A week on from a 2-1 defeat by Arsenal, the change that Sunderland showed to progress to the next round of the cup was remarkable. An even more remarkable change is The Black Cat’s improvment under Martin O’Neill. After taking them from the relegation zone to ninth in the league O’Neill has kept up that [...]
Just over twelve months ago the tiny nation of Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in 2022, shocking the world in the process. Cries of corruption came in the following days as a country with no footballing heritage were awarded the pinnacle of world football. Qatar’s enormous wealth allowed them to go [...]
The expectation was there before the game. Real had won their last 15 games by an aggregate score of 57-9 while Barca had only won two away fixtures in La Liga this season. It took just twenty-one seconds for Madrid’s hope to become real. Valdes’ error gifted Madrid the lead which they held until the [...]
The FA don’t like Sepp Blatter because he didn’t give them the World Cup, that’s why the media don’t like him either. It is nothing to do with how in his time in office he’s managed to offend Women, Homosexuals, Ethnic minorities and claimed having an affair is something to be proud of. It is [...]
Considering what let downs FIFA and UEFA have been recently with their attempts to govern football isn’t it good that this week another group came out and proposed reforms to the game? Not really. Barcelona chairman Sandro Rosell came out and told that he and the European Club Association (ECA) want to decrease the size [...]
March 10th, 2012 
aaronrogan 
This week Newcastle released their financial results for up to June 2011, and showed they lost £3.9 million last year, which is a reduction of £30million from the previous year.
This Article is an overview of their results and looks ahead to see what it could mean for the club’s future.
March 4th, 2012 aaronrogan 
It all began in late June with Andre Villas-Boas calling himself “the group one” to Jose Mourinho’s special one. Just nine months down the line and Villas-Boas is out, having spent much of his time looking more alone than Ryan Giggs at a family party.
It is hard not to feel sympathy for the Portuguese, as the senior players in the Chelsea team often treated Villas-Boas with distain. Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were accused of not listening to him on the touchline when he was giving out instructions. He was the young manager thrown to Chelsea’s experienced lions and had a tough job to faze them out of the team.
February 29th, 2012 aaronrogan After six seasons without a trophy, Liverpool’s Carling Cup win is certainly one for them to savour. After putting up with the Hicks and Gillett reign which scuppered the clubs progress fans will see this as something to celebrate and a sign that their club is finally on the right track.
Rafael Benitez started Liverpool's last "project" but didn't see it through (flickr)
However, their Carling Cup success is not a sudden sign that Europe’s in-demand players are ready to pack their bags for Merseyside.
Damien Comolli, Liverpool’s director of football, talked of how their League Cup win has created “a positive vibe around the club around Europe”. He also claimed that he knows “big players” will join because they believe in the project. Is Carling Cup success really the marker that the club are about to make themselves serious contenders again?
A look towards 2005 suggests it isn’t.
February 22nd, 2012 aaronrogan In the mid-nineties Rangers stepped up their efforts to achieve European success, with chairman Sir David Murray allowing a £80million splurge on players between 1998 and 2001. Murray continued to fund the club looking for success, creating a financial bubble at Rangers. After months of waiting, the bubble finally burst when the club was placed in administration.
It is ironic that this demand for European progress now looks like it will cripple the club and could see them prevented from playing in Europe at all next season. What started off as Murray’s dream of putting his club at the top in Europe has quickly turned into a nightmare, yet their problems are only beginning.
February 21st, 2012 aaronrogan 
For the second week in a row an Italian side plays host to English opposition in the Champions League. Chelsea’s trip to Napoli is a difficult one, as Manchester City have already found out. Throw in the blues’ recent form and the pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas and you’ve got yourself a huge game. This is my view on the key points that could decide this crucial tie.
February 19th, 2012 aaronrogan 
A week on from a 2-1 defeat by Arsenal, the change that Sunderland showed to progress to the next round of the cup was remarkable. An even more remarkable change is The Black Cat’s improvment under Martin O’Neill.
After taking them from the relegation zone to ninth in the league O’Neill has kept up that form in the cup, taking them to the last eight. This game against Arsenal is a milestone for his time in charge of the club, because it has got the fans dreaming again.
February 13th, 2012 aaronrogan 
When bringing in Fabio Capello, The FA called him “a winner with a capital W”, signalling that they wanted him to squeeze the best out of the golden generation and deliver silverware to England.
This was, in essence, The FA’s way of attempting to buy the World Cup. Much like Manchester City, and Chelsea before them, The FA used their considerable wealth and attempted to spend their way to success. They spent big to paper the cracks in their coaching infrastructure and appointed a man who had no previous links to the country, and had to pay the price for it.
After the sobering experience they had with Capello it is unsurprising that The FA have now tried to dampen any expectations for winning either Euro 2012 or the World Cup two years later. What is surprising is Harry Redknapp, the all but appointed ‘saviour’ of English football, has claimed Capello should have won the World Cup in 2010.
January 23rd, 2012 aaronrogan 
It is often said that the ghost of Jose Mourinho hangs around Chelsea, but on Saturday against Norwich it was a different manager that seemed to be looming, Carlo Ancelotti.
Because the slow, unimpressive passing style that scuppered Chelsea in their game against Norwich was reminiscent of some of the low points under the Italian. This poor attacking style has been around the club for a while but Ancelotti’s failure to reverse it was one of the reasons he was sacked, while Andre Villas-Boas was brought in to change that style of play.
January 22nd, 2012 aaronrogan 
Twelve months ago Liverpool sat seventh in the Premier League, having risen up from 12th after Kenny Dalglish took over. After a year in charge with £117million spent on new signings Liverpool are seventh in the league.
So what has £117million got them? Not much, if their 3-1 defeat at Bolton was anything to go by. The main problem against Bolton, and at various points this season, is that they look disjointed going forward. The likes of Carroll, Henderson, Adam and Bellamy have joined but can they fit together?
January 22nd, 2012 aaronrogan 
We take a look at this Sunday’s clash at Eastlands where leaders Manchester City take on Tottenham. This result could go a long way to defining both teams seasons, and could help decide the destination of the title. Here is our preview of where the match could be won or lost.
