Archive | April, 2013

PFA announce awards shortlists

Gareth Bale, Michael Carrick, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie have been nominated for the 2012-13 Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award. PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has defended the presence of Liverpool striker Suarez on the six-man shortlist for the prestigious award, the winner of which will be […]

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Fantasy Football GW34: Has Michu’s magic returned?

For news, views and insight into the #EPL game from PremierLeague.com, head over to www.fantasyyirma.com or follow us on twitter @fantasyyirma The sun is shining and Michu (£8.0m) is scoring goals. It suddenly feels like August again doesn’t it? Swansea’s Spaniard made one of the most spectacular entrances into Fantasy Premier League that we can remember, scoring four […]

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Neymar to Barca – a catastrophe in the making?

Barcelona need Messi. Boy, do they ever. Against Paris Saint-Germain, this immortal team appeared fallible. Without their god-like genius, hamstrung in more ways than one, they were second-best; ponderous, susceptible, beatable.Then he arrived, like a battle-scarred war hero, from the dugout. He played a part in the defining goal, and a far more substantial role […]

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La Liga TV rights to be reviewed

A new law could force La Liga teams to sell their television rights collectively, the president of Spain’s Sports Council, Miguel Cardenal, has said. Under the current system, each Spanish club is free to negotiate individually with broadcast partners. This allows the big two, Real Madrid and Barcelona, to earn about €140 million each, with […]

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Giroud: Arsenal miss RvP

The French striker missed the Gunners’ best chances in the stalemate with Everton as he continues to struggle to convince he will ever be the man to replace the Dutchman’s goals Fine margins define seasons less so than fine players, a point no better illustrated than by the moments that ultimately decided Tuesday’s thunderous encounter […]

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Is criticism of Qatar 2022 justified?

When Sepp Blatter announced Qatar as host of the 2022 World Cup, his words echoed around the vast Zurich conference hall where the FIFA Executive Committee had gathered. Then, like a baby taking a breath before crying, came the reaction, one of shock and exasperation. Also, jubilation among the small bid team that had travelled […]

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Real Madrid usurp Manchester United as richest club in the world

Read Madrid have usurped Manchester United as the richest football club on the planet for the first time since Forbes magazine began their rankings in 2004. The Red Devils have sat at the top of the list for nine years in a row but Jose Mourinho’s men are now worth $135 million more (€103m) at […]

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Should the Bundesliga be worried about suffering ‘a Spanish situation’?

– it’s all coming together in one big, German dream this spring. For years, the Bundesliga had learned to feel happy about its largely unnoticed lot, like some provincial, discreet industrial tycoon. It had convinced itself that it didn’t need the praise of outsiders, that there was nothing to prove to the wider world. But now that […]

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10 talking points from the weekend’s action

The 96 – gone but never forgotten Much of the talk after Liverpool’s goalless draw with Reading on Saturday was how the visiting supporters had made clear their delight at the recent passing of Margaret Thatcher but it should be remembered that prior to the fireworks, flares, dancing and chanting had been an impeccably observed minute’s silence […]

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What will Rafael Benitez’s successor inherit at Chelsea?

Yesterday’s defeat has killed off any lingering prospect of Rafa Benitez staying on at Stamford Bridge. But what will his successor inherit? 1. The Premier League title must, and can, be won The bare minimum for a Chelsea manager is the title, fail to win that and history suggests you will be fired. That however, ought […]

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