Football Dynasty-Chapter 35: Day One With Pundit Richard

Sporting success or failure is often a matter of perspective. One person's collapse can be another's triumph, and these boundaries shift over time.

England lost every game in the 1988 European Championship—a clear failure. But that's only part of the story. As always, context is everything.

The bookies had been swayed by emotional betting and the lingering sense of injustice from England's exit in Mexico '86.

The press agreed, with several newspapers tipping England not only to advance from the group but to win it all. Pundits were slightly more measured, but with Richard's antagonism and betrayal, most felt England should comfortably sweep through until at least their match against the Netherlands.

Two wins—or a win and a draw—would have put them in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals. But reality taught them a harsh lesson.

"Playing against Ireland and the Soviet Union, teams stacked with players from the First Division, there was no fear of the unknown. They had completely underestimated the situation."

Richard said, wearing a crisp navy suit, with a patterned tie—bold but not garish—resting neatly against his white shirt, the knot precise, as if tied with practiced ease.

His black hair, slicked back with just the right amount of product, gleamed under the studio lights.

The set hummed with the quiet energy of pre-broadcast preparations—papers shuffled, microphones adjusted. Richard was in his element.

BBC and ITV.

These two channels were central to the television football commentary scene in 1980s, with BBC dominating highlights and ITV offering live game coverage.

It wasn't something that could be hidden: the fact that Richard had made a bet. Football was all anyone in Britain could talk about. The excitement was palpable, and the stakes couldn't have been higher.

Rumors had circulated for weeks, but now it was confirmed.

Word had spread quickly that Richard had wagered an enormous sum, something well beyond the normal reach of even the most committed bettors. It was said that the money he stood to gain from the bet amounted to £10,000,000—a fortune that could change everything.

With that revelation, his reputation was set ablaze. His football knowledge was still there, but now, he was applying it in a different arena—placing bets, off the pitch.

Fans, bettors, bookmakers, other pundits, and even politicians, like those at the FA, were all tuning in. Everyone connected to the England national team was now watching the television, waiting for the analysis, predictions, and even his criticism—if he had any.

Program Title: Match of the Day: Euro 88 Special

BBC's Match of the Day was the leading football highlights show, with pundits such as Jimmy Hill, Alan Hansen, and Mark Lawrenson offering expert analysis on the top matches. This was the go-to show for English football commentary.

(Cue BBC theme music as the show transitions back after a break)

Alan Hansen (in his characteristic, calm voice):"Welcome back to Match of the Day, where we bring you the best from Euro 88. Now, let's turn our attention to the England match—it's been a tough tournament so far, and there's plenty to talk about..."

(The show then cuts to highlights, showing key moments of the match with energetic crowd noises and iconic commentary, from John Motson or Barry Davies)

(After the highlights reel, the camera cuts back to the studio)

Mark Lawrenson (chiming in with his trademark dry wit):"Well, Alan, we saw plenty of effort there, but it's not just about running around, is it? England really need to be more clinical in front of goal if they're going to make it through."

Jimmy Hill (adding his more tactical perspective):"Absolutely, Mark. What I noticed was the way England failed to press high enough on the opposition—it's something that's going to be crucial if they're going to get results in this tournament."

Alan Hansen (nodding):"Right. And as we've seen, the real danger comes from not taking your chances. That's where England will need to improve if they want to keep progressing."

Mark Lawrenson (pointing out a crucial detail):"And don't forget the defensive side of things. Even though England has been creating chances, they've been caught out on the counter a few times, and that's something to be addressed before the next match."

(After the match highlights and pundit discussion, the camera cuts to the studio, where the host introduces a special guest)

Alan Hansen (smiling): "Now, we've got something a bit different for you tonight. We're joined by Richard Maddox, the Fortune Maker, known for his uncanny predictions and sharp insight. Richard, welcome to Match of the Day."

Richard never expected to be invited by the BBC.

When Fay informed him that they had reached out for an interview, he was genuinely surprised. His first instinct was to decline, not wanting to stir up any more trouble, but after thinking it through, the offer was too significant to pass up.

After several discussions with his family, Richard ultimately decided to go ahead with the interview. This was his chance to explain himself, to provide context for why he had lost faith in the Three Lions.

It was an opportunity to set the record straight and show that, despite what others might think, he wasn't the villain in this situation.

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Richard Maddox: "Thanks for having me, Alan. It's great to be here."

Alan Hansen (curious): "We're glad to see you back in the world of English football, Richard. Before we dive into Euro 88, we're all curious—after your retirement, it seemed like you were ready to return, but in a different role. What was going through your mind back then?"

Richard Maddox (shrugging): "Well, I'm sure you've heard about it in the media. Yes, I did have a stint with Manchester City—worked as a youth coach and scout for a while."

Alan Hansen (leaning in, intrigued): "Any chance we'll see you back in a bigger role? Maybe as a manager, or something along those lines?"

Richard Maddox (shaking his head, refusing to comment): "I'm focused on enjoying life at the moment, but who knows what the future holds. For now, it feels great just to be back involved with football in any capacity.

Alan Hansen (nodding thoughtfully): "I see. Well, let's shift gears a bit. England's performance at Euro 88 has been a hot topic, and we've heard a lot of noise recently, with some even claiming you made a fortune betting against England. What's your take on their performance? What went wrong in your opinion?"

Richard Maddox (straightening his back): "I've always been a realist. When you look at England's squad and the way things were shaping up..." Richard paused.

The camera light blinked red. The show was live. Richard could feel the weight of the moment. He knew the backlash would come, but he welcomed it.

Richard Maddox (honestly): "Let's stop pretending. This wasn't bad luck. It wasn't just a tough group. England were outclassed. Outthought. Outworked. And frankly, they got exactly what they deserved."

Indeed, he had no interest in restraint. Leaning forward, he tapped the desk for emphasis.

An uproar of shock rippled through the studio. Even the cameraman, who had been focused on the set, glanced toward the direction booth.

The Executive Producer, momentarily taken aback, quickly waved his hand, signaling for the show to continue live.

All seasoned pundits and host, were stunned. From his perspective, even before Euro 88 began, it was clear that England had no real chance.

Alan Hansen (after a brief pause, trying to steer the conversation): "Well... you certainly don't mince words. But looking at it from the inside, do you think there's anything England could have done differently? Any changes that could've made a difference?"

Richard Maddox (sighing, his tone softer): "Impossible. Even if you switch from a 4-5-1 to a 5-4-1, or even a 6-3-1, or 4-3-3, England had no chance. Even if Peter Beardsley hadn't been injured, they still stood no chance from the beginning."

He had truly not held back.

Alan Hansen (nodding thoughtfully): "Well, that's certainly a strong opinion, Richard. But let's bring in Jimmy and Mark here. Jimmy, you've seen England go through their fair share of ups and downs over the years. What do you make of Richard's assessment?"

Jimmy Hill (shaking his head): "I can't fully agree with some of what Richard's saying. I think it's a bit harsh to place the blame entirely on England. Yes, they were outclassed at times, but Euro was always going to be a tough tournament."

Mark Lawrenson (leaning forward, joining in): "True. Football's a game of moments, and sometimes those moments just don't go your way. The opposition was excellent, and England didn't get the breaks they needed."

The atmosphere in the studio was thick with tension.

Richard's frankness seemed to be cutting through the usual calm demeanor that pundits always showed on TV. Now, everyone was focused on capturing the intensity of the conversation.

Richard Maddox (sighing in resignation): "See? Even if it's bad decisions, bad tactics, bad preparation—in the end, they didn't get enough breaks, whatever the excuse. What do you expect in a world-class tournament like Euro? A free pass? If you're not executing at the highest level, you're not going to beat the best. It's as simple as that."

Mark Lawrenson (frowning): "And what do you mean by bad decisions, bad tactics, bad preparation? Are you saying that Mr. Robson isn't enough to take charge of the England national team?"

A sense of discomfort crept in. People present could feel the intensity building, especially with Richard's direct remarks challenging someone as respected as their current England manager.

Jimmy Hill (interjecting, trying to ease the tension): "Mark, let's not jump to conclusions. Richard's point, I think, is about the collective issues. It's not about Robson persona—"

Richard Maddox (waving his hand dismissively): "No, no, that's okay. Let me explain. First, bad decisions. Let me be frank—has anyone here, or anyone at home, seen ITV's The Big Match?"

The Big Match was a British football television programme, aired on ITV between 1968 and 1992, with Elton Welsby as the main presenter, and Jim Rosenthal sometimes acting as a touchline reporter and interviewer.

The studio fell into silence. What was he bringing up now?

Richard Maddox (seriously): "Before the tournament started, instead of focusing on the job at hand, they had the audacity to invite Jim Rosenthal to film a documentary and pose in front of cameras. I mean, where did they get their confidence from?"

Mark Lawrenson (still unconvinced): "But Richard, you can't just blame that. We've done things like that plenty of times before. It's not exactly a new approach, so I'm not sure your accusation is entirely relevant."

Richard Maddox (throwing his hands up in frustration): "Look, being relaxed and confident is one thing, but overconfidence is another. You saw it, right? Kenny Sansom was asked to do impressions of Frank Spencer and Ronald Reagan. You saw it, didn't you? And now I'm asking, where did this misplaced confidence come from? Are they underestimating the quality of this tournament, thinking Republic of Ireland and Soviet Union were just a side show?"

Everyone was stunned into silence. However, Richard wasn't done.

He stood up, and walked towards the chalkboard.

"Now, let's delve into tactics," he said.