Football

Poor old Luka Modric. A player of such balletic beauty and grace, he could barely have been more elegant had he tiptoed on to the pitch down a sweeping ...

[Manchester United](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/22/manchester-united-up-for-sale-as-glazers-announce-plans-to-leave-old-trafford) and [Liverpool](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/10/jurgen-klopp-committed-to-liverpool-no-matter-who-owns-club) counterparts, seeing as both clubs, along with their freeholds atop the moral high ground, are now up for sale and vulnerable to folk wielding big bags of the old petro-pennies. [five-goal thumping](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/07/tottenham-everton-premier-league-match-report) at Spurs to the [twin defeats](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/12/bournemouth-everton-premier-league-match-report) at Bournemouth, via humiliations against Leicester and Crystal Palace and everything in between. Peter Shilton, the bizarro-world Neville Southall, had already this year gone out of his way to have a pint with Nigel Farage on GB News and announce that he’d never take the knee. This one goes to everyone on that party bus with fixed grins and dead eyes, insisting they were lost in the carefree celebration of a successful season. Let it all out, José, just like Football Daily plans to do yet again while watching the end of It’s a Wonderful Life. Southend United, for selling the naming rights of their West Stand to a local firm of estate agents called Gilbert and Rose. [Three goals in 336 seconds](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/22/manchester-city-win-premier-league-title-aston-villa-match-report) later, City were ahead and certs for the title. None of them were having it – furious old pros will be furious old pros – and Walton displayed remarkable composure in the face of a knowledge-lite salvo. Less than five months later, Stevie [was sacked](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/20/steven-gerrard-leaves-aston-villa-after-disappointing-start-to-season), after which a former subordinate [took his old job](https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/nov/29/mick-beale-is-a-cosy-appointment-when-rangers-need-a-ruthless-rebuild) at Rangers. A slapstick masterclass, and upon being immediately substituted it’s just as well everyone in the stadium gave the Astaire of the Adriatic the standing ovation A player of such balletic beauty and grace, he could barely have been more elegant had he tiptoed on to the pitch down a sweeping staircase in top hat and tails. Hmm, all of a sudden, the penny’s beginning to drop.