Outside the Box – Football on TV: No handshake for Evra and no love lost between the partisan pundits at Sky

Think about this for a second. How many times do you think you have seen Luis Suarez’s hand this weekend? Ten times? Twenty? A hundred? I’m sure I’ve seen his wandering hand more than I’ve seen my own two in the past 48 hours, such has been the swirling media-frenzy since he refused to settle his di...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week 25

Wins for Arsenal, Spurs, Everton, Manchester United, Manchester City, West Brom, Fulham, Blackburn, Wigan and Norwich ensured there wasnt a single draw in the top flight this weekend and there has been plenty of action at the top and bottom of the table. The top flight recorded an impressive 37 goa...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Serious lessons to learn from Fashanu’s footballing family

I’m fairly certain we can all agree that football has its fair share of problems. If it is not the shady transfer dealings of murky agent types skulking around the bins at Tottenham’s training ground, it is the ignorant grunts of ill-informed morons as they boo a man purely for being the brother of ...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: A prosperous week for Liverpool in the cups but off the field is a different story

The days leading up to the weekend’s FA Cup Fourth Round ties were not particularly pleasant for many football fans, a week in which the unseemly and murky face of football was glaringly apparent. Many column inches were devoted to the tax-evasion trial of Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, as well as th...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Confusion reigns at City as Coleman fluffs his lines

Have you played Football Manager 2012? You may wonder how a game brimming with data, facts and incalculable statistics comes to contain such a dearth of information. Well, in the early stages of the games development, some spotty oik is charged with the task of finding someone close to each of the 7...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week 22

What a weekend! I dont think anyone could have predicted such drama and excitement in the Premier League fixtures we were treated to. There are certainly many talking points and we will be covering them all! There was a staggering 35 goals in the Premier League this weekend, and that includes the sc...

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Premier League: Who would make up your ultimate 18-man squad?

We here at Squarefootball like to provoke debate and one question that has had us all thinking is one regarding an ultimate team. That is, who would make up the best possible 18-man squad? The rules are simple: our writers were tasked to create a squad of 18 players from the 20 sides in the Premier...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: An incident-packed week at the BBC leaves Savage short of support and Lineker lost for words

They say a week in football is a long time and it can certainly be said that there was enough controversy, incident and wonder crammed into the last seven days of football to keep Joey Barton’s Twitter account going for years. The fallout from the Manchester derby, the return of Scholes and Henry, t...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week 21

And were back. I hope you didnt miss me too much these past couple of weeks, what with the busy festive period and then the magic of the FA cup taking over last weekend. However, here I am once again and we are ready to go with the Team of the Week and the Weekend Wonders. It was another engaging...

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Could these youngsters from Scandinavia be transfer targets for Premier League clubs?

Last time out I reported on the transfer speculation surrounding Ajaxs young Danish talent Christian Eriksen. While nothing has yet happened regarding a move by Manchester United, or any of the other mega-clubs supposedly watching him, we would do well to remember that he is still only 19 and des...

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Square Football's Festive Best - Team of the party season

Happy new year to all! Welcome to 2012 and to our holiday themed team of the week and weekend wonders! What a way for this years football to begin! Theres been some Christmas crackers in December and now were left to sort through the left overs and pick out the plums that reallty impressed us at ...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: A football overkill but Fabregas’ Barcelona adventure keeps us watching

At the top of this article you will see, if you can get past the crass, self-congratulatory overuse of my own name, that the tagline for this column mentions that there isn’t enough football on the TV. Obviously this pithy line is actually nonsense as there is in fact far too much football clogging ...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Stelling and his merry mates bring festive cheer and genuine fear in the absence of any football

If we boil it down, there are two distinct ways to spend the festive period. You either endure the holiday wallowing in a pit of desperate desolation, alone with no hope of joviality, good tidings or communal kinship. Sat crestfallen in front of Eastenders on Christmas night, nursing a bottle of gin...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: A battle of wits ends in defeat for Worthy’s warhorses, but football marches on

Let’s face it. Our footballing heroes don’t have the greatest reputation when it comes to brainpower and academia do they? A cautionary glance at the post-match interviews every week on Match Of The Day show us superstars struggling to grasp the complexity of questions such as, “How do you feel the ...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week 16

Arsenal lost at home to the leaders Man City but Spurs, Liverpool, Manchester United, West Brom and Stoke City all won at the weekend to keep the Premier League interesting. There were a number of top performances this weekend, but who has forced their way into our Team of the Week? Mitch Waddon rev...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week 15

It was a winning weekend for Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Sunderland, Stoke, Swansea City, Wigan and Norwich and there were many great performances from the cream of the crop in the Premier League. But who has made it into this weeks Team of the Week? Mitch Waddon rev...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: A love-in for O’Neill as marvel Martin ruins Rovers’ day

It was clear at 1pm on Sunday what the overriding theme of the day was going to be on Sky Sports’ Live Super Sunday. Ed Chamberlain, growing more and more comfortably into the role of football anchorman, opened the afternoon’s football coverage by loudly proclaiming, “Sunderland’s new era begins tod...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: The rise and fall of the sprightly Savage is far from a waltz in the park

Do you remember the first time you ever saw Star Wars? That intoxicating and bedazzling rush of pure unadulterated excitement as you sat slack-jawed, unable to wrench your eyes away from all the bright lights, whizzing space ships and questionable acting? And perhaps you also remember the desolate f...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: A hair-raising spectacle on Saturday turns to sombre reflection on Sunday

Take a look around you. Chances are that if you are reading this in a public place; a library, at your office while you should be working or perhaps even on the Tube, then someone close by is displaying some facial hair that seems to be a little out of place. These moustachioed menfolk are either un...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week 13

In a weekend full of exciting Premier League action, we all recieved the worst of reminders that there are more important things in life than football. The tragic loss of Gary Speed on Sunday morning has brought the footballing world together in mourning for the Welshman. The actual football seems t...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: A test of comedy quizzing is passed with help from the inspiring Irish

Ok, before we go any further let me first congratulate the Irish team on their impressive qualification for the European Championships next summer. There was the inevitable party mood for the second leg of the Republic of Ireland v Estonia match last Tuesday and I’m sure there are not many that begr...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: ITV begin to repay their debt with a feast of Man City delights

It’s the 12th June 2010. Seven thirty-four on a warm summer’s evening. My friends and I are huddled around my television, just as a million more expectant eyes are doing at the same moment up and down the nation. Then pffft … nothing. A moment’s darkness was followed by some guff about Hyundai cars ...

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Squarefootball's Team of the Month: October

This October gave us so many wonderful moments. From Arsenals 5-3 win at Chelsea to Manchester Citys amazing 6-1 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford, the month of October will live long in the memory of all football fans. Roberto Mancinis men continued their dominance at the top of the ...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: A bad week for JT just gets worse and worse as the news hacks attack!

It’s been a bad old week for Chelsea and England captain John Terry hasn’t it? The on-going racism row between Terry and his accuser Anton Ferdinand has been front and back page news since the incident occurred a week ago and the story shows no signs of halting. Like most I have seen the footage...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week Ten

Arsenals stunning 5-3 win at Chelsea certainly was the eye-catching result of the weekend but with Spurs, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool all gaining maximum points just who has made it into Mitch Waddons Team of the Week this time? All will be revealed. I’m going to open with a qu...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Mancini’s Manchester magicians spoil the party… and this column

Why always me? This week I was going to talk to you about the light-hearted Sky Sports knockabout quiz Take It Like a Fan. I was armed with reams of faint praise for the show and was readying my keyboard for a glittering review and even a possible recommendation for you all to check it out. But al...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week Nine

With wins for Arsenal, Spurs, QPR, Newcastle, West Brom and Sunderland alongside Manchester Citys remarkable victory at the home of the champions, just who has made it into our Team of the Week? Here is Mitch Waddon with his starting XI. Well, that was definitely exciting, wasn’t it? Another specta...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Football on Sky is becoming a fairytale thanks to Wilkins the Wizard

So we were repeatedly told that it was the ‘biggest club game in world football’ as Liverpool and Manchester United met at Anfield on Saturday for the ever-intense North-West derby. The fevered atmosphere was apparent at Sky for Live Ford Football Special and there was an almost fairytale mood in ...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders: Week eight

Welcome back, Premier League! After a thoroughly entertaining international break we were treated to even more spectacular football this past weekend, with a total of 32 goals being scored across the 10 fixtures. And once again I am on hand to discuss the controversies, the madness, and the sheer br...

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Squarefootball's Premier League team of the month: September

September proved to be a great month for Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle United, but how many of their stars have made it into our September Team of the Month? Has Adebayor made the grade? What about Wayne Rooney? Surely David Silva is in but what about his team-mate...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Tevez, tantrums and Trigger? The pundits pull no punches when it comes to Carlos the Jackal

By the time this weekend came around I, like most, was sick to death of hearing about Carlos Tevez this, Carlos Tevez that, suspensions, fines, lip-readers, caveman, Aleksandar Kolarov, Argentina, Mancini. The whole overblown schism engulfed the country’s consciousness like some toxic mist and re...

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Team of the Week and Weekend Wonders - Week Seven

There were big wins for Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Swansea and both Manchester clubs at the weekend, with a number of stars putting in top class performances, but who has made it into our Team of the Week? Mitch Waddon reveals all. Yes, Im back! Many apologies for leaving you in the hand...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: You’re On Sky Sports… or should that be Moron Sky Sports?

There are three clearly defined pursuits enjoyed by the average football fan. One, demonstrating the unwavering certainty that they know the best way for their team to play. Secondly, morphing into yob-like tyrants at the very sight of an opposition supporter and lambasting them with vociferous ange...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Morning Glory could soon be a thing of the past for the guys at Soccer AM

Morning. The time of day when we, as human beings, fall into two distinct categories. On one hand you may be an enterprising, full-blooded marauder, charging about here there and everywhere with an unbounded vitality and zest for adventure. Alternatively, you might be a feckless layabout. Those of u...

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Squarefootball's Weekend Wonders in the Premier League

In a change to our regularly scheduled programming, our Team of the Week article has been revamped to become this new weekly fixture. Each week I, Mitch Waddon, will look through the best and the worst of the weekend’s Premier League fixtures in the hope to provide some insight into our favourite ga...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Dancing, glitterballs and very camp; and that’s just Clem at Football Focus

After the unwelcome interruption of the international break and all of the disappointing baggage it brings for England supporters, this weekend saw the glittering return of our domestic footballers into the spotlight. Over at Football Focus, the boys were practically giddy at the prospect of the wee...

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Premier League Team of the Week: Week Four

Look whos back! The Premier League returned this weekend after a break for the international fixtures and we werent left disappointed. Fans were treated to goals galore along with controversial refereeing and dodgy tackles (Yes, were looking at you, Kevin Davies!) With QPR hosting Newcastle in this...

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Outside the Box – Football on TV: Manchester United ensure a Super Sunday at Sky

This weekend brought with it the first meeting between two teams that finished in the top four last season, which inevitably meant that the Sky cameras were there for Live Super Sunday. Old Trafford was the setting for a fixture that always grabs the attention of any football fan. I was disappointed...

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Arsenal: Samir Nasri - Following Money or The Eastlands Dream?

Arsene Wengers stance on the imminent departure of Samir Nasri from the Emirates has been both refreshing and laden with common sense.He used the analogy that I have always believed in and relates to the normal working world.As much as you may love the company you work for, if you were headhunted to...

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Squarefootball's Premier League Team of the Week: Week Two

With Manchester United entertaining Tottenham in this weeks Monday night fixture, we have 18 teams to select our best 11 from this weekend. There has been more goals, more controversy, and more Joey Barton. So who was the pick of the bunch from week two in the Premier League? Here is our Team of th...

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Outside the Box - Football on TV: Match of the Day hits the target . . . just

I spent this weekend at a music festival and alongside the obvious pitfalls of such an excursion such as fetid portaloo’s and beer that ranks alongside drainage water in both quality and taste, it also meant that I was indefensibly absent for the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Fortuna...

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Squarefootball's Premier League Team of the Week

Welcome back Premier League football! Oh how we have missed the way you honour us with your presence every Saturday afternoon. I still do not know how we made it through those long summer months without you there to comfort us over the weekends. But now youre back and youve given us plenty of talkin...

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Premier League preview (part two)

With only a matter of hours until kick off, we’d better get on with it. So here is the second part of my Premier League preview. Manchester City Key signing: Sergio Aguero The noisy neighbours are fast becoming neighbours from hell for Sir Alex Ferguson. Do not be fooled by the red herring of the...

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Premier League preview (part one)

Not too long now. After whetting our appetites with the intriguing opening weekend of the Championship and the entertaining Community Shield, the time has come for the big boys to leave their Twitter accounts alone and get back to work. At the time of writing there has been an incredible £280 millio...

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Will the new season throw up any shocks across Europe's top leagues?

Here we go again ... Its that time of year again. Your club has had some embarrassing/great results in pre-season friendlies and the anticipation builds up as the new season approaches, but what can we expect from the big leagues around Europe? Some countries, of course, have already kicked off, su...

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Arsenal, Spurs or Everton - Where will Joey Barton end up?

We can all remember the kid at school who would not take no for answer, who would run-a-muck among the majority of teachers who were too scared to discipline them. Without the appropriate discipline, self-imposed or not, things can quickly spiral out of control. We’ve seen this a lot in football, le...

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Five transfers we knew would end badly

Each summer, when football ceases to exist for two months, we get to speculate over who’s going where and for how much. Contracts end, players are transferred and over-the-top amounts of cash are spent. But how about those moves that you just feel will not be positive in any way? We’ve listed o...

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Manchester City: Tevez, Telephones and Tedium

Im not sure whats been worse over the last week or so, the phone hacking scandal or the Tevez transfer saga?Maybe if the News Of The World was still in existence it could report, with its tele-pathic powers, where Tevez will be moving to? If I were a Manchester City fan I would just like to see th...

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What next for Man City’s peripherals?

Although the score line reflects otherwise, Manchester City’s latest 1-0 victory against Bolton proves that Roberto Mancini is finally allowing expansive football to seep through their ultra-defensive exterior, but it’s still very much work in progress. The affluent City owners will certainly sanct...

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Prem Relegation Battle: Could history repeat?

Not since the 2001/02 season have all three promoted sides from the Championship – or indeed the old First Division - survived the following year playing with the big-boys. So, nearly a decade-on could history repeat? Newcastle have adapted the better out of the trio and don’t look out of place in ...

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