Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney...Robin van Persie?

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is in the best form of his career. So far this season, he has bagged 11 goals in 13 goals in 16 games across all competitions including 11 goals in 12 English Premier League games.

Such is the Dutchman's phenomenal run of form over the last 12 months that many analysts are now comparing Van Persie to his contemporaries; Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

But how do these favourable comparisons hold up?

Hold The Back Page - Skinheads in Skirts - Man City / Tottenham 4-0 Liverpool / BRFC 4-3 Arsenal / Shamrock Rovers / The Rooney Rule / Gasperini

Hold the BackPage - Skinheads and Skirts by bpfootball

Hold the BackPage returns for another edition with Neil Sherwin again taking the lead and he is joined by Ger McCarthy and Willie Gannon to sift through the latest Premier League action. 

The lads discuss Manchester City losing their 100 percent record, Tottenham hammering Liverpool 4-0 and Blackburn beating Arsenal 4-3 as well as a number of other hot topics including Shamrock Rovers in Europe, the Rooney Rule, Gasperini being sacked at Inter Milan and Turkey’s innovative new measures to combat hooliganism...

Tottenham Fight to Save Their Season After Real Madrid Hammering

Tottenham Hotspur's season stands on a knife edge following their 4-0 hammering away to Real Madrid in the Champions League midweek. Qualifying to the Semi-Finals of the Champions League is an impossible task but finishing in the top four is still within their grasp...

Jose Mourinho's Unbeaten Home Record Ends as Sporting Gijon Beat Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho's nine year, 150 games unbeaten home record stretching all the way back to March 16 2002 came to an end on April 2 2011 after Sporting Gijon beat his Real Madrid team 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.


The record, which started all the way back in 2002 when Mourinho was manager of FC Porto in Portugal was one of the longest running records in football. The last team to beat a Mourinho coached side was Beira-Mar way back in February 2002.

World Football: Villains of 2010

The highs and lows of 2010 have been extreme to put it mildly. From gun toting separatists in Africa last January to an Octopus called Paul in June and possibly the greatest team of all time in November, 2010 has been a year to remember, or forget depending upon which team you follow.


Here, we look at some of the villains of the last 12 months. Some stories have been covered by every media outlet under the sun and some have just slipped past their mighty radars.

However, each and every one is just as important as each other as they thread a careful weave through the labyrinthine tapestry that is the footballing year of 2010.

Are FC Barcelona Even Playing the Same Sport as Other Teams?

Having worshipped at many alters in my time, I took the chance to visit one of the greatest churches of all two weeks ago; the Camp Nou.

There, I saw Barcelona play Villarreal in one of the most entertaining encounters I have ever witnessed, and it left me begging the question: Are Barca even playing the same sport as other teams?

Have Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid Shamed Football?

During Tuesday night's Champions League game between Real Madrid and Ajax, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos appeared to get themselves sent off on purpose. Dutch broadcaster NOS showed footage of Jose Mourinho apparently issuing instructions to Alonso moments before the midfielder received his marching orders.

UEFA have now decided to investigate both sendings-off.

Cesc Fabregas, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard...Rafael van der Vaart?

When one looks to the Premier League to pick out the very best midfielders, a few names always come to the fore. Cesc Fabregas, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes are all phenomenal players with each and every one playing for one of the established powers of English football.

However, with their latest signing, Rafael van der Vaart, Spurs now undoubtedly have a player who can match the very best, which begs the question: Can Spurs progress further with van der Vaart pulling the strings?

La Liga 2010/11 Preview: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona vs. the Rest

The new Primera League kicks off in less than two weeks with a real case of  a "What have you done for me lately" vibe running through it. Spain may be World and European Champions but that is old news and the focus now moves from international to domestic. Barcelona and a new look Real Madrid are set out to battle it out, once again, for the hearts and minds of the Iberian Peninsula.

Manchester City: The Most Important Team in the World in 2010-11

Just as Real Madrid was the most important team on the planet last season, Manchester City will be the pivot upon which European and Premiership football rotate this year.

Jose Mourinho's Move To Real Madrid Analyzed

With Manuel Pellegrini's sacking Real Madrid have, as expected, moved to appoint, double Champions League winning manager, Jose Mourinho as manager.

In a press conference on Wednesday night, Florentino Perez announced that Madrid had decided to terminate their working relationship with Pellegrini, but fell short of the much-anticipated unveiling of Mourinho as Los Blancos' newest manager.

Real Madrid and Barcelona Head Football's Rich List 2010, Manchester United 3rd, Arsenal 5th

Manchester United have dropped out of the top two richest teams in the world for the first time as Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have established themselves as the new dominant financial forces in football.

Seven of the top 20 richest teams in the world are now based in the English Premier League, but it now looks as if La Liga is where the real power lies.

Benzema Is Much Happier At Real Madrid Than Cristiano Ronaldo

For those of you who think Karim Benzema is unhappy warming his ass on the bench at Real Madrid, think again...

For reasons that now seem quite obvious, the French international is enjoying the kind of treatment that Cristiano Ronaldo can only dream about.

Real Madrid Beat Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City To Sergio Canales

For those of you who don't know, Sergio Canales is the hottest young talent in Europe at the moment. The Racing Santander midfielder has put in some unbelievable performances this season, and news that he is out of contract in June has sent all of Europe's top clubs scampering to Cantabria...only for Real Madrid to sneak in and sign the player.

Ten Football Predictions for 2010

The last year was a memorable one. Barcelona won the Champions League with the kind of display associated with Holland in the '70s. Real Madrid took their spending to £1 billion while Liverpool went backwards and Spurs finally look like they're ready to join the elite of English football.

After Everything, Is Rafael Benitez Off To Real Madrid?

Every Liverpool fans worst nightmare has moved one step closer as Real Madrid have confirmed that Manuel Pelligrini only has one week to save his job, or he will be replaced. And Rafael Benitez is the favourite to replace him...

Xabi Alonso Transfer Piles Pressure on Rafael Benitez to Produce, or Else...

The worst kept secret in football finally came to a close last night as Xabi Alonso completed his protracted transfer from Liverpool to Real Madrid.

In reality, the deal was not as long-winded as most would have you believe. The two clubs amazingly agreed upon the £30 million transfer fee less than 24 hours after the 25 percent sell on clause, which would have seen Real Sociadad claim up to £7.5 million, had lapsed...

Rafael Benitez Sings ABBA to Xabi Alonso

Earlier this week, Xabi Alonso handed in a transfer request at Liverpool. Unhappy that his manager is holding out on the players move to Real Madrid, Alonso took that extra step and put the final nail in the coffin.
Here's a transcript of their final conversation as Rafael Benitez tries to talk Xabi into staying by singing Chiquitita by ABBA... 

Benzema and Ronaldo Make Their Debut As Real Madrid Beat Shamrock Rovers 1-0

Shamrock Rovers came within two minutes of a historic result in Tallaght tonight, as debutant Karim Benzema's 88th-minute goal gave visiting Real Madrid the victory their play so scarcely deserved.

Barely 24 hours since Cristiano Ronaldo officially signed as a Real Madrid player, and Kaka was unveiled to the Madrid media, Real has delivered yet another blow to Manchester United by gazumping them to the signature of Karim Benzema.