Finally. The 2009-2010 English Premier League season is less than 24 hours away and, for the next few hours, everybody is in a Champions League spot. Of course, a pessimist would point out that everyone is also in the drop zone. Whatever. Let’s get into some previews for week one, shall we? Chelsea vs. Hull […]

In Part 1, I described how the 2006 World Cup drew me into football. With the World Cup finished, I was hungry for more. I turned to the English Premier League to slake my thirst... Part 2: Inhaling the Premier League... When the World Cup ended I went into withdrawel. I bought a Playstation2 and […]

After hearing from fellow Americans who follow the Premier League, I've been pondering the idea of coming to English football as an outsider. Here's how my own love affair from distance got started... Part 1: Inhaling the World Cup... Back in 2006, my inner football junkie came alive when I discovered the World Cup. Something […]

This is it. Match day 38 has arrived, and with it comes the promise of Premier League salvation or the gloom of a forced descent into the Championship. Here's what we know Manchester United own the championship trophy, while Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will be joining them in varying stages of the Champions League in […]

One point. One point in two matches is all Manchester United must earn to claim the 2008-2009 Barclays Premiership title to its trophy case. The Red Devils trot out Saturday for their first opportunity to claim the crown as struggling Arsenal come calling. The Gunners have dropped two straight matches – a 4-1 drubbing to […]

If Wigan had hosted United in mid-August rather than mid-May, they might have thought they had a chance to hold onto the draw as the 80th minute mark passed. Ten minutes to go. A one all scoreline. Why not? But this season has been a long lesson on Manchester's late resolve, and so Michael Carrick's […]

Over the weekend, the BBC gave football fans the length and breadth of the world the news that they'd waited years to hear. Finally, after 13 years of clueless ramblings, smug arrogance and a frighteningly poor knowledge of the game he professes to love, Tim Lovejoy is to be booted off as a regular presenter […]

There's some debate over whether or not the Tyne-Tees Derby is actually a derby, as Newcastle fans point to the annual matches with Sunderland as the more important derby. There's no doubt, however, that Monday's clash between the Toon Army and Middlesbrough at St. James' Park is absolutely massive to the hopes of both teams' […]

As we near the end of what has been and still is an exciting season in the EPL, the various gongs and awards are being given out. As usual, they create plenty of controversy, particularly in the case of Ryan Giggs, who was named Footballer of the Year despite only starting 12 league games this […]

Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra once said, "it's getting late early." That's certainly true of this year race to avoid relegation at the bottom of the Premiership table. Newcastle and Middlesbrough are in 18th and 19th place, respectively, and both are three points adrift of safety, where Hull City is currently holding on for […]

The criticism directed at referees and their assistants these days is becoming more of a talking point than many games themselves. Howard Webb made an incorrect judgement and awarded Manchester United a penalty against Tottenham last week, a decision that Spurs manager Harry Redknapp clearly felt changed the game. Now there is some truth in this, it […]

What do Liverpool, Fulham, Aston Villa, FC Porto and Sunderland all have in common? They've all scored on Manchester United within the last month. The champions boasted a staggering number of clean sheets this season, but in recent contests, as the aforementioned sides have proven: if you attack Man U you can break down their […]

Earlier this morning, our friend The Gaffer lamented that ESPN's loss of the UEFA Champions League TV rights would be bad for soccer in America. After all, ESPN remains the primary vehicle for sporting culture in this country, and if the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" suddenly doesn't care enough to keep this planet's biggest club […]

This weekend's premier match, Manchester United hosting Aston Villa, was seemingly alight with some very sensitive microphones. I'm not sure if the press box was the culprit, or perhaps those huge foam-covered ones on the touchlines, but you could hear shouts of "Don't foul him" and "C'mon Jonny", the latter directed to United's fill-in centerback, […]

Thanks to a brace from Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal continue on their quest to retain Champions League play for next year. With a vacuum of newsworthiness over the last weeks, at least in regard to the Premier League, speculation turned to Cesc Fabregas' return and whether or not the Gunners were a better team without their […]