Watch and learn: The real secret to becoming a master

You can observe a lot just by watching,” the quote machine that is Yoggi Berra offered and reading a book on and with Dennis Bergkamp in recent days, we’re guessing the Dutchman would agree.

His touch was many things — soft, elegant, masterful, simply the best football has ever known, according to the book itself — but not a gift.

Instead it was something Bergkamp developed during his Amsterdam childhood. Though he’d later play for Arsenal, he was once a big fan of Spurs — or at least of Glenn Hoddle and his capacity to kill a ball in the air.