On Second Thoughts: Kevin Keegan Was One of the Greats

I don’t know what the joke is but the punchline is probably Kevin Keegan. His reputation is not that as one of the top ten managers of the Premier League era, but I would certainly place him in that company. He is remembered for the kind of heart on sleeve moments that go against the [...]

January 31st, 2010

Arsenal Vs Manchester United Liveblog

By: Rob |

For some people of a certain age (i.e to young to remember Blackburn or Liverpool as the best teams in England, but coming of age before the Chelsea revolution, so a bit younger than me) this is the big match of the season. Post Arsene Wenger, Arsenal have become one of the dominent forces in [...]

January 29th, 2010

On Second Thoughts: Is Shay Given That Good?

By: Rob |

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Watching the League Cup Manchester Derby midweek (above, if you can’t remember that far back), for me encapsulated everything about I feel about Shay Given. He has for a long time, been considered somewhat underrated, and is regularly thought of as one of the best keepers in England at any given [...]

January 28th, 2010

Portsmouth: Now Too Poor To Host a Website

By: Rob |

Go over to Portsmouth’s Official Website, here. As of today, the only message you’re going to get is the following.
Portsmouth-website-001 It seems that Portsmouth haven’t paid their hosts and the website has been closed down untill they foot the bill. This is probably as tomorrow they have [...]

January 21st, 2010

Arsenal go top after controversial comeback – Thats a good thing

By: Rob |

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Arsenal are top of the Premier League this morning after a 4-2 victory against Bolton last night. I suggest if you didn’t see it, you pursue the highlights above, it was a cracking match. Bolton went 2-0 up within 20 minutes, Tomas Rosicky got Arsenal back into the match just before [...]

January 20th, 2010

Is the Man United Era begining to Wind Down?

By: Rob |

premierleaguehughes All great Empire’s must eventually come to an end. Alexander The Great wept as there were no more worlds left to conquer. The British Empire slowly melted away after two world wars. Liverpool stopped winning every league title ever as the 1980s became the 1990s. All this [...]

January 14th, 2010

The Rafa Benitez Enigma

By: Rob |

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So, Last night, as you can see above, Liverpool went crashing out of the FA Cup to boos and whistles after losing to Championship strugglers Reading. It was an absolutely appalling performance. Take nothing away from Reading – its a great day for them – but Liverpool lacked anything that suggests [...]

January 12th, 2010

Arsenal: No Longer Lacking in Sol

By: Rob |

Sol Sol Campbell is set to make an incredible return to Arsenal, the former Notts County (and Arsenal, Portsmouth and Tottenham obviously) defender is going to play in the Arsenal reserves, with a view to signing for the club afterwards. The former England defender left the Gunners after [...]

January 7th, 2010

Welcome Back, Patrick Vieira

By: Rob |

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Roberto Mancini has made his first signing as manager of Manchester City, and its a player the Premier League remembers very well – Patrick Vieira. The 33 year old has signed a 100k a week contract at Manchester City, apparently in an attempt to get back in the France Squad for the World Cup. [...]

October 2nd, 2009

The Liverpool/Chelsea Rivalry

By: Rob |

So its another all-big-four matchup this weekend, as Liverpool take on Chelsea. Its probably a bit to much to ask for a game like last seasons Champions League second leg (above), but it does serve as a nice reminder that not EVERY match between these teams is a dreadfully boring draw. The clubs have, [...]

October 5th, 2009

How Many Losses Before You Are Out of the Race?

By: Rob |

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So, the big game this weekend finished with Chelsea coming out on top, a much needed tonic after their defeat against Wigan last week. The loss means Liverpool have already lost thrice this season, although Rafa Benitez is still confident that Liverpool are still in the title race. Which got me wondering how many losses [...]

October 15th, 2009

Which Big Names Couldn’t Cut It in the Prem?

By: Rob |

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shevchenko Thank God that’s over. I’m glad England have already qualified for the World Cup and all – espeically after the Umbrella debacle – but not having to get a last minute goal against Greece, or a draw in Rome made this last round of matches even less [...]

October 19th, 2009

Should the FA do more to protect Skillful players?

By: Rob |

So, after just coming back from injury, and then getting a kicking from Liam Ridgewell, Theo Wallcott will be out for yet another three weeks. I like watching good football. Especially when that good football is coming from an Englishman. So I have to ask the question – should the FA [...]

October 20th, 2009

Is Rafa in trouble?

By: Rob |

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rafa-benitez-2 So, Liverpool suffered a loss again this evening, to Lyon in the Champions League. At the end of the game, Liverpool fans were chanting for Rafa’s head. Now while it isn’t always a good indication, it does say a fair bit about the situation at Anfield. After [...]

October 23rd, 2009

Want to Write for England?

By: Rob |

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helpwanted As some of you might know, As well as this blog, I also help out over at the England World Cup Blog, along with Daryl. Problem is, with both of us having other blogs to do, we’re struggling to give it the time that it deserves. So [...]

October 23rd, 2009

This Weekend Its all About One Match

By: Rob |

Rafa Alex Apologies too all the other teams playing this weekend, but this weekend sees out answer to that other big derby match going on, as Liverpool play host to Manchester United. Last year I focussed on the history of the derby, and if you are interested in [...]

October 27th, 2009

Which of the Current Crop might be one-club-men

By: Rob |

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steven_gerrard_extend_contract Its become a big cliché, that’ll we’ll never see the likes of Ryan Giggs or Paolo Maldini again – players that spend their entire career at just one club. The reasons for this any plenty – and mainly economical. But as Spain flows with whispers that a [...]

November 2nd, 2009

Finally see Jan Molby’s mythical Lost Goal

By: Rob |

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That’s a good goal, isn’t it? Jan Molby scoring for Liverpool against Manchester United in a League Cup tie in 1985. You might wonder why exactly it deserves a blog post on a monday morning 24 years later though. Well, its because Molby’s goal was thought to be lost forever, due to a TV Strike. [...]

November 9th, 2009

Celebrating Arsenal’s Sexy Football

By: Rob |

14 Comments

While Chelsea and Man United played out yet another pretty boring 1-0 (to recap, Chelsea beat Man United thanks to a 1-0 win, Man United defended through most, goal came from a dubious Set piece, which John Terry headed in. Main talking point was Drogba being booked for getting in the [...]

November 10th, 2009

Does Mark Hughes have a point about Match of the Day?

By: Rob |

alanhansen460 After the damning verdict from Alan Hansen about Manchester City’s defending at the weekend, Mark Hughes has come out and critisised the highlights show, as well as pundits in general. Basically he’s had a go at them for trying to “nail” players “in the public domain” and [...]

November 12th, 2009

Get Better Soon, Carlo

By: Rob |

carlo_cudicini_1248881c Tottenham and former Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is in hospital this evening after his motorbike was hit by a Ford Fiesta in London. He is being treated for an injured pelvis and broken wrists, the hospital has described the injuries as potentially life-changing. Just want to wish [...]

November 13th, 2009

Tevez to…retire??

By: Rob |

Tevez Carlos Tevez might want some lessons on how not to upset his employers. He didn’t go down that well at Manchester United toward the end of his time there, and now he might have slightly upset the club who made him the fifth most expensive player of [...]

November 20th, 2009

Your Weekend Preview

By: Rob |

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alberto-aquilani Haven’t done a weekend preview in a while, and I thought that it was time to get back into the mix and have a look at what games are going down over the weekend. At least one big game as Liverpool take on Manchester City, in a [...]

November 23rd, 2009

Weekend musings – Great for one side of North London!

By: Rob |

nine_poster_633794736315059334_lrg Fireworks for one half of North London over the weekend, as Spurs stuck Nine goals past a weary Wigan Athletic side. Jermain Defoe scored five goals in the match which MEANINGLESS STAT ALERT has only been equalled in the Premier League era by Andy “Call me Andrew” [...]

November 25th, 2009

Whoever Pompey Get – Will He Be Enough?

By: Rob |

Portsmouth, as you may have heard by now, have sacked manager Paul Hart. The club sit bottom of the league in desperate trouble and are staring relegation in the face. But how much of that is actually Paul Hart’s fault? The club is an absolute mess at the [...]

November 27th, 2009

Catching Up and Looking Forward

By: Rob |

Benitez16 Haven’t been able to post for a couple of days, but there have been some major talking points and things, and just wanted to address them all, as well as look forward to an exciting looking weekend of action. Rafa Benitez has been assured, apparently, that his [...]

December 4th, 2009

Do you support your club players on International Duty?

By: Rob |

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Torres Euro Goal Today, as you might have heard, is the draw for the World Cup. I’m presuming – perhaps wrongly, let me know – that most people who support English club teams will also, to some degree at least follow England as well. Even if not, its [...]

December 7th, 2009

10 Things We Learned from the Premier League This Weekend

By: Rob |

1. England still can’t trust their penalty takers.
In the week the World Cup Draw was announced, Both Jermaine Defoe and Frank Lampard missed vital penalties at the weekend that would have secured their respective teams a better result than they got. Meanwhile, Spain will be hoping Cesc Fabregas isn’t first penalty taker [...]

December 15th, 2009

Will We Be Forever Stuck With A Big Four

By: Rob |

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Its funny that after a weekend where the title race became a three-horse race again (involving three of the Big Four) that some sections of the press have started writing the Last Rites for the Big Four. Its partly because Man United and Chelsea slipped up to make it a three [...]

December 17th, 2009

Ten Moments That Defined a Premier League Decade

By: Rob |

So, we’re at the end of the year, and, the end of the decade. So just like everyone else, I’d like to look back at the ten years that have passed. There have been many, many magical moments in the decade gone, and we have witnessed so many great players, the list, is almost endless. [...]

December 19th, 2009

Disasterous Upsets for Liverpool and Man United

By: Rob |

That video is worth it for the gritted teeth when Rafa says “the referee was perfect”. A surprising day of Premier League results then. First off, Liverpool’s season takes yet another turn for the worse, as they lose 2-0 to bottom club Portsmouth (who, are looking much better now with Avram Grant [...]

December 19th, 2009

Official: Mark Hughes Out, Roberto Mancini In

By: Rob |

16 Comments

roberto_mancini_ The news that has been following the Premier League around all day has finally been made official, Mark Hughes has been sacked by Manchester City, and has been replaced by former Inter manager Roberto Mancini. Hughes this afternoon led City to a 4-3 win against Sunderland, but [...]

December 22nd, 2009

What Mancini Needs To Do To Be A Success

By: Rob |

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Roberto-Mancini-001 Controversy abounds as Roberto Mancini steps into the breech at Manchester City, and putting aside the question of whether Mark Hughes should have been sacked or not, its going to be absolutely fascinating to see how he does. Mancini’s biggest sucesses, as I see it, have come [...]

December 29th, 2009

Half-Term Team Reports

By: Rob |

reportcard So we’re roughly half way through the season. A few teams have played just more than half their fixtures, and a few have played just less, but with the new year rapidly approaching its as good a time as any to stare blankly at the league table [...]

December 31st, 2009

My Premier League Team of the Decade

By: Rob |

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Thierry-Henry-and-Freddie-003 So tomorrow we will be into a new year and indeed a new decade. I hope the next decade brings you joy, and good fortune to your teams. Unless your team is playing mine, obviously. Inspired by this BBC blogpost here is my Dream Team of players [...]

January 4th, 2010

Welcome Back To The Spotlight, Leeds United

By: Rob |

jermaine_beckford-420x0 Ten years ago, as we entered into a fresh decade, it was Leeds United who sat at the summit of the Premier League, and looked like the 00s might well be their decade, in the way that the 90s belonged to Manchester United, the 80s to Liverpool [...]

January 6th, 2010

Landycakes Has Arrived: Will He Cut It?

By: Rob |

10 Comments

[Video found on - if you want a translation click their blog here] I must admit, that I don’t really follow the MLS. Not being American, I don’t really have any kind of vested interest in it. I learned a bit more about the league through the offside, and the whole Beckham going over there [...]