Buying British And The Cost Of Loyalty

British talent has always been bought and sold at a huge premium but if the ever-churning tabloid rumour mills are anywhere close to the mark then this summer’s transfer window has already seen Manchester United and Liverpool go head to head for such targets three targets at vast cost. Sunderland’s Jordan Henderson has plumped for Merseyside while both Phil Jones of Blackburn and Aston Villa’s Ashley Young appear destined for Old Trafford. Throw in the fee spent on Andy Carroll and the increased price for native youth is even more obvious

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As Cracks Appear Across The FIFA Universe

As his words flowed out like endless rain into a journalistic crowd people around the world watched with open mouths. This was supposed to be a press conference to put people’s minds at rest about the issue of corruption in FIFA yet Sepp Blatter sat there brazenly declaring that nothing was going to change his world. Words that he probably imagined as statesman-like wisdom and brilliant rebuttals came across as the slightly deranged responses of a man who’s forgotten exactly why he still needs to appease the uppity peasants in front of him. The 75-year-old FIFA President appeared simultaneously confused and affronted that he was being forced to explain himself to a pack of mangy journalists.

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Manchester United: Great But Not Good Enough

How the great tragedy of this United side is that it will never be recognised as a great team because their path has been blocked by one of the best sides ever to play the game

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End Of Season Reports For Clubs

And just like that we’re done with another Premier League season. It seems only yesterday that Manchester United were dropping points at Everton, Spurs were thrashing Inter Milan and Sunderland were dreaming of Europe. Since a very hasty super-injunction has legally prevented any levels of actually insight or analysis in RPO we’ll just make do with a teacher’s review of each club:

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Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And This Silly Season

Every year the summer transfer market extravaganza promises so much yet tends to deliver so little. Even though increasingly sensational sums change hands each year after the dust has settled the top order tends to remain virtually unchanged. The transfer saga’s that get played out in the media get longer and even more boring year on year and very rarely does one transfer window have a serious transformative effect on the top clubs. However this year could see some genuinely fascinating developments among the contenders for Champions League football.

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The FFF: Incompetent Or Worse?

 If ever one has a problem but can’t puzzle out the core issue that needs to be solved there is always the option of asking a national FA for some input. Not because they’ll give you the right answer but precisely because they are so adept at missing the point that whatever course of action they recommend is sure to miss the point. The race row currently engulfing France perfectly typifies this ineptitude. As best their desire to limit the number of opportunities based on the colour of someone’s skin is staggeringly incompetent and at worst indicates serious racism at the French Football Federation (FFF). The suggestion strikes at the very heart of the republic. Had such a policy been installed (which is clearly will not be now) it would undermine the very identity of France as a nation founded on ideals of “Liberte, Egalite and Fraternite”. If the real concern is about a talent drain this harebrained solution completely misses the point.

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How The West Brom Was Won

In 2007 Hodgson was brought in to save Fulham from relegation. Although his impact wasn’t initially felt Fulham managed a magnificent end of season and avoided the drop by the skin of their teeth. With West Brom the turnaround has been far quicker and more impressive. A defeat against Chelsea aside, West Brom have been excellent so far under Hodgson, culminating in a victory over city rivals Aston Villa. While Fulham barely stayed in the top flight when Hodgson took over, West Brom will not only remain in the Premier League but will end the season in the sort of form which, if extrapolated out over 38 games, would see them challenging for Europa League places.

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Pressure and the culture at Arsenal

Why Arsenal keep coming so close but falling at the final hurdle

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A Treble Treble Could Be Trouble

 In football, just like any other walk of life, certain things go in and out of fashion. Bands, clothes, artists, styles all rise and fall as trends dictate. Some are mourned when they pass, others like the mullet are so earth-shatteringly awful they remain reviled to this day.

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Spain As Champions Of America? Bad Idea

Spain have been invited to take part in this summer's Copa America after Japan withdrew. It would be a terrible idea for the competition and the Spanish team

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Football And The Future Of Collective Bargaining

The final article in the Financial Fair Play series, looking at how the future of internet streaming will affect clubs

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Football And Equality Before The Law

Why the Financial Fair Play regulations could cause as many problems as they solve. The second in the FFP series

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Football And The Prisoners Dilemma

If there is a holy grail of football, a dream of fans everywhere, it would be to see top level, fantasy-style football with all sides having a reasonable shot at glory in any given season. Victory is sweet, but it is all the sweeter when it is achieved when you’re not the wealthiest or obvious favourites.

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PFA Young Player Contenders

 I would not suggest that Bale doesn’t deserve the award. He’s been very good and his value has skyrocketed in the last 12 months

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Germany Overtakes Italy In European Rankings

Asking which league is the best in the world is one of the most interminable and dull questions possible.

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