This week has seen the credibility of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play again called into question, this time by Arsene Wenger. When the regulations were originally announced, the intention of UEFA was that clubs would no longer be able to spend recklessly in pursuit of success, and that clubs’ maximum allowed expenditure would be based on… Continue reading >
England’s international friendly match against Sweden on Tuesday was witnessed by Wembley’s lowest attendance since 1998, with only 48,836 fans turning up to watch the game. Not since the Czech Republic were the opponents for Glenn Hoddle’s men thirteen years today have there been so many empty seats for a full international played on home… Continue reading >
There were two good things to come out of an horrendous train journey to London last week. The first was an upgraded room for my wife and I on arrival to our docklands hotel. Who knows if we’d have been given such a treat if we had arrived much earlier in the day, as we… Continue reading >
In consumer Britain, Christmas is the time of year when more money is handed over to retailers than at any other. I was walking past a John Lewis store on Thursday, where the window display comprised entirely of a Christmas theme. On the glass was the phrase: “Everything you need for your home this Christmas”…. Continue reading >
As headlines again focus on the Government’s proposals for high-speed rail link connecting London with major cities across England, and the push towards a greater use of public transport continues, I have experienced a weekend of rail disruption which illustrates exactly why many people simply don’t have enough confidence in trains to get them to… Continue reading >
It’s difficult to know what Sir Alex Ferguson’s greatest achievement is, such are the options. Ending Manchester United’s 26 year title drought? Introducing many youngsters to a team which would go on to dominate for years? Becoming the first British manager to lift the Champions League? Ripping up successful, championship winning sides in order to… Continue reading >
Social networking appears to have taken over the world. Everyone is on Facebook it seems, including many who always vowed they would never sign up to the service. The purpose of Facebook is fairly obvious – an online community where people can communicate virtually with friends and family, sharing photos, web links and status updates…. Continue reading >
There are some arguments which cause much division. Everton or Liverpool. Elvis or the Beatles. Cats or dogs. Not everyone cares about football, and musical greatness extends far beyond the two most popular artists/bands in recording history. But on favourite pets, there is even less sitting on the fence. Everyone seems to have a view. I… Continue reading >
Ian Ayre took a lot of criticism earlier in the week for suggestions that clubs should be free to negotiate their own foreign TV deal, a move which would help clubs with a larger overseas fanbase maximise their earnings from TV rights. Most of the criticism has been in the form of comments accusing him… Continue reading >
Scotland’s defeat to Spain was hardly a shock. Spain are unbeaten at home in competitive matches since June 2003, and it’s six years since they failed to win a qualifier on home soil. The result, combined with the Czech Republic winning in Lithuania, confirmed Scotland will be absent from a major tournament once again. In… Continue reading >