Blogs 1
SPACER
20 February 2012, 4:31 pm
If you only read RoP via RSS, now might be ......Imaginary Enemies
16 December 2011, 2:55 pm
Nicolas Anelka's move to China confirms everything we know about him...even though we don't know anything. Ryan O'Hanlon on the enigma of his least favorite player....Quiet Revolutions
15 December 2011, 5:02 pm
Spurs have succeeded by remembering something larger clubs often forget: that some problems in football are small. Jake Meador explains....Possession
14 December 2011, 1:57 pm
It’s remarkable how varied soccer teams’ attitudes towards possession are. ......The Death of Socrates
6 December 2011, 1:05 pm
Alan Jacobs remembers a player who did what he liked and made us love him for it....
George Rolls Unites Kettering And Weymouth In Suspicion
21 February 2012, 8:08 am
How are the supporters of a football club to judge a new owner? Perhaps the answer to that is the question of how desperate for a new owner they are, but even in the most extreme of circumstances, one common theme of recent years has been that supporters have been more prepared to carry out [...]...European Championship Stories: 1980 – The Decline & Fall Of English Football
20 February 2012, 12:10 pm
On the twelfth of June 1980, England played Belgium in the finals of the European Championships – their first match in the finals of a major tournament for ten years. It turned out to be a match that acted as a barometer for the state of the game in England in several different respects, and none [...]...The Monday Morning Timewaster Project
20 February 2012, 9:31 am
Ah, Monday morning. A time of hope, rebirth and… sitting at work, staring out of the window and wishing the next five days away. Of course, the internet has made this task a little easier, and we’re going to each Monday morning from now on with a short list of bits and bobs that have [...]...Non-League Videos Of The Week: 19/02/2012
19 February 2012, 9:16 pm
After a couple of weeks off, we can finally get back to some matches from this weekend’s football and we have a variety of competitions for you today. First up, we have a match from this weekend’s FA Vase between Whitley Bay, who have won the tournament for the last three years in a row, [...]...Match Of The Week: Liverpool 6-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
19 February 2012, 6:54 pm
There’s history here, you know. When Liverpool were the kings of English and European football, Brighton & Hove Albion had a curious habit of being able to dump them out of the FA Cup. They did it at Anfield on the way to Wembley in 1983, and then again at The Goldstone Ground the following [...]...
Badge of the week ~ Prayag United SC, India
22 February 2012, 1:13 pm
(content/view/8353/33/) 22 February ~ We have recently seen that there can be two types of duck in football iconography – the languid duck with an excellent work-life balance and the cocky duck of the type who slouches around and puts his webbed feet on your table without even a proper introduction. There is, however, a third duck, which appears at its most effective in the badge of Prayag United. It is the scorpion duck . This mythical creature was first encountered by Europeans in the 1...Notts County's mistaken managerial move
22 February 2012, 9:10 am
22 February ~ Keith Curle knows how unpopular he is as Notts County's new boss. In his first press conference on Monday – available only on the official club website's subscription-only Magpie Player – he said: We need everyone on board. Sadly for him, that won't wash. Martin Allen's shock sacking following Notts 3-0 drubbing at Hartlepool means that chairman Ray Trew is now on his eighth manager since taking control of the club following the Munto Finance fiasco tw...The lives of Matteo, Uprichard, Deans & Fagan
21 February 2012, 11:15 am
(content/section/5/28/) 21 February ~ The book reviews from WSC 300 are online now. Last month we focused on biographies of four very different characters. Dominic Matteo's Joe Fagan (content/view/8364/28/)'s biography tells the story of an ordinary man who did an extraordinary job at Liverpool....The internet has killed football fantasists
21 February 2012, 9:04 am
21 February ~ In the late 1980s I started working for a company whose deputy manager, I was told, used to play for West Ham . Naturally I was impressed by this fact, even though I had never heard of him. So when circumstances threw us together on an airport bus, the topic for our small talk was ready made. Yes indeed, he used to play for West Ham , my superior confirmed. But they brought me back down to the Reserves to help the young lads come through. Then he changed the subject, but I was ...Some things from the weekend ~ 20-02-12
20 February 2012, 10:41 am
FA Cup ~ Leicester reward their high risk fansLeicester City may be struggling to make an impact in the top half of the Championship this season, but Nigel Pearson thinks they can reach Wembley in the FA Cup (http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Leicester-City-chance-reach-Wembley-says-Nigel/story-15280957-detail/story.html). Their 2-1 win over Norwich, one of the Premier League's in-form teams, was particularly sweet because of the number of Foxes fans in attendance. Only 2,400 tickets w...
SYRIAN FOOTBALLERS CLOSE IN ON LONDON 2012
22 February 2012, 9:15 am
Amidst the chaotic political situation in Syria, one could be forgiven for presuming football is the last thing on the minds of many Syrians. Yet on Wednesday the Syrian Under-23 national football team travels to Bahrain where a victory would put them just one match away from qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games football tournament. Sport has not been immune from the events of the past year in Syria. While the Syrian Premier League was suspended in 2011, matches have resumed - albeit w...ACROSS THE POND: THE LAST CHANCE SALOON?
21 February 2012, 2:24 pm
Kris Boyd has become the latest Scottish pro to try his luck in MLS. Bryan Kay assesses his chances, and looks at some of those who paved the way. The sneering pundits who never quite warmed to his predatory virtues would perhaps put it something like this: Kris Boyd has never seemed quite capable of adapting to life away from the cool but pliable comforts of Scottish football. Eighteen-times capped by his country, the Scottish international striker stacked up a formidable goals tall...DREAMING OF ENGLAND
21 February 2012, 10:45 am
Andy Hudson examines whether the departures of two young Swedish players from Newcastle is an isolated case of not making the grade, or part of a wider trend. The February news that Newcastle United’s Swedish young guns Ole Söderberg and Samuel Adjei will be allowed to leave the club for free this summer has highlighted something that many young Swedish footballers may never fully consider: is it in their best interests to move to England so young? Adjei arrived on Tyneside in ...BARCA'S SCOTTISH HERO - GEORGE PATTULLO
21 February 2012, 9:00 am
The title says it all, welcome to a great story. The American author and humorist Mark Twain apparently once said the ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice, and to be fair to the man who created Huckleberry Finn, he probably does has a valid point. History is important to football supporters of course, fans love nothing more than harking back to the golden age where men were men and shorts were short. The players we grew up watching as youngsters will always seem bett...ZAMBIA: WHERE DID IT ALL GO RIGHT?
20 February 2012, 11:30 am
This year’s African Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea was destined to produce a shock winner from the start. With the African heavyweights of Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa and reigning champions Egypt all failing to qualify for the tournament , it was widely expected that it would be either Ghana and the Ivory Coast would capitalise on this by winning the tournament. Both teams came close, but they were both undone by a country that no-one could have expected ...
The Howling Football - Raising Awareness for Animal Protection...
22 February 2012, 2:05 am
The Howling Football - Raising Awareness for Animal Protection ahead of EURO 2012 With the European Championship right around the corner, Ukraine is a nation that will be hoisted into the spotlight because of its role as tournament co-host with Poland. The Ukrainian government has reportedly been killing thousands of stray dogs and cats to prepare for the immense month-long event, expecting to welcome hundreds of thousands of tourists into its borders. Alongside petitions that have already acq...Fans coordinating snowball attacks? Approved. Before their...
20 February 2012, 4:49 am
Fans coordinating snowball attacks? Approved. Before their Europa League match kicked off last Thursday, Legia Warsaw fans decided that creating a chant to go with a coordinated snowball attack on the Sporting Lisbon keepers would be an excellent idea. And funny enough, they were absolutely right. The referee didn’t appreciate the idea as much as we did though. He threatened to cancel the match taking place in Poland if they didn’t stop. Source: KCKRS ...The Mönchengladbach way Borussia Mönchengladbach are one of the...
20 February 2012, 2:45 am
The Mönchengladbach way Borussia Mönchengladbach are one of the biggest surprises in Europe this season. Facing relegation at the end of last year, manager Lucien Favre has done a remarkable job in instilling a brand new system in his players. The league table doesn’t lie, and Mönchengladbach sit in second place, above Bayern Munich and completely capable of snatching the Bundesliga title from Borussia Dortmund. Favre’s new tactics have emulated Barcelona’s tiki-taka system full of tria...Nelson Mandela: The Liverpool FC Supporter We had to dig deep...
17 February 2012, 7:57 am
Nelson Mandela: The Liverpool FC Supporter We had to dig deep for this one. It turns out the legendary South African human rights and anti-apartheid activist was able to meet Liverpool when the club was on tour in South Africa in the summer of 1994. Serving as the President of South Africa in ‘94, Mandela was proudly presented with a Reds shirt by John Barnes, the club’s captain. In a 2003 interview with the FA, John Barnes admitted that he was lucky enough to spend three surreal hours ta...Through Ryu’s Lens - AC Milan vs. Arsenal, San Siro It was...
16 February 2012, 6:54 am
Through Ryu’s Lens - AC Milan vs. Arsenal, San Siro It was a dream night for AC Milan. It was a nightmare for Arsenal. With Milan wearing the red and black at home, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Zlatan, and Robinho stole the show. Ryu Voelkel was in the house of the Rossoneri to capture the rout and Thierry Henry’s last moments with the Gunners. (Interact with Ryu on twitter @Toksuede and check his Flickr) ...
Irish nationals playing for the FAI an “Injustice”?
22 February 2012, 11:00 am
Ryan Large offers his thoughts on the ongoing saga regarding players born in Northern Ireland declaring for the Republic....Niall Quinn at Sunderland: the player
22 February 2012, 10:00 am
In the first part of two piece look at Niall Quinn's tenure at Sunderland, James Hunt looks at the big striker's performances on the field....Champions League – Wednesday Preview
22 February 2012, 9:00 am
Ger McCarthy is back with another Champions League preview looking ahead to Wednesday night’s round of sixteen fixtures between FC Basel and Bayern Munich as well as the glamour tie pitting Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille up against Serie A’s Inter Milan....Irish Bookmaker offers odds on Torres to abstain from scoring during Lent
21 February 2012, 11:47 pm
Our friends at Setantabet have some cracking specials lined up for Lent....Shortsighted Celtic fans gloat as Rangers stand on the brink
21 February 2012, 12:00 pm
With Rangers' financial situation worsening by the week, Willie Gannon looks at the impact it will have on their Old Firm rivalry with Celtic....
Calling it a day
6 February 2012, 5:46 pm
It is time for Les Rosbifs to be no more. It has been a fun ride over the past nigh-on three years and it has been a pleasure meeting, speaking to and sharing the stories of all of those Englishmen abroad. Hopefully, Les Rosbifs has gone some way to raising the profile of English footballers [...]...Former Birmingham City coach Stewart Hall lifts his first trophy in East Africa
20 January 2012, 9:00 pm
Success for a Rosbif in Africa, as Stewart Hall leads Azam FC to cup success in Tanzania. Tom Legg reports....Les Rosbifs (Episode 0)
19 January 2012, 12:14 am
A taster of things to come on the Les Rosbifs Podcast!...Former Benfica and Sheffield United striker Brian Deane urges English pros to leave ‘comfort zone’
10 January 2012, 9:06 pm
Brian Deane enjoyed a spell with Portuguese giants Benfica in 1998. Here, he explains to Egan Richardson why more English footballers today should be mirroring his steps and moving abroad....Nikon ‘El Maestro’ Jevtic – Prodigious Anglo-Serbian talent looking for a break
10 January 2012, 1:25 pm
Nikon 'El Maestro' Jevtic: not a name you may know, but he was (and is) an incredibly skilful youngster. And he has an English passport. Where is he now? James Drobka reveals all....
The End of the Road
8 February 2012, 9:27 pm
I suppose this has been coming for quite a while. As the paucity of content in recent months suggests, I’ve been struggling to find both the time and motivation to blog and have decided that the time has come to put this thing out of its misery. We had a good run. I look back [...]...Hibernation
6 October 2011, 11:11 pm
As I explore freelance options, focus on some new writing projects and attempt to sort my post-university life out, I will be putting the blog into hibernation for a couple of months but hope to have it back up-and-running this winter. Many thanks for all of your support over the last eighteen months, whether you [...]...Decade by Decade: Epilogue
6 October 2011, 10:40 pm
It is too easy to forget the lessons of history. With the modern, globalised world setting its gaze firmly upon the horizon of technological progress and instantaneous communication, the events and gradual metamorphoses which have conspired to shape our environment can become obscured in the rush for the future. The idea behind the ‘Decade by [...]...2000s Month: Learning to Love MLS
1 October 2011, 3:20 pm
by Dawes Dunham Major League Soccer. Something about the name just didn’t sit well with me. Perhaps it was its close proximity to the name of my most worshipped sport, Major League Baseball. Perhaps it was the garish jerseys and worse team nicknames; Wizards, Galaxy, Burn, Mutiny, and Fusion were hardly enthralling names. They felt [...]...2000s Month: Fratelli d’Italia
29 September 2011, 6:20 pm
by Angelo Fiorini ‘We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.’ - William Shakespeare.In the Autumn of 1847 Goffredo Mameli sat down and wrote ‘Il Canto degli Italiani’, a piece that has has since become known as L’Inno di Mameli, the national anthem of Italy. Football fans [...]...
Appointing a football manager? Forget the interview
17 February 2012, 3:38 pm
by Adam Bate There are lots of reasons why an interview is important when deciding which candidate should get the job. A smart appearance is indicative of a fastidious approach. A personable style can suggest a warm and engaging individual capable … Continue reading →...Mick in context – a look at McCarthy’s Wolves reign
13 February 2012, 8:57 pm
by Adam Bate To put Mick McCarthy’s Wolverhampton Wanderers reign into perspective you need to go much further back than its beginning in 2006. You need to go back to 1989 – the year that Wolves won the old Division … Continue reading →...What is success for Liverpool?
7 February 2012, 12:20 pm
by Adam Bate What a return it has been for Kenny Dalglish. Only Cardiff City now stand in the way of Liverpool lifting the Carling Cup at Wembley later this month and thus securing the club’s first trophy in six … Continue reading →...Anelka, Drogba and the Shenhua Revolution
23 January 2012, 12:25 pm
by Andrew Crawford Having even the remotest interest in Shanghai Shenhua should probably come with a health warning. When I die a decade prematurely, blame it on the side from the Hongkou stadium for weakening my heart and badly damaging … Continue reading →...Pippo Inzaghi needs to beat the odds again
12 January 2012, 3:36 pm
by Adam Bate Carlos Tevez’s move to AC Milan may yet happen. It may not. But the mere fact it is being discussed would indicate Filippo Inzaghi’s hopes of winning back his place in Milan’s Champions League squad let alone the first … Continue reading →...
Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas presents a BRIT award to Ed Sheeran
22 February 2012, 1:34 pm
Arsenal’s best breakaway act of 2011 returned to London last night to present the BRIT awards for Best Breakthrough Act to ginger troubadour Ed Sheeran. Cesc Fabregas teamed up with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger to present the award and managed to avoid fluffing his line. Perhaps he was scouting for new music for Pep’s next [...] ...West Ham midfielder Henri Lansbury keeps a clean sheet during 35-minute goalkeeping stint
22 February 2012, 9:42 am
West Ham’s Henri Lansbury was forced to play in goal for 35 minutes after keeper Rob Green was sent of during last night’s 4-1 win over Blackpool. The on-loan Arsenal youngster donned the gloves with 54 minutes on the clock with the score at 2-1. And he put in a display that will have Green [...] ...GIF It: Cristiano Ronaldo’s diving instincts get the better of him (CSKA Moscow 1-1 Real Madrid)
22 February 2012, 9:21 am
His brain said ‘cross it’ but his body said ‘dive’. Cristiano Ronaldo got himself into a bit of a tangle as he attempted to put the ball into the box during Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow last night. Via 101GG ...Is the Premier League’s dominance of the Champions League over?
22 February 2012, 9:12 am
Chelsea remain in contention to progress in the Champions League by the skin of their teeth, but last night’s 3-1 defeat to Napoli leaves English football staring down the barrel of not having a single representative in the quarter-finals. With Arsenal needing to climb a mountain against AC Milan, and Manchester United and Manchester City [...] ...OTP Podcast: Episode 26 – Wheeler Dealin’
22 February 2012, 8:24 am
Scuba Steve Bould Ep.26 Wheeler Dealin’ by Off The Post on Mixcloud Ah, the magic of the FA Cup. A weekend when we all remember the glory days of football. Hazy, sepia-tinged days when plucky minnows would score ludicrous own goals at Anfield and take it on the chin with good grace and a cheeky [...] ...
Blogs 2
Notes From The Not-Very-Underground-At-All
10 January 2012, 12:00 am
So, I’m sure by now you’re all figuring out what our string of misty-eyed retrospectives/adventures in oversharing are all about. That’s right; as of, um, right about now, Unprofessional Foul is dead. Ceased to be. Bereft of life. Shuffled its mortal coil, etc etc etc DEATH SYNONYMS LIFTED FROM A MONTY PYTHON SKETCH. We killed [...]...The Best XI Things About Unprofessional Foul
9 January 2012, 11:15 pm
Today was missing a list and any special day here at UF is not complete without a list. So, don’t forget that The Fan’s Attic is giving you a list when you go to rate us at the end of the day. (No idea if there is going to be any rating and I hope [...]...A lot more than a Spectator
9 January 2012, 10:45 pm
With our final guest post of the day, we present Spectator. You know that scene in 24 Hour Party People where Peter Saville finally shows up with the Hacienda flyers, but it’s after the club has actually opened, and Tony Wilson/Steve Coogan says something to the effect of, “To be fair, it’s a beautiful flyer.” I always felt, [...]...Words of wisdom from an old friend
9 January 2012, 10:15 pm
And now, with another blast from the past, we get a post from Sven. Be sure to check out the returns of Norfolk Ned and Spinachdip NY from last week. A lot can change in five years. Five years ago, when JT first approached me about joining his new soccer blog, life was certainly different: [...]...Oasis vs. Blur! The Definitive Guide to Britpop’s Biggest Feud (but, really…)
9 January 2012, 9:30 pm
A girl I love once gave me a book as a gift. It was a good one, notable, but as she said in her inscription, not something I should bother reading. She was right and I never have, never once turning past the inky message on the flip-side of its paperback cover. “It’s still wet [...]...
TFT Podcast Episode 93: Capello, the winter break and women’s football
10 February 2012, 8:38 am
With England picking over the pieces of Fabio Capello’s resignation as manager, Chris, Gary and Ryan look at whether the Italian’s resignation could have been avoided and what the FA need to consider when appointing a new manager. Plus, with the cold and snow, the pod reconsiders the winter break and whether the weather should really be an issue for...Read More...TFT Podcast Episode 92: Francis Duku and Joe Vines
27 January 2012, 8:54 am
For this week’s podcast, Gary and Chris were honoured to be joined by Francis Duku and Joe Vines, two well-respected Ryman League defenders and the brains behind the soon-to-be-launched non-league support service Our Game, for a non-league football special. On the agenda this week: non-league player welfare, clubs in crisis (that’s genuine crisis, folks), the Ryman League Premier and Ryman...Read More...TFT Podcast Episode 91: Happy New Year!
13 January 2012, 9:27 am
Our first podcast of 2012 sees Ryan Keaney in driving seat for the first time with Gary Andrews otherwise engaged. Sadly we are also without guest Jamie Cutteridge, who failed a late fitness test. So it’s Ryan, Chris Nee and James Appell taking football to task on all the big issues this week. On the agenda: tackling, the FA Cup...Read More...TFT Podcast Episode 90: Christmas Quiz Special
15 December 2011, 1:54 pm
With Christmas coming, we open up TFT’s doors to our customary end-of-year special. But this one’s a bit different. Yes, we thought we’d attempt to go all quiz show and hauled in two reluctant teams to test their footballing knowledge in a series of rounds possibly cribbed from elsewhere in the broadcast media. Gary Andrews hosts and attempts to keep...Read More...TFT Podcast Episode 89: Tim Morgan
2 December 2011, 9:18 am
When we arranged for Tim Morgan to join Gary Andrews and Chris Nee for Episode 89 of the podcast, we did so with the intention of using the two Welshmen present to discuss the bright future of the Welsh football team. That proposed discussion took a tragic turn with the tragic death of the Welsh manager, Gary Speed, last Sunday...Read More...
Video :: Marseille v. Internazionale Highlights – Champions League
23 February 2012, 2:04 am
Marseille 1 – 0 Internazionale : Scoring Summary Marseille: Andre Ayew (90′) via espn.com: Andre Ayew scored with the last touch of their Champions League clash to inflict a fourth straight defeat on Inter Milan and pile the pressure on coach Claudio Ranieri. Inter were improved from the side that went down 3-0 to Bologna [...]...Random Soccer in Random Places – LA Lakers Youtube
23 February 2012, 1:53 am
Mike Trudell aka @LakersReporter is one of my favorite personal content providers. As you all probably know, I am a huge Lakers honk, and Mike writes/podcasts/hosts video content for Lakers.com, is our local station KCAL 9′s sideline reporter for Lakers broadcasts so obviously I see a lot of his stuff. Mike has done an amazing [...]...Nike Flyknit
23 February 2012, 12:26 am
Nike continues their innovative approach and once again stays out in front of everyone when it comes to performance sports products. Their latest release, Nike Flyknit embarked is the culmination of a “four-year mission of micro-engineering static properties into pliable materials. It required teams of programmers, engineers and designers to create the proprietary technology needed [...]...Video : Basel v Bayern Munich Highlights – Champions League
22 February 2012, 11:43 pm
Swiss football club Basel, aka the giant killers, aka the little engine that could has done it again. In their Champions League match today with German power house Bayern Munich, the small Swiss club held tough throughout the game and then stole the winner just minutes before the game was over. Basel has got to [...]...Rochester Lancers offer ex-NBA All-star Allen Iverson a contract to play pro indoor soccer | $20k/game + $5k/goal
22 February 2012, 10:30 pm
via rochesterlancers.com | Rochester Lancers on Facebook The Rochester Lancers, of the MISL’s top level of pro indoor soccer, today announced a contract offer to former NBA star, Allen Iverson. The Rochester Lancers host two remaining regular season home games to conclude their season. The offer stands at $20,000 per game, with a bonus of [...]...
Celtic winning the title at Ibrox is an opportunity for Scottish Football
22 February 2012, 9:18 am
Celtic winning the title at Ibrox is an opportunity for Scottish Football - originally posted on Soccerlens.comHas there ever been a season quite like it in Scottish football? By November 5th Celtic trailed Old Firm rivals Rangers by 15 points and Neil Lennon was left considering his future. Fast forward just over 3 months and a quick glance at the SPL table reveals Celtic now leading the way by 17 points...From Soccerlens.com - Football News...Why Chelsea Need To End Reign Of Player Power
21 February 2012, 8:09 am
Why Chelsea Need To End Reign Of Player Power - originally posted on Soccerlens.comWhen Andre Villas-Boas took over as Chelsea Manager in June 2011, he probably didn’t envisage the club’s dressing room being his biggest problem during his first season in English football. A dressing room filled with international footballers and seasoned professionals would surely have been an attraction for any potential Chelsea manager following the ruthless sacking...From Soccerlens.com - Football News...Manchester United All Time Appearances
19 February 2012, 5:06 pm
Manchester United All Time Appearances - originally posted on Soccerlens.comManchester United’s most capped players of all time. The achievements of these players are the stuff of United legend, and it’s a testimony to Sir Alex Ferguson that he has built two sides that feature separately in this list. Also check out the Manchester United all-time top scorers list. Manchester United All Time Appearances The...From Soccerlens.com - Football News...Manchester United All-Time Top Scorers
19 February 2012, 5:05 pm
Manchester United All-Time Top Scorers - originally posted on Soccerlens.comManchester United’s top goalscorers of all time, from the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton to Best and Rooney, all the way through the great players of United’s illustrious past, including many from Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at United. Also check out the Manchester United all-time appearance list. Manchester United All Time Top Scorers The top 21...From Soccerlens.com - Football News...Should football introduce the ‘Vanishing Spray’?
19 February 2012, 4:40 pm
Should football introduce the ‘Vanishing Spray’? - originally posted on Soccerlens.comThe ‘vanishing spray’ is used by the referee to mark 10 yards between the ball and the wall at free-kicks. This line is a clear indicator of where the opposition teams should be standing before the free-kick is taken and was introduced in an effort to stop the attacking team gaining advantage by moving closer...From Soccerlens.com - Football News...
Napoli 3-1 Chelsea: Ivanovic plays high up and Napoli exploit the space in behind him
22 February 2012, 1:05 pm
Napoli played their classic counter-attacking game to put themselves in a strong position going into the second leg. Walter Mazzarri was suspended from the touchline, so assistant Nicolo Frustalupi took charge. Morgan De Sanctis returned in goal, Hugo Campagnaro was fit to start, and Juan Zuniga was picked rather than Andrea Dossena on the left. Andre Villas-Boas [...]...PSG 2-2 Montpellier: narrowness versus width
20 February 2012, 8:23 pm
First played second in Ligue 1, and PSG maintain their one-point lead. PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti was unable to use Javier Pastore from the start – he was fit only for the bench. The only change from the 0-0 draw with Nice was Blaise Matuidi coming in for Mathieu Bodmer on the left of midfield. Rene Girard [...]...Barcelona 5-1 Valencia: Valencia do their Nou Camp usual – start well, then tire in second half
19 February 2012, 10:55 pm
Lionel Messi hit four goals as 2nd-placed Barcelona thrashed 3rd-placed Valencia. Pep Guardiola was without the suspended Daniel Alves, so Martin Montoya played at right-back. Xavi Hernandez was only fit enough for the bench. At the back, Gerard Pique returned after being left out in the 3-1 Champions League win over Leverkusen in the week. Unai Emery [...]...Nationalities of managers in European leagues
17 February 2012, 12:45 pm
England are without a manager, and the FA are known to favour an English candidate for the job. Harry Redknapp is the overwhelming favourite, but the problem with favouring an English candidate is that there are so few English managers working in the Premier League. How does this situation compare to other major footballing countries in [...]...ZM elsewhere: February so far
17 February 2012, 6:44 am
After an absence of a couple of weeks, here’s some pieces I’ve done so far this month elsewhere: ESPN David Pizarro Guardian Juan Mata ESPN Daniel Sturridge WhoScored Milan ESPN Kevin-Prince Boateng TheScore Danny ESPN Africa Nations Cup FourFourTwo FA Cup previews Betfair Barcelona v Valencia preview...
Spurs need to know their place
6 February 2012, 3:49 pm
Every so often Lawrence Gray-Hodson, a man who made his name in the upper reaches of Division 2 in the [...]...The Loathe that Dare not speak its Name
27 January 2012, 10:06 am
‘My best moment? I have a lot of good moments but the one I prefer is when I kicked the [...]...Roberto Mancini’s card waving should result in red card
19 January 2012, 6:05 pm
Every so often Lawrence Gray-Hodson, a man who made his name in the upper reaches of Division 2 in the [...]...A song for Ed De Goey
18 January 2012, 6:02 pm
Below is a song about the ill-fated relationship between Chelsea’s erstwhile Dutch number one and a girl who dumped him [...]...A man for all seasons
1 December 2011, 11:17 pm
United fan Darren Richman plays tribute to his club’s extraordinary manager. - ‘People say mine was a poor upbringing. I [...]...
When Ligue 1 signings go bad (look away Tottenham fans)
14 February 2012, 6:44 pm
Given the news that new Messi-Ronaldo-and-Joe-Cole all rolled into one Eden Hazard is keen on joining Tottenham, most are applauding the fact that Spurs are now at a level where they can attract such glamorous names. Trust The Spoiler to stiletto stamp all over that bubble with four examples of bright, shiny Ligue 1 talents [...]...The return of the Champions League is less than a week away!
8 February 2012, 5:23 pm
February 14. An expensive seat at a posh venue, painstakingly but thoughtfully prepared montages and a bit of spine-chilling orchestra music to accompany the dulcet tweet of Howard Webb’s whistle. It can only mean one thing: the return of the Champions League. That’s right, the scrap for that cup with the Gary Lineker-esque ears resumes [...]...Big call for armchair fans: Milan, Barcelona or Middlesbrough?
8 February 2012, 4:10 pm
There hasn’t been a bet of the day for a while, so to repay fans of inexpert tipping worldwide, tonight’s feast of football seems like an appropriate time to offer three for the price of one, that price incidentally being nothing. All prices listed are from bwin, and if you bung all three choices into [...]...Ashley Cole is the only man classy enough to succeed John Terry
6 February 2012, 4:13 pm
If he hadn’t cheated on the apparent greatest living Briton, used hyperbole to show disgust at Arsenal’s stinginess or shot someone with a rifle, would Ashley Cole really be a 20/1 outsider with William Hill to replace John Terry as England captain? Take all the role model nonsense out of the equation – and why [...]...Timekeeping not the strong point of Santos president
2 February 2012, 3:15 pm
In life there is the saying that timing is everything. Some men meet their future wives by catching a glimpse of them in another car while waiting at a red light or buy a lucky scratchcard when in a supermarket queue or get asked if they can graffiti the Facebook offices for a payment in [...]...
The Swiss Cinderella Strikes Again
22 February 2012, 10:08 pm
They knocked out Manchester United, and despite the tie only being halfway through, they’ve picked up an uber-dramatic late win against the heavily favored Bayern Munich. In a year of Champions League football which seems to parallel Michel Platini’s vision – you know: tiny club like APOEL in the kayos, England looking at a potential, [...]...Legia Warsaw Fans Offer A Snowball Shower
22 February 2012, 6:24 pm
The “flying wave” of snowballs isn’t exactly new to football, but it’s always nice to see some uniformity from a club’s fans – in this case Legia Warsaw. It also would’ve been nice if they could’ve timed this for a free kick or a corner or brought shovels and launched mounds through the air. But I [...]...Napoli Warms Up With A Smooch
22 February 2012, 4:56 pm
The key to beating Chelsea? (Outside of simply playing them anyway.) Pregame mascot kisses of luck, as evidenced by Ezequiel Lavezzi and Walter Gargano getting smooches from not one, but two mascots. And in case you’re into camera trickery, they zoomed in on the girl and then panned around with the boy then going in for [...]...Chelsea’s Tactics Now Free For The Public
21 February 2012, 4:59 pm
At this point, Andre Villas-Boas might be making an active push towards unemployment. This sheet was reportedly clipped from the Hotel Vesuvio in Napoli, where Chelsea’s staying before their Champions League fixture this evening (against…guess who). It might be misinformation, or it might not. Whatever the case, Gazzetta dello Sport got ahold of it and predictable [...]...Inter’s Little Filippo
20 February 2012, 8:32 pm
In today’s age, you could be mistaken for thinking that’s Inter’s latest signing. It’s actually the now infamous 9 year old who help up a sign at the San Siro this weekend which read “Could you win, please? Otherwise they make fun of me at school! Thank you. Filippo.” The Disney adaptation will turn out [...]...
Pitchside Europe: Could Celtic really survive without Rangers?
20 February 2012, 7:02 pm
“To suggest that Celtic could carry on regardless without their old rivals is like claiming that Othello would be the same play if Iago or Othello were abruptly scratched from the script. Both teams define themselves by their opposition to the other. It can, on occasion, spill over into repellent sectarianism, but the great rivalries [...]...Report: PSG stay top despite Montpellier scare
19 February 2012, 11:40 pm
“PARIS — Montpellier proved their Ligue 1 title credentials by holding league leaders Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-2 draw in the top-of-the-table clash at Parc des Princes on Sunday.” My AFP match report on Montpellier’s impressive draw at PSG, which contains a round-up of all the Ligue 1 headlines from the weekend, can be read [...]...Report: Lacazette gives Lyon edge over APOEL
15 February 2012, 8:23 am
“LYON, France — Lyon secured a slender advantage in their Champions League last 16 tie with APOEL FC by beating the Cypriot underdogs 1-0 in the first leg at Stade Gerland on Tuesday.” My AFP match report on Lyon’s 1-0 victory over APOEL on Tuesday can be read here....Pitchside Europe: Ajax in disarray ahead of United visit
13 February 2012, 7:46 pm
“On Thursday, Ajax announced that their five-man supervisory board would step down after club icon Johan Cruyff succeeded in a legal battle to prevent the four other members of the board — of which he is a member — from appointing former coach Louis van Gaal as chief executive. Van Gaal’s nomination had been announced [...]...Report: PSG held up by Nice after Obraniak stuns Lille
12 February 2012, 11:59 pm
“PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain inched a point clear in Ligue 1 on Sunday following a 0-0 draw at Nice, after Ludovic Obraniak had netted a 93rd-minute winner for Bordeaux in an extraordinary 5-4 win at his former club Lille.” My AFP round-up of the weekend’s matches in Ligue 1, including an astonishing nine-goal game at [...]...
Mata: United’s 2008 win was ‘lottery’
21 February 2012, 3:12 pm
Chelsea starlet Juan Manuel Mata has questioned the merits of Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League glory, which came at his current club Chelsea’s expense following a penalty shoot-out in Moscow. Mata, then at Valencia, has revealed that he was an enthusiastic viewer throughout the thrilling 1-1 draw, which was decided by key penalty misses by [...]...Impact trade newly acquired American
21 February 2012, 2:25 pm
On Friday afternoon, the Montreal Impact selected United States International Eddie Johnson via the allocation process. Per MLS rules, the Impact will now move to the back of the allocation order for the next time a player enters this process. After only an hour of being a member of the Impact, it was announced that [...]...Gunner issues Spurs warning
21 February 2012, 2:22 pm
Bacary Sagna has admitted that his Arsenal return a few days ago has coincided with an unacceptable run of form and one that the Gunners desperately need to end if they are to avoid yet another disappointment in this weekend’s North London derby against the in-form Tottenham Hotspur. The Spurs emerged 2-1 winners at White [...]...Cech: Chelsea apprehensive about Brum
17 February 2012, 8:09 pm
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech wants his teammates to revive their deteriorating campaign by winning at home to Birmingham City in the FA Cup tomorrow – a feat that he realizes won’t be easy to accomplish. Birmingham suffered relegation last year but the Championship outfit has managed to become somewhat of a cup specialist, claiming the [...]...Breaking: Gunners defender out indefinitely
17 February 2012, 2:33 pm
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has provided a grim injury update ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Sunderland, suggesting that Germany international defender Per Mertesacker is likely to miss the rest of the season. Mertesacker had to be withdrawn from last weekend’s Premier League match against the Black Cats at Wearside and although his [...]...
Blogs 3
Park, Arshavin (2) & Benayoun all score as Arsenal reserves hit Norwich for five
22 February 2012, 11:31 pm
Norwich 0 – Arsenal 5 (Barclays Premier Reserve League, February 21, 2012) Park Chu-Young opened the scoring in the sixth minute from close range before Andrey Arshavin curled in a second just before half time. Benik Afobe claimed the third in the 58th minute before Arshavin registered again seven minutes later. Yossi Benayoun capped off a brilliant individual display with the final goal just before [...]...Santos sink Commercial; Botafogo win at Paulista
22 February 2012, 11:03 pm
Santos 2 – Commercial 0 (Campeonato Paulista, February 22, 2012) Ibson slide Santos in front before the half hour, while Durva wrapped up the win in the 82nd with a header from a free-kick. Paulista 0 – Botafogo 1 (Campeonato Paulista, February 22, 2012) A Leo Goncalves penalty proved decisive....3-down, 4-3 up: Chelsea’s kids perform a miracle comeback against Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth Cup
22 February 2012, 10:15 pm
Nottingham Forest 3 – Chelsea 4 (FA Youth Cup, February 22, 2012) Forest looked nailed-on to progress to the next round of the cup when David Morgan, Nathan Ake and Jordan Palmer-Samuels (a fantastic improvised back-heel) had the hosts 3-up at the break. But against the odds Chelsea managed to score four in the second half as Lucas [...]...Mulgrew’s golazo tees up Celtic’s win over Dunfermline
22 February 2012, 9:53 pm
Celtic 2 – Dunfermline 0 (SPL, February 22, 2012) Charlie Mulgrew opened the scoring with a belting 35-yard golazo in the first half, while sub James Forrest made it 2-0 from close range inside the final 15 minutes....Stocker shocker as Basel beat Bayern Munich
22 February 2012, 9:22 pm
Basel 1 – Bayern Munich 0 (Champions League last-16 1st leg, February 22, 2012) (Alternative highlights) Basel keeper Yann Sommer was in top form as he twice denied Franck Ribery from putting Bayern ahead. As it looked like the match would end in a draw, Basel substitutes Jacques Zoua and Valentin Stocker combined for latter to fire opener [...]...
Ajax 0 – 2 Utrecht: From bad to worse for Ajax…
5 February 2012, 4:09 pm
Frank de Boer lost his first Eredivisie home game as an Ajax manager, while Utrecht set a unique series of four wins out of the past for meetings with their fierce rivals. With the complete forward three and back four of his presumed starting XI missing, De Boer never got his team going, while Utrecht [...]...Feyenoord 4 – 2 Ajax: Playing to win beats playing for possession
29 January 2012, 3:18 pm
Fans enjoying the Eredivisie for action packed high-scoring games were well served, as Feyenoord came back after conceding the opening goal, to win the match 4-2. A hat-trick by Manchester City loanee John Guidetti and a superb midfield performance by Jordy Clasie guided the Rotterdam side past their fierce rivals, who once again paired ineffective [...]...PSV 3 – 1 Vitesse: Not as convincing as the score line suggests
28 January 2012, 9:40 am
Although the final score line would suggest otherwise, PSV had a lack of grip on their opponents. Aided by an out-of-the-blue opening goal by Tim Matavz, they were given the opportunity to sit back and counter, a game much better executed than their pressing style that formed plan A. Vitesse, meanwhile, defended well up till [...]...AZ 1 – 1 Ajax: A glass half-full at best, for both sides
22 January 2012, 8:01 pm
The glass half-full from the title refers to AZ taking only a point, where they failed to take more distance during dominating spells in the first half. And it refers to Ajax, who managed to fix some issues from the recent Cup defeat against AZ, but left much to be improved in order to refresh [...]...Offenses and defenses in the Eredivisie – Where were we?
18 January 2012, 5:53 pm
With the second half of the Eredivisie just a few days away, this may be the right time to refresh our memory of the current state of affairs in the Eredivisie. This post will try to do that by plotting the teams’ offensive and defensive performances. Drawing on earlier posts on this same subject, teams [...]...
On the Guardian Sport Blog redesign
9 November 2011, 4:11 pm
...I'm the Editor of theScore Footy Blog
31 October 2011, 7:32 pm
...Henry Winter is a blogger
8 August 2011, 3:37 pm
...On careerism in the incestuously small Canadian soccer journalism scene
2 July 2011, 7:00 pm
...Canadian soccer's annus horribilis
30 June 2011, 6:30 pm
...
England's World Cup Adventures Since 1945: A Complete Record
21 February 2012, 2:22 am
Gary Watton's England's World Cup Adventures Since 1945: A Complete Record is exactly what it says it is - a match-by-match record of every England World Cup match over the years. From the 1949 Home International victory over Wales (which doubled as a World Cup qualifier in those days) to the 2010 defeat to Germany every match is covered, both qualifiers and matches at the final tournament. Similar to the book on the Home Internationals which we reviewed last month each match is given a basic st...State of the States | February, 2012
10 February 2012, 2:28 pm
Anticipation is building after January served up a nice set of appetizers for the season to come, both for MLS and the US National Team. We begin with Klinsmann's first go-round at Camp Cupcake, the annual January gathering of the "best of the rest" in the USMNT pool... One-Nil to the USMNT Results were slow to arrive early in Klinsmann's tenure as USA boss, but a pair of 1-0 wins (home to Venuzuela and on the road in Panama) sees him start 2012 with an unblemished record. The goal...Spending Reined Back in Transfer Window
7 February 2012, 1:52 am
The transfer window report from business advisory firm Deloitte calculates that Premier League clubs spent around £60m, a decline of 70 per cent on the record level of £225m in January 2011 (admittedly something of an aberration). Dan Jones, a partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, saw Uefa's financial fair play rules as a factor in the comparative restraint of clubs and a more sober level of spending among Premier League clubs. He noted, 'In the decade since the intro...English Football: Revenge of the Little Guys
3 February 2012, 1:49 am
Chris Perez, our newest Albion Road correspondent, takes a look at English football just after the midpoint - revenge of the little guys, the contenders and pretenders, the latest news, and predictions for February. Think he's right or wrong? As always have your say in the comments. Just like the cosmos the year 2011 died and in its place a supernova of excitement exploded onto the scene in the form of 2012, which in turn brought the infamous "January Transfer Window". The changing ...The Home Internationals Soccer Tournament, 1946-84: A Complete Record
16 January 2012, 7:06 pm
The Home Internationals Soccer Tournament, 1946-84, A Complete Record by Gary Watton is a match-by-match record of this annual tournament, once played amongst the four national teams of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each match gets its own page and the details include lineup (interestingly including which club the player played for at the time, a great touch), scorers, and a brief summary to give it context. At the end of the book you'll find complet...
Links! And The Berba of MLS offers his teammates some valuable advice!
22 February 2012, 11:35 pm
All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award-winning Dirty Tackle... Sporting KC defender Aurelien Collin is making a run for Dimitar Berbatov's title of...The Continental. [YouTube] Run of Play is in exile. On Tumblr. Some lovely bits already. [Tumblr] There is a Steven Gerrard themed hotel in Indonesia. [KCKRS] The Internet has killed football fantasists. [WSC] A list of horrible and unusual footballer injuries. [The FCF] Good read: Vikash Dhorasoo made a document...New England kit revealed by Joey Barton
22 February 2012, 9:43 pm
It's been a long time since Joey Barton was anywhere near an England shirt, but the QPR midfielder has today leaked an image of the brand new strip the Three Lions will wear in next Wednesday's friendly with the Netherlands. Barton spilled the image via his Twitter feed, presumably after attending some sort of Umbro preview (We're not ruling out a break-and-enter at this point). The sportswear brand can't be too annoyed with the leak, however, as the microblogging voice piece of the western wor...DTotD: Nicolas Otamendi gets kicked in the face by his teammate
22 February 2012, 7:12 pm
Manchester City pounded Europa League defending champions Porto 4-0 on Wednesday to advance on a 6-1 aggregate score. Porto defender Nicolas Otamendi got the worst of the team's misfortunes on the day when teammate Maicon went to kick a high ball that Otamendi was trying to head away in the 63rd minute, resulting in a boot to the face for Otamendi. The bloodied Argentine received treatment on the pitch before he had to be subbed off. Man City then added three unnecessary goals in the final 15 m...Rayo Vallecano offering discount Real Madrid tickets to unemployed fans
22 February 2012, 7:00 pm
Though Rayo Vallecano are enjoying a bit of success, currently sitting 8th in La Liga after winning promotion last season, many of their fans are not. With Spain's unemployment rate the highest in Europe at almost 23 percent, Rayo have decided to offer tickets to Saturday's big match against Real Madrid (a match that wasn't included in season ticket packages) at a discount to fans without a job. From the AP: Rayo says it will make 1,000 tickets available at the price of €5 to unemployed supp...Reporter wants to sue Zlatan Ibrahimovic for ‘hitting’ her with his car
22 February 2012, 5:41 pm
Standing in the middle of the street is never a good idea -- especially when you're a reporter holding a microphone in the path of footballers trying to flee the training ground. One reporter outside of Milan's Milanello complex apparently thought that not only standing in the middle of the street, but sticking her microphone out to moving cars would be a great way to get an interview. Instead, she caught the sideview mirror of Zlatan Ibrahomovic's Audi A3 in the arm. According to La Gazzetta d...
‘Players Should Shake Hands After A Match’ – Franz Beckenbauer Calls For Football To Be More Friendly
22 February 2012, 8:31 pm
...Shrove Tuesday Football Kicks Off In Ashbourne, Quickly Turns Into Complete Pandemonium (Photos)
22 February 2012, 3:26 pm
...Snapshot: Lukas Podolski Looks A Right Wally At Cologne Carnival
22 February 2012, 3:25 pm
...Cesc Fabregas Turns Up At 2012 Brit Awards, Bestows Ed Sheeran With ‘Best Breakthrough’ Trinket (Video)
22 February 2012, 2:24 pm
...Theo Walcott Linked With Incredible Daniel Sturridge Swap Move – Could It Really Happen?
22 February 2012, 2:19 pm
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Paulo Gazzaniga – Gillingham’s Argentinian Son
19 February 2012, 1:06 pm
Famed for their combative approach rather than their cultured style, it would be fair to say that the English lower leagues are probably the last place where you would expect......The Clásico Moderno
11 February 2012, 2:56 pm
One banner that has hung at their home games since Crucero’s inception simply reads: “Guaraní never had an infancy, they were born great” Football in Argentina is founded upon rivalry, whether......Hand of Pod Clausura 2012 Preview
10 February 2012, 11:26 am
(http://soundcloud.com/hand-of-pod/episode-49-a-very) Episode 49: A very uncontroversial league name, Argentine football clubs as film genres and more (http://soundcloud.com/hand-of-pod/episode-49-a-very) by Hand Of Pod (http://soundcloud.com/hand-of-pod) The forty-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod......Our All-Time Argentina XI
12 January 2012, 12:51 pm
...A Less Violent Era Means Messi has it Easier than Maradona
7 November 2011, 8:22 pm
When considering the career and talent of Lionel Messi, the question is no longer whether or not he is the best player in the world, because he has removed any......
Dempsey turns 5
11 January 2012, 9:15 pm
This week marks Clint Dempsey’s fifth year with Fulham FC. To honor him and celebrate his FA Cup hat trick Fulham have released a slide show with about 2 dozen pictures of Deuce in action. So if you’ve got the time head on over here and help to honor one of the best United States players....Thank You and Goodnight
6 January 2012, 3:00 pm
Dear Readers, The time has come for me to leave Avoiding the Drop. I would like to thank you for your loyal support and your always civil, insightful, and witty participation in the site- it has made every minute of the last three years worthwhile. I would also like to thank my fellow writers for [...]...The Thursday Challenge: The Ol’ College Try Edition
5 January 2012, 3:00 pm
Allow me to begin with an apology for the vagueness of the first question of this week’s challenge. The life and accomplishments of the individual in question are so singular and so impressive that even giving you a single additional fact would have made it too easy for all of you Google jockeys to answer [...]...IT’S WORLD CUP TIME!!
4 January 2012, 9:27 pm
While listening to “As It Happens” (from the Canadian Broadcast Corporation) the other night, I caught a short blurb about the World Cup that starts tomorrow in Nantes, France. That’s the Foosball World Cup, if the picture above didn’t give you a hint… The blurb I heard on the radio indicated that Canada would be [...]...The Thursday Challenge: The Answers
4 January 2012, 3:00 pm
There was only on entrant this week- Andrew M.- but he did well, missing only one of eight questions. Click through to see what Andrew discovered when he a) should have been working, b) was ignoring his girlfried, or c) should have helping the less fortunate. 1. In what recent tournament did Mexico finish ahead [...]...
England at the Euro’s, Who’s in Charge?
22 February 2012, 12:04 am
Well it happened didn’t it, Fabio Capello jumped before he was pushed in the fallout of the whole John Terry furore, and England are left without a manager with a mere few months between now and the Euro’s, so who will be the main candidates to take over the side for the visits to Ukraine [...]...The Valencia Paradox
21 February 2012, 1:32 am
June 2009. Manchester United supporters are recovering from the ’shock’ of star player Cristiano Ronaldo transferring to Real Madrid for a record £80milllion sum. Message boards and radio phone ins are contaminated with prospective fantasy wish lists, seemingly no player off limits given such a substantial wedge to blow. Few if any of those lists [...]...Viva la Revolución
20 February 2012, 4:14 am
The football press here in Mexico received a strong blow this week, and quite a good one if I might add. Imagine someone did something, as a protest at least, that could prevent the media from publishing lies. I know it’s impossible, especially with so many internet websites making their living out of lies, but [...]...The Sunday ‘shop (88)
19 February 2012, 9:43 am
Note: For anyone who has seen the other Wenger guitar GIF (with Roy)… I didn’t rip it off I made that one too =)...The Crown Jewel: Rooney
18 February 2012, 6:17 am
16 months ago for a short lived blog I was trying to get going I wrote about the 4-2-3-1 system that Sir Alex Ferguson was beginning to implement. Towards the end of that season, and throughout this one, that system has been used in most games with a great deal of effect. The summer transfer [...]...
