Every season around this time, you can guarantee that some of the British journalists and members of The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast will lament how the FA Cup is becoming increasingly boring and what needs to change to make it more relevant. While I love the concept and history of the FA Cup, I can't […]

I was ruminating on the importance of the defensive midfielder in today’s world soccer, which brought about plenty food for thought. At the same time, I was wondering how successful Pep Guardiola will be as he continues his nomadic journey that many of us have followed to this point in awe. If we look at […]

If 2017 is to see Barcelona reel in Real Madrid in the race for La Liga glory, a roadmap for their recovery must begin at El Madrigal against Villarreal on Sunday. With Madrid, currently three points clear of Barcelona having played a game less, poised to set a Spanish record for games unbeaten on Saturday […]

Arsenal and Nigeria rising star Alex Iwobi was awarded the African Youth Player of the Year for 2016 on Thursday. The 20-year-old versatile midfielder scored four total goals and added six assists during the calendar year with both the Gunners and the senior Nigeria national team. Iwobi has hit the ground running since he was […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus defender Daniele Rugani insists the champions are "fully charged" up for a successful 2017 and ready to put their Italian Super Cup defeat behind them with a win at home to Bologna on Sunday. Despite boasting a lead of four and seven points respectively on nearest challengers Roma and Napoli, 2016 […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid will welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo for his first appearance of 2017 as the European champions look to equal Barcelona's Spanish record of 39 games unbeaten when lowly Granada visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. Ronaldo was rested as Real showed no signs of rust after a 17-day break since winning […]

In the third and final article in the series about MLS TV ratings, we can reveal that MLS does better when the other soccer leagues are not playing. The table below shows the monthly figures for MLS viewing this year since March: Month Avg. Viewers Per Game March 284,667 April 246,000 May 277,571 June 478,200 […]

Preston (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsene Wenger says the FA Cup remains "a big priority" for Arsenal despite his side already waging two-pronged assaults on the Premier League and Champions League. The FA Cup has been good to the Gunners in recent years and Wenger's side travel to Championship side Preston on Saturday seeking to […]

Paris (AFP) – French club Metz were Thursday docked two points and ordered to replay their Ligue 1 match against Lyon which was abandoned after firecrackers thrown by their fans injured visiting goalkeeper Anthony Lopes. The game on December 3 at Metz's Stade Saint-Symphorien was abandoned in the 31st minute following the incidents, which came […]

World Soccer Talk has ranked the best commentators, co-commentators, studio analysts and presenters from world soccer. Up until now, each of the categories was separated, but we've decided to combine the best presenters and soccer analysts in order to compile a list of the best soccer broadcasters on television. With the ranking being based on […]

Madrid (AFP) – Athletic Bilbao held out with nine men to secure a first win over Barcelona in four years and carry a 2-1 lead into the second leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie on January 11. Two goals in three first-half minutes from Aritz Aduriz and Inaki Williams put the hosts […]

Abuja (AFP) – Algeria forward Riyad Mahrez was Thursday voted African Footballer of the Year after he inspired Leicester City to the English Premier League title last season. Mahrez, 25, beat Gabon skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scooped the prestigious accolade last year, into second place, with Senegal star Sadio Mane, who features for Liverpool, taking […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has changed his team's fractious nature, the Premier League club told an FA disciplinary committee following an explosive clash with Manchester City earlier this season. The Blues were fined £100,000 ($124,000, 117,000 euros) for their part in the brawl at the end of their 3-1 win at City […]

London (AFP) – Swansea's new manager Paul Clement says he is willing to embrace the Moneyball influence of the club's American owners when he looks for signings. Clement was officially unveiled on Thursday after Swansea marked his appointment with a crucial 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace 48 hours earlier to move within a […]

Paris (AFP) – Mario Balotelli was handed a two-match ban Thursday after being sent off for an off-the-ball incident in last month's 0-0 draw at Bordeaux, his club Nice said. The Italian striker and team-mate Younes Belhanda — who was given a one-match ban — were dismissed in the dying seconds as Bordeaux frustrated the […]