July 2011

Exclusive: Tino back in Toon

July 13, 2011

The 17 September 1997. The day Newcastle United embarked on their first Champions League campaign. La Liga runners-up Barcelona provided the opposition, boasting names such as Rivaldo, Luis Figo and Luis Enrique. Newcastle were going into the unknown. After finishing runners-up in the Premier League to Manchester United the previous season Kenny Da [...]

Read the full article →

Given a great signing for Villa

July 11, 2011

It was reported over the weekend that Aston Villa are close to signing Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given and this is an excellent move for both the club and the player. Given was left warming the bench at Eastlands last season with Joe Hart – the man who also occupies the No.1 England Goalkeeper Kit [...]

Read the full article →

#stayonyourtweet

July 8, 2011

Rio Ferdinand tweeted earlier today – ‘Pre season training is in full effect! Hard running + football today….legs are feeling it! #stayonyourfeet after the long runs!’ He recently, in the past 20 minutes or so, followed this up with – ‘Muscles are aching from pre season #oooff! (I love it though)….a soak [...]

Read the full article →

Spurs need a rethink

July 8, 2011

There appears to be a lingering feeling of calm before a transfer window storm at White Hart Lane at present. Whilst internet rumour, paper talk and the occasional inside information from so-called ‘sources’ on certain sports news channels appears to be the source of this tension amongst supporters, it would be naïve to think that [...]

Read the full article →

Smalling signs new deal with United

July 8, 2011

Manchester United have shown their faith in young England defender Chris Smalling by signing him on a new five-year contract at the club. The former Fulham defender enjoyed an impressive first season at Old Trafford and Sir Alex Ferguson clearly sees him as the future of the club as well as an adequate replacement for [...]

Read the full article →

Secret diary of a contract whore, featuring Carlos Tevez

July 8, 2011

Imagine, if you will, Carlos Tevez in a dress and high heels. As he struts his stuff on the dance floor his obvious assets attract the attention of certain executives and various managers. The South American player of the year and Champions league medals are pushed up together on his chest, glinting under the disco [...]

Read the full article →

Liverpool’s lucky time of the year….?

July 7, 2011

Liverpool, it seems, is living up to some of its great expectations lately. News has just got out that their pain-staking long, six months of pursuing Blackpool’s Charlie Adam is finally over now that a deal worth £7-8m is confirmed. By the looks of it, Liverpool seems to be climbing up the ladder much faster [...]

Read the full article →

Best blog of the year – BBC Sport Top Trumps

July 7, 2011

Fed up with the brain-dead, sound bite-honking dullards at the forefront of BBC Sport? Then why not turn them into a card game? BBC Sport. Let’s face it, it’s basically dead. Once an opulent Roman empire of punditry – with Des Lynam as its silver-dusted Caesar – in the past ten years it has crumbled. [...]

Read the full article →

Levy must maintain Modric stance – for the club’s sake and his own

July 6, 2011

Daniel Levy was described by former Tottenham chairman and star of The Apprentice Alan Sugar, as the toughest negotiator he has ever dealt with, after ENIC Group, an investment company chaired by Levy, took over the club in 2001. However, it is vital that Levy eschews from entering negotiations with any club regarding Luka Modric [...]

Read the full article →

Freddy or Not – Time for Change!

July 6, 2011

After a bore draw against minnows Venezuela – incidentally the only South American nation never to have qualified for a World Cup – the wave of optimism surrounding coach Mano Menezes is disappearing faster than a snowball in hell. It was a different coach with some different players, but the formation and the style of [...]

Read the full article →

Bored of the Tevez saga? Me too

July 5, 2011

Yesterday it was announced as breaking news that Carlos Tevez wanted to leave Manchester City. Wow. Really? I didn’t see that one coming. Tevez has made it clear over recent months that his future doesn’t lie at Eastlands. Whatever his motivations, he wants out. He can blame the weather, being away from his family, not [...]

Read the full article →

Is this Wenger’s last chance to build a new Arsenal side?

July 5, 2011

A sight as synonymous with Arsenal as a 40-pass move which culminates in a miss-hit shot from Nicklas Bendtner, there is a banner at the Emirates Stadium which famously reads: “In Arsene we trust.” Arsene Wenger enjoys absolute and unwavering support from the club’s fans and, while few managers have had such a profound influence [...]

Read the full article →