The season is 1978-79. Liverpool had won the title in 1975-76 and 1976-77, but had finished 2nd to newly promoted, Nottingham Forest in 1977-78. Forest also beat them in the League Cup Final in 1978. But Liverpool had won back-to-back European Cups in 1977 and 1978. They were stunned by Forest in 1978 and bounced back with a vengeance. They … Read more
I don’t think many clubs in Spain (or indeed Europe) have endured such a rollercoaster ride of emotions that Malaga Club de Fútbol have endured over the last two decades or so. Up and Down Besieged by continuous financial difficulties and a ‘yo-yo’ of a side bouncing between the divisions, stability is hardly their middle … Read more
Saviour the moment; Ben Watson rising highest at a corner kick to head home the only goal of last May’s FA Cup final, cementing Wigan Athletic into FA Cup folklore with a victory over Manchester City. Saviour the moment, because the FA Cup, a competition steeped in the history and heritage that Watson and Wigan … Read more
In my customary online trip to scavenge clips of Monday Night Football in youtube, I noticed an interesting discussion between Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, regarding the style of Chelsea’s David Luiz as a central defender. In Contrast to the “conventional” way of defending, in which the back four operate primarily as a single-structured unit, the new … Read more
The FIFA World Cup 2014 starts in just about six months’ time, and yet the debate rages on as to who should start as England’s first choice left back in Brazil. Chelsea’s Ashley Cole has been a fantastic servant for the national side over the years and now is the most capped fullback for … Read more
Referees are coming under increasing pressure in Premier League football. Hardly a week goes by without a decision being questioned. Personally, I am fed up with this constant ‘blame the ref’ from managers, pundits and fans alike after a game. I’ve been watching and listening to much content about modern management, and almost to a … Read more
When FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, they committed one of the organisation’s most unpopular and detested decisions (and that’s a tough title to win considering the hundreds of top notch competitors in that category). In order to fulfil the obligation to host the tournament, the tiny state was going to need to … Read more
As everybody knows, Manchester United’s domestic season is not going to plan. Struggling in the league, disastrous home form, and knocked out of the FA cup with yet another weak home performance, this time against Sawnsea, epitomised by Fabio’s cameo ending in a red card. Heading into a crucial time of year, lost to Sunderland … Read more
January 2013: Arsene Wenger was a worried man. The Gunners were involved in their tightest race for fourth spot yet. In the following month, they would see themselves humbled in the FA Cup and taught a footballing lesson by eventual Champions League winners Bayern Munich at home. The times were dark and questions about the … Read more
I often write about rule changes I’d like to see in football, as many of them seem nonsensical. However, a lot of them are trivial and do not have any great bearing on a game, but sometimes the littlest things puzzle us the most. One rule change I would like to see is the one … Read more