Not many people would have likened Ian Clarke to Ruud Gullit. Certainly not as managers of top London footballing outfits at any rate. There are, of course, certain playing similarities : both are two-footed, both are good in the air, both have explosve pace, both have eccentric hair-styles and both controversially failed to appear for their respective countries in World Cup finals (Gullit in 94, Clarke in 66, 70, 82, 86 and 90). But now as both approach the twilight of their playing careers (only kidding Clarkey!), it is this pair that are spear-heading a two pronged revolution in English football. Gone is the reliance on solid, dependable, slightly overweight, English grit and determination, to be replaced by the quick, intelligent and technical approach of the continental.

Gullit has been restricted in available funds and limited to an over-age, balding, Italian has-been, a topically named but frankly over-rated French defender (only a handful of goals so far), and some other Italian non-entity, obviously mistaken for world-class Liverpool defender D. Matteo. In contrast, Logica's recent financial successes have enabled Clarke to go out and purchase the cream of European talent. First to get the chance to join the legendary Logica stable, was sophisticated Italian libero Manlio Trovata, widely tipped to assume the Baresi mantle now that the Milan superstar has retired from international football. Next in, was Swiss star, Oliver "Fat Oll" Plane, acquired in a multi-million pound deal with Servette of Geneva. Accompanying him was the other star of BAM FC's great championship winning sides of the mid-nineties, legendary Greek Cypriot wing-back, Akis Xenophontos. Pre-season freindlies had already demonstrated the abilities of other star signings Henry See Toh, Thang Sam and Deryck Pritchard. The final piece in the Clarke's cosmopolitan jigsaw was Dutch ace Rene Oude Vrielink, so impressed by England's performance against Holland in the 1996 Logica World Cup match that he immediately sought a transfer "at any cost". Although Oude Vrielink (or 'Interim' as he is more enigmatically known in his home country) was unavailable for this game due to prior night-clubbing commitments, optimism for the season ahead was at an unprecedented high.

For about two minutes anyway. That is how long it took the new-look Logica side to pick up exactly where the old one left off last season and concede an early goal. By the quarter hour mark, comparisons with 'Arry Redknapp were imminent, as the multi-lingual Logica side faced a three goal deficit by virtue of two further Labour strikes. But Clarke is made of sterner stuff, and his faith in his new expensive imports was justified as familiarity grew and some impressive passing moves begin to take shape. Chances were created and cracks began to appear in the Labour strategy. It was Abbott, ironically one of the token Englishmen in the team, who finally took advantage, intercepting a poor pass across the back and heading straight for goal. Rather than just putting the ball in the net, Abbott opted to fanny about a bit first, letting two defenders catch him up before dummying, cutting inside and curling one in at the far post. It's not clever you know.

Within minutes Logica were right back in the game as further pressure found Labour in utter confusion at the back, with the result that Sam's dangerous cross could only be cleared with the aid of a hand. Abbott converted the penalty in relatively straight-forward fashion, although Woolhouse was lucky not to be penalised when in his enthusiasm to follow up, he actually found himself in an offside position when the ball was struck.

Logica nearly completed an incredible comeback when Woolhouse had a double chance shortly afterwards. Played clear, his near perfect cross shot struck a post. A hasty clearance merely went skywards, and Abbott touched the returning satellite straight back to Woolhouse whose second shot was only a couple of inches wider of the mark. On such wisps of fate do games turn on a sixpence. A minute before half-time Logica conceded a fourth goal from a corner, as they again failed to deal with a high cross.

In the second half Logica did not show belief in being able to win the game, especially after a spectacular, unstoppable Labour fifth goal restored their three goal advantage. However Logica gave as good as they got, and gave an impressive Battersea side some nervy moments. Toman had a blistering shot which fizzed inches over the bar, and Plane missed the left-hand post by a similar margin after Woolhouse had just failed to get on the end of an Abbott through-ball. Finally the pass of the day from Woolhouse set Abbott clear, but in choosing power over fannying about, Abbott narrowly missed a chance he should have tucked away. As one might have predicted after so many near misses, it was Labour who had the last word, and with Logica pressing for a consolation goal they broke clear and added a sixth.

A depressing scoreline on the face of it, but the verdict afterwards was up-beat, and the match was voted probably the most impressive 2-6 defeat in Logica FC's long history. With the fresh European talent combining to produce good football and numerous chances, it cannot be long before Logica improve on their rate of exchange in the single football currency that is goals.