Under-rated: Arsenal 1990-91

It's a question I've pondered recently. With the countless website and news sources offering lists of the best of, the worst of, the greatest ever etc, does the dramatic and recent mean the disregarded are useless?

The issue came to mind during Sky's pre-match build up for the Arsenal v Liverpool match. Gary Neville pined for the Arsenal team of 1998 as the best he played against. The conversation drifted nearer, with talk of the sides of 2002 and 2004. Was it a rights issue that prohibited talk of pre-1992? Of course Neville and Jamie Carragher were players in the discussed eras. While the 1988-89 team has been preserved in folklore as a result of Anfield and Fever Pitch, has the 1991 title winner been neglected?

Defeated only once in the entire season (in February at Chelsea), unbeaten at home, featuring the division's top scorer (Alan Smith), conceding only 18 goals in 38 league matches. Yet barely recognised?

The main addition to this team was the signing of Swedish midfielder Anders Limpar from Cremonese. Having featured twice at the World Cup that summer, Limpar was at the time an exotic treasure, having played in Serie A and very much an unknown quantity. He announced himself on the English stage with a stunning goal in the Makita pre-season tournament at Wembley against Aston Villa.

Limpar played with a grace rarely seen in an age of English football without any European fixtures. Hugging the left touchline but floating inside, he was very much a taster for the man who performed a similar role for the "Invincibles", Robert Pires. Limpar's career peaked in that season - 11 league goals earned him Sweden's player of the year award as well as an English title medal. He went on to play for Everton (winning an FA Cup) before returning to his homeland. Anders told the Guardian in a 2012 interview that playing for George Graham was like "living in Iraq under Saddam Hussein" and that he didn't even get a handshake when told he wouldn't get a new contract.

The foundation of the miserly defence was the famous back five, including new signing David Seaman in goal. Graham said before the season that while John Lukic had been one of the top six keepers in England, David Seaman was the best. Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Steve Bould and captain Tony Adams were still in place from the 1989 championship side, but it wasn't all plain sailing...

Adams was convicted of drink-driving in December 1990 after crashing into a wall, but another new signing Andy Linighan stepped up to cover the skipper, who was inside for 57 days of a four-month sentence. It just so happened that the sole league defeat came during this time. He continued drinking until 1996, when a very public admission of alcoholism (and the arrival of Arsene Wenger) became the catalyst to scale even greater heights.

George Graham's side were tough and resilient, no more evident than at Manchester United in October 1990. The game's only goal had been a controversial one, Anders Limpar's effort from an acute angle was judged to have crossed the line - but it was a second half tangle between Limpar, Winterburn and Denis Irwin which led to 22 players getting stuck in so much that even the mild-mannered David Rocastle (RIP) had to be restrained. After the dust settled, Arsenal were deducted two points and United one. A sense of injustice followed, with Graham giving a talk to the team in front of the cameras about a solid mentality.

In a statistic unlikely to be repeated in modern times, only nineteen players featured in league matches, including a substitute appearance for a young Andrew Cole. Another promising forward, Kevin Campbell, emerged as a powerful, hungry striker, with nine league goals in fifteen starts.

To add fuel to the legend, Perry Groves was assigned shirt number 12 on fifteen occasions!

The title was confirmed on a bank holiday Monday, before a home game against Manchester United. Liverpool, the only other challengers, lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest earlier in the day, giving the Gunners the treat of a guard of honour from the visitors that evening. The match featured a hat-trick for Alan Smith, and a semblance of revenge after the same tie in the League Cup had ended 2-6 to United in November.

The legacy of this team that George built was apparent - that back five (with added Keown) remained at the heart of the club for the best part of a decade afterwards, while the supporters' love affair with Paul Merson continues to this day. Rocastle tragically died in 2000 aged just 33, having left for Leeds for a large fee in 1992. Campbell and Thomas had decent careers after their departures, while Smith's career was ended by injuries.

Perhaps I have a fondness for this side, as they were the first that I got to see with regularity, while my Michael Thomas-signed VHS copy remains somewhere in the house. The red shirt is a classic, slightly less conservative than previous efforts, but Adidas and JVC work perfectly.

I'll forever associate this Arsenal team with Anders Limpar, in the same way other teams would be remembered with greater players (1998, 2002 and 2004 with Vieira, Bergkamp and Henry). Perhaps the last great winners of Division One.

Champions.

My favourite 2015/16 Premier League kits

It's safe to say that I have been well and truly inspired. Having savoured the mammoth opus of the Football Attic (and guests) with "The 50 Greatest Football Shirts Ever", I've had a quick look at the latest offerings from Premier League clubs, to see if there are any potential future challengers. Most of the jerseys are away shirts, I imagine making the most of a bit more scope - most clubs are unlikely to tinker too much with the first choice kits for fear of a backlash.

Those who've read my more recent posts will note that I've not been quite as big a fan as I used to be, for a number of reasons. Despite that, I've still retained my Arsenal sensibilities, so left out some shirts which I do quite like, purely because of the crest on them... So to remain fair, I'll say I do like the collar of the Chelsea home shirt.

Anyway, feel free to comment below - I expect a hearty debate!

West Brom away

When Ant showed me this, I almost feinted. The old-fashioned, embroidered logo. The pinstripes. The V-neck collar. The deep red colour. No sponsor. Absolutely magnificent, with such a heavy 80s leaning that it could quite easily be a retro effort. The basic template is replicated elsewhere, but this is beautifully rendered.

Crystal Palace away

Leaning heavily on an old Admiral effort, nominated by John Devlin in the Greatest Shirts Ever. Another away top, despite the original being a home top. Keeps the now-traditional Palace colours of red and blue in the centre, with a light touch of colour on the sleeves and a half-and-half collar. Unfortunately the finished article has a garish betting company sponsor on, but it's a fine design.

West Ham home

Commemorating the final season at the Boleyn Ground, Umbro have taken the Hammers back to their roots. Simplicity is outstanding in this case, claret with light blue sleeves and a round neck collar with a slight twist. Having the Umbro logo in all lower case works nicely, spoilt only slightly by the additional text on the sleeves. The away kit also returns to the famous light blue with claret band. After last season's excellent Adidas effort, it's two in a row for West Ham.

Arsenal away

My token bias, despite the Puma manufacturer. Gold reminiscent of the 2001/02 jersey, with the twist of the famous contrasting sleeves. The chequered pattern on the body works by not being too crazy, steering just clear of Ronnie Corbett gold territory. The round neck also includes an insert, working nicely with the diamonds. By far Puma's best Arsenal shirt yet.

Southampton away

A risky effort that almost works, but enough to get into my list. The same basic template as the WBA effort above, but going for a sash rather than pinstripes. But I do wonder if Adidas had some sort of bet - this kit, Sunderland's, Swansea's... All green and navy. Maybe they are trying to revive the old Arsenal kit of the eighties? The v-neck collar is definitely a plus, while the sponsor seems to sit nicely in the sash design. I'm a sucker for a sash, it's why I got an Anderlecht top for Christmas last year...

I'm planning on doing a similar blog for my favourite Finnish football shirts over at ETS, watch this space.

Coaching

(This is quite a departure from my previous Nelson's Column posts. It pretty much serves as a diary of my burgeoning coaching career. For obvious reasons, names and locations have been changed/omitted)

I'm now 35 years old. It's been eleven years since a very nasty leg break at work which has never really healed. Despite a few attempts at resurrecting my once promising amateur playing career, it's never really happened... So I decided to enquire about coaching instead. The thought of countless hours talking to people about how to play football - hopefully in the way I never got. Pretty much the sum total of my education was the PE teacher at school saying "run around" then having a go at me for scoring a hat-trick in a game while I was playing left back (we lost 4-3).

Luckily I work for a football club who take pride in their various under-age teams and a chairman who was very supportive of my career aspirations. So I volunteered to help one of the under 9 teams. I turned up on Sunday morning at 10am with my shiny new Copa Mundials and enthusiasm. The two coaches who were there were very welcoming, their passion was obvious. But so was the challenge that they face. Teaching and coaching football isn't the hardest part. It's the people.

Without meaning to sound like a miserable old bastard, kids these days don't have much attention. Trying to get twelve youngsters to listen, pay attention and follow instructions is very difficult. They want to just recreate the players whose shirts they wear. Ronaldo, Hazard, Fabregas, Alexis were all in attendance, along with their flicks and tricks. One kid turned up in Crocs.

So I helped put out the cones, collected stray footballs and gently encouraged teamwork and movement. The sessions focused on changes in speed and direction, reminiscent of the agility test I had to do before I joined my job. Don't remember that level on Pro Evo. The parents who stayed for the 80 minutes were in good humour, not overly competitive other than mutterings of "my boy thinks he's Harry Kane, watch him twat it wide from twenty yards".

I even got involved when one small kickabout needed an extra player. Helping from within the pitch was a big help, I ended up saying a lot of "move, follow the bib, on your toes", like Apollo Creed from Rocky III. On the drive home, I felt satisfied that the touch is still there, not the fitness. The curry and beer I had the night before didn't help.

So unfortunately due to my shifts, I won't be able to make the next session, but will make the one after (before a late turn). I enjoyed it very much, I just hope the kids can put up with me!

Podcasts

I listen to a lot of podcasts. Most of them are about football. Most of the time, I think they could be improved. But like a lot of things with a football slant, I'm not in a position to suggest anything because I don't participate in one myself.

I did appear on a podcast once. It was an absolute fucking shambles (the "host" forgot to press record on his device and 45 minutes of my life was wasted).

Some of my favourite pods are the ones that are a little bit chaotic, not overly polished, but sticking to a format. Be it Terry, Graham and Jan in a living room, Rich and Chris on Skype or Dotun, Tim and A N Other in different rooms across the world.

I know that this blog isn't the widely-read tome of 2011/12, but I'd like to open up a potential sounding board for ideas to do a podcast - preferably football-based, although my other interests of James Bond, Star Wars, even a vague natter on cricket etc would be good fun.

Hit me up.

How to choose a football team to follow...

Without meaning to sound like Swiss Toni, I've always found supporting a football club is very much like having your first bank account. You often go with the institution that your parents go with because you get gifts (football kits/porcelain pigs), stick with them through boom and bust, before eventually you die and they still have an influence on your funeral, whether it's a gawdy club coloured coffin or the fact that you'll end up in an unnamed grave because you got PPI on a loan.

That was always very much the case with me, for a bank anyway. I was suckered in by Natwest's porcine money banks, the family of five which were dished out every time you reached a savings landmark, up to £100. I never did get the biggest pig, although my school headteacher did which looking back is rather dark indeed.

Fuckpigs

In my experience with football teams, it was quite different but with a similar end result. I grew up in North London to parents from elsewhere, my Dad nominally liking football having played occasionally for Scottish club Stranraer before coming to England. Liverpool were the dominant English club at the time, my closest cousin supported them and my younger brother and I were bought various items of merchandise as presents/bribes. One of the first football matches I remember watching on telly was the 1986 FA Cup final, complete with footage of Scousers scaling the outer walls of Wembley to gain ticketless entry - a process which continues to this day when Liverpool play in less developed lands, including the 2005 Champions League final.

Several scallies scaling

Maybe their lack of respect for the law rang alarm bells in my young mind, so Emperor Dalglish and his rogues never quite swayed me to their Dark Side. With so little football on TV in the 1980s, the next big club match was the 1987 Littlewoods Cup Final between Liverpool and Arsenal, a sunny afternoon again at Wembley. Ian Rush scored first, which in those days meant a banker win. Maybe it was the spirit of supporting the underdog, the pasty legs of Perry Groves powering into the box assisting Charlie Nicholas' winner for Arsenal, or something as innocuous as our regular babysitter (I was seven) buying me a silk Arsenal flat cap before the game, which adorned the heads of the victors.

Wine-downer Sansom in my hat

So I was hooked. A number of random incidents combining which led to a love affair lasting over a quarter of a century. Countless thousands of pounds spent, air miles accrued, friendships forged and spurned. But in 2015, the landscape is hugely different, where perhaps these so-called "meet-cutes" are no longer so random. My niece was registered as a Junior Gunner as soon as her name was confirmed; my youngest brother received an Arsenal shirt with Bergkamp on the back and taken to a home match against Coventry in order to secure his fandom.

How would an adult with enough cynicism resist such urges to support a new club? I'll admit that it's quite spoilt to suggest I've fallen out of love with Arsenal, but several circumstances mean I very much don't enjoy going to the games any more. In the last year I've become a board member at a non-league football club (essentially my work side), become more involved in football in Finland at various levels, plus a promotion at work has led to reduced free weekend time and more demand from the wife.

It's dangerous to suggest I'd support a new club. Definitely not one in England, that'd be too weird. But I think it would be nice to perhaps explore a new league, not as a blogger or hipster, but just to open up the idea of travelling to see the side and take in a different football culture. But possibly without the drinking, without which is possibly another reason I've not enjoyed going to Arsenal... Maybe you need to be pissed to enjoy it.

So, the new team bit.

A recent BBC article explores how and why one thousand English fans travel to Dortmund for home matches, having been to the Westfalonstadion in 2011 for a Champions League match I can see why (even with a reduced capacity and UEFA's alcohol ban). Other non-football German trips to Munich and Berlin have also been great fun, Rich-friendly in both cuisine and language (schnell). I am obviously far too late to join the Dortmund party, while the idea of liking Bayern Munich makes my toes curl. I'm going to plump for Greuther Fürth of the 2.Bundesliga on this one. I kept an eye on their fortunes for a year while my acquaintance Tim Sparv played for them (2013/14), while I was very curious about their Hummel kits and their shamrock crest, albeit with no known Celtic connections. The Bavaria home also sits well with the notion of beer halls and food to which I've become partial in recent years.

Tea-potting in Deutschland (photo via Ant)

Not having BT Sport limits live access to the Bundesliga, but then again I have Sky with unfettered access to the Spanish league. I have little to no interest in Spanish football though, having been to both Real Madrid and Barcelona with Arsenal, I find those clubs detestable and pious. The trip to Villarreal was more fun, mainly because I got to watch Jens Lehmann save a penalty whilst sat in a corridor outside the VIP toilets. This had nothing to do with meeting Theo Walcott outside those bogs. I did just buy a reduced Villarreal jersey from CFS, plus they did of course provide a home for Robert Pires. Reason enough to declare them 'my Spanish team', I think.

I've been to Italy twice to see Arsenal, against Sampdoria in 1995 and Juventus in 2006. My experiences are limited; on both trips there was very little experience of the places themselves as there wasn't much time to do anything other than grab a couple of pints. Genoa appeared the nicer, Turin reminded me of Preston. The stories, passion and the stellar names of the 1990s have at least kept me on a loose follow of the fortunes of the league. While they have some of the outstanding players in Pogba, Vidal, Pirlo and Buffon, supporting Juventus would be uncomfortable after Calciopoli and their lack of remorse, the allegations of doping and being owned by Fiat (Fix It Again Tony). Sampdoria are more appealing with their magnificent kits, Gianluci Vialli in his pomp and the memory of 1995. If I'm looking at an Italian team, it'd be Samp, although if I do ever go to Italy again, I'd love to go to Florence...

David Seaman saving a penalty in Genoa

So I guess that's it. Arsenal will always be my number one team, even if I rarely go to games again. In the two months since my last match (the aberration that was Anderlecht 3-3) I've not missed it one bit, other than seeing my mates. My recent babysteps return to boozing could help I suppose. I have yet to book any flights to follow my new teams, but certainly won't be shy in checking their results, perhaps a sly look at reduced replica tops for my (hopefully) imminent return to 5-a-side footy.

The pain of a thousand different knives has damaged the Arsenal vein to my heart, along with causing many other injuries. It's not irreparable, but I need rest and recuperation. I can't revisit these roots, the Clock End is gone, getting an autograph on my arm from the scorer of the title-clinching midfielder in the Islington Woolworths cannot happen again, the bubble is too thick. There's no prospect of visiting Paul Merson's sport shop in Chapel Market or seeing one of the centre-halves falling out of a pub on Blackstock Road. I can bear not knowing the score, or even the league position. I'll be at Imber Court, at work, or being dragged around Homebase looking for an accessory for my new pressure washer.

You'll always be my Arsenal. But I don't think you're my home anymore.