Bielsa: The Big Name Leeds United Need To Back

2004 was the last time Leeds United played a Premier League fixture, with the three times English champions struggling in the Championship, and even League One, for the last 14 years. That will be stretched into a 15th campaign but there is reason for optimism at Elland Road now, for the first time in a long time.

Leeds’ plans are well underway for the 2018/19 campaign with mid-June bringing the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa, arguably the most high-profile appointment the club has made since Terry Venables replaced David O’Leary back in 2002. Venables’ appointment was the start of a dramatic fall from grace, with Leeds relegated from the Premier League in 2004. Continue reading Bielsa: The Big Name Leeds United Need To Back

The Premier League Players to star in Portugal vs Spain

The World Cup is officially underway and the watching world were treated to a goal fest in the opening game between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Sadly for Saudi Arabia, the goal scoring was one-sided as Russia ran riot at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. On Friday evening the biggest game of the World Cup so far gets underway when Portugal take on Spain at the Fisht Olympic Stadium. With some big Premier League names on show, we take a look at who will have a starring role in this Group B clash.

Spain have become a team renowned for having a miserly defense and a large part of that is down to Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. The Spanish shot-stopper is widely considered the best goalkeeper in the world and the Portuguese will have a tough time getting past the adopted Manc. Continue reading The Premier League Players to star in Portugal vs Spain

Jenkinson Is Def A Kenny Rogers Fan

Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson is definitely a Kenny Rogers fan following a video clip of him making the rounds online. The player who is on loan at Birmingham City was caught on tape singing county star Roger’s 1978 hit: The Gambler.

The Birmingham loanee stood on a chair in front of teammates, who clapped along, holding an improvised microphone – using a bottle of ketchup – singing the hit song. His teammate Harlee Dean shared the clip ahead of their game against Preston North End. The PNE game is the first away game for Jenkinson at the club. Continue reading Jenkinson Is Def A Kenny Rogers Fan

Premier League’s Potential African World Cup Stars

Whatever Premier League team you support, your side will probably have at least one representative at this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia. Such is the international nature of the Premier League, that at any one time, there can be 60 or more nations represented amongst the squads of the 20 teams. While other major European leagues are not far behind, the English top flight remains the most cosmopolitan of the lot.

The African contingent

The African continent is well represented in the English league and some of those players will be involved come June. Continue reading Premier League’s Potential African World Cup Stars

Crystal Palace’s Unsung Heroes

With Premier League survival in touching distance and the Crystal Palace Player of the Year award set to be contested between talisman Wilfried Zaha and set-piece expert Luka Milivojević, we take a look at some of Roy Hodgson’s Eagles who’ve gone under the radar this season.

Andros Townsend

No Palace player has completed more Premier League minutes this season than Roy’s most-trusted asset, Andros Townsend (2774). The winger has developed a dynamic understanding with Wilfried Zaha and has learnt to take advantage when opposition defences double up on his opposite number. Offering more than just work ethic, he’s had a hand in eight Palace goals, scoring two and assisting another six.

Townsend is now 26-years old and has matured from the powerful, tricky winger that fired his way into the England set-up. He’s one of the first names on the Palace teamsheet, not through Hodgson’s soft spot for him but his sheer work rate and do-or-die performances, and recent debutant Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be the first to tell you what Townsend provides defensively. Continue reading Crystal Palace’s Unsung Heroes

MUELENSTEEN EXCLUDES WES BROWN FROM LINE UP

After not playing the opener of the Indian Super League where his team Kerala Blasters played a scoreless draw, Wes Brown is now not likely to feature for the Yellow army in the second game of their campaign either which is scheduled against Jamshedpur.

Rene Meulensteen, who is in charge of the Kerala Blasters, for the on-going season, said that he didn’t want to rush players to action and risk a long term injury. He reckons it’s better to give them extra time to do some more strengthening work and get match fit.
Continue reading MUELENSTEEN EXCLUDES WES BROWN FROM LINE UP

COLOCCINI’S RETURN TO SAN LORENZO

FabricioColoccini returned home to Argentina to join San Lorenzo last year after eight years with Newcastle United, with the north-east club announcing their captain’s contract had been terminated by mutual consent.


The move back to his home country had been long rumoured, with a move to the PrimeraDivisión club mooted as far back as November 2013 when Coloccini said: “I would like to return as soon as possible”.

Coloccini joined Newcastle from Deportivo La Coruña in 2008, shortly before making his debut against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw in a season-opener at Old Trafford.

He went on to make 275 appearances for the club and became club captain for the 2011-12 season.

The managing director of Newcastle United, Lee Charnley, said: “It is rare in football these days that a player gives such length of service to one club and I would like to thank Colo for his contribution to Newcastle United since he joined us before the start of the 2008-09 season”. Continue reading COLOCCINI’S RETURN TO SAN LORENZO

Senol Gunes will remain in charge of Besiktas

Senol Gunes will remain in charge of Besiktas and won’t take charge of his country’s national side.


Initially the soccer association of Turkey had approached Gunes to fill the vacant spot of the head coach of the national side, but, the 65-year old refused to take up the job.

After that, the association asked the Besiktas hierarchy if they could allow Gunes to perform the dual role of the head coach of Besiktas as well as that of the national side on a temporary basis.

The Besiktas hierarchy refused to that and conveyed to the national association that they don’t think it’s a beneficial proposition for any of the two parties concerned.

Recently Besiktas put forward a statement on social media in which they confirmed that a proposal was there for Gunes to oversee the operations of both the sides, but, that was not accepted by them. Continue reading Senol Gunes will remain in charge of Besiktas

DIRK KUYT HANGS UP BOOT ON A HIGH

The tireless, peerless and talented goalscorer Dirk Kuyt ended his career on a high as he is set to quit the Feyenoord team after leading them to the Eredivisie title.


The Dutch talisman ended the club’s 18-ywar wait for the title as he scored a hat trick to deliver it ahead of Ajax.

He scored from a narrow angle, then a header before finishing it off with a well-taken penalty in the 3-1 victory over opponents Heracles Almelo. He is largely the factor responsible for the club’s first Eredivisie title since 1999.

Though the victory is not in the league of Leicester’s when they overcame a 5000 to 1 odds to lift the Premier League last year, it still presents a difficult prediction as at when the league started. Continue reading DIRK KUYT HANGS UP BOOT ON A HIGH