Saturday, February 28, 2009

Middlesborough 2-0 Liverpool : Boro End Pool's Title Ambitions At The Riverside

Middlesbrough beat Liverpool 2-0 at the Riverside today to all but end their slim chance of catching and overtaking Manchester United at the summit of the English Premier League, and with Chelsea winning 2-1 against Wigan it now looks as if the Anfield side will have a real battle on their hands for the second place spot.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Why Guus Hiddink's Move to Chelsea Will Be Good for Tottenham and Arsenal

Guus Hiddink opened his account as Chelsea manager with a one-nil win over Aston Villa yesterday. The Pensioners looked like they had turned back the years and over-powered an honest Villa side who never really had a chance.


And with Hiddink now in charge, they actually look like a team who are guaranteed to finish in the top three and challenge for both the FA Cup and Champions League.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Lance Armstrong vs. Paul Kimmage: For the Soul of Professional Cycling


The biggest sporting story in the world this year took place last Thursday at the press conference for the Amgen Cycling Tour of California. Lance Armstrong, cycling's greatest ever athlete, was fielding questions from the media when an Irish journalist from the Sunday Times asked him a question.

Having rehearsed this answer many times in knowing which question was coming, Armstrong reprimanded the journalist in an amazing exchange between the two...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Manchester City Needs a Director of Football


Another poor result on Saturday against Portsmouth has not done Mark Hughes any favours in respect to keeping his job at Manchester City. And when you sit down and try to analyse the situation and the club, you can only come up with the conclusion that Hughes will head through the exit door sooner rather than later...


No disrespect to Mark Hughes. When he initially took the managers job in the summer, City were a sleeping giant. A club with a huge following and a great heritage despite cob webs in the trophy cabinet. A club who have almost everything in place to tackle the big boys.

Summer Clearout at Chelsea as Manchester City Target John Terry and Peter Kenyon


During the week, Chelsea FC announced club losses to the tune of £67.5m in the year of 2007 to 2008.

And as Roman Abrahomvich looks to rein in the serious debt that the club have incurred over his reign, it is now guaranteed that there will be an end of season sale at Stamford Bridge.

Having pledged that the club will be operating on zero losses in a single year by 2010, Peter Kenyon has all but confirmed that sales will take place in the summer...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Terry Dixon Fights Back From Injury and Rejection at Spurs To Sign for West Ham

Terry Dixon's injury-plagued two years of torture were put to bed last night as the youngster signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Gianfranco Zola's West Ham United. The powerfully built teenager was released by Tottenham Hotspur last year after a horrendous run of injuries looked to have ended his career...

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Spain 2-0 England: David Beckham and The Three Lions Get Exactly What They Deserve



England were comprehensively beaten by a rampant Spanish side on a historic night for "Brand Beckham" as David Beckham claimed his 108th cap to join the great Bobby Moore as England's most capped outfield player.

Spain won 2-0 thanks to goals from David Villa and Fernando Llorente, bringing Fabio Capello's unbeaten run to an end. In truth, England were outplayed from start to finish, and although the team was a much weakened side, Capello will have to do much soul searching as he analyses his squad...

Barcelona Chases Key Trio, Claims Arsenal Is a Selling Club


Arsenal's resolve looks set to be tested in the summer, as Barcelona seem to have identified Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Cesc Fabregas as the key signings that they want to make over the coming season.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Scolari Sacked By Chelsea as Abramovich Eyes Grant and Hiddink


Luiz Felipe Scolari has been sacked as manager of Chelsea.

A statement on the club's Web site revealed the move had been made "to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for".

Chelsea are currently fourth in the Premier League and are seven points behind Manchester United. Scolari's assistant Ray Wilkins will take over temporarily while the club look for a successor to the Brazilian who won the World Cup in 2002.

Match of The Day: Spurs Frustrated by a Resilliant Arsenal in Derby Draw.


Tottenham Hotspur and 10-man Arsenal played out a draw at White Hart Lane today as both sides claimed equal points in a game that neither could afford to lose.

Spurs dominated possession throughout the match, but a resilient Arsenal were more than equal in a second half that saw both teams go close to nicking a winner.

Stephen Appiah Offered a Rubin Kazan Lifeline After Tottenham Reject His Demands

Stephen Appiah's chances of a move to North London took an unexpected turn midweek after Spurs rejected the Ghanaian's demands.

"The Tornado", who has been on trial at White Hart Lane for the last month, was widely expected to become Harry Redknapp's sixth signing at Tottenham, but Daniel Levy refused to budge when Appiah issued his demands which resulted in Russian outfit Rubin Kazan offering him a trial.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Friday, February 6, 2009

Harry Gregg, the Safest Hands in Soccer: Hero of the Munich Air Disaster


Harry Gregg is relatively unknown for the heroics that he performed on a dark winter night on the sixth of February 1958, a date that has become etched in the minds of football fans all over the world, no matter what club they support.

And over his 35 year career as a player and a manager, Harry Gregg achieved more than most. He was a part of the famous "Busby Babes" for almost 10 years, was voted the best 'keeper in the world after his heroics for Northern Ireland in the World Cup in 1958, and for a time he was the most expensive goalkeeper in the world.

The date of February 6th 1958 was the night of "The Munich Air Disaster." And on that night F-609 crashed to claim the lives of 23 people, including eight members of Matt Busby's Manchester United team.


But to tell the story of Gregg's heroics on that night, I will start with his tale of how he ended up at Old Trafford under the maestro that was Matt Busby.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Shay Given Hits Out at Mike Ashley's Newcastle United "Regime"


In his first press conference as a Manchester City player, Shay Given fired a broadside at his previous employers Newcastle United. Having served as first choice goalkeeper for 12 loyal years at St. James' Park, the Irishman spoke of his unhappiness over the last six months and of what he feels was poor treatment by the club.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Harry Redknapp Looks To Bring in Stephen Appiah After a Busy Transfer Window


After a busy January transfer window where Harry Redknapp brought in five new players, he has now turned his attention to Ghana's Stephen Appiah. In a week where all other business was put to one side, Redknapp can now focus his attentions on the combative midfielder who is available for free, hence he can be signed outside the window...

Monday, February 2, 2009

Robbie Keane Escapes Rafael Benitez and His Liverpool Nightmare To Rejoin Spurs


Robbie Keane's six month sojourn at Liverpool ended in dramatic fashion today as he braved the winter weather and dashed to White Hart Lane for a medical despite the two clubs having failed to reach an agreement.

But the i's were dotted and the t's crossed later as Spurs agreed to cancel their debt with Liverpool, some £10m and pay the Anfield club another £5m depending on appearances.

Effectively making the transfer fee £15m, or a six month loan deal that cost Liverpool £5m, depending on which way you look at the deal...