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GOAL accompanied the Red Devils' travelling supporters to Wolves and Aston Villa to get inside the mind of those who follow the team all over the UK

It’s 4.30pm in the centre of Manchester and most of the city dwellers are leaving work and heading home. But on the corner of Chorlton Street, scores of men are waiting for a bus to take them not home, but to Wolverhampton to see Manchester United play.

The coach is operated by the fanzine United We Stand, but to the regulars it is known as the 'Monkey Bus'. And it has been ferrying fans to matches since 1991: it stops at every domestic away match (apart from Manchester City) and the occasional European trip, most notably a 24-hour each way voyage to the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona.

The majority of passengers live in Manchester, but John Fitzgibbon is from Ireland. His journey to Molineux began at six in the morning, when he boarded a flight from Cork to Manchester, before checking into a hotel near the bus station and passing the time in a snooker hall. He, like a handful of others on the bus who were lucky enough to get tickets, had been to south Wales just four days previously to see United play Newport County in the FA Cup.

John has been following United from Ireland with his dad since he was a child, but did not go on an away trip until 2018, to see United play Tottenham at Wembley. He had a six-hour coach journey each way, without stops, and the game could hardly have got off to a worse start as Christian Eriksen gave Spurs the lead in the first minute. Phil Jones then scored an own goal as the game ended 2-0.

It was the type of experience that would make many people think twice about doing it again, but Fitzgibbons has been hooked ever since. He goes to about 10 away games per season, plus the majority of European away matches. He also has a season ticket at Old Trafford and has to be super-organised and book flights from Cork as soon as kick-off times are confirmed. Delays in booking can see matchday prices soar from £20 to £200. Late kick-offs mean he often has to stay over, too.

Asked how much he spends following United per season, he estimates between £5,000 and £10,000. “I keep meaning to do a spreadsheet but I don’t want to truly think about how much it costs me,” he says. Would the cost ever make him stop doing it? He shakes his head.

• Twelve-hour journey back from Arsenal

  The coach picks up more passengers outside Manchester Airport. Hearing that the coach was in traffic, some of those waiting took the opportunity to have a swift pint before climbing aboard.

  Among them is Steve Black, who has been running the coach since 1996, and his two sons. He goes down the bus greeting each passenger and asking them about how they are faring with away tickets, which are notoriously hard to get hold of.

  Just to apply you need to have had a United season ticket for at least three years, and then you have roughly a one-in-four chance of getting an away ticket, unless you are part of the loyalty pot.

  Black, who has been writing a feature on every match in United We Stand since the 1990s, seldom misses a game. Very occasionally, however, life gets in the way. He missed Portsmouth away in 2006 when his father died and “the odd game” around the time his first son was born.

  There is a core group of the same 30 or so faces each week and a revolving cast of another 20 who go when they can get tickets. Whenever something goes wrong, it falls on Black to sort it out. Such as when, after United were beaten at Arsenal in January 2023, the bus hit a bollard and needed a new tyre.

  "Seven hours later, we were still 50 yards from the ground," he remembers. "But we found a pub and half the people got wasted in the Wetherspoons and had a fantastic time!" They eventually got back to Manchester at 5am, over 12 hours after the game had kicked-off.

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  'Ridiculous experiences'

  Black often feels like a school teacher looking after unruly pupils, but he stresses: “We’ve had some good adventures, some ridiculous experiences.”

  On the way back from Chelsea one year, a group at the back of the bus “decided to get the emergency hammer and play dare with the back window”. Somewhat predictably, the window smashed. At least one of those involved offered to pay for the damage.

  Then are the surreal moments, such as when after an FA Cup tie at Exeter City, a home fan got on board the bus to "berate" the passengers. He would end up regretting jumping aboard, as the doors quickly locked behind him and he was driven all the way to Manchester, some 240 miles up the road. “He just accepted it in the end,” says Black.

  Another time, there was an unknown man standing on Chorlton Street just before the bus was about to leave for Sunderland. He had had a drink or two, to put it mildly, and was taken under the supporters’ wing.

  Black recalls: “He couldn’t speak. We took him straight on the bus and we got him in the game. He had a great day with us and we dropped him back in Chorlton Street afterwards. Still to this day no one knows whether he was a United fan. No one had a clue.”

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  Broken tooth after Aguero strikes

  What about the worst days? “Liverpool last year was hard,” admits Black when recalling the 7-0 loss at Anfield. And then there was the time that Manchester City won their first Premier League title while United were away at Sunderland.

  For a few minutes, the fans and Sir Alex Ferguson thought United had won the league, but then news of Sergio Aguero's 93rd-minute winner against Queens Park Rangers began to filter through. It was a particularly bad day for one Monkey Bus regularm who was due to get married the following week and had his front tooth knocked out after a gloating Sunderland fan had thrown a coin at the United contingent leaving the ground.

  “He kept saying ‘I’m getting married next week, what am I gonna do?’ As if what happened wasn’t bad enough, he got a broken tooth the week before his wedding," Black says.

  But win, lose or draw, the camaraderie is what gets people coming back. “The beauty of it is everyone on here gets each other,” Black adds. “You can go down to Brighton and lose and it’s sh*t, but by the time you’ve hit the motorway and half an hour’s gone, people are up and dancing in the aisles. It’s our Saturday night out.”

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  Dismayed with Rashford's antics

  As the bus gathers pace down the motorway towards Molineux, attention turns to the match at Wolves, who have proven tough opponents for United in recent years. But the main talking point is the recent activities of Marcus Rashford, who has been in the headlines for missing training the week before after his tequila-fuelled binge in Belfast at the infamous Thompson’s Garage.

  The fact Rashford is a local lad from Wythenshawe and has been with United since he was a child does not protect him from the ire of the fans. “What’s he doing going to Belfast? I could understand if it was somewhere more like Dubai or New York,” says one. "But do you not respect the fact he went to a local dive rather than a VIP venue?” Apparently not.

  “I’d respect him far more if he’d said ‘I can’t be ars*d this week so you can keep my £350,000.’ But I don’t see him doing that.” Another joins the conversation: “When we have an early kick-off and we have to get the coach at 6am, we go to bed early the night before. Why can’t he?”

  This is the mentality of the hardcore fans, who sacrifice so much to follow the team over land and sea. They are worlds apart from the millions who weigh in on social media and call for the manager to be sacked after a couple of defeats.

  And yet, the match-going fans can also be fickle. Rashford goes straight back into the starting line-up against Wolves and inevitably gives United the lead with a classy finish. “Rashford’s on the p*ss” is promptly heard from the away end.

The Belgian's all-too-brief Stamford Bridge career is just one of many dire examples of clubs underappreciating potential stars

Have Manchester City made a massive mistake selling Cole Palmer to Chelsea? Pep Guardiola's side is so strong that maybe it doesn't even matter. But Chelsea will certainly think they've pulled off a long overdue transfer market masterstroke, given how well Palmer is performing since swapping the Etihad Stadium for Stamford Bridge during the summer.

Indeed, the Blues have become synonymous with letting players go too soon – and one of them will be lining up against them on Saturday, with Kevin De Bruyne back at his brilliant best for City after his recent injury lay-off.

Giving up on the Belgian was obviously a colossal mistake on Chelsea's part, but where does the Belgian's exit rank among the worst sales in Premier League history? GOAL runs through its list of undervalued and underappreciated players who were sold too soon, for too little – or both!

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  10Carlos Tevez (Man City to Juventus)

  One can understand why Manchester City wanted rid of Carlos Tevez. The Argentine had caused uproar by allegedly refusing to come on as a substitute in a Champions League game at Bayern Munich – Tevez insisted he had merely misunderstood manager Roberto Mancini's instructions – while he was still carrying out community service for driving without a licence when eventually sold to Juventus in 2013.

  However, this ranks as a massive mistake, because even though City were looking to save some money in terms of wages and bonuses, the £12m ($15m) fee was ludicrously low for a forward of such considerable talent who still had plenty left in the tank.

  Indeed, Tevez was a revelation in Turin, the prolific striker that Antonio Conte had long been craving helped Juventus re-establish themselves as a major European force by reaching the Champions League final in 2015.

  He left that summer, to return to his beloved Boca Juniors, but did so as one of the finest No.10s in the Bianconeri's history. As veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini enthused, "Carlos is a world-class champion!"

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  9David Beckham (Man Utd to Real Madrid)

  It's no secret that Sir Alex Ferguson never approved of David Beckham's high-profile relationship with Victoria 'Posh Spice' Adams. The former Manchester United manager has even stated that the ex-England international "was never a problem until he got married".

  Ferguson argued that Beckham became more of a celebrity than a footballer, and that his performances on the pitch suffered as a result. Beckham strongly disagreed, and the growing tension between the pair culminated in a bitter fallout after Ferguson accidentally struck the player in the face with a football boot during a furious post-match ran on February 15, 2003.

  Just four months later, United agreed to sell Beckham to Real Madrid for €37 million (£31m/$40m). Los Blancos marketing director Jose Angel Sanchez couldn't believe the fee, describing it as "peanuts" for one of the most talented and famous footballers on the planet.

  Beckham says his leaving Old Trafford may have been for the best, given his subsequent success playing overseas, but he admitted again in a recent documentary that his dream all along had been to spend his entire career at United.

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  8Xabi Alonso (Liverpool to Real Madrid)

  Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez made no secret of his desire to sign Gareth Barry during the summer of 2008. "If we can do it before the end of the transfer window, we will continue to try," the Spaniard said. "We will always continue to improve our squad." Quite why Benitez felt that selling Xabi Alonso to bring in Barry would actually improve his squad remains a mystery, given the Spaniard was in a different league to the Englishman.

  What we do know is that Alonso was bitterly upset by being used as a pawn in such a bizarre move. "I prefer not to think too much about how I was treated," the midfielder told after refusing to leave Anfield. "It was a new situation for me, something I had never experienced before… It is not always easy to detach yourself from things like that, but I accept it is part of football and the main thing is it was all resolved and I am now playing regularly. I was really pleased that I was able to continue my Liverpool career."

  However, a clearly still annoyed Alonso handed in a transfer request the following summer and left for Real Madrid, leaving Steven Gerrard "devastated" and Benitez looking like a fool for upsetting a key player in the club's 2005 Champions League triumph.

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  7Serge Gnabry (Arsenal to Werder Bremen)

  Tony Pulis has admitted that he's tired of being singled out as the coach who failed to realise Serge Gnabry's potential during the winger's six-month spell at West Brom during the 2015-16 season. "I always get this thrown at me," he told the podcast, "and he's done fantastically well since, so you have to hold your hands up, but at the time he was nowhere near it.

  "What people forget is that we had him on loan, Arsenal were his mother club, and Arsene Wenger was his manager and he sold him to Werder Bremen for £7 million ($9m). Wenger had him right from 14 all the way through, I only had him for a couple of months."

  It's a fair point. It's clear that somebody messed up at Arsenal, but Wenger has insisted that he actually wanted to keep Gnabry, telling that he was "very sad" when the player decided to leave in pursuit of regular first-team football because he knew the versatile attacker would have "a great career".

  It has certainly turned out that way, with Gnabry doing so well at Bremen that he earned a move to Bayern Munich after just one season, and subsequently scored 23 goals in all competitions during a 2019-20 campaign that ended with the Bavarians winning a treble.

Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce could sign the club’s best striker since Alan Shearer in Villareal sensation Gerard Moreno.

What’s the story?

According to Italian publication Calciomercato, the Magpies are one of the Premier League sides interested in signing the Spaniard this summer, with West Ham and AS Roma also said to be monitoring his situation.

The best since Alan Shearer

Unless you were watching La Liga football week-in and week-out, then the only real moments you would have seen of Moreno’s undoubted quality is in the Europa League’s closing stages, when he shone against Arsenal and then netted in the final against Manchester United.

The Spain international bagged seven goals and provided another four assists to fire his side to the trophy, and his performances in the competition were equally reflected in the league too – in total, he scored 30 times last season and also set up another 11.

And that ability to bring his fellow teammates into play make him the kind of all-round striker that could actually work in tandem with Callum Wilson, and not potentially replace him.

Speaking to La Liga Lowdown, Geoff Gillingham said: “Early on, he was in and out of the team, but under Quique, he became more like a 9.5 – like Karim Benzema, and it allowed him to become our goalscorer, but also our playmaker.”

Meanwhile, Villarreal president Fernando Roig hailed him as “perfect” and “capable” of adapting to different conditions, which should bode well for his chances of acclimatising to the Premier League and English football in general.

The 29-year-old has been a prolific goal-scorer for a number of seasons now, breaching the ten-goal mark for the past five years, including netting 50 in the past two campaigns alone.

While the likes of Demba Ba and Callum Wilson have had their success on Tyneside, Moreno would arrive at St James’ Park as a Europa League winner and someone proven on the biggest stage, just like Shearer was when he won the Premier League title with Blackburn before his move to the Magpies.

And, neither Ba or Wilson ever got anywhere near breaking the 30-goal barrier in their careers like Moreno just did last season, and that’s a real testament to the consistency with which the Spaniard played.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/newcastle-united-steve-bruce-premier-league-magpies-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-st-james-park-mike-ashley-takeover-pif” title=”Read the latest Newcastle transfer rumours and news!”]

Moreno is as clinical as they come, as well as being a supreme creator of goals himself. It’s what makes him Newcastle’s best potential striker since Big Al.

Meanwhile, Mike Ashley must sanction a £20m swoop for this “explosive” star…

Manchester United are weighing up a January move for Bayer Leverkusen’s £20m-rated defender Jonathan Tah with Newcastle United interested.

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• Man Utd want Jonathan Tah
• Newcastle and West Ham also interested
• Defender rated at £20m

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  After losing many defenders to injuries throughout the season, Erik ten Hag is searching for defensive reinforcements. Manchester United may face competition too, as West Ham and Newcastle United are just two of the European teams who have been attracted to the Germany international after his spectacular start to the season. Tah is valued at £20 million (€22m/$24m) according to but considering the demand for a player in his prime, Leverkusen should definitely anticipate receiving a higher offer if they decide to let him leave.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tah has been a standout player in Leverkusen's stellar start to the season, which has seen them lead the Bundesliga. Tah's loss would be incredibly disappointing for Xabi Alonso's team, who also enjoy an undefeated record in the Europa League. This season, the imposing defender has already scored four goals and missed only one game across all competitions. There are little over 18 months left on the 6'5" centre-back's deal, so the German team may feel pressured to cash in if major bids come in January.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  After joining Leverkusen in 2015, the 27-year-old has made over 300 appearances for the team and has earned 19 caps for Germany since making his debut there in 2016.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TAH?

  Tah is currently with the German national team as they look to take on Turkey and Austria before he rejoins Xabi Alonso's side for their clash against Werder Bremen on November 25.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not setting long-term “targets” any more, with the all-time great reluctant to speculate on whether he will play into his 40s.

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• Legendary forward still going strong
• No slowing down at the age of 38
• Enjoying football with club & country

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Given that he is already 38 years of age and showing no sign of slowing down, the likelihood is that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will still be turning out at the highest level when another notable birthday is reached.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  He has continued to star for Saudi Arabian employers Al-Nassr this season, while he is up to 125 goals for Portugal after helping to fire them to Euro 2024 qualification. As long as he can steer clear of injury, Ronaldo should still be going strong in 2025 and beyond.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Ronaldo has told reporters when asked about his future plans: “Things have happened in my life, both on a personal and professional level, that make me think more in the short term nowadays. People say I’m going to play on until I’m 40 or 41 years old. I don’t set these targets. It’s a question of just enjoying the moment, which is a good moment. I feel good. My body is responding to how I’ve treated it over the years. I’m happy both at my club and in the Selecao. I’ve scored plenty of goals, I feel in good shape physically. It’s a question of enjoying the moment.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Ronaldo is reportedly keen on figuring for his country at the 2026 World Cup, which would see his career extended to at least 41 years of age, and his ability to keep himself in peak condition – while forever striving for continuous improvement – suggests that it will be some time before the most distinguished of boots are hung up for good.

The Spanish midfielder has become a polarising presence in Spain, but could be vital for the Catalan club this season

Gavi's second yellow card against Porto in the Champions League was a silly thing. Barcelona were defending a 1-0 lead, and had 10 men behind the ball when the Spaniard was evaded by a Porto player. Gavi couldn't help himself, though. He grabbed his opponent's shirt as he ran past — barely slowing him down.

Still, it was enough for Gavi, already on a yellow card, to be given his marching orders. Improbably, it was just the second sending off of the Barcelona teenager's career.

That comes as a surprise based on the reputation that he has built up. Gavi is a polarising figure among football fans. First pegged as the heir to Xavi in Barcelon's midfield, one of La Masia's latest midfield products has become something else.

He is not as technical nor graceful as his now manager. Instead, for Barcelona supporters, he is the all-action midfielder that Xavi needs — a relentless pest off the ball, who can pick a deadly pass or produce a moment of magic when he has it. For others, he's an overrated menace, a cheat, a player reckless to the point of danger.

But which is the real Gavi? Or is he some of both? For his manager, he might just be the perfect blend, the kind of midfielder he loves to have, and knows other teams hate.

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  Origins in the Barca team

  This debate didn't really exist in the early goings of his Barca career. Like many from La Masia, Gavi was chucked into the first team during Barca's dark days, called up by Ronald Koeman in the season after Lionel Messi embarked on his unsuccessful Parisian journey.

  The arrival was a long time coming for the then-17-year-old. He had joined Barca's academy at just 11, and routinely played four years ahead of his age group. And after watching Ansu Fati graduate into the Barca side before him, Gavi seemed primed to be next.

  So, he became a regular for a struggling side. By the October international break in 2021, Barcelona were ninth in La Liga, five points behind Real Madrid, and bottom of their Champions League group without a single point to their name. Koeman admitted at the time that Gavi was pretty much the only good thing about the Blaugrana's season.

  “He’s shown, despite his age, that he knows how to play,” Koeman said in a press conference before Barca's 3-1 win over Valencia.

  Spain manager Luis Enrique agreed. He thrust Gavi straight into his starting line-up for the Nations League semi-final on October 6, handing him the No.9 shirt, and deploying him in a midfield that also included Sergio Busquets and Koke. Gavi played 83 minutes, and La Roja won, 2-1. He started again four days later in the final — playing 74 minutes in a loss to France.

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• Spain's starboy

  Soon, like many Spanish youngsters, Gavi captured the attention of the global footballing world. Here was another young midfielder, a technical kid from the same academy that produced Xavi and Iniesta. Luis Enrique did little to temper expectations. The manager made Gavi the youngest Spain debutant ever, and prasied his showing after.

  "He plays like he does at school or in the garden of his house, and it is a pleasure to have a player of this quality and personality," Luis Enrique said in October 2021.

  The midfielder barely missed a game from there. Although Barca continued to struggle, eventually sacking Koeman before Christmas, Gavi remained in the side. He started 44 of a possible 57 games for club and country in the 2021-22 season, playing all over the midfield for a struggling Barca side. Still, he offered hope in the middle with the emerging Pedri, the duo hastily labled as 'the next Xavi and Iniesta' to lead Barcelona to a new era of success.

  By the following summer, he was regarded as one of Europe's brightest talents. Luis Enrique claimed he was "an erupting volcano". It all culminated in the Golden Boy award, handed to the Spanish midfielder ahead of Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala in November 2022. The rise, it seemed, was complete.

• What he gets away with

  But Gavi wasn't necessarily a universal favourite. While the rest of his Golden Boy competitors were master craftsmen on the ball, made for highlight reels and marketing deals, Gavi preferred other areas. Indeed, the teenager has fostered something of a nasty streak.

  He may have worn the No.9 shirt for Spain, but this was not a goal-scoring striker, or even an attacking midfielder. Instead, Gavi was useful because he was willing to do the other bits. He would fly into tackles, scrap with opponents, and routinely do anything — legal or otherwise — to win the ball. In his Spain debut alone, Gavi completed the most duels on the pitch.

  That tendency has continued. During the 2022 World Cup, Gavi embarked on a solo effort to chop at Germany's midfield, clattering Musiala, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich. He followed that with a series of reckless tackles against Villarreal, and countless off-ball shoves and shirt grabs. But for all of the negative headlines and complaints to the media, it proved to be immensely effective. Barca needed bite in their midfield, and Gavi provided it.

  And, of course, for Barca fans, all of his bumps, bruises, and misdeeds fall within the confines of the rules. Indeed, Gavi is another player who pushes the boundaries of what, exactly, he can get away with. They will point to the fact that he was willing to tackle with his head to stop a breakaway against Athletic Club, or his relentlessness in duels against Toni Kroos in the Spanish Super Cup final. This is not Iniesta or Xavi. This is Sergio Ramos, or Pepe, shrunken and deployed as a centre-midfielder.

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  A pain for Madridistas

  Unsurprisingly, the biggest detractors of Gavi are Madrid fans. Madrisistas, of course, need little encouragement to dislike a Barca player — such is the rivalry between the clubs.

  But Gavi gave them extra fuel. In a Clasico in January 2023, Dani Ceballos pulled Gavi's hair, and dragged him down in a duel shortly after — leading to an exchange of words and shoving match.

  Things came to a head the next time the two teams met, when Gavi barged Ceballos over, despite neither player being anywhere near the ball. Gavi spent the rest of the game flying into tackles, and probably should have been sent off for a number of yellow card offences. Inexplicably, he ended the game without receiving a booking.

  It was a contest latched onto by the pro-Madrid media, who dubbed Barca's teenager a "thug", and claimed he was a footballer who did little more than bend the rules. His quality on the ball was overblown, and that Golden Boy award, they claimed, was undeserved.

  Xavi, in turn, launched a stern defence of his player, addressing the complaints against him. "I guess the problem is that he is a Barca player. If he was from another team, the problem would be a virtue. He has a very promising and extraordinary career ahead of him. He is one of the best players in Spain and one of the best midfielders in the world right now," he said in March 2023.

Gerry Cardinale & Co. provoked panic at San Siro by firing Paolo Maldini and selling Sandro Tonali, and a derby defeat has only heightened the tension

On June 6, AC Milan announced that club legend Paolo Maldini had been relieved of his duties as technical director in a 67-word statement. The news – and the manner of its delivery – sent shockwaves throughout Europe. Carlo Ancelotti was aghast.

“I learned at Real Madrid that the history of a club must always be respected," the former Milan midfielder and coach told . "Here, Di Stefano, Amancio, Gento, Puskas are still exclusive values towards which we have reverence. To preserve history at the highest levels, the memory of the past must be protected.

"What happened with Maldini demonstrates a lack of historical culture, of respect for the Milan tradition. While it is true that history does not make you win, it is also true that history teaches you how to win."

However, owner Gerry Cardinale has been "educated" in 'the art of winning' not by Maldini's Milan – but by Billy Beane.

"Billy's been in European football for 20 years and he told me I wasn't looking at the situation in the right way," Cardinale said of the revered baseball executive during a seminar at Michigan Institute of Technology in March. "I had to approach European football with the 'Moneyball' mentality, which says there is no need to sacrifice the level of performance on the field for cash flow or vice versa."

We'll soon find out if he's right…

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  What is 'Moneyball'?

  Billy Beane

  Beane gained global fame through the Hollywood-produced movie 'Moneyball', starring Brad Pitt. The plot focused on how Beane, in conjunction with Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill), successfully implemented a stats-based scouting system known as 'sabermetrics' at the Oakland Athletics.

  The key, as Brand explained in the movie, was using in-depth data to identify "the value of players that nobody else can see" and, despite intense in-house resistance to the new recruitment strategy, including manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman), it enabled the A's to make one shrewd signing after another.

  The net result was one of the franchises with the smallest budgets in Major League Baseball breaking the record for consecutive wins in a single season, in 2002. The following year, Michael Lewis' book 'Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game' was published to critical acclaim and became a commercial success.

  Even more significantly, the methods employed by A's were embraced – if not always completely, at least partially – by other MLB teams.

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  Taking over Europe

  Billy Beane

  Moneyball's influence extended well beyond baseball, though. Football also took notice, particularly after the release of the film based on Lewis' book in 2011. For a long time, it was felt that the statistic-heavy analysis prevalent in American sports, and baseball in particular, added little to understanding 'The Beautiful Game'. Football, it was felt by traditionalists, was too fluid; there were too many variables and far greater freedom of expression. A little over five years ago, video analysts were still being derogatorily referred to both behind the scenes and in the mainstream media as "laptop gurus".

  However, attitudes began to change, particularly after the success of FC Midtjylland, the first European club to truly employ a sabermetrics-based business model. The Danes won their first Superliga in 2015 and now have three titles to their name.

  Midtjylland's data-heavy approach to transfers has since been mirrored by Toulouse, who won last season's Coupe de France – just a year after gaining promotion to Ligue 1, after nearly two decades in France's second tier.

  Then there's Brentford, who reached the Premier League for the first time in 2021 and have since established themselves as one of the best teams in the top flight. The use of stats has clearly been key to their remarkable rise, though owner Matthew Benham is wary of the term 'Moneyball'.

  "The label can be confusing, especially because baseball has always been obsessed with numbers and data – but not football," he said. "We do not use statistics at random, but in a scientific way."

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  No one right way

  Peter Brand

  Cardinale has also stressed that "data is just one tool" Milan are using to construct a team capable of winning multiple trophies. "Moneyball was written 20 years ago and today everyone uses data, but in our portfolio there is an analytics company with 13 researchers from MIT," the American told the on Friday. "European football is not baseball; it requires a different level of sophistication and we believe we are at the forefront."

  At the very least, Milan are the most high-profile club to date to embrace Moneyball, with Beane even serving as a transfer market consultant.

  Liverpool were obviously universally lauded for the way in which they transformed a team in disarray before Jurgen Klopp took over into the 'champions of everything' with one excellent signing after another. The input of former director of research Ian Graham, who led a six-strong data analysis team, played a pivotal role in bargain buys such as Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota, who were both (rightly) identified as undervalued and ideally suited to Klopp's specific brand of football. Liverpool also pulled off a masterstroke by effectively covering the cost of two transformative transfers in Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk by selling Philippe Coutinho – an outstanding talent at Anfield but one not strictly needed given Liverpool's plethora of options in attack.

  However, it's also worth remembering that Liverpool were not afraid to spend big when required. Both Alisson and Van Dijk were the most expensive players in their respective positions at one point – and Maldini was adamant that a club of Milan's ambition and stature would have to spend significant sums on certain players in order to get to the next level.

  "With two or three important signings, and the consolidation of the players we have," he said after the club's shock Serie A title win in 2022, "we can compete for something bigger in the Champions League."

  Milan instead spent just €50m that summer – the majority of which went on Charles De Ketelaere (€32m). The Belgian's first-season struggles at San Siro were subsequently used as a stick with which to beat Maldini, with the argument being that it proved he was not worth backing in the market.

  However, the fact remains that Maldini masterminded Milan's first Scudetto success in a decade by acquiring 21 players at a net cost of €75 million (£64m/$82m) – as much as Juve had paid for Dusan Vlahovic. It's hard not to argue that Milan were practising Moneyball even before Beane was brought on board.

  At the end of the day, though, Maldini's view of the way in which Milan might get to the next level was fundamentally different to that of Cardinale. As club president Paolo Scaroni told the , "We are following a more innovative model, at least for Italy, in how to run a club. That leads us to consider all our activities as collegial, we work in a team.

  "It is an organisational model that our main shareholder (Cardinale) cares a great deal about. Let us not forget, he is a specialist in sport who had success in his activities, so when he suggests something, we pay close attention, as he brings innovation.

  "We got the feeling that Paolo felt ill at ease in this organisation, so when someone is ill at ease, it is best to go our separate ways."

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  Investing in both the future & the present

  Art Howe

  Maldini quite clearly felt that Milan's new owners were more interested in turning a profit than restoring the Rossoneri to their former glory. "With a strategic vision, Milan could next season compete with the biggest clubs. However, if we were to choose a vision of maintaining our current level, without investment, without an idea worthy of Milan, we would remain in limbo among the top six or seven sides in Italy, hoping to maybe win the Scudetto again and qualify for the Champions League," he warned last year.

  So, he wasn't the least bit surprised when a relatively young and inexperienced Milan side were overwhelmed by Inter in the semi-finals of the Champions League the following year. As far as he was concerned, it was clear that a balance had to be found between prudence and ambition.

  The importance of youth was obvious to him – how could it not be given he had come through the youth-team section at Milan and made his senior debut at just 16? But he also played during an era in which Silvio Berlusconi paid big money for world-class talents such as Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, in order to assemble arguably the greatest side the club game has ever seen. So, the sale of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle for €70 million was the antithesis of everything Maldini was trying to do.

  Coming so soon after Maldini's dramatic departure, it was a transfer that sparked fear into the fans. In the final game of the 2022-23 season, they had echoed Maldini's plea for investment in a banner unfurled at San Siro that read: "Another year has passed, it is time for the transfer market. We want [to take] a step up the ladder."

  Consequently, cashing in on Tonali, a 23-year-old boyhood Milan fan considered a future captain, unsurprisingly felt like a step down to the stunned supporters. The obvious concern was that Moneyball meant Milan becoming a feeder club.

Harry Maguire continues to attract criticism with Manchester United and England, but Gary Pallister remains on the under-fire defender’s side.

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• Centre-half stripped of captaincy
• Now struggling for game time
• England winger also out of favour

• What happened?

  It has been a testing 12 months or so for Maguire at Old Trafford, with questions constantly being asked of his value to the Red Devils cause. His performances for England – although steady enough at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – have also seen the 30-year-old centre-half become an easy target and international scapegoat for many.

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  Harsh or fair?

  United legend Pallister knows a thing or two about operating in the Red Devils’ defensive unit – as a four-time Premier League title winner – and, speaking on behalf of , he told GOAL when asked about the sporting circus that Maguire finds himself at the centre of: “For two years there was no issue with Harry Maguire at Old Trafford. He was made captain. I don’t think he’s in the mould of a Bryan Robson, a Roy Keane or a Steve Bruce – it was probably as close as they had at Old Trafford, and therefore he was made captain. For two years he was fine. After the Euros, he got injured shortly into the season and I think they rushed him back a bit too quickly. He didn’t look himself, he made a few mistakes, the crowd started getting on his back and it’s been a tough time since then. I don’t know if he feels the pressure, if he’s anxious about things off the pitch. It’s been a difficult time. Apart from the last six months or so, he’s been exceptional for England as well. He’s not a bad centre-half. I can’t buy into that because he has been in European Championship teams of the tournament, he’s got how many caps for England, Gareth [Southgate] trusts him implicitly and I can’t buy into what everyone’s saying – 'he’s done, he’s washed up, he’s finished'. At the moment, playing at Old Trafford, it has been difficult for him.”

  Pressed further on whether Maguire is good enough for United – which is really the only question that matters when it comes to decisions on his future – Pallister added: “There was absolutely no problem for two years. He wasn’t afraid to bring the ball out from the back, he won his headers, won his tackles, he would join in. Nobody was looking at Harry Maguire and saying ‘he doesn’t look like a Manchester United centre-back’. He’s lost his place, the fans have been unsure and it makes it tough. It can be a lonely place, Old Trafford, if you don’t have the fans behind you. That’s probably played a big part in why he’s not in the team at the moment.”

• Leader of men?

  Maguire was stripped of the captaincy at United by Erik ten Hag ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. The armband was passed on to playmaker Bruno Fernandes, with Pallister saying when asked if the theatrical Portuguese is the right man to follow in the footsteps of iconic former skippers such as Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Roy Keane and Paul Ince: “I don’t think there is anybody there of that ilk. It will be interesting to see if eventually [Lisandro] Martinez does get it, because I think he sets a tone for Manchester United in the way he plays the game – he’s a fan favourite, he leaves everything out on the pitch, he’s committed, aggressive, he’s in your face, he’s the kind of footballer that I played with – Robson, Bruce, Keane, Ince. They were in your face captains and led by example and weren’t afraid to give people a rollicking if they needed it. Bruno’s not one of them, but he’s a voice in that dressing room. Erik thinks he’s the right man for the job. Sometimes when he’s screaming at referees and things like that, you scratch your head and wish he’d just concentrate on football, but he’s been an incredible player for United.”

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  Who’s in charge?

  Ten Hag has shown that he is not afraid to make big decisions, with Jadon Sancho another of those to have found that out the hard way. He was dropped for the trip to Arsenal, with his performances in training called into question, before claiming to have been made a scapegoat. Pallister said of that unfortunate saga, with Sancho currently training on his own: “It’s unusual for it to be played out on social media like it has been. Most of that kind of stuff was kept in-house in the days I played at Manchester United. It’s been aired in public a bit. I think they have had a clear the air meeting. I hope they have because it’s not nice to see. If we can get Jadon Sancho performing like he did at Dortmund, then you have got a helluva of a player on your hands. He’s shown it in fits and starts – his ability, he’s scored goals, he’s caught the eye in moments. It’s that consistency that he’s got to find. The club were brilliant with him last year, giving him three months off to try and deal with whatever was going on, and it’s not often you see something like that happen. He’s got to give the club due respect for trying to help him. Hopefully it gets sorted out behind the scenes. There is a role in there on the right-hand side. If he’s put a good week’s training, maybe he’ll get a chance.”

GOAl looks at the must-see cities hosting the Women's World Cup in New Zealand

New Zealand is getting ready to welcome an influx of football fans this July and August, with four cities hosting games at the 2023 Women's World Cup.

From the capital city Wellington to Dunedin in the South Island, fans from Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia will be moving around the antipodean islands following their teams, while the locals will no doubt enjoy a carnival atmosphere.

Here, GOAL takes a closer look at the four Soccer Cities in New Zealand playing host to Women's World Cup games in 2023.

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  Wellington

  Stadium:	Wellington Regional Stadium
  Capacity:	39,000
  Address:	105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea, Wellington 6140

  Wellington's Regional Stadium – also known as Sky Stadium – is the Wellington venue hosting a number of games at the World Cup this year. Home of A-League side Wellington Phoenix, the wonderful waterfront ground has a capacity of 39,000 and is sure to produce a cacophonous atmosphere.

  Which games are on in Wellington?

  Date	Match
  July 21	Spain vs Costa Rica
  July 23	Sweden vs South Africa
  July 25	New Zealand vs Philippines
  July 27	USWNT vs Netherlands
  July 29	Sweden vs Italy
  July 31	Japan vs Spain
  August 2	South Africa vs Italy
  August 5	Round of 16
  August 11	Quarter-final

  Wellington will welcome a broad array of fans from across the world during the Women's World Cup, with nine matches to be played, including games involving the hosts and the USWNT.

  There will be seven group games and two knockout fixtures.

  Where to stay in Wellington

  The map above has a variety of options for places to stay in Wellington.

  Things to do in Wellington

  • Ride the Wellington Cable Car
  • Weta Workshop tour
  • Visit Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Hike Mount Victoria

  Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and no trip there would be complete without heading up on the Wellington Cable Car for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

  Fans of the films should definitely make time to visit the award-winning Weta Workshop and do a tour of the place where movie-making magic is conjured.

  If you fancy learning more about the fascinating history of New Zealand, pencil in a visit to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which is an educational hub, teaching visitors about Maori astronomy and much more.

  A cultural melting pot, the city has no shortage of cafes to while away the hours – try the flat white – and if you're a bit more active in your disposition, why not have a go at the nature trails leading to the top of Mount Victoria?

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  Auckland

  Stadium:	Eden Park
  Capacity:	48,276
  Address:	Reimers Avenue, Kingsland, Auckland 1024

  Auckland's Eden Park is the biggest stadium in New Zealand being used at the Women's World Cup.

  A veritable fortress for the All Blacks rugby union team, the Women's World Cup will be the venue's most notable use for soccer.

  Which games are on in Auckland?

  Date	Match
  July 20	New Zealand vs Norway
  July 22	USWNT vs Vietnam
  July 24	Italy vs Argentina
  July 26	Spain vs Zambia
  July 30	Norway vs Philippines
  August 1	Portugal vs USWNT
  August 5	Round of 16
  August 11	Quarter-final
  August 15	Semi-final

  Auckland will host a total of nine games at the Women's World Cup, including the opening game between New Zealand and Norway on July 20.

  As well as six group matches, Eden Park will be the venue for a round-of-16 game, one quarter-final and a semi-final.

  Fans from the United States, Spain, Italy, Argentina and Portugal are expected to visit the city, so there will be a brilliantly diverse atmosphere during the tournament.

  Where to stay in Auckland

  Check out the map above for places to stay while in Auckland.

  Things to do in Auckland

  • Visit Sky Tower
  • Whale watching
  • Visit Auckland Domain
  • Kayak to Rangitoto Island

  Auckland is "the perfect mix of city sophistication and a natural playground" according to newzealand.com and it is fair to say that there is no shortage of things to do in the North Island metropolis.

  The Sky Tower is an iconic sight on the Auckland skyline – it is actually the tallest structure in New Zealand – and adventurous visitors can actually do a Sky Jump from the 328m-high structure or try a Sky Walk.

  Wildlife lovers who relish the outdoors can go on a Whale safari from Auckland Harbour, with a variety of species to be found in the Hauraki gulf, including dolphins, orca, minke whales and more.

  Auckland Domain is one of the biggest public parks in the city and is very central, offering outstandingly beautiful views of the gulf and volcanic Rangitoto Island – which can actually be reached via kayak.

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  Hamilton

  Stadium:	Waikato Stadium
  Capacity:	25,111
  Address:	128 Seddon Road, Frankton, Hamilton 3204

  Waikato Stadium in Hamilton/Kirikiriroa is a 25,000-seater rugby stadium that will be used for group games at the tournament.

  Situated on the banks of the Waikato river, the city of Hamilton is where figures such as former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and rugby coach Warren Gatland were born.

  Which games are on in Hamilton?

  Date	Match
  July 22	Zambia vs Japan
  July 25	Switzerland vs Norway
  July 27	Portugal vs Vietnam
  July 31	Costa Rica vs Zambia
  August 2	Argentina vs Sweden

  Hamilton will host a total of five group games at the Women's World Cup, with fans from Argentina, Sweden, Portugal and Zambia among those expected to descend on the city.

  There will be plenty of intrigue when Zambia play Japan, while the August 2 clash between Argentina and Sweden should draw a crowd.

  Where to stay in Hamilton

  You can browse places to stay in Hamilton with the map above.

  Things to do in Hamilton

  • Hamilton Gardens
  • Waikato Museum
  • Hamilton Zoo
  • Hobbiton moview set

  The famous Hobbiton movie set from Peter Jackson's trilogy can be found in the Waikato region, just 45 minutes from Hamilton. You can take a guided tour of New Zealand's 'Shire' and avail of 'Second Breakfast' while there.

  Hamilton Gardens will transport you around the world with its amazing variety of concept gardens, with Chinese, Egyptian and tropical influences to be found, all within the centre of the city.

  The Waikato Museum is a must for any culture enthusiast, with an array of local, Maori exhibits to peruse.

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  Dunedin

  Stadium:	Forsyth Barr Stadium
  Capacity:	28,744
  Address:	Anzac Avenue, Logan Park, Dunedin, Otago

  Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin is the only Women's World Cup venue situated on New Zealand's South Island. Known as the Glass House due to its magnificent clear ceiling, it is a multi-use stadium that was previously used for the 2015 U20 World Cup.

  Which games are on in Dunedin?

  Dunedin will host a total of six group matches at the Women's World Cup, including Switzerland vs New Zealand in Group A, Japan vs Costa Rica in Group C and Netherlands vs Portugal in Group E.

  Date	Match
  July 21	Philippines vs Switzerland
  July 23	Netherlands vs Portugal
  July 26	Japan vs Costa Rica
  July 28	Argentina vs South Africa
  July 30	Switzerland vs New Zealand
  August 1	Vietnam vs Netherlands

  Where to stay in Dunedin

  Check out the interactive map above for places to stay in Dunedin.

  Things to do in Dunedin

  • Visit Larnach Castle
  • See local wildlife
  • Visit Port Chalmers
  • Do a brewery tour

  Dunedin takes its name from the Scots-Gaelic name for Edinburgh (), which translates as 'Hill fort of Edin'. As such a strong Scottish heritage is woven into the Otago city, with Larnach Castle being a fine example.

  Built in 1871 by William Larnach, who was born to Scottish parents, the castle is just 20 minutes away from the city centre and is a wonderful option for a day out, with mesmerising views of the Otago peninsula.

  If Victorian architecture isn't your thing, you might prefer a wildlife tour, either on land or sea, to see the abundance of rare species which live in the region. Dunedin is known as the wildlife capital of New Zealand, with a variety of penguin species, albatross and kiwi living in the Otago area.

  Sight-seeing can, of course, be thirsty work and you can tend to that by going on a tour of one of the local breweries, such as Speight's or Emerson's craft brewery.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Marcus Bent has revealed what Duncan Ferguson has told him about working with Carlo Ancelotti.

Ferguson’s final two seasons in his playing career crossed paths with Bent’s two years spent at Goodison Park, and the latter revealed they’re still in contact.

“I speak to him now and then. Dunc’s a hard one to get hold of and a hard one to get anything out of,” he told Football FanCast.

“He’s a very humble man and strict about what he says and what he does on and off the pitch.”

Having spent 11 seasons across two spells with the Toffees, the former Scotland striker returned to Merseyside in 2014 to become part of the coaching staff.

Following the departure of Marco Silva during December 2019, Ferguson became interim manager and remained unbeaten during a four-game spell, which included a memorable victory over Chelsea.

He was rewarded by becoming Ancelotti’s assistant after his appointment as manager later that month and has been working closely with the Italian ever since.

And Bent told Football FanCast that Ferguson has a great responsibility in his role:

“What he has said to me is that he’s good to work with, he asks Duncan’s opinion a lot of the time. The training is good, he lets Dunc take a lot of training sessions, so his opinion counts.

“Dunc is a massive Evertonian and a big part of the club, and he respects Dunc’s opinion.”