Chasing the Big Leagues FC Zwolle (Dutch Eerste Divisie) is a post from: Just Football

Just Football's Tales from Tier Two series, in association with @tiertwofooty, concludes now with a look at the runaway leaders of the Dutch Eerste Divisie:

FC Zwolle

FC Zwolle are in pole position to return to the Dutch Eredivisie eight years since they were cruelly relegated after both Volendam and Vitesse claimed rare victories as Zwolle were being thumped 7-1 at Feyenoord.

'Slave' Kuszczak has made his last United blunder by crossing Fergie

You would think that after all the reminiscing about Sir Alex Ferguson's 25 years, Tomasz Kuszczak would have realised the golden rule at Old Trafford. No-one crosses Fergie. Paul Ince, Jaap Stam, David Beckham, Gabriel Heinze, Ruud van Nistelrooy even Roy Keane in the end made that mistake.

Oranje's defense has been a concern for quite some time. For years, every team manager puzzled and experimented. Van Gaal had to put Reiziger on the left, we had issues on the right full back and left full back spots and I remember Jaap Stam even being criticized.

Fact of the [read more]

Imagine a time when Arsenal had a decent back four –

HA.

No, not ‘The Invincibles" – they were a pale shadow of the 1998/99 quartet that stood as a brick wall. In front of Seaman roamed Adams, Dixon, Keown and Winterburn – together they allowed a miserly 17 goals, thirteen less than the next best record that season.

‘...and Solskjaer has won it!'

Five words to lift the mood of any United fan. The moment our Norwegian hero stuck his foot out put the seal on a season we shall never forget. A season peppered with timeless memories of rapacious cavalier displays that thrilled the world. It is was a campaign rightly remembered for astonishing attacking feats yet I believe that an essential ingredient to our success has been routinely overlooked.

Andy Cole 53'. Barcelona 3-3 Manchester United, Champions League fifth round group phase 1998/99.

Great goals always stand the test of time. The initial feeling of awe and ecstasy they induce, not to mention the artistic brilliance that make them unique, mean that they can never be replicated.

By Gareth McKnight

The phrase 'my body is a temple' is fitting for the professional footballer who, through strict diets, lung-busting fitness drills and daily conditioning training, eventually become the all-round athletes we watch on a weekly basis.

Despite club doctors and dieticians monitoring and controlling what multivitamins, food and supplements the average Premier League player puts in his body, some have overstepped the mark, accidentally, in rebellion or through ignorance.

January 4th 2001: "There is no doubt Wes is an outstanding young centre half," said Jaap Stam. "He has pace, is good in the air and is a fantastic tackler. He is as good as any English centre-half in the Premiership, certainly alongside Jon Woodgate and Rio Ferdinand. The way he is playing at the minute, he obviously has a fantastic future ahead of him.

Fee-fi-fo-fum!
I smell the blood of an Englishman?
Hmm, smells like pound sterling....

In a more recent piece for the Financial Times, Simon Kuper informs us that top flight football clubs have rapidly turned the business of player evaluation into a quantifiable pursuit.

This article is based on a talk I had with my girlfriend the other day about the routine of her job. Being a pharmacist, she always feels the need to inform me on the lastest medical products that appear on the pharmaceutical market, although my lack of interest regarding this subject is more than obvious.

Seventeen league titles, five European Cups, seven League Cups and fifteen Manager of the Year awards. Both adored by their fans, admired by their peers; and despised either end of the M62.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Bob Paisley OBE are undeniably the masters of their trade. Title after title has been mixed with majestic football and an unerring enjoyment of standing on the sidelines shouting at some of the worlds' most famous sportsmen.

The reason I am asking you is because of the interview that Tony Cascarino has given Sky Sports this morning. Of course Cascarino is first up to have a pop at his old side even though I personally cannot understand how he is a pundit on there bearing in mind he isn't exactly a decorated successful player in his own right.

Sir Bobby Charlton is deservedly a national hero. It is easy to forget how major a star he was in his day, and difficult to fathom just how huge he would be if playing nowadays.

But Sir Bobby Charlton is also the official flag-waver-in-chief for Manchester United and, not for the first time, his interpretation of the facts is completely delusional.

- Playing for the youth team in 1993
- In the background of the celebrations for United's Premiership title win in 1994.
- Taking a throw against Villa at Old Trafford in our 1-0 win during the 94-95 season.
- Against Wimbledon during the opening week of the 95-96 season (you know, the year we weren't going to win anything with kids)
- Holding on to Premiership trophy with brother Phil at the end of the 95-96 season.

MILAN, Italy Ajax midfielder Urby Emanuelson is going to AC Milan. The Dutch player signed a 3,5 year contract. The 24-year-old can play at left-wing, left-back, wing-back or in midfield. "He was one of our objectives in the transfer market and I am happy for him to come," said coach Massimiliano Allegri.

My old drinking partner from civil war days at the Casa Grande Hotel in Sarajevo, the journo Stojko Milutinovic a huge fan of United since seeing them play in Belgrade in 1966 as a little lad has been emailing me for weeks explaining why the Gaffer should buy René Adler instead of Manuel Neuer. On Monday, however, Stojko had a new subject.