English Premier League

English Premier League

A Sideshow For Chelsea When They Need It Least

Sure, in the lead-up to matches charged with a side-show backdrop, there’s always going to be the reflexive rhetoric about professionalism, such as what Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti recently spilled ahead of his side’s match against Manchester City on Saturday(7:45 a.m. EST).  Perhaps the aftermath of John Terry’s purported shagging […]

Goodbye Plasticity!
Manchester United / Union

Goodbye Plasticity!

The reaction is always the same – “of course you are” or “figures” or “aren’t all Yanks?”. It’s not easy being an American Red Devil. Well, some would argue it’s too easy. Manchester United are arguably the world’s largest soccer team, and, inarguably the de facto European team for American […]

England / English Premier League

Schoolyard Goalkeeping Sinks Arsenal Again

Anyone wondering to what extent goalkeeping can derail an otherwise very good team need only look at Arsenal. The Gunners’ goalkeeping situation reached farcical proportions today after young Polish ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianksi gifted Porto a 2-1 advantage in the first leg of their Champions League tie. Fabianski was filling in […]

English Premier League / France / La Liga

Woe To Managers Who Forget: Soccer Is A Team Game

Diego Maradona’s famous run against England in 1986 is probably the most famous play in soccer history (closely followed by the Hand of God). It’s a memorable play for many reasons, not the least of which is how it showcases one player’s ability to single-handedly change a game. Maradona’s goal […]

English Premier League

Altidore scores first Premier League goal in upset win

Jozy Altidore scored his first English Premier League goal today to help Hull to a 2-1 upset  win over Manchester City. Altidore won multiple free kicks and looked dangerous throughout the match before pulling up lame with what looked to be a quad injury and leaving for a substitution in […]

That was a 4-6-0 formation
English Premier League / Manchester United

That was a 4-6-0 formation

The traditional footy formation is a 4-4-2: Four fullbacks, four midfielders, and two prima donnas strikers (the goalie excluded because, barring schizophrenia, he will always be a 1). The more counterattacking-inclined team may use a 4-3-3 while a possession-based squad often takes the pitch in a 4-5-1. There are endless […]

English Premier League / MLS

Landon Donovan Scores First For Everton (!!)

Our beloved Landycakes took one step closer to shutting up his critics, scoring his first ever league goal accross the pond in Everton’s 2-0 win over slumping Sunderland. It was a cool, comfortable finish, and any doubts that he can hang in the EPL are surely fading fast. There is […]

The trouble with United
England / English Premier League / Manchester United / UEFA Champions League

The trouble with United

There has been a lot in the British press over the past week about the shocking level of debt being carried by Manchester United, which currently stands at £700m or $1.114b. That’s right, more than $1 billion. Last Monday the Glazer family, owners of the club and proud Americans, announced […]

Liverpool is Royally screwed
English Premier League / FA Cup / Liverpool FC

Liverpool is Royally screwed

It’s been a dreary week or two for the Liverpool faithful. Last Sunday’s game against Tottenham was postponed . . . on Thursday. Apparently, three days wasn’t enough time to get the snow out of the stands. More likely Liverpool, ravaged in body and soul, was eager to have a […]

Toast of the City
English Premier League

Toast of the City

This past Wednesday, The Guardian reported Roberto Mancini espousing the performance benefits of a pre-match glass of red wine.  Indeed, the Renaissance of Italian managers has swept through the British isles as of late with colossal names such as Cappello, Zola, Trapattoni, and Ancelotti taking the helm of top sides […]