What a time for an international break. Despite perhaps one of the most exciting weekends in the Premier League this season, we now must endure the pomp and criticism surrounding the Three Lions as they take on Slovakia in a friendly on Saturday. More importantly, they meet Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier the following […]

Where does this idea of a European Super League keep coming from? Scratch that, WE know where the idea comes from, The European Club Association, the collective of 135 clubs dotted around Europe, keeps trying to push for this dreadful idea to come into fruition. I can't think of anything I'd rather watch less than […]

Those of us round long enough to remember the Ipswichs, Blackburns and QPRs of old running rampant in the early days of the Premier League may have winced listening to Setanta's commentators gag with delight as Dossena's lobbed long ball made it Liverpool 4, Manchester United 1. "This is why this is the greatest league […]

Jonathan Wilson, the inimitable scholar of tactical mechanics with his recent Inverting the Pyramid: A History of Football Tactics (a book I included in a piece on tactical reductionism for this website) has made a very convincing argument why English Premier League clubs have come to dominate the Champions League in the last four seasons. […]

And then there were five. With one FA Cup Quarterfinal yet to be played (Arsenal v Hull City, to be played on either the 17th or 18th of March per the BBC), Sunday afternoon the FA Cup Semi-Final draw was held. Both matches will be played at Wembley Stadium April 18th or 19th for a […]

Tuesday and Wednesday bring a full slate of Premier League action to us as the reverse fixtures of the opening weekend are played. Tonight I'll preview Tuesday's action, tomorrow night I'll preview Wednesday's action. Remember all times are Eastern. Portsmouth v Chelsea (2:45 pm live on Fox Soccer Channel). Portsmouth have had plenty of time […]

The two big stories this weekend not related to Manchester United's getting the first leg of the quadruple would have to be events that transpired at the Riverside and at the Emirates Stadium. We'll start with Liverpool because after such a great result midweek against Real Madrid, their loss at the Riverside defied belief. And […]

On Friday, during my game previews, Sam wondered how Wigan could score? Today, Chelsea gave us an answer, complacency. For much of Wigan's trip to Stamford Bridge, it was Chelsea on the back foot. Completely against the run of play, John Terry put Chelsea ahead twenty-five minutes in. Before that, Chelsea saw Wigan have five […]

So Arsenal's half-year finances are out and in all fairness, for being in a recession, they did pretty damn good. When you generate more match day revenue (an increase of 3.3 million to 44.4 million pounds), more television revenue (an increase of 4.5 million to 28.9 million pounds), and end up with a bigger pre-tax […]

Why doesn't Roy Hodgson get the credit he deserves in the United Kingdom? As I've mentioned before, In Scandinavia and Italy, he's held in high regard, in Britain people point to his sacking at Blackburn Rovers back in1997. With 33 points gained so far this season, Fulham are one win away from emulating their points […]

Can anyone remember the last time Hull City won a Premier League game? December 6th at home to Middlesbrough was the last time. Since then, they have been very much in freefall. When Hull first arrived in the Premiership, they were tipped to go straight back down but decided to tear up the script and […]

For over half a century, the UEFA Champions League is the championship that European teams aspire to win. Although the modern competition has been competed for since 1992, the competition in its previous format has been played for each year since 1955. It has become known worldwide as one of the most prestigious trophy competitions […]

Well the next two days will be most interesting viewing. The time has come and gone for words, the threats and promises manager and player alike have made now have to turn into results. That doesn't mean we can't look at what is being said ahead of the Champions League to come. The big war […]

In many ways, the opening rounds of the Champions League tournament this season has simply been a dress rehearsal before the most competitive stages which begin on Tuesday when Arsenal battles Roma, and Manchester United plays Inter Milan, just among two of the matches. Out of all of the matches involving teams from the Premier […]

I have to admit this is one return I am glad to see. After getting match fit in the reserves, and helping Croatia to a friendly victory, Eduardo Da Silva returned to the Arsenal starting eleven in glorious fashion Monday night as his two goals blasted Arsenal into the fifth round of the FA Cup […]