There are approximately 34,200 minutes of football in a Premier League season - that the title wasn't decided until the last four merely illustrates what a remarkable finale it was.
Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 30::City rollercoast to title’.
Just one game left and yet things are fair from finalised. With City's impressive 2-0 win at St James' Park and United's very comfortable 2-0 win over Swansea the title race goes into the final weekend unchanged - just 8 goals between the two Manchester rivals.
None of the next 6 clubs won which means that 3rd spot was taken out of Arsenal's hands and then put firmly back in thanks to a draw for Spurs and losses for Newcastle and Chelsea.
And as for relegation, Blackburn Rovers was finally put out of its misery - by Wigan appropriately - but who'll be the third club is still down to Bolton and QPR?
At least we know who won the FA Cup. Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 29::Lone Rangers’ point to save United?’.
A week of a new England coach, stunning results, incredible goals and a new record by Mark Clattenberg for the most handballs missed in a single game – although at least he was consistent. Wolves manager Terry Connor was almost in tears again, this time from pride after seeing his relegated side battle back from [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 28::Wonders never Cisse!’.
The margins between success and failure are often so very thin. Lionel Messi hits that penalty just a couple of inches lower and it’s 3-1 Barca and goodnight Chelsea; instead it’s the Blues taking on Bayern Munich at the Allianz. Patrice Evra buries his header from only 4 yards and it’s 5-2 and Man Utd [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 27::Fine margins, feint rules’.
In the week that has seen Fabrice Muamba discharged from hospital but Piermario Morosini collapse and die in a Serie B game, Chris talks to Chris Semsarisan, Professor of Medicine at Sydney University, Head of the Molecular Cardiology Programme at the Centenary Institute and Cardiologist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital about the causes and [...] Read more – ‘Extra Time::The Causes and Risks of Sudden Death in Football’.
Another week of controversy and an amazing result by Wigan. The controversy started at Wembley before a ball was kicked with the Chelsea fans not observing the minutes silence and continued with the goal that never was – even with the naked eye. It then reared its ugly head at Old Trafford where Ashley Young [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 26::Nobody good dives Young’.
Even by their own standards, Wigan are going to quite extraordinary lengths to remain in the Premier League. In the last 4 games, they have won for the first time ever at Anfield and have beaten Man Utd after 14 successive losses to their more illustrious North West neighbours and it might just save them yet again.
It also rekindled Man City fans' hope that the title race is not all done and dusted although publicly at least, their manager Roberto Mancini is saying it's over but as his namesake at the DW will tell him, it's never over until the maths says it is. Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 25::If anyone can, Wigan’.
Another emotional week in the Premier League. At Villa Park it was all about Stiliyan Petrov, Villa's captain diagnosed with acute Leukaemia on Friday - whilst at Moulineau, Goodison Park and Eastlands it just seemed to be the pressure of Premier League football that had teammates from Wolves, West Brom and Man City confronting each other, whilst at St James Park perhaps it was just bitter disappointment and frustration that caused Pepe Reina's brainsnap. Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 24::Reina knocked off Perch’.
Peter Crouch is not exactly the first name that springs to mind as a potential source of a 25-yard screamer but a screamer it was, following a sublime first touch, in a play where the ball didn’t touch the ground from the keeper’s hands until it slid down the back of Joe Jart’s net. It’s [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 23::Crouch ensures City don’t rule Britannia’.
Before Saturday probably only fans of Arsenal, Birmingham and Bolton, plus those who take in an interest in the England U21 set-up were really familiar with Fabrice Muamba – now practically everyone in the football world knows his extraordinary story. Many claim that this puts football into perspective – meaning that it is just a [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 22::More than just a game’.
A week of turnarounds: Chelsea win only their second game in their last seven, Bolton stop a run of four consecutive losses, whilst Man City reversed that trend by losing after four consecutive wins, and Liverpool turn the form guide on its head to comfortably win the Merseyside derby. All with big implications for the [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 21::Rangers with mountain to climb’.
It's a truism of football that no matter how well you play, if you don't take your chances then you will likely be punished. Spurs punishment is to be dumped from the title race; Liverpool's no Champions League next season and QPR's to still be embroiled in the relegation battle.
All bad enough but arguably rather than the punishment meted out to Villas-Boas after squandered chances saw Chelsea lose 1-0 to West Bromich Albion. Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 20::WBA win, AVB out’.
A welcome return for the Premier League after an FA Cup induced break and whilst it was business as usual for Manchester's Utd and City there's debate to be had as to whether Arsenal's 5-2 thrashing of Spurs was more of a surprise than West Brom's 4-0 drubbing of Sunderland or Wolves rescuing of a point after being 2-0 down at St James' Park, or Fulham grabbing all 3 points with a rare away win over QPR. Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 19::Defining Derby Just a Blur’.
AW and AVB may well have preferred a Premier League schedule this week – instead poor results in the FA Cup and midweek in the Champions League have only added to fuel to the fire that licks at the careers of these two managers. AW is staring at an 8th consecutive season without a trophy [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 18::Arsenal and Chelsea Cup Runneth Empty’.
Someone up the chain was banging heads at Anfield, apologies that were long overdue were issued and perhaps finally we can all move on from the Suarez Evra affair. The Premier League certainly cannot be accused of being dull. So much drama, intrigue, revenge, humiliation, anger, redemption, adolation, controversy and contrition, some of it actually [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 17::Liverpool emerge from Suarez banal crisis’.
For some reason, currently known only to Steve Keem, Blackburn ran onto the Emirates turf without either of their first choice centre-halves: Chris Samba was not picked, despite being fit, and Ryan Nelson inexplicably had his contract cancelled so that he could join Spurs on a free transfer. It cannot be coincidence then that Rovers [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 16::A Game Without Two Halves’.
A shock result then at Goodison Park as Manchester United old boy Darren Gibson scored the only goal and had the Old Trafford crowd singing his name and allowed United to draw level on points with City and a mere 6 goals behind. Naturally, there’s talk of what this means for the title race, especially [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 15::Toffees give City plenty to chew over’.
It was a game of two halves at Eastlands with all 5 goals, forearms and stamps coming in an explosive second half and it was a similar story at Craven Cottage where Fulham contrived to lose the first half 1-0 but win the second 5-1. Football is indeed, a funny old game and this week [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 14::Games of Two Halves’.
In a week where talk was dominated by officiating decisions, we find plenty of other topics: Was Blackburn’s win over Fulham, without Samba and for 67 minutes without Yakubu, the best performance by any team this season, and is it, more importantly a turning point for the troubled Lancashire club? After two eye-catching performances is [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 13::Rovers dance despite no Samba’.
So, it’s an almost blasphemous misquote of John and Yoko but it does go to prove that the festive period isn’t tidings of comfort and joy all round. This is a bumper edition with much to cover, including: Neil Warnock’s sacking at QPR – was it just that they didn’t trust him with 30 million? [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 12 :: Happy Xmas, War(nock) is over’.
It’s that time of year again, with a stack of games that go a long way to sorting out the wheat from the chaff, or more appropriately the Premiership from the Championship. Or the worshipped from the vilified. Or the title contenders from the also-rans. So amongst this smorgasbord of festive fixtures we mull over [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 11::The Christmas Special’.
This week we discovered the scariest place in the Premier League. No, not the Man Utd dressing room after a bad loss but the defensive wall when John Arne Riise is lining up a free-kick. That game also caused Chris to relive his particularly traumatic last game in England but he manages to overcome the [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 10::The Premier League’s scariest place’.
Whilst in the North West, Steve Kean can keep his job despite being bottom of the table, be facing a growing fan protest and claiming he forfeited a League Cup quarter-final against a Championship side, in the North East, two fans, a pathetic sign and a loss to Wigan was enough to dislodge Steve Bruce [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 9::Bruce Short Changed’.
The death of Gary Speed reminded us all, once again, that football is just a game and that even those who in our eyes seem to have it all, can still feel as though they have nothing. With those sombre thoughts hanging in the air, we ponder: Was there more to the draw between the [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 8::Just a game’.
This week will long be remembered for referee Andre Mariner and his 2 officials allowing Pedersen for to dribble a corner into the penalty area for Blackburn's second goal against Wigan. Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 7::Mariner all at sea’.
No Prem games to review so plenty of room for aimless chatter about Swansea, the difference in the Man Utd squads of 1991 and 2011, England's shock win over Spain, David Beckham's future, Barca President Sandro Rosell's reasoning for 16 team competitions, the bizarre renaming of St James Park and our predictions for hte weekend. Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 6::The Direct Sports Edition’.
No doubt around 70,000 people at Old Trafford were thanking ex-Utd defender Wes Brown as his own goal ensured that Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his Silver Jubliee with a win. Elsewhere, after talking up strikers on last week’s show, many went out of their way to prove just how fallible they really are, with Messrs [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 5::Brown ensures Silver celebration’.
Chris’ 4-month lap around Oz is over and so we are back! This week we ponder: Just why results have gone completely mad – is it a dearth of defenders or a glut of attackers? Can Man City maintain their status at the top of the table and is Mancini’s biggest challenge maintaining team harmony? [...] Read more – ‘2011/12 Show 4::An almost perfect 10’.
Sorry guys – life getting in the way again hence, no show for a few weeks. Andrew and I babble our way through another review/preview (throw in the odd bit of gossip) for another show. Download show (mp3) Read more – ‘Show 3 – Rovers Return…’.
Well, last weekend’s fixtures saw the comback of the three promoted clubs who now find themselves with their first points of the season. Join in the yadda when we discuss all the weekend’s fixtures, transfer goss and tips for this weekends games. Download show (mp3) Read more – ‘Show 2 – Bounce back…’.
Well, we’re finally back and raring(?) to tackle another EPL season which we hope will be as tight and involve more clubs vying for the coveted crown of English Champions than last season. With Chris on holiday sabbatical for the next couple of months both Andrew and I will attempt to bring you a somewhat [...] Read more – ‘Show 1 – Welcome to the marathon…’.
Points that is. And it’s amazing just how often that is the magic figure. It was nerve-jangling and many fans went threw the ringer as the relegation situation changed no less than 14 times in 90 minutes of game time on Sunday. In the end, it was losses for Blackpool and Birmingham that meant they [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 39:Life begins at 40’.
So said the BBC website, but it probably wasn’t together and each side of Manchester was probably a bit miffed that the other side had intruded on its day. In the end, the result at Ewood Park didn’t matter to Manchester United, as Chelsea could only manage a draw at home to Newcastle. As it [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 38:Manchester celebrates!’.
If Manchester United fail to win their 19th title now, it will spark a match-fixing investigation. Six points ahead with two games to play, it’s as good as theirs. Perhaps no surprise there, given their brilliant home form (only 2 points dropped so far this season) and their generally consistent away form. They’ve lost only [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 37:Blues not lit, decider a fizzer’.
Apparently, Arsenal’s defeat of Manchester United at Emirates on Sunday has blown the title race “wide open”. By “wide open” the pundits mean that now Chelsea have a chance although to take that chance they have to win at Old Trafford where Utd are undefeated this season, have won 16 out of 17 games and [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 36:Title race blown slightly ajar’.
Four games to go and Manchester United find themselves on the verge of a 19th League Title, a 12th Premier League Title and a 4th title in 5 seasons. Some may point to the number of games that Utd have either won or saved in the last 10 minutes and claim there’s luck involved. But [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 35:United they stand’.
Look back over this season and you’ll see that Manchester United are top of the table by six points from Arsenal because whilst United have been winning or saving games in the last 15 minutes, the Gunners have been dropping points. And so it proved again on Sunday, with Dirk Kuyt’s penalty, although to be [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 34::No sunny-side up for Rovers’.
For the first time, in a long time, the weekend’s games all pretty much went to form. Some games perhaps went too much to form. Liverpool’s win over Man City was far too easy and curiously Mancini came out and took full responsibility – whatever that means. According to the Italian the game was lost [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 33::True to form’.
Eight games left for 16 of the 20 Premier League sides and whilst the top 3 looks pretty set, the order is still far from clear and as for who will finish below the relegation Plimsol line, well, that could still be any 3 from the bottom half of the table. interesting, then to take [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 31:Eight with destiny’.
Either this season’s Premier League is the best we’ve seen in its 19 year history or the footballing stock that the English national team has to call on is in dire straights as 8 of England’s 22-man squad for the World Cup qualifier against Wales this weekend are from clubs threatened by relegation. Or, perhaps [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 30:Houllier not au fait’.
It’s still all about momentum and how you maintain it. For some, like West Brom, it’s about sustaining it over a free weekend – no easy task when at the bottom of the table it’s results that keep you going. For others, like West Ham, it’s about how much a cup game defeat can impact [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 29:Staying on a roll’.
Since Scott Parker gave his team-mates that half-time talking to, West Ham have scored 14 goals in League and Cup and conceded only 2. They’ve got it. Since Roy Hodgson took over as manager of West Brom, the Baggies have taken 5 points from 3 games, culminating in the 3-1 away win at local rivals [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 28:The secret ingredient…’.
If last week was the first week that you’d ever watched the Premier League then it would no doubt come as a major surprise that West Ham and Wolves were in danger of being relegated, such was the comprehensiveness of their wins. But in the bottom 3 they are and the reason is that they [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 27:Not losing wins survival’.
Only 3 games in the Premier League this week thanks to the FA Cup but they provided some significant results. On Sunday, the draw between West Brom and Wolves might have felt like a win for the Baggies given the lateness of their equaliser but it must have quickly dawned on coaches and players alike [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 26:Wolves late howlers’.
So what happened to Show 24? Well someone, who shall remain nameless but is a co-host and isn’t Mark, forgot to press record last week. So, the Premier League stages its whackiest week ever and you don’t get to hear our take on it. Sorry about that. Old dogs and new tricks and all that. [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 25:Six of the West’.
The thing about the January transfer window is that it pretty much turns the Premier League season into a season of two halves. Kenny Dalglish has pulled a masterstroke in getting Chelsea to pay fifty million for the still under-performing Fernando Torres and has used that cash and a little bit more to buy the [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 23::A Season of Two Halves’.
A point earned or 2 points dropped? Half the teams in the Premier League were asking themselves this question after half the weekend’s games ended in stalemate. Utd were probably happier than Spurs; Sunderland were definitely happier than Newcastle; Birmingham more content than Villa. Fulham just felt it was business as usual. Given that Liverpool [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 22::Anfield not enjoying the drop of Reds’.
The Holiday Season: lots of games in no time at all and a chance for someone to make a move but it keeping with the season so far there are only thing that’s consistent is the lack of consistency. No-one sums this up better than Wolves. They follow-up losing to relegation rivals Wigan with a [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 21::United’s title to lose’.
It’s that time of year again. Four games in ten days means mayhem a plenty for most. This could be the most important festive season for Arsenal for many seasons as they take on both Chelsea and Man City in their set of four, both at the Emirates. If they win both then it’s a [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 20::The Jolly Man In Red’.
We just had long enough to take in the trials and tribulations of Carlos Tevez and his homesickness before, bam, another manager got his marching orders, this time Sam Allardyce. And we thought Chris Hughton’s demise was a shock. Seems like Big Sam just isn’t glamorous enough for the Venky’s and they want someone who [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 19::Wham bam, thank you Sam’.
If it were Avram Grant, Mick McCarthy or even Carlo Ancelotti it would be disappointing but fathomable. But for the first managerial casualty of the season to be Chris Hughton, with Newcastle sitting a respectable 11th in the league defies logic. Except that Newcastle is seemingly run on anti-logic. The Club reckoned they need someone [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 18::Looney Toons at it again’.
It was the first time ever in the Premier League that every team scored. Not that that was much consolation for Liverpool, Aston Villa, Wigan, Sunderland, Everton and Blackburn. Especially Rovers. Not much consolation either for the club that was dominating the Premier League just a few short weeks ago and has simply evaporated exactly [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 17::Snow flakes in Hell’.
Just as we made our 200th appearance for Team AGOTH, so Solomon Kalou also made his 200th appearance for Chelsea. The Blues also had 200 attempts on goal but had a zero success rate which means that we probably had a better time of it. Another week and another twist in this twisty-turny of a [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 16::Brought to you by the number 200’.
It’s difficult to overstate the enormity of Sunderland’s triumph at The Bridge. And not that they edged it – you name the stat they were better and three better in the only stat that counts. Chelsea’s faltering, that’s 2 losses in 3 games, means that Arsenal are back in the hunt as are Utd and [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 15::Stamford Bridge is falling down!’.
Dirk Kuyt makes a return for Liverpool and what happens? The real Fernando Torres scores two goals, the Reds beat the Blues and suddenly the run away leaders are only 2 points clear at the top. And who knows what the table will look like with 2 games in 5 days? Download show (mp3). Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 14::A-Live-r-pool’.
It seems not a week can go by in the Premier League without a controversy and this week it was Nani’s goal in the game at Old Trafford. Spurs keeper Gomes was presumably looking for a place to hide despite poor officiating and joining him would have been a considerable number of those connected with [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 13::Nightmare for Black Cats’.
A week is clearly a long time in football. Long enough to go from wanting to leave a club to signing a new 5 year deal. The Big 4 all win, Arsenal at City’s expense and Liverpool by a country mile over Blackburn but still remain in the bottom 3 but at least the memories [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 12::Was it only a week?’.
Apologies for the late show – trouble fielding a full-team but luckily local listener Mark Rigby has strapped on his boots. And, being a Man Utd fan also, he has plenty to say about Rooney and his taking on of SAF in a PR battle, and Liverpool and their mini-crisis but not so much about [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 11 :: Looney Rooney?’.
It’s a week of reckoning for Liverpool, not on the pitch but in the courts as Hicks attempt to become the most loathed man in the history of English football moves to the High Court. And waiting at the end of the week is a Merseyside derby. Quite how Roy Hodgson and his team can [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 10 :: Hicks courts infamy’.
It was a black weekend indeed for Liverpool fans as a 2-1 loss to Blackpool saw the Reds fall into the bottom 3 and record their worst start to league campaign since 1953. They were relegated that season. Meanwhile, United’s draw at the Stadium of Light and Arsenal’s loss to Chelsea sees the Blues extend [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 9 :: It’s all black for the reds’.
Difficult to know where to start. West Brom’s win, Liverpool’s first goal, City beating Chelsea. Utd struggling against Bolton. A strange weekend indeed. Download mp3 Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 8 :: One Bizarre Weekend’.
Five wins out of five and a goal difference of plus 20. Three players in the top 5 scorers in the Premier League, it’s a two-tier league at the moment with 19 teams in the bottom tier. Download mp3 Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 7::Chelsea an irresistible force’.
No thumping scores this weekend, thank goodness, and arguably the most impressive result was Wigan’s 1-0 win over Spurs at White Hart Lane. Download mp3 Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 4 :: Wigan bounce back’.
What a start to the season. And whilst it could have been the pool of Liver that was singing it was the pool of Black who had a fairytale return to top flight English football. Download mp3. Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 2 :: The new Pool is Black’.
Ah, the dreams, no matter how fragile are all still in tact. Like 20 green bottles sitting on a wall, just waiting to accidentally fall. It’s the start of a new English Premier League season and here we go again, our 5th season. We’ll give our top 4 and our bottom 3 and hopefully are [...] Read more – ‘2010/11 Show 1 – A new season begins!’.
So Spain win their first ever World Cup and go from biggest underachievers to concurrent European and World Champions. Some two years. We look back on the 2010 World Cup Final and the competition itself, discuss the surprise packages and the flops. Download mp3 Read more – ‘Show 8 :: The Wrap-Up’.
It’s one drama after another at this World Cup as the quarter-finals throw up controversy, an astonishing performance from Germany, the near-demolition of South American hopes and the most dramatic ending to a football match possibly ever. Download mp3 Read more – ‘WC Show 7 – Review of Quarter-Finals’.
With 7 of the group winners all progressing to the quarter-finals, the Round of 16 definitely went with form which is probably why Group C qualifiers England and the USA found themselves on an early flight home. That’s about all they have in common. Ghana continue to overachieve and now they have a real chance [...] Read more – ‘WC Show 6 – Round of 16 Review’.
What odds on last time’s finalists going out in the group stages? Whilst France wasn’t such a surprise, Italy was a real shock but fair play to Slovakia. So, it’s into the Round of 16 and South America is flying high with all 5 teams through. Africa has been disappointing and Europe certainly not dominant [...] Read more – ‘WC Show 5 – End Of Group Stage’.
So someone flicked a magic switch between round 1 and round 2 and now there’s more goals and more yellow cards and more simulation than you can poke a stick at. And if New Zealand’s exploits weren’t dramatic enough, there’s the French. A review of round 2 and a head-hurting review of the final group [...] Read more – ‘WC Show 4 – Round 2 Review’.
So the ball’s too round and vuvuzuelas are too loud and Brazil weren’t pretty, but…Japan secures a first ever WC win on foreign soil, New Zealand its first ever WC point and Switzerland beat raging favourites Spain. How’s that for a start? Of course, if you are Greek or Australian then there’s probably little that [...] Read more – ‘WC Show 3 :: Week 1 Wrap-Up’.
Having got through last week’s warm-up show unscathed, which is more than can be said for a whole host of players, we tackle the second and, it must be said, superior, half of the draw. For reasons best known to FIFA, we find Brazil and Portugal, ranked 2 and 4 in the same group with [...] Read more – ‘WC Show 2 :: The Better Half’.
It can't have escaped the likes of Germany, England and France that the World Cup draw is decidedly lop-sided with with a potential path to semi-finals involving none of the top 5 teams in the competition.
So, opportunity knocks but for whom? We look at Groups A - D and it appears to be plain sailing for the big boys, a potential capsizing for Argentina whilst Australia could well be sinking. Read more – ‘WC Show 1 :: Groups A – D, The Lesser Half’.
More like ha ha in Wigan’s case who obviously didn’t get the EPL’s memo about putting up a decent performance in order to provide a close finish. Still, that would begrudge Chelsea their right in earning this year’s title – we reckon they were the best team this time around so congrats to them. We [...] Read more – ‘Show 37 :: Last Hurrah…’.
Funny title given we’re at the last round of fixtures for this season of the EPL but, we reckon Fulham FC are stealing the – now fading – limelight from the title race which looks nigh on over. I’m sure we’ll all be up next week (it’s very early morning for us in Oz) cheering [...] Read more – ‘Show 36 :: Hodgson’s Heroes…’.
Well, we’re 50% closer to knowing who’s in and who’s out of the EPL for this 09/10 season with Burnley down and Hull all but gone along with the still fighting Pompey. Of course, it could be full-time, one week early with the title race likely to be much clearer after Sunday with Chelsea’s visit [...] Read more – ‘Show 35 :: It’s Half-time…’.
Well, we’ve been saying it for the last few games or so but, it’s squeaky bum time top and bottom but, we reckon one of those ends could look a lot clearer by the end of this weekend with Hull and Burnley staring over the edge of the drop with none too great a final [...] Read more – ‘Show 34 :: Point-y Ends…’.
Well the story of the week has to be Pompey reaching their 2nd Cup final in 3yrs and what a final that proves to be against title contenders Chelsea. The contrast couldn’t be starker – favourite vs. underdog, rich vs poor, top vs bottom, flamboyant vs rag tag loaners. This is what the FA cup [...] Read more – ‘Show 33 :: We’re all soldiers in Avram’s Army…’.
Well, after a tortuous week for Man U we head into another mad 5 days of Prem and FA Cup fixtures. There’s relegation 6pters along with potential Europa League final warmups and not to mention bottom and top of the league involved in the Big (domestic) Cup. We’re hungry for more but, in the meantime [...] Read more – ‘Show 32 :: I see Red, I see Red, I see Red…’.
No news is good news this week – well little news anyway – with the focus on results and upcoming fixtures being paramount. Tighter at the top, Jostling at the bottom and Pompey still winning in the league despite certain relegation. It’s all crescendoing in what looks like the tightest finish to a season – [...] Read more – ‘Show 31 :: Tight Tussles at Top and Tail…’.
Well, it’s finally happened – Pompey docked the 9pts rendering their league season over. Of course, they march on in the FA Cup and become every neutral’s favourite to take home The Big Cup come May. It’s been an interesting season all round not least because of the change somewhat oddly timed managerial shifts – [...] Read more – ‘Show 30 :: Pomp(ey) and Circumstance…’.
Well, this week’s a long one – we don’t do them that often(!) but, perhaps we’re not totally to blame considering the milieu we’re in at the moment. There’s league intrigue top and bottom – some teams are 3 games behind, UCL action with another week to come before we see the draw for the [...] Read more – ‘Show 29 :: A Mixed Grill…’.
Well, to put to bed a complete beat up we see Chelsea give up a decent home record to a Jekyll and Hyde Man City and of course, Mr Bridge snubbing Mr Terry in the lineup handshakes. No great shakes in our books – just get on with the footy(!) and to City’s end, they [...] Read more – ‘Show 28 :: No Great Shakes…’.
A truly international flavour to this our first show in two weeks with Chris on the other side of the Tasman Sea on another island (in NZ – on business) but plenty of talking points with the constant league position jostling (across 3 points islands!), european tidbits and the madness that is the proposed playoff [...] Read more – ‘Show 27 :: Back and Beyond…’.
Well, we all catch our breaths in this episode with a huge (20) number of games to discuss, Zola bemoans new-owner Sullivan’s wage cut talk and of course, Mr T(erry) surrendering (we think harshly) his National Team captaincy responsibilities. Catch your breath on this Show 25. Download mp3 Read more – ‘Show 25 :: Marathon Over…’.
Well, we’re into February and things are hotting up with an absolutely massive weekend rolling to Wednesday covering 20 games in 5days. To take us there we catch up with all the action, ANC wrap ups and tidbits of transfer and salary cap talk oh and a certain JT hit the news for all the [...] Read more – ‘Show 24 :: Cup Runneth Over…’.
So another – rather stuttering – week of fixtures flies by along with Carling Cup matches, the lifting of transfer bans and still not THAT much activity on the transfer market. We can’t remember a season where we’ve had 3 different leaders in a week! The first Silverware of the season will go to either [...] Read more – ‘Show 23 :: Musical Chairs at the Top…’.
So Arsenal surprise everyone with their ascendancy – taking advantage of some recent blips by Chelsea and Man Utd skipping to the stop of the league whilst current Gunner-boy Sol Campbell takes the hapless Pompey to court for more of the money they haven’t got. So the chase for the title expands to 3 whilst [...] Read more – ‘Show 22 :: New League Order…’.
Well, the first show of 2010 (Twenty Ten) and wouldn’t you know it – weather-enforced Winter break! It seems we’ve all had a lull – not many transfers, not many games(!) and well, no AGOTH but, we’re back with all the grit and salt required to sweep away the inclemency and restore normal football programming [...] Read more – ‘Show 21 :: Happy 2010…’.
A late change to our line-up as Andrew replaces Mark as striking partner for a week that saw Arsenal make-up yet more ground on the top 2, Mark Hughes get the sack despite having a better record than Rafa and Mick McMcarthy emerge from a torrid few days with a smile as wide as a [...] Read more – ‘Show 19 :: The Pre-Christmas Show’.
Well, inspiration deserts me this week, just like the cool change (i sit here in 33C at 9:45pm with NO air con) so just time in enough to say there’s news, there’s views and there’s 18 games to review! Catch Show 18. Download Show 18 Read more – ‘Show 18 :: 18 Games for the 18th show…’.
In a week that sees league leaders Chelsea suffer a surprising 3rd defeat (no draws, all wins in other games!) we ask the question have Man City got the stamina and consistency to keep it going. We ponder Australia’s chances in a tough group D in the 2010 World Cup and take our hats off [...] Read more – ‘Show 17 :: Man City Tru Blu?’.
Well, true to form our tips of an Arsenal upset went out of the window and the Gunners were beaten handily in the end. For all we like watching Arsenal (most seasons in recent memory to be honest) we can’t help but, feel that Arsenal are missing their top striker to distraction and how forgetting [...] Read more – ‘Show 16 :: RSVP RVP…’.
Yes – in the most tenuous title yet… 3.5 goals per game were scored (counting midweek fixtures) – a magic number (well it’s close to pi, right?) indeed, none more so than for one Jermain Defoe who’s efforts thrust him into the EPL Hall of Fame – only one of 3 players ever to score [...] Read more – ‘Show 15 :: Who ate all the Pi’s…’.
The show that nearly didn’t make it… has! News, previews and Le Hand of God making a comeback this time in a World Cup qualifier that sees Irish eyes a crying. Go grab yourself a concilliatory Guinness, sit back and listen to this Show 14. Download Show 14 Read more – ‘Show 14 :: A Show of Several Bits…’.
… show that is of this season on Black Friday no less. Bruce wasn’t the only one cursing his bad luck (more Beachballs please he cries!) as the Prem threw up some one-sided and surprisingly very tight contests this week where none were expected.The only thing blacker than Fergie following United’s loss is Spurs’ accounts [...] Read more – ‘Show 13 :: Friday the 13th…’.
Well, as if we needed more reminding of the dominant colour of the moment – red – we see that referees aren’t shy of it either brandishing enough rouge ones to mark this season as the worst on record (Premier League records at least) for the sending off offence. We’re glad to see the colour [...] Read more – ‘Show 12 :: I see red, I see red, I see red’.
Hats off to the reds of Liverpool in lulling us all into a false sense of assumption about their Premier League aspirations. Whilst we wander through the results we mull over the weeks’ news from Flu to Blue, the colour Pompey must literally feel being bottom, paralysed by debt and unable to beat Hull the [...] Read more – ‘Show 11 :: Bounce Back…’.
Well, there’s really only the one big story of the week of course involving a certain red-coloured football club and a certain red-coloured Beach Ball. The big question for this coming weekend is… can the Reds bounce back! Find out what what we think on this and more in Show 10. Download Show 10 Read more – ‘Show 10 :: Four on the Bounce’.
Well, the Prem is back in full flight with a 3day bumper carnivale of footy after yet another break for internationals of one kind or another. There’s Fergie apologizing as well as Sheilaroo err… Socceroo talk and just how much damage has that low attendance done to Oz’ chances of hosting WC 2018? Find out [...] Read more – ‘Show 9 :: Normal Programming Resumed…’.
This week sees a ruling on player quotas that just doesn’t seem right to us with Rafa bemoaning as much claiming ‘kwallitee’ is what he strives for – Arsene says as much. A week lacking in quality on the pitch as well with Adebayor’s antics landing him, and now his team, in hot water both [...] Read more – ‘Show 6 :: Lacking in quality…’.
The Prem is back this week (hurrah we say) after a brief sabbatical for the pointless friendlies and pointed World Cup qualifying matches for South Africa 2010. Indulgences aside, England have rarely looked so convincing and we feel Cappello is breaking new (and important) ground with the England setup and we ‘amore’ it. Catch all [...] Read more – ‘Show 5 :: Back to Business’.
With the transfer window now closed, Newcastle can concentrate on the road ahead and keep the 6 match unbeaten run going. Read more – ‘Closed Window Comfort’.
Well we cover a bit of newsy ground this week what with the closure of the transfer window #1 or T1 if you like. Of course, the premership reconvenes on the 12th due to the World Cup qualifiers (and friendlies). Plenty of repeat listening of agoth during this break! Download Show 4 Read more – ‘Show 4 :: Transfers, Taxes and Tribunals’.
Well it’s been an interesting week as far as Football is concerned – a nasty piece of retro hooliganism reared it’s very ugly melon during this week’s Carling Cup match at Upton Park and we’re not talking about Carlton Cole’s abhorrent backpass (or excellent through pass) to England-striker-in-waiting Jermaine Defoe. Enough said on the matter [...] Read more – ‘Show 3 :: Beats up on and off the pitch…’.
Newcastle's unbeaten run in the championship continues, but will the mass exodous from the club continue with the growing prospect of Mike Ashley keeping the club for one more year? Read more – ‘No Crystal Palace’.
Show 2 of the season and despite a groggy start we promise to get back into a normal timeslot from hereon. It’s a results oriented business is footy and we’re all about results for this one – lot’s of fixtures to cover in the opening week of the season in what appears to be a [...] Read more – ‘Show 2:: The Late Show…’.
Back in 1999 when Newcastle put 8 past Sheffield Wednesday who'd have predicted that 10 years later they'd be facing off in English football's second tier? Read more – ‘8 Goals on Wednesday’.
