As long as I live, I don’t think I will ever see a Premier League season end quite that dramatically. My loyalties lie with a team outside of England’s footballing elite, and even I found myself going through so many different and crazy feelings and emotions, I can only imagine what it must have been like for supporters of all of the sides with something to play for yesterday (United, City, QPR, Spurs, Arsenal, Bolton, Newcastle) because at one point or another in every game the results were either favourable …

This list might very well create some controversy (hopefully positive) and that is fine. Choosing this list is much like choosing who England should take to Euro 2012, everyone will have an opinion and this opinion can be debated down at the pub until closing time. But I do want to set a list of ground rules for my Premier League MVP XI.
First I shall define what I consider an MVP (Most Valuable Player) to mean. There is a difference between most outstanding and most valuable. …

Independiente slipped up again this weekend but still manage to hold on to 1stplace. Los negriazules (The black and blues)were thumped 3-0 by Manta giving Liga, Emelec and Barcelona the chance to catch up.

On the 5th May 2012, Sheffield Wednesday were promoted back to the Championship by finishing 2nd in League One and for the first time in years fans had a reason to be truly optimistic. In order to understand why, let me briefly explain the clubs recent history.
The last time the Owls were promoted to the Championship was in 2005 thanks to an extra time play-off victory against Hartlepool United. At the time we dared to dream that we were on the path back to the Premier League and that the good …

Nothing surprises me in this game, last day drama
So there you have it, Manchester City and their wealthy owners join the illustrious names as Premier League Championship winning clubs. I have had to wait a couple of hours for it all to sink in, as this is surely the most remarkable end to a season there has ever been. A few thoughts on the incredible day and those involved.
Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers
I am a firm believer that you finish a league campaign where you deserve, so congratulations to …

Since the arrival of new owners in 2008, talk has been fairly constant over Manchester City‘s inevitable dominance in the top flight, due to their almost unlimited spending. Particularly over recent weeks, forums, blogs and articles written not only by humble fans or wannabe journalists, but also by some of the biggest names in the game have suggested that if City are were to clinch the title today, it might signify the start of a new era in the Premier League.
I was almost a complete neutral in the title race. …

 
Deportivo Quito and Emelec hammered and eliminated in the Copa Libertadores.
It was a humiliating week for the Ecuadorian teams in the Copa Libertadores as they were both bounced out of the competition with a whimper.
Despite needing only to protect a 4-1 lead in Santiago, Deportivo were thumped 6-0 in an amazing last 16 turnaround contributing to a final 7-4 aggregate score.
The current Ecuadorian champions were awful and constantly cut open by Universidad.  Junior Fernandez scored the first two goals then Marcelo Diaz levelled the tie before half time. If anything …

An article I wrote last week regarding Man City’s financial exploits in recent years, entitled (somewhat hyperbolically) A Manchester City Title May Signal the Death of Football As We Know It, received an enormous negative response.
Anyway, I admit that the way I phrased my article was tactless, and open to interpreting my writing as bitter and insulting. I thought I would try and justify some of my points, before responding directly to the most frequent responses. Thanks for the comments, regardless of your opinion. As a new blogger, it is …

Much of the talk in the build up to the game was centred around the importance of winning the FA Cup in the modern era, compared to Premiership and Champions League glory (and money). The 131 year old tournament’s reputation was further damaged not only by the FA’s decision to again move the date forward, meaning that the final is not the end of season showcase it traditionally was, but also by their decision to move the kick off time to later in the day.
To the Chelsea and Liverpool …

What is the explanation for humanity’s obsession with sport? From Chinese gymnastics in 2000BC to Egyptian Pharaohs swimming and fishing to the Olympics of Ancient Greece, sport has captivated almost every civilization for the past four thousand years.
A common critique of sport claims it is the aggrandisement of fierce competition, rivalry, and brute force that attracts us to performing in, and spectating, sporting events. Many have argued that sport is a precursor for war, something that simulates the brutality of battle to satisfy our blood-thirst during peace time. Admittedly, there …