Patrick Barclay on Chelsea’s debt to the late Boris Yeltsin.
Duncan Castles on one of the world’s great players – in a number of positions – Michael Essien.
David Lacey asks why defenders are so often overlooked when it comes the time to dish out awards.
Stephen Brunt describes Toronto FC’s biggest star – BMO Field.
From a regular blog contributor Flashman – the arrival of Toronto FC.
A regular corresponder Michael Carlson brought up an interesting idea last week. He pointed out that a lot of fans record games to watch later but often don’t really know if the game is worth watching or a real dog. The blog community constitutes a wide range of soccer tastes and hours of game watching each week.
So if you have seen a game this week that you consider a “must-see” let’s hear about and conversely if you suffered through ninety minutes of tedium here is your chance to issue a consumer warning.
Daniel Finkelstein shows how unlikely it is that Chelsea can achieve the quadruple as well as who the stats say is Manchester United’s most valuable player – it may surprise you.
Alan Hansen with an early preview of England’s task in Israel.
Rob Hughes contends that it is the middle years of a player’s career that provide pain and sel####oubt.
The Hawk-Eye system used to judge line calls in tennis looks like it will become the system of choice to decide whether or not the ball has crossed the line - in football that is.
David Lacey comments on some of the moves during the transfer window in England.
Stuart James with a feature on Derby County manager Billy Davies who has taken them to the top of Championship.
A look at the situation in Italy after Friday’s rioting and the death of a policeman. The article draws comparisons to England’s crisis of twenty years ago. Ironically the current situation may mean that Italy will not win the right to host the 2012 European Championships. The influx of government funding and improved stadia that would flow from a successful bid seems to be one of the things that is desperately needed.
Patrick Barclay – another Dundee supporter – discusses the move by the likes of Brazil to play international games at neutral venues in England.
Jason Burt looks at the pursuit of Javier Mascherano by Rafa Benitez.
Stewart Fisher suggests that a push from the Celtic countries may lead to the Home International Championships being resurrected – even if it is in a modified version.
Another great article from David James – this one on why we need to love our referees. Nigel Martyn’s habit of shaking hands with the referee after the game is one that should be passed on to all young players.
If you are to read one article this week then try this one by David Runciman.
Daniel Finkelstein “The Fink Tank” on the Cole – Gallas swap and statistically which club got the best deal.
Mihir Bose on the West Ham Argentine transfer “coup” in last Thursday's Daily Telegraph. Bose wrote the definitive book on the aborted Sky takeover of Manchester United - "Manchester Unlimited".
Some more details on the upcoming “Panorama” program to be broadcast in the UK concerning corruption.
Neil Clark has a story in The Independent about Argentine clubs selling the rights to players to businesses.
Meanwhile Nick Townsend takes a bit of a different view.
Is Crouch one of the world’s great strikers as 11 goals in 14 England games would seem to indicate? Or is it a case of an awkward forward riding an international hot streak and that his ratio of slightly better than 2 goals in every 7 Premiership is a fairer reflection of his true worth?
Here is a list of the top 100 Premiership goalscorers to the end of August 2006. Crouch’s stats have inserted at the relevant level even though he has yet to break-in to the top 100 club. (The number attached to each player is their position in the all-time goals list as opposed to their goals to games ratio).
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Thank you to all who take time to visit this blog and especially to those of you who post your comments and thoughts.
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