Allure of European football still remains
A year ago, I spoke to Brazilian midfielder Sandro a few minutes after he had made his debut for Tottenham. I caught up with him again a few days ago as, recovering from injury, he watched his international team-mates train for last Monday's international against Ghana at Craven Cottage in London.
He was, he said, thoroughly delighted with his...
Man Utd unmoved but Chelsea buoyed
Crazy. Chaotic. Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas showed a commendable command of understatement after a game that offered comfort to the connoisseur and hope to the hopeless.
It was in keeping with the twisted logic of Manchester United's 3-1 win against Chelsea that Villas-Boas seemed more satisfied in defeat than the pursed-lipped Sir Alex...
What makes a footballing rivalry?
A Dundee United-supporting mate of mine sends Dundee Football Club a remembrance card every September, to remind them of a famous date for United fans of a certain vintage.
The card celebrates United's 5-0 win at Dens Park against Dundee FC, on 11 September 1965, a game referred to in song by United fans, as the "Dens Park Massacre of 65".
For...
Manchester United's Singapore share sale cleared
It was no surprise that Manchester United received approval from the Singapore Stock Exchange today to launch their $1bn (£650m) share sell off.
The decision was always going to be a formality.
But what the club must now decide is whether they can realistically raise the money they are seeking to help reduce their debts (net debt is just over £300m ...
Right-back Walker provides competition for England
Amid the maelstrom at White Hart Lane on Sunday was a battle between what could be England's future in the full-back positions.
Arsenal's left-back Kieran Gibbs was pitted against Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker and both had an influence on the key moments in a game rich in entertainment.
The Spurs player has rightly grabbed all the headlines for...
Tevez saga will boil down to money, not principle
Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez claims he "never refused to play" when asked to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
The Argentine international says "the time is not right to go into the specific details" but claims there was "confusion" on the bench when manager Roberto Mancini finally called for him to go on 35...
Tevez's selfish act of rebellion
Carlos Tevez's Manchester City career has appeared to be at an end before. This time, amid acrimony and the rage of manager Roberto Mancini in Munich, and despite a denial this morning from the striker himself, it is.