The football blog for fans of all clubs
Inaki Williams: the first black player to score for Athletic Club, in the Europa League no less, who last month scored one of the club’s greatest goals in its long, illustrious history with a thumping volley against Getafe – but is there more history to be made? Williams’ 2017/18 season so far is perhaps indicative […]
In July 2014, goalkeeper Tim Howard became a worldwide sensation overnight after more than ten years as one of America’s leading elite athletes. His record-breaking 15 saves for the United States in the World Cup against Belgium exhilarated a nation that had only recently announced itself on the world football stage after years of hibernation. […]
Heading in to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, England manager Gareth Southgate has a wealth of talented goalkeepers to call on for his final squad; Jack Butland, Joe Hart, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope and Tom Heaton, amongst others, are viable options between the sticks. Southgate’s selection headache, though, is nothing like the decision England’s […]
Spain, 1936: The Republicans waged war against the Nationalists, a Falangist, Carlist and aristocratic conservative group in Guerra Civil – The Civil War. The unrest began with a pronuniciamento, a declaration of military opposition, against the Republican Party from a group of Spanish Armed Forces generals. Needless to say, chaos ensued; Nationalists began an uprising […]
Derby is a teeming, busy city in the centre of England. A place steeped in sporting history, owing to the exploits of the Derbyshire County Cricket Club and, of course, Derby County Football Club, the city’s people live for days like the East Midlands derby. In the shadow of the cathedral in the city centre, […]
According to Twitter gospel, success in the Championship requires a manager steeped in English Football League folklore. Someone who has ‘been there, done that and got the T-shirt’ is who many fans suggest would be the ideal manager to guide their club to promotion to the Premier League. So, in that case, Steve Bruce must […]
With the political uprising in Catalonia continuing to escalate and cause controversy, Spanish football has been embroiled in a row and the remaining fixtures in La Liga have become uncertain. The league’s president, Javier Tebas, described the situation underwhelmingly as “something to be analysed”, when in truth, the issue has the potential to be a […]
Football in the West Midlands changed forever at the beginning of last season following a wave of Chinese investment into the region’s four biggest clubs. West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all controlled by Chinese owners; it is the powers that be at Wolves, a conglomerate called Fosun International, that […]
A romantic footballer whose beauty surpasses his universally recognised decoration is one who will, arguably more than any other player, show why the ‘beautiful game’ is adored around the world. Barcelona’s fans have witnessed some of the most otherworldly attacking players of all time inside the sacred walls of the Camp Nou; the green, inviolable […]
Simão Sabrosa, known mononymously as Simão, is a lesser-remembered, though unbelievably talented, wide forward that at times dazzled La Liga full-backs with his daring and direct wing play. Unfortunately, because of Louis van Gaal, his talents were somewhat restrained during his formative years and football fans were rarely treated to his true ability. A product […]
One-club men are all too few and far between in football these days. The likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Paolo Maldini, and more recently, Francesco Totti, have all retired having enjoyed silverware-laden careers across many years. There are very few experienced players that are still playing in Europe’s elite leagues with the club that […]
Silverware often guarantees greatness and a player’s position in football folklore, but a lack of thereof does not necessarily tarnish a claim to the same status. A romantic player whose beauty is not matched by his universally recognised decoration is one who will, arguably more than any other player, show why the ‘beautiful game’ is […]
The 18th May 2008 was a bittersweet day in FC Barcelona’s incredible history; Real Murcia were beaten 5-3 on the last day of the 2007-08 La Liga season in a thrilling game at the Nueva Condomina but the win only cemented third place for Frank Rijkaard’s side, with the Dutchman set to depart only two […]
