Will Taylor @will-taylor ?

The prospect of watching your beloved team in unfamiliar surroundings is often as daunting as it is rewarding. The three points on offer certainly aren’t worth any more and yet they feel special, perhaps because expectations usually favour the home side. In the school playground, your status as a ‘true supporter’ is determined by how many [...]

The relationship between English football and its fans is similar to a marriage drifting further away from the honeymoon period. We’ll claim the analysis of Alan Hansen or a weeknight in Stoke is all we need to stay happy, but that won’t stop us admiring the seductive charm of European football whenever it graces our television screens. [...]

The infuriating proficiency of Robin van Persie may have denied Joe Cole a fairytale start to his second coming, but early indications suggest this could prove an inspired reconciliation. The 31-year-old huffed and puffed his way through a debut that lasted 78 minutes and delivered two beautifully crafted deliveries that allowed James Collins to atone [...]

The risk of ‘moving up too soon’ is a debate that typically refers to those on the pitch rather than in the dugout. At present, arguments are erupting over whether young starlets Wilfried Zaha and Tom Ince are good enough to grace the Premier League with their presence, but what about the beautiful game’s most promising [...]

The January transfer window looks set to cast a shadow over Goodison Park, with the media spotlight focusing upon demoralising departures rather than potential new arrivals. The influential duo of Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines will be a constant source of speculation as the club reluctantly begins to batten down the hatches. Former PSG striker Guillaume [...]

How do we solve a problem like diving? How do we even define a problem like diving? It’s rarely a black and white, yes or no issue that can be correctly evaluated and dealt with in the blink of an eye. Of course there are the painfully obvious examples where individuals hit the turf as [...]

The January transfer window has endured a strange and slightly subdued start to its sorry existence. Despite a growing need for numerous clubs to invest, activity has been tentative at best. Managers have been probing, analysing and deliberating rather than actually submitting formal bids. Thank god Harry Redknapp finds himself at QPR this time around. As my [...]

I wonder if Andre Villas-Boas has a framed screenshot of the Premier League table hanging in his office? Having amassed 40 points from 22 games, Tottenham sit just two points behind the Champions of Europe, with a six-point gap ahead of fierce rivals Arsenal. The club may not be hailed as the outside ‘title challengers’ [...]

On May 14 2012, the entire country was battered with gale-force winds after every Aston Villa supporter let out a collective sigh of relief. The news that the much-loathed figure of Alex McLeish had departed was met with rapturous applause, especially when Paul Lambert was announced as his replacement, having just guided a mediocre Norwich City [...]

Next month England will host Brazil in a friendly to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Football Association. The match is the first event to feature as part of the year-long celebration and while many will be looking back at some of the historical landmark achievements, it’s imperative that Roy Hodgson picks a team based on [...]

Cast your mind back to August, Joe Allen is standing tall as the golden boy, set to orchestrate a potentially golden era on Merseyside. His refusal to concede possession, a trait once reserved for the sunny shores of Spain, has already begun to wash away a relentless feeling of frustration among the Anfield faithful. Oh, [...]

It’s official: Newcastle United are in a state of ‘crisis’, at least according to manager Alan Pardew, who was seen frantically searching for positives in the aftermath of last weekend’s draw with Norwich. The goalless stalemate was the Toon Army’s first clean sheet away from home all season but they can perhaps gain inspiration from avoiding [...]

“He reads the game like Claude Makelele, has the presence of Patrick Vieira and can pass the ball like Yaya Toure.” ( Le Parisien ) If the effusive praise of Stade Rennais manager Frederic Antonetti carries any merit, Yann M’Vila is destined to enjoy a career at the very pinnacle of the beautiful game. Less than a [...]

December was a particularly harsh and unforgiving month at Selhurst Park. Despite suffering defeat just once at the hands of table-topping Cardiff, Crystal Palace tasted victory also once, having thrown away winning positions on four separate occasions. The club were still endorsing the same brand of attractive football but perhaps the runaway bandwagon was beginning [...]