English Soccer Talk

This site offers English/European soccer insight and is updated regularly. Stories from across the US and Europe can be found here, as well as opinions and analysis.

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Last Updated
September 4, 2008 19:07 EDT
Added
November 15, 2007

September 4, 2008

Goodbye, Kevin Keegan

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Another Premiership manager bit the dust today as Kevin Keegan joined Alan Curbishley on the unemployment line.

The "Geordie Messiah" was supposed to turn Newcastle's fortunes around and make them a top-four contender, if you believe most of the Toon Army, but didn't even last a full season's worth of games after returning to the club midway through the '07-'08 campaign. Click to continue reading...

September 3, 2008

Goodbye, Alan Curbishley

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The first managerial departure of the season came today as Alan Curbishley resigned his post as West Ham manager. Curbishley had been at or near the top of the list of managers speculated to go, along with Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan, so this bit of news shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

However, the reason for it is very interesting. Click to continue reading...

September 2, 2008

Peter Reid Becomes New Manager of...Thailand??

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Here's one of those random news stories we read about every season:

Born in the same Liverpool suburb as current well-known midfielders Steven Gerrard and Joey Barton, Peter Reid had a solid playing career, most notably at Bolton, Everton, and Manchester City. He won the FA Cup and old First Division twice (both at Everton). Click to continue reading...

September 1, 2008

I'm Back!

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It was a hectic weekend here in Erie, but one that I wouldn't mind living again. I posted early last week that I'd be taking a brief leave of absence to get situated at college, which is what I've been doing for the past few days.

Clearly I've missed a lot in the soccer world with the transfer deadline having come and gone and a whole round of fixtures played. Click to continue reading...

August 26, 2008

Why So Many Empty Seats For Cup Competitions?

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Coventry City hasn't been in the Premiership since the 2000-2001 season, when they were relegated after finishing 19th with 34 points. The Sky Blues have spent every season since then in the Championship, so close to England's top flight, but yet so far. They're a proud club — they've been in existence since the early 1880's, they were a founding member of the Premier League, and have won the FA Cup. Click to continue reading...

A Few Days Off..

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Tomorrow I leave for Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, which will be my home for the next three school years. Move-in is Thursday, with the typical orientation/getting used to the campus/meeting people stuff going on the rest of the weekend.

I'll be busy with that, obviously, and just doing the things a new college student does. Click to continue reading...

August 25, 2008

Premiership All-Star Team--Round 2

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Manchester United's 1-0 victory at Portsmouth earlier this afternoon concluded the second round of fixtures in the Premiership. It would be foolish to read too much into the standings at this point in this season, but it's still interesting to see the likes of Hull City and Newcastle near the top of the table while Portsmouth and Tottenham are languishing at the other end. Click to continue reading...

August 24, 2008

Harry Redknapp Interested In Coaching 2012 UK Team

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Portsmouth boss ‘Arry Redknapp confirmed his interest in leading a Great Britain soccer tean in the 2012 Summer Olympics, which will be held in London.

Redknapp is from London and spent a combined 15 years playing for and managing West Ham, a club based in the eastern section of England's capital. Click to continue reading...

August 23, 2008

Waken Up! It's Time for "I'm on Setanta Sports"!

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On the new season's second episode, Dimitar Berbatov's potential transfer to Manchester United is the hot topic. "The Boy" makes a special appeal to give the Bulgarian striker a home. Rafa and both Keanes -- Robbie and Roy -- all call in to give their takes on the "heartbreaking" plea.

"It", aka Mr. Click to continue reading...

August 22, 2008

Games To Watch This Weekend

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With a relatively lazy Friday as far as soccer news is concerned, I thought I'd put out a quick primer for the weekend's most interesting matchups. This is something I'll be doing sporadically throughout the year, though more so for domestic and continental cup competitions (when English teams are involved) rather than the Premierhip. Click to continue reading...

August 20, 2008

Final Observations of England Friendly Against Czech Republic (2-2)

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• It's clear that England is really lacking in two positions – left wing and center forward. Steven Gerrard is a very good player and performed well on the left today, but that's not his natural position and he doesn't give England much width. He needs to play in the position Frank Lampard occupied today. Click to continue reading...

Observations of England Friendly Against Czech Republic--First Half

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• Well, I had it wrong earlier when I said Gareth Barry would be on the left and Steven Gerrard in the middle. The two were reversed to start, though Gerrard ended up drifting inside anyway. Ashley Cole and Wes Brown, the left and right backs, respectively, both needed to get forward and provide some necessary width to the team. Click to continue reading...

Lampard Paired With Gerrard in England's Starting Lineup

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Yes, you read correctly.

We've seen this story before. Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard can't play together in the same midfield, but yet England boss Fabio Capello is going to give it another try in today's friendly against the Czech Republic. This should be interesting.

The other surprise in the starting lineup is Gareth Barry, not because of his inclusion but because of his position. Click to continue reading...

Observations of England U-21 Friendly Against Slovenia

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• I was disappointed to see how many empty seats there were at Hull City's KC Stadium. I know this was only a friendly, but come on. These players are the future of England's national team, and the already small stadium wasn't even half-full to watch them.

• I liked the 4-3-3 employed by Pearce. Click to continue reading...

August 19, 2008

John Terry Should Not Be England's Captain

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I'm sure you've all heard it by now: England manager Fabio Capello named John Terry captain of the Three Lions today.

If you believe the numerous media reports, the strong favorite to be handed the armband on a permanent basis was Manchester United center back Rio Ferdinand, whose steady, and at times fantastic, play tends to greatly overshadow his off-field transgressions over the years in the minds of many England fans. Click to continue reading...