Author: Ben
Charity Parsimony begins at home
While the miserly defences of Championship promotion contenders QPR and Swansea have been much feted, the recent achievements of Crystal Palace’s back four have been rather less trumpeted. Here’s Eagles fan Will to give them and the club’s new owners the credit and recognition they deserve.
Dougie Freedman has a problem. It’s difficult to nail a “This is Selhurst” sign onto the plastic tunnel that emerges from the …
Robins reliant on Thomas
Besides horse-racing, Cheltenham is probably most synonymous with Cheltenham Ladies’ College. On the evidence of yesterday’s display at the Kassam Stadium, there’s nothing genteel or ladylike about the way the town’s football team approaches a tackle, though Wes Thomas’ goal suggested a player who’s been to finishing school. Latching onto a quick free-kick that sailed over the head of his dozy marker, Thomas lofted a perfect lob over the …
The Monday Profile: Clarke Carlisle
“It really bugs me“, an exasperated Paul Calf once exclaimed. “They say, ‘Oh, David Beckham - he’s not very clever.’ Yeah. They don’t say, ‘Stephen Hawking — he’s a bit shit at football.’” Many a true word is spoken in jest, and Steve Coogan’s mulleted Man City fan may have been onto something.
While adored and idolised for their abilities on the pitch and for their …
The Monday Profile: Adam le Fondre
(Written with considerable assistance from Scarf.)
After my team’s brief sojourn in the Championship last season, I’m now back to watching The Football League Show as an interested neutral. There are a few things you can guarantee happening every week: Manish Bhasin will begin speaking to the wrong camera; Mark Clemmit will be seen acting out some forced jollity with a bemused manager; Steve Claridge or Leroy Rosenior (whoever’s on …
Total recall
So, it looks as though Preston’s decision to dispense with the services of Darren Ferguson, with the club adrift at the foot of the Championship table, could have unforeseen ramifications.
Junior had been able to call on his dad’s charity by securing the loan signings of Joshua King, Ritchie De Laet and Matthew James from parent club Man Utd as reinforcements in the Lilywhites’ battle against relegation - but now …