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Ask the Gaffer
Sunday 11 May
Nick in Cornwall (EFC): Hi Gaff. Can you tell me what team is the most south-westerly team in England to have played in Europe? What about in the top flight? Hope you can help.
The Gaffer says: Of the current 92, I'd say the most south-westerly club to play in Europe are Yeovil Town, in the 1977 Anglo-Italian Cup. In the away legs they lost 3-1 at Teramo and drew 0-0 at Parma. The most south-westerly team to have played in the top flight are Bristol City.
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Dale the Toon: Can you you tell me what channel Newcastle's second leg of the Uefa Cup is on, and what do you think our chances are of winning the cup?
The Gaffer says: Newcastle's away game against AZ Alkmaar is live on ITV1. Keep the faith Dale - the Toon are going well in Europe and should march on.
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Nicole, Lisburn: Who started in the Istanbul final of the Champions League and name all the players?
The Gaffer says: I assume you want to know the teams from the 2005 Champions League final. AC Milan: Dida, Cafu, Maldini, Stam, Nesta, Gattuso (Rui Costa 112), Seedorf (Serginho 86), Pirlo, Kaka, Shevchenko, Crespo (Tomasson 85). Subs not used: Abbiati, Kaladze, Costacurta, Dhorasoo. Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan (Hamann 46), Traore, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Kewell (Smicer 23), Baros (Cisse 85). Subs not used: Carson, Josemi, Nunez, Biscan.
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Josh: Where is Tore Andre Flo?
The Gaffer says: He's playing for Leeds but is currently sidelined with a foot injury.
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Dan, Nottingham: Who captained Italy in the 1994 World Cup finals?
The Gaffer says: There were two captains, Dan. Franco Baresi captained the Azzurri in their first game against the Republic of Ireland, and started as captain against Norway but was injured during the match and underwent emergency surgery. Paolo Maldini stepped in as captain against Mexico, the second-round match against Nigeria, the quarter-final against Spain and the semi-final with Bulgaria. Baresi recovered in time to captain Italy in the final which they lost to Brazil, missing the first penalty in the shootout.
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Friday 9 May
Dolan, Rochdale: Who scored the most goals in a season in professional football?
The Gaffer says: Well Dolan, if you're talking about the English Leagues then the answer is the great Dixie Dean. He scored an incredible 60 goals in 39 games during the 1927-28 season for Everton.
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Steve, Margate: Has any player ever won a domestic league title, European Cup and World Cup in the same year?
The Gaffer says: Yes, and you won't be surprised to hear the list is full of Germans. In 1974, Bayern Munich won the European Cup and the Bundesliga. That same year Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Uli Hoeness were all part of the triumphant West Germany side in the World Cup.
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Ben: What's this about Alex who plays for PSV? Is he owned by Chelsea? If so, when did they buy him, who from and how much did he cost?
The Gaffer says: Chelsea signed Alex from Santos three years ago but have not been able to gain a work permit since, so he's been on loan at PSV for the last three seasons. Interestingly the Brazilian claims he was told by Chelsea's chief scout Frank Arnesen he could join the club last summer but Jose Mourinho blocked the move.
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Mat, Somerset: Great page Gaff! My next topic is expensive teenagers. Can you tell me the English record transfer fee and world record?
The Gaffer says: The English record and world record are one and the same. Step forward Mr Wayne Rooney, whose £27m from Everton to Man Utd made him the world's most expensive teenager in 2004.
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Damien, Ellesmere: What is the record for the longest postponement in British football?
The Gaffer says: A superb question Damian, take a bow! Incredibly, the Scottish Cup 2nd round tie between Inverness and Falkirk in 1978-79 was postponed 29 times due to ice and snow. Originally scheduled for 6 January, it eventually took place on 22 February. Falkirk won 4-0.
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Wednesday 7 May
Big Mickey, Liverpool: Gaff, in your opinion who is Liverpool's worst player? It's got to be a toss-up between Eric Meijer and the equally dodgy Sean Dundee of recent times.
The Gaffer says: Oh joy - thanks for jogging my memory Big Mickey. I agree with you entirely about The Croc. I still don't know why Roy Evans signed Dundee for £2m in 1998 after a season that saw the so-called striker score just three goals for Karlsruhe as they were relegated to Germany's Division Two. The South African had boasted that he was as quick as Michael Owen. Hmmm. Dundee scored no goals in five first-team games for the Reds, and made a right fool of himself in the process. At least Erik Meijer scored while at Anfield, albeit against Hull in the Worthington Cup: two goals in 27 first-team games. So it's Dundee for me. Torben Piechnik is worth a mention too.
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Sean, Wales: Hey Gaff, has any Welshman ever won European or World Player of the Year? And also what are the career stats of the late, great John Charles? Wasn't he voted Juve's best ever player? Great page.
The Gaffer says: Cheers Sean. The answer to your first question is no. As for John Charles, he was voted Juve's best-ever foreign player when the club celebrated its centenary in 1997. A richly deserved accolade - the Gentle Giant scored 93 goals in 150 appearances for Juventus, an incredible total when you remember how ruthlessly defensive Serie A football was in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Charles scored 150 goals in 297 appearances during his first spell at Leeds (1948-57); three goals in 11 appearances in his second spell at Elland Road, four in 10 for Roma; 18 in 69 for Cardiff. He won 38 Wales caps (15 goals). And he was never cautioned or sent off throughout his career. He could play in any outfield position, but it was up front where he impressed most. One of my all-time favourite players - and a great guy both on and off the pitch.
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Sully, Dumbarton: Which year did the Champions League start and who were the first team to win it?
The Gaffer says: The competition, then called the European Cup, started in 1956 and Real Madrid immediately made the tournament their own by winning the first five finals.
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Brad: What year was Reyes sent off in the FA Cup final, and what for?
The Gaffer says: Reyes saw red in the dying seconds of the 2005 final, when Arsenal beat Man Utd 5-4 on penalties after a goalless stalemate. The moody winger fouled Ronaldo towards the end of extra time and picked up his second yellow card of the game.
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Mark, WWFC: What's the head-to-head for Wolves and West Brom in all comps and who's won the most cups? I've got a bet on it. I know it's us.
The Gaffer says: Wolves 51 wins; West Brom 59; 41 draws in all comps. Wolves have won four FA Cups, two League Cups, one Texaco Cup, one Sherpa Van Trophy. Albion have lifted five FA Cups and one League Cup. I'll leave you to decide who's got the best cup record, Mark.
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John: Tony Adams was great. I believe he captained England 15 times but who has captained England the most times?
The Gaffer says: Agree with you about Adams, John. Solid as a rock, and a really tough competitor. Good reader of the game too. Billy Wright and Bobby Moore are joint top when it comes to skippering England - they each captained the side on 90 occasions. Bryan Robson is second on 65; Becks third on 58.
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Grant, Radcliffe: Hi Gaff. Can you name the squad that England took to Italy for the 1990 World Cup please mate?
The Gaffer says: Goalkeepers: Peter Shilton, Chris Woods, David Seaman (was injured and replaced by Dave Beasant); defenders: Stuart Pearce, Des Walker, Terry Butcher, Paul Parker, Mark Wright, Gary M Stevens, Tony Dorigo; midfielders: Neil Webb, Bryan Robson, Chris Waddle, Steve McMahon, David Platt, Steve Hodge, Paul Gascoigne, Trevor Steven; forwards: Peter Beardsley, Gary Lineker, John Barnes, Steve Bull. Coach: Bobby Robson.
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Tuesday 6 May
Gary, Chester: Hello Gaff - new to this site and well impressed! Can you tell me how Carlos Tevez got the scar on his neck please?
The Gaffer says: Cheers for that Gary. Tevez has a scar from his right ear, down his neck to his chest. It was caused by a childhood accident. At the age of just 10 months, he was exploring his mother's kitchen when he pulled a kettle of boiling water over himself. Tevez suffered third-degree burns to the right side of his face, neck and chest and was in intensive care for almost two months.
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Josh: What was the fastest goal in history?
The Gaffer says: The quickest goal that's backed up by filmed evidence is by Damian Mori, who scored in four seconds for Adelaide City v Sydney Utd in the Australian National League on 6 December 1995. There have been other four-second claims, including Jim Fryatt's for Bradford Park Avenue v Tranmere in 1965. Albert Mundy scored after six seconds for Aldershot v Hartlepool in 1958. Phil Starbuck scored for Huddersfield three seconds after coming on as a sub v Wigan in 1993. A corner kick was delayed, pending his arrival, and he netted with a header.
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Matt, Warsop: Whatever happened to Pierre van Hooijdonk?
The Gaffer says: The much-travelled hitman announced on 18 October that he would retire at the end of the season after 18 years as a player. He was in his second spell with Feyenoord at the time. After leaving Forest in 1999, he went to Vitesse Arnhem, SL Benfica, Feyenoord, Fenerbahce, NAC Breda and back to Feyenoord. He won 46 caps for Holland, scoring 14 goals for his country.
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Mick, Somerset: What is Aston Villa's record against Birmingham City and West Brom?
The Gaffer says: Villa 47 wins v Birmingham, 29 draws, 37 Blues wins. Villa 71 wins v Albion, 31 draws, 50 Albion wins.
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Dean: Who was the first English player born after the 1966 World Cup to play for England?
The Gaffer says: The first player born after the 1996 World Cup final (30 July 1966) was Nigel Martyn, who was born on 11 August 1966. However, he didn't play for England until 1992. The first player to play for England, born after 1966, was Tony Adams, in 1987.
