Pay the Price for Premier League Success

Despite there being two months remaining of the transfer window, this is hotting up to be one of the closest-fought Premier League title races in recent years. The amount of money spent has been more ‘sensible’ compared to recent years, coupled with some interesting deals in the pipeline between the teams who want the crown, and of course, not forgetting January’s action. Who really is in pole position to go all the way, or crumble under the weight of expectation?

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England – Giants in Slumberland

For a nation that produces the Cream of the Crop in genuine footballing talent , it is seriously a wonder why such massive quality has not translated to much success on the Big Stage save a 1966 World Cup Final extra-time 4-2 win against Mighty West Germany and a semi final 1-0 loss to Yugoslavia in the 1968 European Championship Finals.

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Best season yet to come?

Perhaps next season will be the start of a new chapter in recent Premiership history where there is no longer the untouchable top four clubs. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool , other than the last two years have been the top four teams in the 2003/2004 season as well as in 05/06, 06/07, 07/08 and 08/09.

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The most important summer for Ferguson and United?

For the past few years, being a Manchester United fan during the transfer market usually goes as follows:

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English Transfer Fees

The England fans of today are understandably unhappy. If last years feeble attempt to win the World Cup wasn’t depressing enough, the future of English football looks bleaker then believed, after the England under 21s lackluster performance at the European Championships.

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Keeping Up With The Jones

Manchester United have signed young centre back Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers for £16.5million on a £40,000 a week five-year deal.

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A terrible outrage gone unnoticed

The common consensus of the people is difficult to ascertain. It is the job which the mass media are assigned though often they shape rather than reflect this consensus. With this in mind, let us delve into the reaction to the cutting of Premier League funding to the Supporters Direct organisation.

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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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Emerging Talent: Accept no imitations.

Here we go again! Its summertime, clubs around the world draw up their list of transfer targets and the press silly season begins once again. However, as stories emerge of football’s elite looking to strengthen their squads to take themselves to new heights, many reports would have you believe they are merely looking to replicate the past. As Chelsea look close to securing the signature of Anderlecht striker, Romelo Lukaku, dubbed “The new Didier Drogba”, here are a few examples of past signings, that haven’t quite lived up to their previous comparisons.

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Will the next Fabio Cannavaro or Luis Figo be found in Denmark this month?

Not to discredit Denmark, the 12^th best country in Europe to play the sport of football, according to FIFA, however not many would expect to find the next hot prospect in Southern Scandinavia, furthermore in the month of June, when the Danish ‘Superliga’ season has finished. Although, any club with initiative and the transfer money to spend, would have their best scouts sent to Aarhus, Aalborg, Herning and Viborg, for 15 days, starting Saturday as the 1992 European Championship winners hold the Under-21 version of the tournament.

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Show me the money: Henderson's move good for both parties, but bad for football's transfer market.

As the news broke of Aston Villa’s interest in Darren Bent, supporters of Sunderland were aghast at the sudden thought of losing their most potent attacker.

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Bored Already

Following on from my piece ' Summertime and the Living Is...Well, Boring', about missing football during the summer, true to my word I am bored already. It's been just over a week since the final whistle blew at the Championship Play-Off Final (well done Swansea) and already I'm kicking around the house, looking for things to do, finding things to do, and then not doing them.

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Big Four, Top Six, Also-Ran Eighty Six

So here it is, the day when any hope of a slightly competitive league structure in England takes a step beyond that of Spain into the realms of predictability. Sure enough the Spanish only have two teams who can feasibly challenge for the league ala Scotland, but at least they can put the blame due to their rather terrifying television money discrepancies. What’s our excuse?

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Nice little piece on Michael Owen

MAN UNITED STRIKER Michael Owen has signed a new one year contract to stay at the club for another season. The 31-year-old has expressed his desire to prolong his career at Old Trafford after his deal was set to expire. But is it the right move for the ex-Liverpool centre-forward?

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The League of Barcelona

Barcelona is dominating club football at the moment not just because they have Messi but because of the system and structure of the team. Even though they have great individual talents, what makes them effective is the willingness of every individual to work for the collective. At the end of most games praises more often than not are directed towards Messi because he is often at the end of marvellous moves by Barca but it is the team effort that sees them dominate teams.

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