Matt Jones

Empty seats at the Etihad Stadium has long been the most pertinent source of ammunition for cheap jibes at Manchester City. Sky blue specs have regularly been seen scattered about Eastlands on Champions League evenings in years gone by, and after another drab atmosphere was conjured against AS Roma in their previous European home match, […]

Manchester City’s longstanding core of magnificent players stood up and made themselves counted in the recent Manchester derby. Their captain Vincent Kompany was imposing and imperious, Pablo Zabaleta was eminently industrious, Yaya Toure rediscovered his intimidating swagger and Sergio Aguero was forensically clinical in front of goal. These are players that—Aguero aside—are approaching or already […]

The influx of investment into Manchester City has seen the Manchester derby become one of the biggest games on the continent, and ahead of this weekend's clash between the age old rivals, there is plenty to get excited about. Aside from the match between Manchester's finest at the Etihad, Germany and Russia both host their […]

While Old Trafford may not emanate the same aura of intimidation these days, going up against Manchester United in their own back yard is a always difficult challenge. That's a narrative that even applies to league leaders Chelsea, who will be the next team to face off against Louis van Gaal’s bolstered Red Devils squad […]

There are some players and some games that are no stranger to intense speculation and raucous hyperbole. Players like Luis Suarez, who is line to make his first ever appearance for the Blaugrana this weekend. And games like Barcelona versus Real Madrid, el Clasico, a titanic spectacle that’ll be staged at the Santiago Bernabeu this […]

The match between Spain's two most illustrious outfits is one of the most hotly anticipated spectacles on the footballing calendar, and all eyes will be on the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend for that one. Elsewhere, we've got the top two sides in Germany going head-to-head, while the Premier League also boasts a pair of intriguing clashes. […]

“APOLOGISE” read the headline on the back page of the Liverpool Echo, as the newspaper demanded that Mario Balotelli says sorry to the Liverpool supporters after swapping shirts with Pepe at half time against Real Madrid. It's a sensationalist claim, and taking a quick glance at the back page of the paper, you probably wouldn’t […]

Cristiano Ronaldo will rock up on Merseyside this week boasting a phenomenal strike rate for the 2013/14 season. The Portuguese sensation has 17 goals in nine appearances in domestic and European competition at the time of writing, and such is the standard of the Real Madrid man’s remarkable goalscoring feats, questions will be asked about […]

The early concerns that accompanied Juventus’ start to the campaign were understandable following the departure of Antonio Conte. Under the former boss, the Bianconeri had evolved into the most dominant side in Serie A, reflected emphatically by a trio of consecutive Scudetto wins under the tutelage of the Italian. Massimiliano Allegri was tasked with filling […]

Despite only being appointed in the summer of 2014, Alan Irvine’s tenure at West Bromwich Albion was never expected to be one of longevity. The Baggies supporters greeted the his acquisition with a collective shrug of the shoulders; after all, for all Irvine’s gentlemanly qualities, he’s yet to truly make his mark as a top […]

As domestic and European football rolls back around, the upcoming block of fixtures is important for all those concerned with Everton Football Club. For the team it's critical that results take a turn for the better after a difficult start and for the supporters, the prospect of the upcoming Europa League jaunt to Lille is an […]

The international break yielded a much more tolerable set of fixtures than we're used to, but there's nothing quite like domestic competition to get the soccer senses stimulated. And this weekend we've got a host of different clashes to savor from across the globe, each with their own unique connotations and surrounding circumstances. Featuring in our […]

Typically, the international break is an unwanted blemish on the football calendar. But for Evertonians, this two-week hiatus will come as welcome solace. It’s not been a brilliant start for Roberto Martinez and his side to say the least. The Toffees are perched one place above the relegation zone after seven games, with the lofty […]

After pleading with your boss to let you out a few minutes early, you just about make the train in time. Still uncomfortable in work attire on a jam-packed carriage, you occasionally wonder why you bother. Why not just go home, get in your slacks and have a meal with the family after another long […]

It’s especially pleasing to see a young player given their chance in a team and grasping it with aplomb. There’s something innately refreshing about witnessing a fresh face make their mark and typically, when a youngster yields a positive contribution, the watching crowd stir and purr a little more than usual. But one spot on the pitch you rarely see […]