1. Lies, Damn Lies, and Corruption

    Continuing with my EPL Corruption theme this week, here is an article I wrote last year, on the 16th of July 2007.Lies, damn lies, and corruption...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 626 reads 1 comments

  2. Seeing Red: EPL Officials Blow It Again at Stamford Bridge

    Words can't express the outrage felt around the country.West Ham fans spent five minutes screaming for John Obi Mikel's blood after Mikel scythed down Scott Parker this weekend—but referee Howard Webb gave Mikel the most lenient of bookings.

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,338 reads 6 comments

  3. FA Follies: Why England Needs an English Manager

    How far can England's search for a new manager go? More to the point, how far WILL it go? Sven-Goran Eriksson was the first foreign experiment in the top spot—and that went ...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 965 reads 25 comments

  4. Bungs and Bribes: The Budding EPL Corruption Scandal

    It's a sad day for English Football, both in the top tier and lower divisions.It has been revealed that Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie are being held in connection with corruption charges...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 698 reads 4 comments

  5. Replacing Steve McClaren: The Right Man for the Job

    It was the Football Association's best decision in over two years.Forget the Carlos Tevez saga, forget Leeds United, and forget my Joey Barton rant a few weeks back—the FA finally got something right on Thursday morning...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,105 reads 8 comments

  6. The End: Croatia Topples England

    It was over before it even began. The groans of England fans could be heard as far afield as Austria and Switzerland.The team selection was debatable—a midfield of Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Shaun Wright Philips, and Joe Cole seemed like overkill...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 892 reads 5 comments

  7. England-Austria: Michael Owen Out, Steve McClaren Must Follow

    As an English football fan, I sometimes find myself wondering whether it's all one big joke—and waiting for Rory Bremner to pop out from behind the dugout shouting, "Got ...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,038 reads 4 comments

  8. England Expects: Steve McClaren to Lose His Job

    I find it laughable that we are in the year 2007, and still have learned nothing from our victory in 1966.Geoff Hurst, may I point out, wasn't even the best striker on the England ...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 538 reads 2 comments

  9. Barton Fallout: Joey Barton, FA Shame the Nation

    Congratulations to the Football Association for proving to the world—once again—that it's no better than a Mickey Mouse organization...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 2,222 reads 27 comments

  10. Great Footballers, Vol. 1: Chris Powell

    This article is the first of a series in which I'll explain why particular players, apart from their performances on the pitch, are great footballers in every sense of the word...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,516 reads 5 comments

  11. Liverpool FC: Eighth Wonder of the Champions League

    Truth be told, I'm unsure how to do this game justice.In recent weeks, Liverpool have been beaten by Besiktas, among others, while playing some very suspect football...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,244 reads 12 comments

  12. Arsenal-Manchester United: Get Over It, Sir Alex

    Sir Alex Ferguson accused referee Howard Webb of favouring Arsenal today in a thrilling 2-2 draw.How quickly the Manchester United manager forgets the past...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 2,581 reads 34 comments

  13. From Mark Clattenburg to Martin Jola A Dark Week in the EPL

    One week ago, I wrote an article regarding referee Mark Clattenburg and his “punishment” for poor officiating during the Everton-Liverpool game...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 789 reads 10 comments

  14. Liverpool-Everton Fallout: Mark Clattenburg Gets a Break

    Mark Clattenburg paid the price for his misdemeanors in Saturday's Liverpool-Everton match when he was dropped by the FA for this week's games...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,920 reads 16 comments

  15. Clattenburg's Failing: Liverpool on Everton's Cloud Nine

    For the blue side of Merseyside, today is the day to ask referee Clattenburg to put a date on his retirement, as nothing short of poor misconduct, and poor decision making led to the 1-2 deficit and Everton two men down...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 859 reads 6 comments

  16. Chelsea Collapse: Didier Drogba Speaks Out

    Didier Drogba took the unprecedented step of speaking his mind in France Football Magazine today, giving EPL fans a glimpse of the disarray in the Chelsea dressing room...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,356 reads 7 comments

  17. England-Russia: The End for Steve McClaren

    Quite honestly, after Wayne Rooney's spectacular goal, England should have won their match against Russia.With a 1-0 advantage, most teams—most good teams—go on to score a second goal, then think about defending...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,257 reads 14 comments

  18. A Matter of Pride: John Terry Unfit for the England Captaincy?

    For some years, I've had two distinct opinions of John Terry the player.On the one hand, he's undoubtedly the best central defender in the EPL—strong, determined, and skilled...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,257 reads 9 comments

  19. England 3, Estonia 0: An Easy Win for England

    It was a long time coming—and truth be told, it felt like an anticlimax.Wayne Rooney broke his international scoring duck against Estonia, and unbelievable errors in the field of play helped England to their most comfortable win of all time...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 735 reads 5 comments

  20. Marks out of 10: The PL story so far

    This is the time of year I take stock of all the club football I've watched, and make some observations...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,060 reads 12 comments

  21. Completely Bitter over "Sweet" F.A.!!!

    A few years back, a certain Charlton Athletic Football Club appealed against a red card, given to a young player called Osei Sankofa, sent off against Arsenal...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 521 reads 1 comments

  22. Why a Dominant Manchester United Is Good for the EPL

    The gap between the haves and have-nots in English football is as wide as it's ever been.It's no longer a matter of a few clubs being better than rest—it's a matter of an ever-growing gulf between the top 10 teams and everyone else...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 2,299 reads 12 comments

  23. Memo to Steve McLaren: Save Owen, Bring Back the Heroes

    We can second-guess Steve McLaren all we want, but his decision to activate Michael Owen caught me completely by surprise...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,256 reads 5 comments

  24. Keeping the Faith: Coming Back with Spurs

    The place: Edward Herbert Building, Loughborough UniversityThe Match: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa—the only time this season Spurs would wear their anniversary kit.To lose would be unfathomable...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 722 reads 3 comments

  25. Goodbye, Mourinho: End of Chelsea's Premiership Campaign?

    It's strange to say this, as Jose Mourinho seemed to regard my club Charlton as nothing more than a drop in the ocean...But I'm going to miss the grump...

    Simon Martin Written by Simon Martin about over 5 years ago 1,360 reads 7 comments