Opinion

Belgium: World Cup Contenders?


Posted on: April 13th, 2013 by Scott No Comments

It’s that time again, when the World Cup is starting to appear on the horizon, the qualification gets crucial and the predictions are inevitably made. It is to be assumed that those predictions will be predictably predictable. Who can look past all conquering Spain? Lets not rule out Argentina and Brazil, they’re always dangerous. I [...]



 

Why Di Canio could have impact Sunderland need


Posted on: April 13th, 2013 by Scott No Comments

Sunderland made the bold move on Saturday night to part company with their manager Martin O’Neill. The immediate reaction to this decision was one of shock, given that there are only seven games left in the Premier League season. A little over 24 hours later, the Black Cats announced Paolo Di Canio was their new [...]



 

Roberto Mancini has no right to be angry with Vincent Kompany


Posted on: April 13th, 2013 by Scott No Comments

Roberto Mancini has gone on the attack this week over the fact that his captain Vincent Kompany played for Belgium having missed the last eight weeks for Manchester City.   Mancini first criticised Belgium manager Marc Wilmots for playing Kompany. BBC Sport quoted Mancini saying, “I think sometimes some managers of national teams should understand [...]



 

ENGLAND: WHAT DID WE EXPECT?


Posted on: March 27th, 2013 by Scott No Comments

England travelled to Montenegro on Tuesday knowing that only a win would put them in firm control of their World Cup Qualifying group. Despite a good first half we saw what we always see from England: A side lacking in quality, cutting edge and ruthlessness.   The mere fact that Montenegro were viewed as a [...]



 

LETS NOT KID OURSELVES: THIS WAS NOT A SUCCESS


Posted on: March 26th, 2013 by Scott No Comments

England’s cricketers will be returning from New Zealand on something of a high. Facing certain defeat in the final test, their middle and lower order batsmen clung on to secure a thrilling draw. Well done boys; pats on backs all round.   What we must not overlook here is the fact that England should have [...]



 

THE ANTONIO VALENCIA CONUNDRUM: JUST WHAT GONE WRONG?


Posted on: March 10th, 2013 by Scott No Comments

This time last year Antonio Valencia was turning defenders legs to jelly. He was a strong, quick, aggressive winger capable of destroying an opposition on his own. He was a contender for player of the year. This year he is a contender for worst player of the year.   He looks a shadow of the [...]



 

MONDAY COLUMN: 4th March 2013


Posted on: March 4th, 2013 by Scott No Comments

Wenger Woes   Arsenal have come away from this Barclays Premier League weekend 5 points adrift of the crucial fourth Champions League place. Defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane yesterday left the Gunners trailing their North London neighbours by 7 points as Tottenham moved to third just 2 points adrift of [...]



 

CONGRATULATIONS SWANSEA, WELL DONE BRADFORD AND WHEN DID COMMON SENSE GO OUT OF REFEREEING?


Posted on: February 24th, 2013 by Scott No Comments

Bradford against Swansea was the cup final of dreams. Two clubs who were not expected to make the final of the Capital One Cup but fought against the odds to meet at Wembley.   Swansea, having climbed the ladder of the football league to establish themselves as a quality Premier League outfit, turned up at [...]



 

WHY WENGER MUST NOT BE PUSHED – HE MUST JUMP


Posted on: February 22nd, 2013 by Scott No Comments

Defeat against Blackburn in the FA Cup all but confirmed that Arsenal would go without a trophy for the eighth year in succession. This was a crushing cup upset for the Gunners who followed that with a comprehensive home defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Naturally all focus has been placed firmly on [...]