For the inaugural Premier League season under Brian Clough, Nottingham Forest brought in only two players who commanded a transfer fee – Neil Webb returned to the City Ground from Manchester United for £800,000 while Robert Rosario cost about half that from Coventry City, giving a total spend of £1.2 million. Thirty years on andContinue reading “Will Forest’s frantic transfer activity succeed?”
Category Archives: Premier League
Premier League Nuggets
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”
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?”
Friday morning Nuggets Matchweek 20
Liverpool had been on a run of 21 consecutive successful penalty conversions (Mo Salah scoring 15 of those) before Kasper Schmeichel saved his spot kick on Tuesday. His previous miss was over four years ago against Huddersfield on 28 October 2017. Mark Noble did not miss from the spot against Watford and his 27th successfulContinue reading “Friday morning Nuggets Matchweek 20”
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”
Managerial Merry-Go-Round: Episode 6
Photo c/o larry_rw Unsplash.com The managerial merry-go-round shows no signs of slowing down, indeed it appears to be gathering pace. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s dismissal was the sixth in the Premier League this season and we are only in Week 12, so less than a third of the way through. By contrast there were only fourContinue reading “Managerial Merry-Go-Round: Episode 6”
Burnley – the clean Clarets reach 100 Premier League matches without a red card
Photo by Nathan Rogers on Unsplash Burnley fans will not have been exactly cock-a-hoop after they were held to a goalless draw against bottom-of-the-table, the previously porous and pointless Norwich City. But there was a small milestone for them to celebrate at Turf Moor. Burnley completed their 100th consecutive Premier League match without a red card. For aContinue reading “Burnley – the clean Clarets reach 100 Premier League matches without a red card”
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? “
The 300 Club Part Two: Noble by name, nobleman by nature
As West Ham were cruising to an emphatic 4-1 victory over Leicester they indulged themselves in one of those prolonged sessions of keep ball, with each successive pass greeted by the joyous olés of the home crowd. There were only two minutes remaining and it looked as though this could go on until the finalContinue reading “The 300 Club Part Two: Noble by name, nobleman by nature”
How Gareth Southgate’s qualities have restored pride
Where to start? After 55 years England have made it to a Final. I was alive when we last did it but have a very sketchy recollection of watching the game at home with my parents and elder brother on our black-and-white television. My abiding memory was going to see the official FIFA film “Goal!”,Continue reading “How Gareth Southgate’s qualities have restored pride”
The Football Mine 