Ralph Hassenhüttl did not mince his words after the 9-0 shellacking Southampton suffered at Old Trafford on Tuesday. “We lost again in a horrible way,” the Austrian admitted, after this nightmarish déjà vu came back to haunt his team, having been similarly humbled at home by Leicester last season. “The same story, one man downContinue reading “Saints Alive”
Author Archives: richardfoster60
A tale of two owners and their under-performing managers.
While not exactly being two peas in a pod, Mike Ashley and Roman Abramovich do share a trait besides being very wealthy owners of football clubs. Both are extremely reticent when dealing with the media; curt would be a polite way of describing their attitude. And as Newcastle and Chelsea have been struggling recently, inevitablyContinue reading “A tale of two owners and their under-performing managers.”
Half-term report: No fans, plenty of pens and tightest of title races
At this stage last season Liverpool were already thirteen points ahead of their nearest rivals, Leicester City. While the second half of the season was not exactly a walk in the (Stanley) park, there was the sense of an orderly procession towards their first league championship for thirty years and that elusive Premier League title.Continue reading “Half-term report: No fans, plenty of pens and tightest of title races”
The Kids are Alright
The FA Cup third round is often portrayed as the most exciting weekend of the football calendar. It’s when David gets to meet Goliath as the Premier League clubs join the fray and non-league clubs have the chance of playing against the elite. This year’s competition threw up a few such contests with the mostContinue reading “The Kids are Alright”
Footballers’ flaws in flouting the laws
If there is one thing that really gets my goat it is when people describe professional footballers as pampered prima donnas. This stereotype ignores the fact that all these players are operating at the very height of their profession, and a highly competitive profession at that. They have reached that point through hard work andContinue reading “Footballers’ flaws in flouting the laws”
Brentford’s wartime Final: a missing player, Wembley success and a missing trophy
As soon as Brentford had despatched Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final talk centred around the club’s first-ever appearance in a major semi-final in their 131-year history. The Bees’ trophy cabinet is not exactly bursting at the seams but even though this will be their debut in the last four of the two mainContinue reading “Brentford’s wartime Final: a missing player, Wembley success and a missing trophy”
Is Allardyce’s return a step towards normality?
There is something faintly reassuring about Sam Allardyce being appointed to rescue a club that looks destined for the drop. It has happened a few times before and no doubt will happen again. In this season of all seasons perhaps this is what we all need, some familiarity, a return to what we perceive ofContinue reading “Is Allardyce’s return a step towards normality?”
Kenny Sansom’s fight against his demons and dementia
Kenny Sansom was one of my first football heroes. He made his debut as a 16-year-old and was described by club historian Reverend Nigel Sands as “the first tangible product of the youth policy instituted by Malcolm Allison…and was unquestionably Palace’s best ever left-back.” He was an integral member of that enticing, exciting “Team ofContinue reading “Kenny Sansom’s fight against his demons and dementia”
“We Are the Geordies” – a film about fans for fans by fans.
Football documentaries have become all the rage. In quick succession came the “All or Nothing” series at both Manchester City, charting their record-breaking 2017/18 season, and at Tottenham, which coincided with the arrival of Jose Mourinho in November 2019. Before either of those we had the ultimate car crash viewing that was “Sunderland ’til IContinue reading ““We Are the Geordies” – a film about fans for fans by fans.”
Shot to pieces: The strange tale of Spencer Trethewy
As rumours continue to circulate and strengthen about 23 year-old Frenchman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ interest in taking a majority shareholding in their club, Sunderland fans should take note of a cautionary tale from 30 years ago. In 1990 an even younger man came to rescue Aldershot FC. Spencer Trethewy was still a teenager, although already aContinue reading “Shot to pieces: The strange tale of Spencer Trethewy”
The Football Mine 