That’s why the most popular sport on the planet — the teams, the managers, the players, sometimes even the ball boys — are fixated on picking the brains of other sporting behemoths as they search for every micro-advantage imaginable. 

Antonio Conte famously visited Eddie Jones' England squad "to gain inspiration and tactical ideas" as he stormed to the title in his first season at Chelsea in 2016/17

Eddie Howe goes out of his way to remind people he is a big believer in the All Black's no dickheads policy — presumably speaking about his squad, rather than the ownership. 

Even the multiple series D funded, "greatest of our time", Pep, has been seen chewing the ears off the Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, having hijacking a post-season photo-op earlier this year.

As they search for an edge, one has to wonder how, of all moments across the history of all sports, Yerson Mosquera, Wolves defender, settled on John Hopoate's 2001 NRL moment as THE moment to soak up when faced with an opening day Premier League fixture against the competition's annual bottlers. 

* * *

While there is no doubt Seadog Saints' Manager, Adam Ogle, will cry to the heavens about the yellow card Jesus received for his reaction in falling victim to The Hopoate, even he will know that as he and Kev prop up the table, there are bigger things to worry about than fingers in bums. 

Gameweek two is upon us.

Game on. 

State of play: 

Top 3: Danny Eaton (69 points), Jon Bailey (69 points), Casey Ferrier (66 points)

Bottom 3: Kevin McCormick (33 points), Adam Ogle (40 points), Andrew Couper (43 points)

Selection of the week: Aaron Richmond making Mo Salah captain of Haaland Down Under's opening day 11: 10/10 

After a few false starts and the engine roared into life. The plane — held back initially by boulders placed carefully under each wheel, and restrained by local farmers at the rear — was soon off. It taxied for what seemed like an age, holding the middle of the road, before rising into the air.

135m later the plane took a sharp left, crashing, coming to a halt atop a dry gorse bush.

The pilot’s name was Richard Pearse, New Zealander, first man to fly a plane in the world.

Sometimes, though, even when you think you win, you lose. For, eight months after Richard’s gravity defying moment, it was the Wright brothers in the look-at-us-USA and not in little old Aotearoa, who “won” the title of first to fly a plane.

* * *

Rumour has it Pearce was an Arsenal fan — a club that was, at the time, based in their spiritual home south of the Thames and playing in the London League of Division Two, and sporting their original name, Woolwich Arsenal.

It certainly brings a tear to the eye to know that up there in the sky, far higher than he ever flew on the monumental Monday morning, Richard enjoyed a front row seat, a bird’s-eye view, of the Premier League last season as his beloved Woolwich Arsenal — having lead the league for 93% of the season — duly swerving off course and landed in a bush.

History may be written by the victors. But football is covered by The Tactical Yellow.

Welcome to the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League season, for the next 38 Gameweeks you’ll be treated, some may say subjected, to a running commentary of all things football — mostly it will be nonsense, but, much like when facing a Mourinho low-block, the ability to see space through bodies, to obtain peace despite the noise, is a skill to separate the winners from the dreamers.

Game on.