El Clasico: My recipe for the perfect football feast

Woodstock 69’: love, freedom and prosperity. Wimbledon: elegance and tradition. For me, El Clasico is up there with these occasions as the greatest spectacles on earth. The two most successful sides in the history of Spanish football ripping chunks out of each other. And I love it. I love every...

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It's the Italian job for Arsenal and Chelsea but who will win the Champions League?

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League draw has just been made and both Arsenal and Chelsea must overcome Italian opposition if they are to lift the coveted trophy. Arsenal reacquaint themselves with AC Milan while Chelsea must see off Napoli, who helped knock Manchester City out of...

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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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World Player Of The Year: Big Three of Messi, Ronaldo and Xavi Dominate Again

The news that Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Christiano Ronaldo will make up the top three in the vote for World Player of The Year, would surprise no-one who takes a decent interest in the world game. These are the same three players who filled out those positions in 2009. Last year Messi and Xa...

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Reduce the size of the Premier League? You gotta be kidding me

Sometimes you have to wonder whether football is football anymore. Money has become part of our game for a long time now but the fear of how possessive riches will become, and how their grip will most probably tighten even further to strangle out every last penny from our game, is always in th...

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Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Birmingham: What game would you like to erase from your club's history?

I think it is safe to come out from behind the sofa now. The trick and treaters have gone into 12 months of hibernation, giving the nation’s doorbells time to recover. The BBC can put the series of Halloween movies back into cold storage. Just how many were there? As football fans we too have exper...

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Manchester United got off lightly: Here's five of the worst results ever

Manchester City rocked the champions at Old Trafford, hitting Fergies men for six, but Hugh Larkin recalls five of the worst beatings of all time. As Chris Pettit reminded us elsewhere on this site - Manchester Citys spectacular 6-1 victory at Old Trafford was the second jaw-dropping scoreline of t...

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Can any player, including Messi, be considered 'the greatest'?

Ah, the Champions League. Bringer of drama, stopper of dreamers, platform for Ray Wilkins to say ‘my word’ 50 hundred thousand times. And there are other things that are nearly always discussed, certainly when seeing the two dominant Spanish sides play. The great debate has moved from trying to ...

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Who will win the Champions League 2011/12?

Spanish giants Barcelona are attempting to make history this season. In May they destroyed Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United to win the Champions League, but no team has managed to keep hold of the famous trophy since it was renamed 20 years ago. However, the bookies firmly believe Pep Guardiola...

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Top 10 bizarre injuries to footballers

Swansea City’s vice-captain Alan Tate is set to miss most of the Swans’ debut season in Premier League after breaking his leg in a freak golfing accident. The versatile defender was a passenger in a golf buggy that lost control and Tate will have to watch the majority of the club’s rollercoaster adv...

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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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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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Squarefootball's Fantasy football invitation

There is less than two weeks to go until the start of the 2011/12 Premier League season and time is running out for you to enter the Squarefootball fantasy football competition. Last season more than 100 teams competed for the Squarefootball title, which was won by P Oxenby and his team FC Poxo. He...

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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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Tevez, Modric, Nasri and co - Quit your moaning!

One of the lessons that I had drilled into me as a youngster is the old adage “asking never gets”. Maybe you too can recall a time when you asked your mum for a Penguin or something and she trotted out some half-cocked lecture about it being polite to wait to be offered blah, blah, blah. Well clearl...

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Football in 3D - A new risk to average attendances?

The world has evolved and developed a lot since the 1950s with the invention, evolution and development of everything from bladeless fans to electric cars and high definition broadcasts and beyond, but what have the boffins responsible for 3D been doing for 60 years since its inception? 3D today i...

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Footballers: Why don’t we flog them on eBay?

I have never been to Australia but I know two things for sure about the Land of Oz. One, they are better than us at almost every single sporting activity aside from football of course (although let’s be honest, the England team is not that much farther ahead than the Aussies at this point). Even the...

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The frustrations of being a football fan

As football fans we are a pessimistic breed. No sooner have we finished dancing in the stands or in front of the TV celebrating our club’s promotion, championship, relegation avoidance or cup victory, we turn our attention to the next competition and start convincing ourselves football life will nev...

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Would you like to write for Squarefootball?

Do you live, breathe and sleep football? Do you have a passion for writing and want your views to be read by a potential audience of millions? Then we at Squarefootball Towers would love to hear from you. Whether you follow Aberdeen or Accrington Stanley, West Ham United or Wolfsburg, we can offer ...

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Have Real Madrid dropped more than a cup? - includes video

There are many questions that could be asked after seeing Real Madrid player, Sergio Ramos, drop the Spanish Copa del Rey trophy off the top deck of a bus before it went under the front wheels. The first that occurred to me though was why are Real Madrid holding an open top bus parade for winning a...

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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...

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Summer Departures: Who Will Cope Best?

With Xavi Alonso’s contract at Real Madrid finally penned, the eye of the storm finally arrived over Anfield. And with Cristiano Ronaldo lauding it up in the Spanish capital as the most expensive footballer on the planet - many Premiership clubs face the ‘life after…’ syndrome. This season brims wit...

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Squarefootball's fantasy football challenge

Do you see yourself as the next Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger? Do you think you can pick a better team than Harry Redknapp or Rafa Benitez? Brilliant, then why don’t you join us in competing for the coveted Squarefootball fantasy league crown? For the past few years we at Squarefootball towers...

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Mark Hughes: Pressure Will Grow..

On the surface Mark Hughes seems to be revelling in the transfer market this summer. It must feel like monopoly money between his fingertips, a kid in a sweet shop. Under the surface though he must be quietly contemplating the pressure he will confront. Quite possibly this is the most important six ...

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Real Madrid: A case for defence?

Barcelona won La Liga in May this year by scoring 105 goals, conceding 35, and losing only five games. Real Madrid, meanwhile, won only two games less than Barcelona, but lost twice as many. Third-placed Sevilla notched a very similar win-draw-lose ratio to that of runners-up Real Madrid, but Manolo...

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Tottenham Hotspur: Van Nistelrooy or Toni – Who would you prefer?

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp looks set for another summer of wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, but the former Portsmouth and West Ham United manager isn’t looking at bringing unknown players to the Lane this season. Oh no, he’s being linked with some of the game’s biggest names, ...

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Ronaldo: Will United or The Premiership miss him?

It seems extraordinary that the two players, who were integral to a majority of last summers transfer talk, will both have new clubs as soon as the end of June. Gareth Barry is already a Manchester City player and the wheels are in motion for Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to the Spanish capital.Real Madr...

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£80m for Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United laughing

There has been an air of inevitability that Cristiano Ronaldo would leave Manchester United for some time. The United match-going fans had been somewhat ambivalent towards the player in 2008/9 with the two most popular songs about the Portuguese - 'That boy Ronaldo' and 'Viva Ronaldo' - being much ...

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Ruud van Nistelrooy: Surely A Snip?

If there is any validity in what the transfer rumour mill has been churning out, then Tottenham are close to signing Real Madrid and ex-Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.Madrid have just smashed the World transfer record, (reported £56m), by securing the services of Brazilian playmaker K...

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Have Real Madrid Learnt Their Lessons?

Florentino Perez will soon be back in the hot seat at Real Madrid. The man who gave us the galactico era has already sounded off about the players hes like to bring in- and there arent many defenders or defensive midfielders who get a mention. Maybe hes learnt the lesson and like a politician with ...

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Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Rafa’s on course for third Champions League final

Rafa Benitez may have his doubters regarding the Premiership, but when it comes to Europe his record speaks for itself. The former Valencia coach guided the Reds to Champions League glory in his first season at Anfield and took them to the final again two years later. He also won the UEFA Cup with V...

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David Beckham deserves his luck in Milan

There have been a fair few comments suggesting that David Beckham somehow doesn't 'deserve' a shot at playing for AC Milan, and that he is somewhat lucky to have negotiated a 'timeshare' opportunity between LA and Milan. Perhaps the luck is the same luck that gave him a pop star face, but, on balan...

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Champions League Preview; Real Madrid v Liverpool

With their Premier League title challenge on life support Liverpool switch their attentions to Europe, and a competition which has been rather kinder to them in recent years. Rafa Benitez’s side visit Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League second round tie on Wednesday night (Februa...

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Does anyone care about Cristiano Ronaldo transfer rumours anymore?

In the week after Cristiano Ronaldo wrote off his £200,000 Ferrari there must be pressing financial reasons for Ronaldo to want to join Real Madrid. Otherwise why would he publically pledge his allegiance to Manchester United, whilst at the same time, according to Guillem Balague, privately agree t...

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Juande Ramos and Tottenham transfers

Many newspapers are hoping that Manchester City can dig them out of a circulation hole in the New Year. Ordinarily the froth and expection of the January transfer window is a joy to behold, but this season no-one has any money, half the clubs are looking for new owners - and some can't even afford ...

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Real Madrid keep scratching the Ronaldo itch

There can be no fans of any team left that has not complained at one time or another about media interference with regards to transfers. And obviously no-one is immune as once again Manchester United are preparing to repel boarders in an all white outfit. No, not Leeds, and Tottenham don't wear wh...

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Amidst slavery jibes a cynical person would question Blatter's motives

That Sepp Blatter should use the word 'slavery' to describe poor old Cristiano Ronaldo's position at Manchester United is bad enough in itself; that, as reported in today's Guardian (11.07.2008) he is an horourary member of Real Madrid whilst saying it smacks of self-interest at best. If Blatter is...

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Why a Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid move is not imminent

The oddest part of the Ronaldo to Madrid transfer (I think that it has moved past a rumour today) is that Ronaldo has not requested a transfer. But given the telephone number fees at stake it is hardly surprising. If Madrid do succeed in a £60m transfer then if Ronaldo forced the issue he would ha...

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Lampard, Ronaldo, Arshavin and Adebayor Moves Could All Hit The Buffers

Maybe it was the intervention of Euro 2008- or possibly the unprecedented all-English Champions League Final- but summer 2008 began with a cascade of speculation about multi-million pound stellar moves. While we all enjoyed the Euro spectacle, the close of that competition has ended the 'phoney war...

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Would Sir Alex Ferguson Leave Christiano Ronaldo In The Stands?

The escalation of the battle between Manchester United and Real Madrid over the future of Christiano Ronaldo has become increasingly intemperate but the question is how far would the United management take matters? It seems plain now that the furore isn't just the fault of Real Madrid- the player c...

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Cristiano Ronaldo: The Real deal?

Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to be the focus of the major transfer saga of the summer. In previous seasons it has seen Thierry Henry, Steven Gerrard or Patrick Vieira unsettled by the media speculation of a major transfer - and this year it appears to be Ronaldo. Last season Gabriel Heinze clearly ...

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4910: Real Madrid: Defending the tit

by : Matt Caines It was a bold statement from Bernd Schuster. “We have the best defence in Europe,” claimed the Real Madrid coach after his side’s win over Recreativo. It was the side’s sixt h win in seven games, and their third consecutive clean sheet in the league. Last season Real Madrid managed...

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3898: Ferenc Puskas - 1927-2006

by : Stephen Orford Football mourns one of its greatest ever players with the passing of Ferenc Puskas on Friday (November 17). The 79 year-old had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and had spent the last six years in hospital in Budapest. Puskas was the inspiration behind the exceptional ...

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3468: Real Madrid: Possibly the Best

by : David West Chelsea are, as we all know, able to dip into the transfer market at will, and can attract the best players in the world should the need arise. All of which makes it perhaps surprising that no bids were forthcoming for Italian defenders Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta after ...

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2965: Real Madrid – A Match Made in

by : Kieran McHugh Real Madrid took the unusual step on Tuesday, (March 28th), of announcing the seven names on their managerial shortlist. In a veritable Who’s Who of managerial talent Real appear determined to mark an end to the hire and fire madness of the Florentino Perez presidency. In a mov...

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2849: Real Madrid: Perez Pays the Pr

by : Hugh Larkin One of the best loved catchphrases from the Star Trek franchise was Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott warning Captain Kirk that ‘Ye canna change the laws of physics’. Much the same applies to the law of football teams, although no one seems to have been able to warn Real Madrid Presi...

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2847: Real Madrid; Perez Pays The P

by : Stephen Orford The six-year Real Madrid Presidency of Florentino Perez came to an abrupt end on Monday (February 27) with his resignation. Without a trophy since 2003, the Madrid club are third in La Liga, ten points behind fierce rivals Barcelona and are out of the Copa Del Rey. In addition...

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2822: Real Madrid vs Arsenal: Pre-ma

by : Antony Melvin The clash between Real Madrid and Arsenal is a mouth-watering collision between two teams in transition. Two years ago it could have been billed as a potential final but this year the winners will probably be seen as dangerous dark horses rather than outright favourites. Madrid...

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2732: Real Madrid revival badly time

by : Alex Wolstenholme There are signs of life at the Bernabeu Stadium just in time for Real Madrid's Champions League tie with Arsenal and at a time when the Gunners themselves are on a run of poor form, with two cup exits in the last week. Real Madrid are unbeaten in La Liga since the turn of th...

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2681: Roma’s Loss Is Now Real Madrid

by : Paul Grech The red half of Rome collectively breathed a sigh of relief last week as Antonio Cassano finally left for Real Madrid without pausing for a brief ciao to his former team-mates. Dressed in a manner that gave more than a passing impression of a pimp, perhaps to draw attention away fr...

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