The Italian Job

A new age has dawned (for the time being) on the England Football team with the appointment of former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello whose record makes impressive reading. Amongst his achievements to date Capello can chalk off a European Cup, 4 Italian Cups, 4 Scudetto’s and 2 La Liga titles with Real Madrid. Yet surely this must be the biggest challenge Read more

Brittania Rules The European Waves

So we are now down to the final four in the Champions League and yet again the British sides have shown their true colours in arguably Europe’s toughest competition.
Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool once again booked their place in the semi finals for the third time in four years with a strong performance against a tired looking Arsenal Read more

Have Arsenal Blown it?

As the 2007/08 English Premiership season comes to a close, the title race has been blown wide open, this is mainly thanks to Arsenal’s recent slump in form, which has seen them draw their last 4 Premiership games. The fact that they have been top of the table for most of the season has surprised many as they have a very young and inexperienced squad, and before the season even started they sold their talismanic striker and top scorer for many seasons: Thierry Henry. Read more

From Wembley with Love

Just like those classic films of the 1940’s and 50’s the romance is still burning bright especially in the FA Cup this year as one Premier League team remains in the hunt to prove bookmakers and most football fanatics wrong. Who would have imagined an astounding three Championship teams in the last four? With the draw done and dusted for the semi finals Harry Redknapp’s Pompey will play West Brom who last won the trophy in 1968 while Barnsley who haven’t reached a final since 1912 pit their wits against Cardiff City whose only previous victory came even before the Wall Street Crash back in 1927. In fact, it’s the first time since 1991 when Tottenham played Nottingham Forest that a team outside “The Big Four” will contest arguably Football’s most glittering knockout prize. Has there ever been a year with as many upsets and whose name will be engraved come May the 17th?

We all know where we were when Sutton United beat Coventry City in 1988 and in 1974 when Hereford knocked out the mighty (at the time) Newcastle United on a pitch resuming a battlefield in the Somme. However, this year shocks’ have come along like buses. Firstly, Portsmouth who have rode their luck somewhat in getting to the last four with a last kick own goal against Preston North End in Round 5 and a controversial penalty not being awarded against Manchester United have fought tooth and nail to reach the last four with some stubborn defending and excellent tactical organisation thanks to Harry Redknapp who recorded his 3rd victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup. The last 2 came with West Ham in 2001, Bournemouth back in 1984 and this year with Portsmouth -the club’s first victory at Old Trafford for 51 years. Read more

Where’s the big four gone?

What a weekend of football! The title race got even hotter with Arsenal frustratingly drawing at the JJB Stadium against a resilient Wigan side, Alan Curbishley’s job is now up for more discussion after the Hammers lost 4-0 for the third time in a week and more importantly than both of those: Chelsea and Manchester United crashed out of the FA cup leaving the semi final line up ensuring there will be a first winner from outside the game’s current “big four” of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea since 1995.For all the moaners, doubters and Dave Kitson’s of this world the FA Cup played more than its part in restoring faith in the magic of our great game. In an era of our domestic game that is supposedly monopolized by the top four - the best cup competition in the world has turned money, flash cars and egos on its head this weekend and as a result produced the best weekend of football in years.

On Saturday morning nobody would have guessed the outcome of the day’s results, first, the Manchester United game - A fully fit Red Devils side led by Rooney and Ronaldo faced Redknapp’s Pompey side. With Pompey on the back foot for most of the game it always looked United’s tie to win, however, the home side were left ruling their chances as Portsmouth rode their luck on numerous occasions, as Redknapp pointed out in his post match interview ‘You have to have an element of luck to come here and get a result because they are world class’ - How right he was, nevertheless, his side stuck at it and took their chance when it came to pull off a shock victory. After the game the genuine thoughts were ‘the cup is now Chelsea’s’

What makes our national sport brilliant is the fact it throws up shock results, magical moments and pure euphoria - the FA Cup Quarter Final tie at Oakwell between Barnsley and Chelsea was a prime example of all those. Unlike Portsmouth at Old Trafford Barnsley never really rode their luck, in fact it was quite the opposite against a normally efficient Avram Grant side. Barnsley posed a threat to their premiership opposition and the Blues looked nervy at the back, at half time it was 0-0 with Barnsley going in the better side, at that point most predicted Chelsea would come out and straighten up their act and pose more offensive danger, however, this never happened, much to the credit of Barnsley who clearly wanted the game more. Their defensive display was perfect, they were defending from the front, shutting down every ball and not allowing Chelsea to play their football; Anelka upfront looked despondent and was evidently not up for the challenge Barnsley set (which is quite laughable but at the same time disgraceful for a man who cost accumulates to £87 million.) Barnsley got their reward late in the second half and defended well enough to see them pull off a historic victory and possibly the biggest upset of modern times.

If all that wasn’t enough, Cardiff took a trip to the Riverside to meet Middlesbrough in a game where yet again the underdog came out on top. Two goals out of the top drawer from a couple English lads proved enough to earn the Welsh side a place I the Semi-finals. A fine goal from Peter Wittingham was a great advert for the Championship, he showed great skill, technique and vision - three things that people fail to associate with that league, Mcphail showed the unwise that there are some rough diamonds playing at that standard. However, if Cardiff do win the FA Cup they will not be allowed to enter the UEFA cup due to them being a Welsh club - given the behaviour of their fans is that really such a bad thing?

To Cap off a great weekend of football West Brom and Bristol Rovers battled Read more

Missing the party

Martin Hughes is a self-confessed football fanatic from London, who enjoys following the fortunes of Arsenal and England (most of the time at least). Martin also has a keen appreciation for both the lighter side of the beautiful game and the human theatre that football often creates.

Steven Gerrard leaves the pitch at Wembley shortly after defeat to Croatia denies England a place at Euro 2008.

Being of an early 1980s vintage, you could say I have been relatively spoilt by England’s consistent qualification for major summer tournaments if not, ordinarily, by their performances upon getting there. In fact, during my lifetime England have failed but twice to reach a World Cup or European Championship finals, Euro ‘84 and the 1994 World Cup. At a mere 12 years old and an easily distracted lad to boot when the latter of those two tournaments kicked off, my overriding and most vivid memory of USA 94 will forever be that infamous missed penalty. Not Roberto Baggio’s interstellar effort in the final for Italy mind you, but the one taken by Diana Ross during the opening ceremony.

As an impressionable and flighty youth, yet to have fully affirmed my passion for the beautiful game, England’s non-participation rendered that tournament a non-event, in terms of the football at least. Besides that woeful, oft-repeated moment for the former Supreme at Soldier Field, my memories extend only to watching curiously as Diego Maradona’s crazed visage gurned at the camera and then later, hearing the murmurs of interest about Brazil’s victory in the final on a school coach in the Lake District, whilst trying hard to avoid the projectile vomit of the sickly lad sitting across the aisle from me. Compare that with the magical enthusiasm for football that Italia 90 generated in me. Despite being widely considered as perhaps the worst international tournament in history (with a pitiful goals per game average of 2.2) I was captivated by the generally dour football on display. Read more