David Bentley wants to stick it to Arsenal
Bentley, an Arsenal product did not leave on the happiest of terms as he could not break into Arsenal’s...
Category: Soccer Skills
Deep thought: Robbie Keane is the answer to Liverpool’s title hopes
Hmmmm. Eighteen years since they won their last title. Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Emile Heskey, Milan Baros, Luis Garcia,...
The enthusiasm for soccer in India rings hollow without national role models
Dileep Premachandran points out that cricket is not the only sport that captures the imagination of the Indian public....
Brad Friedel: Thou shalt be missed at Rovers
Think Rovers and the adjectives that flow are tough, uncompromising, physical, ugly, and effective. Part of the rorschach was...
Freddy Adu then and now: The growing pains
Freddy Adu, June 2006 >> “It’s still open, you never know,” he said. “The way Ghana is playing right...
Hleb can’t stop talking even from Barca
Lord, can we wrap Hleb’s vocal cords around his neck? For someone who disdained London’s decibel levels, Hleb is...
Deep thought: Would Joe Strummer have remained a Chelsea fan?
John Graham Mellor aka Joe Strummer of Clash fame was a Chelsea fan but that was when it was...
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: Why Scolari goes ga ga
Quick which one? Or both? As per Chelsea, two days ago it was Robinho that was supposed to alight...
Gilberto departs: So long, and thanks for all the fish
A reflective moment for all Gunner fans as Gilberto, our stout hearted defensive specialist departs for Panathinaikos. He spend...
Deep thought: Sepp Blatter is Abe Lincoln
This weekend we saw Sepp Blatter clutch the Emancipation Proclamation to his breast as he impassionately spoke about the...
England gains when its players go overseas
This Euro had England’s pundits a twitter with the perceived lack of quality players in their national squad. Who...
Samir Nasri arrives in Hleb’s Hellhole
Hleb’s thumb down to London life does not seem to have discouraged Samir Nasri who arrives in the Emirates....
Hleb’s Hempstead Haven Harrowing Healthwise
Aliaksandr Hleb’s departure seems imminent. Well, mentally at least. The man has been complaining for months of living in...
Blatter, the modern slave: Beholden to corporations and national federations
Ask Diego Maradona and he will spit in Sepp Blatter’s eye when he so self servingly talks about players...
With friends like Blatter who needs enemies?
That is what Sir Alex must be thinking. Some months ago, Sepp Blatter and Sir Alex were whooping it...
Gareth Barry ends his Villa career
This is sad because I have the greatest respect for both Gareth Barry and Martin O’ Neill. Two of...
Adebayor is being hawked to Milan
Arsenal which is now in the business of leveraging its players reportedly offers Adebayor to Milan who are looking...
Wenger’s pronouncement is odd and unsettling
Another season of unsettling news out of the Emirates. Flamini gone to Inter, Ade and Hleb’s future looking murky;...
A study provides an insight into Senna’s capabilities
Marcos Senna is listed as a midfielder but his usefulness lies in his being a utility player capable of...
The English League falters in its Euro impact
I always think that international competitions like Euro or the World Cup provide much needed correctives. Fernando Torres muscled...
Barca’s belief in Ade is deluded: He is no Terminator
” Barcelona have made it clear that their priority this summer is signing a striker with physical presence, after...
Viva Espana: El Jogo Bonito is alive
I have tears of joy. Watching Spain get over their mental block against their more heralded European rivals, doing...
In Spain, a feeling that they have finally arrived
The newspapers in Spain are touting the new muscular and sleek Spanish team, unified in purpose. The future lies...
Euro 2008: What to expect in Spain vs Germany
Expect David Villa not to be in the line up, the Valencia striker has a muscle tear in his...
Lehmann needs to be sharp for Germany’s sake
Germany will be feeling a bit relieved as Spain will be without David Villa who has been ruled out...
Euro 2008: The graveyard of defenders
Marcos Senna is being celebrated as a find, a player finally giving teeth to the much maligned Spanish defence,...
Cristiano Ronaldo: Why transfer reforms are neccessary
The eternal greed machine that is club soccer just outdid itself. The present over-correction in the market which reversed...
Fabregas leads the Armada into uncharted territory
Spain made it to the Euro finals after 44 years. So long ago it came during Francisco Franco’s iron...
Germany’s left flank giveth and taketh away
It is obvious as daylight that Germany’s Lukas Podolksi and Philip Lahm operate with a right brained attitude which...
Julie Foudy smacks down Tommy Smyth
Tommy Smyth is an execrable piece of humanity. After the Turkey – Germany match, he condescendingly dismissed Turkey’s performance...
Magnificent Turks bow out of the Semih-finals
Semih Senturk did it again. He guided the ball exquisitely between Lehmann and the goalpost for a 86th minute...
Tuncay’s absence will be huge
Of all the players missing from the Turkish squad, Tuncay Sanli’s absence hurts more than others. The Middlesbrough striker...
Euro 2008: Germany vs Turkey: Integration re-visited
When Germany and Turkey meet tomorrow on the field it will not be just another soccer match but one...
Arshavin could be in the Emirates
Arsene Wenger is pursuing the Zenit St. Petersburg striker with deadly intent notwithstanding his coy statements. To do that...
WC qualifiers: Dunga’s scheme grinds out draws
The man who has made it a mission to bleach Brazil of the memories of the Tele Santana era...
Pirlo’s absence gives Spain its best chance
Just when Andrea Pirlo was showing his best form in a while, against France, he picks up his second...
Chelsea’s little tattle tale announcement causes Portugese heartburn
There it is. If Portugal had beaten Germany, Chelsea’s announcement on their website, announcing Big Phil’s hiring during the...
The Amazing Turks do it again: Croatia’s heartbreak
Go up a goal against Turkey at your peril. Because you will lose. Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and now...
Beckham’s first full season: Just another good MLS player
I watched the LA Galaxy clobber the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend thanks to Edson Buddle’s hat trick. David...
Samir Nasri’s arrival at the Emirates does not enthrall
We need a striker. Period. Someone who puts the exclamation point to all the artful text that we scribe...
Guus Hiddink stamps his class: Russia through
All hail Guus Hiddink. The man is a maestro. S.Korea, Australia, and now Russia. Each country tasted success with...
ESPN misses the mark with Euro 2008
Its a pretty empty studio at halftime for the last round of matches. Rece Davis with Julie Foudy. Its...
Yet another Dutch ball hawg scores
Klaas- Jan Huntelaar this time, folks! Another player with a strong id comes through for the Oranje as they...
Deep thought: Domenech should have recalled Dhorasoo
Filed under snark
Domenech’s timorousness sinks France
Thierry Henry loves to get cute in front of goal. All flashes and finesse touches. And today he scored...
Euro 2008: Romania vs Netherlands: A direct route
All the talk of Italy and France in their biggest encounter could be mere piffle if Romania wins against...
Overweight and walking wounded
This news would have been exciting three years ago
Euro 2008: France vs Italy: Ground vs Aerial
It will be the tale of the two keepers. And who will be more effective in keeping the ball...
Unconvincing Germans bundle out the Austrians
Mario Gomez’s footwear is not built for speed So far under Joachim Low, the Germans have looked flat in...
Can Big Phil manage England’s predatory media?
The biggest question is not Big Phil’s management of Abramovich or Arnesen or even whether Chelsea becomes a version...
Deep thought: What if Germany had met Turkey?
If Petr Cech had an off day against the Turks and the Czechs only lost by a goal, is...
Euro 2008: Germany vs Austria: Prepare for the shocker
One team must have pricked up their ears hearing the Czech Republic’s elimination at the hands of Turkey. This...