As the thirtieth Premier League season is over, it is high time for some Nuggets, all 30 of them firstly club-by-club, and then some generic ones. 1. Starting with Arsenal who lost more games (13) than Brighton (11) & Palace (12) but won more (22) than Chelsea (21). 2. Next up it’s Aston Villa –Continue reading “Premier League Nuggets”
Category Archives: Newcastle United
Is the Premier League Manager of the Month cursed?
NB This is a fuller version of the piece published in the Guardian on 7th April, with added information A myriad of myths that swirl throughout football, some of which hold credence, such as ‘The Law of the Ex’ that dictates more often than not that strikers will score against their former clubs. Another ofContinue reading “Is the Premier League Manager of the Month cursed?”
Own Goal of the season – the Richard Dunne trophy
Stats c/o premierleague.com Inspired by the prospect of the 1,000th Premier League own goal being imminent towards the end of last season I wrote several pieces on football’s brand of self-inflicted wounds. Starting with this one in February https://bit.ly/3dNMEo4, followed by Part two in March https://bit.ly/3cr5Rem and culminating with the finale in April https://bit.ly/3uWihkQ. HatsContinue reading “Own Goal of the season – the Richard Dunne trophy”
Friday Morning Nuggets – Matchweek 14
In a break with tradition, today’s blog post is a selection of the seven tastiest Nuggets from MW14 as there was a full round of midweek action to delve into. Plus a gentle reminder that you still have time to buy this year’s ‘must have’ Christmas gift for all football fans: the revised edition ofContinue reading “Friday Morning Nuggets – Matchweek 14”
Palace banner protest against Newcastle’s new owners
Two weeks ago I wrote about the takeover of Newcastle United that was funded primarily by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. “The link with Saudi’s PIF, which is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman opened up accusations of sportswashing. Much of this condemnation has stemmed from human rights groups such as Amnesty UK who,Continue reading “Palace banner protest against Newcastle’s new owners”
Sportswashing doesn’t wash with Geordies
A few years ago Palace were playing Newcastle at Selhurst and there was the customary sizeable following from the North east. The game itself, a pedestrian goalless draw, did not live long in the memory, but one particular aspect that occurred off the field did. At one stage Mike Ashley was spotted in the standsContinue reading “Sportswashing doesn’t wash with Geordies”
The Premier League abroad – A step too far?
Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash When John Buchan wrote his most famous book in 1915, he probably did not envisage that his indomitable hero Richard Hannay might be a precedent for the machinations of English top-flight football a century on. In “The Thirty-Nine Steps” Hannay’s enduring ability to avoid the tightest of scrapes with the forces ofContinue reading ” The Premier League abroad – A step too far? “
Queens Park Book Festival with Pat Nevin and Ricky Hill
At last weekend’s Queens Park Book Festival I had the pleasure of hosting a football panel with Pat Nevin and Ricky Hill, who both had books published earlier this year. A common theme that unites the two former internationals is that, for different reasons, both were considered as outsiders within the football world, for exampleContinue reading “Queens Park Book Festival with Pat Nevin and Ricky Hill”
Down, Down, Down – Why relegation already being decided is a pity
When Sam Allardyce finally lost his oft-quoted record of never being relegated from the Premier League there were quite a few people revelling in a spot of Schadenfreude. The memory of his grubby dethronement as England boss allied with his uncompromising and prickly persona combined to make him one of the least likeable managers. EarlierContinue reading “Down, Down, Down – Why relegation already being decided is a pity”
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.”
The Football Mine 