It may look petty, but this online antagonism shows that many football clubs have become relatively savvy online operators after their faltering first steps a decade agoIf you, like many people right now, are yearning for common courtesy, a sense of civility in these stricken times, a balm that might heal the nation’s wounds, then a word to the wise: don’t start with the official Leeds United Twitter account.Leeds were knocked out of the Championship play-offs by Derby County a fortnight ago. Turned over 4-2 in their own backyard no less. You might have thought a period of humility and introspection would follow. Not so. Whoever runs the Leeds account has instead seen fit to use the time to cultivate...
A top conductor gets the best out of his players and can turn a good performance from an orchestra into a great oneJosé Mourinho prowls the touchline at Old Trafford. Skulking, swearing, coat fully zipped against the dirtiest weather Manchester can throw at him, he glares at the pitch. Arms raised in shrugging disbelief, shoulders high, kissing his ears, then suddenly outwards, pointing with purpose, finally thrust deep into his pockets in high dudgeon. What do the players think? Do they care? For all the histrionics, he is essentially helpless, a puppeteer whose strings have been cut for 90 minutes, his one power the threat of substitution.Not far away, at the Bridgewater Hall, Omer Meir Wellber stands in front of...
Sade’s 1984 soul hit has proved a suitable soundtrack to Manchester City’s sexy football under their Spanish managerFew people know the secrets behind Pep Guardiola’s managerial success as well as Domènec Torrent, who worked as the Spaniard’s assistant at Barcelona B, with the Catalan club’s first team, at Bayern Munich and finally at Manchester City before, after 11 years, leaving his mentor’s side this summer to take over at New York City. This week Torrent offered a glimpse inside Guardiola’s tactical bunker.“Pep loves music in general and I am the same,” he said. “When we worked in the office we always had music on. Not rock music. Just something relaxing, maybe Sade.” Related: Sadio Mané's stoppage-time winner lifts Liverpool over Manchester...