Book Review; The Damned United

Brian Clough was a man who always divided opinion. To some (and most notably those in the Derby and Nottingham areas) he was a hero, a messiah and a genius. To others his brash outspokenness was construed only as arrogance, and invoked only resentment. What nobody can argue with is that Old Big ‘Ead...

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Stephen Orford's Premier League Team Of The Season

With the Premier League season done and dusted it is about time that we started pondering the vital annual question of who should be in the Team Of The Season. Now contrary to popular tabloid opinion, this is NOT the best Manchester United team in living memory. It may be the deepest squad Sir Alex...

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Premier League; The Battle To Beat The Drop

Matters are already resolved at the top end of the Premier League for 2008/09, so again most of the attention on the final day will be on the battle to avoid relegation to the Coca Cola Championship. Following Sunderland’s 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth last night (May 18) there are still four teams scra...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday May 6 2009

Tissues at the ready as we get set to mourn Chelsea’s tragic exit from the Champions League. The Stamford Bridge outfit host Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, knowing that any score draw puts them out after last week’s goalless stalemate at Camp Nou. Their demise is ...

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Squarefootball Diary; Tuesday May 5 2009

A place in the Champions League final is up for grabs at the Emirates Stadium this Tuesday as Arsenal host Manchester United in the second leg of their semi-final. Unfortunately for those hoping for a classic it is all over in the first 10 minutes as away goals from Ji-Sung Park and Cristiano Ronal...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday April 15 2009

Once again there will be three English teams in the Champions League semi-finals after Manchester United and Arsenal win through. The great rivals will face each other in the last four, that after completing aggregate victories over FC Porto and Villarreal respectively. Pre-game United’s task lo...

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Squarefootball Diary; Tuesday April 14 2009

Chelsea-Liverpool fixtures, particularly those played out in European competition, are always tense and dour affairs, right? Wrong. Tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg tie is an epic, turning this way and that before finally ending 4-4 to send Chelsea through by a barely credible...

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Squarefootball Diary; Sunday April 5 2009

It’s taken the diary three whole days to pad out it’s stomach sufficiently to withstand having to report on Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Sunday (April 5). It all starts predictably enough when Cristiano Ronaldo’s 14th minute free-kick zooms past Brad Friedel in the Villa goal. ...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday April 1 2009

After Saturday’s friendly win over Slovakia (March 28) it is back to the real business for England as Ukraine are in town for a Group 6 World Cup qualifier. Injuries force Fabio Capello into handing Peter Crouch a rare international start and it is the Portsmouth striker who gives England the lea...

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Squarefootball Diary; Saturday March 28 2009

England warm up for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine with a comfortable 4-0 romp over Slovakia at Wembley. Two Wayne Rooney goals come either side of a Frank Lampard strike, adding to Emile Heskey’s opener after just seven minutes. Victory comes at something of a cost for Fabio Cap...

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Squarefootball Diary; March 22 2009

Sleepy, harmless Liverpool have suddenly morphed into an unstoppable juggernaut and their momentum continues today with a mind-boggling 5-0 shellacking of Aston Villa at Anfield. It takes just eight minutes for Dirk Kuyt to open the scoring, and the game is all but over as a contest when Albert R...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday 18 March 2009

It’s the late, late show at Cardiff City as the Bluebirds climb up to fifth in the Championship table. Dave Jones’ side had fallen behind to a Tommy Smith penalty in the 10th minute, but are level just four minutes later through Jay Bothroyd. The game looks to be heading for a draw when in the th...

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Squarefootball Diary; Tuesday 17 March 2009

Controversy at the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over Hull City. Hull hold the lead over Arsene Wenger’s side through Nicky Barmby’s deflected shot, but when that advantage is wiped out by Robin van Persie the way is paved for the suspicious...

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Squarefootball Diary; Sunday March 15 2009

If the title race is still on then count Chelsea in. Quietly but effectively they climb back into second place, four points behind Manchester United having played a game more, following a single-goal victory over Manchester City. Michael Essien scores his second goal in as many starts since retur...

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Squarefootball Diary; Thursday March 12 2009

Manchester City will be confident of securing a place in the last eight of the last ever UEFA Cup after cruising to a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their last 16 tie with Aalborg. The Danish visitors are hit with first half goals from Felipe Caicedo and Shaun Wright-Phillips and are rarely in i...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday March 11 2009

For all his pre-game piffle Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho cannot guide his troops to victory at Old Trafford, as Manchester United win 2-0 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are in front just four minutes in through Nemanja Vidic’s header, and though Inter cre...

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Squarefootball Diary; Tuesday 10 March 2009

Anfield is famous for it’s great European football nights but few have seen the home side as dominant as they are tonight. Rafa Benitez’s side slam four goals past Real Madrid without reply, completing a 5-0 aggregate success and securing a place in the last eight of the Champions League. Fernand...

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Squarefootball Diary; Sunday March 8 2009

The FA Cup quarter-final action continues as Everton become the third club to book a place in the semi-finals. David Moyes’ side endure the ordeal of going a goal down just before half-time at home to Middlesbrough, as David Wheater climbs highest to head Boro in front. Yet within four minutes of...

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Squarefootball Diary; Saturday March 7 2009

Stuff Sam Allardyce, it is only right and proper that the FA Cup quarter-finals get top billing this Saturday. First up it is Chelsea’s visit to the Ricoh Arena to face Coventry City, one of only two non-Premier League sides left standing at this stage. Chris Coleman’s side are game and not with...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday March 4 2009

Seven fixtures makes this one of the busiest days in the Premier League calendar, so let’s get on with it shall we? It is the hope that kills you, so Liverpool and Chelsea fans suffer now as we report that Manchester United go a goal down at Newcastle United before rallying to complete a 2-1 win....

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Squarefootball Diary; Tuesday March 3 2009

Fading title hopes gasp desperately for breath as both Liverpool and Chelsea record much needed wins. Rafa Benitez has been more politician than football coach in recent months, but takes enough time out tonight to guide his team to a comfortable 2-0 win over Sunderland at Anfield. David Ngog’s f...

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Squarefootball Diary; Sunday March 1 2009

The second part of a potential quintuplet of trophies is complete as Manchester United win the Carling Cup, beating Tottenham 4-1 on penalties after a goalless draw at Wembley. The Premier League champions and current leaders are not quite on top form, and the award of the man of the match prize ...

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Squarefootball Diary; Thursday February 26 2009

So anyway, who’s for a little scant regard for a major European trophy? Aston Villa certainly, who leave no fewer than eight of their regulars at home for the trip to Moscow for the second leg of their tie against CSKA. They get the beating they deserve, downed 2-0 thanks to goals from Chelsea ta...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday February 25 2009

Ignoring malicious gossip about his future at Anfield, Rafa Benitez gets back to doing what he does best, boring the bejesus out of everyone for the noble cause of winning a Champions League tie away from home. This time it is Real Madrid who are the victims, as Jossi Benayoun’s 82nd minute heade...

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Squarefootball Diary; Tuesday February 24 2009

Quite literally oodles of games tonight, the biggest of which come in the Champions League in what Sky have laughably dubbed the ‘Super 16’. Manchester United’s visit to Inter Milan is the main attraction, but ends goalless after 90 minutes of mild diversion bordering on entertainment which sever...

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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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Champions League Preview; Arsenal v Roma

Some say this is where the Champions League really starts, as the 16 surviving teams get ready for two-legged knockout action beginning this week. One of those 16 is Arsenal, who will be looking to put their Premier League troubles behind them when they meet AS Roma at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesd...

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Squarefootball Diary; Monday 23 February 2009

Disappointment all round as Tottenham pull five points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over Hull City at the KC Stadium. Jonathan Woodgate heads the winning goal four minutes from time to lift Spurs up to 14th, just one place and one point behind the Tigers. Aaron Lennon had opene...

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Squarefootball Diary; Sunday February 22 2009

Liverpool slip out of the title race for the 387th time this season, this time following a 1-1 home draw with Manchester City. Former Red Craig Bellamy sees his shot deflected in off Alvaro Arbeloa to put Rafa Benitez’s side in trouble, and although they salvage a draw through Dirk Kuyt’s goal 1...

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Squarefootball Diary; Thursday February 19 2009

All this cup football is really getting Harry’s goat, so he takes a terrible revenge during Tottenham’s UEFA Cup visit to Shakhtar Donetsk. With a place in the last 16 at stake Harry restores Huerelho Gomes to the starting line-up aswell as Chris Gunter, Tom Huddlestone, Pascal Chimbonda, Didier ...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday February 18 2009

Manchester United open up what could be a decisive five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 stroll over Fulham at Old Trafford. At least now all the idiot title talk down the local will not feature the phrase ‘yeah, but United have a game in hand’ after the champions put Roy Ho...

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Squarefootball Diary; Sunday February 15 2009

With due apologies to Glaswegians it is the FA Cup which takes centre stage this Sunday (February 15). Game of the day is at Goodison Park where the hosts meet Aston Villa. It takes just three minutes for Jack Rodwell to fire Everton in front (thus sparing Stilian Petrov from a red card after the...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday February 11 2009

England boss Fabio Capello will have learned much from a 2-0 defeat by Spain in Seville. David Villa and Fernando Llorente are on the mark for the European champions who show exactly why they are considered to be the best international team on the planet right now. Capello handed a first start to...

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Squarefootball Diary; Monday February 9 2009

It’s a day of managerial sackings in the Premier League as two very well respected gentleman are deemed not good enough by their club’s ill-informed owners. That the owners of both Chelsea and Portsmouth are Russian could just be coincidence, but what seems less coincidental is the fact that Avra...

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Chelsea; Scolari Axed But Was Decline Inevitable?

Barely eight months on from enjoying a status as one of the world’s most sought-after coaches Luiz Felipe Scolari today (February 9) faces the humiliation of being told he is no longer wanted. Under-achieving Chelsea have moved to dismiss the Brazilian with the side sitting a disappointing fourth...

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Squarefootball Diary; Sunday February 8 2009

Manchester United return to the top of the Premier League table, albeit with a slender 1-0 victory at West Ham United. The decisive moment of an uninspiring contest comes on 62 minutes when Ryan Giggs drifts effortlessly past two would-be tacklers before firing a low drive past Robert Green. The ...

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Squarefootball Diary; Wednesday February 4 2009

Another day, another derby but this time it has a positive conclusion. We have to wait a while as another 118 minutes of tedium go by before Dan Gosling writes himself into Goodison folklore with a curling drive into the top corner (missed by many ITV regions) to send the Toffees through to the la...

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Stoke City; January 2009 Transfer Window Summary

One got the feeling that Stoke City had to do something in the window if they were going to survive in the top flight for next season. By the time the window opened Stoke had failed to win in the league since November 22, and were starting to feel the strain of life in the big league. Critics sug...

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Portsmouth; January 2009 Transfer Window Summary

In what turned out to be a slightly disappointing window in terms of whopping £30million plus deals, few clubs can have pocketed as much money as Portsmouth. The Fratton Park side raised what was thought to be a much needed £35million with the sales of club-hopping midfielder Lassanna Diarra (he ...

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Newcastle United; January 2009 Transfer Window Summary

That nice Joe Kinnear chap might be too polite to say it, but in reality Newcastle didn’t quite what they wanted from the January sales. Since the window shut three days ago Kinnear has admitted that attempts to bring in Sami Hyypia from Liverpool, Kieran Richardson from Sunderland and Manchester...

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Hull City; January 2009 Transfer Window Summary

Can someone kindly tell Jimmy Bullard where Hull is situated? The shaggy-haired, German-born midfield battler became the prize capture for the Tigers when he took the decision to leave Fulham and head back north. With Robbie Savage-like navigation, Bullard left Wigan Athletic two years ago to be...

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Arsenal; January 2009 Transfer Window Summary

Arsene Wenger made only one signing in this January/February transfer window, and even that came very late in the day. After the kind of saga that Sky One would be embarrassed to dwell on, Andrei Arshavin finally arrived from Zenit St.Petersburg. The fee is believed to be around £12million, but w...

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Squarefootball Diary; Monday February 2 2009

Transfer deadline day brings with it an end to one of the shortest Anfield careers in living memory as Robbie Keane returns to Tottenham Hotspur. The official line is that the Republic of Ireland’s record goalscorer cost Spurs an initial £12million, that after they sold him to Liverpool for aroun...

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Squarefootball Diary; Sunday February 1 2009

Back by public mild indifference, the diary returns to find Premier League clashes at both ends of the table. Liverpool roar back into the title race with victory over Chelsea. The Reds leave it incredibly late, however, with Fernando Torres scoring twice inside the last three minutes to earn his s...

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Portsmouth; January 2009 Transfer Window - Week Four

A battle with Palmeiras, anyone? That’s apparently what awaits Portsmouth at the start of the week (January 19). According to The Daily Mail the Tyneside club are involved in a squabble with the Brazilian club over Villarreal defender Edmilson. It’s mildly surprising to learn that Tony Adams is ch...

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Newcastle United; January 2009 Transfer Window - Week Four

Until now it has only been the national dailies that have banged on relentlessly about Newcastle’s double swoop for Stephane M’Bia and Adil Rami from the French Ligue Un. Today (January 19) it is time for a local take on things, with the Newcastle Journal suggesting that Joe Kinnear has gone as fa...

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Hull City; January 2009 Transfer Window - Week 4

The week starts with some worrying news for Hull City fans. Several media outlets report on Monday (January 19) that striker Marlon King could be headed for the exit after a flare-up with manager Phil Brown. The pair are said to have fallen out over Brown’s decision to leave King out of the side f...

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Arsenal; January 2009 Transfer Window - Week Four

We’re well into the January sales now, and enough time has passed for Zenit St.Petersburg boss Dick Advocaat to wade into the debate surrounding Andrei Arshavin. “The chances are very high that Arshavin will soon play in the English Premier League.” the former Rangers boss is quoted as saying by...

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Newcastle United; January 2009 Transfer Window - Week Three

Week three of the January window starts with a suggestion from the Daily Mail (January 12) that Manchester City striker Jo could be arriving at Newcastle on loan. The Brazilian has started only nine league games for City since his arrival, scoring just once. Exactly the sort of record which marks ...

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Hull City; January 2009 Transfer Window - Week Three

Hull City fans have to wait until Wednesday of week three (January 14) for any meaningful information, but when it comes it is significant one way or another. Either you look at movement on the Kevin Kilbane deal as progress, or it fills you with dread. Whichever camp you stand in, if you are a Hu...

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