Leicester City FC and the English Premier League

Firstly, there are fanzines. Many fanzines have been club based, often to the horror of club directors. Some, such as When Saturday Comes, cover the whole game. Either way, they have been a radical force, entering the political fray on behalf of the fans themselves. Unfortunately, they are currently in decline. But it is quite possible that fanzines, perhaps in a more technological media guise - podcasts, blogs, video - will rise again to challenge the excesses of the boardrooms.

Secondly, there is Football Manager, the game formerly known as Championship Manager. This game has increased fans' knowledge of the value of players, and of the financing, economics and logistics of the football business in general. Fans are smarter as a result of Football Manager. And a smarter audience can bring the best out of the actors on the stage. Clubs are businesses, yet they are influenced by their fans, all the more so when those fans are self-organised and informed.

The dark arts of Football Manager have also spread to the clubs themselves. A fascinating Guardian article by Simon Parkin cites top-flight players who play - and are influenced by - Football Manager. In addition, Parkin writes, real-world clubs and managers have taken up Football Manager, not only to use its huge data base, but also to develop additional football know how. This is particularly helpful for those clubs outside the elite group. They have less money from TV rights, and therefore need to make it count.

For football clubs and fans alike, knowledge of the logistics of football is taking on a new importance, increasing the chances that this season will not turn out to be an exception.