Matt Jones

As the twilight of players’ careers typically approach, pace, intensity and fitness typically dwindle. But for those few who have made a career out of sticking the ball in the back of the net, that desirable attribute of being in the right place at the right time rarely deserts them. Goalscorers are simply a different entity. […]

It's almost that time of year again. When the games come thick and fast, when every night of the week yields an intriguing clash to sample. But for some leagues the action is fast approaching an intriguing climax. The MLS Cup final is the showpiece match of what's set to be a wonderful weekend of […]

Every now and then we all get a little bit frustrated with the higher-ups at of our respective clubs. We all want to see a little more money invested, a few more players drafted in and a dose of extra ambition shown.  But there are some chairmen and some owners who have posed supporters with […]

FIFA’s latest revelations regarding the bidding processes for the World Cups in 2018 and 2022 have done little to shift the air of corruption that has emanated from the organization for an uncomfortably long stretch. It was a process that was supposed to provide closure, but instead, has merely dirtied the waters further. Their own […]

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 […]

A surfeit of superb games are on offer this weekend, as clubs across Europe begin to get stuck in to their respective domestic leagues. Some are desperate to atone for a stuttering start, others keen to continue a prosperous beginning to their seasons. And with the league table beginning to take shape in some nations, there are […]

There are some players that don’t look quite right in their shirt numbers. Etched into our soccer consciousnesses are intangible, requisite criteria when it comes to the number a player should have emblazoned on the back of his jersey. It’s the reflex that niggles at us when we see Samuel Eto’o donning No. 5 for Everton, or […]

If you’re a regular Premier League match-goer who’ll be without your weekly fix of live football this weekend, I come bearing some exciting news. You don’t have to mull around in a sulk all weekend, you don’t have to briefly conjure a fleeting interest in a sport that doesn’t measure up to the beautiful game, […]

England’s self proclaimed new era got off to a stuttering start, as the Three Lions put in an unconvincing performance against Norway at Wembley.  Wayne Rooney spared Roy Hodgson’s blushes with a second half penalty, and the hosts eventually ran out 1-0 winners. Just 40,000 people—the lowest ever for an England game at the new Wembley […]

Everton’s search for forward reinforcements seems to be over after the club confirmed the signing of 33-year-old Samuel Eto’o today. The former Barcelona, Internazionale and Chelsea forward joins up with Roberto Martinez’s side on a two-year deal, and the three-time Champions League winner will bring a wealth of experience at the pinnacle of the European […]

Following a summer of seismic change at Everton in 2013, the club’s long-term ambitions were unclear. Reeling after former manager David Moyes and former star player Marouane Fellaini traded Merseyside for Manchester, plenty anticipated a Toffees demise. But just over 13 months into his reign as Everton boss, Roberto Martinez — the man who succeeded Moyes — has […]

Erik Lamela made me look a bit silly last season. When Tottenham secured his signature from AS Roma in a club record £30 million deal, I considered it to be a very astute piece of business. There was little doubt in my mind that this enthralling young winger would take the Premier League by storm and I waxed lyrical about his stratospheric […]

Great World Cup finals are surprisingly easy to come by when you look back through the tattered pages of the tournament’s history. Given what’s at stake, you would imagine that these games would be been tense, tight affairs — admittedly, the last few have been pretty abrasive contests—but overall, there have been some wonderfully gripping showpieces. One […]

There are few soccer nations that immortalize their icons of the game quite like Brazil. Ahead of this World Cup, we were treated to imagery of Brazilian greats gone, reminded of their stature in the in the history of the Selecao. Garrincha, Pele, Carlos Alberto, Zico, Socrates, Romario, Rivaldo and Ronaldo: all giants of soccer […]

Soccer is a sport punctured by “what ifs” and “if onlys”. Stories have been around for decades about teams that missed out on certain players, only to see them go and become superstars. For example, Diego Maradona nearly signed for Sheffield United in the 1970’s, but the Bramall Lane club chose the current Argentina boss […]