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William Abbs

Aspiring football writer, perspiring sales assistant.

Portsmouth take Avram Grant to their heart

April 14, 2010

The man who deserves the most credit for on-pitch events at Portsmouth – for maintaining the Fratton Park club’s Premier League status for so long, and for ensuring that their season will remain meaningful until the third Saturday in May – is the club’s manager, Avram Grant. [...]

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Nani is no longer just Ronaldo-lite

April 9, 2010

As he stepped up to take the corner that followed Hans-Jorg Butt’s save from his shot, Nani knew he’d missed more than the chance to score Manchester United’s fourth goal and possibly put the club through to the Champions League semi-finals. The Portuguese winger appeared to be in danger of fainting. He should not be so hard on himself, for h [...]

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Chester City FC R.I.P.

March 13, 2010

Chester City Football Club were wound up this week, with their 125-year existence ending for the sake of a tax bill. Portsmouth might have gained headlines for becoming the first Premier League club to enter administration but they somehow stagger on with debts of £60m, while the club four divisions below Pompey are now defunct – thanks in part to [...]

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Is shirt sponsorship in the internet age still a local affair?

March 2, 2010

Manchester United were sponsored by the electronics company Sharp in the early 1990s and it was their logo that the green and gold shirt carried. However, the black kit that replaced it began the trend for United away shirts to promote a particular Sharp product, the Sharp Viewcam. I remember such details because that kit was the first one I ever o [...]

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Would Premier League play-offs pay off?

February 18, 2010

Like a jealous child craving attention when its parents have a new baby, the Premier League likes to raise its voice in February when the Champions League knockout stages begin. This time last year, the English top flight mooted the idea of playing an extra round of league fixtures in a foreign country. [...]

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Rio’s captaincy makes history

February 11, 2010

The press coverage afforded to John Terry’s ignominious relinquishment of the England captaincy last week has been so overwhelming that, amidst it all, the significance of Fabio Capello’s decision to give the armband to Rio Ferdinand has largely been overlooked. [...]

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Arsenal fans should not be gunning for Wenger

February 2, 2010

Arsenal’s vulnerability to the counterattack was exposed so mercilessly by Manchester United on Sunday that, watching from the bench, 35-year-old Sol Campbell might well have exhaled in relief at being spared from the action. Thomas Vermaelen had been passed fit, which seemed miraculous considering that the defender had been diagnosed with a susp [...]

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What if Puma made the England kit too?

January 31, 2010

Egypt take on Ghana today in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, with the Pharaohs going for their third successive victory in the tournament. On their way to the final, Egypt have beaten three teams that have qualified for this summer’s World Cup – Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Algeria – while they will be absent from South Africa. [...]

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Norwich City: League One club, Premier League debts

January 14, 2010

Last week it emerged that Norwich City’s debts had risen to £23m, a figure that would overwhelm most other League One clubs. However, while the Canaries’ books are certainly a cause for concern, the club is able to call upon a highly significant asset: its Carrow Road stadium. Opened in 1935, the ground has been demolished and rebuilt stand-by [...]

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Leeds and the FA Cup, marching on together?

January 5, 2010

However we choose to pronounce ‘2010’ we have entered a new year and, indeed, a new decade. In football, the past ten years might ultimately be remembered for any number of reasons: England’s 5-1 win in Munich; David Beckham’s free-kick against Greece; [...]

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Could stylish Mancini be the next Mourinho?

December 30, 2009

Knot Making Sense

It is only a little over a week since Roberto Mancini swept into Manchester City, but already the mood and the expectation levels at the club have enjoyed a significant upturn. Can this entirely be put down to the blue-and-white scarf that the Italian wears on match days? Certainly, the British media have been charmed by it; th [...]

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