Race For the Title and Other Tittle Tattle

It’s not over I certainly don’t want to add to the great Sky hype machine but this weekend’s Premier League race could go down to the closing minutes. I did suggest during my relegation preview in February that Wigan could give Man United a problem if they needed a win to stay up on the […]

The Chelsea revival – in spite of themselves

What a week for Av Grant and his Chelsea stars. Following John Arne Riise’s spectacularly funny 95th minute own-goal last Tuesday – a goal that made Chelsea slight favourites to reach the Champions League final – they recorded a just-about deserved league win over Manchester United on Saturday. It was a predictable sight for sore […]

Javier have not a clue

A watershed? Football fans were hoping that Ashley Cole’s disrespect of referee Mike Riley last week would be a watershed moment for the game. Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano didn’t seem to get the message after an embarrassing loss of self-control on Grand Slam Sunday. With his team trailing 0-1 to Manchester United, Mascherano raced 30 yards […]

English domination is lucrative, even in defeat

Sky have just signed a £240m deal with UEFA to screen more Champions League games than ever from 2009 to 2012.  Under the terms of the deal they will now show qualifiers live (we’re all looking forward to F91 Dudelange versus MSK Zilina) and only one game will be made available to terrestrial TV viewers […]

Who is the Chelsea manager?

It was mildly amusing to me when I found myself flying during the Carling Cup final on Sunday, missing Spurs 2-1 win over Chelsea. The last time they were in the final – the 2002 defeat to Blackburn – I also found myself 38,000 feet over ground. I’ve just booked flights to co-incide with the […]

To Hull and Back

TO HULL AND BACK As the flood waters rose and then disappeared down the drains again, they left behind a little surprise package in Hull – none other than former Middlesbrough legend, Juninho. “Juninho was very impressed … and it’s obvious that Hull are gearing up to get into the Premier League,” bleated his agent […]

I feel good

The feel good factor There’s a lot to be said for the feel good factor in life. Warm weather, wealth, health, all that good stuff. It all makes for a very happy existence. It exists in football too and clubs that have it have got a distinct advantage over clubs that don’t. What’s become clear […]