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...

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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 ...

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Aston Villa v Everton: Will the real Villa please stand up?

What is going on at the Villa? Since losing James Milner to Manchester City, Villa have been thrashed by Newcastle United 6-0 and dumped out of the Europa League by Rapid Vienna for the second year running. It’s all a far cry to the joyous scenes on the opening day following their comfortable openin...

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Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion: Baggies face Reds backlash

Liverpool go into Sunday’s game with West Bromwich Albion still searching their first league win under new manager Roy Hodgson. However, history suggests this should be an easy day at the office for the Anfield giants. The visitors haven’t won on the red half of Merseyside for 43 years and haven’t ...

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Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City: Game has draw all over it

There are some games this weekend that seem like total home bankers – Chelsea v Stoke, Spurs v Wigan and Manchester United v West Ham – this game though, according to our Panel, seems like a stick on draw. Neither Bolton nor Birmingham have tasted defeat this season and they currently sit fifth and...

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Sunderland v Manchester City: City hope to build on Liverpool win

Were Manchester City that good or were Liverpool that bad? That has been one of the burning issue this week in the game following City’s 3-0 win over the Reds and City’s visit to the Stadium of Light may go some way to answering it. The Black Cats home form is nothing to be sniffed at yet City seem...

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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. ...

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Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United: Former Black Cat aims to burst the Mags’ bubble

Newcastle United sensationally joined the Premier League’s 6-0 club last weekend with a vintage display against Aston Villa. Striker Andy Carroll grabbed a hat-trick as the Mags welcomed top flight football back to St James’ Park in style. However, former Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy will be hop...

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Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic: Martinez faces another spanking

It must be a great time to be a Spurs fan. Harry Redknapp’s are in the Champions League proper, are playing some fantastic football and this weekend they welcome the whipping boys of Wigan to the Lane. To say Roberto Martinez has had a poor start to the season is an understatement. Thrashed on the ...

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Chelsea v Stoke City: Will the Potters join the 6-0 club?

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has a real sense of humour. Before the season kicked off he told the Press that Chelsea were not ready for the new campaign. If that’s the case then they may as well let the Blues keep the Premier League title. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have played two, picked up maximum p...

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Blackpool v Fulham: Tangerines have eyes set on victory

Did Blackpool lose to Arsenal last weekend? I can’t remember. And you what, you can bet your life that none of the Blackpool players can either as manager Ian Holloway looks to grab his second Premier League win of the season. The Gunners took the 10-men Tangerines apart at the Emirates but Ollie w...

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Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: Gunners are ready for the fight

Sam Allardyce has never made life easy for Arsenal and this weekend will be no different as the Rovers aim to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Birmingham. However, they will be taking on an Arsenal side full of confidence after their 6-0 drubbing of newly promoted Blackpool. Blackburn have a fo...

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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Following the Chelsea model suggests a Manchester City title in 2011/12

As long as the owners of Manchester City continue to back their manager, the club will be champions fairly quickly as long as the manager is good enough. Ordinarily spending guarantees little, but spending when everyone else is saving looks a far more potent tactic. Whether Roberto Mancini is good...

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Wigan Athletic: Can Martinez turn it around?

Nineties pop act D:Ream famously sang that Things Can Only Get Better. Unfortunately it looks as though things are going to get a whole lot worse for Wigan Athletic before they show any signs of getting better. Humbled by newly promoted Blackpool on the opening day, then hit for six by the champion...

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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...

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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: ...

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Arsenal: Schwarzer or Given? You decide!

Everybody recognises that Arsenal desperately require a proven goalkeeper in place before the transfer window closes in order to realistically challenge for honours this season. Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer is reportedly the top choice for Arsene Wenger and the Frenchman is close to sealing the Austral...

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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...

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Everton Can Build Another Great Midfield Around Arteta

Liverpool fans have enjoyed their summer, with much rejoicing over the decision of Fernando Torres to stay at Anfield but now the Everton fans have their own reason to be excited, because Mikel Arteta has committed his future to Goodison Park. Toffees fans might point out that Torres is only certai...

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Loss of Schwarzer for Fulham points to Bolton win

With the team news now in it seems that Mark Schwarzer may be on the verge of a switch to Arsenal as he is not in the Fulham match day squad for the game at Bolton. David Stockdale is in goal with Pascal Zuberbuhler on the bench. Interestingly with Shay Given on the bench for Man City today, Arsen...

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Manchester United v Newcastle United: Can the Mags make a point at Old Trafford?

Chris Hughton has won a number of plaudits for the way he guided Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first time of asking but he will win the freedom of the city if he can lead the Mags to their first win at Old Trafford since 1972. Kevin Keegan began the 2008-09 campaign as manager with an...

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Liverpool v Arsenal: Gunners aim to spoil Hodgson’s big day

The last time Arsenal started the season on Merseyside they hit Everton for six. Can Arsene Wenger’s men do to Liverpool what they did to the Toffees 12 months ago? New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will certainly be hoping not. There is a distinct feel-good factor at Anfield following the arrival of ...

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Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion: Baggies hope to avoid the Blues

The champions Chelsea are set to start the new campaign by hosting former fans’ favourite Roberto Di Matteo’s West Bromwich Albion and the majority are expecting the Blues to carry on where they left off against Wigan. Chelsea won the title at the Bridge with a convincing 8-0 thrashing of Roberto ...

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Wigan Athletic v Blackpool: Seasiders seek sensational start

Eighteen years ago Blackpool took on Wigan in their first ever league clash in what was then Division Four. This weekend the two clubs meet in the top flight for the first time. Both clubs have gone on unbelievable journeys in recent years but who will start the new campaign with a win? Ian Hollow...

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Blackburn Rovers v Everton: Toffees seek winning start

Everton were one of only three teams to have triumphed at Ewood Park last season and David Moyes will be itching to get off to a better start than this time 12 months ago. Last season the Toffees were torn apart on the opening day of the season by a rampaging Arsenal side at Goodison Park and they ...

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Sunderland v Birmingham City: No Hart but Bramble gives Blues hope

Birmingham were one of the major surprises in the Premier League last season. Tipped by many to go down, Alex McLeish’s men finished the campaign in the top half thanks to an amazing 15 league and cup game unbeaten run. That stretch started with victory over the Black Cats at St Andrews in October a...

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Bolton Wanderers v Fulham: Can Hughes start with an away win?

This could turn out to be one of the opening weekend’s best games. Bolton manager Owen Coyle loves his teams to pass the ball about and attack and I can’t see new Fulham boss Mark Hughes making too many radical changes to the format that served the Cottagers so well last season. Fulham have won hal...

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Wolverhampton Wanderers v Stoke City: Molineux holds no fear for the Potters

Wolves started last season with an opening day defeat at the hands of West Ham United but Mick McCarthy will be looking to avoid a similar result this time round when rivals Stoke City come calling. However Molineux will hold no fears for the Potters. Tony Pulis’s men have lost just one of their pa...

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Aston Villa V West Ham United: Grant aims to be Villa’s main villain

Martin O’Neill’s resignation from Villa Park has overshadowed this match but both teams will be aware how crucial it is to get three points under their belts early on. West Ham United started last season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over newly promoted Wolves at Molineux. Unfortunately Ginafranco...

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Tottenham Hotspur V Manchester City: Explosive opener expected at the Lane

What a game this is to kick off the new Premier League season. Roberto Mancini’s billionaires head to White Hart Lane still smarting from their late defeat at the hands of Spurs at Eastlands in May. That result condemned City to another season in the Europa League while Harry Redknapp completed his ...

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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...

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Sunderland Need Goals To Support Darren Bent

Some of Steve Bruces signings as a manager turn into absolute gold- Christoph Dugarry to save Birmingham from relegation andWilson Palacios for Wigan come to mind- but Darren Bent is one of best decisions. Bruce doesnt always get it right- no manager does when they dont have squillions to splash ou...

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Aston Villa: Who will replace O’Neill at Villa Park?

Martin O’Neill stunned the football world on Monday afternoon (August 9) by quitting his post at Aston Villa. The decision came just five days before the start of the new season andalthough there have been countless rumours over the past few months regarding O’Neill’s future at Villa Park hardly any...

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Is Wenger Looking in the Wrong Place?

While the summer transfer rumour-mill has relentlessly linked Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer with a move to the Emirates, the answer to Arsene Wenger’s biggest problem, surely lies within Eastland’s rather than at Craven Cottage. Joe Hart should be Wenger’s priority in the transfer market. It would require...

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Blackburn Rovers: Was Robinson right to quit England?

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce couldn’t understand why Fabio Capello overlooked Paul Robinson for the World Cup in South Africa. The former Tottenham, Leeds United and England shot-stopper was in top form for the Ewood Park side and his past mistakes were a distance memory as he reproduced the ...

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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Manchester City: What is their best starting XI?

Modern day football is definitely a squad game and Manchester City have assembled one of the biggest and most talented squads in the Premier League as they chase domestic and European silverware. There is competition for places all over the pitch and nobody, not even Carlos Tevez, can be guaranteed ...

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Liverpool- Seven Reasons To Be Cheerful

Its not a dream summer for Liverpool fans- that would involve adding a bagful of world-class players to the current squad and the Reds arent able to compete at that level, for the moment at least. But its certainly turning out a lot better than it could have been 1 Fernando Torres Stays Number one...

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Ten Handy Facts About Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal start the new season with Eduardo departed and Nicholas Bendtner on the treatment table, so the focus will be on the Gunners new striker. So who is the player from Bordeaux? 1 Arsenal were linked with Chamakh in previous summers but got the player on a free transfer Bosman, as the players c...

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Ten Handy Facts About Chelsea's Ramires

With the likes of Michael Ballack and Joe Cole on the move, Chelsea were bound to go after a midfielder during the summer. The choice seems to be the Brazilian, although a medical and work permit issues still have to be negotiated. So who is Ramires? 1Ramires was in the squad at the World Cup and ...

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Manuel Almunia Stays Cool Under Pressure At Arsenal

Its easy to be envious of professional footballers- especially Premiership players on astronomical salaries- but there is a price to be paid for the rewards. Arsenals Manuel Almunia is just the latest player having to play on in the spotlight while his club seem to be making moves to replace him. T...

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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...

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Blackpool Odds On To Finish Bottom

When every Premiership season starts, the smart money is on promoted clubs going straight back to the Championship, just as Burnley did last season. However, Hull City defied those predictions and managed two campaigns in the top flight. There is an extraordinary uniformity in the views of the lead...

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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...

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Who Will Be Top Dogs In The Midlands?

Just a few years ago the Midlands representation in the Premiership was decimated leaving Aston Villa as the only real standard bearers for that part of the country. The East is still suffering but in 2010 the West is back with a vengeance. The traditional Big 4 of the West Midlands conurbation are...

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