Mark Burke

With the huge influx of money and the most ordinary players going for sums that a few years ago would have raised questions in the Houses of Parliament, this new shiny, glossy and bundles of cash Premier League season promises to be one of the most fascinating in recent history. Will Pep get it right […]

Leeds United, one of the great football institutions, have been in the news a lot lately – more through off the field need than on. I was at their game on Saturday against Birmingham City when they brought their usual healthy and loyal following to a 12.15pm kick off. I'm glad to know that new owner […]

Idealism laced with a liberal dose of reality seems to be what Louis van Gaal has injected into the veins of his Dutch players in this World Cup. There are still the traces of 'Dutchness' in the crisp movement of the ball, the patience, the positioning and efficiency but this is laced with the practical […]

In the 2010 World Cup, Netherlands went with the intention of playing winning football. Tired of the "beautiful defeat," the squad set out on a mission to do what was necessary to win and ended up within an inch of claiming the ultimate prize. This time, Louis van Gaal has implemented a new system to […]

Root and Branch? Greg Dykes Commission? St George's Park? Anything or anybody else you can think of to help the national team? I feel like I fell asleep 30 years ago and have just woken up. Inquests, rage, disappointment and resignation. England have under performed again and the nation is having its say. "Too many […]

One hundred and eighty minutes is all it takes to send a nation into despair. Watching England against Uruguay was a confusing experience. Knowing you are watching some very good players but feeling there is something missing, something not quite right. Just like everybody else, I've been enthralled by this World Cup, enthralled by the […]

Last night's defeat against Italy leaves England with a must-win next game against Uruguay but there were many positive things to take from this for the next match and for the future. The "Pirlo question" — a player who causes England so many problems — was still not fully dealt with. This time, his influence was […]

Historic. Shocking. Amazing. Unbelievable. It's no exaggeration that all of these words are applicable when talking about the Netherlands-Spain game especially because the whole of the Netherlands had virtually written off their chances of even getting out of the group. Soccer. This wonderful, crazy and inexplicable game turns on moments. Moments of skill. Moments of […]

Editor's note: This is the first article for EPL Talk written by former professional footballer Mark Burke. Mark played for several clubs in England, most notably Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Plus he played overseas in the Dutch Eredivisie, J2 League and has the distinction of being the first English footballer ever to play in […]

After a season bordering on perfection, a refreshing thirst for change is in the air around the Camp Nou. It is good to see that Txiki Begiristain and the clubs board have learned from the mistakes made in the latter parts of the Rijkaard era. Instead of holding on to some of the more fragile […]

Since we are approaching the end of a decade, and since it's summer,I thought I would offer up my La Liga Team of the decade. I set my team based on the best actual season had by a player in each position. It is not an aggregative list. It is not based on contributions over […]

As Florentino Perez continues to degrade an already absurd transfer market into new realms of travesty, changes of a more sensible nature are afoot in Catalunya. The air is still calm outside the Nou Camp as the stardust still settles after the gloss that was last season. Yet across town in Cornella de Llobregat, the […]