Tag: Premier League

  • The oddities of football management in England

    The oddities of football management in England

    A New Year’s Day family gathering – at which there are three televisions on duty – spanning World Championship Darts, a Premier League match and one in the English Championship – is not where you’d expect one of the greatest legends ever to grace the GAA to enter your mind. Now read on… But here…

  • God help the janitor with United like a toilet seat

    God help the janitor with United like a toilet seat

    I have little or no recollection of the 1991/’92 English soccer season, other than that it was the last in the format of the old First Division prior to the inception of the Premier League. That a Leeds United side managed by Howard Wilkinson and backboned by players such as Tony Dorigo, David Battie, Gary…

  • Dunboyne’s Keeley swaps his Spurs for a taste of the Orient

    Dunboyne’s Keeley swaps his Spurs for a taste of the Orient

    It’s highly unlikely Josh Keeley has ever been clad in spurs or a Stetson, but even if he has been, he may hang them up for the time being. The big Dunboyne goalkeeper having marked another career step when being loaned out by Tottenham to League One outfit Leyton Orient for the remainder of the…

  • If the mighty hadn’t fallen ten Hag would be unemployed by now

    If the mighty hadn’t fallen ten Hag would be unemployed by now

    Throughout my lifetime to date, I have been fortunate to see some of the greatest managers to ever practice their trade across several sporting codes. From Sean Boylan, Mick O’Dwyer and Jim Gavin, to Brian Cody, Liam Sheedy and John Kiely in hurling, or Six Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho in soccer. Then…

  • Dyche’s men plunged into a ditch

    Dyche’s men plunged into a ditch

    Everton’s season – and potentially their Premier League future – has been tossed into turmoil by the revelation that the Toffees have been deducted 10 league points. The stunning development comes on foot an investigation having found the Goodison Park Club to be in breach of financial regulations. What’s bound to anger blues boss Sean…

  • Signs they might be about to Mount a genuine challenge again

    Signs they might be about to Mount a genuine challenge again

    For as long as I have been properly atuned to goings on in soccer – in England in particular – Manchester United have been linked to whoever the top talent in football happens to be at a given time. Now read on… From Alan Shearer to Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane and…

  • There are none so blind as those who do not wish to see

    There are none so blind as those who do not wish to see

    Many years ago, I made the naive mistake of riling up a Glasgow Celtic supporter. Not in a remotely sectarian way. Just regarding the merits – or lack thereof as was the viewpoint here – of Aiden McGeady remaining with the hoops rather than going to a ‘better’ club. You can dress it up any…

  • Can Potter turn magician and save his own skin?

    Can Potter turn magician and save his own skin?

    When this writer was growing up, only two Chelsea fans were known of. One most definitely still is – as are the following generations of his family – and there’s no reason to think the other party has lost the faith. Supporters like that are greatly admired. Fans who have seen both sides of the…

  • A case for belief

    A case for belief

    Manchester United… 2 Newcastle United… 0 It doesn’t happen too often, but when a gut feeling turns out to be right it adds another layer of glow to any success which may accrue from what the hunch was. The arrival and impact of Casemiro at Old Trafford fits snugly into the above bracket. It will…

  • Toffees in a sticky situation of their own making

    Toffees in a sticky situation of their own making

    No matter what the sport, there will be characters who will forever be intrinsically linked to particular entities therein. For example, Kobe Bryant with the LA Lakers or Gary Neville being a one club man at Manchester United, Cian Healy in the blue of Leinster Rugby or Ruby Walsh aboard a Willie Mullins-trained horse. It’s…