Tag Archives: Soccer

Sportsthoughts (103) – European Sporting Summits

Posted on May 26, 2014 by John S

On the long weekend when the political institutions and elites of Europe were blown a very large raspberry by voters across the EU, I shall stick to sport and reflect on two engrossing finals: Toulon v Saracens in rugby’s Heineken … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (102) – Harlequins hit the Saracens wall, Arsenal conquer their demons

Posted on May 18, 2014 by John S

Saturday was a great sports viewing day. I had a cycle down to Hammersmith beforehand, before settling down for two big deciders for two of my favourite teams: Quins and Arsenal. (West Ham are on their hols already). For Quins, … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (101) – Parking the Bus

Posted on April 28, 2014 by John S

On Sunday afternoon Chelsea went to Liverpool and blew the Premier League title chase wide open again. It could have been Liverpool’s coronation had they won their twelfth game in a row. Instead Chelsea, with a weakened, but not weak, … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (99) – The rise of Liverpool; the fall of Arsenal

Posted on April 14, 2014 by John S

And so the Premier League reaches a climax. The big showdown yesterday between Liverpool and Manchester City ended 3-2 to Liverpool. A superb game of football, with Liverpool going 2-0 up, City clawing their way back to 2-2 and looking … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (98) – A painful day on the sports sofa

Posted on March 23, 2014 by John S

All 12.30 yesterday it all looked so good. Just back from a bracing cycle. Chelsea v Arsenal – Arsene’s 1000th game – then Saracens v Quins at Wembley, the afternoon rounded off with West Ham v Man Utd at 5.30. … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (97) – Wenger, 1000

Posted on March 21, 2014 by John S

Tomorrow Arsenal play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A defining moment for their season. If they win, the Premier League title is back on. If they lose, the quest is probably over for this season. A massive game. But it is … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (92) – FIFA World XI v Premier League XI

Posted on January 15, 2014 by John S

FIFA declared its winner of the 2013 Ballon D’Or on Monday. Cristiano Ronaldo deservedly won it, not least for his heroic efforts in taking Portugal to the World Cup finals in Brazil. Just pipped Lionel Messi, who was as outstanding … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (91) – What now for West Ham?

Posted on January 6, 2014 by John S

The FA Cup has been battered and bruised by the money and power of the Premier League and the Champions League, but it still has a kick, and still matters, especially when things go wrong. Like today, when West Ham … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (90) – The perils of Premier League management

Posted on December 22, 2013 by John S

There was an intriguing table in The Observer today about the longevity of Premier League managers (as managers, not people!). It ranked the current 18 – two clubs, Spurs and West Brom, don’t have a “permanent” manager, having recently sacked … Continue reading →

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Sportsthoughts (89) – That World Cup Draw

Posted on December 8, 2013 by John S

So, two days on, how’s that Group of Death looking? The Todesgruppe as the Germans call it. Love those compound nouns. England find themselves in Group D, with Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica. With their first game, against Italy, to be … Continue reading →

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