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Some difficult choices ahead for the Premier League’s elite… Part Two

Ian John — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:42:56 PST

…Continued from yesterday’s article… TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Harry’s problem this year has been dropping crucial points at key times, both against the Premier League’s elite and some shocking results against the lesser lights. Redknapp needs to find a greater level of consistency for his young Spurs team, as well as a greater belief that they can [...]

Some difficult choices ahead for the Premier League’s elite… Part One

Ian John — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:42:40 PST

In addition to chasing silverware and transfer speculation, several of the top Premier League managers face some difficult choices in the coming months. Just what does each team have to consider for season 2010-2011? CHELSEA : Manager Carlo Ancelotti is obviously safe in the job but the Italian will want to perhaps put his own imprint [...]

What is going to decide the EPL title?

Ian John — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:45:36 PST

Over the next three months, March, April and May, we are are going to see twists and turns, drama and excitement, shocks and formalities and in the very end, one of Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal is going to lift the Premier League title. But what are the key factors that are going to decide [...]

The Decipher Soccer Quiz…

Ian John — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:30:08 PST

It’s Friday after an international week. The newspapers are full of the most uninteresting non-stories that ever existed. “Will Walcott go to the World Cup Finals?”, “Ian Wright complains about Shaun Wright Phillips treatment at Manchester City”, “Gary Neville believes he was, in a past life, a vole” and “Dirk Kuyt shares more than a [...]

In the Shoes of… Rafa Benitez

Ian John — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:22:53 PST

Not a job for the feint of heart this one. Poor Rafa’s been under a lot of pressure lately. Not only has his team endured a pitiful season so far, the club is strapped for cash (according to some), the owners of the club seem to want to get rid as soon as possible (either [...]

Sorry Arsene, You’ve got this one wrong.

Ian John — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:54:18 PST

I’m sure even the most ardent anti-Arsenal fan will feel great sympathy for Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey after he sustained what looks like a broken leg or broken ankle, following a clash with defender Ryan Shawcross, during Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Stoke City at the Britannia stadium. The incident, which had unsettling undertones of Eduardo’s [...]

6 Things we noticed from the Inter V Chelsea game last night…

Ian John — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:37:53 PST

1. Julio Cesar, the Inter goalkeeper, needs driving lessons. No really, did you see the mess he’d made of his face? The poor bloke had obviously been hurt in the car crash that he was involved in at the weekend in Italy (no, this isn’t a cue to lambaste Italian drivers, though I can see [...]

The Tuesday Troll… Pssst… Anybody wanna buy Portsmouth?

Ian John — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:02:23 PST

It’s been a while since I last had a trawl through the news bin to bring you the latest juicy titbits from the Premier League, so buoyed with fresh enthusiasm after witnessing the fine spectactle that was the Manchester City – Liverpool clash at the weekend (second only to anaesthesia for putting you to sleep) [...]

Why I’d rather watch Everton…

Ian John — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:45:54 PST

If you ever needed any further evidence that money is not always a positive thing in football, then you only had to witness the debacle that was the game at Eastlands yesterday as two teams, battling for the mighty prize of fourth place in the Premier League, Manchester City and Liverpool, produced what was one [...]

Manchester to put Merseyside to the sword?

Ian John — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:04:46 PST

It’s the weekend of the reciprocal Manchester versus Merseyside clash and on paper at least, it looks like being a good weekend for the Mancunians at the hands of their scouser counterparts. First up is Everton taking on Manchester United at Goodison Park. In recent years this has been a fixture that has been dogged by [...]

The EPL Champions League Play Off Idea : Predictable reactions galore…

Ian John — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:33:28 PST

The idea that the fourth Champions League spot, currently awarded to the team who finishes fourth in the Premier League, could be decided by a series of play off games between the 4th,5th,6th and 7th placed sides has been met with a typically predictable reaction by the Premier League’s teams. See if you can guess which [...]

In The Shoes of … Pep Guardiola

Ian John — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:51:24 PST

The easiest job in football at the moment? Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola must surely lead the easiest life in football management currently. Or does he? While his Barcelona team may be current Spanish, European and World Champions, the relatively inexperienced manager does have a few decisions to make during the coming weeks and months, some [...]

Does Cole’s Injury Automatically Mean Bridge Will Play?

Ian John — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:58:09 PST

The news last week that Chelsea left back Ashley Cole will be out for three months with a broken ankle, thus raising questions about his chances of being fit for the World Cup in June, has seemingly led to the media anointing Wayne Bridge as his obvious successor in the England team, largely on the [...]

In the shoes of… Sir Alex Ferguson

Ian John — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:11:22 PST

Every football manager at every level faces some tough decisions in the next few months. Whether it is players to release or sell, players to try and buy, whether to change their formation or style of play for next season and to decide which is the best way forward for their club. In the first [...]

What they really meant…

Ian John — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:44:59 PST

Have you ever heard football people speak? It is a lesson in hidden meaning. Football stars, managers, chairmen even down to the humble fan are all guilty of this form of doublespeak, when the words they utter from their mouth’s actually try to hide their true feelings, but end up just showing them all the [...]

Deja Vu?

Ian John — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:20:54 PST

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose… No I haven’t gone all French for today’s article, just an observation really that while the past weekend’s football events may have changed the face of the title race, they really didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know. Arsenal defensively are woeful and cannot defend against the [...]

Pearls of Wisdom from the season so far…

Ian John — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:12:49 PST

Pundits, players and managers eh? While every now and then you may bump into an unusually erudite, incisive and intelligent version, such as Iain Dowie, Graeme Le Saux or Pat Nevin, you can bet that you won’t have to wait long until someone with the cranial capacity of Paul “The pitch is full of White [...]

Liverpool V Everton Preview

Ian John — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:38:09 PST

Saturday lunchtime here in the UK sees Liverpool take on Everton in the second Merseyside derby of the season and both Rafa Benitez and David Moyes men have plenty of reasons to try and ensure they claim the three points from what is likely to be a high-tempo, cut and thrust encounter. Oddly enough, there has [...]

January transfer window ends with a whimper

Ian John — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:04:27 PST

The much vaunted and hyped January transfer window closed at 5pm for Premier League teams on Monday night and despite satellite television’s attempts to make the day seem apocalyptic in nature, the truth is that the deadline passed with little more than a stifled whimper. The only deals of real note being the signing of [...]

The EPL title: Now a Two Horse race?

Ian John — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:45:22 PST

This past weekend may well be seen as the defining weekend of the season for the three teams at the top of the Premier League table. In the matches played over the weekend, we have understood a great deal more about the title credentials of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea. Carlo Ancelotti’s men faced a tough [...]