Post by Salem6 on Sept 1, 2005 17:01:29 GMT
The Fiver
01 September 2005
Guardian Unlimited's tea-time take on the world of football
guardian.co.uk/football
In today's Fiver: Player Power,
and Overawed
* * * * * * * * * * * *
DEFENCE AND SUSPENSE
Anyone who sat through Sven-Goran Eriksson's tactical masterclasses
against France and Portugal during Euro 2004 (basic synopsis: watch
his side go 1-0 up, panic, stick 10 men behind the ball, pray) would
be shocked to hear that England's GBP5m-a-year-plus-perks (car,
secretary etc) manager could get any more defensive. But 13 months
after 4-5-1 became every mid-table Premiership outfit's formation of
choice, Sven has decided to scramble onto a bandwagon which hasn't
just left town, but is halfway up the M1. For a game against Wales.
The FA-approved line is that Eriksson has been mulling over a
formation shift since the Denmark drubbing last month. But most
insiders reckon that it has more to do with David Beckham, Frank
Lampard and Steven Gerrard "persuading" Sven on Tuesday - another
example, then, of the player power that's seen England unsuccessfully
adopt the diamond formation during Euro 2004, and the squad
unsuccessfully threaten to strike over Rio's drug test. Either way,
England have been practising 4-5-1 in training with Wayne Rooney
playing as a lone striker and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole
flattering to deceive on the flanks.
Meanwhile, with Gary Neville left in Manchester nursing his groin,
brother Phil is hoping to squeeze ahead of Luke Young in the battle
for the right-back spot. "Hopefully experience will get me into the
team," Neville insisted. "But sometimes experience goes out of the
window. The most important issue is to get three points and then move
on to Northern Ireland Nil." But while Wales may be more
understrength than a Mr Muscle advert reject, toothy striker Robbie
Earnshaw remains confident. "There's no reason we can't go on and win
the game," he said. "We can capitalise on their mistakes."
Especially, perhaps, if one P Neville gets on the teamsheet.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Nothing will lure me out of my kitchen armchair in front of the TV
set on Saturday night" - no, it's not X-Factor that's got Ukrainian
taxi driver Yevhen Kirponis all excited, but the prospect of watching
his national side beat Georgia and qualify for the World Cup finals
for the first time this weekend.
*********************
SCOTLAND THE BRAVE
Not all footballers are stupid. After all, when faced with fatuous
questions, they can't be expected to issue Nobel Prize-winning
replies. So when uncapped Celtic striker Craig Beattie was asked
today if he expects his new Scottish team-mates to be overawed when
they meet Italy at Hampden Park this Saturday, he blurted the only
thing a sensible person could: "They have some of the best players in
the world but I don't think we'll be overawed, we're mentally strong
and have seasoned pros etc and so on."
Admittedly, he could have pointed out that the Scots weren't overawed
when the sides met in Milan last March. Completely outplayed, yes,
but not overawed. Indeed, that game proved that manager Walter Smith
has successfully solidified a defence that was porous during the
reign of Berti Vogts - for all their dominance, the Italians needed
two phenomenal free-kicks to score. What's more, the side that has
only mustered three goals in six qualifiers so far went goal-crazy in
a friendly last month, sticking a whopping two past Austria.
Still not convinced the Scots could make a shock bid for the
play-offs, despite being second from bottom (but only three points
off that spot)? Then consider this: for just the second time since
taking charge last December, Smith will be able to start with his
first-choice midfield of (drum roll) Darren Fletcher, Barry Ferguson
and Nigel Quashie. OK, maybe the drum roll was over-the-top, but the
Tartan Army are at least entitled to be, er, upbeat.
Meanwhile in Italy, skipper Fabio Cannavaro refused to spout the usual
guff about taking each game as it comes, choosing instead to
completely ignore the Scots and instead pontificate on what Italy
will do next summer. "We're capable of reaching the World Cup final,"
he bugled to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "After South Korea and
Portugal, another flop is unthinkable." Perhaps, but chances are that
if Italy are that far ahead in their planning, they've already
concocted conspiracy theories about refs, weather and beery odours
should the unthinkable happen in Scotland.
*********************
THE RUMOUR MILL
It will take a greater chunk of Roman's fortune to prise Ronaldinho
away from Barcelona, now that the Catalans have increased his buy-out
clause to GBP85.4m.
After a last-minute Porto snub denied West Ham a GBP6m deadline-day
swoop for Benni McCarthy, Alan Pardew has vowed to spend the money
when the transfer window reopens in January.
It appears Guus Hiddink was desperate for a young English full-back:
the PSV coach only moved for Michael Ball after ending his interest
in Liverpool's Stephen Warnock.
* * * * * * * * * * *
STILL WANT MORE?
Freddie Flintoff takes on Hazzard County's finest lawmen, before
developing a penchant for streaking in this week's Ashes-themed
Gallery:
football.guardian.co.uk/gallery/0,8555,1560584,00.html
"There is not the slightest concern about him standing in" - Jon
Brodkin on why England shouldn't fear John Terry's absence with Jamie
Carragher waiting in the wings:
football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1560288,00.html
Did lucky punters once back a Finnish league game to end 8-0 - and
win? Only the Knowledge has the answer:
football.guardian.co.uk/theknowledge/story/0,13854,1559878,00.html
Stop being so ethical and develop a ruthless streak in Fantasy
Chairman: guardian.fantasyleague.com/
The greatest internet sports games ever come with a bloodshot eyes
guarantee:
sport.guardian.co.uk/thegear/story/0,12490,1073461,00.html
And in tomrorrow's 60p Guardian: Tune in to Corry - England's rugby
captain on the new rugby season, a club-by-club guide to the Guinness
Premiership and England batsman Ian Bell talks to David Hopps.
* * * * * * * * * * *
YOUR MATCH REPORT
Spotted something about your Premiership team that no one else has?
Maybe a tiny problem that drags players out of position and snowballs
into a serious flaw? Or maybe you can properly justify why they
should play a particular pairing up front - or at the back. Whatever
you've spotted, the Guardian sportsdesk is waiting to be impressed:
send your 100-word observations to your.match@guardian.co.uk. They'll
publish the best of them.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
NEWS IN BRIEF
Sombreros off to Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock, who has won
the Championship manager of the month for August. Lord of the Rings
director and Huddersfield boss boss Peter Jackson bagged the League
One equivalent, while Notts County gaffer Gudjon Thordarson etc.
CSKA Sofia claim Djibril Cisse made obscene gestures to their home
fans during Liverpool's Big Cup qualifying win and are attempting to
collate video evidence. Those would be the same fans who got the
Bulgarian club fined GBP13,253 for directing monkey noises at the
Frenchman, then?
Businessman Ray Ranson has ended his interest in a takeover of Aston
Villa.
And Portsmouth striker Collins Mbesuma had to be rescued from a police
station when infuriated Zambian fans attempted to attack him. An
angry mob reportedly found Mbesuma "drunk" while on international
duty in his homeland and threatened him with his life, before he took
refuge.
* * * * * * * * * * *
WIN! WIN! WIN!
Share your image of the summer and win four VIP tickets to the fifth
day of the fourth Test at the Oval on 11 September. Send us a picture
which captures your summer by MMS or email and the best one could win
you tickets to this potentially historic day. Prize includes
complimentary bar and afternoon tea.
www.guardian.co.uk/capturethesummer.
* * * * * * * * * * *
FIVER LETTERS
"Who cares where NUCC appeared in Mickey Owen's wish-list? As for the
Fiver's digs at the fans - 'gullible' and 'fickle' - you perhaps
don't understand what football means to people 'up north'. From the
evidence of my frequent trips to London grounds for away games (all
characteristically silent, lifeless and dreary places) I suspect this
must be the case. This signing has completely altered the complexion
of a season which most of us were looking at with a sense of
impending dread" - Ben Turrell. [We said Newcastle's fans were
"in-no-way-fickle" - Fiver Ed].
"Although I applaud Stephen Byrne's funny liking of NUCC to the geeky
kid who breakdances. I find it hard to believe that little Mickey
Owen is the pretty blonde. If he is such a pretty blonde, surely he
would be wanted by at least one club other than yours?" - Chris
Connolly.
"I would like to inform Stephen Byrne (yesterday's Fiver letters) that
according to government figures, the unemployment rate for the
north-east over the last year averaged 6.4% while in the north-west
it was 4.4%. That's 0.5% lower than the national average. As regards
the "beautiful blonde" that is Michael Owen, you can have him, savour
him for a year, then cry your eyes out when he exercises the get-out
clause in his contract and hot-tails it back to the Capital of
Culture 2008" - Ian Theodore, Liverpool.
"Re: Stephen Byrne's comment about people in Liverpool dole offices.
Can I point out that this old stereotype is really out of date,
because workless Scousers have to wait for Jobseeker's Allowance. The
dole finished at least 10 years ago" - Adrian Richmond, Liverpool.
"I just thought I'd express my gratitude for the official 2005
calendar I received from Newcastle last Christmas. Craig Bellamy,
Aaron Hughes, Laurent Robert, Patrick Kluivert, Andy O'Brien and
more, all in full colour. Just turned over to September to see - yes!
- James Milner's mug. I've got Nicky Butt (November) and Jermaine
Jenas (December) to go (trust Mr October - Lee Bowyer - to ruin the
good run) before I purchase next year's fun-filled version. Only
Newcastle United could sell calendars that go out of date so quickly"
- Peter Lawther.
"20,000 Geordies greeting Michael Owen? Is Newcastle a bit like
France, in that they are all on holiday in August? By the way, have
any Fiver readers ever actually gone to their club's ground to greet
a new signing, and if so, why did they bother?" - Russell George.
"Was I the only person surprised that Newcastle didn't hire an
open-top bus, put Michael Owen on top and then drive it around
Newcastle? We could have enjoyed the sight of Freddy Shepherd and
Graeme Souness attempting to pick him up by his ears so the fans
could see him" - Lou Carpenter, Birmingham.
"Nick Parker is right. Shedding 25 admin jobs at the Glazerdome to
save GBP500k is pointless. With 67,500 fans at every game, the MU
Rowdies just have to charge each and every one of them another
GBP7.41 per season and they're laughing. Now, how many GBP500,000s do
the Glazers have to save to make their business plan work?" - John
Andre.
Send your letters to the.boss@guardian.co.uk. The best letter of the
day will win a classy T-shirt from fiver.goalhanger.com. We
reserve the right to rescind prizes and publish the email addresses
of plagiarists to mock, embarrass or humiliate them. Today's winner:
Lou Carpenter, Ramsay Stre ... sorry, Birmingham.
* * * * * * * * * * *
TONIGHT'S TV & RADIO
Channel 4: The Truth About Female Desire (11.05pm)
"A couple of years ago I took up a bar job in Bradford. In order to
win over the locals I had to make a real effort to be as chirpy and
cheerful as possible," writes Dan Berry, kicking off his tale of an
inappropriate public faux pas.
Five: Johh. Barnes's. Football. Night. (12am)
As opposed to an appropriate public faux pas. Anyway, back over to
Dan ...
Dutch Football (12.40am)
"Things were going surprisingly well for the first week as I made
friends with the hard-working and hard-drinking regulars and I was
chuffed by how quickly they accepted me as part of the inner-workings
in 'their' pub.
Portuguese Football (2.10am)
"Until the day that Michael, a landscape gardener who never usually
bothered getting changed out of his work gear before supping, entered
the pub wearing a rather sharp suit."
Argentinian Football (3.40am)
"Without really thinking, I shouted at him across the crowded bar:
'Have you been in court again, Michael?'"
Sky Sports 1: Football League Review (10pm)
Uh-oh.
Fifa Football Mundial (11pm)
"To which he replied: 'No, I just buried my dad.'"
BBC Radio Five: Sport on Five (7pm)
"I'd never seen tumbleweed in Bradford before then."
Talksport: Kick-off (7pm)
Dear, oh dear. If you can top that for cringe-inducing embarrassment,
we want to hear about it. Send your faux pas nightmares to
the.boss@guardian.co.uk and mark them I Bit Right Through My
Knuckles.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVER
You can subscribe and unsubscribe at
www.guardian.co.uk/football/fiver
* * * * * * * * * * * *
CONTACT THE FIVER
If you want to contact the Fiver, email the.boss@guardian.co.uk.
* * * * * * * * * * *
IF YOU TOUCH AN ELECTRIC FENCE ON PURPOSE, DOES IT STILL COUNT AS A
SHOCK?
The Fiver was written by Sean Ingle and Paul Doyle. Guardian Unlimited
(c) Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005. Registered in England and
Wales. No.908396. Registered office: 164 Deansgate, Manchester.
01 September 2005
Guardian Unlimited's tea-time take on the world of football
guardian.co.uk/football
In today's Fiver: Player Power,
and Overawed
* * * * * * * * * * * *
DEFENCE AND SUSPENSE
Anyone who sat through Sven-Goran Eriksson's tactical masterclasses
against France and Portugal during Euro 2004 (basic synopsis: watch
his side go 1-0 up, panic, stick 10 men behind the ball, pray) would
be shocked to hear that England's GBP5m-a-year-plus-perks (car,
secretary etc) manager could get any more defensive. But 13 months
after 4-5-1 became every mid-table Premiership outfit's formation of
choice, Sven has decided to scramble onto a bandwagon which hasn't
just left town, but is halfway up the M1. For a game against Wales.
The FA-approved line is that Eriksson has been mulling over a
formation shift since the Denmark drubbing last month. But most
insiders reckon that it has more to do with David Beckham, Frank
Lampard and Steven Gerrard "persuading" Sven on Tuesday - another
example, then, of the player power that's seen England unsuccessfully
adopt the diamond formation during Euro 2004, and the squad
unsuccessfully threaten to strike over Rio's drug test. Either way,
England have been practising 4-5-1 in training with Wayne Rooney
playing as a lone striker and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole
flattering to deceive on the flanks.
Meanwhile, with Gary Neville left in Manchester nursing his groin,
brother Phil is hoping to squeeze ahead of Luke Young in the battle
for the right-back spot. "Hopefully experience will get me into the
team," Neville insisted. "But sometimes experience goes out of the
window. The most important issue is to get three points and then move
on to Northern Ireland Nil." But while Wales may be more
understrength than a Mr Muscle advert reject, toothy striker Robbie
Earnshaw remains confident. "There's no reason we can't go on and win
the game," he said. "We can capitalise on their mistakes."
Especially, perhaps, if one P Neville gets on the teamsheet.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Nothing will lure me out of my kitchen armchair in front of the TV
set on Saturday night" - no, it's not X-Factor that's got Ukrainian
taxi driver Yevhen Kirponis all excited, but the prospect of watching
his national side beat Georgia and qualify for the World Cup finals
for the first time this weekend.
*********************
SCOTLAND THE BRAVE
Not all footballers are stupid. After all, when faced with fatuous
questions, they can't be expected to issue Nobel Prize-winning
replies. So when uncapped Celtic striker Craig Beattie was asked
today if he expects his new Scottish team-mates to be overawed when
they meet Italy at Hampden Park this Saturday, he blurted the only
thing a sensible person could: "They have some of the best players in
the world but I don't think we'll be overawed, we're mentally strong
and have seasoned pros etc and so on."
Admittedly, he could have pointed out that the Scots weren't overawed
when the sides met in Milan last March. Completely outplayed, yes,
but not overawed. Indeed, that game proved that manager Walter Smith
has successfully solidified a defence that was porous during the
reign of Berti Vogts - for all their dominance, the Italians needed
two phenomenal free-kicks to score. What's more, the side that has
only mustered three goals in six qualifiers so far went goal-crazy in
a friendly last month, sticking a whopping two past Austria.
Still not convinced the Scots could make a shock bid for the
play-offs, despite being second from bottom (but only three points
off that spot)? Then consider this: for just the second time since
taking charge last December, Smith will be able to start with his
first-choice midfield of (drum roll) Darren Fletcher, Barry Ferguson
and Nigel Quashie. OK, maybe the drum roll was over-the-top, but the
Tartan Army are at least entitled to be, er, upbeat.
Meanwhile in Italy, skipper Fabio Cannavaro refused to spout the usual
guff about taking each game as it comes, choosing instead to
completely ignore the Scots and instead pontificate on what Italy
will do next summer. "We're capable of reaching the World Cup final,"
he bugled to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "After South Korea and
Portugal, another flop is unthinkable." Perhaps, but chances are that
if Italy are that far ahead in their planning, they've already
concocted conspiracy theories about refs, weather and beery odours
should the unthinkable happen in Scotland.
*********************
THE RUMOUR MILL
It will take a greater chunk of Roman's fortune to prise Ronaldinho
away from Barcelona, now that the Catalans have increased his buy-out
clause to GBP85.4m.
After a last-minute Porto snub denied West Ham a GBP6m deadline-day
swoop for Benni McCarthy, Alan Pardew has vowed to spend the money
when the transfer window reopens in January.
It appears Guus Hiddink was desperate for a young English full-back:
the PSV coach only moved for Michael Ball after ending his interest
in Liverpool's Stephen Warnock.
* * * * * * * * * * *
STILL WANT MORE?
Freddie Flintoff takes on Hazzard County's finest lawmen, before
developing a penchant for streaking in this week's Ashes-themed
Gallery:
football.guardian.co.uk/gallery/0,8555,1560584,00.html
"There is not the slightest concern about him standing in" - Jon
Brodkin on why England shouldn't fear John Terry's absence with Jamie
Carragher waiting in the wings:
football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1560288,00.html
Did lucky punters once back a Finnish league game to end 8-0 - and
win? Only the Knowledge has the answer:
football.guardian.co.uk/theknowledge/story/0,13854,1559878,00.html
Stop being so ethical and develop a ruthless streak in Fantasy
Chairman: guardian.fantasyleague.com/
The greatest internet sports games ever come with a bloodshot eyes
guarantee:
sport.guardian.co.uk/thegear/story/0,12490,1073461,00.html
And in tomrorrow's 60p Guardian: Tune in to Corry - England's rugby
captain on the new rugby season, a club-by-club guide to the Guinness
Premiership and England batsman Ian Bell talks to David Hopps.
* * * * * * * * * * *
YOUR MATCH REPORT
Spotted something about your Premiership team that no one else has?
Maybe a tiny problem that drags players out of position and snowballs
into a serious flaw? Or maybe you can properly justify why they
should play a particular pairing up front - or at the back. Whatever
you've spotted, the Guardian sportsdesk is waiting to be impressed:
send your 100-word observations to your.match@guardian.co.uk. They'll
publish the best of them.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
NEWS IN BRIEF
Sombreros off to Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock, who has won
the Championship manager of the month for August. Lord of the Rings
director and Huddersfield boss boss Peter Jackson bagged the League
One equivalent, while Notts County gaffer Gudjon Thordarson etc.
CSKA Sofia claim Djibril Cisse made obscene gestures to their home
fans during Liverpool's Big Cup qualifying win and are attempting to
collate video evidence. Those would be the same fans who got the
Bulgarian club fined GBP13,253 for directing monkey noises at the
Frenchman, then?
Businessman Ray Ranson has ended his interest in a takeover of Aston
Villa.
And Portsmouth striker Collins Mbesuma had to be rescued from a police
station when infuriated Zambian fans attempted to attack him. An
angry mob reportedly found Mbesuma "drunk" while on international
duty in his homeland and threatened him with his life, before he took
refuge.
* * * * * * * * * * *
WIN! WIN! WIN!
Share your image of the summer and win four VIP tickets to the fifth
day of the fourth Test at the Oval on 11 September. Send us a picture
which captures your summer by MMS or email and the best one could win
you tickets to this potentially historic day. Prize includes
complimentary bar and afternoon tea.
www.guardian.co.uk/capturethesummer.
* * * * * * * * * * *
FIVER LETTERS
"Who cares where NUCC appeared in Mickey Owen's wish-list? As for the
Fiver's digs at the fans - 'gullible' and 'fickle' - you perhaps
don't understand what football means to people 'up north'. From the
evidence of my frequent trips to London grounds for away games (all
characteristically silent, lifeless and dreary places) I suspect this
must be the case. This signing has completely altered the complexion
of a season which most of us were looking at with a sense of
impending dread" - Ben Turrell. [We said Newcastle's fans were
"in-no-way-fickle" - Fiver Ed].
"Although I applaud Stephen Byrne's funny liking of NUCC to the geeky
kid who breakdances. I find it hard to believe that little Mickey
Owen is the pretty blonde. If he is such a pretty blonde, surely he
would be wanted by at least one club other than yours?" - Chris
Connolly.
"I would like to inform Stephen Byrne (yesterday's Fiver letters) that
according to government figures, the unemployment rate for the
north-east over the last year averaged 6.4% while in the north-west
it was 4.4%. That's 0.5% lower than the national average. As regards
the "beautiful blonde" that is Michael Owen, you can have him, savour
him for a year, then cry your eyes out when he exercises the get-out
clause in his contract and hot-tails it back to the Capital of
Culture 2008" - Ian Theodore, Liverpool.
"Re: Stephen Byrne's comment about people in Liverpool dole offices.
Can I point out that this old stereotype is really out of date,
because workless Scousers have to wait for Jobseeker's Allowance. The
dole finished at least 10 years ago" - Adrian Richmond, Liverpool.
"I just thought I'd express my gratitude for the official 2005
calendar I received from Newcastle last Christmas. Craig Bellamy,
Aaron Hughes, Laurent Robert, Patrick Kluivert, Andy O'Brien and
more, all in full colour. Just turned over to September to see - yes!
- James Milner's mug. I've got Nicky Butt (November) and Jermaine
Jenas (December) to go (trust Mr October - Lee Bowyer - to ruin the
good run) before I purchase next year's fun-filled version. Only
Newcastle United could sell calendars that go out of date so quickly"
- Peter Lawther.
"20,000 Geordies greeting Michael Owen? Is Newcastle a bit like
France, in that they are all on holiday in August? By the way, have
any Fiver readers ever actually gone to their club's ground to greet
a new signing, and if so, why did they bother?" - Russell George.
"Was I the only person surprised that Newcastle didn't hire an
open-top bus, put Michael Owen on top and then drive it around
Newcastle? We could have enjoyed the sight of Freddy Shepherd and
Graeme Souness attempting to pick him up by his ears so the fans
could see him" - Lou Carpenter, Birmingham.
"Nick Parker is right. Shedding 25 admin jobs at the Glazerdome to
save GBP500k is pointless. With 67,500 fans at every game, the MU
Rowdies just have to charge each and every one of them another
GBP7.41 per season and they're laughing. Now, how many GBP500,000s do
the Glazers have to save to make their business plan work?" - John
Andre.
Send your letters to the.boss@guardian.co.uk. The best letter of the
day will win a classy T-shirt from fiver.goalhanger.com. We
reserve the right to rescind prizes and publish the email addresses
of plagiarists to mock, embarrass or humiliate them. Today's winner:
Lou Carpenter, Ramsay Stre ... sorry, Birmingham.
* * * * * * * * * * *
TONIGHT'S TV & RADIO
Channel 4: The Truth About Female Desire (11.05pm)
"A couple of years ago I took up a bar job in Bradford. In order to
win over the locals I had to make a real effort to be as chirpy and
cheerful as possible," writes Dan Berry, kicking off his tale of an
inappropriate public faux pas.
Five: Johh. Barnes's. Football. Night. (12am)
As opposed to an appropriate public faux pas. Anyway, back over to
Dan ...
Dutch Football (12.40am)
"Things were going surprisingly well for the first week as I made
friends with the hard-working and hard-drinking regulars and I was
chuffed by how quickly they accepted me as part of the inner-workings
in 'their' pub.
Portuguese Football (2.10am)
"Until the day that Michael, a landscape gardener who never usually
bothered getting changed out of his work gear before supping, entered
the pub wearing a rather sharp suit."
Argentinian Football (3.40am)
"Without really thinking, I shouted at him across the crowded bar:
'Have you been in court again, Michael?'"
Sky Sports 1: Football League Review (10pm)
Uh-oh.
Fifa Football Mundial (11pm)
"To which he replied: 'No, I just buried my dad.'"
BBC Radio Five: Sport on Five (7pm)
"I'd never seen tumbleweed in Bradford before then."
Talksport: Kick-off (7pm)
Dear, oh dear. If you can top that for cringe-inducing embarrassment,
we want to hear about it. Send your faux pas nightmares to
the.boss@guardian.co.uk and mark them I Bit Right Through My
Knuckles.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVER
You can subscribe and unsubscribe at
www.guardian.co.uk/football/fiver
* * * * * * * * * * * *
CONTACT THE FIVER
If you want to contact the Fiver, email the.boss@guardian.co.uk.
* * * * * * * * * * *
IF YOU TOUCH AN ELECTRIC FENCE ON PURPOSE, DOES IT STILL COUNT AS A
SHOCK?
The Fiver was written by Sean Ingle and Paul Doyle. Guardian Unlimited
(c) Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005. Registered in England and
Wales. No.908396. Registered office: 164 Deansgate, Manchester.