latest articles by paul bestall

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/ 5694 days agoDimitar Berbatov Continues To Improve
For some players, it can often take a season to settle in to a new club, especially when you arrive with a £30 million price tag around your neck. Sometimes, other aspects can slow the adaption to new surroundings. For Dimitar Berbatov, in his 3rd season at Manchester United, it seems he has finally begun […]
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/ 5694 days agoThe Curious Case Of Asmir Begovic
It's often a question that football fans can never really answer, but why do certain players seem quite happy to sit on the bench? More often than not players are always wanting to play, so transfers to clubs where the opportunities are limited always confuses the fans. For example, one particular player is currently trying […]
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/ 5698 days agoCan Martinez Stop The Rot At Wigan?
Last season, the one team who no-one was surprised to see to go down were Hull City. The dreadful run that began in November 2008 saw them go the rest of that season with just two wins, against Middlesbrough and Fulham out of 23 matches. Incredibly as we remember, they stayed up on the last […]
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/ 5701 days agoLiverpool Have Been Destroyed By Hicks & Gillett
Well Liverpool have certainly continued where last season finished for them, despite the removal of the dismal Rafa Benitez. Now, I'm not going to lie to you, I simply couldn't stand Benitez, his abysmal tactics and his continual blaming of everyone else for his own failings. I don't care about two fortunate cup victories that […]
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/ 5702 days agoGallas Crosses The North London Divide
So William Gallas joins a very rare club indeed of players that have swapped Arsenal for Tottenham. I was stating the same to a friend the other day that I can't remember it happening in my lifetime as a Spurs fan, for me it's unique. I've seen it happen the other way twice, Pat Jennings […]

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/ 5731 days agoHow Will The Premiership's French Continigent Recover?
The World Cup in 2010 will go down in history for a few things. Vuvuzela's, The first World Cup in Africa, England's abysmal showing, Germany's bright future, Netherlands awful tactics and the Spanish proving they are the best side in the world. Yet one other event for me outshone them all. The French camps implosion […]
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/ 5731 days agoBlackpool Have Nothing To Lose Next Season
Ever since Blackpool won promotion in that pulsating Championship Play-Off Final back in May, things have been a little quiet in the North West. Even Ian Holloway, the manager who is known and loved for his bizarre and occasionally weird post match comments has been a little shy. There is no doubt that everyone involved […]
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/ 5731 days agoConsolidation Should Be Newcastle United's Aim
After the disastrous conclusion to the 2008-09 season saw Newcastle fall in to the Championship, the only conclusion they wanted to last season was promotion. No other result was acceptable and the club cantered over the finish line as April began. A complete reversal of fortune from the doldrums the club went through prior to […]
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/ 5733 days agoMilner Looks Set For Manchester City
Manchester City are continuing to flex their muscles in the transfer market with another massive signing looking set to join the club shortly. Aston Villa has confirmed that Milner has asked to leave them to join Manchester City and the club have agreed as long as City can match the valuation. Martin O'Neill, quite rightly […]
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/ 5733 days agoWhere Now For Fulhams Managerial Search?
So it's official, Martin Jol will not be leaving the Dutch giants of Ajax to take over at Craven Cottage. Despite Fulham's courting of the likable Jol, Ajax's chief executive Rick van den Boog flew back to deal with the situation. Jol had agreed a contract in principle but after discussions, decided to stay in […]
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/ 5755 days agoEnglish Football Is Not Dead, But It's On The Critical List
There is a current malaise effecting almost everyone in England that follows the national side, from fans, retailers, journalists and TV executives. The finger of blame is being pointed fairly equally between Fabio Capello and the highly paid, highly hyped and self important members of the squad. Ashley Cole, despite being the only first team […]

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/ 5777 days agoKing Can Rise To The Challenge
For some, the end of Rio Ferdinand's World Cup also sent a blast across the bows of English hopes of winning the trophy. One of the squads truly great players being forced out simply weakens the side is the consensus, but me I'm not so disillusioned by the news. Yes it's a blow and I […]
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/ 5778 days agoWorld Cup Legends #5: Archie Gemmill
For Scotland fans, there is one goal above all others than stands alone as a probably the best goal they've ever scored in a World Cup. In fact, lets be honest, it's one of the best goals scored by any team at a World Cup. It's certainly one of my favourite goals in the tournaments […]
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/ 5778 days agoWolves Show Their Teeth In The Transfer Market
The Molineux faithful can be pleased with the efforts of their team last season on returning to the Premiership under Mick McCarthy. With plans afoot to increase the stadium to a 50,000 capacity, things are looking brighter for Wolves across the board. Now, McCarthy has begun to strengthen the side to continue progressing upwards and […]
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/ 5783 days agoIs Rafa Benitez About To Walk Alone?
So it seems the end is drawing close for Rafa Benitez at Anfield, with reports all over the place pointing to the Liverpool owners offering Benitez £3 million to leave immediately. Quite what has happened to bring Liverpool lurching in to another crisis so soon after the season has ended is unsure, but for me, […]