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IAN STAFFORD of the Mail on Sunday on dousing a flaming laptop at Highbury…eating an elephant’s backside…and playing alongside Romario

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Have you ever worked in a profession other than football? :
Well I guess the true answer is I work in pretty much all sports and that’s how it’s always been apart from student days when, like everyone else, I did a million jobs.

Most memorable match?
One I’ve covered? Probably the 1990 World Cup semi when England lost on pens to (who else?) the Germans, Gazza cried and Waddle’s shot is still rising 23 years on.

 
The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
It’s already on: Man City’s dramatic stoppage time win v QPR to take the title and leave Man Utd stunned at Sunderland. Incredible last three minutes at both the Etihad and Stadium of Light. I’d also like a DVD entitled Unsung Stars of the 70’s and show all the skills of Bowles, Hudson, George, Worthington, Currie et al – brilliant players and the kind of personalities we miss today who should have each won 50 caps but didn’t get close.

Best stadium?
Allianz, Munich; Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.


…and the worst?
Plough Lane, Wimbledon – remember the press box?

Your personal new-tech disaster?
Not had too many personally, but I remember a distinguished member of the football press saw his laptop literally catch fire in the heat spot at the old Highbury press box. I sat behind him and helped put the fire out.

 
Biggest mistake?
I fell out with Martin O’Neill, of all people, many years ago. He took offence to a headline and wrote about it in his match day programme. I felt he went way over the top. It wasn’t really a mistake, but you never want to fall out with managers, do you? I remember arriving at Oxford United at half-time once when they were in the top flight after train and taxi problems. I’d missed the whole of the first half, when all three goals were scored and there had been a red card. Nothing happened in the second half and my report came from second hand information. That Sunday I received an email from my sports editor of the time saying it was the best match report I’d done for him.

 
Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
Many times, but nobody famous, although I argue I resemble a young Robert Redford.

 
Most media friendly manager?
Personally it’s been Walter Smith who let me play for his Everton team once again v Manchester City. Mind you, he did say as he looked at me in the Everton strip about to play: “Forty years in football and I think I’ve just made my biggest mistake.” And obviously Harry.

 
Best ever player?
Since I’ve been watching football Pele, Maradona and Best, with Cruyff just behind. Messi and Ronaldo are pretty special, though. I liked Le Tissier, too. He mainly scored spectacular goals, didn’t he?

Best ever teams (club and international)?
Brazil 1970, Barcelona (take your pick), Ajax of the mid-70’s, Milan in the early 90’s, Liverpool in the late 70’s.

Best pre-match grub?
In the old days it used to be, of all places, Luton Town. Now hard to beat Chelsea.

Best meal had on your travels?
So many top meals with, er, “football contacts.” Can’t single one out although the Court of Ian Woodlridge was always special.

…and the worst?
Elephant backside in South Africa. It was, er, tough. When I asked if elephants were allowed to be cooked the waiter told me: “If it’s died from disease.”

Best hotel stayed in?
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

…and the worst?
The place I originally stayed in Sardinia for the 1990 World Cup. There were chickens running down the corridors and the hotel manager was Italy’s version of “Manuel” from Fawlty Towers.

Do you have a hobby?
If only I had the luxury of time. Play guitar a bit and climb the odd mountain.

Favourite football writer?
I was brought up on Brian Glanville and David Lacey. My much missed buddy Joe Melling wasn’t best known for his writing, but his ability to break stories was second to none. Nowadays Henry Winter’s very good, as are The Times’s Oliver Kay and Oliver Holt of the Daily Mirror, but our business is fortunate to have many, many fine football writers.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
In football? I used to like Coleman’s “1-0,” and Barry Davies’s musings. These days? Jonathan Pearce has really grown on me. He used to blast my ears off when commentating for Capital if I sat in front of him in a press box many moons ago, but now he is a fine and subtle commentator.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
I’d try and get a few more writers and players functions going. Maybe it’s naive to think we can all go back. The business of football has changed so much, but we all recall with fondness the days when we could have a drink with a player and share a few things. Players really should be taught a little about the media works, too. If they understood it more it would only help them.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
I’ve been very lucky and experienced just about everything. Inside football – I’m cheating – it’s England winning the World Cup. Outside? After England winning the rugby world cup and so many Ashes series,  the London Olympics, Wiggins winning the TDF and Murray winning Wimbledon there’s very little else to see.

Favourite non-football sportsman/sports woman?
Steve Redgrave. The most impressive will and spirit in sport. Overcame every obstacle thrown at him to become Britain’s greatest Olympian – yes, still! And Australian athlete Cathy Freeman. Amazing woman who told me I played guitar having met me for 5 seconds. I asked how she knew and she pointed out the hardness of skin on the tips of my fingers! Won 400m gold with the eyes of a nation on her and did so much for the indigenous people.

Last book read?
Into Thin Air – a gripping account of the 1996 Everest disaster. Brilliant and traumatic read.

Favourite current TV programme?
Mock the Week, Homeland.

TV show you always switch off?
Soaps. Jeremy Kyle.

If you could bring one TV series back which would it be?
The best leave you wanting more – I’d love a full on Superstars with all the top stars involved, but Kevin Keegan falling off his bike put paid to that.

Favourite comedian?
Really like MIlton Jones from today. In the past? The mush missed Eric Morecambe.

What really, really annoys you?
Headlines that do not reflect the story; young sports stars wanting money before they open their mouths; people walking slowly in front of you on a street with their head in a mobile phone; people shouting down their phones in a train’s “Quiet Zone;” TV blaming the press for stories they cover with just as much zeal. I could go on…

Your most prized football memorabilia?
My Flamengo shirt I wore in a training match in Rio de Janeiro where my striking (surely strike? – Ed) partner was Romario, and my Everton jersey I wore against Manchester City. I wouldn’t sell them for anything because memories are priceless.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
You need to be multi-media. And you must never see it as a job, but a passion.

WHY CAN TODAY’S STARS NOT PLAY AS MANY GAMES AS YESTERDAY’S HEROES?

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DID THEY breed them tougher in the old days? Are current footballers pampered? Have managers taken rotation to an unnecessary level?

Yes, the game is faster now, yes, players are stronger while there is a perception among managers that they must rotate for domestic cups and even European competitions to keep their top stars fresh for the Barclays Premier League, even though for most clubs the Capital One Cup and FA Cup represent their only realistic chance of silverware.

But why could players of yesteryear play week-in, week-out with managers choosing virtually the same starting XI for each game? Were they so tough they were immune to injury? Did Bobby Charlton and others never feel tired or stale and need a rest? Did they never lose form?

For reasons which come under the “should-get-out-more” category, I discovered that Manchester United’s participation in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup of 1964/65 was remarkable for the fact that in their 11 ties, they used only 12 players. In their 11 European games between September and mid-June – yes June – Matt Busby used the same starting XI in 10 of their 11 ties: Pat Dunne, Shay Brennan, Bill Foulkes, Nobby Stiles, Tony Dunne, John Connelly, Pat Crerand, Bobby Charlton, David Herd, Denis Law and George Best. The exception was for their first match against Djurgardens IF in Stockholm when Maurice Setters played instead of Law. After that, in the modern parlance, it was cut and paste.

In these days of rotation, not to mention suspensions and injuries, such consistency of selection would be unthinkable. Three consecutive unchanged starting XI’s is a rarity at the highest level in 2013. In fact, at most levels.

United played 60 games in all competitions that season with Tony Dunne, Brennan, Foulkes and Connelly ever-presents; Best, Charlton and Stiles each missed one game; Crerand (57), Pat Dunne (55), Herd (55) and Law (52) completed the 50-plus brigade. It meant Matt Busby chose virtually the same team for every Football League game (there were 42), every FA Cup tie and every European tie. And remember, there were no substitutes so players used to play the full 90 minutes, unless significantly injured. David Meek would have been correct with 99 per cent of his predictions for United’s team in the Manchester Evening News.

Their first game was against West Bromwich Albion on August 22, their last was an Inter Cities Fair Cup semi-finals playoff against  Ferencváros in Budapest on June 16. United had won the first-leg 3-2, losing the away tie in Hungary 1-0; 3-3 on aggregate, but there was no away-goals ruling them so a third game to determine the winner was needed – 10 days after the second leg in Budapest as the Reds lost the toss for home advantage.  Ferencváros won 1-0.

While in no way understating Busby’s qualities as a manager, he did not have the selection dilemmas his successors do. These days, to formulate his side (plus substitutes) a manager will use his experience and knowledge having seen the opponents regularly on television, consult with his coaches and study statistics of just about every aspect of the opposition before deciding on his team and tactics.

For Busby, there were no CD’s to watch, there was no live league football on TV or a database of stats to plough through, just a hand-written scouting report. It was a case of: this is my team – try to beat it. Which proved very difficult – in 1964/65 United won the old Football League first division title and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, the forerunner to what is now the Europa League

Back then, tiredness did not appear to be in football’s vocabulary, despite European travel that meant changing flights, long train journeys and occasionally not returning to England until the Friday, perhaps even less than 24 hours before a league game. The days of charter flights were still in their infancy. A trip to the old Soviet Union could mean flying to Moscow and then, after the obligatory delay at immigration, enduring an eight-hour train journey where other the passengers could include chickens or goats. Maybe both.

Yet players went out, played in every game, managed to avoid injury and remained fresh throughout the 10-month season. No moaning about the fixture list or playing on successive days over Christmas. And medical care was in its infancy compared to today. The physio was a guy with a dreaded cold sponge (and how it seemed to work). Treatment for many injuries was little more than a massage, perhaps with a heated lamp.

Jimmy Greaves tells the story of needing a muscle strain treated and was asked to come back later as the physio was “busy with someone else.” It transpired the physio was treating his greyhound who was running the following day. The dog was on the physio table receiving the same treatment as Greaves was to undergo.

Last season, no United player started all 38 games in the Barclays Premier League. Robin van Persie was selected for the most matches – 35, with Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick joint-second with 34. In all competitions Carrick and Evra chalked up the most starts – 42 out of a possible 54.

On a most-games-started basis, United’s team was (club/internationals): De Gea (41*/46) – Rafael/27*/27), Ferdinand (31/31), Evans (28/33), Evra (42/46) – Valencia (29/36), Carrick (42/47), Cleverley (28*/35), Kagawa (22/25) – van Persie (40/45), Rooney (31*/38) *includes one appearance in the League Cup which Busby’s team did not play in.

Compare that to Busby’s “Duracells”: P. Dunne (55/56), Brennan (60/60), Foulkes (60/60), Stiles (59/63), T. Dunne (60/62), Connelly (60/63), Crerand (57/57), Charlton (59/62), Herd (55/55), Law (52/58), Best (59/66).

The overall totals of Ferguson’s last United season were boosted by substitute appearances which were not possible in 1964/65. The most used sub was Valencia who came on 11 times for an average of 22 minutes.

True, there were fewer midweek games in 1964/65 with no League Cup, but against that Busby’s team played four more league matches than Sir Alex Ferguson’s side did last season. And 50 years ago the pitches were far more strength-sapping, some resembling ploughed fields and a far cry from the bowling greens today’s sides enjoy. Van Persie and company also have far more protection from referees than their predecessors. Having your name taken was unusual while a sending-off was even more of a rarity. In the Sixties defenders  had a license to kick, though they had to get close enough to Best in the first place.

Comparing different eras is always a tricky exercise, but it is difficult to escape the feeling that the stars of yesteryear were made of sterner stuff. Maybe it was the steak and chips before matches that did it.

FWA SPOTLIGHT: Qatar 2022

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SO WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO THE INCREDIBLY OIL-RICH, POWERFUL QATAR IN THE FIRST PLACE?

AT THEIR two-day meeting in Zurich on October 3/4, FIFA’s executive committee will make the decision to change the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from summer to winter. It is item 25 on the agenda: “2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar: period of the competition.”

FIFA were warned about the dangers of the searing summer heat in Qatar before votes were cast, but in December 2010 the exco still voted in favour of Qatar, who beat the United States 14-8 in the final round of voting. The 2022 World Cup will either be held in January of that year or in November/December. Whenever it is played, there will be widespread disruption to most European leagues with around 15 fixture postponements for Premier League clubs.

Christopher Davies spoke to Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter for the Press Association, about the exco meeting.

WHY DID THE FIFA EXCO VOTE FOR QATAR IN THE FIRST PLACE?
The majority of them voted for it with a combination of football political alliances and self interest. Spain’s FIFA member and the South Americans all voted for Qatar in a sort of quid pro quo with the Asians voting for Spain/Portugal for 2018. Nobody denied that was happening.  If you believe Michel Platini, he did it because he thinks the World Cup should go to the Middle East as it has never been staged there. Other people did it for, let’s say non-football reasons.

SO HOW DID QATAR WIN?
There is a famous line from Mrs Merton: “So what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?” For Qatar it could be: “So what first attracted you to the incredibly oil-rich, powerful Qatar in the first place?” For example, Qatar had picked up the bill totalling millions of dollars for hosting the African Confederation Congress in Angola. That was deemed to be fair play [in the bidding process].

SEPP BLATTER WANTS THE WORLD CUP MOVED FROM SUMMER TO WINTER. IS THERE ANY CHANCE HE WON’T GET HIS WAY?
No. All 54 national associations in UEFA agreed it could not be played during the summer. So it will either be switched to winter or it gets moved from Qatar and no one close to FIFA thinks for a second that will happen.

THE REASON FOR THE PENDING CHANGE – THE HIGH TEMPERATURES – WERE APPARENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE…
FIFA have got themselves into all sorts of difficulties about this. Blatter probably never envisaged Qatar was going to win.

ONLY AROUND HALF OF THE CURRENT EXCO WHO WILL VOTE ON THIS WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL 2010 PANEL. SOME HAVE DEPARTED IN CONTROVERSIAL CIRCUMSTANCES…
I still think a lot who remain would still vote for Qatar, so if there was a re-vote they’d still win.

FEW PEOPLE HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH RUSSIA WINNING THE VOTE FOR 2018…
Russia are the last big football country in Europe never to have staged the World Cup.  They also have a very powerful president [Vladimir Putin] who knows how to play the game. FIFA saw how much money they had committed to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and Putin will ensure the money is there is needed [for 2018].

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE CONCEPT OF ROTATING THE WORLD CUP BETWEEN THE CONTINENTS?
To an extent but when it went to South America in 2014 Brazil were the only candidates. No other country came forward so in this respect there is no competition. I don’t think it should be strict rotation, it should be Europe, where club football is focused, every third World Cup.

GOING BACK TO THE EXCO MEETING, WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE?
Blatter will tell the committee that their medical chief thinks the 2022 World Cup should be moved from summer because of the risk to fans. They won’t decide exactly when it will be – November or January – but the committee will be asked to vote in principle for a winter World Cup. Possibly the only dissenting voice will be Sunil Gulati of the USA who thinks it is too early to make such a decision even in principle. Gulati is in a difficult position as he was the leader of the Americans’ rival bid for 2022

WHILE BLATTER IS CORRECT TO SAY FOOTBALL DOESN’T EXIST JUST IN EUROPE, IT THE FINANCIAL POWER OF WORLD FOOTBALL AND A SWITCH TO WINTER WILL CAUSE CHAOS FOR MOST EUROPEAN LEAGUES…
It will cause problems in England especially. In countries where there is a winter break it will cause less disruption. That’s why there hasn’t been quite the same opposition as there has been from the Premier League.

GERMANY HAVE A WINTER BREAK STARTING AROUND THE SECOND WEEKEND IN DECEMBER, WITH A NOVEMBER WORLD CUP IT WOULD IN EFFECT MEANS A BREAK OF THREE MONTHS IN THE BUNDESLIGA…
Most of the Europeans want in to be in January. That would cause a problem with the Winter Olympics so FIFA would have to ensure the World Cup is over before the Games started.There is a view that the 2022 World Cup could be played in April/May but that would affect Cup finals, Champions League finals and so forth.

THERE MUST BE A TWO-WEEK BREAK FROM THE END OF DOMESTIC FOOTBALL AND THE START OF THE WORLD CUP. WHERE WOULD TEAMS PLAY WARM-UP GAMES FOR A JANUARY WORLD CUP?
That is one reason why FIFA won’t make a definite timescale decision yet, though they will want to get it sorted before the World Cup next year. Jerome Valcke, the FIFA general secretary, will get together with people such as Richard Scudamore and heads of national associations to discuss the best way round the switch.

THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE WILL NOT BE AFFECTED, BUT WHAT WILL PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS DO DURING WHAT WILL AMOUNTS TO A SIX- OR SEVEN-WEEK BREAK IN DOMESTIC FOOTBALL?
Good question. This is something else for the agenda.

FIFA WILL EVENTUALLY SAY THE 2022 WILL BE PLAYED FROM THIS DATE UNTIL THIS DATE. THEN NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WILL SOMEHOW HAVE TO STRETCH OR CRAM IN THEIR DOMESTIC PROGRAMME AROUND THE WORLD CUP…
FIFA have influence over the international calendar so they can scrap dates for friendlies.  The FA may have to scrap FA Cup replays for a season, everyone will have to give something. Clubs will probably have to play from June through to July

WILL FIFA GIVE UP THEIR CLUB WORLD CUP WHICH IS HELD IN DECEMBER?
They may have to for one year.

BLATTER WANTS THE VOTING PROCESS FOR FUTURE WORLD CUPS TO BE CHANGED, THE DECISION BEING MADE BY THE 200-PLUS FIFA NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS RATHER THAN THE 24-MEMBER EXCO…
Will that be a good thing? I’m not convinced. In some ways it may be better, in others it may be more challenging. The whole bidding process…who votes, the rules, everything…needs looking at. What has happened with the 2018 and 2022 bids can never happen again.