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ROSS COUNTY

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FourFourTwo
Season Preview 2022
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Other Articles in this Issue


WELCOME
WELCOME
Strap yourselves in: the rollercoaster is about to
YOU ASK
CLAUDIO RANIERI
YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS “When Trevor Birch told
UPFRONT
MEAN WHILE IN …
...Barcelona, Pep and Jose have been getting on better than ever – maybe they loved each other all along?
GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
“THAT WEMBLEY NIGHT WAS PERFECT FOR BARCELONA IN
SIX OF THE MADDEST | MATCH-FIXING SCANDALS
ONE FOR THE ROAD A match in Australia’s
ONE HIT WONDERS
SAEED AL-OWAIRAN
THE ULTIMATE QUIZ TRANSFER SPECIAL
Bask in silly season with FFT’s pre-season posers – starring volcanoes and mega record-breakers...
THE CELLINO ZONE MASSIMO FERRERO
When it comes to bizarre club owners, Sampdoria’s ex-chief is right up there...
WHO ARE YA? | CAPE COAST MYSTERIOUS DWARFS
COULD BE The most elusive pygmy team in history – not least because the players are too small to see with the naked eye. ACTUALLY A Ghanaian top-flight club until relegation in 2021, named after the mythical mmoatia: 1ft-tall forest-dwellers who give kids nightmares. The team’s crest instead features a crab juggling a football; their local rivals are the Cape Coast Venomous Vipers. Dwarfs vs Vipers: it’s the eternal duel
REQUIRED READING
SCORING GOALS IN THE DARK
MY FOOTBALL
The Spurs-loving screen star – recently of BBC hit The Split – harks back to the days of Stephen Carr screamers, getting score updates while on stage and life as “DAN!”
ACTION REPLAY 1992
ARSENAL SIGN EUROS HERO, MAIDSTONE QUIT LEAGUE
BEEF ROY KEANE VS ALFIE HAALAND
UNLUCKY SEVEN FC U Craiova brought Italian boss
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT FACTS | FASTEST RED CARD
Before getting a Somerset clash between Cross Farm Park Celtic and Taunton East Reach Wanderers started in 2000, ref Peter Kearle warned players he wouldn’t tolerate swearing. Then he blew the whistle, right next to striker Lee Todd. “F**k me, ref, that was loud!” Todd responded. Result? Sent off, two seconds after kick-off.
TROPHY CABINET
SHERIFF OF LONDON CHARITY SHIELD
GUS POYET
After a previous spell at AEK Athens, the former Chelsea star is now the manager of Greece – Euro 2024 is the target
GOING INTERNATIONAL
After spells in English football, these three are now trying their hand at national team management, too...
WHAT’S THE MOST MUN DAN EEN COUN TERYOU’VE HAD WITH A FOOTBALLER?
Kenny Dalglish asked me what I was eating,
FEATURES
64 REASONS TO BE EXCITED FOR THE NEW SEASON
Welcome to a new season like no other in history. We might have missed the World Cup this summer, but that only means it’s all to look forward to in a delicious football feast ahead. Appetisers include some star arrivals, EFL madness and much more
JOELIN TON EXPERIENCE
The Brazilian’s metamorphosis from struggling striker to totemic midfield dominator has been nothing short of revelatory at St James’ Park. Newcastle’s loveable hero meets FFT to reflect on his rough ride in England, but he insists there’s only one thing on his mind: taking the Toon Army back into Europe…
THEY’RE OUT OF THE WOODS NOW
Nottingham Forest’s 23-year ordeal began with their star man on strike before finally ending in ecstasy this summer. Now, as they prepare for a return to the big time, FFT charts two decades of agony with those who endured it. Aaaaand breathe…
FALLEN KINGS
Forest became the first ex-European champions to drop into the third tier – but others have suffered after glory
30 YEARS OF DISTRACTION
It’s created legends, ruined entire weeks and prompted the most infamous split in gaming history. Championship Manager arrived to snotty reviews from the press in 1992 – then became the most loved football video game ever. FFT hears how from those who made it…
THE BOY WONDERS
No Champ Man chat is complete without tales of the uber-talented…
THE REDEEMED ONE
David Moyes suffered in Sociedad and sunk with Sunderland after his Manchester United dream ended in tatters – then he needed two attempts at West Ham before he was taken seriously. Now the Scot’s work in east London has rebuilt his reputation and taken the Irons to the brink of European glory
I LIT THE FIREWORK AND IT WENT OFF LIKE A STICK OF DYNAMITE I WAS BLIND I COULDN’T SEE A THING
Former Manchester City hopeful Omar Elabdellaoui thought his life had changed forever after a horrific accident at the end of 2020 – one that threatened the Galatasaray man’s sight, let alone career. Then a miracle happened, as he explains to FFT...
LA LIGA
More legends have left, but that only freshens things up in Spain. Barcelona go for glory in Xavi’s first full campaign, while Carlo Ancelotti meets an old friend…
BUNDESLIGA
Lewy’s had the grumps, but Sadio Mané is the latest Munich star. There’s also a new coach at BVB, bumbling sides doing battle and a 2014 hero’s return
SERIE A
Italy’s top flight looks to the past as a pair of fallen stars return with points to prove. Can Juve finally sort themselves out? And how will new boys Monza fare?
LIGUE 1
With four teams going down, the scrap to survive a goals-galore league will be fascinating. It’s all change at PSG, meanwhile – but this time it feels very different…
MY PERFECT XI MICHAEL OWEN
With a CV featuring Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United and England, it’s no wonder that a string of superstars miss out. Big apologies to Glenn Whelan...
WELCOME
Refreshed? Ready? Good – because this season is going to be busier than all before it. If nothing else, it’ll certainly be the most unique, with that small matter of a World Cup halting games in the Premier League, Championship and Scotland’s top flight for a number of weeks this winter. Leagues One and Two will carry on as normal while fans launch their pints around Boxparks – astrange feeling no doubt, but surely a novelty to embrace around the festive period. All the football: what’s not to like about that?
AROUND THE GROUNDS
AROUND THE GROUNDS EFL • NON-LEAGUE • SCOTLAND
INTERVIEW PAUL WARNE
LOUIS: NON-LEAGUE’S KING
Aged 43, Jefferson Louis scored a dramatic double which fired North Leigh to new heights last term. But British football’s ultimate journeyman isn’t done...
BEST & WORST
CELTIC
BOY’S A BIT SPECIAL
LOWDOWN As far as first seasons at a
! KIT CRIMES | COVEnTRY AWAY, 1992-94
That’s right, it’s yet another delirious shirt design from the early ’90s! Produced by Ribero (come on, you must remember them), Cov’s away kit for the Premier League’s first years was more ‘comedy safari’ than cool, even when begrudgingly being worn by the likes of Micky Quinn, Ray Woods (right) and Peter Ndlovu. Grrrrr...
R£CORD BR£AK£RS
DEAN SMITH WALSALL TO HEREFORD | 1994 £80,000
SEASON OF SHAME
DARLINGTON 2011-12
THE PLAYERS LOUNGE
“GREALISH A £100M PLAYER?! IMAGInE WHAT I’D GO FOR nOW – HE’S nOT FIT TO LACE MY BOOTS”
The Trini goal machine explains why Sir Alex Ferguson misunderstood his game – and why Roy Keane is no club gaffer...
“WE WERE GOIN GTO HAVE A PARTY AFTER ISTAN BUL, BUT MOST OF US WEN TTO SLEEP!”
The Anfield cult hero recalls that win over Milan, almost signing for Everton and how Rafa and Redknapp differed
“IN MY FIRST TRAIN INGSESSION AS A COACH AT BILLERICAY, WE LOST 1-0 AGAIN ST MANNEQUIN S”
The motormouth radio pundit on achieving his Spurs dream, going on Celebrity Big Brother and partying with NBA All-Stars
“I’D BEEN A ‘SORE LOSER’ FOR SAYIN GARGEN TIN ASPIKED MY DRIN KIN 1990 – THEN MARADON AADMITTED IT ON TV”
The ex-Boro left-back talks glory at USA 94 and partying with El Diego on Copacabana
SEASON PREVIEW 2022-23
PREMIER LEAGUE / 2022-23
We don’t expect a great deal from England’s top tier this season – just a fun race for the top four, the relegation scrap to be settled on the final day again, and another epic title clash between two of the best teams in history
ARSENAL
YOUNG GUNS Only in 2008-09 have Arsenal deployed
ASTON VILLA
CASH FOR MINUTES No outfield player managed every
AFC BOURNEMOUTH
MIND OUT, VILLA In three of their five
BRENTFORD
UP FOR THE CUPS No player in Premier
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
WIDE BOYS In April, Brighton fired 18 shots
CHELSEA
GAME OF TWO HALVES Last season, Chelsea became
CRYSTAL PALACE
SNORING SNORING PALACE Since their return to the
EVERTON
THE HOPE THAT GETS YOU Everton have not
FULHAM
TONS OF FUN Last term, Fulham became the
LEEDS UNITED
THE LATE, LATE SHOW Leeds bagged eight of
LEICESTER CITY
WATCHING, GARETH? James Maddison scored and assisted 10+
LIVERPOOL
FINISHED IT, FERGIE Jurgen Klopp has become only
MANCHESTER CITY
SIX OF THE BEST New forward Julian
MANCHESTER UNITED
THE REAL QUIZ United actually spent more days
NEWCASTLE UNITED
EXTRAPOLATE THIS It’s no wonder that Eddie Howe
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
BRIAN WHO? Steve Cooper has won 60% of
SOUTHAMPTON
GOLDEN BRAWLS After bagging four free-kicks last term,
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
WHAT A LOVELY PAIR Harry Kane and Son
WEST HAM UNITED
CHANGE IS NOT GOOD David Moyes tweaked his
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
JOSE SAVES According to Expected Goals on Target,
CHAMPIONSHIP 2022-23
Unpredictable promotions have been in short supply at this level in recent years, but things don’t look so cut-and-dried this time around. With the relegated clubs under repair, let the battle for glory begin
BLACKPOOL
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 16th FA CUP Third Round
BRISTOL CITY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 17th FA CUP Third Round
BURNLEY
LAST SEASON PREMIER LEAGUE 18th FA CUP Third
CARDIFF CITY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 18th FA CUP Fourth Round
COVENTRY CITY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 12th FA CUP Fourth Round
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 3rd FA CUP Fifth Round
HULL CITY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 19th FA CUP Third Round
LUTON TOWN
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 6th FA CUP Fifth Round
MIDDLESBROUGH
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 7th FA CUP Quarter-Finals LEAGUE
MILLWALL
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 9th FA CUP Third Round
NORWICH CITY
LAST SEASON PREMIER LEAGUE 20th FA CUP Fifth
PRESTON NORTH END
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 13th FA CUP Third Round
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 11th FA CUP Fourth Round
READING
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 21st FA CUP Third Round
ROTHERHAM UNITED
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 2nd FA CUP Third
SHEFFIELD UNITED
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 5th FA CUP First Round
STOKE CITY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 14th FA CUP Fifth Round
SUNDERLAND
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 5th FA CUP First
SWAN SEACITY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 15th FA CUP Third Round
WATFORD
LAST SEASON PREMIER LEAGUE 19th FA CUP Third
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 10th FA CUP Third Round
WIGAN ATHLETIC
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 1st FA CUP First
LEAGUE ONE 2022-23
This division has had a tendency of late to chew up and spit out fallen giants – but with more of them than ever before trying to clamber out of tier three, is this the year when an established order rules supreme?
ACCRINGTON STANLEY
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 12th FA CUP First
BARNSLEY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 24th FA CUP Fourth Round
BOLTON WANDERERS
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 9th FA CUP First
BRISTOL ROVERS
LAST SEASON LEAGUE TWO 3rd FA CUP Third
BURTON ALBION
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 16th FA CUP Second
CAMBRIDGE UNITED
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 14th FA CUP Fourth
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 13th FA CUP Third
CHELTENHAM TOWN
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 15th FA CUP Second
DERBY COUNTY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 23rd FA CUP Third Round
EXETER CITY
LAST SEASON LEAGUE TWO 2nd FA CUP Second
FLEETWOOD TOWN
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 20th FA CUP First
FOREST GREEN ROVERS
LAST SEASON LEAGUE TWO 1st FA CUP First
IPSWICH TOWN
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 11th FA CUP Second
LINCOLN CITY
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 17th FA CUP Second
MILTON KEYNES DONS
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 3rd FA CUP First
MORECAMBE
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 19th FA CUP Third
OXFORD UNITED
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 8th FA CUP First
PETERBOROUGH UNITED
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 22nd FA CUP Fifth Round
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 7th FA CUP Fourth
PORT VALE
LAST SEASON LEAGUE TWO 5th FA CUP Third
PORTSMOUTH
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 10th FA CUP Second
SHEFFIELD WEDBNESDAY
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 4th FA CUP First
SHREWSBURY TOWN
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 18th FA CUP Third
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
LAST SEASON LEAGUE ONE 6th FA CUP First
LEAGUE TWO/ 2022 - 23
Two clubs dragged themselves from the pits of despair to shake up the promotion picture last year, one finishing off the job with a seven-goal swing on the last day. In England’s fourth tier, it seems anything goes
NATIONAL LEAGUE /2022 - 23
Wrexham discovered that the fifth tier might not be the best place for Hollywood endings after all. They may well get their way this term, though – unless others rise again...
WSL WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE /2022 - 23
Can anyone stop Chelsea strolling away with yet another title? Once again, they’re the side to beat
SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
While the Old Firm will dominate again in the top flight, there are stories aplenty elsewhere, including a bit of James Bond in League Two...
ABERDEEN
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 10th SCOTTISH CUP 5R LEAGUE
CELTIC
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 1st SCOTTISH CUP SF LEAGUE
DUNDEE UNITED
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 4th SCOTTISH CUP Quarter-Finals LEAGUE
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 3rd SCOTTISH CUP Runners-Up LEAGUE
HIBERNIAN
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 8th SCOTTISH CUP SF LEAGUE
KILMARNOCK
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 1st SCOTTISH CUP Fourth Round
LIVINGSTON
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 7th SCOTTISH CUP Fifth Round
MOTHERWELL
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 5th SCOTTISH CUP Quarter-Finals LEAGUE
RANGERS
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 2nd SCOTTISH CUP Winners LEAGUE
ST JOHNSTONE
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 11th SCOTTISH CUP 4R
ST MIRREN
LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 9th SCOTTISH CUP QF LEAGUE
YOUR PREDICTIONS
Last summer we correctly tipped success for the likes of Forest Green, Exeter and Sunderland – but let’s just say our shouts for Crystal Palace to drop and Barnsley making the play-offs didn’t go too well. Now it’s your turn to be a sucker for punishment...
BIRMINGHAM CITY
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 20th FA CUP Third Round
BLACKBURN ROVERS
LAST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP 8th FA CUP Third Round
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