1. Arsene Wenger Right To Keep Faith Despite Arsenal's Puzzling Summer?

    Few clubs, and perhaps even fewer managers, provoke such conflicting opinions as Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. To some, the club plays beautiful football but its playing staff lack the resilience and mental strength to win the game’s big prizes...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 531 reads 16 comments

  2. Why the Ibrahimovic-Eto'o Transfer Makes Good Sense for All Concerned

    It may have taken a while, but European champions Barcelona have finally responded to the gauntlet thrown down to them by rivals Real Madrid...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 2,941 reads 31 comments

  3. Team Unity, Not New Defenders, Is the Real Challenge for Hughes' Manchester City

    Much has been written—and perhaps even more said—about Manchester City’s apparently ludicrous summer transfer policy...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 271 reads 11 comments

  4. John Terry and Joleon Lescott Exemplify Differing Attractions of Manchester City

    Manchester City’s footballing master-plan has kicked up a notch in recent weeks, with attacking reinforcements acquired at a rate that has rattled a transfer market already reeling from Real Madrid’s early summer moves...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 525 reads 8 comments

  5. Diego Forlan Finds the Net Easily, But Having a Time Locating a New Club

    As the summer transfer window rolls on, strikers have quickly hit the top of the agenda, with every big club looking to improve their team by adding a world-class finisher...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 610 reads 25 comments

  6. Portsmouth and Newcastle Fearful of Threat Posed by Takeover Troubles

    In general, takeovers tend to bring positive results to the club involved. Transfer budgets and ambitions are increased, as a new chairman comes in and approves the purchase of expensive ...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 269 reads 2 comments

  7. This Ashes Series Set To Serve Up Great Tests, but Not Greatness

    England escaped defeat by the slimmest of margins on Sunday, as James Anderson and Monty Panesar—England’s No...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 63 reads 4 comments

  8. Manchester United Hope to Nurture Gabriel Obertan's Natural Talent

    With the summer signings of Michael Owen, Luis Antonio Valencia, and now Gabriel Obertan, Manchester United have hardly captured the imagination of their worldwide fanbase...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 1,074 reads 14 comments

  9. Steve Savidan's Fairytale Career Over As Heart Finally Fails Him

    Oh, the irony of life. A week ago, Steve Savidan was just another footballer nervously awaiting a transfer that might elevate his professional career...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 194 reads 2 comments

  10. Michael Owen Signing Indicates Ferguson Is Thinking of Solskjaer's Heir

    It has not been a particularly happy few months for Michael Owen. First he saw his then-employers, Newcastle United, suffer a heart-breaking relegation from the Premier League, while he was forced to watch much of the run-in from the treatment table...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 598 reads 25 comments

  11. Champions League: New and Returning Faces in Next Season's Competition

    With new rules in place for qualification this year, UEFA is hopeful that the 2009-10 Champions League will see a host of new teams compete in the tournament, from a greater variety of countries than seen in previous years...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 287 reads 4 comments

  12. The Debate That Won't Go Away: Equal Prize Money at Wimbledon

    Before the All England Club finally relented in 2007, the subject of Wimbledon’s allocation of prize money had become something of a millstone hanging around the necks of all those associated with the tournament...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 1,261 reads 28 comments

  13. Despite Defeat, USA Announces Arrival on International Stage

    On June 29, 1950, in a game remembered as “The Miracle on Grass," Team USA beat traditional international powerhouse England 1-0 in a World Cup game in Brazil...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 290 reads 17 comments

  14. David Villa Determined Not To Become a Victim of Circumstance

    A man who willingly lets himself become a victim of circumstance is invariably a man who never achieves his ultimate ambitions. David Villa is keen that he does not become a victim of circumstance...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 469 reads 13 comments

  15. Barcelona Bide Their Time Before Making Real Response in Transfer Window

    Only Real Madrid. Only Real Madrid could steal the spotlight so quickly from Barcelona. Barely three weeks have passed since Barcelona’s historic triumph against Manchester ...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 494 reads 4 comments

  16. Madrid Solve Milan's Recession Woes, in the Hope Kaka Can Solve Theirs

    The first Galacticos era under Florentino Perez has not been viewed too kindly by history. Overblown salaries and egos are remembered, and not with great affection...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 113 reads 2 comments

  17. Gary Cahill Gets Reward For Fine Form With England Call

    Gary Megson might not be the most popular Premiership manager, but it is difficult to criticise the job he has done at Bolton Wanderers...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 93 reads 1 comments

  18. Guardiola the Emperor As Barcelona Dominate in Rome

    Veni, vidi, vici. They came, they saw, they conquered. It may not be the most original summary of events in Rome, but it is the most accurate. Barcelona did not just beat Manchester United in Wednesday’s Champions League final, they demolished them...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 308 reads 4 comments

  19. Champions League Final Is Fitting Stage for Barcelona's Historic 4-3-3

    In football, 18 years is a long time. Eighteen years ago, the Champions League was still just an idea being bandied about between UEFA board members. It would not replace the traditional format of the European Cup until the 1992-93 season...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 606 reads 1 comments

  20. Don't Blame Daniel Sturridge for His Outrageous Contract Demands

    In the library of stories about footballer’s greed it may never rank at the top, but Daniel Sturridge’s recent contract demands with current club Manchester City have certainly raised a few eyebrows...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 496 reads 9 comments

  21. Alan Shearer Cannot Be the Messiah For Newcastle Now

    Can you blame Alan Shearer? Can you blame Joe Kinnear? Can you blame Mike Ashley? In the wake of Newcastle United’s devastating relegation on Sunday, fingers will be undoubtedly be pointed...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about almost 4 years ago 512 reads 31 comments

  22. Newcastle Fans Forced To Place Faith in Unreliable Players for Salvation

    It is said that pride comes before a fall. For Newcastle fans, pride is perhaps the one commodity they possess in abundance. Perhaps the most devout fans in the Premiership, they follow their team with great passion...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about 4 years ago 171 reads 3 comments

  23. Floyd Mayweather Jr. Urges Ricky Hatton To Retire

    Floyd Mayweather Jr. believes that Ricky Hatton should bow out of boxing after the Englishman's disappointing defeat to Manny Pacquiao earlier this month...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about 4 years ago 571 reads 4 comments

  24. Michael Carrick's Craft the Foundation of Manchester United's Success

    When the decisive moment in the title race finally came, everyone knew it. Patrice Evra certainly did. Sprinting across the turf at the JJB Stadium to join his celebrating teammates, the Frenchman ...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about 4 years ago 421 reads 6 comments

  25. European Tour's Ryder Cup Compromise Ultimately Helps No One

    The announcement this week that the European Tour has agreed to give the Ryder Cup captain an extra wildcard pick—raising his total to three—has been greeted with muted acknowledgement by most of the golfing fraternity...

    Alex Dimond Written by Alex Dimond about 4 years ago 61 reads 1 comments