Team of the Week - Week Thirty Eight

Arsenal will be playing Champions League football again next season following their narrow final day victory at Newcastle. Gareth Bales phenomenal late strike for Spurs got them the three points they needed against Sunderland, but they always needed Newcastle to do them a favour. Elsewhere on t...

READ MORE

Spurs v Sunderland: Can Spurs pip Arsenal to fourth?

With 10 games to go Spurs were in the driving seat for a place in the top four. Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal had all played 28 games and AVBs men were two clear of Chelsea and seven ahead of Arsenal. However, today they enter the final game of the season a point behind the Gunners, needing Wengers m...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League - Experts: Portsmouth make late surge for the title

Portsmouth may be preparing for life in League Two but Pompey fan Peter Rendle still has a chance of ending the season with silverware following his points haul in our Predict the Premier League competition. Mr Rendle has pulled in an impressive 34 points to top the weekly chart and goes into the f...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League - Experts: Can Wolves or Portsmouth beat the boss to the title?

The Premier League season comes to an end this weekend and Squarefootball editor Antony Melvin already has one hand on our coveted Predict the Premier League trophy. Mr Melvin has been the man to catch all season and goes into the weekend a whopping 18 points clear of his nearest rival, Wolves fan C...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League: Just six points separate Sunderland and Wigan at the top

Squarefootballs Predict the Premier League title race is going down to the final game and it looks as though it will be Sunderland or Wigans name etched on to the coveted trophy. The Black Cats Tony Ratton is six points clear of his nearest rival, Wigan fan Jimmy Shine. With 30 points up for grabs ...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League: Wigan turn the heat on Sunderland

Manchester United have won the league and Wigan Athletic have now joined QPR and Reading in the Championship, but who is going to win Squarefootballs Predict the Premier League title? It has been a busy few weeks in the Barclays Premier League and the only issue that still needs to be decided is wh...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: Fergie calls time, but Sky ensure we’ll see plenty of him before he goes

So, I’m not sure if you’ve heard but Sir Alex Ferguson announced to the world last week that he intends to quietly walk away from football at the end of the season. In mass hysterical scenes usually only seen when a monarch dies or a Twilight film comes out, the entire country seemed to let o...

READ MORE

The five biggest FA Cup Final shocks

Wigan Athletic became the 43rd team to lift the FA Cup on Saturday thanks to Ben Watsons late header against Manchester City. Before the game, nobody gave them a hope in Hell. And why should they have?Manchester City won the Premier League title last year and have money coming out of every orifice w...

READ MORE

Sunderland v Southampton: Who is heading towards safety?

At the start of April Southampton looked to be heading for a top 10 finish and Sunderland looked to be joining them out of the danger zone following back-to-back wins over Newcastle and Everton. However, as we go into the penultimate game of the season, both Sunderland and Southampton are still in d...

READ MORE

Squarefootball's Team of the Week - Week 36

Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs all won 1-0 at the weekend to keep their Champions League hopes alive with the latter two drawing on Wednesday night at the Bridge. Liverpool and Everton played out a goalless draw at Anfield while Newcastle picked up what could be a crucial point at West Ham. Aston Vil...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: Bruce goes through Hull as the Championship season ends in drama

There are not many days in the course of the long football season that the glitzy farce of the Premier League is shuffled into the background like an ugly sister at a wedding. Usually, as the weekend rolls around every pundit, fan and newscaster is eagerly sharing their thoughts on Van Persie...

READ MORE

Sunderland v Stoke City: Will Pulis punish Paolo?

Just when Sunderland fans thought is was ok to look ahead to next season Aston Villa hit them for six. And to compound their misery Villa saw off Norwich on Saturday, Wigan Athletic came from behind twice at the Hawthorns and Newcastle picked up a point at West Ham to pile the pressure back on Pao...

READ MORE

Aston Villa v Sunderland: Will Paolo leave Lambert in the mire?

Aston Villa have the chance to draw level on points with Sunderland and open up a five-point gap on Wigan in the drop zone. Sunderland though could hit 40 points with their third win in as many games and ease their relegation woes. So who will come out on top tonight at Villa Park? The visitors h...

READ MORE

Bale, Benteke, Hazard, Lukaku, Welbeck, Wilshere - Who will win the PFA Young Player of the Year?

Tottenhams Gareth Bale could clear up at this weekends PFA awards. Not only has the Spurs ace got the chance of winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award but he is also nominated in the Player of the Year category. With Spurs playing Wigan later today, Bale could also find himself in third plac...

READ MORE

Bale, RVP or Suarez: Who should win the PFA Player of the Year award?

Tottenhams Gareth Bale is the bookies favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award for the second time but could last seasons winner Robin van Perise make it a personal double or could Liverpools bad boy end a terrible week on a high by scooping the accolade? Manchester Uniteds midfield maestr...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League - Experts: Joy for Wolves

Wolverhampton Wanderers may have a battle on their hands to stay in the Championship this season but Wolves fan Chris Cox - and former Predict the Premier League winner - could end the campaign with something to celebrate as he is in second place and has moved nine points clear of Portsmouth in our ...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League: QPR, Everton and West Ham top the table

QPR may be going down, Everton may have blown their chance of finishing in the top four but West Ham have guaranteed their place in the top flight next season. And despite the gloomy expressions at Loftus Road and Goodison, John Jaycock and Chris Goodwin have tried their best to raise the spirits by...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League: Sunderland storming towards the title

Talk about making an impact. Paolo Di Canio led his Sunderland troops to victory at St James Park and then followed it up with another three points in his first home game against Everton. No wonder Sunderland fan Tony Ratton is smiling from ear to ear. Mind you, it could also have something to do wi...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League - Experts: West Ham and Bolton are on the up

West Ham United beat Wigan 2-0 at the weekend to end any fears of slipping through the Premier League trapdoor and it was a double celebration for Hammers fan Mitch Waddon. Not only did our man toast the Irons win on the pitch and make a cameo appearance on Soccer AM, he has also been our top pundit...

READ MORE

Squarefootball's Team of the Week - Week 33

Arsenal regained third place as Chelsea dropped points at Liverpool and Spurs stunned everyone with their late comeback to beat the champions Manchester City. But the big winners this week were Manchester United who clinched their 20th league title with a convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Elsewh...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: The football world turns on Suarez as he bites off more than he can chew

Just when you think the sleaze-ridden, hate-filled, cartoon puppetry ghoul fest that is football can’t plunge any lower, out pop the gnashers of a serial offender to attract the world’s accusing eyes once again. Luis Suarez, the only footballer in Britain who can be involved in controversy wi...

READ MORE

Would you sell your ground's name for £100m?

Arsenal did it with the Emirates, Manchester City did it with the Etihad and Bolton Wanderers did the same with Reebok, but would you be happy to sell the naming rights to your stadium if it guaranteed a multi-million pound investment on the pitch? Manchester United recently agreed a £120 million d...

READ MORE

Sunderland v Everton: Can Di Canio squash the Toffees?

Isnt it amazing what a convincing 3-0 win over your bitter rivals can do for your reputation. Paolo Di Canio arrived at the Stadium of Light under a cloud due to his reported links with facism and the Lazio Ultras. A fortnight on and a memorable performance at St James Park later and Di Canio is a S...

READ MORE

Premier League: Has Aston Villa's Brad Guzan been the best keeper this season?

Readings Alex McCarthy was in the form of his life against Liverpool at the weekend. The Royals shot-stopper denied the Reds at every opportunity with a string of world class saves. This got me thinking, who has been the best goalkeeper this season in the Premier League? Manchester Citys Joe Hart w...

READ MORE

Squarefootball's Team of the Week - Week 32

Another exciting week of Premier League and FA Cup football saw Manchester City and Wigan make a date at Wembly, Reading hold Liverpool, Arsenal beat Norwich City and Sunderland outclass Newcastle. But who made it into our Squarefootball Team of the Week? Heres Mitch Waddons best XI from the w...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: Millwall, Chiles and Aguero ensure unedifying scenes all round, but let’s keep the One Direction boys out of it

It was a weekend of football in which the seamier, more ugly side of the game sprang forth. A dispiriting reminder of a time we’d hoped had passed; a nightmarish collage of unedifying horror and depressing folly. Yep, Adrian Chiles was fronting the FA Cup again. Obviously, the game on Saturd...

READ MORE

Newcastle United v Sunderland: Can Di Canio claim vital win over Pardew?

Sunderland havent won at St James Park for 13 years but boy do they need all three points today. The Black Cats are only out of the bottom three on goal difference having played a game more than FA Cup finalists Wigan Athletic and have a tricky run-in. Martin ONeill was shown the door and in walked...

READ MORE

Can Sunderland beat Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby?

The Tyne-Wear derby is the only game that matters to the good folk in the North East of England. Newcastle United are the hosts for this weekends massive game as the fiery Italian Paolo Di Canio aims to get his first three points on the board for the Black Cats, but can Sunderland beat Newcastle on ...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League: QPR, Spurs and Arsenal lead the way

Its been a good fortnight for the three London clubs - well off the pitch any way - with QPRs John Jaycock and Tottenhams Adam Crawford picking up 19 points, with Arsenals Josh Ben Moshe on 18. Its not been so good for Stoke City, Southampton or Norwich City, with the sides occupying the bottom thr...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League: Sunderland edge ahead of Wigan

Sunderland may only have six games left to save their Premier League status but Black Cat Tony Ratton is edging slightly closer to Predict the Premier League title glory. Mr Ratton, who has been favourite for the title for the majority of the season, has moved one point clear of his nearest rival W...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League - Experts: Birmingham City and Leicester City are on the up

Birmingham City are on course to finish in the top half of the table under Lee Clark and the Blues fans are optimistically looking forward to the 2013/14 season. Off the pitch its been a good time for the Bluenoses too, especially Squarefootballs Steve Coulter, who has been our top Expert over the ...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League - Experts: Aberdeen are out of the bottom three

Did you that Aberdeen - the only Scottish club to have won two European trophies - have not won a major piece of silverware since beating Dundee in the Coca-Cola Cup final way back in 1995? The Dandy Dons have been in the doldrums far too long but maybe the arrival of Derek McInnes will galvanise th...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: Di Canio attempts to form his first impression while West Ham’s Brady dispels hers

Fascist, egotistical, divisive, authoritarian, plain bonkers; these words are ringing around all our ears right now thanks to a recent media storm it’s been impossible to escape from. No, not the death of a former Prime Minister yesterday, although I can see why you’d think that. Instead it i...

READ MORE

Sunderland and Di Canio: Controversy creates cash

Several years ago TV producer and pro wrestling mogul Eric Bischoff wrote a tell-all book titled Controversy Creates Cash. It was a best seller and kept the wrestling community happy because of its dirt-dishing content and lurid look into the seedy underbelly of an industry that was notorious fo...

READ MORE

Chelsea v Sunderland: Can Paolo Di Canio stun the champions of Europe?

Paolo Di Canio begins his toughest assignment yet this afternoon. With Aston Villa beating Stoke City yesterday, the Black Cats have slipped to within a point of the drop zone. Defeat today, combined with a Wigan win at QPR, and Sunderland will find themselves in the bottom three ahead of next weeke...

READ MORE

Chelsea v Sunderland: Can Paolo Di Canio stun the champions of Europe?

Paolo Di Canio begins his toughest assignment yet this afternoon. With Aston Villa beating Stoke City yesterday, the Black Cats have slipped to within a point of the drop zone. Defeat today, combined with a Wigan win at QPR, and Sunderland will find themselves in the bottom three ahead of next weeke...

READ MORE

Sunderland: Can Paolo Di Canio save the Black Cats?

Paolo Di Canios arrival on Wearside has dominated the national news agenda. Both sport and news reporters have been deployed to dig the dirt on his controversial past and find out exactly what the people of Sunderland have thought about the appointment. But can the former Celtic and West Ham striker...

READ MORE

Premier League: Where has all the excitement gone?

ThePremier Leagueseason should be coming to the boil, but for me its been strictly alukewarm affair.The last nine months have had an air of inevitability about them. Manchester United havebreezed to their 20th top flight title and even Sky have struggled to sell this title race. From them...

READ MORE

Squarefootball's Team of the Week - Week 31

Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Man City, Man United, Southampton, Wigan and West Ham all picked up three points in a weekend that produced a whopping 23 goals - five of which came at the Emirates. There was a number of outstanding individual performances at the weekend, but who has done enough to win...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: Sunderland swap experience for explosive as all eyes focus on Wearside

On the day the new bombastic series of Doctor Who crash landed on to the screens of the BBC, there was the cataclysmic beginnings of a regeneration of a different kind in the otherworldly realms of the North East. That’s right, Martin O’Neill, football’s very own wide-eyed madcap enigma was u...

READ MORE

Sunderland: Who will replace O'Neill at the Stadium of Light?

Martin ONeill has been shown the door by his boyhood club Sunderland, but who will now take on the challenge of steering the Black Cats to safety? With games against Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Spurs left to play, and the likes of Wigan and Aston Villa putting a run of wins together, Sunder...

READ MORE

Sunderland: Black Cats' own goal by sacking O'Neill

The clocks went forward in Britain this morning but Sunderland Football Club have made a decision which could set them back years. Following their unfortunate 1-0 home defeat to the runaway leaders Manchester United, the Black Cats board decided to do what they do best, axe the manager. We all knew...

READ MORE

Sunderland v Manchester United: Sir Alex targets revenge

The one thing that hurt Manchester United players, staff and fans more than City winning the league in the dying seconds of last season was the reaction of the Sunderland fans. They revelled in Uniteds failure more than City toasted their title success and that bad taste in the mouth has remained wi...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: Gazza’s running out of chances while England run riot in San Marino

Let’s face it, there’s an awful lot of guff on TV isn’t there? In the ever-burgeoning crevasse of broadcasting channels, the sheer volume of half-baked tripe and lightweight, hollowed-out husks of regurgitated twaddle leaves the average viewer starved of visual stimulation and viewing conten...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League - Experts: Good times for Portsmouth

First let me apologise for the lateness of this update - its been over a month - but theres only so many hours in a day and this guy has only just discovered the wonders of Homeland and Claire Danes! So without further ado, lets get cracking. Liverpool 5 Swansea City 0 Liverpool gave Swansea Cit...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League - Experts: Blackburn, Portsmouth and Wolves in battle for second

Manchester United have blown away the rest of the Premier League to all but wrap up the title in March and so has Squarefootball editor Antony Melvin in our Predict the Premier League competition. Our leader is a whopping 33 points clear of his nearest challengers, Portsmouths Peter Rendle and Wolv...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League: Liverpool are on top of the pile

Its been almost a month since the scores for Squarefootballs Predict the Premier League were last updated, so without further ado lets get cracking. Liverpool 5 Swansea City 0 The Reds were braced for a tough game against the Capital One Cup finalists, but Michael Laudrups mind was already focused...

READ MORE

Predict the Premier League: Sunderland and Wigan remain neck and neck

Sunderlands Tony Ratton was the man to beat in our Predict the Premier League competition, but since the turn of the year Wigan Athletic fan Jimmy Shine and even Manchester Citys Callum Rothwell have both taken over top spot. However, today, as we update the league for the first team in a month, the...

READ MORE

Squarefootball's Team of the Week - Week 30

Arsenal gave their Champions League hopes a huge boost at the weekend by beating Swansea City. Tottenhams shock defeat at home to Fulham gave Gooners even more reasons to cheer, but the biggest reaction at full time definitely came at Villa Park as Aston Villa saw off QPR in a five-goal thriller...

READ MORE

Sunderland v Norwich City: Can the Canaries outfox the Black Cats?

Did you know the home side in this fixture has emerged victorious in the past eight meetings? That will be music to the sound of Martin ONeills ears who could climb above rivals Newcastle United this afternoonand their opponents. The last time the away side ran out winners in this fixture was 16 ye...

READ MORE