Hold the Back Page - Remembering Gary Speed - Man City / Liverpool / Luis Suarez / Rio Ferdinand / Euro 2012 Draw / Steve Bruce / Sunderland

Hold the BackPage returns for another edition with Willie Gannon back on board to join Neil Sherwin and Ger McCarthy in assessing the game’s recent talking points including the tragic passing of Gary Speed, the antics of Luis Suarez, Rio Ferdinand and Steve Bruce's sacking at Sunderland and, of course, no pod would be complete without a mention of the one and only Mario Balotelli...

It’s a rather sombre opening to this week’s podcast as the lads discuss the tragic passing of Gary Speed and share their memories of a fantastic player who has excelled for both club and country during a career which spanned more than two decades.

Hold the BackPage - Remembering Gary Speed by bpfootball

Asamoah Gyan Transfer Leaves Sunderland and Steve Bruce Up The Creek...

The season may be just four games old but Steve Bruce and Sunderland's season is already on a knife edge. Having lost Asamoah Gyan to Al-Ain in one of the strangest loan moves the English Premier League has ever seen, the Black Cats have lost their focal point up front and now face a long cold wait until the January Transfer Window opens up...

The English Premier League's Fittest Fans

The NHS has just completed a survey of English Premier League fans. The online analysis was completed by over 25,000 fans from across the country, and its findings are not kind...

With many EPL teams based in areas where men die prematurely, the National Health Service decided to try and educate these fans by setting up an online questionnaire for them to fill out.

In a gentle way the questionnaire probed for fitness, eating and alcohol consumption type trends. When the survey was finished all the data was compiled into a football league of fitness, or obese levels as you'll see.

For the vast majority of the London based teams, the news was good. Unless you frequent Craven Cottage of a regular Saturday afternoon, that is, 49 percent of Fulham's fans are overweight and they finished in the lowest position for London and are the un-healthiest team of fans in the EPL...

Asamoah Gyan: From Black Stars To Black Cats Via Rap Star

Asamoah Gyan helped Sunderland to a share of the points with Wigan at the weekend as he scored on his "perfect debut."

The goal made him an instant hit on Wearside with the Black Cats' vocal support. It did not do him any harm with his teammates either.

However, he had already made his way into their hearts after Darren Bent asked him to sing for the team on the eve of the match. A little known fact about the powerful Ghanaian striker is that he has also produced a number of rap songs under the pseudonym of Baby Jet.

Darren Bent Returns To Haunt Spurs, Puts Man City, Liverpool In The Driving Seat

Darren Bent returned to haunt Harry Redknapp and Tottenham Hotspur in the worst way possible as his brace helped Sunderland to a 3-1 win over the Champions League chasing side. On a greater scale the result has put Manchester City firmly in the driving seat in the race for fourth with Spurs, Liverpool, and Aston Villa.

EPL Review: Spurs Humiliate Wigan, Gunners Title Hopes Fade, and Chelsea Roll On

The last time we had Premiership action, it finished with a David Ngog dive. Then we were bestowed with "the hand of Gaul" as France beat Ireland in the playoffs for the World Cup. So it was with great trepidation that we went back into the full scale battle that is the EPL. 

Chelsea once again showed that they are the team to beat this year, Arsenal's title credentials were left in tatters, and Liverpool continued to stumble.

Andy Reid's Performances For Sunderland Open Ireland's Trap Door?

Andy Reid's brilliant performance for Sunderland against Manchester United yesterday sent Giovani Trappatoni, his Ireland manager, the clearest message so far: That Reid is far better than any other midfielder he has in his Ireland squad and deserves to face Italy and Montenegro next week.

Liverpool and Man United: The Kind of Weekend Where Leagues Are Won and Lost

With seven games to go, the Premier League title chase hangs on a knife edge. Liverpool and Manchester United are still neck and neck after battling it out with each other since August, with Chelsea still breathing down their necks lest someone capitulate in the final straight.

Roy Keane and the Influence of Brian Clough: Why He Won't Resign from Sunderland

Despite Roy Keane stating that he is unsure whether he will stay at Sunderland or resign after a poor run of results, I am of the firm belief that he is going nowhere. And furthermore, that he has no intentions of going anywhere until a job comes up that he considers a step up.

To understand why I believe Keane has no intention of resigning, I'll go into his background a little.

Arsene Wenger Contributes to Arsenal's Poor Display at Sunderland.

Arsenal's slim title aspirations all but disappeared at the Stadium of Light this afternoon. After losing twice in the opening six games, Arsenal had placed un-wanted pressure on their young shoulders.

After grasping a draw from the jaws of defeat Arsenal come away from Sunderland with a point, but the ramifications of the result mean that to win the league the Gunners will have to go the rest of the season only dropping six points if they are to be realistic title challengers...

EPL 2008/09 Week 7: A Definitive Guide to the Weekends Fixtures

The new season might only be seven weeks old but the fixture list is as intriguing as ever. Here is a definitive preview guide to the key games this weekend...

Roy Keane Revolution at Sunderland: How Long before a Top Job Comes Along?

Since Niall Quinn's surprise announcement that Roy Keane was to be Mick McCarthy's successor at Sunderland back in 2006, the Cork native has gone from strength to strength as a manager.

Many were surprised to see Keane accept a job so early in his coaching and management career. And few would have predicted him to take over a struggling Championship side, never mind one where Niall Quinn was chairman...