Premier League Nuggets 2023/24

24 November MW12 During the international break attention shifted towards off the pitch issues. MANAGERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND STUCK As we near the end of November there is yet to be a managerial departure during the season (Julien Lopetegui left Wolves in the week prior to the beginning of the season). This is a rarity in theContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”

A brief history of top-flight points deductions

Everton’s 10-point deduction is the heaviest punishment in the history of the English top flight, but they are not the first club to have been docked points. Sunderland were the first club to be docked two points in the 1890-91 season when they fielded an unregistered player, Ned Doig. The Scottish goalkeeper went on toContinue reading “A brief history of top-flight points deductions”

Premier League Nuggets 2023/24

10 November MW11 BLADES LEAVE IT LATE Oliver Norwood’s 100th minute penalty against Wolves finally secured Sheffield United’s first win of the season. They shot up to four points and on the same tally as Burnley who set a record of six successive home defeats from start of season. The Clarets also lost their lastContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”

Premier League Nuggets 2023/24

3 November MW 10 NEW BOYS, OLD TROUBLES Another pointless round of matches for the promoted three. With just a solitary point from their first ten matches, Sheffield United are beginning to look a tad beleaguered. A goal difference of minus 22 is the joint worst of any side at the bottom of Premier LeagueContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”

Premier League Nuggets 2023/24

27 October MW9 PROMOTED TRIO REACH DOUBLE FIGURES  Luton’s creditable draw at the City Ground meant that the promoted trio have now reached double figures with The Hatters being responsible for half of those points over their combined total of 27 matches. Meanwhile Sheffield United’s one point after 9 matches is the same as TheContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”

From playing ‘Football Manager’ to improving Guinea-Bissau’s squad – the story of Jack C. 2.0

In the late 1980s and early 1990s Jack Charlton oversaw the Republic of Ireland’s status as a football nation shift dramatically from also-rans to a top 10 FIFA ranking, taking them to a World Cup quarter-final along the way. Charlton was responsible for casting the net for potential players far and wide, searching through theContinue reading “From playing ‘Football Manager’ to improving Guinea-Bissau’s squad – the story of Jack C. 2.0”

Premier League Nuggets 2023/24

6 October MW7 RED MIST  Liverpool’s two red cards on Saturday night took their tally for the season to four in just seven matches, which is as many as they received in over four seasons. The previous four red cards spanned 167 matches and almost five years between James Milner being sent off in JanuaryContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”

Premier League Nuggets 2023/24

29 September – MW 6 BLADERUNNER There isn’t too much to offer as consolation to Sheffield United fans after their 8-0 shellacking at the hands of Newcastle on Sunday but here we go. The good news for Blades fans is that in the last twenty seasons only four times has the club that suffered theContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”

Premier League Nuggets 2023/24 – MW 5

22 September Week 5  TO THE BITTER END Both Tottenham and Aston Villa scored twice after the 96th minute of their matches, the latest in an increasingly long line of goals scored in 2nd half added time. There have been 18 goals scored this season after 90 minutes, 12% of overall total. Tottenham’s second goalContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24 – MW 5”

Going back to their roots

During his heyday Sergio Ramos would not have won many popularity contests outside his own club’s fanbase. As an exponent of the dark arts Ramos was irascible, spiky and often infuriating in his on field behaviour. His career was littered with various misdemeanours, including 28 red cards, 20 of which he received in La LigaContinue reading “Going back to their roots”