Paul Bestall

This year, despite being a superb attacking team, AFC Bournemouth have had to suffer the indignity of being labelled as easy pickings for the established Premier League giants. It’s frustrating for a soccer fan like me to see a team who were as good as Bournemouth last season automatically written off. They’ve been compared to […]

So far, some would say it has been a quiet pre-season for Tottenham Hotspur as Mauricio Pochettino faces up to the challenges of a building upon a promising first season as Tottenham manager, with a fifth placed finish and cup final to show for his efforts. Often known for making at least one marquee signing in […]

The term “Sleeping Giant” is an overused cliché often used for clubs who have fallen on hard times, whose better days are a distant memory or highlight footage that is only available in black and white. The Football League is littered with clubs who at one point or another dominated English football. Leeds United, […]

The last couple of weeks have seen plenty of exciting news at Tottenham Hotspur especially with the confirmation of the NFL deal that will see at least two games a year played at the new White Hart Lane for 10 years from 2018. As the NFL continues to grow in the UK, rumors have continued to […]

The pitch invasion. Once a rare spectacle that would often be mentioned by commentators or pundits, but hardly ever seen. Here in the UK, cameras would pan to other areas of the ground or cut back to the studio. The thinking was to show such incidents would encourage them, despite the harsh penalties often handed […]

So the clock ticks ever closer to the season of goodwill and as a self confessed lover of Christmas, a word of warning for fellow football fans hoping to receive that special something in their Christmas stocking or under the tree. As the years have gone by, I have sometimes received presents based purely on […]

There was something inevitable about Chris Hughton's sacking today, almost if after the last few weeks, it was a case of when rather than why. I was extremely critical of Mike Ashley's reign in the season that Newcastle United were relegated and yet here we are again, two years on and the man simply can't […]

October ended with Chelsea looking imperious and pulling away from the chasing pack at the top of the Premiership. The side seemed to playing with such verve and spirit that I simply couldn't see where any worthy challenge could come from. Manchester United were struggling to hit any real form, but continued to pick up […]

Harry Redknapp was right to be bullish after Saturdays amazing fight back against Arsenal at the Emirates, for too long Tottenham have promised much and delivered little. Spending wise Tottenham have ploughed millions in the club with little real achievement to show for it, but under Redknapp the club has begun to make strides on […]

Well, I have to admit I'm perplexed by some of the performances of the Premierships traditional powerhouses this season. A month ago, most people would have been hard pressed to think anyone could trouble Chelsea for the title, now 6 points separate the top 6 sides. Suddenly, a real title race has begun at last […]

One of the things that has surprised me this season is the lack of praise being thrown towards Roberto Di Matteo and his very impressive West Bromwich Albion side. Of the three promoted sides, Blackpool have the best manager for soundbites, Newcastle have some off the field issues and strange living arrangments for some of […]

When Bolton paid a club record fee of £8.2 million for the Swedish striker Johan Elmander, a few eyebrows were raised. Yet, the former Toulouse striker had been one of the most consistent players in the French league during his time for the Téfécé and had built a reputation as a creative deep lying centre […]

Being unbeaten at home for one of the smaller Premiership sides is something that should always be celebrated but at Birmingham City, things are never that simple. They have now equaled the clubs longest unbeaten home record of 18 games, it hides another story entirely. Now, 6 games in, the club have 7 points and […]

Another Premier League game, another defeat and you'd be mistaken for thinking Wolves were a side struggling to play football. Oddly, Wolves have lost the last 3 league games when they probably deserved so much more for their efforts. After running Fulham so close at Craven Cottage, with two defensive slip ups gifting the hosts […]

So after a somewhat belated start to his managerial career at Villa Park, Gerard Houllier will need little time to assimilate himself back in to the rigours of English football. His six year stint at Liverpool is still fresh in the memory for many, especially for landing us with El Hadj Diouf for the last […]