Imagine Soccer - Blog RSS (Opinion)

Merry Christmas for City Giggs Continues Record for United

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:46:35 +0000

For the first time since 1929, Manchester City will be top of the English Premier League at Christmas after a comfortable victory in midweek. Rivals Manchester United kept up the pressure with a crushing victory away from home, while Tottenham and Chelsea played out a 1-1 draw at the Lane. At the opposite end, it’s looking increasingly likel...

By Chris White

Silva's Golden Goal Keeps City Top

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:33:01 +0000

With the busy Christmas period likely to test most teams, Manchester City still lead the way after winning a thriller against Arsenal, while Manchester United have turned up the pressure, moving to the top of the Premier League for a matter of hours on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, at the other end, the games keep coming at the likes of Bolton and...

By Chris White

Can Arsenal Gun Down City?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:19:47 +0000

Having suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season last week at the hands of Chelsea, leaders Manchester City come up against another London club this weekend. Arsenal make the trip to Manchester knowing that they need to keep their winning run going in order to stay in touch with the top teams after their disastrous start to the season. Elsewhere, the champions...

By Chris White

Chelsea End City's Unbeaten Run

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:25:40 +0000

Manchester City suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge, going down to a late Frank Lampard penalty, which means that because of a victory for their rivals United on Saturday, the gap at the top is down to just two points.

The 2-1 win for Chelsea has moved them up to third in...

By Chris White

Chelsea Host Leaders in Weekend Highlight

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:28:43 +0000

With both Manchester clubs knocked out of the Champions League this week, it’s time for both to ensure that they qualify for next year’s competition, and that mission starts this weekend. The leaders of the Premier League will have to wait until Monday night, however, to get back to domestic business, in what is the biggest clash of the week.By Chris White

Champions League Last 16 Decided

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:10:48 +0000

The sixteen teams to reach the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League have been settled, with the 2011/12 group stage reaching its climax. With both Manchester clubs, United and City eliminated, as well as 2004 champions Porto there are chances for some of the so-called smaller teams to progress, with APOEL Nicosia and Zenit St Petersburg both having qualified for the f...

By Chris White

O'Neill Faces an Uphill Battle Rovers off the Bottom

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:29:41 +0000

New Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill faces a difficult challenge at the Stadium of Light, trying to turn around the club’s fortunes after taking over on Monday morning after yet another defeat for the Black Cats. Blackburn Rovers moved off the bottom of the Premiership table thanks to a 4-2 victory at home to By Chris White

Another Difficult Trip for Villas-Boas

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:28:44 +0000

The difficult games just keep on coming for Chelsea and manager Andre Villas-Boas. Just when your team could do with a couple of relatively simple weeks – if such a thing exists in the Premier League – a trip to Newcastle probably wouldn’t be on many people’s wish list. The Premiership is reaching that tradit...

By Chris White

Pressure Mounts on Villas-Boas

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:57:33 +0000

Having arrived at Chelsea tipped to become “the new Jose Mourinho,” it appears that the man in the hot-seat at Stamford Bridge isn’t as special as his compatriot, with the pressure mounting by the week.

Andre Villas-Boas moved to the Bridge in the summer from FC Porto, having guided them to the Portuguese Super Cup within weeks,...

By Chris White

Goalkeepers Shine as Spurs Close Gap

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:23:55 +0000

Joe Hart and Tim Krul produced stunning performances between the posts to ensure their sides took something away from their difficult away matches in the Premier League this weekend, with Tottenham the only side in the top four to win, closing the gap on the top two to just two points with a game in hand.

However, all the action this weekend has been overshadowed by...

By Chris White

English Clubs Struggling in Europe

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:35:19 +0000

Of the four English clubs in the group phase of this year’s Champions League, only Arsenal have booked their place in the knockout phase with just one match left in the first round. Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City are all reliant on positive results against difficult opposition in their final fixtures to qualify, while the Italians and Spaniards are showing just how i...

By Chris White

United Pay Tribute to Ferguson

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:10:08 +0000

In recognition of his 25 years in charge of Manchester United, officials at the club renamed the North Stand in honour of Sir Alex Ferguson, with it now known as the ‘Sir Alex Ferguson Stand’. The unveiling was made to the shock of the Scot before the 1-0 win against Sunderland, a day before the 25^th anniversary...

By Chris White

Kean Should Walk for the Good of Blackburn

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:15:32 +0100

With the club rooted to the foot of the table, continuing their disastrous form from the 2010/11 season, surely the time has come for Blackburn Rovers to change their manager, with the hapless boss and clueless owners dragging the club down into the Championship if something isn’t done soon.

Steve Kean was promoted to manager last season by the owners, the Rao family owners of Venky's, to re...

By Chris White

England Qualification Just Covers the Cracks

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:30:20 +0100

In traditional fashion, Fabio Capello’s England side made things much harder for themselves than they needed to, throwing away a two-goal lead in Montenegro to come away with the one point they needed to seal their place at the European Championships next summer.

Ashley Young headed England into an early lead in Podgorica and Darren Bent<...

By Chris White

Torres Blames "Old and Slow" Teammates

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:51:06 +0100

Having already found himself dropped to the bench, and the support of his fans beginning to wane, Fernando Torres could be finding himself even further down the pecking order at Chelsea following an interview given to Spanish radio.

The £50million signing has scored just the solitary goal in 22 matches since his move from Liverpool, and the striker is quoted – on his own website – as saying that some of his Blues teammates are “old” and “very slow”, blaming them for his lack of goals for his new club.

The interview, authorised by the west London club, was broadcast on Spanish radio and then shared onto the striker’s own website, but he denies that he was critical of his teammates, instead blaming poor translation for the way the interview sounds. Something boss Andre Villas-Boas has asked the frontman to explain.

The club have admitted that they are now trying to get hold of an original recording of the interview before jumping to any conclusions, although Villas-Boas has said he is likely to have “just a word” with Torres whatever the outcome.

Torres made the big money move to Chelsea last January and big things were expected of him in arguably a bigger side, but the striker has struggled in front of goal, finding himself dropped to the bench in recent weeks, behind the likes of Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge, having returned from a loan spell at Bolton last season.

There is one man to blame for Torres’ lack of goals and that is the man in the mirror. He made it pretty clear that he didn’t want to be at Anfield anymore, and did everything he could to manufacture a move away. Having got that move, after plenty of whinging, arm waving and ranting at referees and teammates, he got that move and has done pretty much the same at Stamford Bridge.

Personally, I can see Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich growing tired of his £50million plaything and cutting his substantial losses and packing him off to Spain or Italy.

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By Chris White

Capello Critical Of Carroll's Lifestyle

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:54:58 +0100

While England’s performance against Bulgaria may not have raised many eyebrows, putting in a professional shift without having to do too much more, Andy Carroll’s omission from the squad did have a few people scratching their heads.

Against a team that have struggled to score goals, England ran out 3-0 winners in Sofia in the Ashley Young’s first half goal was the only thing the crowd at Wembley had to cheer about in the Euro 2012 qualifier between England and Wales in what was another underwhelming performance by Fabio Capello’s side.

The Manchester United forward turned in Stewart Downing’s c...

By Chris White

Top 5 Deadline Day Deals

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:44:47 +0100

Transfer deadline day certainly lived up to its billing with players coming and going write up until the strike of 11pm. Despite not having any huge fee transfers, there were still plenty of big players involved in rumours and confirmed deals.

A total of 92 players moved on deadline day alone around England and Scotland with Arsenal finally spending some money on established players, and Chelsea,...

By Chris White

Mata And Nasri On The Move

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:35:45 +0100

Two of the most sought after players in Europe are on the move this week, with almost £50million set to change hands as the transfer window prepares to slam shut at the end of this month.

Spanish winger Juan Mata is on his way to join Chelsea for a fee believed to be £23.5million from Valencia, and he will...

By Chris White

Fabregas Leaves The Emirates - Who Next?

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:27:05 +0100

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas finally completed his move back to boyhood club Barcelona this week, prompting questions over the future of the players he’s left behind at Arsenal, and who would be the next to leave the Emirates Stadium.

Fabregas made no secret of his desire to leave...

By Chris White

Rivals To Contest The Community Shield

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:49:37 +0100

What a way to start the new football season. The traditional season opener, the Community Shield, is quite often a drab affair with neither side willing to take too many risks ahead of a hectic schedule over the next nine months. But it’s not normally a Manchester derby.

Premiership champions Manchester Unite...

By Chris White

Championship Kicks Off This Weekend

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:43:44 +0100

The eagerly awaited Championship season gets underway this weekend as it is set to be one of the most exciting leagues anywhere in Europe with the standard improving year on year.

West Ham United, Birmingham City and Blackpool were all relegated from the Premiership...

By Chris White

League One and Two Preview

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:54:56 +0100

It may not seem like too much more than five minutes since the final whistle blew at Wembley in May as Swansea sealed promotion to the Premiership in the final Football League match of the 2010/11 season, but believe it or not, the Football League….IS BACK.

This weekend, the Championship, By Chris White

The Premiership's Top Marksmen

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:05:34 +0100

With the Premier League teams going through their pre-season preparations, with friendlies all over the globe, players coming in, players going out, stadiums being renamed and Carlos Tevez wanting to leave, you may be mistaken for thinking it’s just another summer in England.

Rumours have been flying around for months now in some cases, about which strikers will be moving over here, and w...

By Chris White

Top Transfer Targets 2011

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:48:16 +0100

The transfer rumour mills have been going non-stop right from the final whistle of the 2010/11 season, and some players have been linked with different clubs on every corner of the earth it seems. But who have been the ten most regularly talked about players in this transfer window?

At number one, is Sergio Aguero. The 23-year old Argentinian striker looks set to join Manchester City this week from Atletico...

By Chris White

SPL Preview

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:08:21 +0100

Believe it or not, in mid July, the Scottish Premier League season gets under way this weekend and I’ve taken a look around all 12 clubs to give you a rundown of who has joined, who has left, and where I expect them to finish.

Hamilton were relegated from the top flight last season, with Dunfermline returning to the big time as champions of division one, while Rangers are the reigning champions and therefore, the ones to beat.

ABERDEEN: Finished ninth last ...

By Chris White

Loyalty What Loyalty?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:32:54 +0100

Well the list of want away footballers is growing, with more and more players now proving the public right – loyalty doesn’t exist in football anymore, and, if it does, it only applies to SOME home grown players.

Carlos Tevez and Luka Modric have both handed in written transfer requests, and, while Tevez’s demand won’t have come as a shock to anybody (because we all know he has no loyalty to any football club on this planet), Modric’s request has come as somewhat of a surprise, espec...

By Chris White

Nothing To Prove

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:19:17 +0100

New Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has made his first signing since moving to the Villa Park hot seat, bringing in Shay Given as a replacement for Brad Friedel, who joined Tottenham earlier this summer.

The 35-year old stopper is still regarded as one of the best in the business and will be looking to reignite a career that stalled...

By Chris White

Liverpool Delay Stadium Decision

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:36:17 +0100

Stories about Liverpool and their future at Anfield have been bouncing around for a number of years now, but this week chief executive Ian Ayre told supporters that they are not going to rush into making any kind of decision as to whether they will stay at Anfield, or move to a new site, such as Stanley Park.

Ayre said in his statement that it looked “increasingly unlikely” that the club would be able to develop Anfield which cause...

By Chris White

England Players Are Scared

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:08:23 +0100

Both Gary Neville and Paul Scholes have told the media in recent days about how England players are “scared” of playing for their country, because they fear the criticism they may receive if they don’t play as well for England as they do for their clubs – something that us fans have been saying for years now!

Neville also revealed that players never really seemed to bond as a team, which is why we have never performed as well as we hope at the big tournaments. He said players were “c...

By Chris White

Modric Tours After Chelsea Bid Rejected

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:26:37 +0100

Luka Modric’s much talked about transfer from Tottenham to Chelsea could have finally reached a conclusion as the Croatian jetted off to South Africa with his Spurs team mates, with Chelsea’s latest £27million bid rejected by the bosses at White Hart Lane.

The north-London club are off on their pre-season tour of South Africa, and with Modric boarding the plane, it gives the strongest indication yet that he will be staying at the club, rather than making the move across London to Stamfor...

By Chris White

Cole Wants To Be Judged On Football

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:56:04 +0100

Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole has never been too far from the media spotlight over the years, since his infamous transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea, followed by his marriage and subsequent divorce from popstar Cheryl, but now the left back has called for fans to give him a break and judge him for his football, not his private life activities.

New Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said in his first press conference last week that he wants his players to be role models to the...

By Chris White

Olympic Stadium Row Rumbles On

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:09:41 +0100

Just as we thought the row over who would inherit the Olympic Stadium had come to an end, Tottenham have decided that they are going to take the decision back to the High Court to push for a judicial review of the decision to award the stadium to West Ham.

Judge Mr Justice David rejected the appeal by Tottenham and fellow London club Leyton Orient last week, but Spurs are once again trying to get the...

By Chris White

United Are In Safe Hands

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:10:33 +0100

Sir Alex Ferguson finally got his man this week, confirming that David de Gea would be the man given the task of filling the gloves left behind by Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford. The 20-year old Spaniard moves on a five-year deal for a fee believed to be around £19million from Atletico Madrid.

De Gea has impressed Ferguson for a number of years now, and was in fine form as the Spain Under-21 side won the European Championships this summer. Obviously his record last season, coupl...

By Chris White

Arsenal Willing To Sell Fabregas

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:10:59 +0100

After two years of speculation, Arsenal have finally admitted that they are willing to sell their captain to Barcelona, but only if the two clubs can agree on a fee. Cesc Fabregas has made no secret of his desire to return to his boyhood club, and it appears now that it is only a matter of time until he does.

Arsenal, unsurprisingly,...

By Chris White

England Are Well Defended

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:48:06 +0100

Although England are seemingly incapable of performing at international tournaments, the latest evidence even stemming from the Under 21 side who went out in the group stages at the European Under 21 Championships, at least we are all safe in the knowledge that we are not short on top quality defenders.

While many would suggest John Terry, the recently reinstated captain, and Rio Ferdinand, the former England captain, (don’t get me started), are the first choice partnership, there are p...

By Chris White

Spurs Determined To Keep Modric

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:23:40 +0100

Luka Modric has been the subject of a great deal of transfer speculation in recent weeks, with a number of top clubs rumoured to be interested in signing the Croatian midfielder. In the meantime, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp and Chairman Daniel Levy have both said that he is not for sale at any price. But we all know that’s nothing more than a standard response to transfer speculation.

Spurs have already turned down a reported £22million for Modric, from Chelsea, who have stated that they w...

By Chris White

Free Transfer X1

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:27:35 +0100

The list of players released by Premier League clubs this summer was released last week and there are some very big names on that list that any club would love to snap up, but maybe they’re not worth the risk. On the other hand, as free transfers, at least they don’t have to worry about transfer fees and agent payments.

The list includes some players who have played in World Cup finals, Champions League finals, and have earned international caps – even in recent years. Unsurprisingly, a...

By Chris White

Why Becks Should Play For GB In 2012

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:06:55 +0100

With the upcoming London Olympics, we have to include David Beckham in our Great Britain football team. We just have to. There is nobody more deserving of a place in the squad, and as a London boy, it would be the perfect tribute to a glittering career.

He isn’t getting any younger, I’ll grant you that, and he isn’t playing at one of the top European clubs, but he is the perfect man to have around a squad of young players, as the Olympic rules state, and to bring them on and lead us to...

By Chris White

Tevez - Just Go

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:57:59 +0100

It’s been a few months now so we must be due another on-going saga involving whether or not Carlos Tevez will show some level of commitment to a club, or move on elsewhere for a bit more money.

Tevez flew back to Argentina after leading City to the FA Cup – their first trophy in 35 years – and went on a chat show, only to say that he wouldn’t go back to Manchester. Well ask for a transfer then and save us the time in hearing about whether you will go or not and let us talk about somet...

By Chris White

Will McLeish Actually Join Villa?

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:25:14 +0100

I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that current, or ex depending on what paper you read, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is currently in talks with the Blues’ arch rivals Aston Villa over the manager’s position. Will somebody please give him a slap and get him to wake up and think about what he’s doing!

Of all the clubs McLeish could go to, Villa has to be the last on the list surely. That’s like going from Rangers to Celtic, United to City, Liverpool to Everton or Arsenal to Spurs, it ...

By Chris White

Is McClaren Right For Forest

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:53:31 +0100

Former England boss Steve McClaren has been named as the new manager of Nottingham Forest on a three-year contract after Billy Davies was surprisingly sacked last week. The appointment must have umbrella salesmen and women on red alert around Nottingham, but the move has certainly put a cloud over the City Ground in the eyes of many Forest fans.

McClaren lead FC Twente to the Dutch Eredivisie title, and then had a spell in charge of then Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg but was sacked...

By Chris White

One Of The Greats

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:53:47 +0100

After months of speculation of will he or won’t he retire, Edwin van der Sar announced back in January that he would be retiring at the end of the season. Despite calls from huge numbers of Manchester United supporters for him to carry on for one more year, the Dutch shot-stopper has resisted and hung up his gloves after the Champions League final against Barcelona.

The 40-year old retires after making 186 appearances for Manchester United, between 2005 and 2011 having signed from ...

By Chris White

Capello Must Go

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:29:12 +0100

Well, what a joke that was. Yet again, we come away from an England game thinking our nan’s could have done better jobs at picking the team than the man on multi-millions of pounds a year to go out, see our best talent, and coach and pick a squad capable to winning games.

Fabio Capello has to go. Now. The FA messed up by renewing his contract before the 2010 World Cup started, and he lead England to the airport, that was about it, because he looked clueless for the whole agonising few w...

By Chris White

End of an Era

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:17:42 +0100

The Barclays Premier League suffered a massive blow this week, and no, I'm not going to go on about how it's world-shattering that Blackpool were relegated, I did that last week! The league instead lost one of the best players we have ever been fortunate enough to see play the game.

Paul Scholes has decided that, at the age of 36, it's time to hang up the boots and look back at the memories of what has been a sparkling career, filled with goals, passes, medals, and bookings aplenty.

Scholes...

By Chris White

England Must Stick With 433

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:14:32 +0100

While we might all be thinking the football season is over now until August, believe it or not, there's still one more game remaining - a Euro 2012 qualifier between England and Switzerland at Wembley. No wonder our players are knackered!

The game on Saturday is a chance for England to move 3-points ahead of Montenegro in Group G, and almost guarantee qualification for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine next summer.

England have won three of their four fixtures so far, with a...

By Chris White

Ferguson Calls For Revamp Of Youth Football

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:28:29 +0100

Following Barcelona’s resounding 3-1 win against Manchester United at Wembley, Sir Alex Ferguson picked up on what could be a key factor affecting the future of our national game.

On board United’s Premiership celebration bus ride over the weekend, Ferguson said that the young players at British clubs will never reach the levels of those coming through at the likes of Barcelona because they are only allowed to be coached for five hours each week, whereas the restrictions don’t exist...

By Chris White

Toure Banned For Six Months

Tue, 31 May 2011 17:26:23 +0100

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure will be free to play from 2 September after the FA handed down a six-month ban, back-dated to 2 March, for his failed drugs test.

The Ivory Coast international admitted to taking a medicine, given to him by his wife, and tested positive in a random test after the Manchester derby in February. His club immediately suspended him and the independent panel could have handed out a much longer ban to the defender, but the PFA have supported the six-month...

By Chris White

Showtime!

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:50:05 +0100

The Wembley showpiece has finally arrived. On Saturday night, Manchester United take on Barcelona in the final of the Champions League in one of the most eagerly anticipated finals in years.

The English and Spanish champions clash in a repeat of the Rome final of 2009, where it was Barcelona who came out victorious, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi.

Barca are favourites to win the competition, and have been since the first round of match...

By Chris White

United Dominate Team of the Decade

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:21:05 +0100

Managers of this season’s Premier League were asked to compile their top-flight ‘Team of the Decade’, and unsurprisingly, Manchester United players dominated the selections.

Votes were cast on players that had played in the Premier League between 2001 and 2011, with managers choosing a 4-4-2 formation, from players of any nationality. See if this side would match yours.

Edwin van der Sar won the goalkeeper gloves, receiving 53% of the votes, with Chelsea’s Petr Cech coming second with 33%.

At the back, Gary Neville was selected at right back, receiving 60% of votes, joined by Nemanja Vidic and John Terry, receiving 20% and 47% of votes respectively, holding off Rio Ferdinand (20%) for the positions at the heart of the defence. Unsurprisingly, Ashley Cole was voted in at left back, receiving 73% of votes with Patrice Evra earning the remaining 27% in a two-horse race.

There was no contest for the wingers – Cristiano Ronaldo received 67% of votes for the right, while Ryan Giggs took 87% for the left wing. David Beckham, who moved to Real Madrid in 2003, received 27% of votes to play on the right.

In the middle of midfield, Steven Gerrard (33%) and Paul Scholes (23%) held off competition from Roy Keane (17%), Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard (both 10%).

The strikers were the most keenly contested positions. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba got 23% of votes, and would partner Newcastle and England legend Alan Shearer (also 23%). Wayne Rooney (20%) Thierry Henry (17%) and Dennis Bergkamp (10%) were the other front-runners.

In two separate votes, Manchester United’s 2007/08 League and Champions League winning side was voted the team of the decade ahead of Arsenal’s invincible side of 2003/04, and Jose Mourinho’s 2005/06 Chelsea team.

The same 2007/08 season was voted as the most exciting, as Manchester United won the league and Roy Hodgson kept Fulham up on the final day.

League Manager’s Association Team of the Decade: GK Edwin van der Sar; RB Gary Neville, CB Nemanja Vidic, John Terry, LB Ashley Cole; RM Cristiano Ronaldo, CM Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, LM Ryan Giggs; F Alan Shearer, Didier Drogba.

By Chris White