An Unholy Alliance

Something amazing is happening in the North West.  Born from a mutual hatred of uncaring, selfish and money-orientated owners two of football's biggest rival supporters, Liverpool and Manchester United, are on the verge of a truce in hostilities to join forces in a single voice against the ownership of American businessmen that have taken both clubs severely into debt and failed on promises made at the beginning of their tenure.
Manchester United are nearly £800million in the red (maybe the Americans think that if their team's shirts are red, then so should everything else!) which consists of £500million raised through a recent bonds issue that has only given the

This Week's News

Blackburn fan dies after collapsing during Stoke match

Whilst there was some fantastic and exciting football over the weekend, it must not be forgotten that a man lost his life at the Stoke v Blackburn match.  The Blackburn fan, Mr Taylor, was found unconscious just after half-time after an incident in the Brittannia Stadium's South Stand.  Police have detained a 25 year old man to "help with their enquiries" after details where released of how the incident transpired.  It was alleged Mr taylor was hit with a bin and had to be treated immediately at the scene for a serious head injury and cardiac arrest.  He later died in hospital at 1:55am.
Staffordshire Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have videoed it on their mobile phone, to contact the Major Investigations Department on 01785 233600, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

La Liga News


Barcelona finish with nine men against Getafe but still manage to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Messi and Xavi... Real keep the gap to only 5 points with a routine 3-0 victory over Espanyol at The Bernabau, the goals coming from Ramos, Kaka and Higuain... Deportivo continued their miserly defensive record with a 0-0 draw away at Malaga taking them a point behind Sevilla in 6th place... whilst Valencia maintained their grip on third place with a 2-0 victory over Valladolid, the goals coming from Banega and Villa.


More news to follow

Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal: Effectiveness triumphs over the effete

A war of attrition yesterday in Merseyside; today, a contrast of styles in North London. Arsenal's inventiveness and crisp passing style, epitomised by the diminutive attackers Nasri, Fabregas and Arshavin, against the power and aggression of Chelsea's Drogba, Terry and Carvalho. Super Sunday is Sky's moniker for weekly Premier league battles and this was indeed a Super Sunday game.

Michel Platini: Football Friend or Foe?

Michel Platini has never been one to shy away from controversy, the former French striker & the current president of UEFA is a regular when it comes to back page comments, regardless of who they affect & how.
To start off with, the fellow doesn’t exactly have the easiest job in the world; he’s both indirectly & directly responsible for the wellbeing and integrity of some of the best footballers in the world... & their respective clubs. Subsequently it becomes difficult to clearly establish whether or not he is a friend or a foe to the game.

FA Cup weekend

Not too many surprises from the third round of the FA Cup, although congratulations have to go to Nottingham Forest for a fine attacking display against a resolute Birmingham as well as Coventry who managed to pull off a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park against struggling (and almost penniless) Portsmouth.  The most interesting result came at the Madejski stadium where struggling Reading produced a powerful and commanding display against a full-strength Liverpool team that can only consider themselves very lucky to be playing a replay at

Graham's Premiership Predictions

Another footballing week with a twist as Xmas rolls around once more with the pick of this weekend's football being the game between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates.  Here is my predictions for this weekend:

Saturday, 26 December 2009


Birmingham  1-2 Chelsea, 12:45
Burnley        2-0 Bolton, 14:00
Fulham         1-1 Tottenham, 13:00
Liverpool     2-0 Wolverhampton, 17:30
Man City     2-0 Stoke, 15:00
Sunderland  1-1 Everton, 15:00
West Ham   0-0 Portsmouth, 13:00
Wigan         0-0 Blackburn, 15:00
 
Sunday, 27 December 2009


Arsenal      2-1 Aston Villa, 13:30
Hull            0-3 Man Utd, 16:00

Man City Sack Mark Hughes

Poor Mark Hughes. Sacked after inheriting an inept side under the guidance of Sven Goran Eriksson, a side that couldn’t win or draw for love-nor-money, he steadied a sinking ship and made them a team that could compete with the big-four and, indeed, look like a side that would break into that coveted top-four spot. Yes, he’s spent a ridiculous amount of money but you cannot hope to build a side and make that side one of the best in the land overnight. Especially considering that he took over a side that was not far away from relegation places and not a

Graham's Weekly Premiership Predictions - Results

Saturday 12th December 2009

Birmingham 1-0 West Ham
Bolton 3-3 Man City
Burnley 1-1 Fulham
Chelsea 3-3 Everton
Hull 0-0 Blackburn
Man Utd 0-1 Aston Villa
Stoke 2-2 Wigan
Sunderland 1-1 Portsmouth
Tottenham 0-1 Wolverhampton

Sunday 13th December 2009

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal

Graham got one result right and no perfect scores on a weekend where only one home team managed to take all three points.

Graham's Weekly Premiership Predictions

Saturday, 12 December 2009

Barclays Premier League


Birmingham 2-1 West Ham 
Bolton 1-1 Man City
Burnley 1-1 Fulham
Chelsea 3-0 Everton
Hull 1-1 Blackburn
Man Utd  3-1 Aston Villa
Stoke1-2 Wigan
Sunderland 2-1 Portsmouth
Tottenham 3-0 Wolves

Sunday, 13 December 2009



Barclays Premier League
 
Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

Graham's Premiership Predictions for 5-6 December 2009

Ok, here goes!  Another busy weekend of Premiership football ahead with the pick being Man City v Chelsea on Saturday and Everton v Tottenham on Sunday.  Can Man City shake off their frailties in defence and prove to the rest of the Premiership they can break into the top four?  Can an injury-ravaged Everton produce another scintillating performance like the one against Liverpool last week and put a dent in Tottenham's top-four ambitions?  Or will Tottenham put Arsenal and Liverpool under pressure and win?

Here then are my Premiership Predictions, the first in a weekly blog.  Feel free to comment or leave your own predictions for this weekend.

Saturday, 5 December 2009

Barclays Premier League

Arsenal  2 v 0 Stoke, 15:00

Aston Villa 1 v 1 Hull, 15:00

Blackburn 1 v 3 Liverpool, 15:00

Man City 0 v 2 Chelsea, 17:30

Portsmouth 1 v 1 Burnley, 12:45

West Ham 1 v 2 Man Utd, 15:00

Wigan 2 v 0 Birmingham, 15:00

Wolverhampton 1 v 2 Bolton, 15:00

Sunday, 6 December 2009

Barclays Premier League

Everton 2 v 2 Tottenham, 16:00

Fulham 0 v 0 Sunderland, 15:00

Despite winning a thrilling encounter with Burnley 5-3, West Ham will struggle against a solid Man Utd.  Despite losing the brilliance of Ronaldo there is still more than enough creativity in this United side to see off a West Ham side confident they can score goals, despite having worries at the back.  I feel that Chelsea are just too good at the moment and I can only see a Chelsea win, especially after the way they defended so expertly against the footballing purity of Arsenal's attack last week.  As for Liverpool, two wins on the bounce will seen the confidence come flooding back into their play.  With Riera back and Torres reportedly as a maybe to start, Blackburn may not be able to cope especially if David Dunn, their only real atacking threat, is injured still.