David Ackerman

Manchester City’s new ownership sent chairman Garry Cook, brimming with billions, to build a super-club capable of Champions League qualification. The club’s £91m bid for Kaka was a noted fiasco, but, as details have emerged, that’s hardly been their only activity. City reportedly made an equally irresponsible bid for Spain and Valencia star David Villa, […]

Arsenal have a flawed squad, abundant injuries and a pint-sized transfer budget. To compete for the top four they must supplement themselves, and apparently must do so cost-effectively. A simple measure, and one which would cost nothing, would be to recall Armand Traoré from his loan at Portsmouth. Traoré primarily has been seen in the […]

This team would win neither titles nor plaudits. But, they certainly would entertain. They may even possibly scare small children. Without further delay, here is the most follically challenged/enlightened team in the English Premier League. Manager: Joe Kinnear (Newcastle) Joe Kinnear is old school and tempestuous, his hair coincides. It’s a mullet. It’s a bird’s […]

Fans, pundits and fellow players considered Kieran Richardson lazy, inadequate and many other unfortunate synonyms when he was at Manchester United. He made only 41 league appearances in five seasons at the club, scoring just two goals. Richardson’s £5.5 signing seemed at the time a misguided move by Roy Keane in the summer of 2007. […]

One year ago, Fulham was arguably the worst team in the Premier League not named Derby. The club showed little holiday spirit, sacking Lawrie Sanchez just four days before Christmas. New manager Roy Hodgson needed a great escape, scraping to 36 points and safety on the season’s final day. This season, however, Hodgson has revolutionized […]

After accepting a sordid envelope with £20m for “Lass” Diarra, Portsmouth rejected shrewd dealer Harry Redknapp’s £30m overture for Jermain Defoe, Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch. Pompey then lessened Defoe’s value markedly, by announcing they would sell him for a fair price. “It looks like Jermain wants to go,” Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie said. […]

Poker is all about competition. Its rush stems from the risk, reward, guile and ultimate satisfaction from conquering an opponent and, of course, the money. It sounds an awful lot like professional football, so it’s not a great surprise that footballers would peruse the top poker sites or know where to find the best poker […]

Neither a flying pizza nor a kick in the shin could fell him, but Sir Alex Ferguson is 66-years-old. He will retire at some point. Manchester United manager for 22 years, Ferguson’s teams have won 10 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League Finals. His run must, eventually, end, possibly after serving […]

FA chairman David Treisman mentioned introducing a salary cap, to combat the “very tangible dangers” of the current financial climate. Premier League clubs have a combined £3 billion of debt. But, is wage expenditure really the most prominent issue? Yes, players make an absurd amount of money for wearing short pants and playing a […]

Mee-lan look set to make Emmanuel Adebayor their newest signing, sending Arsene Wenger scouring for replacements. The Boss may like the cut of Peter Crouch’s under-rated jib, but not for £15m. Expect Tottenham to outbid themselves by £3m on him, just to be safe. (Football 365) Arsene may actually have his sights on Sporting starlet […]

The French participated in Euro 2008, but only in name. Their performance was a still, lifeless damp squib. The blame lies with one man, Raymond Domenech.France missed their renowned number 10, but, more pressing was the lack of any number 10 in Domenech’s formation. The French used a depressed 4-4-2, with two holding midfielders and […]

FIFA recently approved the “6+5 rule” in a 155-5 vote among member nations. The rule would mandate that clubs field at least six players from the nation in which they play. By targeting wealthy clubs, particularly English ones, buying foreign players, FIFA feels they would revive national teams and achieve greater parity. This policy would […]

If the papers were to believed, Arsene Wenger would have a Solomonesque Harem of young studs at his disposal. However, the rumors of OM star Samir Nasri moving on up to the Emirates seem to have some juice. Nasri, 20, recently signed a four-year deal with Marseilles. But, the deal contains a £13.5 million buyout […]

Manchester United defeated Wigan 2-0 to win their second consecutive Premier League title. The brace flowed fittingly for this season. The young generation won it, with Cristiano Ronaldo deftly slotting in a penalty. The older generation sealed it with Ryan Giggs, in his record-tying 750th appearance for United, touching in a through-ball from Rooney. The […]

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro "the snarling dog" Gattuso has admitted his desire to play in the English Premier League, potentially next season. Gattuso, 30, previously played in Britain for Scottish side Rangers and has an English speaking wife. He has been rumored in the past to be a target of Manchester United.