The Fight To Go Down

February 8th, 2010 | By: Rob | 3 Comments

going_down_tshirt-p23505518187127539135i1_400You might think that that title should read the “The fight to stay up”, but that wouldn’t be at all appropriate. Just having a look at the form books, and it is absolutely shocking just how bad the teams at the bottom of the league are playing. Alright its not shocking that they’re playing badly, but that so many of them are in the kind of form usually guaranteed to get you relegated, is oddly worrying.

Shamelessly stolen from The Guardian:

Portsmouth (20th) one win in nine
Wolves (19th) one win in eight
West Ham (18th) one win in 10
Bolton (17th) one win in seven
Wigan (16th) one win in nine
Burnley (15th) one win in 13
Hull (14th) one win in 11
Sunderland (13th) one win in 15
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February 4th, 2010

On Second Thoughts: Kevin Keegan Was One of the Greats

By: Rob | Comments 1 Comment

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 [...]


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January 31st, 2010

Arsenal Vs Manchester United Liveblog

By: Rob | Comments 3 Comments

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 [...]


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January 29th, 2010

On Second Thoughts: Is Shay Given That Good?

By: Rob | Comments 4 Comments

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 [...]


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January 28th, 2010

Portsmouth: Now Too Poor To Host a Website

By: Rob | Comments 3 Comments

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 [...]


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January 21st, 2010

Arsenal go top after controversial comeback – Thats a good thing

By: Rob | Comments 2 Comments

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 [...]


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January 20th, 2010

Is the Man United Era begining to Wind Down?

By: Rob | Comments 6 Comments

premierleaguehughesAll 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 [...]


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January 14th, 2010

The Rafa Benitez Enigma

By: Rob | Comments Add Comments

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 [...]


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January 12th, 2010

Arsenal: No Longer Lacking in Sol

By: Rob | Comments 1 Comment

SolSol 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 [...]


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January 7th, 2010

Welcome Back, Patrick Vieira

By: Rob | Comments 4 Comments


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. [...]


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October 2nd, 2009

The Liverpool/Chelsea Rivalry

By: Rob | Comments 3 Comments


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, [...]


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October 5th, 2009

How Many Losses Before You Are Out of the Race?

By: Rob | Comments 12 Comments


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 [...]


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October 15th, 2009

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

By: Rob | Comments 9 Comments

shevchenkoThank 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 [...]


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October 19th, 2009

Should the FA do more to protect Skillful players?

By: Rob | Comments 6 Comments

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 [...]


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October 20th, 2009

Is Rafa in trouble?

By: Rob | Comments 9 Comments

rafa-benitez-2So, 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 [...]


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October 23rd, 2009

Want to Write for England?

By: Rob | Comments Add Comments

helpwantedAs 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 [...]


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October 23rd, 2009

This Weekend Its all About One Match

By: Rob | Comments 1 Comment

Rafa AlexApologies 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 [...]


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October 27th, 2009

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

By: Rob | Comments 10 Comments

steven_gerrard_extend_contractIts 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 [...]


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November 2nd, 2009

Finally see Jan Molby’s mythical Lost Goal

By: Rob | Comments 2 Comments

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. [...]


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November 9th, 2009

Celebrating Arsenal’s Sexy Football

By: Rob | Comments 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 [...]


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November 10th, 2009

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

By: Rob | Comments 7 Comments

alanhansen460After 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 [...]


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November 12th, 2009

Get Better Soon, Carlo

By: Rob | Comments 3 Comments

carlo_cudicini_1248881cTottenham 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 [...]


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November 13th, 2009

Tevez to…retire??

By: Rob | Comments 6 Comments

TevezCarlos 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 [...]


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November 20th, 2009

Your Weekend Preview

By: Rob | Comments 4 Comments

alberto-aquilaniHaven’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 [...]


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November 23rd, 2009

Weekend musings – Great for one side of North London!

By: Rob | Comments 1 Comment

nine_poster_633794736315059334_lrgFireworks 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” [...]


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November 25th, 2009

Whoever Pompey Get – Will He Be Enough?

By: Rob | Comments 3 Comments

PortsmouthPortsmouth, 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 [...]


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November 27th, 2009

Catching Up and Looking Forward

By: Rob | Comments 1 Comment

Benitez16Haven’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 [...]


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December 4th, 2009

Do you support your club players on International Duty?

By: Rob | Comments 5 Comments

Torres Euro GoalToday, 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 [...]


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December 7th, 2009

10 Things We Learned from the Premier League This Weekend

By: Rob | Comments 6 Comments


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 [...]


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December 15th, 2009

Will We Be Forever Stuck With A Big Four

By: Rob | Comments 8 Comments

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 [...]


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December 17th, 2009

Ten Moments That Defined a Premier League Decade

By: Rob | Comments 7 Comments

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. [...]


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December 19th, 2009

Disasterous Upsets for Liverpool and Man United

By: Rob | Comments 7 Comments

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 [...]


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December 19th, 2009

Official: Mark Hughes Out, Roberto Mancini In

By: Rob | Comments 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 [...]


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December 22nd, 2009

What Mancini Needs To Do To Be A Success

By: Rob | Comments 5 Comments

Roberto-Mancini-001Controversy 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 [...]


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December 29th, 2009

Half-Term Team Reports

By: Rob | Comments 7 Comments

reportcardSo 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 [...]


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December 31st, 2009

My Premier League Team of the Decade

By: Rob | Comments 5 Comments

Thierry-Henry-and-Freddie-003So 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 [...]


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January 4th, 2010

Welcome Back To The Spotlight, Leeds United

By: Rob | Comments 3 Comments

jermaine_beckford-420x0Ten 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 [...]


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January 6th, 2010

Landycakes Has Arrived: Will He Cut It?

By: Rob | Comments 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 [...]


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Team News

Everton FC RSS

Timid Everton Underwhelm on the Big Stage

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Everton's resurgence up the ranks of the Premier League was well and truly brought to an abrupt halt at the hands of Arch Rivals Liverpool.

The Blues failed to take advantage of an extra man in a tempestuous affair and really ...

Feb 09, 2010 | Read this article...
Arsenal RSS

Chamakh Reportedly Signs with Arsenal

Sport is reporting that Bordeaux striker Marouana Chamakh has signed a pre-contract with Arsenal. If true, he will join the club at the end of the summer for pre-season training after the World Cup.

Feb 09, 2010 | Read this article...
Arsenal RSS

Arsenal to Pen Letter to Barcelona Over Repeated Attempts to Unsettle Cesc

The report is that Arsenal, through CEO Ivan Gazidis, will write a letter to FC Barcelona regarding their repeated, flagrant attempts to unsettle a player under contract with the club. And we here at the Arsenal Offside have, in a huge coup for investigative journalism, obtained a copy of an early draft of the letter, which is reprinted below the jump:

Feb 09, 2010 | Read this article...
Fulham FC Podcast RSS

Assessing our road form

Tonight's match against Burnley begins a nice little home stretch that expands across three competitions.

This offers ample time to reassess our road form. Per usual, much has been made regarding how awful we are away from home and the like. Yet after doing some research, we're really not as bad ...

Feb 09, 2010 | Read this article...
Liverpool RSS

Match Preview: Liverpool v. Arsenal, 02.10.10

Don't worry, I'm actually much better looking and have better hair. No offense, stock photo guy.
Things only get tougher for both sides Wednesday at the Emirates.

Feb 08, 2010 | Read this article...
Bolton Wanderers RSS

Gary Cahill Out for the Season

Well today really hasn't been my day, and to top it all off I found out about Gary Cahill. Our top defender, and one of our best players over all will be out for the rest of the season. Needless to say I am completely gutted. He has a blood ...

Feb 08, 2010 | Read this article...
Fulham FC Podcast RSS

Loaner Report 2/8/10

Diomansy Kamara started in and played 90 minutes in Celtic's 1-0 loss at Kilmarnock last Tuesday. He started, played 65 minutes and scored a goal in Celtic's 4-2 win at Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.

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Feb 08, 2010 | Read this article...
Aston Villa RSS

Villa Wembley Song?

Share //
('’)

So yeah, here it is, sung by X-Factor star Niki Evans.

Gotta love it, cheese or not! Your thoughts?

Rx

My twitter : StagediveRy
RSS : RSS FEED

Feb 08, 2010 | Read this article...
Arsenal RSS

Players Who Played Poorly on Sunday Talking About Match

This probably doesn't even really deserve its own post, but it's a pet peeve of mine, so I'm going on a mini-rant about it. In the wake of Sunday's defeat to Chelsea, several players have spoken to the press about it. While I don't actually find anything they said objectionable, for some reason I find it supremely irritating when the players who are doing all the talking are the players who didn't contribute much of anything during the match itself.

Feb 08, 2010 | Read this article...
Arsenal RSS

Arsenal Celebrity Supporters Series: Stringer Bell

We ain't got to dream no more, man.

Feb 08, 2010 | Read this article...

 

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