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Blogs 7

Mirko Bolesan

  • African Football weekly review 13th February – 20th February 2012

    21 February 2012, 12:46 am
    Welcome to Spirit of Mirko’s first ever weekly review of African football. It’s likely to be skewed somewhat towards the more obscure, it’ll be an interesting experiment nonetheless. I hope you enjoy it. Team of the Week In goal we have Joslain Mayebi who plays for Wrexham of the Conference National (fifth-tier in England). Despite [...]...

  • Zambia – Champions of Africa

    15 February 2012, 2:02 pm
    Eighteen years after eighteen of Zambia’s footballers were killed off the coast of Libreville, Stippola Sunzu scored the eighteenth penalty of a marathon shootout to win his country their first ever Africa Cup of Nations. During the shootout the Zambian players could be heard indulging in communal singing in support of their team-mates as they [...]...

  • Anfield Cat XI

    6 February 2012, 9:13 pm
    In appreciation of the cat who made it onto the pitch at Anfield this evening I felt that it was about time I drew up another “Best XI”. This time it’s for players with “cat” in their name. Between the sticks is Antalyaspor’s 35 year old custodian Omer Catkic. The Turk sits behind a back three [...]...

  • Youthful exuberance provides key to Africa Cup of Nations success

    5 February 2012, 1:15 am
    The following table shows the average age of player that each of the competing nations fielded during the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations 2012 in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea. As expected Cote D’Ivoire’s fading golden generation who are attempting to win their nation their first major trophy since 1992 is one of the oldest [...]...

  • Sudan’s domestic players show Africa the benefit of team-work

    31 January 2012, 3:17 pm
    After what we’ve seen at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations it’s perhaps a little foolish to talk in terms of more shocks. Why should we continue to be shocked when our predictions are continually thrown back in our faces time after time? Sudan became the latest side to upset the African apple cart when [...]...

My Football Facts & Stats

Nordic Football News

  • Paatelainen’s Finland revolution – phase one completed, tactical consistency achieved (part 1 of 2)

    21 February 2012, 6:47 pm
    After half a decade spent going through the motions and hoping for a miracle with quick fix coaching appointments, the Finnish Football Association finally took the inevitable leap of faith in 2011 and set forth on a long-term project with the national team. The first step was taken in March with the appointment of Mixu [...]...

  • HJK in 2011: the double, transfers and near-success in Europe

    23 November 2011, 2:24 pm
    2011 was a season to remember for HJK. Not only did ‘Klubi’ won their third consecutive title and the Finnish Cup (overall their 24th league championship and 11th cup victory), but they did this in a swashbuckling fashion. The Helsinki team finished the season with a 24-point lead to second-place Inter and scored a whopping 86 goals [...]...

  • How will lively transfer window affect HJK?

    15 September 2011, 7:34 pm
    It has been a highly eventful start to the autumn for HJK. First, maintaining their devastating form in the league, the Helsinki club all but secured the Veikkausliiga title already in August. Then, ‘Klubi’ gave Schalke a proper run for their money in the Europa League play-offs, beating the Germans 2-0 at home until imploding [...]...

  • HJK-Schalke 2-0: hosts earn hard-fought victory

    25 August 2011, 5:16 am
    It was a night to remember at the Sonera Stadium last Thursday as HJK recorded a historical victory with a battling performance over the German giants Schalke in the Europa League play-off first leg. Teemu Pukki scored two fantastic goals to cap a magnificent team performance by the home side which put the Finns on [...]...

  • It’s just like watching bowls

    22 August 2011, 6:23 pm
    It is a tedious cliché that Finnish football is small-time and insignificant, but it is unfortunately also kinda true. Precarious finances and a disinterested public make the professional game here seem lower profile than, say, crown green bowls in the UK, or cricket in the United States. That is a little stark. There is coverage [...]...

One Foot In The Game

  • Five Ways To Nudge Chelsea’s AVB Into Resigning

    19 February 2012, 10:28 am
    As the full-time whistle blew yesterday at Stamford Bridge, bringing to an end a disappointing 1-1 draw against Birmingham City, the boos rung out and fans leaving the ground could be heard muttering the words Jose and Mourinho. With the score at 1-0, City fans even chanted his name – Chelsea fans must have been [...]...

  • FA Cup Pop

    14 February 2012, 2:43 pm
    This weekend heralds the 4th round of the Budweiser sponsored FA cup. Dreams of Wembley are harboured by fans, whose clubs are still hanging on in the competition. The media like to talk about the romance of the FA cup. In its 141 year history, there have been many memorable moments. Ronnie Radford’s winning goal [...]...

  • Hazard to Tottenham?

    13 February 2012, 8:02 pm
    There seems to be some flirting going on at the moment. And not for Valentine’s day. But Belgian International and perennial transfer target for all of Europe’s top clubs *seems* to have *suggested* that he may move to Spurs in French Football Magazine. Now, he he does seem to suggest (as he has previously) that he’d welcome [...]...

  • Our take on the Deloitte Football Money League 2012 – spoiler – we don’t care

    9 February 2012, 5:57 pm
    Do you want to write a piece on this? Asked the esteemed editor of this website forwarding me a copy of Deloitte’s new report into the finances of Europe’s top 20 football teams. No. I replied. Well, more yes and no. Because I’ve no interest in pouring over the finances of Europe’s top clubs. The [...]...

  • The Nomad: A Football Manager Story Part 2

    9 February 2012, 12:45 am
    The betrayal  I thought long and hard about whether or not I should take the Westerlo job. I said to the chairman that I’d think about it. I mean the Belgian second division, what have the Belgians ever done? I thought about calling Enzo Scifo, but thought better of it, we fell out when he [...]...

Pitch Invasion

  • The Pitch Invasion Podcast Episode 2

    22 February 2012, 8:48 pm
    The second episode of the monthly Pitch Invasion podcast, focused on North American soccer, features interviews with DC United General Manager Dave Kasper on the club’s upcoming MLS season and general development, and a conversation with Jeremy Wright of the Timbers Army, discussing the growth and future of supporter culture in Portland and nationwide following [...]...

  • Amateur Football In Germany

    14 February 2012, 9:18 pm
      All photos taken  by and used with the permission of fchmksfkcb on Flickr....

  • Away Days: FC United of Manchester

    7 February 2012, 1:46 am
    In 2005, FC United of Manchester was founded by disaffected fans of Manchester United. They created their own club, one that will forever be fan-owned, and began at the bottom of the English football pyramid, about as far from the bright lights of Old Trafford as one can go. From the beginning, FCUM fan Matthew Wilkinson has been traveling far and wide in support of the club and photographing much of their adventure as it has gone on. With the kind permission from Matthew, we present here a sele...

  • DIY Graphics: Portland Timbers Supporter Propaganda

    3 February 2012, 8:14 pm
    PI takes a look at a series of remarkable propaganda graphics by Portland Timbers fan Brent Diskin...

  • Pitch Invasion Podcast Extra – Interview With Sean Mann of Detroit City FC

    26 January 2012, 5:12 pm
    Pitch Invasion interviews Sean Mann about Detroit City FC, a new club attempting to appeal to a young, urban demographic as a community attempts to rebuild itself....

Play The Game

Magic Spongers

  • Pod Almighty

    1 February 2012, 1:49 pm
    The pod returns on Transfer Deadline Day - will Bushby stay at Magic Spongers despite various indiscretions? Will Rob be sent out on loan to gain some much-needed experience? Will Jonny get 'Wilman's Big Headers' - HIS OWN FEATURE - right this week?Just click the cheeky Caravaggio below to find out....

  • Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right

    24 January 2012, 5:15 pm
    "Why always me?"Over the past 10 days or so, the Premier League and its orbiting media bodies have seen fit to dispense with perspective like a grown man discarding some raggedy old fleece he used to have as a student, and concern themselves with as little football as possible. This has been a great shame, because there was a lot of football over the past 10 days or so and some of it was very good indeed.But more than ever we were treated to delirium in the stands and in the press as Mario Balot...

  • English Jobs for English Workers

    21 January 2012, 11:09 am
    'What competition?'Handing you over to a man who has obviously read the Magic Spongers blueprint - filing a piece months late - here is the ever-excellent Dan Forman on a still pertinent issueIn October last year (for it has taken me this long to get round to writing this piece) those of you without access to the Times website (or unwilling to pay a pound for the paper) may have had the misfortune to miss this fine, considered piece of sportswriting from Mike Atherton. Around the same time you m...

  • Podcast Episode 4 - Wayne Bridge is SO selfish

    19 January 2012, 12:45 pm
    The podcast is back! And just like it's never been away, this week features a brief catch up, corruption at FIFA, Wayne Bridge, 'Wilman's Big Headers' and... just some other stuff too.Just click the arty picture. Lovely. ...

  • Don't You Know Who He Is?

    13 January 2012, 1:35 pm
    'How long left? 88 minutes?!'In true Spongers style, we celebrate the return of the Premier League by looking back at some FA Cup stuff from about six days ago. Sort of.Here’s a little joke for you. There are these three pieces of string, right, and they’re trying to get into a club which doesn’t allow pieces of string inside. They’ve tried every combination, they’ve swapped jumpers, they’ve been round the block and come back twice. One gets fed up, so he’s going, ‘Leave this to ...

Polish Football Scout

  • Keeping it (too) simple

    17 February 2012, 12:47 am
    In the third part in series of four previews of Ekstraklasa teams before they head to the last thirteen games of remaining season, PFS concentrates on those that might be involved in a battle meaning more than simply staying up… Based on own opinions, not current league position.Podbeskidzie is hardly a team to watch, while Bielsko-Biala is hardly a city to take longer look at. But manager Robert Kasperczyk is not a man that puts beauty over results - he knows exactly what it takes to be Ekstr...

  • Safety is not so comfortable (2)

    17 February 2012, 12:33 am
    In the second part in series of four previews of Ekstraklasa teams before they head to the last thirteen games of remaining season, PFS concentrates on those that might be involved in a battle meaning more than simply staying up… Based on own opinions, not current league position.Lechia Gdansk is one of biggest negative surprises in Polish football so far this season – not only because the failure in bringing crowds to their new beautiful stadium but also having wasted fairly good opinion of...

  • Short way down (1)

    14 February 2012, 12:46 am
    In the first part in series of four previews of Ekstraklasa teams before they head to the last thirteen games of remaining season, PFS concentrates on those that might be involved in a battle meaning more than simply staying up… Based on own opinions, not current league position.If anybody wants to discuss the possible candidates for relegations in Polish top-flight, then there is one certainty, a non-ending story and a club that simply writes headline itself. Łódzki Klub Sportowy somehow ma...

  • Different fates of two Polish Euro hopes

    30 January 2012, 2:01 pm
    Few last days of January are as busy as ever in football across the Europe and once again Polish players were subject of several interesting rumours and deals. Jarosław Fojut surprisingly signed pre-contract with Celtic and may still be on his way to Glasgow if Scots decide they need him now. Meanwhile in Germany, Kaiserslautern bought young sensation from Polish 1. Liga, Jakub Świerczok for only 400,000 Euro and installed him into first squad immediately. But it seems that the best ones, the ...

  • No future for ŁKS

    21 January 2012, 12:13 am
    Despite the worst defending record in Ekstraklasa, just four wins in seventeen games and lowering crowds, ŁKS ended the first round in good style against league leaders – they have lost narrowly and in dramatic circumstances but that was the kind of game their manager Ryszard Tarasiewicz hoped for – show strength and unity, win fans over and show there is still light and future. They were just above the relegation zone and with flat table and some character their chances to survive were bet...

Matthew Craven: Drawings and Illustrations

Polly's Pause For Sport

  • A Fond Farewell

    25 July 2011, 1:32 pm
    “When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity.”- Napoleon Bonaparte (rather fitting).As the title indicates, regrettably, this post marks the end of Polly's Pause for Sport. After a very enjoyable 18 months I feel as though the blog has run its course and, with new posts being almost non-existent of late and as other obligations currently consume much of my time, now seems like a logical time to bring the curtain down on this lit...

  • Paid Mercenaries: Footballers forcing the hand that feeds them

    8 June 2011, 10:55 am
    I watched Rambo 4, I read the latest words from Carlos Tevez... the reasoning and inspiration behind this blog is not hard to figure out.Sympathy for footballers is something that is often hard to come by. They are getting paid obscenely large wages to do something that many of us would declare to be 'our dream jobs' and thus their moans and groans usually fall on deaf ears, no more so than when it is concerning their private lives. I for one have little interest in the seedy details of what the...

  • My Favourite Premiership XI: Stephen Fallows

    5 June 2011, 10:30 am
    Apologies for the lack of blogging recently. Works on my documentary about racism in football is consuming much of my time but I intend to begin posting far more regularly upon its completion. In the mean time, Stephen Fallows has kindly contributed the latest piece for the 'My Favourite Premiership XI' series. You can follow Stephen on Twitter or visit his excellent website which showcases his various artistic talents.  I have gone for a team that may not statistically be the best in ...

  • VEST-IVAL: A Festival of Football, Music and Comedy

    19 May 2011, 12:12 pm
    Something slightly different for this latest post. I was informed about an upcoming festival this weekend which will be raising money for charity - including Football Action. So I thought I would do my little bit to help raise some extra awareness and support for this great idea for an excellent cause...Top Radio One DJ Annie Mac and legendary British Band Toploader have confirmed they will be headlining a new ‘VESTIVAL’ of music and football at Jimmy’s Farm (of BBC 2 fame), near Ipswich o...

  • Football Players Who Excel at the Felt

    16 May 2011, 9:23 am
    Poker has been popular for many decades but it’s grown dramatically in recent years, with its popularity rising in part because of some of the high-profile athletes and celebrities taking to the poker tables, with many sponsored by poker websites. Most stars merely dabble at the poker tables, such as Nelly and Matt Damon playing a few events at the World Series of Poker each year, but others such as Jen Tilly and Shane Warne have made real efforts to improve their poker games. Of all the cross...

Blogs 8

Rinaldi's Blog

  • Riccardo Ferri: 100-word hero #18

    22 February 2012, 9:00 am
    Before Javier Zanetti, there was another perfect coiffure in black and blue. Brought through the Inter ranks, the Crema kid became a fixture for club and country through the 1980s and early 1990s. As prone to own goals as those at the other end he was part of the Nerazzurri’s record breaking points total 1989 Scudetto and played more than 400 games for the club. Two UEFA Cups came his way, including one where he sent Aston Villa’s Tony Daley into orbit over the San Siro pitch side adverts.R...

  • Travel back in time to a clash between Sampdoria and Torino of...

    20 February 2012, 5:02 pm
    Travel back in time to a clash between Sampdoria and Torino of yesteryear. It dates from the 1975/76 Serie A season when the Granata won their last Scudetto. Among the legends on show are the likes of Paolo Pulici and Francesco Graziani and watch out for a couple of fine saves from Luciano Castellini. Tonight the two teams are in action against one another in Serie B. May they both climb back to the top division soon. Video via: Granatoro1...

  • Napoli in Europe retro glory in the build up to Chelsea. Guus...

    20 February 2012, 12:35 pm
    Napoli in Europe retro glory in the build up to Chelsea. Guus Hiddink’s Valencia hammered 5-1, all the goals from Daniel Fonseca, aka Roger Rabbit....

  • Milan v Arsenal: the Supercup success in the eye of the storm

    15 February 2012, 9:00 am
    They are quite rightly proud of their international trophy cabinet in Milan. The official website boasts of being the club with the most titles in the world. But there is one piece of silverware in their history which was won with a whimper.Context is everything and 17 years ago the Rossoneri were in the eye of a footballing storm. Their visit to the Stadio Marassi to play Genoa at the end of January 1995 had seen home supporter Vincenzo Spagnolo stabbed to death by a Milan fan outside the grou...

  • Mirko Vucinic: Hundred-word hero #17

    15 February 2012, 8:00 am
    Another guest, this time Enzo Giordani (@EnzoGiordani) on Twitter. If you like it, you can read more at his blog In the Back of the Net. Read the rest of the series here. He was brooding. He was temperamental. He could fail to hit the side of a barn one minute, score sublimely the next.  He was our Montenegrin flawed genius. He was Vucigol. He had a knack for the dramatic. A last minute goal specialist – not for the faint of heart. He was a high-octane, unpasteurised, parental guidance compu...

Santapelota

  • Dunga to make a return to the bench?

    21 May 2011, 1:21 am
    During the 2010 World Cup, I was among several voices to suggest that, whether Brazil went on to glory or fall at an earlier hurdle, and regardless of aesthetic considerations, this was a team that played with the cohesiveness of club side. More to the point, I reckoned that Dunga appeared every inch a club coach, having managed to instill a mechanical quality in his team's play.Granted, international football provides less of an opportunity for coaches to impose their model on a squad than is t...

  • Two cents on England's midfield versus Denmark

    25 February 2011, 12:48 am
    Here is a maelstrom of thoughts on the tactical component of England's midfield set-up versus Denmark in Copenhagen.Leading up to the game there was much discussion surrounding 19-year old Jack Wilshere and specifically Fabio Capello's pronouncements on the Arsenal man playing a deep-lying role. Perhaps the waters were muddied by Capello's allusions to Claude Makélélé and his eponymous role. The Guardian's Paul Hawyard, for instance, prompted an intriguing debate by questioning whether a hold...

  • Inter vs Inter: Club World Cup preview

    9 December 2010, 1:29 am
    No, this is not some concocted spin on in-fighting among the nerazzuri.Internazionale's problems have been well documented of late, the only contention being whether this is due to Rafael Benitez's tactical obduracy and fitness regime, sheer bad luck with injuries or a perfect storm of all of the above.But what about their Brazilian namesake, SC Internacional of Porto Alegre?It's no secret that for any South American club side, the intercontinental gong is seen as the pinnacle of club competitio...

  • Tactical Variations for the Clásico.

    29 November 2010, 6:27 pm
    Will Mourinho try a tactical variation in the Clásico at the Camp Nou? His stated favourite platforms of play are the 4-3-3 and the 4-diamond-2, though he does tend to tweak both formats to accomodate whatever players he finds at his disposal. There has been talk of Zé Mário jettisoning the improvising presence of a mediapunta in order to beef-up the central midfield. And yet, it's hard to imagine José Mourinho dispensing of the creativity of Mesut Oezil, even if the benefit of a mi...

  • Villarreal's South American-European fusion:

    18 October 2010, 8:02 pm
    Villarreal prove that it is possible to play 4-4-2 across four linesAbove figure 1: Villarreal's 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 shape.If Jonathan Wilson's explanation as to raison d'être of the 4-2-3-1 formation is true (affording licence to playmakers and dribblers in an age of increased physicality), then little wonder it first became popularised in Spain, that country that produces a phalanx of ball-players; players who would be miscast if they were to operate as traditional box-to-box dynamos in a 4-4-2. W...

Surreal Football

  • Our predictions for MANCHESTER CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED

    6 January 2012, 4:43 pm
    Come on lads, it’s the big game, where’s your money? they asked. But we had no answers. You see, we always get Anthony Richardson to do our predictions for us. So they beat us up – one of them had a pool cue, that did some damage, I can tell you. Anyway, here is Anthony [...]...

  • Video: Anthony Richardson’s Premier League playthrough, part one

    6 January 2012, 4:31 pm
    It’s an FA Cup weekend. Anthony Richardson takes you through Tottenham vs Oldham or something. Okay, it’s Liverpool vs Oldham and Tottenham vs Cheltenham. I don’t feel you appreciate these videos enough – they’re good, bordering on decent. This is formatting well, so I need a filler. I’ll go with: Anthony RichardsonAnthony RichardsonAnthony RichardsonAnthony RichardsonAnthony [...]...

  • A History of Violence

    6 January 2012, 7:52 am
    We’re changing sites soon....

  • Frank Lampard to Manchester United

    5 January 2012, 10:16 pm
    ...

  • Steve Morison: From Scapegoat to Saviour

    5 January 2012, 12:42 pm
    Steve Morison nearly got away with it. On another day, viewed through the veil of a comfortable win, his exchange of pleasantries with Wycombe’s Tommy doherty would have been overlooked. But, brooding over the worst home performance of the season, Kenny Jackett scanned the DVD with the merciless clarity of a hawk seeking an easy [...]...

Scheidt's Footballing Miscellany

Talking About Football

  • The Hiatus Explained

    22 March 2011, 10:15 pm
    This is not a article  on how Tesla’s work on electromagnetism is subsumed within the football of Eastern Europe in the late 1970s. I wish it was, but it isn’t. No, it’s a post explaining the scarcity in posts recently. Truth is, I’m engaged in work that has had me away from football since the [...]...

  • “Bavarians? Conservative? Never!” The 1987 European Cup Final

    9 February 2011, 7:25 am
    For all Bayern München’s dominance in Germany in the 1980s, they made a pigs-ear out of things in Europe. It was a common sight to see the Barvarian side being disposed of by British clubs throughout the decade. In 1981, Liverpool beat Pál Csernai’s Munich side on away goals in the semi-final. Throughout that decade, [...]...

  • The McDonaldization of English Football

    20 January 2011, 5:20 pm
    I’ve unfortunately been a bit busy recently, rendering me incapable of finding the time to get my teeth into various teams or games that might provide some entertainment. However, I managed to produce a lengthy piece for the always interesting ‘In Bed With Maradona’  about the modernisation of the English game.  You can find it [...]...

  • Opponents of FC Barcelona, here is your New Year’s Resolution

    4 January 2011, 7:00 am
    Barcelona have shuffled their pack in 2010, starting to prefer to Messi to play centrally rather than in the inside right role. Not formed in the archetypal central forward role, his pee-wee frame would perhaps lead some central defenders preferring to battle against the Lilliputian Argentinian. Defenders may not be straining their Achilles whilst leaping [...]...

  • A Brief Introduction to FC. København

    22 December 2010, 2:55 pm
    Who would have thought it? A one-time player for Wimbledon goes to show tactical discernment and shrewdness. To give Ståle Solbakken his dues, he did fallout with the mullet-wielded Joe Kinnear, so he has got to have something about him, hasn’t he? Successfully detaching the ‘hoof’ tag from his name has manifested itself in several [...]...

Six Pointer

  • Belgian Football Weekends – Waasland-Beveren vs Mons

    23 May 2011, 5:09 pm
    Lee Hurrell decided to avoid ‘Survival Sunday’ and opted for a crucial game in Belgium’s 2nd tier playoffs. He reports on the history of Waasland-Beveren and the thrilling game itself On Sunday 22nd May, I found myself at a Belgian 2nd Division game. After seeing a tweet from John Chapman, aka @BelgoFoot, about a good result for [...]...

  • KRC Genk – Champions of Belgium

    18 May 2011, 1:33 pm
    After 40 games of typically mad Belgian football, KRC Genk won the ‘winner take all’ tie against Standard Liege last night to claim their 3rd Pro League title in their history and their first since 2002. The playoffs, as controversial as they are, did manage to throw up a perfect finale to a gruellingly long [...]...

  • Sporting Charleroi: A season of turmoil

    24 April 2011, 2:02 pm
    Yesterday, after the long and protracted relegation saga, Charleroi were relegated to the 2nd tier of Belgian football after 26 years amongst the elite clubs.  It was a bleak day in the history of the club. Several top Belgian players have plied their trade at Charleroi, notably Enzo Scifo, Philippe Albert whilst Daniel Van Buyten [...]...

  • The Next Golden Generation?

    30 March 2011, 7:16 pm
    The future is bright, the future is Belgium. Apparently. To start off – I hate using that phrase. Golden Generation. Synonymous with English national failure with the FA/English media using it to describe the crop of the last decade when they clearly achieved nothing other than mediocrity. The only real country that deserve to be described as truly [...]...

  • Stijn Stijnen – the man behind the posts?

    20 February 2011, 5:41 pm
      The social networking phenomenon amongst footballers has divided many. Some see it as a chance to talk to their heroes, some prefer to ignore the banal ‘banter’ between the so-called professionals (I’m looking at you, Messrs Ferdinand and Savage). But Rule No.1 of using a social networking platform is not to bring the game into [...]...

Snap, Kaká, and Pop!

  • Suárez/Evra: The Poem

    22 February 2012, 3:47 pm
    In a brief dalliance from my obsession with Brazil, I took it upon myself to put pen to paper (or rather, fingertips to keys to word processor) over the Luis Suárez/Patrice Evra affair. The result won't tell you anything you don't already know. But it does rhyme, which is something.The poem has been published by the utterly bewitching Run of Play (which recently moved from one corner of the internet to another). To read it, click here....

  • Follow the Money: On Third-Party Investment in Brazil

    21 February 2012, 7:39 pm
    Third-party investment is - for better or worse - a fixture of the football landscape in Brazil. Independent firms buy up chunks of the economic rights attached to players, hoping to turn a profit if and when those players are involved in transfers to other clubs.In my début effort for The Score, I take a closer look at this practice and consider some of the concerns to which it gives rise. Whilst not always problematic, I argue, third-party investment can weaken the ability of players to gover...

  • Menezes Names Squad for Bosnia Friendly

    21 February 2012, 6:55 pm
    Mano Menezes has announced his first Brazil squad of 2012, exactly two weeks ahead of the seleção's friendly against Bosnia. The major news is the inclusion of Ronaldinho Gaúcho, who is one of only a handful of experienced players within the squad. Six other Brazil-based players have made the list.The full squad is as follows:Júlio César (Internazional)Diego Alves (Valencia)Rafael (Santos)Daniel Alves (Barcelona)Danilo (Porto)Marcelo (Real Madrid)Alex Sandro (Porto)Adriano (Barcelona)Dedé ...

  • Libertadores Preview

    7 February 2012, 2:08 pm
    The group stages of the Copa Libertadores kick off tonight, to the considerable delight of fans around the continent. South America's greatest club competition continues to hold considerable allure, uniting a range of footballing cultures as distinguished as they are distinct.With Brazil represented by no fewer than six teams in this year's edition, I though it worthwhile to preview the competition from a Brazilian perspective. At least three Brazilian clubs, I suggest, will have realistic prete...

  • Myth, Verse and Futebol

    6 February 2012, 11:53 pm
    Just a friendly reminder to readers (hello again, by the way) that SKP also digs up old photos and writes futebol-related poetry over at sister site Games Against Nature. If you enjoy my writing here, my hope is that you'll find it at least moderately diverting.(You should be seeing some more of my long-form handiwork very soon, incidentally. Watch this space.)...

Soccer AM/MW

  • Talking Points - June 2011

    24 June 2011, 1:10 pm
    What was on the lads' minds during the close season month of June:The History Book: ReviewHow successful was Nobes' attempts to use history and trends to try and predict the 2010/11 season's outcomes.Managerial Sackings ReviewNobes assesses every managerial sacking in the Football League during the past campaign - and gives his verdict on their respective wisdom.Come In Out Of The RainWith ex-England boss Steve McClaren returning to the domestic game at Nottingham Forest, Nobes reflects upon his...

  • Flavour Of The Month

    24 June 2011, 7:45 am
    Torquay's appointment of Martin Ling as their new boss has Nobes talking about how quickly a manager's stock can change.Martin Ling is back in League Two via League One and a spell in the ConferenceIn a rare expression of humility, new Torquay boss Martin Ling admitted that he still has things to prove to people in the game.For a man entering a division he's already won promotion out of before, it was a refreshingly honest expression of his own disappointment with an 18 month spell at Conference...

  • Crossing Enemy Lines

    22 June 2011, 1:54 pm
    With Sheffield United's appointment as manager of former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Wilson, Nobes looks at others who've tried to cross similar divides.Sheffield United's appointment of Danny Wilson is a controversial choiceA manager whose teams have a reputation for playing good football and with experience of getting sides to challenge at the top end of League One.It's a fair to suggest that it was the kind of boss Sheffield United, having been relegated from the Championship and then deci...

  • It Takes An Einstein

    20 June 2011, 12:56 pm
    With Keith Hill taking the reins at Championship side Barnsley, Nobes looks at the prospects for the Yorkshire club and their new boss.Keith Hill left Rochdale to succeed Mark Robins as manager at OakwellThe departure of Mark Robins from his post at Barnsley has been one of the more surprising managerial changes of the close season.After all, the 41-year-old had just guided the Reds to 17th in the Championship standings - their highest position in five years since their return to the second tier...

  • A Beautiful New Day

    18 June 2011, 1:53 pm
    After Alex McLeish leaves relegated Birmingham and crosses the second city to Aston Villa, Nobes suggests that his old club could be better off without him. Alex McLeish brought success but no style during his time at St. Andrew'sLife is never dull supporting Birmingham City. True, the Blues have been shorn of silverware in their 136 year history and are seemingly destined to play second fiddle in the second city to rivals Aston Villa.However, over the past decade the St. Andrew's faithful have...

Stoppage Time

  • Africa: 2012 Cup of Nations preview

    19 January 2012, 5:12 pm
    The 2012 African Cup of Nations begins this weekend with two host nations, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, which have such a limited record in this competition. The former has never qualified for an African Cup of Nations before and will be an unknown quantity to most observers of this year’s tournament whilst the latter have [...]...

  • Holland: Alkmaar belatedly triumph over Ajax in cup replay

    19 January 2012, 4:48 pm
    The KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) clash between Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar, which was suspended due to an attack on AZ keeper Esteban Alvarado in the initial encounter, was completed today in the Amsterdam ArenA with the home side going down to a 3-2 defeat. Siem de Jong gave Ajax the lead as early as [...]...

  • Brazil: Easy as ABC as State Championships set for kick off (video)

    13 January 2012, 6:24 pm
    It’s that time of the year again when local pride is at stake in the numerous state championships which are prevalent in the opening months of the Brazilian football calendar. From Amapá in the far north to Rio Grande do Sul in the south, from Acre in the west to Paraíba in the far east [...]...

  • Argentina: Trezeguet signs three year deal at River Plate

    13 January 2012, 5:37 pm
    Argentinian giants River Plate, who are currently playing in their country’s second division following last season’s shock relegation, have showed their ambition to get back into the top flight by signing former France international David Trezeguet. Trezeguet, who won a FIFA World Cup and who scored the winning “Golden Goal” for the French national team [...]...

  • Serbia: Avram Grant to take over at Partizan

    13 January 2012, 5:30 pm
    Avram Grant has taken many pundits by surprise by joining Serbian champions Partizan Belgrade as coach from today. With fifteen games played so far this season in the Jelen SuperLiga, Partizan have a ten point lead over arch rivals Crvena Zvezda and already look set to continue their recent dominance by winning a fifth consecutive [...]...

Studs Up

  • Big changes are a-coming.

    24 January 2012, 8:50 pm
    Studs Up’s posting schedule has gone to hell the last couple months, this is no secret and I apologise to all you guys. Real life and other work just piled up and took me away from my passion, as often is the case. It can’t continue like this, with you guys on semi-alert for a [...]...

  • Happy new year

    8 January 2012, 12:37 pm
    Happy new year guys, hope the break was good for everyone. After a two week jaunt to China I’m feeling rather delirious and between timezones, but new comic on Monday and back in the swing of things....

  • See you guys after the holidays!

    22 December 2011, 3:23 pm
    I’ve been traveling the last week and will be zipping around until Jan 5th, when comics will resume. As you guys have noticed the past couple months the comic schedule has been out of whack as I’ve gotten busier and busier with other projects and work (in a good way). I love doing Studs Up, [...]...

  • RIP Gary Speed

    28 November 2011, 10:16 pm
    One of the best players and players I remember most from my childhood supporting football....

  • The Princess And The Defensive Mid

    28 November 2011, 10:00 am
    ...

Blogs 9

The Football Ramble Blog

  • Moses heading for promised land with Nigeria

    21 February 2012, 3:21 pm
    You wouldn’t expect that making an appearance in the 22,000 capacity Stade Régional de Nyamirambo in the Rwandan capital of Kigali is on the wish-list of most Premier League footballers. But when Wigan Athletic winger Victor Moses steps out there to play for Nigeria in next week’s 2013 African Nations Cup qualifier, it will represent a home-coming of sorts for the 21-year-old.    It’s now a decade since Moses arrived in the UK as an asylum-seeker after his parents – both C...

  • The draws of hope

    20 February 2012, 1:02 pm
    Before this Thursday a lot separated the Polish teams that are still in the Europa League from their rivals. Sporting Lisbon and Standard Liege can both claim to be the best teams in their domestic leagues, and are also known for more than one great story on the continent – this winter did not leave Polish fans feeling optimistic at all. This was mainly down to transfer activity, which was non-existent at Legia and Wisła during preparations for their upcoming Europa League matches. Whilst the...

  • Anzhi’s Guus chase is over

    20 February 2012, 9:17 am
    The groans across West London were almost audible. On Friday Guus Hiddink broke Chelsea fans’ hearts, opting to take the vacant managerial position at Anzhi Makhachkala, rather than riding in to Stamford Bridge on his white horse to put Andre Villas-Boas out of his perfectly-coiffed misery. After agreeing an 18-month deal with the mega-rich Russians, Hiddink has also broken the bank - with a salary reported to be upwards of £8.5million a year, the Dutchman becomes one of the world’...

  • A bright future beckons for Real Sociedad

    18 February 2012, 4:40 pm
    I was in San Sebastian last weekend and caught the visit of Sevilla to Real Sociedad’s Estadio Anoeta. The local version of Mundo Deportivo before the game had a double page feature looking at how Sevilla’s sporting director Monchi had used his transfer nous to build a side capable of winning UEFA Cups and playing in Champions League. It considered whether this could be a model for Real Sociedad - who have a similar number of socios and not that different historical La Liga record – or...

  • Tevez saga lurches towards unlikely conclusion

    17 February 2012, 3:04 pm
    Until last weekend, the relationship between Carlos Tevez and Manchester City constituted the most tedious story in English football – the lengthiest, scrappiest and least dignified of divorces, carried out in full view of the public and with no satisfactory end in sight. For it was last weekend that City boss Roberto Mancini revealed, astonishingly, that he is now willing to countenance the return of the man he would happily have driven to Manchester airport only five months ago, and whose c...

The Andersred blog

  • Manchester United Q2 2011/12 results - the amazing, expanding wage bill

    22 February 2012, 10:41 am
    The second quarter of Red Football's financial year (September to December) is the least exciting. The transfer window is firmly shut, the season ticket selling season is over, it's the dull group stage of the Champions League. Nothing is won before Christmas and from a financial point of view, not much happens...That is largely the case with these figures for the three months to 31st December 2011 (and therefore the first half of 2011/12 too). Having said that, there are some surprises.RevenueT...

  • Income up, costs down - Chelsea getting in shape for FFP

    8 February 2012, 9:08 pm
    Chelsea have a rather irritating habit of issuing an anodyne press release trumpeting their financial results (this year on 31st January), several days before the real accounts become available at Companies House (today). Normally, the detailed figures hide a whole host of nasties not in the release. This year however, the accounts show real progress in the club's aim to meet UEFA's new Financial Fair Play rules.Rising income and falling costs - the holy grail of football financeFootball clubs f...

  • Why England's richest club doesn't have any money...

    19 January 2012, 11:04 pm
    I wrote this article for the latest edition of the famous fanzine United We Stand and it is reproduced here with the very kind permission of the editor, Andy Mitten.If you don't buy it at the match I'd heartily recommend United fans subscribe to UWS here (ten editions for only £28).Whenever things go wrong on the pitch or when injury ravages the team, I get asked whether United “have got any money” to buy new players. The last few weeks have definitely been one of those times and ...

  • Explaining the confusing world of Everton's cash transfer spend

    17 January 2012, 4:42 pm
    WarningThis is slightly dweeby analysis of Everton's transfer spending that attempts to explain why the figures quoted by EFC Chief Executive Robert Elstone and published in the club accounts do tie in with reality. Hopefully it casts some light on the complex cash flows involved in many transfers, but it may be a bit dull!AndyThe problemAfter Everton announced the purchase of Darron Gibson last week I tweeted:"Little known fact. Everton have been net spenders on transfers every year since Roone...

  • An open reply to steve_mcfc's questions to me on 13th January 2011

    15 January 2012, 12:01 am
    This is an open reply to steve_mcfc,the Manchester City supporting Twitter sensation. I blocked Steve on Twittermonths ago but in a rush of blood to the head I unblocked him yesterday.... Steveproceeded to tweet me around 30 times starting at 7.48pm yesterday. The Tweetswere a combination of insults and questions and are reproduced in full below(in bold). You can check they are exactly as Steve tweeted on his timeline. Iwas out at the time.Given that it is hard to reply to 30tweets I thought I w...

The Free Beer Movement

  • Soccer Marketing 101 - Turning Around the Chivas USA Brand

    22 February 2012, 12:53 pm
    Tray tables on Volaris' flights... very innovative.Like about half of the Major League Soccer clubs this season Chivas USA launched a new kit. We're not sure of the rhyme or reason to the rotation, but each team is set on some sort of timetable from adidas and this year we've seen new shirts (although nothing mind-blowing given the "house league" look that all adidas shirts seems to have) from Columbus, Los Angeles, New England, Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake, D.C. United, Montreal Impact, an...

  • VIDEO - NBC Sports MLS Promo "Stand"

    22 February 2012, 12:53 pm
    Like it? We made it. NBC... call us!The new NBC Sports Network just keeps cranking out the fantastic Major League Soccer promos for the upcoming 17th season. Whoever is behind them in the NBC marketing department is nailing it.Each of the ads we've seen now have really touched a chord with us and the greater American soccer community. The dedication in tapping into the core elements of what makes this sport great is on display with each of their spots. And it all started with a tiny, 20 sec...

  • Tuesday XI: President Day Edition

    21 February 2012, 12:00 pm
    By "The Other 87 Minutes" / Senior Unemployed English Major CorrespondentsYesterday was Presidents Day here in the U.S. (not that any of us got the day off), so to celebrate, we decided to assemble a lineup of the greatest men ever to hold the office, whether they were elected to the office, assumed it on the death of a predecessor, or were written into it.GK – Abraham Lincoln – Tall, athletic and iron-willed. What more could you ask for?I find this picture of young ...

  • NASL Champion Minnesota Stars FC Get Their Own Beer

    20 February 2012, 9:37 pm
    When the Minnesota Stars won the 2011 North American Soccer League championship cup last fall we're sure they weren't thinking they'd be able to drink a beer made especially for them when their title defense kicked off the following spring.The Twin Cities-based Northern Brewer, a home brewing store with over 17 years experience and the web's number one retailer of home brewing supplies, just announced a partnership with the club that will put a Stars-specific beer in the hands of their supporter...

  • Where in the World is the 2000 MLS Cup?

    20 February 2012, 6:15 pm
    The Wizards celebrate with their MLS Cup.An unseasonable warm mid-October day in Washington D.C. was the setting for the 2000 Major League Soccer Cup. The championship game pitted the Chicago Fire, the league's most potent offense, against Supporter's Shield winners, Kansas City Wizards.Miklos Molnar would capitalize on some unusually poor Fire defending to score on Zach Thorton in the 11th minute. For the remainder of the match the Wizards and Cup MVP Tony Meola would weather the Chicago attack...

The Global Game

The Ball Is Round

  • Good old Sussex by the Sea

    20 February 2012, 12:46 pm
    Danny Last may have put away the computer keyboard from European Football Weekends but that doesn't mean he has also filed the old Polaroid in the bin too. Yesterday he was part of the Sussex Army who descended on Anfield for the FA Cup 5th Round tie. We all know the score but his outstanding pictures tell a different story. Continue reading →...

  • Dreaming of snow, plastic pitches and the England managers role

    20 February 2012, 8:56 am
    Most football fans in the UK over the age of twenty-five will remember the plastic pitches that were used at four clubs in England; Queens Park Rangers, Luton Town, Oldham Athletic and Preston North End. The pitches, although no doubt profitable at the time in that clubs were able to rent out their facilities with no damage to the pitch, were not quite as popular with the fans or players. The thirty-two page document produced by the football league for this consultation period does contain howev...

  • Arsenal’s defeat no laughing matter

    19 February 2012, 8:44 am
    Social networks were set ablaze with the cruel tone of mocking and satisfaction in their failings, but I see no reason to celebrate and laugh at their shortcomings, if only such energy was put to positive use. I’m a Tottenham fan, and took no joy whatsoever in Arsenal’s public capitulation. Continue reading →...

  • Saturday Night, Sunday Mong Kok – A football adventure in Hong Kong

    19 February 2012, 7:48 am
    That exchange alone should illustrate how HKFC stand apart from the rest of Hong Kong football. But if further proof were needed I was talking to the doorman. By some distance the oldest club in Hong Kong, HKFC played their first Rugby match in February 1886, their first football match a month later. A Private Members Club with predominantly ‘Western’ membership HKFC has a last bastion of the Empire feel about it; as a comment on one of their YouTube videos succinctly puts it “Hong Kong FC...

  • Twenty one days of pain and frustration

    18 February 2012, 11:02 pm
    During half time the heavy rain upgraded itself to a monsoon. Consequently around a third of the 298 fans in the ground stayed in the bar, watching the game from our own large Executive Box. The tail wind was now blowing towards the Hornchurch goal and Lewes started to create some chances. Harry Harding, fresh from his two weeks at Fulham, started to dominate proceedings and Booth had a couple of half chances. But the Hornchurch keeper was rarely called into action - in fact it was still Paw...

The Goalkeepers' Union

The Best Eleven

  • England: Classic Programs from the 70's and 80's

    20 February 2012, 2:24 pm
    A random selection of English Club programs (programmes) from the 1970's and 80's. ...

  • Announcement

    18 February 2012, 11:17 pm
    thebesteleven.com domain name may be down for a couple of days (or more, hopefully not) starting tomorrow.   I've been corresponding with eNom and Google to find a solution to a technical issue involving domain renewal and have yet to come to a resolution.  They have assured me they are "hard at work" trying to resolve the issue. Those of you that have been regular visitors at TB11 may remember the site going down last year for a couple of weeks.  Yep, same issue this year but ho...

  • African Players in MLS 2012

    14 February 2012, 2:23 pm
    African-born players with MLS teams for the 2012 season. CAMEROON Tony Tchani (CLB) Joseph Nane (COL) DR CONGO Steve Zakuani (SEA) Danny Mwanga (PHI) GAMBIA Kenny Mansally (NE) Sainey Nyassi (NE) Sanna Nyassi (MTL) Amadou Sanyang (SEA) Mamadou Danso (POR) GHANA Patrick Nyarko (CHI) Dominic Oduro (CHI) Evans Frimpong (CHI) Eddie Ababio (COL) Michael Tetteh (SEA) Kalif Alhassan (POR) Gershon Koffie (VAN) Darren Amoo (CLB) Robbie Russell (DC) Freddy Adu (PHI) KENYA Laurence Olum (SKC) LIBERIA...

  • FIFA Rankings: African Cup of Nations 2000-2012

    13 February 2012, 2:12 pm
    The African FIFA rankings* of the nations involved in the African Cup of Nations since 2000. ** Winner * Finalist 2012 - Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 1 - Cote d'Ivoire* 2 - Ghana 5 - Senegal 10 - Tunisia 12 - Morocco 13 - Libya 14 - Burkina Faso 15 - Mali 16 - Zambia** 17 - Guinea 19 - Angola 20 - Gabon 21 - Botswana 22 - Niger 30 - Sudan 41 - Equatorial Guinea 2010 - Angola 1 - Egypt** 2 - Nigeria 3 - Cameroon 4 - Cote d'Ivoire 5 - Ghana* 6 - Algeria 7 - Gabon 8 - Burkina Faso 9 - Mali 10 - Tunis...

  • European Players in MLS (2012)

    9 February 2012, 1:36 pm
    Players from Europe currently with MLS teams. Albania Hamdi Salihi (DC) Austria Michael Gspurning (SEA) Bosnia-Herzegovina Siniša Ubiparipović (MTL) Croatia Dejan Jaković (DC) Denmark Jimmy Nielsen (SKC) Brian Nielsen (NY) Christian Sivebæk (SEA) England David Beckham (LA) Korede Aiyegbusi (SKC) Eddie Johnson (POR) Luke Rodgers (NY) Richard Eckersley (TOR) Ian Westlake (MTL) Matt Watson (VAN) Dom Dwyer (SKC) Jason Banton (SEA) Ryan Smith (CHV) Estonia Joel Lindpere (NY) Finland Teemu...

The Cynical Challenge

  • World Poetry Day

    21 March 2011, 6:56 pm
    I offered them to ITV.com but they weren't interested. I called up Sepp Blatter to see if he fancied using them on his FIFA election campaign literature - to no avail. Here are three football-themed haikus to mark 21 March. No doubt these will come back to haunt me in later life.Upton Park, 3.42pmParker, still Parker. Brilliant play. He looks forCarlton Cole...offside.An ESPN commentator's nightmareKrylya Sovetov,Anzhi, Luch-Energiya:Unpronounceable. RomeluIt's rather a coupTo write a rhyming ha...

  • Photoblog: Giants vs Eagles, New Meadowlands

    8 January 2011, 10:25 pm
    Back in September, knowing I was visiting New York over Christmas, I decided to investigate whether there would be any sport worth watching while I was there. It turned out that NFL side the New York Giants would be playing the Philadelphia Eagles at New Meadowlands Stadium, New Jersey, about half an hour away from Manhattan.I'd heard this game was something of a local derby, Meadowlands being about 100 miles or so from Philadelphia - which by American standards is a stone's throw. At the time, ...

  • A Russian World Cup in 2018: Some premature Q&As

    2 December 2010, 8:51 pm
    Much as it seems as though the ink has only just dried on the FIFA ExCom ballot papers, and the tears have dried on the faces of many England fans (okay, sorry for the melodrama), it's time to come to terms with the fact that in less than eight years many football fans will be heading to Russia to watch World Cup 2018.So what should we expect from a World Cup in Russia? Eight years is a long time in Russia - a place that barely 20 years ago was operating a state economic monopoly and where chewi...

  • We're not singing any more

    29 November 2010, 2:05 pm
    Last week I penned some thoughts on the decline of English terrace culture for the superb whoateallthepies.tv. Here it is in full:“You’re not singing any more.” It’s the classic football catcall, the terrace version of cuckolding. The message, effectively, is as follows: We’ve silenced you, and as a result you are collectively shamed. Your silence suggests you are weak. You are impotent. Your wife is almost certainly cheating on you. When you boil it down, so much about English fan...

  • A small appeal

    19 November 2010, 4:27 pm
    Some readers may know that I'm a fairly regular guest on the twofootedtackle podcast. In fact, can I urge you to listen to this week's podcast, featuring myself and French football connoisseur Chris Oakley - which includes subjects as disparate as the problem(s) with English football, Jay DeMerit's next destination and cake. Lots of cake. Anyway, in the run-up to Christmas, twofootedtackle.com editor Chris and podcast host Gary are championing a very good cause which I want to lend my weigh...

The Football Express

  • The problem with Wesley Sneijder

    18 February 2012, 12:03 pm
    “Inter collapse, now it’s a real crisis” reads the headline in La Repubblica over the match report from the San Siro on Friday night, with Diego Costa beginning the piece saying “Inter are a side who are lost”. Fabrizio Bocca, also La Rep, allowed himself a single word to describe the result, “Amen”. That is [...]A post from The Football Express....

  • Serie A Transfer Window roundup – A winter of bitter discontent

    7 February 2012, 8:34 am
    “Now is the winter of our discontent…” the Duke of Gloucester boomed jealously in the opening lines of Shakespeare’s Richard III. Gloucester spoke enviously toward his King, but for Serie A fans this has been a winter of bitter discontent – a rotten transfer window. The winter window is never a time for glamour. It [...]A post from The Football Express....

  • Quadrangolare di Lega Pro – Aversa & Avellino Play Host To All The Young Dudes

    1 February 2012, 8:56 am
    Last week the Southern cities of Aversa and Avellino were at the centre of the Lega Pro footballing world as they co-hosted the 32nd edition of the Quadrangolare di Lega Pro. The tournament is a showcase for young talents plying their trade in Italy’s third and fourth tiers. The competition involves four representative teams from [...]A post from The Football Express....

  • Napoli lack alternative plans, they play like a broken record

    31 January 2012, 9:54 am
    Napoli have captured the hearts of fans and neutrals with their performances in Europe this season, but in their domestic games they have conspired to shoot themselves in the foot again and again, and again. In Serie A they have beaten the best but have been beaten the weaker sides as well. So why are [...]A post from The Football Express....

  • Lega Pro Review – Giovanni Stroppa Making The Hills Come Alive In The Sudtirol

    26 January 2012, 8:50 am
    In the late eighties and early nineties Giovanni Stroppa was an attacking midfielder who was an integral part of the all conquering AC Milan dynasty. Stroppa was a product of the Milanello youth academy and he would later continue his top-flight career at Lazio and with the iconic Zdenek Zeman in Foggia. With Arrigo Sacchi, [...]A post from The Football Express....

The Football Hobo - Alan Smithy

Blogs 10

The Shin Guardian

  • Team Building Exercises With Garth Lagerway

    21 February 2012, 7:10 am
    Jay Bell stops by TSG, does interview The 2011-2012 offseason has proven to be one of the most eventful in MLS’ 17-year history. MLS clubs flexed more muscle than ever in the CONCACAF and CONMEBOL transfer markets, especially in bringing in another 300 Colombians. Seattle and New York continued to raid Scandinavia and several clubs [...]...

  • Saturday Commentary: Landon’s Last Stand

    18 February 2012, 2:15 pm
    We’re back and so is Landon, to LA that is....

  • On a Night of Tragedy & Triumph

    14 February 2012, 4:33 pm
    From afar, Matthew Acconciamessa (of US Soccer Daily) is taken by the African Cup of Nations Final —- The Stade d’Angondje fell silent for an instant. Pulsing with support throughout the evening, fans grew quiet, drawing the shortest of breaths as Didier Drogba approached the penalty spot in the 70th minute. A second later, half of [...]...

  • Steel, Nationality & Competing for the U.S. Open Cup

    13 February 2012, 6:44 am
    John Nyen on the U.S. Open Cup. Ninety-two years ago there was some big news in association football. World War I was finally finished and in England, official competitive football was allowed to resume (between 1914 to 1919 the FA Cup and League Cup were suspended due to the war with regional competitions taking place [...]...

  • Storybook: Zambia Wins Africa Cup of Nations. Oh My!

    12 February 2012, 11:11 pm
    Underdogs like Hickory High, Zambia pulled off the unthinkable on Sunday, overrunning the Ivory Coast for an unbelievable penalty shootout victory and a right to hold the African Cup of Nations to the sky. Zambia was charged and Ivory Coast’s Prem duo of Gervinho and Didier Drogba couldn’t find the netting against the stout side. [...]...

The Swiss Ramble

The Two Unfortunates

  • Support is Not for Sale

    21 February 2012, 8:02 am
    Following on from the elegy provided for the website he had run for the past 12 years, the incomparable Boy from Brazil, Michael Wood makes a quick return to TTU today. Here are his thoughts on a recent offer from Gillingham Football Club to their fans, arguing that the quality of generosity should not be strain'd. Gillingham supporters are not happy. Following a poor performance, there has been an offer by Gillingham FC to pay fans back who made a trip to Accrington for a 4-3 defeat. The offe...

  • The Monday Profile: Paul Cook

    20 February 2012, 8:56 am
    John Coleman’s departure from the Accrington Stanley job in January after 12 years in the role reverberated throughout Lancashire. The Liverpudlian had transformed the beleaguered Accies from a name used to market dairy products into a serious footballing concern again, and defeat to Stevenage in the play-off semi-final last May wipes none of the gloss from his striking achievements. Having been linked with a succession of details since Stanley returned to the Football League in 2006, there w...

  • Does Third Place Flatter Reading FC?

    18 February 2012, 8:34 am
    On Thursday, I remarked to several friends that I thought Reading FC’s position of seventh in the Championship was a flattering one. Now, after a 1-0 win over Burnley, the club has ascended to third and, having kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet and seen new acquisition Jason Roberts maintain a hundred per cent record of scoring in home games, the Royals are insisting they be taken seriously. Of course they came within a lock’s breadth of climbing to the firmament last May – so, this cu...

  • Great Football League Teams 30: Wimbledon, 1982-3

    17 February 2012, 12:30 pm
    The nine year rise of Wimbledon Football Club from Division 4 to the English game’s summit is a story of such remarkableness that it’s often forgotten just how much of a yo-yo club the Dons were in the years immediately following their ascension to the Football League in 1977. Indeed, the club’s first two spells in the third tier lasted a single season each – they were relegated under Dario Gradi in 1979-80 and then suffered the same fate in Dave Bassett’s first season in charge in 198...

  • Why Lee Clark had to go

    16 February 2012, 8:12 am
    A snap guest post today - and one that is bound to stoke up controversy. Yesterday, Hudderfield Town dispensed with the services of Lee Clark. On twitter, a discussion ensued on the subject of 'unfair sackings' with the firings of Chris Hughton, Carlo Ancelotti and Gianfranco Zola held up in comparison - and it's fair to say that the TTU editorial line is highly sympathetic towards the departed manager. All is perhaps not as it seems however - and here, John Dobson argues that it was time for th...

The Real FA Cup

  • When Nil Becomes One

    30 January 2012, 2:11 pm
    Armed with a brand new camera, I was sure that Dulwich Hamlet would provide me with what I needed....

  • Wrexham Effect – Rump Shaker

    8 January 2012, 11:12 pm
    Wrexham rocked up to the Amex, shook their booty, ruffled some feathers, sang a song or two and then rifled back off to Wales to plot the final act. Wreckx!...

  • supercountygoballsticsuttonwerentatrocious

    9 December 2011, 11:18 am
    FA Cup: Sutton United 0-2 Notts County. John Motson, hubbub on the Sud Curva, Kylie & Jason, By Jovi, Chaka Demus & Pliers....

  • Penfold! Shhhh!

    6 December 2011, 10:26 pm
    FA Vase, Chas & Dave, Darryl Hannah, ice cream van, Bovril, one (no, two) sendings off, six goals and some to and fro. Smashing. VCD Athletic 3 - 3 Tunbridge Wells...

  • Stand Up, If You Hate The Pig!

    24 November 2011, 10:37 pm
    Bath 1-3 Daggers: A rant about the offside rule. A pig, not as annoying as Chelsea. A perma-tanned old midfielder. And when he says 'rant over', it's not true ... Simon Field at Twerton Park....

This Day In Football History

  • 22 February 2006 - Australia's Continental Shift

    22 February 2012, 5:01 am
    On 22 February 2006, Australia made their first appearance as a member of the Asian Football Confederation, beating Bahrain 1-3 in an Asian Cup qualifier.Established in 1922, the Australian national team was a founding member of the Oceania Football Confederation, formed in 1966, along with New Zealand and Fiji. They were the federation's most successful team, but believed that the level of competition hurt their chances in major tournaments against teams from stronger federations--prior to 2006...

  • 21 February 2008 - Gazza's Days Get Darker

    21 February 2012, 12:15 pm
    On 21 February 2008, former England star midfielder Paul Gascoigne's tragic battle with alcoholism and depression resulted in his compulsory admission to a mental hospital for treatment. Unfortunately for all involved, it did little good and he continues to struggle with his problems.Gascoigne, popularly known as "Gazza," enjoyed a remarkable career that started in 1985 with Newcastle and included spells at Tottenham (1988-92), Lazio (1992-95), and Rangers (1995-98), among others. Meanwhile, he ...

  • 20 February 1971 - The Mighty Finn

    20 February 2012, 3:58 pm
    On 20 February 1971, Finnish striker/midfielder Jari Litmanen was born in the city of Lahti. He went on to become the national team's all-time leading scorer, playing for them in four different decades.He began his professional career in 1987 and spent time with Finnish clubs Reipas (1987-90), HJK (1991), and MyPa (1992) before joining Ajax, where he rose to international prominence. Between 1992 and 1999, he scored 135 goals in 253 appearances or Ajax, winning four league titles and the 1995 Ch...

  • 19 February 2009 - They Were Just Saving Their Strength For Later

    19 February 2012, 5:01 am
    On 19 February 2009, Estudiantes got their Copa Libertadores campaign off to an inauspicious beginning, losing 3-0 to Cruzeiro in the group stage. They later rallied, however, and ended up getting their revenge in the final.The Argentinians nearly missed out on the tournament altogether after losing to Sporting Cristal 2-1 in the first leg of their qualification round. But they won the second leg 1-0 and advanced thanks to their away goal. Their first match of the group stage was away to Cruzeir...

  • 18 February 1882 - The Luck Of The Irish Was Not With Them This Day

    18 February 2012, 5:01 am
    On 18 February 1882, Ireland set a record in their first international. Unfortunately, it was a record loss, as they fell to England 13-0.The Irish FA had been founded two years earlier, making them the world's fourth oldest football association after England, Scotland, and Wales. For their inaugural match against England in Belfast, they pulled a team together primarily from two teams, Knock FC, who provided five players, and Cliftonville, who provided four. Their other two players came from Av...

The Score

Three Match Ban

Upper90 magazine

  • www.upper90magazine.com

    11 February 2011, 5:41 pm
    upper90magazine has moved to www.upper90magazine.com Come and have a look at our newer more interactive site and get involved with  the latest topics!!! Filed under: Uncategorized...

  • Relocation, Relocation

    3 February 2011, 7:42 pm
    So closure comes, after much speculation and some huge moves, the transfer window has closed with an unbelievable final day. Just two weeks ago Darren Bent moved from Sunderland to Aston Villa, a move at the time which many were questioning. He cost £18m plus and many thought this was a huge sum for someone [...]...

  • Aim for the Sky: Why the loss of Richard Keys and Andy Gray will improve coverage

    1 February 2011, 7:57 pm
    The most shocking thing about the sexism in football debate was the fact that people were surprised that Richard Keys and Andy gray said something stupid. Dated, simplistic, simple-minded views are what the pair have been pedalling on Sky Sports for a long time now, and truth be told the pair have been a disaster [...]...

  • Ibracadabra

    31 January 2011, 9:29 pm
    2004. There is a party atmosphere in the Amsterdam Arena as Ajax are cruising to a victory over NAC Breda. The ball is played into their gangly young striker with his back to goal, surrounded by defenders. His first touch is poor, taking it towards an onrushing defender. However he manages to outmuscle the defender [...]...

  • Homophobia in Football

    29 January 2011, 7:17 pm
    If the average football fan was asked to name an openly gay player their answer would more than likely be based on speculation rather than fact. This is because in the modern game only one man has openly declared his sexuality, Justin Fashanu, and he sadly took his own life in 1998. Homophobia is an [...]...

The Scottish Football Blog

  • SPL Today: Hibs host Celtic's party

    19 February 2012, 11:58 am
    Hibs, not so much always the bridesmaids as always the sailor-suit clad page boys of Scottish football, have some experience of hosting parties for visitors. Rangers and Aberdeen have won league titles under the noses of a bemused and bewildered Easter Road support. It feels a bit like spending the night standing next to the fridge, alone and uncomfortable, at your own house warming party. Today is not - officially at least, in reality this is a race that's been run - Celtic's title clinching ...

  • Rangers newco: Yes or no?

    16 February 2012, 12:16 pm
    Will Scottish football die if Rangers are wiped from our footballing landscape? No. It would be greatly changed. But it would adjust and it would survive. But it's disingenuous to deride those who claim that the end of Rangers equals the death of the game as weak willed apologists for a failed institution. The question is framed incorrectly. Would Scottish football be willing to let Rangers die? To me that's the more instructive query. Let's imagine that this current period of administrati...

  • Livingston: Two become one

    15 February 2012, 12:13 am
    He's back. "The fans will appreciate that we're trying to do something different and the players will recognise they've got two guys who want football played." And if the players don't, the real fitba' men will. A perfect quote to herald the return of John Hughes. It's taken a while but here is, back in business at Livingston. Good luck to them? Hmmm. John Hughes is a good bloke - not that the goodness of your blokeishness makes you a good manager - and his natural enthusiasm will only hav...

  • Rangers taken to the brink

    14 February 2012, 7:38 am
    I was seven when Rangers won their first league title of my lifetime. Up until that point Celtic had won three championships. Aberdeen had matched them. And Dundee United had slipped in with their solitary league win. I seem to just about remember Jim McLean smiling that day. There's not been much for us non-Old Firm fans to smile about since. Celtic got the centenary title of their destiny after that first Ibrox title celebration. Since then: 16 for Rangers, seven for Celtic. And bugger all ...

  • Frugality, Whyte knights and January gambles

    8 February 2012, 12:35 am
    A week away from the blog. I'd like to explain my absence with exciting tales of derring do. But I can't. The most excitement I got was watching Hibs beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup, nailbiting to the end. No, I've been away largely because I couldn't be arsed for the last week. One of the many dividing lines between the humdrum blogger and the paid chronicler of our beautiful game is that my can't-be-arsedness means very little to anyone, can't-be-arsedness on their part means children go...

Where's The Tea Hut

  • Lancaster City 1 Radcliffe Borough 0

    19 February 2012, 8:12 pm
    Saturday 18th February 2012Evo Stik Northern Premier League Division 1 NorthLANCASTER CITY 1 RADCLIFFE BOROUGH 0Attendance: 232Admission: £7Tea Hut Stuff: Cheeseburger £2.10, Tea 70pWeather: Started bright, turned dull, breezy and coldParking: In the large club car parkAfter weeks off due to the harsh winter weather it was a bit strange getting back into the swing of things. I double checked all the websites and even rang the club before I took the Match Shed up the M6 North to Lanca...

  • Tea Hut back on track in Lancaster

    18 February 2012, 9:21 pm
    After weeks of doom, gloom and misery the ridiculously lousy North Western weather finally provided a brief glimpse of viable non league football action today. I hastily got some diesel in the Match Shed and headed up to Lancaster City for their Northern Premier League (Evo Stik) Division 1 North clash against Radcliffe Borough. Hopefully I can get a visit report on here sometime tomorrow (Sunday)....

  • The Gross Incompetence of the NWCL

    14 January 2012, 4:16 pm
    That bunch of clowns called the North West Counties League have driven me away from Non League football before. They couldn't run a p*ss-up in a brewery. I suffered so many wasted journeys going to ridiculously postponed games I packed it in. Friends persuaded me to think again and not let this incompetent organisation spoil my enjoyment of watching the game.This season the NWCL have been back to their old tricks, today Saturday 14th January 2012 they finally did for me.We had a bad frost last n...

  • Bootleg Report: Ramsbottom 2 Salford City 1

    13 January 2012, 6:51 pm
    This uncut visit report has not featured on the Tea Hut site before now. Recently came across it whilst surfing the archives of 'Tonys Non League Forum'. It concerns an FA Cup Preliminary Round clash that I attended at Ramsbottom Uniteds ground on September 2nd 2011 (a Friday night fixture). There are no pictures (unfortunately).Here we go.....................FROM TONYS NON LEAGUE SITEhttp://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/Like Cod of the North I was also at........ RAMSBOTTOM 2 SALFORD CITY 1 Attend...

  • Harrogate Railway Athletic 2 Salford City 0

    8 January 2012, 5:59 pm
    Saturday 7th JanuaryEvo Stik Northern Premier League Division 1 NorthHARROGATE RAILWAY ATHLETIC 2 SALFORD CITY 0Attendance: 78Admission: £7Tea Hut Stuff: Tomato Cuppa Soup and a Kit KatWeather: Gusty breeze, turned cloudy and quite chillyParking: On Station View just outside the club car parkThe Match Shed trundled past the Blackstone Edge Reservoir high up on the Pennines a gusting wind was blowing sheets of water across the road, the Match Shed duly copped for it. The scenic cross country jou...

The Seventy Two

  • The Football League’s winners and losers in the January transfer window

    2 February 2012, 11:36 am
    For some it’s about survival, keeping the family intact, writes Paul Binning. For others it’s about excitement and anticipation. For many it’s just about watching an ever-so-slightly barmy white-haired Scotsman work himself up into a frenzy over a low-value bid for a Romanian international from a small, bottom-of-the-table club from the North West! I won’t [read this post...]...

  • Derby County v Nottingham Forest: A love/hate relationship

    1 February 2012, 7:00 am
    Although Forest’s games against Notts County represent the oldest league derby match in the world and their two grounds are separated merely by the width of the River Trent, Forest fans have, for many years, looked instead to the neighbouring city of Derby for their biggest rivalry. Forest fan Steve Wright gives the lowdown. The [read this post...]...

  • The Window: A short story

    31 January 2012, 7:15 am
    Gavin Barber can see into the future. Well, as far as this evening anyway. And this is what he sees… Like so much else about that night, I had no idea how I got there. Mind and memory were a hectic blur of flashing lights and rapid movement. All reassurance was gone – familiar faces [read this post...]...

  • Birmingham City’s five-point plan to threaten the top six

    31 January 2012, 12:21 am
    Birmingham City have had a lot to contend with this season, making their current position just outside the play-off places a hugely impressive showing so far. Blues fan Chris Quinn presents the recipe for the club’s present success. Take a look down the Championship table, and even as low as League Two, and you will [read this post...]...

  • Wes Side Story: What does Morgan move mean for Forest and Foxes?

    30 January 2012, 7:48 pm
    Both last season and the one before, Nottingham Forest were, by and large, a tough nut to crack. Their woes at left-back were well-documented, Chris Gunter was a consistent right-back and the whole team generally worked hard when out of possession, but their real solidity seemed to come from the dependable spine of goalkeeper Lee [read this post...]...

The Football Circle