Manchester United's youth system is the best in the Premier League

It is not a simple thing to determine which academy system is the best, so I've researched the backgrounds of all 233 players that qualify as homegrown, in the official Premier League senior squads, and my definition is simple: Which club's academy produces the most players that are good enough t...

READ MORE

Prediction Panel table: Spurs shake off Wigan defeat to close gap at top

Football . . .it’s a funny old game. I was expecting some big scores from our pundits this week as there were four seemingly nailed on home wins. However, while Chelsea beat Stoke City, Liverpool disposed of West Brom and Manchester United gave West Ham a hiding, Champions League new boys Tottenham ...

READ MORE

Manchester United v West Ham United: Can the Irons avoid a hammering?

If Sir Alex Ferguson learned one thing about his side last weekend it was not to let Nani take a penalty when the game remains in the balance. The Portuguese winger denied the Red Devils victory at the Cottage and those two dropped points could be the difference between winners and losers come May. ...

READ MORE

Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week Three

Some people think they know everything about football, well let’s see if they do. Here I have 10 questions which will separate the Spurs from the Young Boys. If you think you are clued up on the beautiful game then prove it. 1. Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: Who was the last player to be transferre...

READ MORE

Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz: Week Three – The Answers

Well, how did you get on? We’d love to hear from you. 1. Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: David Bentley is the last player to have moved between the two sides. 2. Blackpool v Fulham: You could have said: Barry Hayles, Geoff Horsfield, Steve Finnan or Kit Symons. 3. Chelsea v Stoke City: Florent ...

READ MORE

Prediction Panel Table: Wolves topple the Toffees

Wolverhampton Wanderers attracted a bit of criticism for their performance at Goodison Park on Saturday but their representative in our Prediction Panel, and current champion, has toppled the Toffees following another brilliant week. Chris Cox, the only pundit last week to predict that Chelsea woul...

READ MORE

Fulham v Manchester United: Cottagers seek hat-trick over the Red Devils

Manchester United have failed to win at the Cottage in their past two visits although something tells me Paul Scholes and Sir Alex Ferguson won’t let that become three in a row this weekend. The Red Devils have really started the season on fire. They made Chelsea look ordinary in the Community Shie...

READ MORE

Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz: Week Two

It’s that time of the week again. Here is the latest batch of questions intended to leave you rooted to the spot like West Ham’s Robert Green! Last week’s questions were intentionally hard. This week we’ve lowered the mark a little but it’s still more taxing than your average GMTV phone-in. All the...

READ MORE

Squarefootball's Premier League Quiz: Week Two - The Answers

Here are the answers to the second instalment of our quiz. 1. Arsenal v Blackpool: Alan Ball is the World Cup winner with links to both Arsenal and Blackpool. 2. Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers: Barry Ferguson is the former Rover who scored against Birmingham in 2003. 3. Everton v Wolves: ...

READ MORE

Prediction Panel Standings: Toffees top the table

Everton may have lost their opening game against Blackburn Rovers but Toffees fan Chris Goodwin has given the blue half of Merseyside something to cheer by topping the Premier League Prediction Panel table. Mr Goodwin correctly predicted five correct results from the first weekend of top flight ac...

READ MORE

Squarefootball’s Premier League Challenge: Week one

The new Premier League season kicks off this weekend and so does a new feature on squarefootball. Each Friday I’ll be testing your knowledge of the top flight clubs by posing you 10 questions relating to that weekend’s fixtures. There are no prizes on offer, only personal glory – we’re not made of m...

READ MORE

Premier League Challenge answers: Week one

Here are the answers to the questions in our Premier League Challenge week one. 1. Tottenham v Manchester City: Joey Barton and David Sommeil were the goalscorers in City’s last league win at White Hart Lane. 2. Aston Villa v West Ham United: Marlon Harewood was the last player to have scored a ...

READ MORE

Who will be the Premier League’s top goalscorer?

Goals win games so it’s no wonder Chelsea won the league last season with Didier Drogba in sparkling form. The Ivory Coast forward found the back of the net an astonishing 29 times in 32 league appearances just edging out Manchester United’s star man Wayne Rooney with 26. So will the England marksma...

READ MORE

Predictions: Who will be 2010/11’s main winners and losers?

If everything I predicted 12 months ago came true I would be a very rich and happy man right now. Unfortunately Arsenal let me down in the league, West Ham failed me in the FA Cup and letting my heart rule my head in the SPL by putting £10 on my beloved Aberdeen to win the SPL really was a waste of ...

READ MORE

Predictions: Who will be 2010/11’s main winners and losers Part 2

Well you’ve heard what our Panel members have had to say for themselves, now it’s time for the “experts” to have their say. We’ll start off with writer Hugh Larkin. He loves the underdog but he thinks Chelsea are just far too strong for anyone to cope with and thinks Arsenal and Spurs are going to...

READ MORE

Can Sir Alex Ferguson's Punt On Michael Owen Still Deliver?

England striker Michael Owen is fit again and registered on the scoresheet in Manchester Uniteds 7-1 romp over a League of Ireland combined X1. So can the former Liverpool star make a significant contribution to Uniteds season? There were plenty of nay-sayers when Sir Alex Ferguson brought Owen to ...

READ MORE

Bookmakers Believe the 'Big 4' Is Now The 'Major 8'

For several seasons the Premier League has been dominated by an oligarchy of four clubs- Everton broke in to this group in 2005 but even then Liverpool still gained entry to the Champions League that season. Tottenhams fourth place in 2009/10 represented the first time one of the former Big 4 faile...

READ MORE

Fantasy football 2010/11 reminder

Do you think you can spend £100 million better than Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini? Do you think you could assemble a better squad than Spurs boss Harry Redknapp? Do you think you can guide your side to glory like Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti? If so then we want to hear from you. We at Squarefootba...

READ MORE

Whatever Happened To.....Manchester United Youth Cup Winners 1992

As the 2010/11 season is about to begin, this may be the last campaign for Old Trafford superstars, Ryan Giggs andGary Neville . If so, their retirements would finally break the link to the famous FA Youth Cup winning side of 1992. On average, barely half of FA Youth Cup winning sides have decent c...

READ MORE

Squarefootball fantasy football invitation 2010/11

I saw more action and excitement this summer down at the mortuary than I did at the World Cup in South Africa. There was also a better atmosphere between me and my ex-girlfriend than there was inside the grounds, thanks to the constant drone of those awful vuvuzelas. And as for entertainment, I th...

READ MORE

Manchester United Old Boys Enjoy Their World Cup

Sir Alex Ferguson must have had some mixed feelings watching the action in South Africa, Many of his current players didnt have the World Cup they hoped for while several ex- Old Trafford stars had a ball at the tournament. Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra endured a horrific time, while Rio Ferdinand ...

READ MORE

Which club will Joe Cole move to this summer?

All the major news outlets are reporting Harry Redknapp's comments on Joe Cole's future. Cole played for Redknapp at West Ham, before Redknapp's sacking in 2001 lead to a quick decline and a break up of a fabulous side that contained Lampard, Cole, Ferdinand, Carrick and Defoe (all in England's Wor...

READ MORE

Get on side and sport your colours for Shelter this World Cup

In celebration of this years FIFA World Cup, housing and homelessness charity Shelter are teaming up with Nationwide Building Society, Official England Team sponsor, to launch their fantastic footy fundraiser, Strip4Shelter. Shelter is asking people across the country to replace their regular work ...

READ MORE

Chelsea are clear champions - but next year?

Rarely can a title race that was not decided until the final day of the season have been so clear cut. Chelsea scored 103 goals, a mammoth number that has simply not been given enough credit. And to win the title with an 8-0 home win that pushed the season's total beyond 100 goals, whilst the tali...

READ MORE

Manchester United v Stoke City: Fergie’s out to smash the Potters

Manchester United’s hopes of winning the title ultimately rest with Wigan Athletic getting a result at Stamford Bridge but Sir Alex Ferguson knows the Red Devils must get their side of the deal done first before they start cheering on the Latics. Not that United should have too much to worry about ...

READ MORE

Pressure tonight is on Mancini and Spurs tonight - not City

The big four of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have been unofficially split up after seven years of either filling all the Champions' League slots - or at least competing strongly for the places. In 2004/5 Everton edged fourth place with 61 points to Liverpool's 58 - but that was...

READ MORE

Sunderland v Manchester United: Will Bruce get the better of his old boss?

A lot of talk this week has been about whether Manchester United’s fiercest rivals Liverpool will roll over for leaders Chelsea at Anfield, in order to cost them the title, but the same slur has been attributed to former United defender Steve Bruce and Sunderland. Now I’m sure both Liverpool and S...

READ MORE

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs seek third high-profile scalp

First it was their bitter rivals Arsenal, then it was Chelsea who succumbed to Tottenham’s attacking policy – but could they go one better this weekend and beat the champions in their own backyard? Tottenham Hotspur are just three games away from capping a memorable season with a place in the Champ...

READ MORE

Which team do Liverpool fans want to win the Manchester derby?

The Manchester derby pits fourth against second and is of obvious importance in that city. But just thirty-odd miles down the road, Liverpool - and its fans - will be casting nervous glances at the result. For the first time in years a Manchester derby might actually matter to Liverpool; not least...

READ MORE

Manchester City vs Manchester United: Derby day matters

The Manchester derby is always a hard fought affair but it is a difficult one to place in the pantheon of derby matches. With some people allowing derby matches to simply mean regional grudge matches, Manchester United versus Liverpool and Real Madrid versus Barcelona can now be considered as derby...

READ MORE

Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United: Fergie seeks return to winning ways

Sir Alex Ferguson has endured one of his worst weeks ever at Old Trafford. Beaten at home by title rivals Chelsea and dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich despite going 3-0 up after 40 minutes, it has been a week to forget for the former Aberdeen boss. However, by the end of today the...

READ MORE

Champions' League turns back into the European Cup

Given the dominance of English teams in recent years, and in their turn the Spanish teams and Italian teams before them, the Champions' League has been a curious competition for a few years. It has become less about which is the strongest team, it has been more about which team from the strongest l...

READ MORE

Manchester United v Chelsea: Who would make it into the ultimate dream team?

The Premier League’s top two clubs will lock horns at Old Trafford on Saturday in arguably the biggest game of the season to date. In the red corner we have the hosts, leaders and current Premier Leaguechampions Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are currently in the driving seat at the top ...

READ MORE

Bolton Wanderers v Manchester United: Coyle looks to repeat his magic

Owen Coyle stunned Sir Alex Ferguson at the start of the season by beating the champions at Turf Moor when he was manager of Burnley and the young Scot will be hoping for a repeat performance tonight as he welcomes the champions to the Reebok. Bolton Wanderers have eased their relegation worries r...

READ MORE

Bayern Munich v Manchester United- The History

When these two giants were paired in the last eight of theChampions League on Friday, the immediate thought was of the epic 1999 Final- but apart from that contest meetings between these two clubs have been rarer than expected. Bayern were a modest club in the early days of European competition and...

READ MORE

Manchester United vs Liverpool: Must-win

With Arsenal winning again and looking like they have the resilience to keep winning there is no room for slip-ups in the run-in; you would suspect that if United are to break new ground and secure a 19th title they will need to win seven of their last eight games - and how Liverpool would love to b...

READ MORE

Beckham bows, Bale wows

OK, so the nation’s red-top readers might not be unified in touching an x-ray of his broken Achilles tendon this summer, but David Beckham’s injury and subsequent absence from this year’s World Cup rightfully dominated Mondays papers. Sure, his prospective absence isn’t anywhere near as pressing...

READ MORE

Manchester United vs Fulham: Title leapfrog on the cards

With Chelsea and Arsenal again winning, Manchester United need a result in this game to go back to the top and again leapfrog their rivals after watching them grab the initiative on Saturday. Although a draw is enough to go top, wins are the only results that are required from home games from now o...

READ MORE

Manchester United: Can Rooney beat Ronaldo’s record?

The sublime Wayne Rooney scored another brace against AC Milan on Wednesday night to book United’s place in the last eight of the Champions League and former Old Trafford favourite David Beckham received a hero’s return from the fans, but it wasn’t such a good night for another former United ace. ...

READ MORE

Chelsea: Joe Cole – Should he stay or should he go?

On his day Joe Cole is one of the most talented footballers in the English game. He can do things that most of his contemporaries can only dream of, is comfortable on both feet, can carve open the meanest of defences and gets fans up off their seats. However, since coming back from a cruciate ligame...

READ MORE

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United: Wolves keen to get teeth into the champions

Mick McCarthy courted controversy in December when he took a weakened side to Old Trafford. With Wolves at home and only outside the drop zone on goal difference, I don’t think the former Sunderland boss will be raising the white flag this evening. Wolves were sucked further into the mire last week...

READ MORE

England: Who should Fabio choose as his No 1 for South Africa?

In less than 100 days the greatest show on earth kicks off in South Africa but England manager Fabio Capello still has major issues to resolve before he finalises on his squad who will be given the task of bringing the World Cup home. Who will fill the left-back role if Ashley Cole fails to recover ...

READ MORE

Is Wayne Bridge right to turn his back on England?

Representing your country in the World Cup is supposed to be every footballer’s dream. Every one bar Wayne Bridge that is. The Manchester City left-back has kicked his international career into row Z due to the fall-out of John Terry’s alleged affair with his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children...

READ MORE

Manchester United vs West Ham United: Man United entering must-win phase

Manchester United saw the chance to go top, however briefly, evaporate as tired legs gave out in the second half against Everton; but as the final 10 games approach the gap to Chelsea now suggests a near perfect run-in will be needed to secure a fourth consecutive title. The return of Vidic and Fer...

READ MORE

Everton v Manchester United: Rooney eyes winning Goodison return

Wayne Rooney returns to his old stomping ground in the form of his life but in-form Everton could do to Sir Alex Ferguson’s title hopes what they did to Chelsea’s recently. Rooney took his tally for the season to 25 thanks to his well-taken brace against AC Milan in midweek and despite being a boy...

READ MORE

Manchester United: Fabio’s Rooney request deserves the hairdryer treatment

England boss Fabio Capello has seen his World Cup plans thrown into disarray these past two weeks. First off John Terry’s alleged affair with former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge’s ex Vanessa Perroncel was plastered all over the papers, causing a potential dressing room rift and forcing the Italian...

READ MORE

Aston Villa vs Manchester United: Villa can't afford to drift off the pace

With Liverpool showing signs of life the battle for fourth place has reached a tipping point; one or two of the other teams fighting for this slot - Man City, Villa or Spurs - now seem likely to fall off the pace. There simply aren't enough points to go round to allow seven teams to get to 65-70 po...

READ MORE

Manchester United vs Portsmouth: Prediction Panel 2009/10

Manchester United will be the shortest odds favourites of the weekend against rock-bottom Portsmouth; United have the opportunity to go top and push some pressure onto Chelsea and Arsenal ahead of their Sunday clash. Pompey showed plenty of form, again, in defeat to Fulham and sooner or later will ...

READ MORE

Arsenal can still win the title - or finish seventh

When Arsenal crumbled against Manchester United on Sunday, and with Chelsea set to play Hull, most pundits saw an eight point gap opening up between Chelsea and Arsenal - with United somewhere in the middle. As it is a stumbling draw for the west London team means that Arsenal can go to Stamford Br...

READ MORE

Arsenal vs Manchester United: Today's ultimate team

Third plays second at the Emirates today and with Chelsea in good form will a loser here fall out of title contention? With so many injuries and suspensions to both Arsenal and Manchester United this could make this a game where a mistake gifts the game one way or the other. Still the best combine...

READ MORE