Monthly Archives: January 2013

Premier League Primer: Little Things

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Image: ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images.

Despite Alan Hansen’s assertions to the contrary, Sir Alex Ferguson has proven throughout his career that it’s the little things that win Premier League titles. Expensive signings, column inches and glorious goal fests can propel you so far, but over the period of a season, if you don’t score more goals and win more games than your peers, as well as ensure your players know who’s the boss, the only thing you’re going to be lifting in May is a P45.

Simples.

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A Lazio Players Guide To Shirt Removal

S.S. Lazio v Juventus FC - TIM Cup

Federico Marchetti of Lazio. Image: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images.

Yes.

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Marshall Henderson: Flappy, Flappy, Joy, Joy

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Click the image for more inflammatory flappery. Image via deadspin.com.

Although he’s unlikely to be familiar with the work of Emmanual Adebayor, this provocative celebration by Marshall Henderson after he threw two game winning baskets for Ole Miss vs. Auburn last week, put us in mind of the joyful scenes at the Etihad when the then City striker scored, then ran the length of the pitch to celebrate with his ex-club’s fans.

Having watched both clips several times though, we note a curious inconsistency between the response of the English security detail and the lone guy in the white shirt featured in the above gif.

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Premier League Primer: On Me Head, Son

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Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images.

Before service commences, pray a moment’s silence for the death of Liverpool’s incompetence in the transfer market.

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UAE vs. Kuwait: In Other News…

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Image: MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images.

A last minute Ahmad Khalil goal saw UAE defeat defending champions Kuwait in the first Gulf Cup semi-final last night, but our preferred highlight was this interactive demonstration of the Arsenal offside trap, brought to us by the  Bahrain police and a pitch invader.

Tony Adams would be proud, no?

The Weekend In Football: Hair Today…

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City vs. Arsenal. Upsetting scenes. Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been left tramatised and jonesing for cheese by events on Super Sunday.

But it’s without doubt the most visually arresting.

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Dakar Rally: I Thought You Packed The Gaffer Tape?

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Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images South America.

It’s just another day on the Dakar Rally for Erik Van Loon and Marc Wams of Team HRX.

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Capital One Cup: The History Boys

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Yeah, Shreeves is here. He’s watching you from the tunnel. Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images.

Semi-final first leg reports. Kinda.

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Jose Mourinho: Method To His Madness?

Bum pinching this week, a surge up the table next.

Having failed to form his favoured siege mentality at the Bernabeu, it looks like Jose Mourinho is selflessly engaging in a Colonel Kurtz-style stand off with his squad to improve morale. It’s no secret that Cristiano Ronaldo has been “sad” for a long time, but the poor boy no longer has to deal with his dissatisfaction alone – Mou’s decisions to drop Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas from the Real Madrid first team prompting unprecedented scenes of surreptitious mutiny and pouting.

The upshot? Everyone is annoyed with Mourinho, a situation that is currently manifesting itself through manlove, but will invariably end up being twisted for his own nefarious ends. He’s like that.

Bayern Munich: Close To Breaking Point

Bayern Muenchen - Doha Training Camp Day 8

Images: Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images.

Bayern Muenchen - Doha Training Camp Day 8Is a winter break something the EPL should consider introducing? It’s a popular debate at this time of year, so we casually followed the exploits of Bayern Munich & Schalke last week, both of whom shipped out to Doha during the annual Bundesliga hiatus. Would English clubs see any benefit from a week mucking about with sandpits and straps in the sun?

Well, if the friendly result at the end of the week was any evidence, no. Both teams more or less replicated their league form in the game – Bayern subjecting Schalke a 5-0 arse kicking – but on the plus side, it provided watching paps with all manner of novel photo opportunities. That’s all we care about really.

Consider us massively in favour.

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