Tag Archive: Premier League


Sir Alex Ferguson and the end of a footballing era

Filed under: Football, Manchester United, Premier League by Shane Thomas — 2 Comments
May 9, 2013

When the rumours about Sir Alex Ferguson retiring first surfaced on Twitter late on Tuesday evening, sparked by Daily Telegraph journalist Mark Ogden, I was sceptical.

CAPTION | Words. (Image | The Guardian)

End of an era | Some commentators have dubbed Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement the “fall of the footballing Berlin Wall”. (Image | The Guardian)

After all, Ferguson had planned to retire back in 2001, only to recant. The venerable Scot was such a fixture in British football that the thought of him no longer prowling the Old Trafford touchline, while incessantly chomping on a stick of chewing gum, seemed a too absurd a prospect to countenance.

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Why it’s time to scrap FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley

Filed under: FA Cup, Football, Football Association by Chris King — Leave a comment
April 19, 2013

Why are semi-finals, the veritable warm-up before the main event, played at Wembley Stadium, once only a home to winner-takes-all matches such as domestic and European cup finals?

I think we're alone now | Too often in its relatively short life, Wembley has seen swathes of empty seats at major football matches. (Image | The Guardian)

I think we’re alone now | Too often in its relatively short life, Wembley has seen swathes of empty seats at major football matches, a fate which again befell one of the recent FA semi-finals. (Image | The Guardian)

After all, a host of newspapers across all political and style divides have published articles in the past few weeks arguing that it detracts from the final and has a detrimental effect on both domestic cup competitions.

A poll by the Guardian newspaper found that 86% per cent of fans believe that FA Cup semi-finals should not be played at Wembley. That is a fairly conclusive figure by anyone’s standards. So why are they?

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Goal-line technology: a disaster waiting to happen

Filed under: Football, Premier League by Thomas Seear — Leave a comment
March 25, 2013

The Premier League recently announced that goal-line technology will be introduced in time for next season. Action came swiftly after FIFA president Sepp Blatter finally reversed his steadfast opposition to technology in football.

Disbelief | Frank Lampard holds his hands to his head as his shot crosses the line against Germany but no goal is given in South Africa. (Image | The Guardian)

Disbelief | Frank Lampard holds his hands aloft in protest as his shot crosses the line against Germany, but no goal is given in South Africa. (Image | The Guardian)

He said that FIFA would appear to be “foolish” if it did not act on a series of embarrassing mistakes, such as the failure to award a goal to England midfielder Frank Lampard during a game against Germany at the 2010 World Cup.

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Who is to blame for bad tackling in the Premier League?

Filed under: Football, Football Association, Premier League by Shane Thomas — 2 Comments
March 23, 2013

Few things are more infuriating in football that dangerous tackling. Even more enraging, however, is seeing such conduct go unpunished.

Dangerous | Wigan Athletic midfielder Callum McManaman catches Newcastle United defender Massadio Haïdara in a challenge that saw the latter stretchered off. (Image | Daily Mail)

Dangerous | Wigan Athletic midfielder Callum McManaman catches Newcastle United defender Massadio Haïdara in a challenge that saw the latter stretchered off. (Image | Daily Mail)

Like so many in the game, the decision by the Football Association not to take retrospective action against Callum McManaman of Wigan Athletic, for his egregious challenge on Newcastle United defender Massadio Haïdara, left me disgusted.

Personally, I feel the criticism being aimed towards McManaman should focus solely on his challenge. One should look at what the player did, rather than make judgements on him as an individual.

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West Brom’s Luka-coup and other great loan deals

Filed under: Football, Premier League by Chris King — Leave a comment
March 16, 2013

Every so often a leading Premier League or major European outfit will, in a fit of generosity, offer one of its young prodigies to a lesser club in order to aid the development of their precocious star and equip him with the necessary experience to succeed.

Common sight | Pictured after scoring one of his 13 goals for West Bromwich Albion, Romelu Lukaku has been a revelation at the Hawthorns. (Image | Sporting Life)

Common sight | Pictured after scoring one of his 13 goals for West Bromwich Albion, Romelu Lukaku has been a revelation at the Hawthorns. (Image | Sporting Life)

Many of those loaned out to smaller teams, whether in the top flight or the Football League, perform well and improve as footballers, but every so often, Premier League giants and other European clubs let a genuine star go, for a while.

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Journey to the centre of the Premier League

Filed under: Football, Premier League by Shane Thomas — Leave a comment
March 16, 2013

There is no doubt that football is an ever-changing, flexible construct, whose trends can change according to the demands of the game. In the Premier League, the place of the central midfielder is part of this.

Innovator | Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele inspired almost a position of his own and a timeless football cliche. (Image | The Guardian)

Innovator | Former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele inspired almost a position of his own and a timeless football cliché. (Image | The Guardian)

Players now seldom operate in the so-called “Makélélé role”, named after former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makélélé, left.

Once seen as a must for every top side, it is now conspicuous by its absence. Figures such as Youssouf Mulumbu, Lucas and John Obi Mikel seem to be part of a dying breed in the English top flight.

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Are Nottingham Forest now the new QPR?

Filed under: Football, Nottingham Forest, Npower Championship, Premier League, Queens Park Rangers by Chris King — Leave a comment
February 12, 2013

Since taking over Nottingham Forest in July, chairman Fawaz Al-Hasawi has had four managers serving under him, and the latest of these for only 40 days and seven games.

"Mac the Knifed" | Nottingham Forest manager Alex McLeish left the club by mutual consent after 40 days in charge. (Image | The Times)

Turmoil | Nottingham Forest manager Alex McLeish left the club by mutual consent after 40 days in charge. (Image | The Times)

When the news that former Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish had departed by mutual consent emerged last week, the footballing world let out a collective groan as it became clear that yet another club was in the throes of what might be called “toxic ownership”.

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Fallen sporting heroes #3: Paul Gascoigne

Filed under: England, Football, International, Premier League by Chris King — 1 Comment
February 12, 2013

The tragedy of legendary England footballer Paul Gascoigne is one that has unfolded over many years and continues to be vividly played out on the front of tabloid newspapers and on 24-hour television news channels.

Troubled | Paul Gascoigne has once again been admitted to rehab for his alcohol problems. (Image | The Mirror)

Troubled | Paul Gascoigne has once again been admitted to rehab for his alcohol problems. (Image | The Mirror)

Mercurial as a player, “Gazza” became a sporting icon as well as a supremely talented player capable of destroying opposition defences, but since his career ended, the 45-year-old has been slowly destroying himself.

Alcohol problems and mental illnesses have blighted Gascoigne during the last decade, and only this week his agent, Terry Baker, told BBC Radio 5 live that the ailing former star was “dying in front of us” and in need of urgent help.

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The kids are alright: A West Ham United youth

Filed under: Football, Premier League, West Ham United by Emma Webb — Leave a comment
February 6, 2013

Some of the biggest names in English football started at West Ham United’s Youth Academy. Established in the 1950s by then-manager Ted Fenton, it was later nicknamed “The Academy of Football“ due to its unremitting success at producing long-lasting talent.

Reputation | The West Ham United Academy has produced scores of talented footballers over the years. (Image | West Ham World)

Reputation | “The Academy of Football” has produced scores of talented players over the years. (Image | West Ham World)

West Ham have long since been the parent club behind the greats, and are currently nurturing a second generation of legacies on their training ground.

England’s historic World Cup victory in 1966 was headlined “West Ham 4 – West Germany 2″ by the British media, as Hammers legends Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst played a major role in bringing the Jules Rimet trophy home.

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Bradford City v Swansea City: the people’s cup final

Filed under: Bradford City, English Football League, Football, League Cup, Npower League 2, Premier League, Swansea City by Chris King — 1 Comment
January 31, 2013

When Capital One took on the sponsorship of the League Cup, as it is traditionally known, it may perhaps have been dreaming of a showpiece final pitting Manchester United against rivals and Premier League champions Manchester City.

All aboard the Bantam bus | Bradford City fans celebrate their side's victory over Aston Villa. (Image | The Guardian)

Bantams of the opera | Bradford City fans make their voices heard following the two-legged victory over Aston Villa. (Image | The Guardian)

As a worst-case scenario, the banking firm would surely have expected two teams of a similar calibre to Everton and Liverpool to be contesting the final at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 supporters.

Not in a million years would Capital One have ever anticipated that its brand name and image would be projected around the world on the basis of 90 minutes of football played between Bradford City, of League Two, and top flight outfit Swansea City.

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