/export/clipworks/www/www.soccerclips.net/rss//blog.xml en-us Thu, 17 May 2012 02:34:01 +0200 http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/297-premier-league-gets-fittingly-fantastic-finale Thu, 17 May 2012 02:21:49 +0200  Well I think most of us are still trying to catch our breath after what must surely have been the most exciting finish in English football history. The fact there were so many season defining twists and turns within 90 minutes was a testament to just how close the various scenarios were and how competitive and tightly fought the Premier League has been on the whole. The way the season had gone so far, there were always going to be twists and turns on the final day. It was almost as if there was a script written to make it the most dramatic and enthralling spectacle that it could possibly be. ...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/297-premier-league-gets-fittingly-fantastic-finale http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/296-epl-musings-the-soccerclips-awards Mon, 14 May 2012 02:51:56 +0200  The overall quality of this year’s iteration of England’s top flight remains open to debate – Chelsea’s unlikely run to the Champions League Final notwithstanding – but there is no doubt that the run-in to the 2011/12 season has been one of the most enthralling in recent memory. Heading into the final weekend, three major places were up for grabs: city rivals Manchester City and Manchester United were duelling for the title; Arsenal, Tottenham, and Newcastle were fighting for third place and automatic Cham...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/296-epl-musings-the-soccerclips-awards http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/295-shinji-kagawa-the-next-great-hope Sun, 13 May 2012 00:35:22 +0200  This year's German Cup final afforded Shinji Kagawa with quite possibly the biggest platform he has ever been presented during his burgeoning career. A sellout crowd on hand at the Olympiastadion in Berlin; a matchup against Bayern Munich, the most successful club in the nation; an expectant Dortmund fanbase eagerly awaiting their club's first ever league-and-cup double; an adoring legion of fans in his homeland anticipating the kickoff well into the midnight hours. And just for good measure, one of the most iconic managers in football was in attendance, presumably to watch his every move....]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/295-shinji-kagawa-the-next-great-hope http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/294-rover-and-out Sat, 12 May 2012 15:32:52 +0200  It was a sad day for Blackburn Rovers supporters, players, coaching staff and everyone connected to the club, as a miserable season of disgruntlement, disappointment and despair was compounded by confirmation of their relegation from the top tier of English football. Following a 1-0 home defeat by drop-zone rivals Wigan, which, just to rub salt into the wound, guaranteed the Latics’ survival, Steve Kean’s Blackburn are destined for Championship football next term. Dropping out of the top flight is always a bitter pill to swallow for any set of fans from any club but the manner ...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/294-rover-and-out http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/293-epl-musings-toure-fires-city-to-brink-of-title Sun, 06 May 2012 21:09:14 +0200  Toure tallies twice on Tyneside Having edged last Monday’s Manchester derby, Roberto Mancini’s City side needed a victory at Newcastle on Sunday to complete a remarkable comeback and put them within a whisker of the Premier League title. It looked a tricky proposition; not only had the in-form Magpies won their last four home games without conceding, they also had their own ambitions of earning a Champions League berth to spur them on. The game began with the away side enjoying territorial dominance without creating too many clear-cut chances...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/293-epl-musings-toure-fires-city-to-brink-of-title http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/292-england-plump-for-hodgson-over-redknapp Sun, 06 May 2012 02:23:02 +0200  The decision to name West Brom supremo Roy Hodgson as the new England manager took fans, players, pundits and most connected to the game by surprise. The experienced 64-year-old got the nod despite much of the media coverage suggesting Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was the favourite. Hodgson does have the edge over Redknapp in terms of experience, his managerial career spanning 18 different teams, including three national sides, during a 36 year period and it is hard to argue with his track record of getting the best of the players he has to work with. But for many fans and certainly for the media...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/292-england-plump-for-hodgson-over-redknapp http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/291-who-is-destined-for-the-drop Thu, 03 May 2012 02:24:57 +0200  With just two games left of the Premier League season, the race to avoid the dreaded drop to the lowly, undesirable realms of the Championship is well and truly coming to the crunch. With Wolves so far the only team certain of playing their football outside of the top division next season, the battle for survival between the five other teams in danger is going to be an intriguing and enthralling fight to the finish. The team currently looking most like following in Wolves footsteps to doom at the moment is Blackburn Rovers. Steve Kean’s side sit second bottom on 31 points. In rea...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/291-who-is-destined-for-the-drop http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/290-epl-musings-martinez-moses-maul-magpies Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:05:46 +0200  Wigan width causes Toon torment Saturday’s game between Wigan and Newcastle featured two of the league’s most in-form teams, with the former making their annual late push to avoid the drop and the latter embroiled in an unlikely battle for Champions League football. One could reasonably have expected a closely-contested encounter settled by the odd goal, but the Latics had other ideas. Victor Moses struck twice in as many minutes to give the hosts ...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/290-epl-musings-martinez-moses-maul-magpies http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/289-who-will-win-the-title-race Sat, 28 Apr 2012 03:36:12 +0200  It’s been an epic season of twists and turns at the top end of the table so far and there could yet be more to come as the title race reaches a nail-biting climax with just three games left to go and just three points separating the two halves of Manchester, the red and the blue. And next up, the two meet head to head in what could potentially be a winner-takes-all contest. You couldn’t write this stuff! Back in October, Manchester City looked like they would run away with the title early on following their 6-1 demolition of United at Old Trafford. But despite falling behind, U...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/289-who-will-win-the-title-race http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/288-di-matteo-inspires-chelsea-revival Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:53:46 +0200  At the beginning of last month it seemed like Chelsea’s season was going to pot. They were in danger of crashing out of the Champions League at the first knockout stage following a 3-1 first-leg defeat at Napoli and their league form had been somewhat sketchy as they tried to cling onto fourth spot. The 1-0 defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion was the final straw for former manager Andre Villas-Boas. So what do you do when you need to save your season from disintegrating into nothing? Put the man who was sacked as manager of West Brom just over a year ago in charge of course. ...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/288-di-matteo-inspires-chelsea-revival http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/287-epl-musings-title-race-back-on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:50:53 +0200  Sloppy Red Devils surrender title race initiative Still stinging from a painful FA Cup semifinal defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool, David Moyes’ Everton side had little to play for but pride as they visited champions elect Manchester United on Sunday. The game was still seen as one of United’s trickiest remaining fixture (outside of next Monday’s Manchester derby, of course), and the Toffees caught Sir Alex Ferguson’s men off guard in the first half by pressing high up the pitch and taking the game to the hosts, rather than sitting deep and playing on the cou...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/287-epl-musings-title-race-back-on http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/286-big-decisions-big-mistakes-and-bias Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:34:19 +0200  We often hear the argument that bad decisions made by referees and their assistants even themselves out over the course of a season. So in theory, even though the officials are liable to make the odd mistake here and there that can alter the outcome of a match, it should all work out fairly for each team in the end. But the recent spate of officiating clangers in the Premier League has to raise a serious doubt as to whether that is the case.   Too many times lately the so called smaller club seems to have been let down by the referee or his assistant when they are up against one o...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/286-big-decisions-big-mistakes-and-bias http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/285-epl-musings-city-title-bid-shot-down-at-emirates Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:41:57 +0200  Arteta leaves City title bid on life support For all the talk of Manchester City’s strength in depth, their recent collapse has underlined their dependence on a handful of key players. Roberto Mancini’s side has looked wobbly at the back when either captain Vincent Kompany or his centre-back partner Joleon Lescott has been absent, and their current struggles have coincided with playmaker David Silva’s extended slump in form. Injury forced Silva out of Sunday’s trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal, and the visitors’ lack of creativity was more pronounced t...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/285-epl-musings-city-title-bid-shot-down-at-emirates http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/284-epl-musings-unhappy-return-for-carroll Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:22:46 +0200  Carroll and Co endure frustrating return to Newcastle An intriguing subplot to Sunday’s game between Newcastle and Liverpool was the presence of three ex-Magpies in the Reds starting lineup. £35 million man Andy Carroll was joined by Spaniard Jose Enrique – who made the unfortunate prediction that Newcastle would never finish in the top six upon leaving for Merseyside last summer – and Welshman Craig Bellamy. All three were predictably booed by the home fans throughout, and while Bellamy generally looked a threat out wide, left-back Enriqu...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/284-epl-musings-unhappy-return-for-carroll http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/283-title-tide-has-turned Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:06:58 +0200  Masters of the league title run-in, Manchester United, have moved three points ahead of their “noisy neighbours” to swing the odds of lifting that illustrious Premier League trophy in May firmly in their favour. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side could only manage the one goal against Fulham at Old Trafford but it was enough to claim a hard fought victory and a crucial one at that.   Wayne Rooney’s 29th goal of the season puts United in pole position with just eight games of the season remaining following Manchester City’s draw at Stoke. In typical fashion, United seem ...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/283-title-tide-has-turned http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/282-epl-musings-blues-held-by-spurs Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:15:30 +0200  Stamford Bridge stalemate keeps Blues adrift Chelsea and Tottenham entered Saturday’s London derby in contrasting form. The hosts had won their first four games under new manager Roberto di Matteo prior to Wednesday’s defeat at Manchester City, while Spurs had taken just a point from their last four league outings, slipping behind North London rivals Arsenal into fourth place for the first time since November. Nevertheless, the onus was on Chelsea, five points back in fifth, to claim all three points – a draw would maintain Tottenham’s cu...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/282-epl-musings-blues-held-by-spurs http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/281-gallant-gunners-go-down-with-a-fight Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:36:55 +0100  It would have been one of the most glorious comebacks in European football history if Arsenal had managed to overhaul the four goal deficit accrued after a dismal display at the San Siro in their Champions League first leg tie against AC Milan. The Gunners had it all to do after Milan had cruised to a comfortable win and picked them apart at will, leaving a feeling of dejection and disappointment within the ranks for Arséne Wenger’s men. Surely to expect a 4-0 win against a team which you have just lost to by that same margin is mission impossible, right?But the stage was set f...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/281-gallant-gunners-go-down-with-a-fight http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/280-epl-musings-city-slip-united-go-top Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:38:28 +0100  City relinquish lead after slipping at Swansea While their 100% home record had been just enough to keep them on top for much of the season, Manchester City’s poor recent form on their travels was a cause for real concern as they headed to the Liberty Stadium to face promoted Swansea. The Citizens had managed just two wins – pedestrian 1-0 victories at Wigan and Aston villa – in their last seven away games before Sunday’s encounter. With defending champions and city rivals Manchester United finally hitting their stride, a significant imp...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/280-epl-musings-city-slip-united-go-top http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/279-epl-musings-gunners-red-devils-steal-wins Sun, 04 Mar 2012 23:33:01 +0100  Reds robbed by ruthless Robin As they prepared for the visit of fourth-place Arsenal on Saturday, Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool must have been casting even more envious glances than most at the form of Gunners’ skipper Robin van Persie. Despite their unbeaten record at home, frustration has been the dominant theme at Anfield, with an inability to convert dominance and chances into goals resulting in eight draws and just 14 goals from 12 games. Van Persie has been the league’s most prolific goalscorer by some distance despite an erratic supply ...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/279-epl-musings-gunners-red-devils-steal-wins http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/278-epl-musings-gunners-stun-spurs-in-thrilling-derby Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:41:44 +0100  Spurs crumble as Gunners stage spectacular rally With just over half an hour gone in Sunday’s North London derby, Arsenal’s nightmare week looked set to be extended to a fortnight. Tottenham had just taken a 2-0 lead thanks to ex-Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor, who ignored the abuse of his former fans to coolly slot home from the spot. Louis Saha had opened the scoring with a deflected effort after the hosts charitably allowed him to waltz thro...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/278-epl-musings-gunners-stun-spurs-in-thrilling-derby http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/277-have-the-fa-shot-themselves-in-the-foot Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:51:50 +0100  Fabio Capello’s resignation from his role as England manager came as a sudden and unexpected slap in the face for the national game. With Euro 2012 just around the corner, it could leave England in all sorts of trouble come showtime. Will the FA be able to find an adequate replacement in that short space of time? It’s clear that Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is the peoples’ choice to take over, but what if he turns it down? Then they really will be in a spot of bother, with no other real, obvious candidate in the running.   Capello’s decision to quit came after the FA took it ...]]> http://www.soccerclips.net/football-blog/277-have-the-fa-shot-themselves-in-the-foot