Johnathan Starling

Chelsea's first leg clash with Juventus is all about one man, Claudio Ranieri. The manager who was first fired by Roman at Chelsea, after getting one season, knew he was a lame duck and insists the fact he didn't give up shows the character he has. For a man who thinks he did ok, he […]

Well the next two days will be most interesting viewing. The time has come and gone for words, the threats and promises manager and player alike have made now have to turn into results. That doesn't mean we can't look at what is being said ahead of the Champions League to come. The big war […]

You would think Rafa Benitez would have already learned his lesson. Instead Rafa is left to choke on more words, and a title dream lost. Before Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Manchester City, Rafa reacted to Arsene Wenger's comments that Manchester United were untouchable. "I can only talk of my team but I don't think they […]

For seventy minutes at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City and Portsmouth football clubs were getting very close to contending for my 'worst match ever watched' title. The last twenty minutes redeemed it. When it's all said and done we will remember one thing from today's match between Stoke City and Portsmouth, the penalty that should […]

Saturday 7:45 am ET Aston Villa v Chelsea (Live Setanta Sports). Guus Hiddink has had a week with Chelsea, and he gets thrown right into the fire with an away trip to third place Aston Villa. Villa at home have only lost twice...but have five draws in the process while Chelsea have shown they can […]

Sorry Drogba, but I have to call BS on this one. After spending this season doing more sulking than any professional football player should be allowed to do by law, and in a week where Marseille's president has said he wants Drogba back, Didier Drogba has attempted to shut people up by saying he wants […]

I wonder why Sir Alex Ferguson waited until tonight to say what he said, when he had every opportunity to do so last week. Then again, he always has had a knack for waiting until the points were in the bag before opening his mouth (see Kevin Keegan and Rafa Benitez). Fergie waited to damn […]

Now that Eduardo is back, I was expecting this one. Last year when the injury happened, we got headlines galore about no apology being made. Tonight, that same headline is back. Of course there is two sides to every story, and Martin Taylor certainly has his. He claims to have done everything to apologize after […]

I have to admit this is one return I am glad to see. After getting match fit in the reserves, and helping Croatia to a friendly victory, Eduardo Da Silva returned to the Arsenal starting eleven in glorious fashion Monday night as his two goals blasted Arsenal into the fifth round of the FA Cup […]

John Kerr Interview On Episode 111 of the EPL Talk Podcast, Johnathan Starling interviews John Kerr, the first American to play in the old English first division. We discuss what it was like to be a kid around the New York Cosmos during the days of Pele, what made him decide to play college soccer […]

Is there anything Tim Cahill can't do? Tim Cahill's week defines the word jet lag. From Liverpool to Japan for a World Cup Qualifier. His performance for Australia wasn't exactly great, then again neither was Australia's. Cahill had to be thankful Everton's FA Cup tie against Aston Villa was on Sunday, I don't think he […]

Blackburn Rovers have to consider themselves fortunate they are looking at a Ricoh Arena replay instead of losing in front of the most faithful of the faithful at Ewood Park. After Roque Santa Cruz put Blackburn ahead inside of ninety seconds, two second half goals from the Sky Blues should have been enough. But the […]

FA Cup Saturday 7:45 am Swansea City v Fulham (Live Setanta Sports). Swansea's first game at home in this season's competition sees them host Fulham, who's only wins this season away have been in the FA Cup. Swansea have more draws than wins at the Liberty Stadium and are close to the playoff places in […]

It took a couple of days, but the rift in the Chelsea dressing room seems to have finally made it out onto the public forum of the press. It all had to start with John Terry, doing his best to absolve his blame in Scolari's sacking by saying he was behind the manager 100 percent, […]

CONCACAF World Cup Qualification begins the home stretch tonight as round one of the hexagonal begins and what a clash to start out with. The weather is miserable, but not cold in Columbus and the United States only have Mexico to contend with. Can the United States get off on the right foot? Will this […]