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The Archives
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08.26.12Don’t criticise Robbie – lots of footballers tell porky piesMany people have criticised Robbie Keane's comments every time he signs for a new club, stating he has completed a lifelong dream, by joining boyhood clubs Inter Milan, LA Galaxy, Spurs, Celtic, Liverpool etc. (actually the latter club might be the closest to the truth). But Robbie shouldn't be given too much stick. Most footballers, and indeed managers, will say any old baloney to get on the fans' good side. Just this week, Italian giants AC Milan and Inter Milan completed a deal that witnessed Antonio Cassano join the blue & black half of Milan with Giampaolo Pazzini going the other way. But it ...
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07.09.12RVP wanting out is a disaster for ArsenalJust a few short weeks after Robin Van Persie won the Professional Football Association's fans' player of the year for 2011-12, he dealt Arsenal a major, major blow: refusing to extend his contract at the Gunners that expires next summer. Oh dear. This looks like a move away from the Emirates for the prolific Dutch striker. Not another captain to leave within two years for Arsene Wenger? Sadly, it's looking that way. Of course the big teams are monitoring this situation - Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan. But none more so than Manchester City. According reports, they are the likely destination ...
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05.14.12End of the season madness…And that was the season that was. Nine months of chaos, shocks, egomania and unpredicitability - and that was just Mario Balotelli! Yes, the 2011-2012 season turned out to be a memorable one. Not just in England - but elsewhere too. Well, I'm sure most of you witnessed the good, the bad and the downright ugly (not looking at anyone in particular, Joey Barton!) at the Etihad stadium as Manchester City won the Premier League in the most dramatic fashion in the history of the English game. Yes, even more so than 1989. It was like a Hollywood movie. Even Paul ...
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05.13.12Is today THE day for Man City?Ten years ago Man City were playing in the second tier of English football, constantly taunted by their rivals Manchester United. Today, the blue half of Manchester can tell the red half to zip it, as victory against Q.P.R. will ensure their first Premier League trophy - their first top flight trophy since 1968. Of course, QPR will not be merely sitting back with nothing to play for - their entire season for next year completely depends on the result at the Etihad stadium this afternoon. They are two points outside the relegation zone and will be looking for a victory ...
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04.10.12Nevermind the Premier League – here’s the EredivisieMan City's season certainly looks over. After the sky blues' weekend defeat to Arsenal, their hopes of shutting the red half of Manchester up don't look good - even though Roberto Mancini, in all fairness to him, still refuses to give up. But it would take an enormously spectacular slip-up from Man United to throw it all away now. Those who have a keen eye on the English league will be focussed on who may get a Champions League spot (Newcastle United or Tottenham will be battling this out with Arsenal for that 3rd spot). But in other leagues, things ...
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01.03.12Another transfer window, another month of chaos, rumours and big money!It's that time again. The transfer window is open. Naturally, the last day of the window (Jan 30th) is always the busiest, but between then and now, we may see some interesting movement throughout the sport. First off, keep your eye on Paris Saint-Germain (who's city and club have been recently profiled on this blog). With their Qatari millions backing them, the club's owners are hungry to make the Parisians what Real Madrid were in the early 2000's. They've already tried to acquire the services of one David Beckham, who recently turned them down in favour of staying put in LA. But ...
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12.08.11Champions League matchday 6 round-up & last 16 previewThe Champions League last 16 will not feature either Manchester club. Not City nor United. This certainly wasn't in the script. But it's happened and Sir Alex now faces the "penalty" of playing in the Europa League along with Roberto Mancini. The Mancunian sides aren't they only ones to face an early exit form Europe's biggest tournament. Trabzonspor's stalemate at Lille witnessed both sides failing to qualify from Group B. Real Madrid's sixth win out of six sends Ajax out along with Dinamo Zagreb, who were destroyed by by Lyon at home 1-7 - Zagreb were 1-0 up at one point. The powers that ...
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11.24.11Champions League matchday 5 round-upMan United fans love a good swipe at rival City fans. They love calling them a small club (usually to the tune of the Inspiral Carepts' "This Is How It Feels"). And no doubt the United faithful would have been chanting this at the sky blue half of the city following Citeh's 2-1 loss at Napoli if it wasn't for United's 2-2 home draw with Benfica - a game many, including Sir Alex, would have expected the red devils to win. Now, in Group C, United, Basel or Benfica can top the group. Not exactly how Sir Alex pictured it, while ...
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11.02.11Champions League matchday 4 preview (part 2)Bayern Munich have scored 33 goals without conceding in their last nine home games but the German side will need to be wary when Napoli come to the Allianz Arena tonight. Jupp Heynckes' men are top of Group A on seven points with their Italians opponents in second spot on five. Victory for the Germans will give Man City, currently on four points and in third position, an opportunity to sneak into second place. Roberto Mancini's men face Villareal at the Madrigal. The Spanish side have yet to win a game in the competition. City's bitter rivals Man United host Otelul ...
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09.27.11Champions League matchday 2 round-up (part 1)Not a good night for clubs from Manchester. The red half of the city almost suffered an embarrassing home defeat if it wasn't for Ashley Young's late equaliser against Basel in which the game finished 3-3 which will bring back similar memories for Sir Alex when his United team faced Galatasaray in this competition in 1993. Careless would be the word some could use to describe United - a rarity. But the talk of Tuesday night will go to the sky blue half of the city. And Carlos Tevez in particular. The 27 year-old was named amongst City's substitutes for the ...
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09.15.11Champions League matchday 1 round-up (part 2)Day two of matchday one in the Champions League - some great ties, some great goals, some bizarre results. Roberto Mancini said before Man City's game against Napoli that it was an important game in the club's history. He was right - they haven't played in Europe's highest competition since 1968. What was more important however, was getting points in it. In the end they took a single point following Aleksandar Kolarov's equaliser on 75 minutes after Edinson Cavani's opening goal for the Italians six minutes earlier. Mancini can be grateful that City's debut in the Euopean Cup of the Champions ...
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03.31.11Remembering RockyFootball mourned a great loss ten years ago today. Former Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and England right-midfielder David Rocastle died on this day at the age of 33. But 'Rocky' is still held with high regard amongst the Arsenal faithful, where he played in the number 7 jersey giving no less than 100%. Having joined Arsenal as an apprentice in 1983, it wasn't until two years later when Rocky signed his first professional contract with the Gunners. At the age of 19, he won a League Cup medal when Arsenal beat league runners-up Liverpool at Wembley. Just two years later, Rocastle ...
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01.03.11January transfer window: Let the games begin…The January transfer window is here. Some deals have been done from Kevin "Zinedine" Kilbane joining Huddersfield Town to Jermaine Pennant making his return to Stoke permanent to Freddie Ljungberg making Glasgow his home in joining Celtic. Some rumours are flying around the media such as Federico Macheda going back to Italy to join Juventus on a loan deal to Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko moving to the sky blue half of Manchester. One rumour did catch my attention. Ronaldinho in talks with....wait for it....Blackburn Rovers. They are not known for signing superstars and they did famously reject Zinedine Zidane in 1995 in ...
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