Saturday's 2-1 defeat away to Arsenal was a bitter pill to swallow for a number of reasons. Losing to Arsene Wenger's side has never been a particularly pleasant experience and after spurning a whole host of goal-scoring opportunities at the Emirates, it comes as little surprise to hear the likes of Chelesea's Frank Lampard being quoted in the press as suggesting the Red Devils are a mere defeat away from losing their place in the title race altogether. Click to continue reading...

The arrival of Dimitar Berbatov was heralded as the missing part of the jigsaw for Sir Alex Ferguson's double winning team - and after his £30m move from Tottenham, the Manchester United manager has been left with little option but to start the Bulgarian on a regular basis. However, there's one player who has consequently found himself cruelly ushered down the pecking order, 'on-loan' forward Carlos Tevez. Click to continue reading...

After being awarded the FIFPro World Footballer of the Year award this week, Cristiano Ronaldo looks odds on to take the coveted Ballon d'Or award in December. However, several influential figures in the game have given their backing to a host of other players who've also enjoyed impressive years for their clubs and countries. Click to continue reading...

The sensational news that Diego Maradona will return to football as national coach of his beloved Argentina will delight, excite and confuse in equal measure. Arguably the most talented player in history to ever don a pair of football boots, is the Argentina legend really the best candidate to manage the Albicelestes to World Cup glory? Click to continue reading...

September 2008 and Manchester United are in London, ready to take on an in-form Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. With the absent Nemanja Vidic serving a one-match suspension, most people inside the West London fortress had naturally presumed Wes Brown would deputise at center back alongside Rio Ferdinand. Click to continue reading...

Since Owen Hargreaves arrived at the club two summers ago, his time at the club has been continually hampered by a series of successive injuries. As a result of his unfortunate tendency to pick up knocks, the energetic defensive midfielder has only amounted 25 appearances since he joined from Bayern Munich. Click to continue reading...

As a University student, there was a period earlier in the year when I decided that growing my hair would be worth trying out. After all, I wouldn't get away with it in the real world. So, the third and final product I recieved from SoccerPro.com was a set of men's Nike Wide Sport Bands

As the leigons of footballers with flowing locks will testify, playing the game with long hair is not exactly a match made in heaven. Click to continue reading...

In modern day football, comparisons between rising stars and those who've already established themselves as household name have become commonplace. When Sporting Lisbon's young, flamboyant winger, Nani was rousing interest amongst several English clubs, including Manchester United, the media sprang no surprises by instantly comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo. Click to continue reading...

As if a pair of shin guards wasn't enough, I was also given the opportunity to review a pair of Adidas football socks from the American based retailer SoccerPro.com.

After browsing through their comprehensive socks section (British sports retailers take note) I came across a pair of Adidas Elite socks. Click to continue reading...

Recently, I was approached by the good guys at SoccerPro.com, an American based website who specialise in selling football gear, to put several products through their paces.

This opportunity couldn't have come at a better time. Having just played in a five-a-side match, I had the misfortune of being kicked in the shin, bloody hard I hasten to add, by one particularly enthusiastic opponent. Click to continue reading...

News that Paul Scholes faces up to eight weeks out as a result of medial knee ligament damage sustained in last night's 3-0 victory over Aalborg couldn't have come at a worse time for Manchester United. Had Michael Carrick been fit, Scholes's pending absence may not have caused as many anxious thoughts amongst the United faithful, and that's because of the similarities that the two players share - a huge credit to the way Carrick has performed since his move from Tottenham two seasons ago. Click to continue reading...

Under the heated spotlight of the Premier League it's difficult to keep your head when all about you are losing theirs. It takes the stubborn resolve, perhaps even the arrogance, of a manager sure of his principals with unbreakable trust in his players.

Arsene Wenger spent little this summer, and has never had the financial power of Chelsea or Manchester United, yet is charged with the task of competing with such clubs for domestic and European honours every season. Click to continue reading...

The 2006 August transfer deadline day will always be remembered as the day West Ham United stunned the football world by signing two of the most promising young footballers that South America had to offer in the form of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez.

Although most people were still surprised about Mascherano coming to England, it was the more recognised Argentine striking sensation Carlos Tevez who's pictures holding the Number 32 claret shirt with Alan Pardew left most wondering just how the Hammers had been able to pull of such an incredible coup. Click to continue reading...

Following in the footsteps of last season's emphatic success was never going to be easy, nor was it ever guaranteed. However, those of a Manchester United disposition could be forgiven for perhaps expecting a little more in the opening games of the new season. This season's early uncertainty culminated in last weekend's frustrating loss to Liverpool, a result which subsequently puts even greater emphasis on the trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but just why haven't things gone quite to plan for the European Champions on the pitch so far this season? Click to continue reading...

The signing of Dimitar Berbatov may well have been one of the most drawn out transfer sagas of the summer, possibly overshadowed only by Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Barry's respective rumour facades, but eventually, at just after midnight on Tuesday morning, it was confirmed that the enigmatic Bulgarian had been sold to Manchester United. Click to continue reading...