With just three weeks to go before the start of the season, one of the most surprising aspects of this summer is the enhanced quality of the ‘out of work’ list – a roster of players that can be pondered with increasing incredulity here. In the past, the directory was populated with the kinds of players one might expect – journeymen who had reached the end of their shelf life and eternal fringe performers. Not so now – the ledger of those still seeking a club includes England internationals such as James Beattie and Emile Heskey, while the tally doesn’t only contain veterans. The…
All posts tagged Wigan
A Low Key Return to the Game for Steve Bruce
Today we welcome back regular contributor Phil Ascough. Here, he provides his reaction to Steve Bruce’s arrival and early weeks in the job at Hull City. One of the best things about following football is that it gives you the chance to butt in on disputes that are none of your business. So when Sunderland fans sang: ‘Where were you when you were skint?’ to their Manchester City visitors last season, I didn’t hesitate to tweet. I simply asked why City fans didn’t respond: ‘Where were you when Bruce was here?’ Not out of any sympathy for the future champions,…
The downward spiral
Late March, and if you listen carefully you can - in the parlance of a certain puce-cheeked knight of the realm - hear the sound of bums starting to squeak. So, time to cast an eye over the teams who this May are most likely to be swapping the preening pros, plastic fans and prawn sandwiches of the Premier League for the Bovril, goal celebration music and cheerleaders of the Championship. In descending order… Aston Villa The Villains are seemingly intent on casting themselves in the role for this year’s Big Club Who Get Sucked Into Trouble. They can’t score…
From SFL to Football League
Our latest scouting report from outside the Football League comes from Craig Telfer, whose website Who the hell is Akabusi? documents the thrills and spills of supporting Scottish Second Division side Stenhousemuir FC. Here, Craig widens his brief to consider those SFL players potentially capable of doing a job in England’s equivalent divisions. The general perception of Scottish football, both home and abroad, is that the game is at its lowest ebb. The administration of Rangers FC – officially the world’s most successful club side and often described as a pillar of Scottish society – has magnified the problems surrounding…
The Monday Profile: Pascal Chimbonda
A look at the list of players that have decided to procure the services of Willie McKay as an agent makes interesting reading. Few from a roster that includes Henri Camara, Joey Barton, Amdy Faye and Charles N’Zogbia have been shy of entering into contract disputes and the subject of today’s study, Pascal Chimbonda is no exception - the Guadeloupe born defender having joined Doncaster Rovers on Friday.Cast your mind back to the final game of the 2005-6 season - a campaign that saw Chimbonda start 44 games for Wigan Athletic, secure the right back berth in the PFA Team of…
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