It’s disturbing that it’s as easy to write about off-the-pitch stories as it is about those on it. Fifty years ago footballers were taking public transport and cycling to 3pm games on a Saturday afternoon. Now their Bentleys and Ferraris would almost run over the fans just to ensure a few extra minutes walking around […]
I’m usually quite grounded when it comes to the tribal nature of football. Crossing the Merseyside divide, traversing the North London battle lines or exchanging colours in Glasgow will usually earn you abuse from your former employer’s fans as well as a proportion of your new supporters. As a Tottenham fan, having a former Arsenal […]
Monday 2nd August I don’t need to convince anybody – I just do my job. I have a couple more years on my contract and that’s it, I’m an Arsenal player. – Manuel Almunia: Sunday 15th August Monday 16th August To be honest, it is so difficult to concentrate because Arsenal is a big club […]
Is a move for former England right-back Luke Young a sign of how far Liverpool have fallen or a sign that the consistent and respected defender is finally getting his just rewards? If all goes to plan the former Tottenham and Charlton player will move from Aston Villa to Anfield for £2.5m – a sum […]
I don’t know why I held off writing this piece when Roy Hodgson’s move to Liverpool has been the worst kept secret since Dickie Rock removed his wig. Liverpool announced today that the former Fulham boss signed a three-year deal to become their new manager and his first task will be to convince the club’s […]
Martin O’Neill has said he will not take a Liverpool bid for his services lying down. The Irishman was named as 6/4 favourite for the manager’s role at Anfield after Rafa Benitez left by mutual consent on Thursday. But after rebuffing repeated attempts by Liverpool to sign his captain Gareth Barry in 2008 and 2009, […]
Dogma. A settled or established opinion, belief, or principle. I had a dogmatic belief that Harry Redknapp was bad news for Tottenham. I told you in October 2008, January 2009 and had a good go him and our flops after the embarrassment of a 2-3 League Cup defeat to Burnley. By April 2009 I offered him a smidgen of credit but it […]
1. Coyle springs in to action Is it a sideways move for Owen Coyle to join Bolton from Burnley, a stepping stone to bigger things (Aston Villa, eventually?) or is the young manager destined to bounce around teams like Burnley, Bolton, Blackburn and Birmingham until he joins long-term unemployed such as Roy Evans, David O’Leary […]
After a few months off for ‘logistical’ reasons, Five Things returns with absolutely nothing new to say at all. 1. Roberto Mancity Bloody foreigners, coming over here, stealing our women and jobs. I’m not sure if Mrs Hughes was part of the deal but Roberto Mancini certainly did take Mark’s job at Manchester City. The […]
1. Rafa creates a schism Rafa Benitez is not going through anything right now that his peers haven’t already endured. An historical look through the message boards and football websites will show many calls for the heads of Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger during their teams leaner days. Manchester United went three seasons without a title […]
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