After a 4-0 win against Strasbourg, PSG surprisingly made the decision to sack head coach Thomas Tuchel. The man who has won the club a domestic double and lost marginally in the Champions League final the previous season a sluggish start to this season’s league campaign marked the end of the German’s reign. It isContinue reading “PSG: Why Pochettino and why now?”
Author Archives: Fraserspinney
Premier League Cult Heroes: Tim Cahill
The 5 foot 10 forward who jumped like he had springs in his boots. Tim Cahill’s jumping ability was remarkable, as demonstrated by the sheer number of headers the Australian scored throughout his career. He was a real warrior of a player with a keen eye for goal that would often be followed by hisContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Tim Cahill”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Michu
He came to the Premier League an unknown, he left a cult hero. The left-field hero of young sensation Erling Haaland, Michu was signed by Swansea for the 2012/13 season. He was an instant success and ran riot in the Premier League in his first season, with his 22 goals in all competitions securing SwanseaContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Michu”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Rory Delap
The footballer whose legacy is throwing a ball. The wet windy night at Stoke has become far too cliched in recent years but Rory Delap and co. are the reason this saying was coined. Upon their arrival to the Premier League, under the stewardship of perennial club-cap-wearer Tony Pulis, Stoke were in no mood toContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Rory Delap”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Peter Crouch
Not many players can play for two rival teams and come away with not just respect but affection from both sets of supporters. However, in playing for both Southampton and Portsmouth Peter Crouch did just this. The 6 foot 7 striker in fact gained the appreciation of a whole host of Premier League clubs, alsoContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Peter Crouch”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Kevin Nolan
Kevin Nolan was perhaps the budget Frank Lampard for a number of years in the Premier League. Not the most technically gifted but Nolan developed a knack of arriving late into the box and getting himself a goal. Nolan was a key part of Sam Allardyce’s Bolton side which always gives Premier League fans aContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Kevin Nolan”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Jimmy Bullard
Jimmy Bullard can now be found trying his hand at presenting on cult football TV show Soccer AM on a Saturday morning. However, he was a far better player than his ‘cheeky chappy’ persona would infer. He also wasn’t averse to hard work and made it to the Premier League the hard way after startingContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Jimmy Bullard”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Nobby Solano
The Peruvian dead ball specialist who retired to pursue a career in music. Nolberto Solano, or ‘Nobby’ as he was affectionately known, was the first Peruvian to play in the Premier League and the FA Cup final, featuring in Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in 1999. A legend in his homeland, with 95 capsContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Nobby Solano”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Kevin Phillips
The man who aged like a fine wine. From Premier League golden boot winner at Sunderland to golden oldie at Crystal Palace Phillips scored a lot of goals for a lot of clubs. In fact, he played for ten clubs in total, five of which were in the Premier League. His first spell in theContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Kevin Phillips”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Morten Gamst Pederson
The Norwegian with a left foot so sweet he would often shoot from corners. Premier League fullbacks knew they were in for a tough afternoon when they saw the highlighted hair of Morten Gamst Pederson lining up on the left of the Blackburn midfield. A left foot as cultured as it was powerful, Pederson reallyContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Morten Gamst Pederson”
Premier League Cult Heroes: Yakubu
Feed the Yak and he will score. That chant would that would follow Yakubu around the Premier League en route to securing Premier League cult hero status via Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn. The Nigerian poacher had real purple patches but consistently terrified Premier League defences in his pomp. He looked set to help takeContinue reading “Premier League Cult Heroes: Yakubu”
How do Liverpool cope without Virgil Van Dijk?
One of the most hotly anticipated Merseyside derbies in recent years resulted in a great deal of controversy. The two sides drew 2-2 with Richarlison being sent off for Everton and Liverpool being denied a late Jordan Henderson winner with Sadio Mane adjudged to have been fractionally offside in the build-up. However, the biggest talkingContinue reading “How do Liverpool cope without Virgil Van Dijk?”
The Premier League goal rush
After the first four matchdays of the 2020/21 season the Premier League has seen 144 goals scored in 38 fixtures. At this rate the season would end with an incredible 1,440 goals being scored. To put this into context, last season 1,034 goals were scored and the most goals scored in a 20-team Premier LeagueContinue reading “The Premier League goal rush”
All the first team ins and outs in the Premier League this transfer window
It has been a strange transfer window this summer with the majority of clubs stung by the financial implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many clubs have had to sell and the usual huge transfer fees have been more of a rarity with owners having to find innovative ways of securing deals and sidestepping financial ramifications.Continue reading “All the first team ins and outs in the Premier League this transfer window”
Why Mourinho and Tottenham is a relationship that will end in disaster
Tottenham’s opening fixture against big-spending Everton was never going to be an easy start. The defeat itself at this early stage of the season is by no means a disaster, but the manner of the defeat is very worrying. Tottenham seemed to show absolutely no desire to win the game of football. They were slowContinue reading “Why Mourinho and Tottenham is a relationship that will end in disaster”
Full-back Focus: England’s Euros conundrum
While it may be harsh to read too much into the Nations League fixtures due to the fact that they are effectively being played in pre-season, they did raise issues that England will need to resolve. One thing that is clear from these fixtures is that Gareth Southgate doesn’t know his best eleven and thereContinue reading “Full-back Focus: England’s Euros conundrum”
England Nations League preview: The squad, the opposition and Southgate’s dilemmas
As the majority of club sides gear up for the delayed start to the season due to the overrun of last season, international fixtures seem an unnecessary inclusion at the beginning of the 2020/21 football calendar. However, UEFA have gone ahead with the Nations League fixtures despite the fact that the majority of countries competingContinue reading “England Nations League preview: The squad, the opposition and Southgate’s dilemmas”
Ronald’s revolution? How Koeman can save Barcelona
For Barcelona, a season that started with Messi addressing the Barcelona fans and promising to do all they could to bring the Champions League trophy back to the Camp Nou ended in embarrassment. No La Liga trophy, no Copa del Rey trophy and the complete embarrassment of an 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in theContinue reading “Ronald’s revolution? How Koeman can save Barcelona”
Pep talk: Could Manchester City really sack Guardiola?
Manchester City’s 3-1 loss to Lyon means that Pep Guardiola has crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage in each of his four campaigns in the competition with City, spending £703 million in the process. This from the man who was brought in to conquer Europe with City and give owner SheikhContinue reading “Pep talk: Could Manchester City really sack Guardiola?”
Prediction: Every Premier League line up predicted for the 2020/21 season. Part 2.
As with part one, the following aims to predict the starting eleven and final league position of the remaining ten Premier League clubs, including play-off winners Fulham, ahead of the 2020/21 season. Confirmed signings, transfer rumours and feasible transfers are all taken into consideration to make these predictions. The final predicted league table concludes theContinue reading “Prediction: Every Premier League line up predicted for the 2020/21 season. Part 2.”
Prediction: Every Premier League line up predicted for the 2020/21 season. Part 1.
Although the Premier League season has only just finished and the European competitions are set to be played in a congested format through August, Premier League sides’ attention will have already turned to next season. The season is scheduled to start on the 12th September, giving sides just a matter of weeks to alter theirContinue reading “Prediction: Every Premier League line up predicted for the 2020/21 season. Part 1.”
Joshua Zirkzee: The catalyst of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga title
As the celebrations of Bayern Munich’s eighth consecutive Bundesliga title start to die down there will be many who will be reflecting on the key men and the key moments that secured the title. Many will think of the prolific rate of Robert Lewandoski’s scoring, or Thomas Muller breaking the Bundesliga assists record, Alphonso DaviesContinue reading “Joshua Zirkzee: The catalyst of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga title”
The key men in the Premier League race for survival
The long anticipated return of Premier League football finally comes to end on Wednesday 17th June with a double header of Aston Villa at home to Sheffield United and Arsenal travelling to play Manchester City. These fixtures being played ensure every side in the Premier League will have played the same amount of games goingContinue reading “The key men in the Premier League race for survival”
Kai Havertz: The real deal?
Kai Havertz. Many have heard the name but with the Bundesliga being thrust into the limelight in recent weeks football fans have wanted to see for themselves whether the 20 year-old German is the real deal. It would appear that he has flourished knowing that the world is watching, with five goals in three gamesContinue reading “Kai Havertz: The real deal?”
Hertha Berlin: Could the next German superpower be from the capital?
Since the return of football in Germany Hertha Berlin have beaten Hoffenheim 3-0 away from home, smashed city rivals Union Berlin 4-0, recorded an impressive 2-2 draw away at third place RB Leipzig and beat Augsburg 2-0. They have began investing heavily recently in a bid to improve their fortunes and have surprised many withContinue reading “Hertha Berlin: Could the next German superpower be from the capital?”
Featured Match: Borussia Dortmund 0 – 1 Bayern Munich
First versus second. Two great rivals, one trying to topple the recent dominance of the other. Borussia Dortmund versus Bayern Munich. Der Klassiker. Bayern travelled to Dortmund knowing that victory over their rivals could all but secure them the Bundesliga title, putting them seven points clear of second with six games to play. Dortmund knewContinue reading “Featured Match: Borussia Dortmund 0 – 1 Bayern Munich”
Featured Match: Werder Bremen 1 – 4 Bayer Leverkusen
Following RB Leipzig’s shock draw at home with SC Freiburg on Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen had an opportunity to close the gap in their hunt for a Champions League qualification place to just one point last night. It was an opportunity they took with both hands, putting four goals past a Werder Bremen side really strugglingContinue reading “Featured Match: Werder Bremen 1 – 4 Bayer Leverkusen”
Turkey: The home of the veteran striker
One of the lesser followed leagues in Europe from a neutral perspective, the Turkish top flight is full of drama and renowned for it’s extremely passionate fans for which the club they support is more of a lifestyle than a hobby. The rivalries between clubs in Turkey often reach boiling point, with the league evenContinue reading “Turkey: The home of the veteran striker”
England: The potential winners and losers of the postponed Euros
With the uncertainty of the return of football across the world’s domestic leagues due to Covid-19, as well as the completion of the Champions League and Europa League, one thing that is certain is that the European Championship will not be taking place this summer. The competition, which was set to be spread across EuropeContinue reading “England: The potential winners and losers of the postponed Euros”
Which Bundesliga team should I support?
It has felt like an eternity since football was last on our screens but, with the German Football Association rumoured to be optimistic of a 9th May return date for the Bundesliga, this long wait could soon be over. Germany has seemingly handled Covid-19 better than most by adopting the approach of lockdown early onContinue reading “Which Bundesliga team should I support?”
