Sport magazine 324

Issue 324 | September 27 2013

Old flame Is the fire back in Liverpool’s eyes?

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Contents

20

Issue 324, September 27 2013 Radar 06 FIFA 14

Been battling into work despite GTA V’s availability at home? EA’s latest release means it’s time to surrender

08 Social climber Cycling writer Daniel Friebe picks out some of Europe’s undiscovered ascents for us from his new book

13

Ronaldo: scores goals But you knew that. We compare how many, and how often, from his spells in Manchester and Madrid

oFeatures this coming week

20 Liverpool: A Study It’s 23 years since the Liver Bird last sat atop its league perch. Is the club ready to challenge again, or is there another false dawn on the horizon?

29 Ryder Cup 2014 With one year to go, we pick out the rookies who Paul McGinley and Tom Watson may be studying closely

34 Chris Robshaw On leading Quins back to domestic glory, their Heineken Cup opponents and being England captain – for now

Cover illustration: Noma Bar. This page: Alex Livesey/Getty Images, David Rogers/Getty Images

06

60

38 Santi Cazorla The man Arsenal fans call the Little Magician on his club’s chances of lifting silverware this season

Extra Time

34

52 Grooming

38

Smile like Henry Cavill with Oral-B’s sparkling new ‘superbrush’

54 Gadgets The best on-ear headphones for listening to whatever it is you like

56 Kit What’s that you say about Jonny Wilkinson’s new clothing brand?

60 Entertainment Hugh Jackman’s latest role takes several dark turns in Prisoners | September 27 2013 | 05

Radar game on G

TA V has incapacitated half the population with its addictive gameplay and, like a secondary missile strike, FIFA 14 is here to finish the job. There are some neat new features, including a 2v2 Seasons mode online and the addition of legendary former players to the popular yet baffling Ultimate Team mode.

The gameplay feels looser, thanks to more realistic first touches, so it’s pleasing when you do manage to string some quick passes together. There are lots more of what Martin Tyler would call ‘comings together’ – a new impact engine means players react to such clashes in news. Overall, it’s a small but satisfying step forward before the big leap that will arrive with the next-gen consoles.

FIFA 14 is out today on Xbox 360 and PS3.

The next-gen versions (pictured, top) will be released in conjunction with the Xbox One and PS4 later this year 06 | September 27 2013 |

p08 – Become king of Europe’s extreme, undiscovered mountains

p10 – Colin McRae’s legacy explored in a new book

Radar

Secret ascents or every d’Huez or Ventoux, there’s a forgotten climb that’s just as brutal.

In Mountain High, cycling scribe Daniel Friebe and photographer Pete Goding documented the betterknown two-wheeled tests in Europe.

The sequel, Mountain Higher, looks at some of the lesser-known ’undiscovered’ climbs from across the continent. We asked Friebe to select three of his favourites.

Mountain Higher: Europe’s Extreme Undiscovered and Unforgettable Cycle Climbs (Quercus, £25) is out now

F

Grüntenhütte from Kranzegg Germany Height: 1,477m Length: 4.3km Average gradient: 14.6 per cent A climb so steep that it takes us into the realm of extreme sports, for no ‘normal’ pro road race would ever brave gradients this severe.

At the top, an overwhelmingly beautiful view of the Allgau Alps awaits from a hut selling the finest local Bavarian lager Prost to anyone who makes it that far!

Miguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers Won the triple crown in 2012 and has continued in a similar vein with a remarkable 2013, hitting for .350 average, 44 home runs and 137 RBIs (runs batted in). Miggy, still only 30, has hit more than 30 homers in nine of his past 10 seasons.

08 | September 27 2013 |

W

Bealach na Bà from Tornapress Scotland Height: 626m Length: 9.5km Average gradient: 6.5 per cent A British climb to rival the giants of the Tour de France in beauty and, if the wind blows, difficulty. The old drovers’ road is best attacked from the deserted shores of Loch Kishorn in the east; there, it begins its ascent into the jaws of a deep, dark corrie and natural wind tunnel that presents an evil ordeal.

e’ve picked out five of the best performers* from the MLB regular season, which comes to an end this weekend

Chris Davis Baltimore Orioles King of the long ball in 2013: Davis has slugged 52 home runs, 37 of them by the All-Star Break. He has joined only two players – Babe Ruth and Albert Belle – in hitting more than 50 home runs and 40 doubles in a single season.

Jose Fernandez Miami Marlins The rookie jumped from A-League baseball (three leagues below the Majors) to start for Miami. Currently has the second-best ERA (earned run average) in the Majors, and has held opponents to a .182 batting average.

Yasiel Puig LA Dodgers Puig arrived on June 3 and took the Majors by storm.

At the start of July, the Dodgers were bottom of the NL West. They have now won the division, partly thanks to his batting average of .327 and 18 home runs.

Mariano Rivera NY Yankees At the season’s end, Rivera, 43, will retire as the greatest closer in history. He returned from a torn ACL in 2012 to claim 44 saves, making his career record 652 – more than 300 ahead of the next closest active player, Joe Nathan.

All pictures Getty Images. *All statistics correct at time of going to press

Top marks

Port de Larrau from Logibar France/Spain Height: 1,585m Length: 14.8km Average gradient: 8.14 per cent The scene of five-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain’s final abdication in the 1996 race.

The Port de Larrau straddles the Franco-Spanish border and, from the French side, is rated by some as the hardest climb in the Pyrenees.

It is certainly one of the most eye-catchingly gorgeous.

FI F FIFA IFAe4e 14 14rffree ree

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we are entertainment *Buy an Xbox 360 250GB Console and get FIFA 14 on Xbox 360 for free. Available at participating stores while stocks last, for a limited time only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Prices correct at time of print. Offer applies only to the standard solus 250GB Xbox 360 console. Prices of other console options may vary. © 2013 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, and the EA SPORTS logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Official FIFA licensed product. © The FIFA name and OLP Logo are copyright or trademark protected by FIFA. All rights reserved. Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. The Premier League Logo © The Football Association Premier League Limited 2006. The Premier League Logo is a trade mark of the Football Association Premier League Limited which is registered in the UK and other jurisdictions. The Premier League Club logos are copyright works and registered trademarks of the respective Clubs. All are used with the kind permission of their respective owners. Manufactured under licence from the Football Association Premier League Limited.

No association with nor endorsement of this product by any player is intended or implied by the licence granted by the Football Association Premier League Limited to Electronic Arts. Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Radar

Rally king B

ritain’s first World Rally Championship winner and the youngest ever driver to claim the prize, Colin McRae would have turned 45 this year. And he would surely have helped maintain public interest in a sport that has slipped off the radar somewhat since his tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2007.

McRae captured the imagination of the British public in a way few drivers can, with a reputation for out-and-out speed and a win-at-all-costs approach that helped him secure the 1995 World Rally Championship title. He was also instrumental in introducing new fans to the sport through the series of video games that bore his name.

A new coffee table book, Just Colin, explores McRae’s legacy. Authors Colin McMaster and David Evans have pulled together more than 50,000 words of rare interviews with friends and family, and hundreds of photographs to tell the story of the Scot’s life in the astonishing depth it deserves.

Just Colin, by Colin McMaster and David Evans, out now (McKlein, £39.99). Visit mcraebook.com for more information

S

ome of the biggest names in business (and Sport) took to the slightly sodden streets of London last Thursday, to take part in the annual Bloomberg Square Mile Relay.

Modesty and a subtle sense of Corinthian spirit prevents us from reporting on a heroic Team Sport display (oh okay then, we finished 73rd of way more than 73 teams), but we can reveal that a wiry bunch of Barclays bankers came home first in the scandalously rapid time of 56 minutes and 21 seconds (far right).

Commerzbank provided the evening’s fastest individual, with Nicholas Torry flying round the course in under five minutes. Mighty impressive, we’re sure you’ll agree, but still not as cool as the collection of London 2012 stars on hand for the evening. Namely, from left to right: Nicola Adams, Jade Jones, Sophia Warner and Louis Smith. Heck, some of them even ran it, too.

10 | September 27 2013 |

Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images, Action Images/Henry Browne, Action Images/Andrew Boyers

Running the city

fiat.co.uk

Radar

Just add goals

Games | 344 Goals | 140 Shots per game | 3.75 On target | 1.68 Off target | 2.07 Goals per game | 0.41

F

ormer Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen traces Cristiano Ronaldo’s transformation from frustrating winger into complete forward back to a three-game ban in 2007, when he and the Portuguese forward worked on effective finishing instead of trying to score the ‘perfect goal’.

“I told him: ‘It doesn’t matter how you score, as long as the ball goes in the net,’” Meulensteen told The Telegraph. Ronaldo has acted on that advice since his move to Real Madrid,

Real Madrid*

Games | 244 Goals | 222 Shots per game | 5.89 On target | 2.44 Off target | 3.45 Goals per game | 0.91

* Includes international matches

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images, Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images, Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Man Utd*

and his rise to the top of the world game is the focus of a documentary on ITV4 on Tuesday, which features interviews with colleagues, coaches, and the man himself. We’ve crunched the numbers on Ronaldo at both international and club level over the past 10 seasons – they show that his freakish scoring record in Spain is partly because he takes a lot more shots, but also because more of the ones on target result in goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Footballing Superstar, Tuesday 10pm, ITV4

| September 27 2013 | 13

Radar Editor’s letter Serging ahead: yet only a week earlier Manuel Pellegrini’s team were terrible at Stoke www.sport-magazine.co.uk @sportmaguk facebook.com/sportmagazine

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Anything can happen The Premier League is currently as unpredictable as it ever has been – and that’s why we love it

Acting editor Tony Hodson @tonyhodson1

you had to be impressed with the pace, panache and raw physicality of a Man City side that had no intention of doing anything but winning the Manchester derby.

They are clearly a work in progress, but Manuel Pellegrini’s men were irresistible – as irresistible, in fact, as they were dismal away at Stoke the previous weekend.

That would be the very same Stoke, of course, who were the victims as Arsenal recorded a fourth straight Premier League win to move top of the early-season table. Seems a long time ago that Arsene Wenger’s men were being made to look like boys at home to a rampaging Aston Villa – who have won two from three away yet remain pointless at home after defeats to both Liverpool and Newcastle.

On the subject of Liverpool, Newcastle and home defeats, who saw those two respectively losing to Southampton and Hull last Saturday? Not I, for sure, but then I wouldn’t have called Everton as the last surviving unbeaten team in this season’s Premier League. I certainly wouldn’t have predicted John Obi Mikel – one of my least favourite players in the division – to be one of Chelsea’s scorers at home to

Fulham on Saturday, and I definitely wouldn’t have picked Paulinho as the matchwinner Tottenham needed to move themselves up to second with a win over Cardiff.

My point? It might not offer the best football in the world (right now, it’s nowhere near), but the Premier League does still offer unpredictability in the extreme. Apart from Paolo Di Canio being a crackpot just waiting to be sacked, that is – but we can’t get everything wrong, can we?

While I’m on football, a much-deserved shout-out to the mighty Leyton Orient. Russell Slade’s men won 2-0 at Brentford on Monday night to make it eight wins from eight at the start of the new League One season. That is some effort in what is always a tough and competitive league – their likely top-of-the-table clash away at Peterborough in early November could be a belter.

Colour reproduction: Rival Colour Ltd Printed by: Wyndeham Group Ltd © UTV Media plc 2013 UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements placed in Sport magazine £1 where sold Hearty thanks to: Tim Stedman, Sarah Stade, Imogen Gaunt

So Sam Tomkins will quit the Warriors of Wigan for those of New Zealand at the end of the Super League season.

The 24-year-old could yet star for England at the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, but he is a rare talent and the sport in this country will miss him greatly.

Reader comments of the week

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Total Average Distribution: 305,684 Jan-June 2013

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A

s bad as Manchester United were at the Etihad on Sunday – and they really were dreadful –

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Flats on Friday

David Lyttleton

Radar Opinion

Culture before personality

B

y the time this article is published, Paulo Di Canio might well have been given another job and sacked again. Sounds silly, I grant you, but not implausible. Football’s revolving managerial door has long been labelled ridiculous, but the effect it has runs far deeper than simply making the big clubs look ruthless – and it’s all to do with culture.

Look at the big clubs in football or rugby, and they all seem to have a culture set in concrete; we could describe their ethos from our armchair and not be far wrong. Barcelona approach the game in a way different from the rest – and, seeing as they’ve been so successful for so long, many sides try to copy them. In rugby union, Leicester Tigers are known for breeding tough blokes in a no-nonsense environment. These are clubs whose cultures have been crafted and maintained over long periods of time. So established are these blueprints for success, in fact, that any player, coach, marketeer or groundsman joining the club knows exactly what they must live up to. Ergo, the culture comes first.

The first thing I think when I see clubs bringing in new managers and sacking them before their new email address has even been set up is that it makes awful business sense. The wedge they must fork out in pay-offs would make you wince. But I also see something else. I see the soul being ripped out of the country’s biggest, best football clubs.

16 | September 27 2013 |

You see, when football managers arrive, they often bring with them the fitness and coaching staff with whom they’re used to working. This makes a good deal of sense, often linguistically as much as anything else, but they also bring with them an entirely fresh approach to winning – and that, as odd as it sounds, is part of the problem. Of course a coach will arrive with new ideas on how to run team meetings, what formations to use, what the weekly schedule should look like. This is fine, but it has to be tightly managed from the very top of the organisation, because it can ultimately lead to a club effectively swapping cultures manager by manager.

When a manager joins Barcelona, he works to fit in with and live up to an established culture.

He is given permission to alter training techniques, but not to revolutionise the club. Admittedly, a chicken-and-egg situation arises when a club needs a culture – a soul – to call its own, but those parameters must be set by the club and a manager signed to fit that bill. Signing a bloke and hoping he sets one for you rarely works, and is a frighteningly short-term approach – with sackings now so common, why would a manager bother to think more than a week ahead?

What does it say about your cultural ambition when you sign a loose cannon like Di Canio? It says you haven’t really thought about it. Terrifying. @davidflatman

It’s like this…

Bill Borrows

T

here’s a new definition of ‘crisis’.

Previously, ‘crisis’ has been accurately deployed to describe the world being brought to the edge of nuclear armageddon (Cuban Missile Crisis), the collapse of the international banking system (Global Financial Crisis) and Simon Cowell (Midlife Crisis), but it now seems to be sportswriter shorthand for just losing a game.

A manic depressive caller to talkSPORT this week, a Liverpool fan, sounded like he had been meaning to get through to the Samaritans but speed-dialled the wrong number. “Has Brendan Rodgers lost the plot?” he wanted to know. Wow! Before Saturday and last time I looked, Liverpool hadn’t lost a game for almost six months.

At the Stadium of Light there may well have been bloody insurrection as Paolo Di Canio was overthrown (sample piss-poor headline: “A Casualty of Wear”) – but five games into the season and Sunderland are just six points behind Manchester United. Crisis? Sack the manager with nobody lined up to replace him. That’s bound to help. Dumb? Yes. But not a ‘crisis’.

Jose Mourinho, in his new chillax mode, was wrong to come back to Chelsea. Apparently. Last week the whole enterprise had been a ‘disaster’ (which traditionally comes after warnings of a crisis have gone unheeded).

The bookies were slashing the odds on him being the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season. His team win 2-0 against Fulham, and briefly go top of the table. A Daily Mirror reader tweets: “The crisis is coming.”

He continues: “[Abramovich] will hate watching Chelski going back to ugly football days… [Mourinho] sacked before the end of the season.” Note the use of the definite article: ‘the’ crisis is coming. No it isn’t, you silly man.

If Chelsea are off the pace at the turn of the year, they will make a couple of major signings and be right there come May. Not a crisis. And certainly not ‘the’ crisis.

Arsene Wenger, under fire from all corners and reflecting on the loss to Aston Villa in the first game of the season, put it best after Arsenal went top on Sunday: “Look, we lost one game since the beginning of March.

That’s why it was a shock. But we won in the Champions League at Bayern. We won at Fenerbahce. The media in general has brainwashed a little bit the fans.”

Okay? So everybody calm down. The only person who has a ‘crisis’ to deal with right now is David Moyes, as his dispirited, ageing team – soon-to-be Chelsea player Wayne Rooney aside – cannot even raise their game for a Manchester derby. Now that’s what I call a ‘crisis’. @billborrows

Plank of the Week David Haye, London Thanks for the interview in last week’s mag and all, but have you any idea how inconvenienced I am by your inability to get out of the way of a sparring partner’s right hook?

And why weren’t you wearing a headguard? There was a weekend planned around a trip to the Manchester Arena, and now there isn’t. Some people are so selfish.

Frozen in time

Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

Tatts oot for the lads The Stadio Olimpico hasn’t seen stomachs like this since Gazza swapped shirts 20 years ago. Still, when in Rome and all that, as these Legia Warsaw fans obviously thought. Sadly for them, they travelled all that way just to watch their boys lose 1-0 to Lazio in the Europa League. Mighty impressive tattoos, mind.

18 | September 27 2013 |

| 19

Liverpool

20 | September 27 2013 |

Sleep disorder After an encouraging start to the Premier League season, could English football’s deepestsleeping giant finally be showing signs of waking?

Sport examines the history of Liverpool’s slumber and asks whether they are once again ready to play among the big boys

Illustration by Noma Bar

T

he date was February 22 1991.

For Liverpool Football Club, it was two mornings after the night before – a night on which they had contrived to four times throw away the lead in an FA Cup replay against neighbours and rivals Everton at Goodison Park.

The nature of the goals they had conceded in a dramatic 4-4 draw – defensive lapses at the heart of a traditionally resolute rearguard – had not gone unnoticed, but there remained little to concern the Anfield faithful. A side managed by the club’s greatest ever player, Kenny Dalglish, were defending league champions; they were in a strong position to retain their title; and, of course, they were still in the cup.

“Kenny didn’t show any signs that night, but two days later he resigned,” recalled legendary Liverpool striker Ian Rush some years later. “I think it just happened that morning. We had all come in for training, and were told to meet in the dressing room.

Kenny walked in and said he was leaving. It was complete shock and surprise. He couldn’t say too much, but there were tears in his eyes as he spoke.”

In purely footballing terms, Liverpool has been a club in mourning ever since. Dalglish’s departure precipitated a sharp dip in form from a squad that was to endure almost two months of uncertainty before a full-time successor, the former captain Graeme Souness, was named. The subsequent FA Cup replay against Everton was lost, while their league championship was eventually ceded to Arsenal in disappointingly tame fashion. More than

two decades on, the club that towered over English football throughout the 1980s is yet to win it back.

But is the tide about to turn, finally, back in their favour? Five games into the new Premier League season, and Liverpool sit fifth, just two points adrift of leaders Arsenal. They were top going into last weekend, when Brendan Rodgers and his side suffered the setback of a home defeat to Southampton, but the signs are that this will be as open a Premier League campaign as there has been in its history – an opportunity, perhaps, for the fallen giants to rise.

To fully comprehend the challenge facing the modern Liverpool, it is useful to understand where it all went wrong in the first place. For David Usher, editor of The Liverpool Way magazine and website, Dalglish’s departure represents the point at which Liverpool’s longstanding dominance of the domestic game started to diminish.

“That really set us back at that point in time,” he explains. “Kenny went and we brought Souness in; that didn’t work out, and I wouldn’t say we’ve ever really fully recovered. The Premier League started, which brought with it a new financial aspect, and other teams – especially Manchester United – got a jump on us. They got it right off the pitch, and we didn’t. We’ve never really got back to where we were.”

Power shift It’s a fact that causes misery enough among Liverpool fans, were it not to be compounded, as Usher implies, by the Liver Bird being knocked off its perch k | 21

David Cannon/Allsport

Liverpool

by a certain rampaging Red Devil. While Liverpool were relinquishing their league title in 1991, Manchester United were following up the previous season’s FA Cup success with victory over Barcelona in the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Two years later, Sir Alex Ferguson would lead them to a first league title in 26 years. But, we ask, was the shift of power from Liverpool to Manchester mainly about football or finances?

“It was both, really,” says Usher. “It’s all too easy now to say that they’ve just got more money than us, because United have always had money. Even when we were winning titles, they often had the more expensive team. It’s about what you do with the money. Ferguson had a difficult start at the club, but once he got it right on the pitch there was a snowball effect and they became a bit of a juggernaut, which in turn brought in even more money. Because they got it so right off the pitch, in terms of marketing and everything else, they just grew out of our league.”

Under the chairmanship of Martin Edwards, United not only floated on the stock market; with the advent of the Premier League, and the associated growth in marketing potential of English clubs on an international stage, they developed themselves into a worldwide brand capable of generating huge revenues, much of which could be spent on the squad. But as one footballing giant dragged itself out of an ancient malaise, another was preparing to put itself to sleep with a particularly strong dose of complacency.

“Honestly, I think Liverpool just took things for granted,” says Usher. “It’s often said that Manchester United were run like a global empire, and Liverpool like a corner shop. If we’d have got it right and done 22 | September 27 2013 |

it properly, there’s no reason why we couldn’t have made the same success of it. I’d argue that we have just as many supporters around the world as United, but they just did a much better job of marketing their brand and bringing in the money. I believe Liverpool are getting it right now, but you’re talking about a club needing to make up for 20 years of not doing so. That’s not going to happen overnight.”

False dawns Equally, it’s going to take more than four league games unbeaten at the start of a season to convince fans that Liverpool are once more ready to challenge for the honours that came so easily for so long.

The poor display at home to Southampton on Saturday served only as a reminder that this is a club that has flattered to deceive for more than two decades. Trophies have been won, most notably in Istanbul eight years ago, but the reality is that the league championship has been little more than a distant flicker on the horizon ever since Dalglish left his beloved Anfield (the first time) in February 1991.

“We went close a few years ago, when we came second under Rafa Benitez,” says Usher of 2008-09, when the team lost only twice and amassed 86 points, yet still fell four short of their old tormentor Ferguson.

“But I think the time was under Roy Evans; it was the whole Spice Boy era, we played great football and looked like we were going to do great things. If we could have managed to win a title then [the closest they came under Evans was third, in 1995-96], then you don’t know how things might have turned out.

But that team always found a way of shooting itself in the foot, and things started to get away from us.

“It’s often said that Manchester United were run like a global empire, and Liverpool like a corner shop” We’ve been close, but we’ve never managed a sustained challenge over a number of seasons. To win titles, you’ve got to be doing it year in, year out.”

Study Liverpool’s Premier League finishes in the past two decades, and a pattern emerges: whether under Evans, Benitez or Gerard Houllier in between, the team has shown steady progression building up to something nearing a genuine title challenge.

Both Houllier and Benitez managed to finish second once, before their respective reigns wilted under the strain of not quite returning the club they had come to love to the pinnacle of English football.

The former’s health suffered, while the latter’s departure came during a period of turmoil under the ownership of the American leverage buyout merchants Tom Hicks and George Gillett. k Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Liverpool The subsequent four seasons have seen Liverpool’s worst run of finishes since the Premier League began.

“Hicks and Gillett (right) must take the bulk of the blame, but a lot of factors have gone into it,” explains Usher. “You can make excuses for him, but towards the end of his time at the club Rafa definitely took his eye off the ball. [Former managing director] Christian Purslow has to shoulder some of the blame; Roy Hodgson was not a good appointment and did not do well; and even though Dalglish did well as caretaker, the new owners didn’t want him long-term and felt forced into giving him the job because the fans demanded it. A lot of things have combined, but the majority of the blame for the past four years must lie with Hicks and Gillett. Unquestionably.”

Problems at home

“The bulk of the blame lies with Hicks and Gillett” be standing still – despite recent claims from owner John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group that the finance is now in place to finally redevelop Anfield.

“Staying at Anfield and expanding is what I wanted us to do all along,” says Usher, lamenting the £49.6m the club wasted on the aforementioned failure to relocate away from their current home. “Gillett and Hicks said it wasn’t possible, as did Rick Parry and David Moores before them. They all said we needed a new stadium, but this has been going on for so long – and, to me, we’re no closer to a resolution now than we were back then. The owners can say what they want about the finances being in place, but until something actually happens I’ll be taking it with a pinch of salt.

We’ve been down this road many times before.”

If Liverpool are to redevelop their venerable old ground, then it is the roads around an increasingly

Missed opportunity There is no question as to the impact a redeveloped Anfield could have on the fortunes of the team it hosts, but matters on the pitch remain as important as those off it. In that respect, did Liverpool make the most of a summer in which last season’s top three all changed manager, Tottenham sold their best player and Arsenal once more floundered in the transfer market before the late signing of Mesut Ozil?

“This summer was the time for the owners to invest significantly in the playing squad, to take advantage of uncertainty elsewhere, but it didn’t really happen,” says Usher. “They’re not loading the club with any of their debt, which is the main thing, and they have made money available for transfers in the past – but it wasn’t spent well and they’ve since tightened the purse strings. Mamadou Sakho came in for £15m, and Simon Mignolet for £9m, but they’re the only ones who you would say might improve the team rather than the squad.

“We missed out on our really high-profile targets [most notably Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker who instead opted to join k

Martin Rickett / Press Association Images, Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

And their major failing, aside from saddling the club with their own significant debts, was a failure to see through the promise they made on the very day they had their £435m offer accepted by David Moores in February 2007: to build a new 60,000-seater stadium in Stanley Park.

“They thought they were going to come in, borrow more money to build the stadium after borrowing (£185m) to buy the club, and then once the stadium was built they thought they’d be raking it in,” says Usher. “That was the plan, but the cost of steel went up, so the stadium costs went right up, and it got to the point where they couldn’t borrow the money to build it. The debt piled up, and we were paying so much in interest that it got out of hand. That’s where it went wrong. They just couldn’t get the thing built.”

If Liverpool are indeed the sleeping giant of the Premier League, then Anfield – and the club’s protracted inability to either redevelop or move away from it – is the ageing, outdated symbol of its slumber. While Manchester United have spent the Premier League years building Old Trafford into the 75,000-capacity monster that represents (or at least used to) the club’s huge financial potential, and Arsenal keep the balance sheet healthy with the imposing 60,000-seater Emirates, Liverpool continue to operate from within the four walls of a stadium that holds few more than 45,000 spectators. While other clubs make huge strides forward, Liverpool appear to

derelict Anfield area – and the few houses that remain inhabited within them – that hold the key.

There have long been questions over the club’s long-term project to buy up the properties around the stadium so as to facilitate expansion, and Usher agrees that it remains a controversial issue.

“A lot of the remaining properties are owned by private landlords who know the club is desperate to buy them, so they’re asking for a lot more than they’re worth,” he says. “But then you have people who actually live there, and loads of the houses in the streets are boarded up. It needs to be sorted out, but the club’s attitude is that they’re not going to pay over the odds for what these houses are worth.

“It’s all relative though, isn’t it? They might end up having to do so, but it’s still peanuts compared to the kind of money they’ve been splashing out on players contributing next to nothing. I’m not necessarily talking about players FSG signed, but at the same time they were still paying Joe Cole £90k a week.

They’ve got to give these people a decent amount of money so they can find somewhere else to live.”

24 | September 27 2013 |

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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

“Suarez only knows one way to play – he’s a street footballer” Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund], and with the players leaving the club I think we ended up with a net spend of £16m. That’s not a massive outlay, particularly as we’re reducing the wage bill.

“The new owners are running the club like much more of a tight ship, and it needs that because down the years we’ve spent ridiculous money on players on stupid contracts. I’m not going to criticise them for that, but then they have all this television money coming in and they’ve just put season-ticket prices up in certain parts of the ground – so nor am I going to praise them from the rooftops for a £16m net spend.

They’ve not gone over and above the call of duty.”

Liking Luis

Despite a strong start to the season, the depth of the current squad has already been tested – and, at times, found wanting. The shoulder injury sustained by Philippe Coutinho against Swansea left the team 26 | September 27 2013 |

desperately short on midfield fluency in the 2-2 draw at the Liberty Stadium, while the loss to Southampton exposed a dearth of alternatives in the full-back areas Rodgers often looks to utilise in attack.

With Glen Johnson injured and regular left-back Jose Enrique struggling for full fitness, Liverpool looked vulnerable in defence and lacked options going forward – something that doesn’t augur well for a genuine tilt at the top four. The return of Luis Suarez could prove timely, at least, and Usher believes the fans will be glad to see him back.

“He seriously annoyed me over the summer,” he says. “Nobody would have had a problem had Real Madrid come in for him and he’d told us he had to go. No one could have blamed him, and we’d have wished him luck. But that he actually wanted to go to Arsenal? It was like, hang on a minute, how much better are they than us? It’s not like he’d have been going there to win titles and the Champions League, is it? For all our problems, we’ve won more trophies than Arsenal in the last seven or eight years.

“I just think he’s not the sharpest tool in the box, and the advice he was given over the summer was horrendous – but the one thing about Suarez is that he only knows one way to play. Fernando Torres was awful for a good 12 months before he left, but Suarez is a street footballer who is genuinely desperate to win – and by now he’s probably desperate to get back playing, too. For now, that can only work in our favour.”

That the team looks set to lean so heavily on a player who spent the entire summer trying to

engineer a move away doesn’t smack of an imminent return to the big time. Similarly, Rodgers still looks far too reliant on a spine of players to whom any long-term injury could be catastrophic: Mignolet in goal, the classy centre back Daniel Agger, talismanic captain Steven Gerrard, midfield anchorman Lucas and livewire striker Daniel Sturridge.

This doesn’t compare favourably with the teams they will need to eclipse in order to secure a top-four spot, let alone win that elusive first league title since 1990. But then, maybe that’s just where Liverpool Football Club is right now – a fact Usher, a man who bleeds redder than most, seemingly accepts.

“I don’t complain too much about the past 20 years, because most fans would kill to have had the success we’ve had,” he says. “Yes, we haven’t won the league, but we’ve still been winning trophies, seen some great football and had some great players.

Manchester United went 26 years without winning the title; we may go 26 or more, but we’ve had some great times in between. Winning the league all the time in the 1980s is one thing, but even since the titles have dried up, it’s not like we’ve fallen apart.

I don’t think we have too much cause for complaint.”

The Liver Bird is far from back on its perch, then, but there are signs that the sleeping giant is slowly rising from its slumber. One eye is partially open, and the fire within still burns.

Tony Hodson @tonyhodson1 David Usher is author of Like I Say: The Story of the 2012-13 Season, amazon.co.uk Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Ryder Cup 2014

THE GREATEST SHOW IN GOLF Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

The Ryder Cup is a year away this weekend. Will it come close to matching the drama and excitement of Medinah in 2012? Can Europe continue their dominance? Crucially, who will actually tee it up at Gleneagles in September 2014? We analyse the top young talent emerging on the European and PGA tours >

| September 27 2013 | 29

HERE COME THE ROOKIES A glance at the World Golf Rankings suggests that the tide could be turning in the Ryder Cup. Europe have eight players in the world’s top 30, while the USA have twice that number.

Captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson both have three wild cards at their disposal, and they will need to use them wisely.

For Europe, the core of the team – McIlroy, Westwood, Donald, Rose, Poulter, McDowell, and Garcia – are certainties to play, but McGinley could well need to call on rookies with his wild cards.

Here are six who will be getting attention from the captains for the next 12 months...

MaTTEO ManaSSERO (ITaly) World ranking: 31

jaMIE DOnalDSOn (WalES) World ranking: 43

Age: 20

Age: 37

If he continues at his current rate of progression, there is little doubt that the Italian wonder boy will make his Ryder Cup debut at Gleneagles.

Having won the British Amateur aged 16, he won on tour the next year, and moved his game to another level when capturing the prestigious BMW PGA Championship this year.

He’s not the longest off the tee, but Manassero has a terrific short game and appears to have ice running through his veins.

Donaldson has been doing the rounds for some time now, having turned pro in 2000, but has taken his game up a notch in the past year.

He landed the Irish Open in 2012 before heading a strong field to land the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January (and also recorded a top-10 at last year’s US PGA).

His all-round game is strong and, while he has struggled for form recently, he could easily figure in McGinley’s thinking.

jOnaS blIxT (SWEDEn) World ranking: 35

THORbjORn OlESEn (DEnMaRK) World ranking: 49

Big-hitting Blixt is a real wild card – notably because he needs to ensure he’s a member of the European Tour before he’s even eligible. And, for a man who plays most of his golf in the States, that means a change of schedule. He’s won twice on the PGA Tour and was paired with Lee Westwood during this year’s US PGA. “He asked what the qualifications are for being a European Tour member,” said Westwood. “I said: ’You want to join because if you don’t you can’t be in the Ryder Cup team.’”

Age: 23 Finished tied for second in his first tournament as a fully fledged player on the European Tour in 2010, and has continued to progress ever since. He finished ninth in the 2012 Open, and followed that with a tie for sixth place – the best of any European player – in this year’s Masters. When Olesen’s hot, he’s a birdie machine, and would be a huge asset for McGinley to unleash in the fourballs.

jOOST luITEn (nETHERlanDS) World ranking: 55

DavID lynn (EnglanD) World ranking: 50

Age: 27

Age: 39

Like Manassero, Willibrordus Adrianus Maria Luiten – Joost for short – isn’t huge off the tee, averaging under 290 yards this season, but he is naggingly accurate.

He has won twice this season, including under the pressure of home support in the Dutch Open.

He may force his way into the team by virtue of his European Tour performances, but McGinley will want more evidence of his ability to perform in big tournaments before handing him a wild card.

Lynn is a curious golfer: a real journeyman who has finished inside the top 100 on the European tour every year since 2000, but never higher than 18th, with just one win (the 2004 Dutch Open). Yet out of the blue he came second at last year’s US PGA, which earned him a PGA tour card, and he almost won the Wells Fargo Championship in May, only losing in a playoff to Derek Ernst. He’s earned $1.6m this season, mostly by virtue of his very hot putter. >

All pictures Getty Images

Age: 29

Ryder Cup 2014

| September 27 2013 | 31

The USA have gone for experience with their captain – Tom Watson is a legend in the game and will be as well received in Scotland as any European next September. But he has a tough job melding together a team that can win back the cup. Watson has opted to reduce his number of wild cards from four

to three, intending to give players an extra chance to make the team on merit. But, like Paul McGinley, he may find himself turning to rookies to make up his 12. We pick six who are making a noise on the PGA tour – time will tell whether they make it to Gleneagles under Captain Watson.

Jordan Spieth World ranking: 21

Billy horSchel World ranking: 34

Age: 20

Age: 27

The youngest player to win on the PGA tour in 82 years when he landed the John Deere Classic in July, Spieth has enjoyed an unbelievable rookie season. Next week he makes his debut in the Presidents Cup, and Watson will watch his progress carefully. His game has no apparent weaknesses (he’s third in the all-around stats category, behind Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker) and – much like Ian Poulter – he has the ability to string birdies together out of nowhere.

A year ago, Horschel was ranked 250th in the world; now he is 34th and rising. A fine run in the spring, when he had three top-threes in four weeks (including a win in the Zurich Classic), has propelled him into the mix. If he makes the team it could get feisty: Horschel and Rory McIlroy had a public spat at the 2007 Walker Cup. “He was so loud and obnoxious,” said McIlroy, who has enjoyed more success as a pro, though Horschel has had a better 2013. Bring it on.

niWorld cK Watney ranking: 27

Kevin Streelman World ranking: 37

Age: 32

Age: 35

Watney can count himself unlucky not to have played in the Ryder Cup before now, but he narrowly missed out on a wild card in 2012. A five-time winner, he has finished this season in great form, and is one of the best ball-strikers on tour – and, curiously, often saves his best golf for this time of year. The high point of his career to date was winning the 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship, but he still needs to convince Watson that he is genuinely ready for the Ryder Cup cauldron.

Quietly, Streelman has become one of the most consistent players on tour, finishing the season a very creditable 13th in the FedEx Cup standings. He makes his money by hitting the ball straight, and is one of the better putters on tour – the modern version of Jim Furyk, if you will (not that there’s much wrong with the original). Streelman will probably need a big Major performance to force his way into Watson’s reckoning, but that is certainly possible.

Bill haaS World ranking: 29

luKe Guthrie World ranking: 88

Age: 31

Age: 23

Haas certainly has the breeding for the Ryder Cup – his dad Jay played in three, including as recently as 2004, and is a nine-time PGA Tour winner (and great uncle Bob Goalby won the 1968 Masters). Now Haas Jnr is ready for the biggest stage – he has clocked up five wins (with career earnings in excess of $17.5m) on the PGA tour, including the 2011 FedEx Cup. He will play in his second Presidents Cup next week, having won four and a half points from a possible five in 2011.

A real dark horse for this Ryder Cup, which may come too soon for him.

But Guthrie seems destined for the big time and, if he continues at his current rate, he has a chance.

He began 2013 – his first full season on tour – with a bang, notching six top-30 finishes in his first eight events, enough to secure his 2014 playing rights. He also played a practice round with Watson at this year’s Open, so the skipper has seen first-hand what he can do. Whether that’s enough remains to be seen.

All pictures Getty Images

acroSS the pond

Ryder Cup 2014

| September 27 2013 | 33

34 | September 27 2013 |

Chris Robshaw

LONDON PRIDE Snubbed by the Lions, rested by England and with his international captaincy coming into question, it’s been a tough few months for Chris Robshaw. As such, this weekend’s showdown with Saracens might just prove the perfect distraction

B

enjamin Disraeli once said: “There is no education like adversity.” If that’s the case, then Chris Robshaw could well be the most educated sportsman in England.

Overlooked for the World Cup in 2011, despite leading the performance records in all the pretournament camps, Robshaw bounced back to lead his side to a Premiership title – winning player of the year in the process – and take captaincy of a new-look England in 2012. Two defeats to Wales are all that has stood between his side and Grand Slams in two Six Nations campaigns, while the back-row star also led his country to a famous victory over New Zealand late last year. Yet once again the headlines are negative, as Robshaw found himself overlooked for the Lions Tour and rested by England this summer. Now he faces doubts over whether he’ll captain his country in the Autumn Internationals this November, with Tom Wood waiting in the wings.

The endearing thing about Robshaw, though, is that you won’t find him complaining. The Harlequins man prefers to do his talking on the pitch, cue a standout performance in last Friday’s 37-13 win at Worcester.

London rivals Saracens are next up tomorrow, and Robshaw is refusing to look too far beyond that.

After two below-par performances, how good was it to get a big win against Worcester last weekend?

“Very. It was awesome to get back to the way we want to play. Obviously the Northampton game [which Harlequins lost 6-13] was hindered by the weather, but even considering that, both teams played well – and, actually, there weren’t as many errors as there probably should have been in those conditions.

Against Wasps [a game Harlequins edged 16-15], though, we were pretty sloppy, which we just put down to it being the opening game. We got away with a win in the end, pretty luckily. But to get a win like we did last Friday was great – and to play the way we did and get a bonus-point score was great as well.”

Saracens are in town tomorrow. Can we presume you’re expecting a slightly tougher test?

“Definitely. We know it’s going to be tougher against Saracens, and especially their defence. We know they pride themselves on that. And, at the other end, they’ve scored three bonus-point tries in three games. It’s fair to say they’re in a bit of form!”

It’s sure to be a tight game. How important is it to keep your composure and watch the penalty count?

“Whenever you play the best teams in the league, you probably don’t get as many chances as you would playing someone lower down the league, so we’re focusing on our game and taking our chances.

No matter who you’re playing, though, you identify their strengths – and one of their big ones is Owen Farrell and his kicking. We know that if we give him an opportunity, he’s likely to take it, so of course discipline is a massive thing. Whenever you play someone with a key kicker, you have to be aware.” > | 35

David Rogers/Getty Images

Credit

Does the fact it’s a London rivalry add some edge?

“Yeah, I think so. It’s always a bit bigger whenever you play another London side, and at the same time it’s always bigger whenever you play a potential top-four side. We’ve both been in the top four for a few seasons, so the two things come together and make it a game we always look forward to – but one where we expect a bit of extra bite.”

Chris Robshaw

“The Lions are in the past. I want to take Quins back to where we want to be”

Your old teammate David Strettle is on form for Saracens, and James Johnston is in a black shirt now too. Are you looking forward to facing them?

“Yeah, definitely. Stretts has obviously been back here a couple of times now, and it’ll be good to see JJ again. We’ll welcome him back, and I’m sure he’s looking forward to coming back and seeing the Stoop faithful. Hopefully we can make it tough!”

Do you still look forward to big games like this?

“Yeah, definitely. The weather’s a bit better this week as well, which helps. So hopefully it will stay that way for Saturday. We had a good result last week, but we’ve got to back it up now. We lost our first game at home this season, so it’s time to rectify that.”

The Heineken Cup starts in two weeks, too.

You must be pretty upset with your group?

“No, we relish it. It’s good, because they’re the teams you want to test yourselves against. That’s what the Heineken Cup is – playing the best teams and best players in Europe. At the moment, they don’t get too much better than the likes of Clermont, Racing Metro and the Scarlets. It’s a tough pool, but that’s why we play the competition – to find out where we stand as a group.”

Does the Lions snub still hurt, or does it motivate you to push on again this season?

“Neither, really. It’s in the past. It’s time to look forward. It’s all about Harlequins now, and I want to take the team back to where we want to be.”

What did you get up to over the summer?

“I had a bit of a break abroad and just relaxed a lot, but I also opened up a coffee and wine shop with a friend from school. It’s called Black White Red down in Winchester – get on down there!”

Is this squad in a good place right now?

“Yeah, I think so. It’s been lovely to have a bit of a rest this summer, which helped. Conor [O’Shea] was pretty good and gave us the full six weeks off to go away and allow the body to recover and all that.

We were fresh for pre-season, so hopefully we can take that freshness on and not burn out.”

Nice. How are your barista skills?

“They’re quite good, actually. I did a couple of barista and wine-tasting courses in the summer, so I know what I’m doing a bit better now. It’s just a bit of fun really, but it’s great to have something outside of rugby that allows me to do something different.”

You’ve said previously that you were knackered by the end of last season. Did a summer off help?

“Yeah, I think so. It’s allowed me to let the knocks and niggles recover, which you don’t get to do throughout the season – you’re playing so much that any knock sticks with you. To have that time off was brilliant for me physically, and it helped me to switch off, relax mentally and come back refreshed for this season.”

You’re playing seven for Quins, but Tom Croft’s injury means England need a six more. Have you spoken to Stuart Lancaster about positions?

“No, England tends to be a bit of a topic at the moment, but it isn’t about them too much right now.

The November internationals are still five or six weeks away, and we’ve seen with the injuries to Brad Barritt [corrective ligament surgery in his foot] and Manu Tuilagi [torn pectoral] that anything can happen. I’m just planning to go out there and play my own game, and get Harlequins off to the best possible start in the Premiership and in the Heineken Cup too. When we get to October and November, we’ll start chatting about England and see where we are.”

Does it annoy you, though, that after all you’ve done as England captain, people are questioning your role again?

“No, it’s what we’re used to. Stuart always said he’s going to pick players on form and fitness, and nobody’s safe. He’s been very open with me about that, and it’s something I just can’t think about right now. We have a massive few weeks coming up at Quins, so we’ve got a tough ask before we even get to November. These are the games you want to play in, so there’s no point looking beyond them just yet.”

Mark Coughlan @coffers83

Saturday AvivA PremiershiP: hArlequins v sArAcens | The sTooP | BT sPorT 1 3.15Pm

Familiar faces Saracens have started the season on fire,

they are when things 'click', and the likes

with 13 tries and a maximum 15 points in

of Danny Care and George Lowe look

their three games to date, as their more

reinvigorated. It's up front where they look

expansive gameplan is coming to fruition.

dangerous, though, with Chris Robshaw's

And with four tries to his name so far, David

refreshed body inspiring those around him

Strettle is reaping the benefits – the former

to step up to the level they set themselves

Harlequin is a man the home side needs to

two season ago. Quins' tight carrying, quick

keep an eye on tomorrow.

offloading and high-tempo game is where

David Rogers/Getty Images

The hard running of Joel Tomkins is

hope to use to tire and expose Saracens

front-three clash – whether departed Quins

down the shortside.

man James Johnston starts or not – will be

36 | September 27 2013 |

they really thrive; that’s what they will

another threat in the backs, while the

Expect to see tries at the Stoop, but

fascinating. For Harlequins, last week's win

we can't see beyond a tight margin –

against Worcester showed how dangerous

with a losing bonus point a certainty.

Rules of

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38 | September 27 2013 |

MagIc Man Santi Cazorla

HIs second season In englIsH football MIgHt Have been Interrupted

by Injury, but arsenal MIdfIelder santI cazorla Is stIll sMIlIng. sport fInds out wHy He’s tHe HappIest Man In nortH london

Tom Oldham Photography

M

ention Santi Cazorla to those who have managed and played alongside him, and their faces almost instantaneously light up.

“I don’t remember anyone else I have worked with who was as two-footed,” said Arsene Wenger with a joyous grin after the Arsenal midfielder put on a sparkling display against West Ham last season, while German giant Per Mertesacker describes him simply as “the perfect footballer”. Meanwhile Manuel Pellegrini, who was Malaga coach at the time of the Spaniard’s transfer to the Premier League, called Cazorla’s sale to Arsenal for £12m in August 2012 an “unthinkable gift” – though that was almost certainly uttered through gritted teeth, rather than with a smile.

The man himself is beaming from the minute he arrives for our interview, despite the presence of a protective boot weighing down his right foot.

He points to it and grimaces.

“Ankle ligaments,” he says by way of explanation, before that smile returns. “But boot is coming off on Monday.”

The 28-year-old has been missing from Arsenal’s line-up since a 1-0 win at the Emirates against Tottenham, with Wenger initially predicting he would be absent until after the next international break in October. But the man Arsenal fans have labelled the ‘Little Magician’ has healed quicker than first

hoped and could be back on the pitch – in the right kind of boots – sooner than first expected.

IMpact player

Cazorla has been itching to join new boy Mesut Ozil on the pitch, having seen the German fill the creative void left by his absence with apparent ease since arriving from Real Madrid. “He has so much quality on the pitch,” says Cazorla, admiringly. “That is why him coming to Arsenal was so important, because Ozil is a top player. And I think for the fans it’s more – I don’t know how to explain – more happy, no? Because such a good player coming to the club means it’s possible to win trophies.”

Was he surprised, then, that Ozil was deemed surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu?

“Yes, a little,” he replies. “It’s difficult to understand why Madrid let him come to Arsenal.

But for us it’s good.” He chuckles at the thought that Arsenal have received another ‘gift’ from La Liga, albeit a considerably more expensive one.

With comparisons already being made between Ozil and former Arsenal ‘Invincible’ Dennis Bergkamp, the Emirates is buzzing with discussion about how the team will play once Cazorla returns from injury. “I’m lucky because I can play on the left or on the right or as a second striker,” he says.

“So for me it’s no problem whatever system we play. I speak with the coach and tell him I can play wherever you want. My preference is to start on the left but then [as the game unfolds] go to the middle.

“Wenger speaks with me before every game and he’ll say: ‘You play on the left, but only left when we don’t have the ball. When we have the ball, you can come in – you are free.’”

Chosen as Arsenal’s player of the season by the club’s fans after his first year in English football, Cazorla admits that “in the first season in a new team, and with a new language, it can be difficult”.

But, he says, his team are a good fit for him.

“Because Arsenal play in the same way as Malaga and Villarreal,” he explains. “And it suits my game.

Every coach is different, but the philosophy between Wenger, Pellegrini and Vicente del Bosque [manager of Spain’s national side] is similar. Pellegrini says control the ball. Wenger: control the ball. Del Bosque: control the ball. For me, it’s easier that they all value the same things.”

Able to control the ball – not to mention deliver a defence-splitting pass of the highest quality – effortlessly off both feet, Cazorla says his technical ability is his best quality on the pitch. He names Diego Forlan, a former teammate at Villarreal, as the only other player he has seen who > | 39

Santi Cazorla

“footbaLL is easier now. it’s more about teChniCaL skiLL rather than physiCaLity”

and never will be an issue. “Santi stood out immediately, not least because he was tiny,” he told The Guardian’s Sid Lowe last year.

“But I never feared that size was going to be a problem. He could already kick a ball wonderfully with both feet, and technically he was miles better than everyone else: he was prodigious. He could go past you on either side, and he was the top scorer by miles. He was dynamic, different. His talent is innate.

And besides, he got stronger: he looks little now, but he is tough.”

Anyone who starts 37 of 38 Premier League games in their first season certainly is that. But the silverware promised by Fabregas and Pires didn’t follow, and Wenger came under intense pressure as, one by one, trophy-winning opportunities slipped away.

“I was surprised,” says Cazorla of the questions that were raised over Wenger’s future at the club.

“Because he has been at Arsenal for 17 years, no?

It’s a long time, and for me he’s a top, top coach – I think the best coach in Arsenal’s history. He’s so important in my career too, because he’s helping me to become a better player every day.”

ConsistenCy is key possesses the same talent. It’s hardly surprising, then, that before Arsenal came calling, Real Madrid did. Twice. “Yes, there was an opportunity,” he says.

“But in football, every day the negotiation changes.

And in the end there was no possibility to go to Madrid. But it’s no problem for me now.”

Having played alongside former Arsenal favourites Robert Pires (at Villarreal) and Cesc Fabregas (for Spain), Cazorla could consult with two star names who had first-hand experience of life in the Premier League before he made the decision to up sticks to England.

“I spoke with them both when Arsenal came to me, and their opinions were very important,” he explains. “Fabregas spoke with me and told me it’s a top club with a great history and maybe you can win trophies there. That was a big change for my career, because at Villarreal and Malaga it’s very difficult to win trophies.

“I had always watched Arsenal, though, because I loved the Premier League. It’s good football, good stadiums, atmosphere... I remember Bergkamp and Thierry Henry especially, because they were top players in a good team. Why Bergkamp? He had so much technical quality – I loved watching him play.”

All pictures Getty Images

CazorLa's magiC first season 49 appearances started 37 of 38 premier League games scored 12 goaLs Laid on 14 assists Won 55.7 per cent of votes to be arsenaL’s pLayer of the season 40 | September 27 2013 |

Indeed, it’s the Dutchman’s name that comes up again when we ask Cazorla how he feels about his Little Magician moniker.

“Mag...what?” he asks, baffled by a word he’s clearly not heard much during his first year in England. “Ah, El Mago!” When the Spanish translation is offered, he laughs it off modestly: “It’s difficult, no? For me, other players are – like Bergkamp then, and now Ozil. But I don’t see myself as El Mago.”

LittLe by LittLe

The prefix is indisputable. At 5ft 6ins, Cazorla is one of the smallest players in the Premier League.

“When I was younger, my size was a problem because the teams were all full of strong players,” he recalls. “Now it has changed: Messi, Iniesta, me.

It’s easier now. But when I started playing football, it was hard because the players were all big and strong. Luckily, every year it has changed a bit – and now it’s more about technical skill rather than physicality.”

According to Luis Sánchez – one of Cazorla’s coaches at his first club, Oviedo – his size never was

Can Cazorla put his finger on why Arsenal endured another barren season last time round, though?

“I think the main problem is that last year we had a good team, but we did not get regular results,” he says. “For simple [sic], I remember one game at home against Fulham when we were 2-0 up, then it was 2-2; 2-3; 3-3. This year it’s important we don’t have results like this – we need to win every game to become champions of the Premier League. That’s what it takes to become champions: consistency.”

In explaining the principal reason behind that requirement, he pinpoints the main difference between the top flight of English football and its Spanish equivalent. “In Spain now, it’s more tactical, I think – more boring,” he says. “For me, Barcelona and Madrid are so far ahead from the rest. But in England it’s more level, more competitive. For me, it’s better.

“It is possible, for example, that Manchester City play against Cardiff and lose. In Spain, it’s normal that Real Madrid play against Real Mallorca and win, win, win – it’s very difficult for other teams. So the Premier League is more fun, I think. But I still watch Spanish football – I always will, because Villarreal and Malaga are teams that I love.”

For now, Cazorla is enjoying life in north London, where he lives with his wife and two young children.

“One boy and one girl – the girl is just five months old, but my son is crazy for football,” he says. “All the time it’s: ‘Daddy, football! Daddy, football!’”

His team is ticking along nicely too, sat as they are at the top of the league. Last weekend’s victory against Stoke was their seventh win in a row – the club’s longest winning run since 2007.

If consistency is, as Cazorla says, the key, then the Gunners are on course for some silverware at last.

They just need El Mago back in the team to provide the magic to make it happen.

Sarah Shephard @sarahsportmag

Santi Cazorla wears PUMA evoSPEED boots, see www.pumafootballclub.com

7 Days OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

SEP 27-OCT 3 HIGHLIGHTS » Football: Premier League » p44 » Football: Champions League » p46 » Artistic Gymnastics: 2013 World Championships » p48 » Rugby League: Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos » p50 » Golf: Presidents Cup » p50

SUNDAY NFL | MINNeSOTA VIKINGS v PITTSBURGH STeeLeRS | WeMBLeY STADIUM | SKY SPORTS 2 5.30PM

42 | September 27 2013 |

and booed throughout the tie, as the Vikings' passing

Stadium this year, the Minnesota Vikings take on the

game failed and their offensive line couldn't create the

Pittsburgh Steelers. For both teams, escaping their

room for star running back Adrian Peterson to exploit.

regular environments may be beneficial – both have

The Steelers lost 40-23 to the Chicago Bears last

0-3 records so far this season, and sit bottom of their

week, but they at least showed resolve in battling

respective divisions (AFC North and NFC North).

back from a 21-point deficit to bring themselves to

The Vikings are the designated 'home team', and

within four points in the fourth quarter, before the

come to London on the back of a dismal 31-27 loss to

Bears scored two touchdowns. If they lose at Wembley,

the Cleveland Browns, who even started third-choice

it will be their worst start to a season since 1968.

quarterback Brian Hoyer. The Vikings were poor on

When NFL bigwigs chose this fixture to be played

both offense and defense, and their special teams

in London, they wouldn't have expected two winless

allowed a touchdown from a fake field goal.

teams to run out. It should make for a fascinating clash,

Quarterback Christian Ponder was sacked six times

though – neither side can afford to return home 0-4.

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Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Loss leaders

In the first of two NFL fixtures coming to Wembley

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7 Days

Premier League

saturDaY Aston VillA v MAnchester city VillA PArk | 3PM

Suave Portuguese men square up to one another in north London, as Totteham attempt to assert control over their traditional bogey team: Chelsea saturDaY tottenhAM v chelseA | white hArt lAne | bt sPort 1 12.45PM

Aston Villa are a dangerous counter-attacking team whose league results illustrate perfectly how they set up better away from home (six points from a possible nine) than at home (none from six).

There are also doubts over the fitness of their biggest weapon, Christian Benteke. All welcome news to a City side full of attacking options and with Vincent Kompany (pictured) showing his most imperious form against Man Utd last weekend.

saturDaY swAnseA city v ArsenAl | liberty stAdiuM sky sPorts 1 5.30PM

A master/pupil relationship gone wrong at White

may differ, but both have shared similar league starts:

A match to have fans masticating

Hart Lane in the early Saturday kick-off, as smirking

generally, decent results have masked deficiencies.

their pre-match pies with hungry

Machiavelli Jose Mourinho brings his fourth-placed

Spurs are predictably taking time to integrate many

delight, as arguably the league’s two

Chelsea to face wronged former protege Andre Villas-

new attackers – a particular frustration being the lack of

easiest-on-the-eye teams clash.

Boas and his Tottenham team. Keep an eye out for the

service to Roberto Soldado, clearly an adept finisher.

Swansea have avoided a second

former walking across the pitch, laughing and holding

Chelsea have not yet adapted to Mourinho’s plans, as he

season drop-off and look as lethal as

Willian’s hand, while grinning provocatively at the latter.

himself admits. Whisper it quietly but, at this very early

they did last year, yet with a deeper

stage, they also appear a less exciting team than the one

squad. For Arsenal, all eyes are on

solely in order to spite Villas-Boas, but the Spurs boss was

Rafa Benitez built around Juan Mata and David Luiz (both

Mesut Ozil and his slick adaptation

livid at how he was snatched away to west London at the

of whom appear persona non grata around Mourinho).

to English football – but key to them

Chelsea’s signing of the Brazilian wasn’t motivated

last minute. It adds an extra frisson of tension to this

Both clubs have controlled games well, though, and

winning this tricky tie lies in Aaron

already intriguing capital clash. The approaches of the

whoever wins that midfield battle may take the honours.

Ramsey (pictured). Is there a player

pragmatic Mourinho and the more expansive Villas-Boas

Expect this one to be tighter than Neil Ruddock’s Speedos.

in the league in better form?

44 | September 27 2013 |

saturdaY hull v west ham | the KC stadium | 3Pm

saturdaY manChester united v west brom old trafford | 3Pm

saturdaY southamPton v Crystal PalaCe st mary’s stadium | 3Pm

To the neutral, booing the likeable

After that wretchedly timid opener

Their midfield was taken apart last

“I can’t see a positive thing.

Martin Jol seems cruel – but look at

against Chelsea, Hull have settled

weekend, but Manchester United at

We were awful,” was Ian Holloway’s

things through the eyes of Fulham

well this season. Tom Huddlestone

least know that there’s no big, scary

commendably honest assessment

fans, who’ve watched their side coast

and Jake Livermore have helped

Yaya Toure-types in the West Brom

after Crystal Palace’s loss to

along in neutral for too long. That

them control midfield battles, while

team. Rather, the Baggies’ midfield

Swansea. His team are struggling to

promising first half against Chelsea

Sone Aluko offers a touch of magic.

star from last season Claudio Yacob

find a cohesive system with many

doesn’t hide the fact Fulham look

West Ham are light on quality strikers

has – like his team – started this term

new signings in midfield and attack,

less than the sum of their creative

– witness Modibo Maïga’s anaemic

sluggishly. Stephane Sessegnon

while Southampton – despite flying

parts right now. Cardiff, obdurate

display against Everton. They at

(pictured) has the quality to open

high in seventh – have scored just

and with keeper David Marshall

least showed attacking verve in that

up defences, but the smarting

three league goals. Daniel Osvaldo

(pictured) in superb form, won’t be

match: the form of Ravel Morrison

champions should have too much

(pictured) and Rickie Lambert are

easy marks, but this is the kind of

(pictured) has some whispering he

for WBA. Assuming their midfield

yet to gel, but the Eagles might give

fixture Jol knows requires a win.

may yet fulfil his gargantuan talent.

actually passes to their forwards.

them time and space to do just that.

sundaY stoKe v norwiCh | britannia stadium sKy sPorts 1 1.30Pm

sundaY sunderland v liverPool stadium of light | sKy sPorts 1 4Pm

mondaY everton v newCastle | goodison ParK sKy sPorts 1 8Pm

Premier League tabLe P

W D

L

F

A

Pts

1

Arsenal

5

4

0

1

11

6

12

2

Tottenham

5

4

0

1

5

1

12

3

Man City

5

3

1

1

12

4

10

4

Chelsea

5

3

1

1

6

2

10

5

Liverpool

5

3

1

1

5

3

10

6

Everton

5

2

3

0

6

4

9

7

Southampton 5

2

2

1

3

2

8

8

Man Utd

5

2

1

2

7

6

7

9

Swansea

5

2

1

2

7

7

7

10 Stoke

5

2

1

2

4

5

7

11 Hull

5

2

1

2

5

7

7

12 Newcastle

5

2

1

2

5

8

7

13 Aston Villa

5

2

0

3

6

6

6

14 West Brom

5

1

2

2

4

4

5

Mark Hughes started this season

Unemployed psychopath Paolo Di

The sight of Steve Bruce shaking

15 West Ham

5

1

2

2

4

4

5

with one muscular arm tied behind

Canio may not be feeling too bad

his moneymaker on the touchline

16 Cardiff City

5

1

2

2

4

6

5

5

1

1

3

3

6

4

his back: tasked with evolving

about life if he eyes Sunderland’s

last week as Newcastle lost to Hull

17 Norwich

Stoke’s style, yet not being given a

upcoming fixtures. Liverpool,

left Geordies queasy, and a visit to

18 Fulham

5

1

1

3

3

7

4

lot in the way of new recruits. He’s

Manchester United and Swansea

Goodison for some sticky Toffees

19 Crystal Palace 5

1

0

4

4

8

3

20 Sunderland

0

1

4

3

11

1

made a fine fist of it, Stoke looking a

away make up their next three – and

may not settle the stomach. Everton

fresher, more free-flowing side than

caretaker gaffer Kevin Ball’s tough

have Ross Barkley and Leighton

last season. Norwich boss Chris

challenge is to get the Black Cats

Baines in rich form, but the debut of

Hughton is a man under pressure,

scoring without the injured Stephen

Romelu Lukaku (pictured) was the

however. A fit-again Gary Hooper

Fletcher. If Brendan Rodgers

real highlight of last week’s win

(pictured) aids attacking options,

continues his curious, all-centre-

against West Ham. Newcastle’s

but Hughton’s conservative tactics

back defensive experiment, it may

shaky defence could be ripe for

are not impressing Norwich fans.

help Ball (pictured) out.

a bullying from the Belgian.

3

5

He’s played just two Premier League games, but Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil already leads the league’s assist table outright on three

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand | 45

All pictures Getty Images

saturdaY fulham v Cardiff City | Craven Cottage | 3Pm

7 Days Champions League TUESDAY Group F: ArsenAl v nApoli | emirAtes stAdium | itV 7.45pm

All pictures Getty Images

Stubborn test for Gunners

If, as Arsene Wenger claims, 10 points will be

admittedly they were helped by the Germans being

sufficient to see Arsenal through one of the toughest

a man and a manager down, Jurgen Klopp having

where they fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw. With

groups in this year’s Champions League, then the

been sent off after raging at the fourth official.

both teams better going forward than they are at

battling 2-1 victory in Marseille a fortnight ago was a huge step in the right direction.

However, Rafa Benitez’s Napoli side will offer

Arsenal’s biggest concern, though, might be the man they tried to sign in the summer. Gonzalo Higuain

The two sides met in the pre-season Emirates Cup,

the back, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a similar scoreline on Tuesday night.

has enjoyed a fine start to his career in Naples, netting

a much sterner challenge. Under the Spaniard’s

four in five appearances, including a header against

Danger man

control, I Ciucciarelli (or the Little Donkeys, if you will)

Dortmund. Marseille’s Andre-Pierre Gignac found

Having helped his country to the final of the U21

rediscovered some of the attacking verve with which

space in the Gunners’ penalty area on several

Euros in Israel and bagged one against Arsenal

they wowed Europe under Walter Mazzarri two years

occasions in their last European outing, and Higuain

in that Emirates Cup tie over the

ago. Dortmund, last year’s beaten finalists, couldn’t

will be less forgiving than the big Frenchman.

summer, Lorenzo Insigne has been

cope with the directness of the Italians’ attacking play

There will be chances for Arsenal, although they

likened by the Neapolitan press to

in the first group game, with young forward Lorenzo

will need to be wary of Napoli’s ability on the break.

Gianfranco Zola. The diminutive

Insigne a constant threat – his superb free-kick made

Dortmund threatened despite their numerical

attacker is a clever passer, and

him the first Neapolitan to score in the Champions

disadvantage (with nine shots on goal, the same as

will surely run at a Gunners

League for his hometown club.

Napoli), and the Italians gave away several free-kicks

defence that has given

in dangerous areas. Another opportunity, perhaps,

away three penalties already

for Mesut Ozil to show off his set-piece skills?

this season.

The midfield trio of Gokhan Inler, Marek Hamsik and Valon Behrami bossed the game, although

46 | September 27 2013 |

TUESDAY Group e: steaua Bucharest v chelsea | arena nationala sky sports 4 7.45pM

WEDNESDAY Group D: Manchester city v Bayern Munich etihaD staDiuM | sky sports 2 7.45pM

WEDNESDAY Group a: shakhtar Donetsk v Manchester uniteD DonBass arena | sky sports 4 7.45pM

Down to business

Thirsty for more

If Chelsea can’t finish the chances they are going to

Man City and Bayern Munich both came away from

That England struggled to break down Ukraine in

create against opponents like Basel in Group E, this

their opening encounters with 3-0 wins, against

their bore-draw in Kiev earlier this month was

will be a short campaign. Jose Mourinho’s failure to

Viktoria Plzen and CSKA Moscow respectively. Now

(hopefully) down to them missing their one truly

buy a genuine goalscorer could come back to haunt

it’s business time in Group D. These sides traded 2-0

world-class forward. That Wayne Rooney is back –

him, with Samuel Eto’o the latest recruit to appear

home wins in the group stage two seasons ago, but

looking strangely reminiscent of one of Joe Pesci’s

a shadow of his former self up top. There remains

Bayern have conceded just twice all season in the

most famous roles – and on form for Manchester

talent in abundance in the Blues’ midfield, however,

Bundesliga, and the defending champions are a much

United meant David Moyes’ team brushed aside

with Oscar the man most likely to provide a

stronger proposition now.

Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 at Old Trafford two weeks ago.

Oscar winner?

matchwinning contribution having notched three goals already this season.

Steaua, on the other hand, were unbeaten prior

“Wayne was in great shape just before he

That said, City look something like an irresistible force again, after their neighbourly demolition last

damaged his hamstring in Thailand,” said Moyes in

Sunday. They will be wary of Bayern’s Croatian striker

a press conference last week, when asked about

to their 3-0 defeat to Schalke, and will take heart

Mario Mandzukic, who has bagged four in seven so far

Rooney’s recent form and the injury that forced him

from Basel’s win at Stamford Bridge. Federico

and scored against City in pre-season. If DJ Campbell

to leave his club’s pre-season tour early. “I told you

Piovaccari has started well in his debut season for

can nab two against the Citizens, imagine what an

that, but I don’t know if you all believed me.”

the Romanians on loan from Sampdoria, with five in

in-form Mandzukic can do. And then there’s Arjen

his first 10 games.

Robben. And Thomas Muller. And Mario Gotze…

Belief is something United could do with more of after their derby routing, but it’s not a problem for Shakhtar, with Alex Teixeira also two goals to the good in Europe after his team’s 2-0 victory at Real

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: BEST OF THE REST

Sociedad. In a squad full of Brazilian talent, striker Luiz Adriano, playmaker Fred and former Arsenal

If you’re left underwhelmed by the

Celtic will try to repeat their heroics

having rebuilt after losing key

challenges facing English clubs, we

of last season against Barcelona,

players over the summer. Both

suggest you reread the Arsenal v

who at the time of writing had

also have proven goalscorers, with

despite United’s ever-presence at Europe’s top

Napoli preview. There are, however,

netted 18 goals in five games.

David Villa at Atletico and the

table. Should Rooney continue his current form, his

in-form Jackson Martinez (five

side will be favourites – and the star of the show will

goals in six games) at Porto.

certainly not be travelling home alone this time.

a few other games that might pique

In Group G, Porto v Atletico

your interest. In Group H on Tuesday,

Madrid stands out, with both sides

(and now Croatian) man Eduardo the dangermen.

This will be the first time these sides have met,

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| 47

7 Days THURSDAY > TENNIS | RakuTEN JaPaN OPEN | aRIakE TENNIS FOREST PaRk, TOkYO | SkY SPORTS 2 7aM

Back trouble and little Tokyo With Andy Murray’s announcement that

41-year history of the event to lift the

minor back surgery is likely to bring a

trophy, after Toshiro Sakai in 1972.

premature end to his 2013 season, his spot

The reigning champion (pictured) will

in November’s ATP World Tour Finals is up

receive a hero’s welcome from his home

for grabs. And at next week’s Japan Open,

crowd, but a first-round exit at the hands of

there will be more than one man with his

Britain’s Dan Evans at the US Open suggests

eyes on the Emirates ATP Race to London.

his form is not where it was a year ago.

A winner of both the singles and doubles

Nishikori is the world number 12, but 19th

titles in Tokyo in 2011 (the latter alongside

in the Race to London rankings, making

his brother, Jamie), Murray failed to defend

Raonic (11th) a more likely contender.

his title last year, losing to Canada’s Milos

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – one place above

Raonic in the semi finals. It was Kei Nishikori

Raonic – is also back in action in Tokyo,

who triumphed in the final, however,

after recovering from the knee injury that

becoming the second Japanese man in the

ruled him out of the US Open.

MOnDAY > GYMNaSTICS | 2013 aRTISTIC GYMNaSTICS WORLD CHaMPIONSHIPS | aNTWERP SPORT PaLaCE, aNTWERP, BELGIuM | BBC SPORT WEBSITE FROM THuRSDaY 7PM aND BBC CHaNNELS

New world order It’s the first World Championships of a new

Purvis in Antwerp, with Ashley Watson and

Olympic cycle and the British gymnastics

European pommel horse champion Daniel

team is missing two of its biggest names,

Keatings completing the six-man squad.

For the GB women’s team, 17-year-old

moving on to other things – reality TV

Ruby Harrold is the leading name, having

shows, mostly. But they leave behind a

reached the all-around, bars and beam final

promising group with the potential to

at the 2013 Europeans. She’s joined by

match, if not better, their success.

London 2012 gymnasts Rebecca Tunney

The GB men’s squad features four of the bronze-winning team from London 2012, the star of which is now 20-year-old Max

and Hannah Whelan, as well as Beijing Olympian Rebecca Downie.

The championships begin on Monday,

Whitlock (pictured). Having added an

but live coverage starts on the BBC Sport

individual bronze medal on the pommel

Website on Thursday, with the men’s

horse to his team medal at the Olympics,

all-around. It continues with the women’s

he has continued his good form in 2013; he

all-round on Friday (BBC Three, 7pm);

won the English and British all-around titles

men’s floor, pommel and rings, and

this year, as well as capturing three medals

women’s vault and uneven bars on Saturday

at the European Championships in April.

(BBC online from 1.30pm); and the rest of

Whitlock is joined by 2012 teammates

the apparatus finals on Sunday (BBC Two,

Sam Oldham, Kristian Thomas and Dan

48 | September 27 2013 |

Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images, Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images

with Louis Smith and Beth Tweddle both

1.30pm). Probably skip Strictly this week.

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Neither should anyone’s son.

Or Grandad. No cousins or nephews.

Not the boys from the rugby club or the lads from the pub. No boyfriends or husbands or father-in-laws. Not the chap from the chip shop or the noisy lads at the back of the bus. Not your best mate. Not a single stranger.

No one whatsoever.

No one should face cancer alone.

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7 Days FRIday Rugby League | supeR League QuaLifying semi finaL: Wigan WaRRiORs v LeeDs RHinOs | DW sTaDium | sky spORTs 2 8pm

ThuRsday > gOLf | pResiDenTs Cup | muiRfieLD ViLLage, OHiO | sky spORTs 1 4.30pm

Underdog with bite Conventional wisdom would give

just three weeks ago in the final round

Wigan Warriors a massive advantage

of the regular Super League season.

going into Friday evening’s qualifying

The Rhinos also beat them 18-14 at

semi final at the DW Stadium. Not only

Headingley earlier in the season, but

will they be on home turf, but they also

lost 20-16 to the Warriors at the Magic

had their feet up while Leeds were

Weekend. And the Rhinos have major

locked in a bruising 11-10 encounter

doubts over injured forwards Jamie

with St Helens last weekend.

Jones-Buchanan and Brett Delaney.

Some argue that teams can lose their

Both sides have matchwinners, with

competitive edge, however, and that

Wigan boasting the prolific try scorer

playing every week often gives sides

Josh Charnley (pictured) and Leeds

an extra sharpness and competitive

able to counter with the electric pace

edge. Look no further than the Rhinos

of Rob Burrow. It could all come down

for proof of that particular theory:

to the kicking, however: Matty Smith’s

they’ve won the title from fifth place in

boot saw him named man of the match

the past two seasons, without the

for Wigan in the recent Challenge Cup

luxury of having a week off. And they

final, while Leeds will be heavily reliant

can point to a 20-6 victory at Wigan

on the evergreen Kevin Sinfield.

All the Presidents men The fact that the Presidents Cup does not have an apostrophe (and therefore nor does our headline) should not detract from it as a spectacle. This little brother to the Ryder Cup – between the USA and Rest of the World (excluding Europe) – might have been one-sided over the years, but it still provides a welcome distraction from the monotony of 72-hole strokeplay tournaments every week.

Since its inception in 1994, the US have won eight of the in 1998). On paper, that looks set to continue – American skipper Fred Couples has a great team and was able to eschew Dustin Johnson and Jim ‘59’ Furyk as he selected Jordan Spieth (pictured) and Webb Simpson as his wildcards. His opposite number Nick Price does not have such strength in depth; he turned to Marc Leishman and Brendon de Jonge, which gives you an idea of his team’s chances.

Still, ROW can look to Europe’s Ryder Cup performances over the past 30 years to see that the game isn’t won on paper. Muirfield Village was the scene of Europe’s great triumph in 1987 (the 18th green has just recovered from Jose Maria Olazabal’s flamenco) – can history repeat itself?

50 | September 27 2013 |

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Paul Thomas/Getty Images, Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

nine matches (the exception being a remarkable thrashing

Extra timE Making the most of your time and money

Grooming

Brush up Oral-B Limited Edition 5000

“You no longer need to compromise on style or performance in your wash bag,” says Oral-B of its new ‘super brush’. Which is something of a relief for those of us who compromise heavily on both in every other aspect of our grooming regime/lives.

For style, witness the sleek black handle and electric blue lighting. For performance, see six cleaning modes – including the new ‘tongue cleaning mode’, ‘polish’ for a longer clean and ‘sensitive’, which provides slower pulsations.

Slower than what? A total of 40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations per minute (unless you switch down), which Oral-B claims will move up to 100 per cent more plaque than a manual brush. It also features a SmartGuide that uses microchips embedded in the head and handle to monitor brushing activity, providing real-time guidance via the wireless digital display.

Much like having your mother stand over you as a grown man to make sure you brush properly. We’d imagine. £199.99 | boots.com from October 52 | September 27 2013 |

P60 Danai Gurira slices and dices as michonne in The Walking Dead Season 3

iPad edition on Newsstand now

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kit

chEck yoursElf

All of your friends have adorned themselves in check at some point in the past couple of years. Stop fighting it and get yourself on board

fineside Thompson shirt

Do not adjust your pages. Jonathan Peter Wilkinson OBE has made the fashion section. That’s because Wilko has his own clothing brand.

And this smart cotton shirt, with integral headphone loop in the collar, is one of his ace new releases.

Buy it: the man won you a World Cup, for Christ’s sake. £85 | fineside.com

firetrap Ben

Long before they were ‘in’, check shirts were for lumberjacks – and looked like this. Well, this cotton number is now definitely ‘in’, and lumberjacks are now all called ‘tree surgeons’. It’s cray cray. £85 | firetrap.com 54 | September 27 2013 |

o’Neill craftsman

Thought O’Neill only did surf clothes? Think again. This slimfit cotton number is proof to the contrary, and the neutral colours mean it goes with pretty much anything. Result. £50 | 01243 673 666

Alpinestars level

Long loved by petrol heads, Alpinestars keep on branching out, and this flannel shirt is another hit. Also, black is a slimming colour, so this is perfect for those with a ‘fuller figure’. £50 | surfdome.com

Animal sandbach

Coming in sage green and with a soft fabric finish (details you leave out when your mates ask), this cotton number has popper fastenings, twin pockets and a mid-fit feel. We likey. £45 | animal.co.uk

rohan sentinel

The warm clothing types combine their fleecey tech with the looks of an everyday smart shirt to produce this rugged beauty. Not a fan of the blue? Fear not: it comes in four other colours. £65 | rohan.co.uk

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Get a Beechwood Smoked Back Bacon Sub with a drink for £2.

OPEN FROM 7AM WEEKDAYS

Breakfast available until 11am Monday-Friday. Most stores open Monday-Friday from 7am. Weekend opening times may vary. See in-store for details. †Beechwood Naturally Smoked Back Bacon with added smoke flavour. £2 Breakfast deal valid on Bacon, Sausage or Egg & Cheese 6-inch Subs or flatbread and either a regular size coffee, cappuccino, latte, tea, bottle of Tropicana Juice, regular 16oz carbonated dispensed drink or 500ml bottle of water. Terms and conditions apply. Not valid for double meat, extra cheese, bacon or any other extras. Prices and participation may vary. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts. ©2013 Doctor’s Associates Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc.

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Gadgets

winTer (ear) warMerS

As the cold starts to bite, heat up your extremities with the power of music – and our pick of the best on-ear headphones

Parrot Zik by Philippe Starck

We’re generally totally overawed by minor advances in trivial technology, so there was one particular feature of these sleek and sophisticated Bluetooth headphones that had us gushing. They have a motion sensor built in, so if your listening is interrupted and you pull them down to sit around your neck, they’ll detect this and automatically pause your music. Literally hours of fun. £250 | amazon.co.uk

Turtle Beach ear Force XO FOUr Gaming Headphones

The ‘Ear Force’ sounds like a shady government censorship agency from an awful dystopian future. These headphones are the official audio companion for the upcoming Xbox One. So, fittingly, you can use them when you’re playing that game set in a horrific dystopian future. £99 | Coming soon 56 | September 27 2013 |

Velodyne vQuiet

These active noise-cancelling headphones from sub-woofer makers Velodyne have been designed to reduce background noise by up to 90 per cent. We’re going to put them on while watching the football in the hope they’ll make Niall Quinn 90 per cent less annoying. Still pretty irritating. £188 | UK release date TBA

Sennheiser Momentum

A more mature and classy take on the on-ear headphone than is offered by various music artists, the Momentums come in a range of colours and the earpads are finished with Alcantara – a tough, waterresistant fabric. Which is odd, because we were sure he played for Spain. £170 | HMV stores

Panasonic Technics Professional DJ Headphones Beloved by disc-spinners from Ibiza to Oceana, these headphones have powerful sound, gold-plated connectors – and they’re hinged so you can do that thing that DJs do where they hold it to just one ear. Just please don’t do it on the bus – you don’t want to be ‘that guy’. £230 | argos.co.uk

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we are entertainment

Extra time

58 | September 27 2013 |

| 59

Watch the Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers live from Wembley on Channel 4, Sunday from 5.30pm.

For more NFL UK fixtures, visit www.nfluk.com

here are many reasons to get into the cheerleading business (we imagine): fame, fortune and the chance to be one of Kevin Spacey’s fictional fantasies.

Not for Minnesota Vikings rookie Kelsey.

“I wanted to become a cheerleader because it’s a great role model position,” she explains. “The biggest thing to me is being looked up to and truly being an inspiration to a lot of people.”

As well as cheering, Kelsey majors in sonography (it’s an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used for visualising subcutaneous body structures, since you don’t ask) at St Catherine University in St Paul, Minnesota.

She also loves her dog and Johnny Depp, and Bridesmaids is her favourite movie.

Suitably inspired? We thought you might be.

T

Full of cheer

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Entertainment

STAR TuRnS

Big-name casts excel in a pair of Hollywood dramas, while a new Star Wars book helps you get inside the Sarlacc pit

Film

Book

The Making of Return of the Jedi

Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal are the handsome faces of this grisly but riveting thriller about child abduction.

Jackman plays Keller, the father of a six-year-old girl who goes missing along with a friend. The only lead that Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) and the police have is a motorhome driven

by Alex Jones (Paul Dano), who they arrest but release because of a lack of evidence. An increasingly desperate Keller takes a long look at Jones and

Film

Blue Jasmine

Woody Allen’s late-career resurgence continues with this bittersweet drama starring Cate Blanchett as Jasmine, a socialite forced to turn to her sister for help after her wealthy husband (Alec Baldwin in suave form) is exposed as a crook. Told part in flashback, part with Jasmine adjusting to her new life, it looks set for some big Oscar nods.

Out today 60 | September 27 2013 |

sees – yup – a social outcast with greasy hair, thick glasses and a creepy voice, and his mind is made up. He abducts Jones and does everything he can to make him talk, while the police do their best by more legitimate means.

Part whodunnit and part bleak moral quandary, Prisoners isn’t shy with either the twists or the red herrings. However, it’s the performances of the leads that elevates it above potboiler status and will hold you captive in your cinema seat.

Out today

Book

One Summer: America 1927 Bill Bryson

Al Capone, Babe Ruth, Charles Lindbergh and a president who worked all of four hours a day (and slept much of the rest of the time) take centre stage in this rip-roaring adventure from the US travel writer. Focusing on five eventful months in American history, Bryson weaves in varying stories with his typical wry wit.

Out now

Blu-ray

The Walking Dead Season Three

Music

Days Are Gone Haim

After a slow second season, this post-apocalypse zombie thriller hit its stride again in its third run by upping the action quotient.

Sheriff Rick and redneck antihero Daryl Dixon (pictured) lead their band of survivors to a fortified town, but with a shady governor in charge, the undead often seem less of a problem than the living.

Out Monday

Heavily hyped, sister-led indie band release their debut and the appeal is instant: impassioned vocals, bluesy guitars and more big hooks than a wounded pirate convention. The Fleetwood Mac comparisons certainly seem apt – in a good way, but also because they can sound curiously dated at times. Still, the anthemic tunes will ensure it rightly sells heaps.

Out Monday

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AP/Press Association Images, Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images, Showtime 2012

Prisoners

Gold bikinis, giant sand maws, Jabba the Hutt and Luke Skywalker transformed from snivelling teen into badass Jedi – the last of the original Star Wars trilogy is sometimes unfairly maligned. This latest, weighty Making of... hardback takes a peek behind the scenes at its filming, and is packed with photos and insight from the likes of Harrison Ford, George Lucas and director Richard Marquand.

The real treat, however, is the film’s dazzling concept art, showing off different versions of the aforementioned Mr Hutt, a Rancor and the Emperor in an underground lava lair. The Force is certainly strong with this one.

Out Tuesday

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