Blaine Tulley

I have a big problem with Liverpool's new sponsor. While I'm glad to see a deal that will provide the club with £80m over the next four years, and while the hope that new stadium plans and healthier transfer budgets will emerge gets me giddy... it's Standard Chartered Bank... I can't drink it during matchtime. […]

I was a little concerned coming into the last fixture. It wasn't because Burnley has already beaten United and Everton. It wasn't because Burnley aren't afraid to attack. I saw these things as healthy signs for Liverpool. Liverpool usually do well against attacking sides. And Liverpool have a habit of playing to the level of […]

Lennon's cross arcs over the box. It hones in on Steven Gerrard who waits just outside the crowd. He jumps, coils his neck and smashes the ball toward goal. His header flies down into the net. 2-0 to England. I'm an American, but I still get chills when Gerrard scores for his country. His header […]

In 2005, Michael Shields was convicted by a Bulgarian court for the attempted murder of a barman after Liverpool's Champions League victory in Istanbul. Between a jail in Bulgaria and Thorn Cross prison in Chesire, England, Shields, now 22, has spent the last four years behind bars. But, today, his 15 year sentance has been […]

Admiral Capello strides onto the bridge. "Status report, Lieutenant Rooney!" he shouts. Rooney is grim. "The Croatians have boarded the ship, Sir," he says. "They've already scored two goals." "I see," says Capello. He turns to his chief defensive officer. "Mr Neville raise all shields in the back. I don't want anything else getting through. […]

Before Saturday, I remained undecided on whether or not FIFA should add two more officials to the mix. But since England won the surreal penalty against Slovenia, I find myself tipping in the direction of adding the extra officials. In one of the more eye-popping Did-That-Really-Just-Happen moments I've seen in a while, Wayne Rooney managed […]

I've said elsewhere: there's something about old top flight stalwarts. I'm excited to see Wolves and Burnley up in the top flight again. (Birmingham have come up every other season since I've been watching so that seems too routine to be thrilling.) I'd love to see a club like Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace or […]

UEFA handed Arsenal's Eduardo a two-match ban for diving against Celtic, a simulation that won the Gunners a penalty. FIFA have now banned Chelsea FC from signing any new players until January 2011 since it's been revealed Chelsea induced Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007. Kakuta now plays for Chelsea's youth […]

I found myself pondering Arsene Wenger's accusations of Sir Alex and United employing "Anti-Football". I've always been bemused by that term. Here are my (somewhat wandering) thoughts on the matter. What is this "Anti-Football"? Is it the opposite of the legendary Dutch concept of Total Football? Can we establish a spectrum where Anti-Football is at […]

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Eduardo steamed into the box. He shot past two Celtic defenders. Boruc charged out from his goal and slid to the ground but quickly realized he couldn't get to the ball. Boruc put on the brakes. His foot slid behind Eduardo and his arm bent back, clear of the striker. But Eduardo's body jerked forward as if […]

Last season Manchester United rarely looked their team-devouring best. They often struggled against the stubborn brick walls put up by sides they used to rout. They didn't dominate so much as scrape out the clutch wins. Loads of late goals in tight matches. Loads of slim margins. It wasn't a season of pure stellar performance, yet points are points and United […]

I have football-curious friends who want to come to the pub and watch Liverpool with me. So they say. See, they think watching Liverpool with me will be like watching regular season MLB, NBA or NFL games with me. That I'll be conversational. That I'll crack a lot of jokes. That I'll make plenty of eye contact. That I'll be that […]

When I first started watching English football, I rarely got to watch the league matches live. I worked in a bar with no TVs. My friends George and Noel would bring us VHS tapes of the weekend matches. George taped the Setanta matches and my Noel taped the FSC matches (often tacking on Sopranos episodes from HBO after each match). The […]

Last week I made my Premier League New Year's Resolutions. One of which was to watch more of the matches. So on day one of the new season I trekked down to the pub to catch most of the Saturday fixtures (at least the ones being televised in the States). The Chelsea/Hull match was early […]