As 2018 draws to a close and one looks back at the events of the past 12 months, perhaps it is necessary – considering what he has achieved in that time – for a few people to revisit their view of Emiliano Sala. For much of his career, he has been a figure of fun for many in the French football fraternity. A tall, gangly striker with little in the way of a good first touch or control of the ball, often missing makeable chances when well-positioned, and displaying very little in the way of subtlety. He has even been referred to in some quarters as a cult hero – not necessarily a good thing for a centre-forward who should usually fit the straight-forward hero mould, rather than the more tongue-in-cheek version.