It’s not without a sense of irony that the high cost of tickets for Premier League matches was thrust into the spotlight by Manchester City supporters. The £62 ticket price for a ticket to watch their team play away to Arsenal was no more than Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool or Spurs have had to pay… Continue reading >
The best league in the world. The most popular league in the world. Both are common phrases to hear, when describing the English Premier League. Of course, they’re almost always used by British journalists or ex-players covering the English game on TV. The recent announcement of the FIFpro World XI for 2012 was heavily criticised… Continue reading >
It’s a sign of the modern game that each and every footballing defeat is treated with hysteria and calls for managers to be sacked. So it’s no surprise that the pressure on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger intensified following their penalty shoot-out defeat to Bradford in the League Cup last night. Arsenal are without a trophy… Continue reading >
Regardless of the comments or excuses offered by Roberto Mancini, Manchester City’s performance in the Champions League has been dreadful. As is widely reported, City have recorded the lowest points total of any English club in the history of the competition. They were the first English club who have failed to win any of their… Continue reading >
It’s funny how managers are treated so differently in the media. Some are able to do no wrong, regardless of any periods of under-achievement or mistakes they might make. Others can do nothing right, and their achievements are belittled – or credited entirely to someone else. An example of the former is Mark Hughes, who… Continue reading >
Well, Roberto Di Matteo lasted longer as Chelsea manager than some. The Italian’s 262 days in the job make him the fourth longest-serving of the eight men who have held the Chelsea manager’s job since the arrival of Roman Abramovich in 2003. It doesn’t make the decision to sack him any easier to understand though,… Continue reading >
There might not be a bigger enigma in football than Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Genius, or overhyped ego? One day he seems quite happy to demonstrate his abilities as one of the world’s most gifted players, providing his fans plenty of reasons to sing his praises. And the next, he’ll give his critics every bit as much… Continue reading >
In the final part of my look back at some of my personal highlights of following Liverpool in the Champions League, the final three matches are from the 2007/8 and 2008/9 seasons. For the rest of the series, click to read part 1, or part 2. 9. Marseille 0-4 Liverpool Midway through the 2007/8 group… Continue reading >
Continuing the three-part mini-series of my top eleven matches watching Liverpool in the Champions League. Click here for part 1. 4. Liverpool 2-1 Juventus Having progressed to the quarter-final stage of the 2004/5 Champions League, Liverpool were given the toughest possible route to the final. A potential semi-final would involve taking on the runaway league… Continue reading >
Chelsea take on Bayern Munich tomorrow in the 2012 Champions League final. Bayern Munich are the first finalist in the Champions League era to enjoy home advantage in the final, and will be aiming for their fifth European Cup win. For Chelsea, it is a second final appearance and they’ll be looking to become the… Continue reading >