Spurs Swoop For Van Der Vaart

Sky Sports News seem pretty adamant this evening that Rafael Van Der Vaart, who won a World Cup Runners-Up medal this year with the Netherlands, is about to sign for Tottenham Hotspur. His Wikipedia page, at the time of writing this post, says that the 27-year old playmaker, currently plays for Tottenham! Whoever said Harry [...]

ADEBAYOR LEAVING TO MAKE ROOM AT CITY FOR ANOTHER BIG STAR

“If Adebayor goes to Spurs, City will be short-handed,” says Times Football writer Gabriele Marcotti on Twitter. “Which means they’re either screwed or they’ve secretly lined somebody up.” I doubt that City, the world’s wealthiest club, would let themselves go into the season with a depleted strike force. But if there’s any substance to the [...]

World Cup Day 16 – Suarez fires Uruguay into the quarters as USA head home

As the Irish know better than anyone, when a dubious goal knocks us out, we can console ourselves by murmuring amongst ourselves about injustice. But when you see your side knocked out by an extraordinary goal, there’s not even the consolation of the bad-beat story to tell. There’s nothing worse in football, a fact the [...]

World Cup Day 12 – White Flags, Red Cards and Green Envy

This afternoon was spent flicking eagerly between the final games of Group A. Disaster was confirmed for the French FA, as ten-men France crashed out of the World Cup having registered only one goal. Uruguay beat Mexico by 1-0 in a match everyone – bookies included – expected to end in a draw. Credit where [...]

World Cup Day 11 – Spain win, Portugal win, Chile win

Ten goals in three games today. I blame the Jabulani! Switzerland famously crashed out of the last World Cup without conceding a single goal, and in their first group match against Spain, they managed once more to keep a clean sheet. Despite the flair of the Chile national team, there weren’t many goals expected in [...]

Red and Yellow cards: where would we be without the bloody things?

Red and yellow cards: where would we be without the bloody things? Not much larger in height or width than a packet of cigarettes, the referee’s cards have the power to inhibit or conclude the performances of even the greatest players in the world, and in so doing, they have influence over not just the [...]

Ferguson loses the plot before Derby

Having banned Sky cameras from his press conference for their role in the violent conduct charge brought against Rio Ferdinand this week, Alex Ferguson today insisted that his players’ behavior “has always been perfect”. The United manager is said to be furious at the way his players have been put under scrutiny this week: in [...]

Ferguson Eyes Bigger Prospect

Fantasy Football As A Way of Analysis, Vol. 5 Unless Eduardo plays the game of his life tomorrow, it looks like I’ll be getting me coat and making an early exit from the Fantasy Cup. Graceful, mind you. Happily giving interviews to the television stations, and refusing to blame the referee. We was outplayed – [...]

Fantasy Football as a Way of Analysis, Vol. 4

Just a quick one here in the wake of Man City’s 3-0 defeat of Wolves tonight. Following City’s victory over Stoke, Cathal wrote that Mancini had made his first mistake in dropping Craig Bellamy so that the most expensive man in British football, Robinho, could make a start. Mancini put that right this evening, and [...]

Fantasy Football As a Way of Analysis Vol.3

Christmas is upon us. With the cancellation of the Wigan versus Bolton game this evening, the next Premier League games will take place after Christmas Day. And so, I thought it a good time to revisit the Fantasy Football stats to see what light they can shed upon the most unpredictable league for many years. [...]