David

I am a long time soccer fan who grew up in England traveling the country watching Coventry City in the 70's. Now living in the U.S. I am still as passionate about soccer as I was when I was a kid.

September 18, 2021 David

Arsenal, Premier League

Back To Back Wins For The Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has gone back to the 90’s as the Arsenal win their second consecutive game 1-0. In the 90’s Arsenal were famous for their 1-0 victories, and it looks like Arteta is rebuilding the Gunners with that blueprint of a strong defence and opportunistic scoring.

Against Burnley, Martin Odegaard’s first-half free-kick gave Arsenal their first away win of the season after Ashley Westwood had clipped Bukayo Saka on the edge of the area.

It was Odegaard’s first goal since joining the Gunners on a permanent basis from Real Madrid in a £30m deal last month. Read more... (338 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

September 18, 2021 David

Premier League, Liverpool

Mane Stars As Liverpool Go Top

Liverpool remains unbeaten in the Premier League this season after Sadio Mane scored his 100th goal for the club in a victory against Crystal Palace.

Jurgen Klopp’s side created numerous chances against a resilient Palace before Mane pounced on a rebound at the back post in the first half.

Mohamed Salah doubled their lead with just over 10 minutes remaining when he smashed home a flick-on from a corner, before Naby Keita’s late curling strike made it 3-0.

Liverpool were wasteful in the first half as Diogo Jota fired over the bar from a few yards out in a glorious position, while Thiago and Jordan Henderson were also denied by keeper Vicente Guaita. Read more... (355 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

September 17, 2021September 18, 2021 David

Europa League, Europe, Tickets

Europa League Matchday Two Review

The Europa League kicked off this week as Real Betis and Napoli mounted memorable comebacks from two goals down while there were winning starts for Galatasaray, West Ham and Lyon.

The big match was in England where Leicester City hosted Napoli. Ayoze Pérez finished a superb team move to put Leicester ahead and Harvey Barnes added a second. However, Victor Osimhen scored a brilliant first before thumping in a header from Matteo Politano’s cross to earn his side a point, Leicester losing Wilfred Ndidi to a second yellow card in stoppage time. Read more... (921 words, estimated 3:41 mins reading time)

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September 16, 2021September 18, 2021 David

Barcelona, Champions League, Chelsea, Juventus, La Liga, Liverpool, Man City, Real Madrid, Tickets

Champions League Matchday One Review

The best club competition in the world returned last week as the new Champions League season got underway with some high-profile matches.

The top teams like Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City all showed that they are true contenders to win the Champions League this season. Meanwhile, other potential contenders like Manchester United, Barcelona and PSG failed to live up to expectations on matchday 1.

Player of the round was undoubtedly Ajax striker Sebastien Haller who scored four goals in Ajax’s 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon. Read more... (993 words, estimated 3:58 mins reading time)

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September 15, 2021 David

Champions League, Man Utd., Premier League

Ole Puts Blame On Players After Another Champions League Defeat

Per usual, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blamed the players for other disappointing Champions League performance.

Solskjaer, who has managed to lose 7 of the 11 Champions League matches he has managed in, said that the players must learn from their mistakes in Europe if they to avoid another early Champions League exit.

Tuesday night’s shock defeat in Bern echoed a 2-1 loss to Basaksehir in Istanbul last November that was the beginning of the end of United’s group campaign as they dropped into the Europa League. Read more... (407 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

September 12, 2021 David

Arsenal, Premier League

Arsenal Ease Pressure Of Arteta With First Win

Arsenal lifted the pressure on manager Mikel Arteta as they secured their first points of the Premier League season with victory over Norwich City at Emirates Stadium.

Arteta was under mounting scrutiny after a miserable start to the campaign with three defeats that left the Gunners at the foot of the table, so a win that was workmanlike rather than spectacular will be gratefully received.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was back on target to set Arsenal on their way after 66 minutes, with a finish from almost on the goal-line after Canaries’ keeper Tim Krul turned Nicolas Pepe’s shot on to the post and the same player then struck the woodwork again. Read more... (275 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

September 12, 2021 David

Premier League, Man Utd.

Ronaldo Delivers As Manchester United Go Top Of Premier League

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his return as Manchester United cruised to victory against Newcastle United and delighted a packed and loud Old Trafford.

United fans have been buzzing for over a week now about the return of Ronaldo and he was cheered from the moment he left the team coach on its arrival at the ground, throughout the warm-up and then once the game had started.

Being the showman that he is, Ronaldo repaid the adoration of the United fans in the best possible manner when he broke the deadlock in first-half added time when he tapped in after visiting keeper Freddie Woodman spilled Mason Greenwood’s shot. Read more... (355 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

September 7, 2021September 7, 2021 David

Tickets, World Cup

Premier League And FIFA Dispute Rumbles On

The impact of COVID and travel restrictions is beginning to impact Premier League sides as nine clubs refused to allow players to travel to South America for the recent World Cup qualifiers. A clear violation of FIFA guidelines.

Fifa can ban players not released in an international window for a period of five days after the window ends and Wolves, Newcastle, Watford and Blackburn will all lose players this weekend after complaints from the Chilean, Mexican and Paraguayan associations.

The big issue is what happens to the six Premier League clubs who refused to release players for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers. Read more... (461 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)

18 Comments

September 5, 2021September 5, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Scotland In Dire Need Of A Goalscorer

Scotland’s win at home against Moldova was their first in five games, taking them up to third in their World Cup qualifying group as rivals for second place Austria lost in Israel.

Sounds like a good night’s work, so why all the pessimism?

Pre-match, Scotland boss Steve Clarke asked for his side to “be on the front foot, be positive and get the goals needed to win”.

The head coach got his wish, but it could have been so much more comfortable for the hosts against the world’s 175th-ranked nation after a flurry of clear-cut chances were squandered. Read more... (396 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Italy Held By Switzerland In World Cup Qualifying

Italy’s slow start to life since winning Euro 2020 continued as they followed their 1-1 draw at home to Bulgaria with a goalless draw in Basel.

Roberto Mancini’s side had their chances early on against a Switzerland side that with key figures missing through injury and COVID and new management bedding in needed time to settle into the game. Their slow start should have been punished, not least by Domenico Berardi. One on one with the Swiss goalkeeper he somehow contrived to roll the ball at his arms. Read more... (317 words, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)

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