JA NUARY 2012

UPFRONT

22 Top 10 bizarre gifts in football “Mr Bates, with this celery you’re really spoiling us” 40 At The End Of The Day: Robbie Savage The destroyer-turned-dancer still holds a grudge 42 Christmas reviews special Every book and DVD you should put on Santa’s list 46 Ask A Silly Question: Jason Roberts “Uncle Bulgaria? I ain’t got a scooby who he is!” 49 FFT columnist: Salgado

Michel on Phil Jones and our 100 Best Players 51 FFT columnist: The Player

Surviving the Xmas period (especially the parties) 52 Letters

Kevin Phillips: good, Theo Walcott: not so much

FEATURES

One-on-One: Neil Ruddock

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The Razor answers your cut-throat queries on hating Alan Sugar, loving Cantona and winding up Vieira

56 COVER STORY 100 Best Players in the world

Messi or Ronaldo? Iniesta or Xavi? Balotelli or Boateng? We’ve had every argument from 1 to 100, putting together the biggest list of the year – plus stats, exclusive interviews with Nasri, Neuer, Cavani and more, and insight from the all-time greats 78 Youth development part 6: Football League

The controversial new Elite Player Performance Plan could spell bad news for our Football League youth set-ups. We speak to some anxious academy chiefs 84 COVER STORY Cesc Fabregas exclusive

“I took the hardest option in moving to Barcelona” – the Spaniard reveals all in his most explosive interview yet, including why he had to leave Arsenal 90 Oh brother! Lesser footballing siblings

It can’t be easy for a player to watch his brother be the star. Just ask the likes of Graeme Carrick – we did

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Football’s catastrophic Christmases ’Tis the season to be jolly, supposedly. But all these sorry souls got from Santa were 12-game winless streaks, bung scandals and X-rated teddy bears

Exclusive: FourFourTwo goes inside QPR

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Can the Super Hoops’ motley crew really usurp Chelsea as kings of West London? We get answers from Warnock, Barton and owner Tony Fernandes

106 Action Replay: the WWI truce match

How humanity overcame war through football: the truth behind that game on Christmas Day, 1914

PLANET FOOTBALL

111 Ballerinas, nudity and trees – all on the pitch?! 112 Michael Mancienne on his move to Germany 119 Arsene’s secret weapon aka France’s FC Lorient Plus Alternative MLS awards; Pique’s 36-year-old rival; the best Champions League goal ever

PERFORMANCE

121 Pilates and how it can make you a better footballer 124 Scott Parker’s masterclass in consistency 130 Tom Cleverley on the perfect gym session Plus Perform without your star player; get your full-back in position; play into your forties

8 January 2012 FourFourTwo.com WWI truce match p106

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JA NUARY 2012

100BESTPLAYERSINTHEWORLD

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“I’dgiven everythingfor Arsenal.Now I’vecomehome”