Author Archives: Michael James

Just like Manchester City and Everton, Portsmouth is coming off their best season in England’s top division in years, and I’m not sure there’d be much argument from the South Coast side’s supporters by saying it was the best season … Continue reading →

Manchester City’s 2007-2008 campaign was their best since rejoining the Premiership after a few years of purgatory in England’s lower levels. Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson compiled a very respectable 19-11-15 record in his first year on the job, guiding the club … Continue reading →

As much as Everton fans may not want to admit it, their club will always operate under arch-nemesis and cross-town rival Liverpool. There’s no way around it; Liverpool is statistically the most successful team in English history, having won more … Continue reading →

I think it would come as a surprise to many to know that West Ham, not Middlesbrough, not Aston Villa, not any of the promoted clubs, had the highest average of English players in their starting lineups (6.61/11) in the … Continue reading →

In his four-season tenure at Blackburn, Mark Hughes guided the club to three top-10 finishes, including 7th place last year, and two appearances in European competition. He compiled an 82-47-59 record in competitive games over that span, and his team … Continue reading →

When Sam Allardyce left by “mutual consent” in early January, Newcastle turned to a familiar figure to turn the club’s fortunes around. I said it then and I’ll say it now: Kevin Keegan, who spent over a decade away from … Continue reading →

Backed by the loudest supporters in the Premier League last season, measured at average peak volume at 129.2 decibels, almost as loud as a jet, Sunderland will look to improve on last season’s respectable 15th-place finish. The Black Cats were … Continue reading →

According to the BBC in an online article published in December of last year, Middlesbrough’s youth academy has produced the most graduates (9) eligible to represent England at international level and start in at least five senior games for the … Continue reading →

They play some of the ugliest soccer in the Premiership. Their field surface is undoubtedly the worst in the Premiership and sits in one of the league’s smallest stadiums, which is also shared with a rugby club. They have no … Continue reading →

Fulham’s “Great Escape” was one of the best stories of the ’07-’08 Premiership season. The Cottagers looked down and out so many times, so close to the end of the year, but a shocking 3-2 come-from-behind victory at Manchester City … Continue reading →

For everyone outside of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal, success in the Premiership can be fickle. We saw it last year with Tottenham, who wound up an extremely disappointing 11th after two straight 5th-place finishes. We saw it last … Continue reading →

After two years in the Coca-Cola Championship, West Brom returns to the top flight of English soccer as the team best primed to make a run at survival amongst their fellow promotees. Tony Mowbray’s club made a surprising appearance in … Continue reading →

The most profitable single game in the world was won by…no, not Manchester United…no, not the New York Giants…Hull City last season, as the Tigers’ 1-0 Coca-Cola Championship playoff final victory over Bristol City at Wembley will net the East … Continue reading →

With Tottenham’s $30 million acquisition of David Bentley from Blackburn, it would appear that the meaningful tenure of Aaron Lennon, who was a boy wonder and the next big thing in English soccer just a few years ago, at White … Continue reading →