If only in hindsight eh, Ramos?

Remember July? It was a few months back, the world was a bright, sunny place (for an hour and eight minutes) and all the talk was of the dawning of another glorious Spurs era. We stared in awe as images of their macho beach training programme came thundering through our office letterbox. It looked so modern, this technique, and we even joked at the time about how their vigorous workout involved “beach frolicking, diving into waves, waxing, bumping chests, cocktails, and disco dancing” - this was before the days of political correctness, you understand.

But, honestly, who’s laughing now? No one. Managers, put this on the record - pre-season training is a serious business. You wouldn’t catch Fergie and his guys prancing joyously through fields, or Scolari taking Lampsie, JT and Drog-Drog to a bouncy castle. Or Benitez watching Kuyt and Agger playing skateboards etc…