It was an improbable header from the tiny forward, but it wasn’t disbelief that made Lorenzo Insigne burst into tears after heading in an equalizer early last season against Torino. For weeks, the then-23 year old had been enduring taunts in that same stadium, from hometown supporters who had turned on the local boy. Napoli […]

It took a few days, but we’ve finally reached a point of resolution, one that most not currently wearing Chelsea shirts saw as closest to correct. Diego Costa, the Premier League’s preeminent bully, got his seemingly well-earned castigation from the English Football Association: a three-match ban that feels like a rolled-up newspaper swatting the nose of a […]

Ronald Koeman believes Southampton and Swansea are examples of how to conduct "football business" on and off the pitch. Both sides have captured the imagination in recent years, with the south Wales side winning the Capital One Cup and establishing themselves as a Premier League force after promotion in 2011. Swansea's attack-minded philosophy and ability […]

Loic Remy insists he can fill the void left by the banned Diego Costa at Chelsea. The striker admitted his substitute role has been difficult but he is ready to convince Jose Mourinho to hand him more starts. Costa has been banned for three matches after being found guilty of violent conduct by the Football […]

Louis van Gaal will have to field a makeshift defense against Sunderland on Saturday after confirming Marcos Rojo will not be fit for the match at Old Trafford. Manchester United defender Rojo sat out Wednesday's Capital One Cup win over Ipswich because of a hamstring injury he suffered against Southampton last weekend. With Paddy McNair […]

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is coming under increasing scrutiny having gone six matches without a win in 90 minutes. Scraping past League Two Carlisle on penalties in the Capital One Cup has not eased the pressure and Press Association Sport looks at the issues facing the Reds boss. Here are the 5 issues Rodgers faces: […]

Under-pressure Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren is confident a single win would turn around a season which is threatening to spiral out of control. The 54-year-old saw his fledgling reign at St James' Park suffer another body blow on Wednesday when Sky Bet Championship Sheffield Wednesday dumped the Magpies out of the Capital One Cup. […]

Watching Brendan Rodgers this season for Liverpool echoes chimes of another dearly departed Premier League manager who promised more than he could ever deliver to a hungry supporters base, and this might not be a comparison Liverpudlians will want to see: this feels like Andre Villas-Boas’ second season with Spurs. After another dour, drab and […]

Champions League hopefuls Liverpool scored just once against Carlisle on Wednesday evening from a total of 47 shots! Yes, that's League Two (the fourth tier in English Football) Carlisle United. As the Reds continue to struggle for goals upfront, two former Liverpool strikers have stolen the headlines in Italy and Spain in mid-week with […]

You would think that three consecutive wins (with 10 goals scored and onlyone conceded) would move the José Mourinho narrative in a positive direction; then again, that means you probably don't know José Mourinho. For all the turmoil the cantankerous Portuguese had mustered last time we convened, afew wins have yet to abate the storm. If anything, Mourinho’s future […]

Over the coming weeks, Stephanie Yang, new contributor to World Soccer Talk, will be tackling a series of major questions facing the National Women's Soccer League as it approaches its third offseason. In her first installment, Stephanie analyzes the league's expected partnership with Orlando City SC – potentially the third Major League Soccer franchise to venture into the NWSL. The NWSL is not like […]

Holders Chelsea will visit Stoke City while Arsenal and Manchester United drew Championship opposition in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup. The draw for the competition's round of 16 took place late Wednesday night, with Premier League-leading Manchester City given one of the round's tougher matchups with a visit from Crystal Palace. Arsenal, coming […]

Mathieu Flamini struck twice as Arsenal beat north London rivals Tottenham 2-1 in the third round of the Capital One Cup at White Hart Lane. The French midfielder marked his first appearance of the season with a superb second-half volley to secure bragging rights for Gunners' fans. Spurs had mounted a spirited comeback after Flamini's […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona's 100 percent start to La Liga season was brought to a stunning end as Celta Vigo moved top of the table with a stunning 4-1 victory on Wednesday. The side formerly managed by Barca boss Luis Enrique were deservedly given a 2-0 half-time lead by excellent finishes from Nolito and former […]

A certain school of thought says for everything we gain in life, we necessarily give something up. Skipping the philosophical debate and just accepting the premise, a perfect example is happening in Major League Soccer at this very moment. When league planners expanded playoffs from eight to 10 teams back in 2010, I said it […]