Matt Jones

The song Abide With Me, the Wembley arch, a military guard for the trophy, the royal box; there’s an enamoring tradition and pageantry that accompanies the FA Cup final (live on FOX at Noon ET on Saturday for viewers in the United States). Granted, the tournament has become a bridesmaid to the premier competitions, especially […]

It’s the final weekend of domestic action in Europe, but with crucial league matches and major cup finals to sample, it’s probably the most intriguing round of matches we’ve had this season. Saturday will see the final of three major competitions, with the curtain set to come down on action in England, Germany and Spain. […]

Roberto Martinez was keen to emphasize that there’s a bright future ahead on the pitch for Everton in a recent interview with some local supporter-run outlets. At the end of a season which saw the Toffees regress from daring and diligent to often shackled and occasionally soporific, the Catalonian was trying to paint a picture […]

It’s all about survival in European soccer this weekend, with the key clashes in various divisions set to determine which teams will stay up. In England, the quest to preserve top-flight status will go down to the final day. Elsewhere, the top two sides in the MLS Eastern Conference go head-to-head stateside, while the final team […]

Derby County are set to confirm the departure of Steve McClaren imminently, potentially clearing the path for the former England boss to join Newcastle United next season. As reported by John Percy of the Daily Telegraph, the Rams have dismissed the 54-year-old after a poor domestic campaign that saw the club fall out of contention for […]

“It was 20 years ago today…” It’s a phrase that holds particular significance for the people of Liverpool, as the first line in the greatest album ever made: The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. But this week it’s a quip which will become sadly relevant for the blue half of the city. That’s […]

It takes something pretty special for the average soccer supporter to look forward to Monday nights. With post-weekend blues settling in and the majority of games completed, the working week stands between another chance to sample some domestic action at the weekend. A tough slog indeed. It’s what makes Monday Night Football—the Sky Sports show […]

There are few grounds that compare to West Ham United’s Boleyn Ground in the Premier League. Tucked away amongst a crowded corner of suburban East London, the walk up to the stadium itself from Upton Park underground station bristles with the kind of character that you’d expect from an historic capital club. The venue itself is […]

An insightful piece from Sean Ingle in the the Guardian recently suggested that supporters of the Premier League actually prefer a season that goes as expected. The article refers to various studies carried out on what fans are after from their soccer experience, noting that the games superstars are the big attraction for the majority and, as […]

A Champions League final appearance for Paul Pogba might be enough to keep him at Juventus beyond a summer during which European soccer’s juggernauts are likely to come calling. But for Yevhen Konoplyanka and his long association with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, this Europa League campaign is almost certainly a parting gift. The Ukrainian side have been […]

With the majority of title races wrapped up in European football’s most prestigious leagues, focus has shifted to other facets of various divisions as soccer fans go in search of some excitement late on in the campaign. One league that still has a race of sorts ongoing is La Liga and the leaders can clinch glory […]

It’s always wonderful to see new names in the Premier League and next season we are poised to welcome two more. Bournemouth will be the latest side to join the top flight of English football, as they snatched the Championship title from Watford—who were also automatically promoted—on the final day of the regular season. They are […]

Blunted, possession-based football is a problem that has hampered Everton throughout almost the entirety of the 2014/15 season. Any side in the division that doesn’t have the offensive incision required to control the game away from home has adopted a similar tactic when visiting Goodison Park this season: sit deep, cordon off spaces and let the […]

The European leagues are beginning to draw to their various conclusions, with some divisions set for a processional finale while others continue to pulsate and encapsulate. While Spanish soccer may be subject to a suspension beginning next weekend, the race for the title in La Liga remains fascinating and this weekend will feature two games that will […]

The tussle for Memphis Depay’s signature looked as though it was going to be one of the most complex transfer stories of the summer. But great credit must go to Manchester United, who, despite a wealth of classy competition, confirmed an agreement between themselves and PSV Eindhoven is in place for the signing of the […]