Blog Entries tagged 'EPL'

Can the good times return to Anfield under Roy Hodgson?

james.r.smith1983@gmail.com — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

When Rafa Benitez was sacked as Manager of Liverpool FC at the start of June it looked set to be a bleak Summer for the fans up on Merseyside; fast forward a couple of months and with the new season about to get underway it appears the fortunes of the club are set to take another upward curve. Benitez has been replaced with Roy Hodgson who has managed to bring the good feeling back to the club before a single ball has been kicked in vein at Anfield this season.

Hodgson has so far proven to be [...]

The Two Sides Of The Nicklas Bendtner Coin

maryo_shea@yahoo.ie — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There is one at every club—the marmite player. The player that as a fan you either love or hate. At Arsenal this player seems to be young Danish international striker, Nicklas Bendtner.

Week on week there seems to be discussions and heated debates between Gunners whether Bendtner has what it takes to succeed at a top cl [...]

Daniel Sturridge Shoul Walk Away From Manchester City

scotinsa@hotmail.com — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In life, as in the work place, one has to stand up for oneself and avoid situations which could see you being "walked all over" by companies, bosses or colleagues, if you are to make a success of your career.

Daniel Sturridge is a bright young prospect who graduated to Manchester City's main office in 2006 and has since proven to be one of England's brightest young stars. His performances have been made even more impressive considering the form of players such as Stephen Irela [...]

The Greatest English Premier League Myth Unravelled

scotinsa@hotmail.com — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The amount of foreign players in the Barclays Premier League has been an issue over the last few years with many people suggesting that the amount of foreigners in England was hampering the national team.

I had been inclined to think that way myself until I stumbled on the Inter Milan squad list while researching another article. It was flooded with foreign players and it got me thinking, does England really have too many foreign players and is this actually hampering the national side? [...]

Shaun Wright-Phillips vs Jose Bosingwa: Time To Close This Little Loophole

maryo_shea@yahoo.ie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Football is a funny old game isn't it?

This weekend in the English Premier League referees were once again under the spotlight, most noticeable Mike Riley who ruled over the clash between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Riley was widely condemned for sending off Chelsea's Frank Lampard for what seemed a run-of-the-mill tackle on Liverpool's Xavi Alonso. While the sending off was a bad call, everyone makes mistakes and Lampard was exceptional in how he handled the situation, walking off the [...]

Arsene FINALLY Gets Arshavin At Arsenal And I Survive Several Heart Scares

maryo_shea@yahoo.ie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

16:54 GMT and my heart beat normally again while my breathing went back to a safe level. It was official-Andrei Arshavin had finally signed for Arsenal.

Arsenal fans thought we knew all about protracted transfers in the summer window when the will-he-won't-he Nasri saga was concluded in our favour. In the end, Samir Nasri's deal turned out to be a drop in the ocean compared to Ars [...]

Memo To Arsenal's Peter Hill-Wood: Don't Talk Like A Man Defeated

maryo_shea@yahoo.ie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Remember when you were small and your parents would say "If you haven't got something nice to say, then don't say anything"?

Well, judging by his comments over the last few weeks, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood certainly missed out on this lesson.

Speaking directly to the tabloid The Daily Mirror, Hill-Wood said:

"There is no denying that it would be a real financial drain on the club if we didn't qualify for the Champions League next season.

Even [...]

Portsmouth's Tony Adams Next For The Sack

scotinsa@hotmail.com — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

On the day Portsmouth Football Club decided to take legal action against the Daily Express for alleging the south coast club were lining up Alan Curbishley to replace underperforming manager Tony Adams, one thing remains clear, Adams is surely favourite to be the next Barclays Premier League boss to be relieved of his duties.

Portsmouth refuted the newspapers claims on the their website this morning and Alan Curbishley has also denied any knowledge of the story but none of this speculat [...]

Chelsea Favoured by FA If Bosingwa Incident Anything To Go By

scotinsa@hotmail.com — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Referee Mike Riley and Chelsea's Frank Lampard may have kissed and made up after Sunday's red card incident that cost Chelsea any chance of a point at Anfield but that controversy is just the tip of the iceberg.

Underneath lies an inconsistent Football Association incident review system that has apparently just looked favourably on Chelsea.

No one has any issue with the fact Frank Lampard's red card has been rescinded as most would agree it wasn't a red card, but my point lies wit [...]

Life Begins After Tottenham Hotspur

scotinsa@hotmail.com — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Once upon a time, Tottenham Hotspur had a foreign boss, well Spurs have had five bosses and it hasn't always been a fairytale, at least not until they leave.

Believe me, I have looked at the facts, life after White Hart Lane tends to be pretty good for foreign bosses but it is the end of the road for English managers.

Well only because Blackburn Rovers aren't a bigger club than Tottenham, otherwise let's face it, Spurs fans would be wetting themselves.

According to Harry Red [...]

Some Young Players Are Just Spolied Brats

scotinsa@hotmail.com — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There are many transitions in a young footballers career with none more important than fulfilling ones potential but unfortunately not all young players can follow that road.

Many instead go from promising hard working kids into a stage that can only be described as "spoiled brats" and for me, two young Barclays Premier League players proved this week, they are on the wrong road.

Charles N'Zogbia was once described by Sir Bobby Charlton as "gifted" and you'd be [...]

Andrew McNair's Weekly Hot or Not: 1st February 2009

scotinsa@hotmail.com — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome back to the second Barclay's Premier League Hot or Not inside a week, with the dust having barely settled from the midweek action, Manchester United had the chance to extend not only their lead at the top of the table this weekend as Chelsea visited Liverpool but also a chance to stretch their new clean sheet record.

HOT

And that is exactly what happened, another 1-0 win (United's seventh in their last ten games), this time at home to Everton, extending the Premier League [...]

Look At Me And I'll Fall Over And Me, Me And Me

scotinsa@hotmail.com — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Football is not blighted by all the money or by the 24 hour coverage it receives today. In truth, football is probably better now than it has ever been thanks to technology and better training methods, players are all fit and have to be able to kick the ball and not just the opposition in order to get a game.

That said, it is the lack of kicking the opposition that this article is all about.

Diving is the real "achilles heal" for modern football and it personally, makes [...]

Time Machine: Who's Next For Arsenal After Arsene Wenger?

maryo_shea@yahoo.ie — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This is not something I overly enjoy conversing about.

Let's be honest, do Manchester United fans enjoy talking about who will replace Alex Ferguson?

Just as with Ferguson, someday Arsene Wenger will leave the club he has served so well.

I have my own feeling when Wenger may leave and what he may do next, but this is mere speculation on my behalf. It's not based on solid fact and would need certain wheels to be put in motion to ever come about.

I for one fully expect hi [...]