Football Comment: Delighted for Hodgson as diamond system lets his forward gems shine September 8, 2014 A DIAMOND midfield system is perfect for England, and they showed it last night in what was an enormously confidence-boosting win in Switzerland. Brendan Rodgers used it last season to accommodate both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, and it works similarly well for Roy Hodgson, who has to play Wayne Rooney and, though injured last [...]
Radamel Falcao transfer may mean Manchester United switch for Robin Van Persie or Wayne Rooney September 1, 2014 Towards the end of my career Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, would sometimes ask me to play as a wing-back. I didn’t enjoy it one little bit – at an age when running was getting harder I was being asked to do more of it – but I did it. Now it looks like one [...]
Football Comment: Identity: City have it, United in dire need of it August 27, 2014 CONFESSION time: I must admit I did not think Manchester City would get stronger this season, given their modest summer business, but after just two games I may have to eat my words. The champions could easily have dropped points at Newcastle or at home to Liverpool but have hit the ground running, won two [...]
Football Comment: Man Utd at risk of another European failure August 19, 2014 IF PROOF were ever needed that pre-season results have little bearing once the real business of the Premier League season starts, then Manchester United are surely it. All clubs just want to get the first 90 minutes out of the way and leave with three points, and United looked in a good position to do [...]
Football Comment: Title is Jose’s Blues’ to lose August 14, 2014 City A.M. columnist Trevor Steven casts his eye over the new Premier League season IT’S AN unwritten rule that winning a league title is hard, but retaining it is even harder, especially when you’ve got a top five who all harbour genuine aspirations of finishing first. For supporters, it should add up to another exciting [...]
Saints, Baggies and Clarets have most to fear in relegation tussle August 14, 2014 MANAGERIAL experience in the Premier League can be the difference between a club staying up or going down, and I fancy it to decide which of a clutch of relegation candidates survive the drop this season. Aston Villa, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Hull, Leicester, QPR, Southampton and West Brom look in most danger to me. QPR [...]
Football Comment: Costa fortunes are key to Chelsea August 8, 2014 Champions Manchester City may have had a quiet summer but their Premier League rivals have all spent big on stars who they hope will turn them from also-rans into prize-winners. Chelsea’s key buy is Diego Costa. They have also splashed out on Cesc Fabregas, but the Brazil-born Spain striker is the signing with most riding [...]
Football Comment: Low’s men primed to enjoy lots more highs July 13, 2014 THEY were he best team on the night and deserving winners over the whole tournament – this was Germany’s occasion and it might just be the dawning of a new era. Germany looked sharper and stronger than Argentina in the final, despite having to deal with the twin blows of losing Sami Khedira in the [...]
Football Comment: Midfield fluidity and riches hold key to Germany World Cup hope July 10, 2014 DISCUSSING the World Cup with Liam Brady this week, he remarked that one of the notable things about the tournament had been a dearth of great central midfielders. Italy have Andrea Pirlo, but Brazil and England lacked playmakers, while Argentina pack their central area with stoppers. Germany, by contrast, have not just one but three [...]
Football Comment: Liverpool being hit hardest by Suarez bite ban June 26, 2014 DEBATE will rage on over whether Luis Suarez’s four-month ban from all football, plus nine international games, is a fitting punishment for his latest biting incident, but amid all the madness the biggest losers from this sorry episode are Liverpool. The Reds have just had a magnificent season and Suarez has been at the heart [...]
