Michael Tonge's loan move from Stoke to Preston after Tony Pulis's unsuccessful attempt to establish the languid midfielder as a Premier League player comes as little surprise; his spell at the Britannia Stadium having been as excitement packed as a Cabinet meeting to discuss the Lisbon treaty. Tonge is one of a special breed of players who look the part – and his formative years in some dramatic Click to continue reading...

Football FocusWednesdays, 7.30pm (Indian time), ESPN StarPresented by John DykesNothing to do with Lawro or Dicko, Football Focus is the moniker adopted by ESPN for their weekly magazine show, a broadcast that is aired throughout the Asian continent. Based in Singapore, the programme chiefly provides a showcase for the channel's exhaustive coverage of the Premier League (which they call the "EPL" Click to continue reading...

This is a guest post from Ben Woolhead, co-founder of the esteemed Newcastle United Blog, Black and White and Read All Over. Ben turns his attention to the ongoing furore surrounding the naming rights to St. James' Park.Earlier this month it was announced that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley had taken it upon himself to rebrand St James' Park with an unwieldy new name, crowbarring in a reference to Click to continue reading...

Dave Kitson would be up there with Michael Gilkes and Shaka Hislop as one of my all time favourite players. I first took note of the Ginger Ninja in a 2-2 draw between Cambridge United and Reading at the Abbey Stadium back in 2002. The former shelf stacker was everywhere that day and it was with huge excitement that I greeted his arrival at Madejski Stadium a year later. Click to continue reading...

Like many, many fans, I suffer from a ridiculous superstitiousness on match days. Whether it's which part of my wallet I keep my ticket in, or making sure that every last possession in my house is lined up at strict 90-degree angles, I'm on it. I've gone through several phases with pants, and this particular "irrational" fear has led to a quite farcical situation whereby I have to cover my eyes Click to continue reading...

The superb website Mirko Bolesan, named after an Italian midfielder who enjoyed a single appearance for Cardiff City a few years ago, is a great port of call for an assessment of some of football's oddities. Amongst the varied topics discussed can be counted a masterly account of 2009-10 kit sponsors, club badges (didn't we call them "crests" in the seventies? Click to continue reading...

Darren Ferguson's inconceivable departure from London Road is a sad indictment of the times. Chief among those feeling sympathy for the departed Scot will be another son of famous heritage, Nigel Clough. "A talented Dad doth not a talented son make" will be the mantra and just as Ferguson Junior's sterling work in shepherding Posh through the divisions will now be forgotten, so will those golden Click to continue reading...

Like many, I had Swansea down as relegation fodder this year, and until very recently I still expected them to drop down the league. Yet, on a quietly impressive nine-game unbeaten run which has included no less than 7 clean sheets, the Jacks must go into tomorrow's Welsh derby against their Big City cousins as slight favourites. Click to continue reading...

Bolton Chairman Phil Gartside has popped his head above the parapet again. An article in today's Guardian has once again floated the idea of a two tier Premier League. This would involve the co-opting of the current Cocaleague into the EPL structure, with those Bhoys and Gers from Glasgow added to taste. Click to continue reading...

Among the performers who have lit up this burgeoning Championship campaign are some familiar names. Michael Chopra has so far justified every last dime of his weighty fee, Kevin Nolan has buckled down and rehabilitated his reputation as an all purpose midfielder-cum-forward, and Adam Johnson's sleek skills on the Middlesbrough wing have helped Smogheads forget the injured Stewart Downing. Click to continue reading...

I managed to catch a live match courtesy of the Beeb for the first time this evening. Having missed out on their previous offerings for a variety of reasons, I made sure to be in for Cardiff's late afternoon home game against Forest, and I thought that it was well worth it. Terrestrial TV is usually best avoided at 5pm on the Sabbath, but a bit of Championship football proved to be the perfect Click to continue reading...

We now know the last eight for the Carling Cup and my, how boring a line up is that? The Arsenal v Liverpool match the other night was of a high standard and quite entertaining, but in the end, the result just didn't matter a jot - as the game unfolded, I found myself adopting the dispassionate bearing of a student of the game rather than somebody caught up in the passion and excitement of it all Click to continue reading...

The news that Mike Ashley is seeking to sell off the naming rights to St. James' Park is up there with Ken Bates' electric fence at Chelsea, Colin Moynihan's supporters' ID cards and Newcastle's own recruitment of Dennis Wise as one of the crassest notions in football history. Until now, I think most outside the Gallowgate have looked on with some bemusement at the Geordie fans' vilification of Click to continue reading...

Back in the bright days of August, I cited momentum as a reason why I thought Leicester City would make a play-off spot come the end of the campaign, and lo and behold, there they stand - in a vertiginous sixth spot. Am I feeling smug? Well no - and not just because I failed to follow through my punditry with a trip to Betfair or Paddy Power. Click to continue reading...

Recently, Lanterne Rouge discussed the poor position away fans are often given at Championship grounds.To that, I add: what about the poor position home fans are often given?If this sounds bizarre, it is prompted by yesterday's visit to the Ricoh Arena for a turgid 0-0 between Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion. Click to continue reading...