After Mark Hughes’ Manchester City side produced a 3-0 victory Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in the Carling Cup quarter-finals last night, Hughes was found looking unsuccessfully for his counterpart Wenger before the traditional post-match shake of hands. Wenger of course is no stranger to controversy and rarely retreats in his opinions or criticisms, and he can […]

The inevitable has finally happened. After a series of good results, solid performances and goal-scoring exploits, Arsenal have been shaken awake. Dreams of Premier League glory looks to be in pieces after defeats against Sunderland and Chelsea, and even though Arsene Wenger claims that the Carling Cup isn't a priority, defeat had to taste bitter. […]

Why do I love a derby? I nervously await each Merseyside derby as if it is the most important match of the season. I bite nails. I refresh webpages. I await injury updates. I lose sleep. This doesn't make sense for two big reasons: 1.) I am not from Liverpool. 2.) The Merseyside derby is […]

Two days ahead of the World Cup draw, the United States and Mexico learned they would not be seeded and placed in Pot One. Also surprisingly, given the established formulas for previous seeding, Holland was placed in Pot One, instead of France. MLS Talk Reader Phillip, whose understanding of world football is among the best […]

FIFA announced the seeds and pots for Friday’s World Cup draw, and the main talking point for the US is that CONCACAF was put in the pot with Asia and Oceania as opposed to Africa. Of course, the main talking point all over the world is that while the Hand of Henry may have […]

As I'm sure you've heard by now, England are to be one of eight seeded teams to compete in the World Cup Finals next summer in South Africa. Italy, Holland, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and South Africa round out the other seeded nations. France miss out on a seed due to FIFA's decision to not […]

Declan Hill, the author of the critically acclaimed 2008 book, The Fix joins us on the EPL Talk Podcast to discuss recent events related to corruption in the game. Among the topics discussed with Hill include how the UEFA Champions League and Europa League early rounds are susceptible to match fixing, the plight of smaller […]

With yesterday’s announcement that the Rochester Rhinos will be joining the yet to be officially sanctioned (new) North American Soccer League (NASL), further gloom undoubtedly spread over Tampa about the future of the United Soccer Leagues (USL). The Rhinos are a classic franchise and should they and the other NASL sides not participate in USL for the […]

I want to take a break for a minute from the whirlwind Premier League season to remind everyone that the World Cup Draw is happening this Friday, December 4th, and will be televised live around the world. For soccer fans, it's one of the most exciting days every four years as the fate of the […]

Whatever you do, don't open this taxi door (unless you really are desperate for a cab ride in Sweden). Source: PhotoshopDisaster (thanks Phil for the tip).

While the Premier League continues to become more commercial with each passing year, there is I believe a resurgence in football supporters wanting to learn more about the history of this beautiful game (when it truly was beautiful and when corporations and television networks didn't own it). In the past few weeks, I've interviewed two […]

I wanted to follow up Kartik’s excellent post on the nature of the MLS contract with a look at this situation from the MLS owner’s perspective. If there is one thing the owners fear and will try to avoid at all costs, it is having a situation like what exists in Europe where a player […]

What a difference a year makes. In 2009 the Merseyside derby represented emerging opportunities for both Liverpool clubs, and all four encounters (two in the league, two in the FA Cup) produced gritty football. Ultimately Liverpool drove deep into Europe and pushed Manchester United all the way to the Premier League finish line, while Everton […]

Watch the video of Jimmy Bullard and his Hull City teammates making fun of Phil Brown earlier today after Bullard scored a goal in the match against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium. The incident made fun of Brown's lecture he gave Hull City almost a year ago on the same pitch when […]

Not that it mattered much in the end, but Saturday in the Premier League saw Mike Dean (with the help of his linesman Richard West on one instance) award three penalties, one of which must have been one of, if not the most dubious penalty this season in the Premier League. Manchester United looked a bit sluggish in the first 15-20 […]