Get your hands on the latest edition of FourFourTwo magazine, available to buy in print – or alternatively on iPad and iPhone – from Wednesday, May 3
From Luis Enrique calling it quits midway through the season, to the court cases hanging over the heads of some of their leading players and their Jekyll & Hyde form in La Liga and the Champions League, it’s been a crazy season at Barcelona.
The best example of their erratic form was against PSG, encapsulating the agony and ecstasy, incompetence and inspiration of a mad campaign at the Camp Nou.
It could have been much worse were it not for Neymar. The 6-1 turnaround – inspired by the brilliance of the Brazil captain – was described by some members of the Spanish media as the greatest individual display in the Blaugrana’s history.
We speak to the Barça frontman and a host of his former coaches and team-mates to find out if this performance was a one-off or a sign of things to come. Can he really take over from Lionel Messi and be the player to carry the Catalans over the next decade? Legendary striker Romario thinks so – and who are we to argue?
You’re up, Neymar
The brilliant Brazilian’s displays this season suggest he’s ready to step out of Messi’s shadow and become the new King of the Camp Nou. And he owes it all to late-night sandwiches, leading from the front and one very lucky lemon.
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Tony Pulis’ day-glo army
From dodging punches and police batons to ‘equal opportunities abuse’, why on earth would anyone be a matchday steward? We slip on a neon jacket to find out...
All hail Saint Manolo
Manolo Gabbiadini has become an instant idol at St. Mary’s after hitting six goals in his first eight matches since arriving from Napoli in January. But what does the silky Italian make of the carbonara on the south coast? Is the Premier League better than Serie A? And is Le Tissier really the Maradona of Southampton?
23 of football's maddest owners
Former Atletico top dog Jesus Gil may have celebrated success by riding around Madrid on top of an elephant, but at least he didn’t burn down the stadium...
What’s in a name?
Can a moniker make or break a career? Why are so many Brazilian footballers called Lineker? And how did Mighty Mouse become the father of all German Kevins? We uncover the game’s bizarre and at times baffling nomenclature.
The magic of non-league
From shirt-pulling under skyscrapers to shanking it in the shires, photographer David Bauckham travels the country capturing the beauty and calamity of a campaign among the beautiful game's amateur ranks. Heads up, lads!
1977 FA Cup Final
All-conquering Liverpool went to Wembley eyeing a then-unprecedented Treble, and only one team could stop them making history... Manchester United.
David Luiz
He left Chelsea in 2014 a figure of fun, but after a sensational return to Stamford Bridge, the Premier League’s former court jester is set to be crowned king.
One-on-One
Former Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Spurs man Christian Ziege answers your questions in this month's One-on-One, including: What really happened when he left Middlesbrough? What was he thinking when he decided to get a mohawk at the 2002 World Cup? And did he nearly die while he was playing for Tottenham?!
Upfront
Ajax starlet Kasper Dolberg opens up on a possible move to Manchester, Trevor Sinclair talks FFT through his FA Cup stunner for QPR, Newcastle hero Faustino Asprilla recalls the games that changed his life and Neville Southall explains why he would be a happy tramp – as long as he didn't have to watch any snooker.
Action Replay
South Shields take on Cleethorpes Town in this year's FA Vase final, but how did a quiet commuter town in Hertfordshire end up being the first name on the trophy?
Performance
FourFourTwo Performance speaks to Arsenal legend Robert Pires, who reveals how he wreaked havoc as an inverted winger. Plus, George Boyd offers his tips on how to make it as a pro even if you have been released, and we find out why some state-of-the-art sunglasses can help to improve a goalkeeper's shot-stopping.
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The June 2017 issue of FourFourTwo was brought to you by Christian Ziege, Faustino Asprilla, Neville Southall, Kasper Dolberg, Trevor Sinclair, Neymar, Antonio Lima, Muricy Ramalho, Elano, Romario, Manolo Gabbiadini, Lineker Augusto da Silva Matos, Overath Breitner da Silva Medina, Ciprian Marica, Steve Coppell, Lou Macari, John Motson, David Luiz, Robert Pires, George Boyd and Alessandro Costacurta.
Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
