Author Archives: John Nicholson

There are some footballers who we can all agree about. Lionel Messi, for example. There can’t be any serious observer who would think he’s over-rated. But such unanimity is very rare in football. Split opinion is much more common and … Continue reading →

I heard a Manchester City fan on the radio the other day. He was saying he couldn’t understand why Tevez wanted to leave City because, ‘he’s absolutely worshipped by the fans.’ This guy says this as though this would mean … Continue reading →

There is almost unanimous outrage at the dismissal of Chris Hughton. From a football point of view it looks unsustainable, all the more so when instability and hysterical appointments have been the reasons behind the decline Newcastle over the past … Continue reading →

Which of these records sounds the superior one to you? Played 14, Won 7, Drawn 7, lost 0 Or Played 14, Won 9, Drawn 1, Lost 4 Ok, those of you not drunk will have spotted that these two records … Continue reading →

As Chelsea lost at home to Sunderland, the commentator, Martin Tyler was incredulous, saying how this proved how brilliant the Premier League was; it was the best in the world because any side could beat any other side This struck … Continue reading →

Another England game and another torrent of outrage from much of the English press at how poor England is. Surprise surprise. There is a very vocal majority in the press who want to blame all this on Capello because it’s … Continue reading →

Will Blackpool, like Wolves before them, be facing the prospect of a fine for fielding a weakened side against Villa last night? Manager ian Holloway made wholesale changes to his side but so what? They played well and narrowly lost. … Continue reading →

Some nights of football defy you not to enjoy them. Even the most mean-spirited Arsenal fan must surely have felt at least a small stirring of joy in their souls at Spurs performance against Inter Milan. If Spurs can keep … Continue reading →

Tony Mowbray took over as manager of Middlesbrough yesterday. I think all my fellow Boro fans will be delighted at this news. For a start, he has taken a side out of the Championship before when he took WBA up, … Continue reading →

After an astonishing performance in Milan, there surely can’t be any doubt that the answer is a categorical yes. Who else is playing as well? Who else is having such a major impact? Who else has scored such a brilliant … Continue reading →

Football press conferences are usually quite predictable affairs with the manager trotting out the usual clichés and obfuscation in response to the same old questions from the press. They are rarely places to deploy an extended metaphor but someone must … Continue reading →

I’m sure most Middlesbrough fans are pleased that Gordon Strachan has resigned and walked away without compensation. Our league position tells its own story. It plainly wasn’t working and his increasingly eccentric media interviews revealed a man who looked to … Continue reading →

Can we have our football season back now please? The golden days of Autumn are upon us, the first frosts leaving a kiss of silver on our parks and gardens; the chilled Chablis gives way to a robust Argentinean Malbec … Continue reading →

Another England game and for many it leaves another feeling of slight depression. Our response to the outcomes of football matches largely depends on what our expectations are. Hence, Scotland concede three at home and lose but come away feeling … Continue reading →