The eminent economist Jonathan Portes, Director of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, likes to cite two examples in attempting to convince audiences of the merits of free movement of labour. The first is his own field – economics – where collaboration between academics trained within country traditions has produced the field’s most innovative work, and seen real international powerhouses established in the UK, the USA and Canada. His second example is the world of post-Bosman professional football. This is, thinks Portes, an infinitely better place for the impact of that landmark, shackle-loosening judgement in the mid-90s. The…
All posts tagged Everton
The U20 World Cup, and what it means for England
On Tuesday, England produced a highly encouraging 6-0 win over the auld enemy at Under-21 level. It has been, however, a miserable summer for the Three Lion Cubs. Here, our resident expert on youth football and designer of our rather fabulous site logo, Ben Piggott runs the rule over the possible reasons for England’s failure in the U20 World Cup in particular. Ben can be followed on twitter at @apt_pseudonym while he is also the brains behind graphic narrative The XII. … Well then, this was supposed to be a piece about the Football League players in England’s U20 squad and…
Book Review: You Are The Ref
You are the Ref by Paul Trevillion and Keith Hackett Published by Bloomsbury 2013, £14.99 First of all a confession. At age 14, it was already pretty clear to me that the summit of my ambitions on the football pitch would be confined to occasional run out for the reserves of my local village team. So, while still coming to terms with a complete inability to tackle or head a ball, I scoured around for alternative ways of gracing the Wembley turf. Had I known, I could simply have booked myself a ticket for Live Aid, just two years away…
TTU Go Predicting: Best Free Agent
A look at the Professional Footballers’ Association list of out of contract and available players becomes more depressing by the year, even if there are Premier League outcasts aplenty whose current availability is often more a consequence of protracted contract negotiations and a choice of suitors. Hence, Chris Baird, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Carlton Cole and the like will end up somewhere eventually. Of those, the pick of the list is perhaps Hitzlsperger and whilst ‘The Hammer’ may well find interest from a top tier team in Europe, his recent injury record and failure to last more than a year at any…
Great Football League Teams 43: Preston North End 2000-1
Last week, it was announced that a certain Scotsman would take the reins at England’s biggest club come August. David Moyes’ record at Everton has been called into question by the more arrogant among Red Devils’ fans but his supposed unfamiliarity with real achievement can be further rebuffed with recourse to his astonishing six year sojourn at Preston - taking a club that had been recently in danger of relegation from the 92 to regular contenders for Premier League football. Here, Jo Breen looks back to a pivotal season in that famous period. … As the 2000-1 season began, Preston North End…
Damon: The writer describes the reaction to a manager deliberately not winnin...
Davy Jones: Glad to be of service.....
Lanterne Rouge: Dan - sorry - but Davy was right to correct me as that is what I origi...
Dan: Three authorities; Ealing, Brent and Hammersmith & Fulham. Read it...
