When Manchester United signed Nani in 2007 he was the bright young prospect from Portugal. He had all the skills, pace to burn and looked to be a man who would light up the world stage. Six summers on and reports are that Nani is heading for the Old Trafford exit door. Just what will [...]
Football
THE END FOR NANI?
Posted in Football Opinion Pick of the Week | Tags: Champions League, Football, Internationals, Man Utd, Nani, Portugal, Premier League
ARE ENGLAND REALLY FINISHED WITH DAVID BECKHAM?
David Beckham made it quite clear this week that he is not finished with England. Despite being 38 years old, the former England captain declared publicly that he will never retire from International duty and still hopes that he may pull on an England shirt again. Is that a realistic ambition? Well why not? [...]
Posted in Football Opinion | Tags: Champions League, David Beckham, England, Football, Internationals, PSG, Roy Hodgson
Belgium: World Cup Contenders?
It’s that time again, when the World Cup is starting to appear on the horizon, the qualification gets crucial and the predictions are inevitably made. It is to be assumed that those predictions will be predictably predictable. Who can look past all conquering Spain? Lets not rule out Argentina and Brazil, they’re always dangerous. I [...]
Posted in Football Opinion | Tags: Belgium, Eden Hazard, Internationals, Vincent Kompany, World Cup 2014
Why Di Canio could have impact Sunderland need
Sunderland made the bold move on Saturday night to part company with their manager Martin O’Neill. The immediate reaction to this decision was one of shock, given that there are only seven games left in the Premier League season. A little over 24 hours later, the Black Cats announced Paolo Di Canio was their new [...]
Roberto Mancini has no right to be angry with Vincent Kompany
Roberto Mancini has gone on the attack this week over the fact that his captain Vincent Kompany played for Belgium having missed the last eight weeks for Manchester City. Mancini first criticised Belgium manager Marc Wilmots for playing Kompany. BBC Sport quoted Mancini saying, “I think sometimes some managers of national teams should understand [...]
Posted in Football Opinion | Tags: Belgium, Internationals, Manchester City, Premier League, Roberto Mancini
ENGLAND: WHAT DID WE EXPECT?
England travelled to Montenegro on Tuesday knowing that only a win would put them in firm control of their World Cup Qualifying group. Despite a good first half we saw what we always see from England: A side lacking in quality, cutting edge and ruthlessness. The mere fact that Montenegro were viewed as a [...]
Posted in Football Opinion Pick of the Week | Tags: Football, Montenegro, Roy Hodgson, Wayne Rooney, World Cup 2014
THE MONDAY COLUMN: 11th March 2013
Real Madness Last weeks Champions League tie between Manchester United and Real Madrid was the game ‘the world would stop for’ in the words of Jose Mourinho. If they did they will have seen a Manchester United side control Reals’ superstars and look like much the better side at Old Trafford last Tuesday. That [...]
Posted in Football Monday Column Pick of the Week | Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Bayern Munich, Champions League, Chelsea, FA Cup, Football, Man Utd
THE ANTONIO VALENCIA CONUNDRUM: JUST WHAT GONE WRONG?
This time last year Antonio Valencia was turning defenders legs to jelly. He was a strong, quick, aggressive winger capable of destroying an opposition on his own. He was a contender for player of the year. This year he is a contender for worst player of the year. He looks a shadow of the [...]
Posted in Football Opinion Pick of the Week | Tags: Antonio Valencia, FA Cup, Football, Man Utd, Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson
MONDAY COLUMN: 4th March 2013
Wenger Woes Arsenal have come away from this Barclays Premier League weekend 5 points adrift of the crucial fourth Champions League place. Defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane yesterday left the Gunners trailing their North London neighbours by 7 points as Tottenham moved to third just 2 points adrift of [...]
Posted in Football Monday Column Opinion | Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Champions League, Football, Jose Mourinho, Man Utd, Rafael Benitez
CONGRATULATIONS SWANSEA, WELL DONE BRADFORD AND WHEN DID COMMON SENSE GO OUT OF REFEREEING?
Bradford against Swansea was the cup final of dreams. Two clubs who were not expected to make the final of the Capital One Cup but fought against the odds to meet at Wembley. Swansea, having climbed the ladder of the football league to establish themselves as a quality Premier League outfit, turned up at [...]
Posted in Football Opinion Pick of the Week | Tags: Bradford, Capital One Cup, De Guzman, Dyer, Football, Michael Laudrup, Michu, Swansea
