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

Manchester United v Swansea City: United aim to send Fergie and Scholes out in style

Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Scholes have both announced that they are to retire at the end of the season and both great servants are going to get a fantastic send off today, but can Swansea City spoil the party? The Swans fought back twice in midweek to dent Wigans survival hopes - only their second...

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

Wigan v Swansea City: Can Martinez put Pardew and co through the wringer?

Wigan Athletic have scared more people than Michael Myers and Freddie Krueger put together. The Latics came from behind twice on Saturday at the Hawthorns to take away all three points and put the fear of God into the likes of Paolo Di Canio, Alan Pardew and Chris Hughton. A win tonight and Wigan wi...

READ MORE

Swansea City v Man City: Laudrup targets City scalp

Manchester City could have scored a hatful against West Ham last weekend but had to settle for a 2-1 victory. Today they travel to the Liberty, where the fizz has gone out of the Swans season. Michael Laudrups men have only won once since winning the Capital One Cup, but can they claim the scal...

READ MORE

Chelsea v Swansea City: Can the Blues get the better of the Swans?

Chelsea were dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Swansea City earlier this season and Eden Hazard ended up getting too close to one of their ball boys, but can Rafa Benitezs men erase that memory for good this afternoon and put themselves back in the driving seat for a place in the top four, or...

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: 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

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

Swansea City v Southampton: Will Laudrup send the Saints packing?

You have to go back to 1962 for the last time the away side left this fixture with all three points, but Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino will strongly fancy his chances of rewriting that stat this afternoon when the Saints visit the Liberty Stadium. Southampton have beaten Manchester City, Liv...

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

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

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

Norwich City v Swansea City: Can the Canaries keep the edge over Swansea?

Norwich City and Swansea City came up to the Premier League together in 2011, but while the Swans may have gone on to cup glory and taken all the plaudits for their brand of football, Norwich City remain unbeaten against their Welsh rivals. In their previous three meetings, Norwich have emerged vic...

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

Swansea City v Spurs: Can AVB copy Arsenal's formula at the Liberty?

A fortnight ago Tottenhams north London rivals Arsenal went to the Liberty Stadium and left Wales with all three points and a clean sheet. That was a huge result for the Gunners as it kept them in touch with Spurs and Chelsea. Tottenhams shock defeat at home against Fulham the following day made it ...

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: 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

Swansea City v Arsenal: Defeat is not an option for the Gunners

Arsenal restored some pride in midweek with a couraegous victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but it wasnt enough to stop the Gunners from bowing out of the competition on away goals. Today they take on League Cup winners Swansea City knowing that defeat is simply not an option. Arse...

READ MORE

Bale, Michu, RVP or Suarez: Who is your Player of the Season?

There have been some outstanding performers in the Premier League this season. Gareth Bales stunning goals and man of the match displays have helped Tottenhams top four dreams, Luis Suarez is currently topping the leagues scoring charts, Robin van Persies arrival at Old Trafford has all but wrestled...

READ MORE

West Brom v Swansea City: Can the Baggies get the better of the Swans at long last?

What a few weeks it has been for Swansea City fans. First they celebrated their centenary in style with a record win over Bradford City in the Capital One Cup final, now their manager Michael Laudrup has signed an extension to his contract at the Liberty Stadium - keeping him there until 2015. But c...

READ MORE

Squarefootball's Team of the Week

Arsenal lost the crunch north London derby while Liverpool and Manchester United went goal crazy, QPR gave their survival hopes a boost with victory over Southampton and West Ham became only the second side this season to win at the Britannia, but who has made it into our Team of the Week? Here i...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: Comical Colin losing his seat could mean Match Of The Day 2 losing much much more

It could be argued that watching football on television has become a full-time endeavour. Well obviously for me it is because each week I force my rambling and churlish thoughts on the subject on to your computer screens in a senseless demonstration of puerile envy. But for all of us now, it ...

READ MORE

Swansea City v Newcastle United: Can Pardew bring Laudrup back down to Earth?

The Capital One Cup winners get back to league action this afternoon and Michael Laudrup will be hoping his heroes will not suffering a cup hangover, as Newcastle United will be gunning for all three points. The Swans made no mistake in the final last Sunday against Bradford City to cap their cente...

READ MORE

Squarefootball's Team of the Week - Week 28

Arsenal and Spurs picked up three points at the weekend to put the pressure on Rafa Benitez and Chelsea. Spurs are now two points clear of Chelsea in third place with Arsenal just two behind the Blues, but with the north London giants squaring up to each other this weekend, Chelsea may have the op...

READ MORE

Outside the Box – Football on TV: A lack of fanfare for the Final but Swansea make worthy champions nevertheless

There was a time in football, about six or seven years ago when it all became a bit tedious. Mourinho’s Chelsea and Fergie’s United were so far ahead of everybody else that those two goliaths monopolised the English game completely. It seemed as though every piece of silverware was theirs to ...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: Middlesbrough 2 Bolton 1 2004

Squarefootballs Steve Coulter ends his look back at classic League Cup finals by taking a look back at Middlesbroughs victory over Bolton Wanderers in 2004. Potential England managers Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce locked horns but McClaren won and ultimately went on to manage the national team w...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: Leicester City 2 Tranmere Rovers 1 2000

Bradford City and Swansea City will battle it out for the first major piece of silverware of the season this afternoon at Wembley with Phil Parkinson and Michael Laudrup looking to cement their place in their clubs history. Thirteen years ago Leicester City and Tranmere Rovers clashed in the League...

READ MORE

Bradford City v Swansea City: Can the Bantams stun the Swans at Wembley?

This wasnt the glamour final everyone was expecting but what a final it will be. League Two Bradford City have defied the odds to reach Wembley and will face Premier League Swansea City who are looking to win their first major piece of silverware and avoid being victims of another Capital One Cup gi...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: Birmingham City 2 Arseanl 1 2011

This was the day when Arsenal were widely expected to end their trophy drought. Unfortunately Birmingham City never read the script. This afternoon Premier League Swansea City clash with League Two Bradford City in the final of the Capital One Cup and the Welsh side will have to be careful not to b...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: Aston Villa 3 Man United 1 1994

League Two Bradford City have been given no hope in beating Swansea City at Wembley this afternoon, but cup finals in England dont always go to plan. Just ask Manchester United! Squarefootballs Steve Coulter has been looking back at some of the competitions most classic finals. Here he turns his s...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: Oxford United 3 QPR 0 1986

Football is full of fairytale stories. Wimbledon in 1988 is arguably the biggest. Climbing their way through the Football League to beat Liverpool in the FA Cup final. But a close second is Oxford United, who hit the top flight and beat QPR in the final of the League Cup in 1986. As we continue our...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: Wolves 1 Nottingham Forest 0 1980

Wolves are currently staring consecutive relegations in the face, but lets look back at some happier times as we build up to this weekends Capital One Cup Final between Bradford City and Swansea City. The Molineux side took on Brian Cloughs legendary Nottingham Forest side, but came out on top than...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: Stoke City 2 Chelsea 1 1972

This weekend sees League Two Bradford City and Premier League Swansea City locking horns in the final of the Capital One Cup. The Welsh side should be too strong for the Bantams, but Arsenal and Aston Villa have both fallen to Phil Parkinsons side this season and must not be underestimated. There h...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: Swindon 3 Arsenal 1 1969

Bradford City entertain Swansea City at Wembley in the final of the Capital One Cup this weekend, but Squarefootballs Steve Coulter has taken a look back at some of the competitions biggest finals. This years competition has had more shocks than a night on Albert Square, but the League Cup has al...

READ MORE

Classic League Cup Finals: QPR 3 West Brom 2

League Two Bradford City and Premier League Swansea City lock horns on Sunday in the Capital One Cup, a competition that has produced more shocks than a Hollywood thriller. To mark the big occasion, Squarefootballs Steve Coulter has highlighted some of the best League Cup Finals from the compet...

READ MORE