fifty-three years of hurt is over. And what a way to do it, beating United on the penultimate weekend of the season before travelling to the Emirates in a final day must-win showdown. Set on their way by skipper Oumar Alibert, and rounded off by Martin Zapico and Raphael Holzhauzer, the 3-1 win put not only those three but the entire squad into Manchester City folklore, with special places for star midfielder Bafing Traore, and club legend Joe Hart, who followed up the title with his 100th England cap in the summer internationals.

The Abu Dhabi millions kept flowing for Laudrup too in the summer, with the headline signings of Spanish international defender Jesus Maria and speedy French winger Abdallah Yaisien in another £40million spending spree, aimed at keeping a steady flow of silverware and challenging on multiple fronts. The aim to have two players for every position, and a squad with no obvious weakness has been more than achieved.

Although Laudrup’s haul of a Champions League, two FA Cups and last season’s Premier League title is four trophies more than decades of predecessors, it still has to be marked down as underachievement for the country’s richest and most free-spending football club, and a situation all at the club will be keep to improve on.

A supremely strong squad, which has been strengthened further from the title winners of last season. It may have taken 53 years to win the title last time. The next title could be just 52 weeks in coming.

Prediction: 1st

[Mark Snellink]

Ah, Michael Laudrup, I miss watching the Laudrup brothers play.

[Brian W]

Interestingly, I actually considered signing Andreas Laudrup at one point three of four seasons ago. Also, Michael Laudrup, with league titles at both Arsenal and Man City, two UEFA Cups at Arsenal, and a Champions League at City is ranked as the fourth most successful manager in history in England. Mike Phelan is just behind him. Tony Mowbray is in the top-10, just behind Kenny Dalglish, who is still in football aged 70, as a scout for Jose at Real Madrid.

------------------------------------

Manchester United

Manager: Mike Phelan (since Jul 2013)

Last season: 3rd, FA Cup winners

After the unique achievement of a domestic treble in 2020, last season was a massive disappointment for the most successful club in England, with just the FA Cup remaining in the Old Trafford trophy room, and a very disappointing defeat to Panathinaikos ending any hopes of a sixth Champions League. Mike Phelan will be keen to improve and, with that in mind, has brought in two eight-figure signings to helps achieve that goal.

The first of those is Norwegian Rasmus Ravn, who comes with a well-earnt reputation from his season at AZ Alkmaar where he was a defensive rock. He will come in and challenge Jonny Evans for his place in the back four immediately alongside future England captain Sam Sykes. The other is Pedro Morais, a striker, who will offer an alternative to Javier Hernandez – the Mexican goal machine who will surely bag his 150th international goal during the course of the season – and Rob Beech, the man who has managed the impossible – to fill Wayne Rooney’s boots at both club and international level.

The midfield, as in 1999, is the engine room of success with Manchester United though. Captain and club legend Eden Hazard pulls all the strings going forward, while Yann M’Vila sits back and holds everything together. Alexis Sanchez, despite his advancing years, is still a superb threat on the wing, and will continue to be even after he loses half a yard of pace, such is his skill on the ball.

Manchester United will win something this year, but we don’t know what. The desire for each trophy may be too much to hold it together for the long haul of the league campaign. A hattrick of FA Cups would be a historic achievement. A sixth Champions League to overtake their rivals down the M62 would satisfy fans more.

Prediction: 2nd

Middlesbrough

Manager: David Moyes (since Jun 2021)

Last season: 11th

The employment of ex-Everton, Chelsea and Scotland manager to replace the retiring Sam Allardyce has breathed new life into the north-east club, with fans hopeful of a better brand of football. Moyes, who has also managed La Liga clubs Sevilla, Valencia and Zaragoza, has many of the same players left by his media-friendly English predecessor.

The Scot’s main moves in the transfer market have been to allow right back Ross Avery go to Burnley, using his Spanish connections to bring in Norwegian Thomas Rogne as a replacement from Getafe. Also, underwhelming winger Vitor Periera has been allowed to leave for Italy, with a more experienced replacement brought in on loan from Juventus – Rasmus Elm. Beyond that, it is the same squad, with the likes of Danny Howe, Franck Riviere and Mathieu Labourdette all a year more experienced and better equipped to make an impact on the league.

Last season saw Boro come very close to a top-half finish for the first time in five years. The change of management allied with a shift in style and more experience in a youthful squad will make fans at the Riverside believe that this season they can reach the top-ten. We believe they can too. But it will be a very close run thing.

Prediction: 10th

Rushden and Diamonds

Manager: Quentin Quinn (since Jul 2010)

Last season: 1st in the Championship

Undoubtedly the story of the last decade. Non-league to Premier League in nine years, but then found to be woefully out of their depth. Scars from some heavy defeats will remain with the Northamptonshire club for a long time, particularly the 8-1 humiliation against Arsenal. Some of their players will still be having nightmares about Khouma Babacar even today.

And then there is the manager’s steadfast refusal to recognise the value of experience. That may work in the Championship, but in the Premier League, failure to field a single player over the age of 25 will lead to problems in the end. Talented individuals with youthful exuberance can only get you so far, and there is a massive question mark whether they can recover from any poor run of form they find themselves in without experienced heads in the dressing room who have been there before.

That is not to say that there isn’t a lot of talent around the squad. Mark Lodge is a quality full back who Quinn has done particularly well to keep hold of. Carlos Garcia Valle is a striker who has scored for fun in the Championship, with two thirty-goal seasons in Rushden’s promotion campaigns. However, the Spaniard failed in the Premier League last time with barely a third of that tally achieved two seasons ago. Failure this time will see him labelled a flat-track bully. Carlos Vilaró and William provide the threat from the wings, but will they do any better than their last appearances in this league?

To complicate matters even further, Rushden have an added distraction of European football due to their FA Cup final appearance last May. While that cup run was undoubtedly a highlight for their fans, it may come back to haunt them with resources spread too thin.

We believe that not only do you not win anything with kids, you don’t stay in this league with kids, particularly with distractions from European football. Relegation beckons, but they might at least avoid finishing bottom this time.

Prediction: 19th

[Sheriff 1993]

Brilliant so far

I simmed a career to 2020 and the Premiership was very similar aswell

[Brian W]

Thanks again Sheriff

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Sheffield United

Manager: Keith Millen (since Dec 2014)

Last season: 2nd in the Championship

Sheffield United bring with them some of the least inspiring credentials for staying up seen in the Premier League for a number of seasons. Their promotion was secured through functionality over style, with just 67 goals scored in 46 games. Their defence was solid, but if that fails to hold up to Premier League strike forces, their first experience in the top flight in fourteen years will be a short one.

Far from strengthening their side for competing at the highest level, Keith Millen has spent absolutely nothing. Only Nathan Craig has arrived, and it would be a surprise to see the ex-Dundee United winger become a regular feature in this or any other Premier League side. As such, it will be down to the players who got them here to keep them here. That is going to mean the long-standing strike force of Yannick Sagbo and Haris Seferovic will have to perform together for the seventh season running. At least one will have to get near his tally of last season when the 33-year-old Ivorian came up with 16 goals, and the Serb found the net 15 times.

In midfield, Radja Nainggolan, Darron Gibson and captain Oliver Norwood will all need to step up to the plate. Gibson is one of the few players in the squad with any Premier League experience, and even for him this will be his first taste of Premier League football in seven years, and he has only played one season as a regular, that coming nine years ago.

Sheffield United are favourites for relegation for a number of reasons. We cannot fault any of them, and we cannot find a team we expect to finish below them.

Prediction: 20th

Southampton

Manager: Nigel Adkins (since Sept 2010)

Last season: 13th

Nigel Adkins, the studious looking ex-physio, is often lauded by pundits as an example of what can happen if a manager is given time to build a club. After years of solid, steady and largely unspectacular progress in the Championship and two previous unsuccessful play-off appearances, promotion was secured at Wembley in May 2019. Since then, Southampton have succeeded in staying up twice with a squad most would have expected to struggle.

In fact, last season’s finish of thirteenth – their highest since 2004 – came despite finishing the season with the worst defensive record in the league. Their points tally came courtesy of concentrating on the games they should win and edging the vital wins in those games. Of their eleven wins, nine came by a single goal margin. When they lost, they were horrid, and more often than not when they lost, they give up three, four or five goals. A true Jekyll and Hyde team.

The talk of the city this summer has been the signing of Ryan McGuire on a free transfer from Chelsea. The England striker has 38 goals in 63 games for Chelsea, Rangers and Coventry, but has struggled to get game time for the London club. He, and his new club, hope that the move to the south coast can ignite his career for both club and country with the World Cup in China next summer a realistic target.

McGuire will add goals, but little has been done to solve the defensive problems. Last season’s final league position was definitely a case of punching above their own weight. The Saints will stay up though, with enough teams of poorer quality around to ensure they find at least three below them come May.

Prediction: 16th

Stoke City

Manager: Johan Djourou (since Jul 2021)

Last season: 16th, League Cup winners

Johan Djourou takes charge of Stoke this season, becoming their third manager in just eight months. Club legend Tuncay Sanli left the club last December, after lifting the club from the Championship to their best finish in 45 years with the sixth place finish in 2020. As Tuncay went south to White Hart Lane, the veteran manager Miguel Angel Portugal took charge at the Britannia. His league performances were very poor, with just a point separating them from the drop zone in the final reckoning. But it was the League Cup where Portugal made a name for himself in the Potteries, guiding Stoke to a first major trophy since 1972 before opting to end his career before guiding Stoke into European action.

Djourou’s first managerial job is a tough challenge though, having to juggle domestic and European commitments with a squad that looks to be stretched to the limit in terms of talent. Matthew Hogan and Nathan Delfouneso offer pace up front which could be key to getting enough goals to stay up. Tom Cairney, Aliu Nogueira and loanees Gaston Simoni and Gauchinho will be relied on to provide the service. The reliance on loanees – there are four in all in the squad – will worry fans, with the indication that the club is lacking the finance to fund a prolonged stay in the Premier League.

Djourou’s expertise should be defence, and the signing of Gael Nouhaud, who was such a rock at Leeds last season, could be the make or break factor in Stoke’s season. The choice of partner for the Frenchman is another key decision for the league’s youngest and least experienced manager.

We’re going to take a wild stab in the dark, and say that Stoke will survive – just. Whether their new Swiss manager lasts the season with them though is possibly even less certain.

Prediction: 17th

[tenthreeleader]

I've only got one issue with your workup, Brian. This is wonderfully written, though, and I won't spoil your thread by stating it here. PM me if you're curious and if you aren't, then by all means carry on. Very well done so far.

[Mark Snellink]

Johan Djourou eh? He's in my Swiss defense atm. Curious, how did his career go, did he ever leave Arsenal?

[Brian W]

Thanks for your comments over PM 10-3.

Johan Djourou stayed at Arsenal until 2018, but never made it there. 2011-2 was his best season, playing 22 league games. In his last three seasons at Arsenal, he managed to turn out 3 times in the league. He then made 15 appearances in two years for Deportivo, and finally went to Parma where he never played. I think his career is best summed up by the fact he totalled 156 career league appearances, but won 108 caps for Switzerland. He was vital for his country, but never found a club to match his ability.

----------------------------

Sunderland

Manager: Kolo Touré (since Nov 2020)

Last season: 3rd in the Championship (promoted via playoffs)

The fourth ‘S’ joined the party with victory at Wembley last May and, like the other three, they play in red and white stripes. Although they were promoted via the play-offs, it is hard to judge them as a typical playoff winner for two reasons. Firstly, after many years of midtable security, one poor season which culminated in a 38th game, 90th minute capitulation resulted in a shock relegation. Even more importantly, the decision to hire Kolo Touré last season was inspired, and turned them into the best team in the Championship after a very shaky start.

When the Ivorian took over, Sunderland had just four wins from fourteen games. A poor first month in charge made that record four wins in eighteen soon enough, with Sunderland much closer to a second successive relegation than a bounce-back promotion. Suddenly, things clicked at the Stadium of Light though. Seventeen goals in four games started a run which saw thirty-one points added to Sunderland’s tally in eleven games as they stormed into the playoffs. The form that got them there returned in the final months of the season, with nine wins in twelve enough to first elevate the Black Cats to third place, and then secure promotion with a 2-1 extra time win over Sheffield Wednesday.

The concern for Sunderland is the small squad size, and the lack of serious investment since last May. If anything, the squad now is weaker than the one which was relegated two years ago. Much will depend on the 44-goal strike force of Marcello Trotta and 21-year-old Andy Scott translating their form in a higher league. Whether 33-year-old Adam Lallana can keep his form up for one more season is less certain.

All things considered, we have to come to the conclusion that Sunderland will join both their promoted counterparts in returning to the Championship after a single season, although their promising manager will ensure that for them, it is a close run thing.

Prediction: 18th

Tottenham Hostpur

Manager: Tuncay Sanli (since Dec 2020)

Last season: 4th

The old men of the Premier League produced a massive shock last season by finishing fourth and making the Champions League. One look at their squad list though indicates it is not a position they are likely to match this season, particularly with Champions League commitments likely to affect their squad of veterans to a far greater degree than would be the case for a younger squad.

Striker Elouan Dahmen, last season’s top scorer, is one of two 29-year-olds in the first team squad. There are just three players younger than him in that squad, with no less than twenty players who have celebrated their thirtieth birthday. Many of these still have what is needed at this level, and the supremely experienced defensive pairing of Loic Nestor and Dymytro Chygrynskyi won’t be outsmarted by too many strikers in the coming season. Micah Richards occupies the right back slot, so Bojan Filipovic, at 26, is by far the youngster in the back four. In midfield, Paulo Henrique continues to be superb and had the best season of his career with nine goals and being named man of the match on seven occasions as Spurs sneaked into fourth place.

Tuncay’s transfer dealings are a source of concern. For so long a free-spending club, the investment in the summer was minimal, with yet more players joining looking for one last pay cheque. Andy Carroll and David Goodwillie joined to provide options up front in addition to Bas Dost. All three of Dahmen’s potential partners are aged 32. There was also a return for Giovani dos Santos who joins Aaron Lennon and Marc Albrighton in the list of wingers who have lost their pace.

A talented, but ageing group of players who will play a highly skilful style to compensate for the lack of pace and stamina. We believe they will still be in the shake-up for European places, but last season was the last hurrah for many of their players. Progression through the Champions League groups would also be an admirable achievement.

Prediction: 6th

[Brian W]

“Relegation beckons???” Quentin Quinn barked, throwing down the newspaper, and turning to Alessio Scarpi. “Might at least avoid finishing bottom?”

The newspaper stopped flying, and was left a bit of a mess with sheets coming to rest in a haphazard fashion.

Alessio Scarpi, an Italian, had been Quinn’s assistant since the summer of 2014, and the two had struck up quite an understanding in that time. Both were knowledgeable students of football and, despite the Italian being the older of the two, and with a career which included several stints in Serie A behind him, he accepted his role as number two without complaint or bitterness. The two men had a mutual respect, one which had been fermented over many bottles of wine, the vast majority of which originated in Italy, while watching any football they could find on television, discussing at length the tactical nuances each manager utilised.

Scarpi broke the silence. “What do they know? We proved we can mix it with the best in the cup last year. And we’re better now than we were. Zezovski and Gus’kov will improve the midfield from last season, and we have more options in defence”

“But what if that’s not good enough?”

It was a moment of self-doubt so rarely expressed by Quinn. Scarpi was shocked by this, and struggled with a response, simply questioning: “What do you mean ‘not good enough’?”

“I mean…what if they are right. What if we go down again? Its my name on that door. I’ll be the failure”

“How can you be a failure. This wasn’t even a league club when you came here?”

“But who cares about the Conference? League Two? League One? Even the Championship? It’s the Premier League that counts, and we all know that”

Scarpi disagreed, but couldn’t fashion a coherent reply. Quinn stood up, and moved over to the interactive television mounted on the wall opposite his desk. He switched it on, and picked up the remote. Standing back, he scrolled through the folders until he came to ‘Scout Reports’. He selected that, and then brought up a video named ‘Francisco Barroso’, one of hundreds uploaded by various members of the scouting network over the summer.

What followed was a ten-minute compilation of the best, and a few of the worst moments, of games involving Shakhtar Donetsk and Spartak Moscow. There were goals of all varieties, and the classic outrageous flicks seen on internet video websites. Being a scouting video, there were also wayward shots, runs into defenders, and times where the youngster was run off the ball. Scarpi, though, was impressed with what he saw, interjecting only to ask “Is that Bottinelli there?”

The highlight in question was from the Argentinian U20 tournament in Uruguay, and showed Bottinelli rolling the ball into Barroso for the final goal in a 3-0 win over their Peruvian counterparts. The understanding with Bottinelli in the under-20s was simply a bonus though. Barroso was a quality player in his own right.

“Get Robbie, Oliver and Wayne on the phone. I’ll find the other report I want to look at. Get them to log in, and we’ll discuss these two players.”

Scarpi did as instructed, while Quinn searched for the Portuguese winger he was looking for. As he found the report on Carlos Miguel, Scarpi indicated the conference call was ready to begin with all participants available.

Robbie Fowler and Wayne Bridge were Quentin Quinn’s most respected coaches. Both had England caps, and understood the English game, with their inputs on attack and defence well trusted by the manager. Both men were at their respective homes, and logged into the club’s secure internet TV system, and able to watch exactly what was on the screen in their manager’s office on their own interactive TVs. Oliver Neuville, on the other hand, was out for a meal with his wife, and having to take the call on his mobile while connecting to the TV system on his tablet device. As such, his participation in the discussion was limited, trying as he was to keep his conversation discreet, and shortened due to the increasingly unhappy looks from his wife.

The five men watched the winger Carlos Miguel’s video highlights. Most of those highlights came in his time at current club FC Lorient. His pace and dribbling ability stood out. The only question mark was whether he was good enough to warrant purchasing, given that Carlos Vilaró had performed so well the previous season. Although no figures had been discussed, everyone in the call knew bringing him in would require an eight-figure outlay, which would break the club’s transfer record.

The conversation with regard to Barroso was quicker. Scarpi and Quinn kept quiet, having already watched and discussed the video compilation. Fowler and Neuville, as strikers themselves in their playing days, were extremely impressed, while Bridge confirmed the obvious – that he was glad he had retired and didn’t have to play against him.

Neuville’s soup arrived at his table, and he summed up his admiration for the two players and said his goodbyes. He was quickly followed by the other two coaches in leaving the conference call, leaving Quinn and his assistant to mull over their thoughts. Quinn’s mind was made up though, and he began talking figures.

“Barroso has a release clause of £26.5million and I think Lorient will accept £12.5million for Carlos Miguel” he said, aiming his words roughly at his assistant, despite the Italian being a man rarely interested in the finances of football.

“That’s….thirty-nine million pounds,” Scarpi replied courtesy of some quick mental arithmetic, “You’ll never be allowed to spend that on two players. There isn’t that kind of money at the club”

“But if we get them, we can not only stay up, but push for mid-table”

“£40million for midtable? You’ll never get a businessman to even contemplate that”

“It’s better than relegation.” With that, Quinn reached for his phone and called Charles Butler, the chairman.

[Mark Snellink]

Holy ****, that is some money!

[Brian W]

“Hi Charles, Quentin here. How are you tonight?”

“Hi Quentin, I’m well. What do you want?” The tone was sharp and business-like.

“Looking to sign a couple of players. Whats left in the transfer kitty?”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that. There’s plenty. You’ve barely spent £10million, and I’m letting you have all the TV money to spend so we can stay up”

“Yes, but how much is left?”

“£26million. You’ve got enough for four or five players there if you need them”

“I need more than that”

“You said you were looking to sign two players?”

“I am”

“And £26million isn’t enough?”

“No. How about £40million?”

“Forty million pounds? Did I just hear that right?”

“Yes. Forty million, and we can make it into the top half”

“No way. Not a hope. The club doesn’t have that kind of money”

“But I need these two players.”

“Well find a cheaper option. Or choose just one. Or sell off some dead wood. Or negiotiate. We’re only putting £26million more into the club this summer”

Dead wood? Negiotiate? They were options, but there were limits to what he could do. Quentin was disappointed, but ended the call with his employer on good terms, asking after his family and arranging a round of golf later in the week.

Quentin moved to his computer, and looked at his squad. Scarpi sat opposite him at his desk, and the two exchanged opinions. Did they really need Slavik? Was Murray going to get the games to warrant him staying at the club. Stormo and Lodovica could both fill in for William on the right wing, but were both required? Other decisions were simpler to make. If Carlos Miguel signed, Paulo Monti would be a clear third choice. If Barroso came, Ackermans and Duris would be used even less than they are now. The two strikers and the left winger would be offered to clubs in the morning.

With the dead wood decided on, it was time to negiotiate. With a liking for round figures, £10million was offered to Lorient for Carlos Miguel, while a £15million offer went to Shakhtar for the services of Francisco Barroso. Both bids were unlikely to succeed, but it was important to start the bidding low and negotiate hard.

“One last thing” Alessio had a burning question. “These two players, Carlos Miguel and Barroso. They’re both twenty years old?”

“Yes”

“What is signing them going to do to stop the criticism about our squad being too young?”

“Easy. The squad will be young, but it will be winning too. You can’t criticise winners.”

“Fair point.”

[Brian W]

Within 24 hours, bids were rolling in for Duris and Monti. The fees varied in value greatly, with various structuring of payment. Some offered all the money up front, others structured payment after league appearances, and others preferred a loan-to-buy agreement. The loan deals were off the cards with the money required immediately. As luck would have it, there was a standout offer for each player. Monti was wanted by Racing Club in his native Argentina, with them offering £2.3million up front, and a further £1million after twenty appearances. Duris’ best offer came from Pescara, with £2.1million coming straight away and another £1million after ten goals in Serie B.

Marco Ackermans was less in demand, with a single bid for £625,000 being sent in. Despite the level of the offer being around 20% of the total value of the offer for fellow striker Tomas Duris, the offer for Ackermans was from a club a league higher, with Serie A side Udinese wanting his services. For a lack of other offers, and the need to get in money, Quentin Quinn accepted this offer too, and waited for the three players to agree terms with their prospective employers.

On the incoming side, the news was poorer for Quinn. Lorient would not budge much from their valuation, indicating that £12.25million was the only figure they would accept. £11million was quickly rejected, so Rushden stumped up the full asking price. There was little point arguing over such small variances in valuation. The £15million offer for Barroso was countered with a deal starting at £22million. That was too costly but the budget now was £18million, as long as the deals for Duris and Monti went through. That was the exact figure that Quinn offered to Shakhtar, and all he could do was wait. The bid was not immediately rejected, and the signs were serious consideration was being given to it.

After a couple of days of waiting, the call came that he had been waiting for. Shakhtar had accepted the bid, and given permission to talk to Barroso and his agent.

The other news to come that week was the destination of Rushden’s first excursion in Europe. It was not to be a short one, with the city of Thessaloniki being the destination. The away leg would take place first, on August 19th. The return leg at the Rushden Stadium was scheduled for the following Tuesday, due to policing concerns. With the two legs scheduled so close together, the application was made, and granted, to move the second league game of the season – a home encounter with Burnley – to later in the season

[Brian W]

Sunday, 8 August 2021

A week later, Monti had said his goodbyes, and boarded a plane to Madrid to connect to a further flight to Buenos Aires. Duris and Ackermans had both left for pastures new in Italy, and Carlos Miguel had agreed terms and joined up with the Rushden squad in pre-season training. Francisco Barroso has also agreed terms, but lacking an EU passport, he needed clearance from the Department of Employment before he could join.

Quentin sat with Alessio in his office after training. It had been a good training session, and spirits were high. The two men were talking football, as always, and discussing the fall from grace their opening day opponents Liverpool had suffered in the last ten years. Their conversation was interrupted by a phone call. Quentin answered. Alessio listened in to the half of the conversation he could hear, the subject of which was obvious:

“Hello, Quentin Quinn speaking”

“Ah, Hi Kelly. Good news, I hope”

“You’re joking. They’re having a laugh”

“He’s one of the best prospects in the world. We’ll play him every week. They can’t justify that decision”

“Yes, of course we want to appeal. We’ll get a full dossier ready for them to look at. I have no ideas why these decisions are made by men in suits with no knowledge or interest in football”

“OK, if we appeal, did they tell you when they’ll hear the appeal?”

“The fourteenth? That’s next Saturday. The day before the season starts”

“I suppose we can arrange to have Francisco as close to the airport as we can get him on Saturday, and get him on a flight the minute the appeal goes through.”

“Yes, please do book a hotel room for him from Saturday night onwards”

“If we don’t get him, its money wasted I know. But we can’t take the risk. If we get him, I want him in the squad immediately, not worrying about where he’s sleeping.”

“Yes, talk to the chairman about that. If he questions the hotel room, send him my way”

“OK Kelly, Bye.”

Alessio looked at Quentin. Quentin looked at Alessio. The looks said it all. Neither could believe the work permit had been turned down. Alessio didn’t need to add anything to that, but did have one question.

“Are you serious about playing him against Liverpool? He won’t even have been in the country twenty-four hours.”

“I didn’t say about playing him. Just for him to be in the squad. Probably on the bench, but it depends what condition he’s in, and how good he looks on the morning of the match”

“And, I know its unthinkable, but what if we don’t get him?”

“We will. Not even the government are that stupid.” - a pause – “Well, OK. There is a second option. Philippe Hauchecorne. He’s French, so no work permit problems. Turn the TV on and pass me the remote. I’ll show you the report Marko compiled.”

With that, Quentin and Alessio resumed their football discussion, this time centring on the young French prospect at Paris Saint-Germain.

[Brian W]

Saturday, August 14th 2021

“Press him Granty. Keep tight.”

“Keep it short Toni. On the ground.”

“Good good. Nice cross William”

“Well defended Smithers”

The training session was going well, which was just as well for all concerned with the season at the Rushden stadium kicking off the following day with the arrival of Alex McLeish’s Liverpool side. Wayne was happy with the defenders. Robbie and Oliver liked the look of the attacking side of things, with the strikers looking clinical in training. How they would look on the pitch the following day was another thing. The other issue still to be addressed was, of course, the identity of the fourth of those strikers. Since the departures of Ackermans and Duris, the striker count was just three.

Although the players had not been told, they knew moves were afoot to sign a new man up front. That seemed to galvanise the attempts of Garcia Valle, Feitknecht and Bottinelli to impress in training.

A phone rang. Quentin reached into his pocket and answered it with a background of gentle ribbing coming from the players who heard it – phones had always been banned from training sessions. Quentin would normally adhere to those rules. He was not one for double standards but today was different. Possibly historic.

The call was not a long distance call. It was being made by Kelly in the office and received on the training ground. The news was, of course, being relayed by Kelly to the manager from the Department of Employment. The nature of that news was immediately obvious. A clenched fist and celebratory outburst confirmed to the coaching staff what was going on. Francisco Barroso was a Rushden and Diamonds player.

Quentin called the players over.

“Right guys. I think most of you have seen the reports, and I think you may have just guessed that we’ve signed Francisco Barroso from Shakhtar Donetsk. The fee is a record for this club, so tomorrow there will be a lot of focus on us from the TV crews before the game. Francisco is already making his way to the airport. He will land in the UK this evening and he will be here training with us before the game tomorrow.

“You three,” Quinn looked at the three strikers, “I don’t want you to worry. It will be two from four, yes. You’re all young, and I wouldn’t want any of you playing every week anyway. Also, Francisco cannot play in Europe this season for us, so you’ve got the Europa League games between the three of you.”

The strikers, all of whom had looked worried, eased their concerned looks slightly at those words.

“Now, all of you. I want you all here tomorrow. I’ll pick the team tomorrow morning, as usual. Get some rest, and we can win tomorrow. Liverpool is just a name. They’re the history. You…we…we are the future.”

It was a rallying cry of sorts which got the appropriate reaction from the players. They all went off and did whatever it is footballers do when they’re not frequenting nightclubs.

[BobBev]

Really enjoying this one Brian - nicely put together and very interesting to be looking so far into the future.

[Brian W]

Quentin and Alessio returned to the manager’s office in time to catch the end of the first game of the season. It was the early kick-off and featured the reigning champions Manchester City. Quentin did think it was a nice touch that the league leaders got the chance to kick of the season, much like the champions at Wimbledon do. Obviously, tradition and meaning aren’t big things in football, and the early Saturday kickoff meant little more than that it was the third or fourth most marketable game of the weekend.

That was exactly how it proved, with the title favourites easing to a facile 4-0 win at the City of Manchester Stadium against Fulham, which really ruined Dennis Wise’s dreams for his first game in charge. Georgian midfielder Jano set them on their way in the first half, with right-back Gauchinho converting a penalty just beyond the hour mark. Substitute Marchetti and Austrian midfielder Holzhauser put the gloss on the win in the last ten minutes, and ensured the scoreline fairly reflected the superiority the home side showed throughout the game.

In the 3 o’clock kickoffs, there were mixed fortunes for the other two managers sitting in their respective dugouts for the first time. The experience of David Moyes transferred well to his Middlesbrough side, as they saw off Burnley 3-1 at the Riverside. Danny Howe utilised his turn of pace to supreme effect, completing his hattrick in the third minute of injury time to put the icing on the Scot’s cake. For Johan Djourou, it was a different story, with the young manager seeing his side beaten 2-1 at the Reebok Stadium, with the winning goal coming six minutes from time through Vadim Demidov, a Norwegian who is a full three months older than the Swiss manager he denied an opening day point.

Of more interest to Quentin and Alessio were the results of the other promoted sides, Sheffield United and Sunderland. As it was, there was disappointment for both, as they both fell to defeats. Sunderland performed the better, losing by just a single goal at Villa Park from young Spaniard José. Sheffield United will have been more disappointed though, failing to replicate their sturdy defensive work that got them promoted as they lost 3-1 to Birmingham. They managed to go in level after scoring deep into first half injury time, but were unable to build on that in a second half which featured three penalties. Birmingham were awarded two, and scored both. Sheffield United – and Yannick Sagbo – saw theirs ricochet off the post for what would have levelled the scores at 2-2.

The most significant result of the day came in the final game of the day at Ewood Park, where the Lancashire side played host to European Champions Arsenal. After a goalless first half, Victor Moses gave the home side the lead early in the second half only for Khouma Babacar to equalise within ninety seconds. The scores remained level until ten minutes from time when Moses seized on a poor pass across the Arsenal defence and sprinted clear to re-take the lead. This time, there was no way back, and the day’s shock result was secured.

[tenthreeleader]

It was the early kick-off and featured the reigning champions Manchester City.

The most significant result of the day came in the final game of the day at Ewood Park, where the Lancashire side played host to European Champions Arsenal.

Man, I thought this was fiction, not fantasy

Very well done, sir.