Lambert to Liverpool and 12 other big moves for British veterans

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Following Rickie Lambert’s move to Liverpool, we remember 12 other experienced British players who signed for big clubs…

Who are your favourite Indian Summer signings? Which twilight moves did we miss out that deserved to make our list? Let us know in the comments below.

David Platt, Sampdoria to Arsenal, 1995

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Best remembered for his volley against Belgium in the 1990 World Cup, David Platt shot to continental acclaim in the early 90s as a goal-scoring midfielder.  After spells at Bari and Juventus, Platt spent two seasons at Sampdoria under Sven-Goran Eriksson. Having just signed Dennis Bergkamp for £7.5 million, Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch swooped to bring in Platt (then 29) for a further £4.75 million to add some attacking flair. Rioch was sacked after one season but Platt was used by Arsene Wenger as an experienced head to play alongside a 20-year-old Patrick Vieria in midfield. He featured mostly from the bench in the Double-winning season of 1997-8 but did score the crucial winner in the 3-2 victory against Manchester United at Highbury. Hugo Greenhalgh
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Podcast: The fifth False Nine Pubcast with Musa Okwonga, Nassos Stylianou & Francis Gene-Rowe

Host Greg Johnson and regulars Hugo Greenhalgh and James Dutton are joined by Musa Okwonga (ESPN/BBC), Nassos Stylianou (Financial Times, Football Weekly) and TFN’s very own Francis Gene-Row for The False Nine’s fifth Pubcast at The Old Red Lion Theatre Pub, in Angel.

They look at the club football season, look ahead to the World Cup and discuss which clubs they’d stamp a Bela Guttmann-esque curse upon and why.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/false-nines-first-pubcast/id784149140?i=313253008&mt=2

 

The False Nine predict the World Cup

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With the World Cup less than a month away the excitement is palpable. We at The False Nine have put together our own predictions for how the tournament will pan out with an almost universal consensus that Spain will complete an unprecedented quadruple and retain their crown…

Don’t forget to head over to the Betting Expert World Cup Predictor page to create your own set of World Cup results! Continue reading

Defence has been Albion’s downfall, not attack

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Nathan Carr argues that despite the loss of West Brom’s attacking riches, it’s the defence that led them to a 17th place finish in the 2013-14 season…

Many have pointed to the obvious fact that the goals of Romelu Lukaku, Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long have not been replaced at West Brom, and this sudden decline in firepower was a significant factor in the team’s dismal 13-14 season. While this is indisputable, it would be churlish to focus purely on the goal drought and not the deeper areas of the field – where West Brom have arguably failed even more miserably.

The season just gone produced some of the worst defending I’ve ever seen from an Albion side. No communication, no solidity and certainly no familiarity as injuries to key defenders meant that the defence had to be tinkered with more times than the manager would have preferred. Continue reading

Ross McCormack – the new Billy Bremner?

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“His Hair is Red and Fuzzy, and His Body’s Black and Blue”

TFN’s Kyle Hulme tells how Ross McCormack manifested the spirit of fellow countryman and former Leeds United legend Billy Bremner to save the club in a season of turmoil…

He watched the ball the whole way. Knowing Matt Smith would win it, he ran in between the two defenders. The flick on was unpredictable, landing awkwardly to his right whilst he had his back to goal. Undeterred, he flicked the ball over his and his marker’s shoulder, pirouetting in the same motion, before striking the ball with his weaker foot – the same weaker foot which launched a season filled with hope against Brighton back in August – past the Barnsley goalkeeper and into the goal.

The travelling Leeds fans erupted, their talisman looking to have all-but condemned their Yorkshire rivals to relegation. It was his 29th goal of the season, an outrageous feat given that Leeds that day confirmed their safety in the division, and a personal record he’ll never forget in a season which Leeds fans can’t wait to see the back of. Continue reading