Almanack

READERS of the football magazine When Saturday Comes have been pondering the correct metrical form of the Japanese 17-syllable haiku, a challenge that has vexed scholars and poets for centuries. Des Ferguson favours the free form:

Steve

MacManamanamanamanamana manaman

Great name. Alan Davies inclines to the stricter classical 5-7-5 syllabic formation:

Half-time, goal-less draw

Graham replaces Limpar

With fourth centre half.