[ England prepare for their match against San Marino ] ~=~ “Rooney has about as much charisma as Lance Armstrong has sporting integrity. But his appointment as captain is another issue altogether.” // The Secret Punter // ~=~ It has been, and will continue to be, a quiet spell in punting terms. It’s another international break this week, … Continue reading
[ Whether he stays at Liverpool or not, Andy Carroll is stuck between a rock and a hard place. ] ~=~ “At what point is it acceptable to feel a little bit sorry for Andy Carroll? Flogged by the boyhood club he didn’t want to leave for a fee that invited ridicule and proved to … Continue reading
I’ve been told many things on Twitter – some good advice, the rest probably just nonsensical ramblings – but what I’ve recently been told is wearing replica football kits is for children. Bad news, you might think. But TBo4 has a way you can pay tribute to football and not feel like you’re breaking any laws … Continue reading
Although swarms of fans have been calling for goal-line technology (GLT) since the ascent of television’s influence on football, debates raised by incidents such as yesterday’s wasitover increase the hotheaded pressure on football’s authorities. Those fully in favour of introducing GLT often point to the many examples of injustices in previous matches: the Lampard incident, … Continue reading
In Lucas Leiva and Antonio Valencia the Premier League has two players who were once a source of some derision but now considered key elements in their respective teams. The former in particular, has shown just how vital a player he is to Liverpool – who have struggled since his injury and felt flat without … Continue reading
Saturday’s 4-2 triumph at West Ham, in a game billed as ‘showdown Saturday’, has put Reading four points clear of their closest rivals for automatic promotion. Their run in the npower Championship has launched them into the top two and edged them closer to the Premier League, but what’s sparked this phenomenal ascent to the … Continue reading
For a man who has been coveted as one of the greatest strikers in Italian football’s long and illustrious history, Gabriel Batistuta’s career is littered with few honours. But in almost every aspect of forward play, Batigol – as his fans call him – excelled. He was as strong in the air as he was … Continue reading
In the build up to Norwich’s trip to Sunderland I think I – probably on Twitter – called the match a meeting of the two darlings of this Premier League season. While I don’t doubt that some reading that statement wouldn’t have fully understood what I meant (a lot of my followers on Twitter are … Continue reading
Although Russia’s domestic football league may not be as rich and prosperous as it’s billionaire businessmen, it does seem to be producing some decent young talent. Among them, 21-year-old forward Alan Dzagoev is enjoying life at CSKA Moscow; mixing it with the giants of European football in the UEFA Champions League and impressing with his … Continue reading