The saying goes that ‘form is temporary but class is permanent' and on many levels this holds true, however such a huge part of professional sport is the mental aspect of the game, which at the highest level can be just as, if not more important than the physical aspect. With just 8 or 9 games remaining in the […]

He's my hero of sorts, the integral piece of the attacking puzzle to my beloved Manchester United and my (adopted) country of England. He's the bulldog who never gives up, the born leader with enough natural footballing talent to make the recently departed Cristiano Ronaldo raise an eye in disbelief and possibly realize United haven't […]

Manchester United players such as Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney star in a new comedy video to raise money for the Sport Relief charity in Britain. The new video (see excerpt above) features Smithy (the Gavin & Stacey character played by James Corden) leading the players in a workout routine (Richard Simmons, watch out). Rio […]

In ten years time, English football fans will look back in the annals of history and cast villainous or glorious eyes upon someone named Wayne. This pending assignment of fates will depend on the outcome of this summer's World Cup. Wayne Bridge, as unfortunate as it is, has been in the media for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks. […]

The race to the top narrowed Tuesday night as Manchester United swept aside West Ham United at Old Trafford. Shades of 1966 early on as Man United's Ben Foster dropped Alessandro Diamanti's dipping shot onto the goal-line. Did it cross? Sir Alex Ferguson's sometime nemesis, referee Alan Wiley, thought not. Can we at least agree […]

Editor's note: EPL Talk reader Nicholas Buchel shared a series of three drawings he made that I should many of you would enjoy. The first features Fernando Torres who returned to action Sunday against Manchester City. The above picture is hand drawn in ballpoint by Nicholas. Below the fold, Buchel has included a ballpoint drawing […]

If you can't beat them, buy them. That has often been Manchester United's strategy when the club has lost pivotal league games against smaller English clubs and/or have been embarrassed by Premier League players who display incredible raw skill. United has often gone on to purchase many of those footballers. Examples include Everton (Wayne Rooney), […]

Will Manchester United Win the Champions League?(polls) It was a textbook Manchester United performance. The Red Devils entered the San Siro with the pressure of performing against some of the top footballers in the world such as Pato, Beckham, Ronaldinho, Seedorf, Nesta, Pirlo, Ambrosini and Huntelaar. And despite being outplayed in the first half of […]

It sounds too simple, but the difference between Arsenal and Manchester United on Sunday was finishing. Both teams had several chances in front of goal. Manchester United scored most of them. Arsenal missed all of them except for one deflection. There were several shots from Arsenal that skimmed past the post or straight at Edwin […]

It was a weekend that was at times as smooth as a Guti backheel, as bleak as a cold stare from the lugubrious one and as heroic as a late winner off the head of a man who looks to save face for club and country. There was a relegation 6-pointer and a massive title […]

A week after Manchester United's shock FA Cup exit, Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a side with immense respect for Birmingham City's Alex McCleish at St. Andrews. A match that was 1 of only 2 to survive the inclement weather on Saturday saw a 4-5-1 with Wayne Rooney in a lone striker role supported by Ji-sung […]

So what makes a great goal? I know it seems a easy question but honestly, what makes a goal truly great? Is it the goal that keeps a side up or a lob from the half way line? The goal that drags a side back in to a game when they're 2-0 or a last […]

Wayne Rooney: husband, father, footballer, striker, play-maker, defender, captain, international, the list could really go on, was involved in all four goals (Manchester United only had 3) Sunday as the reigning champions not-so-impressively beat relegation applicants Hull City at the KC Stadium. It was a performance United fans are reluctantly getting used to this season […]

As we head into the festive season, English fans are wrapping the present they give themselves before every World Cup – the gift of unbridled confidence in their national football team. And yet, as they have for the past 40+ years, those English fans are likely to stick their thumb in the Christmas pudding […]

I sat utterly bemused Saturday as I watched Manchester United altogether inept in front of goal away to their current bogey ground, Craven Cottage. Manchester United lost their second out of the last three matches and fifth league match of the year to Fulham 3-0, a scoreline that flatters the current champions as it could […]