Football journalism

michael cox is on dis ting, v nicely understated

― navihchkan (nakhchivan), Thursday, 17 May 2012 19:54 (1 year ago)

Szczesny has also developed his game thanks to increased competition -- by his own admission. "I raised my standards when Lukasz [Fabianski] got his chance in goal," he told Arsenal's match-day programme earlier this season. "When you realise your position is not safe, you give it that little bit more -- 110 percent rather than 100 percent." Which, using the footballer-to-fan percentage conversion scale, means Szczesny wasn't giving 100 percent.

WHO IS ILKAY GUNDOGAN?

He was born to Turkish/German parents and played for Bochum and Nurnberg before signing for Dortmund in 2011.

A central midfielder who can act as playmaker - not too unlike Shinji Kagawa.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2498173/Manchester-United-need-sign-midfielder--Rene-Meulensteen.html

they don't mention whether he can play on the wing

What was Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola doing at a trendy London eatery on Friday afternoon... meeting Luis Suarez’s agent?

Sportsmail can reveal the Spaniard - who joined the German giants in the summer - was in the Big Smoke over the weekend making the most of the international break with a trip to London.

But was he here on business or pleasure?

Guardiola enjoyed lunch in Borough Market’s lively restaurant Eliott’s Cafe - and was joined by Liverpool forward Suarez’s representative.

Of course, the Anfield hero’s agent is non other that Guardiola’s brother Pere.

The Barcelona legend, who was with his family, posed for photographs with fellow restaurant goers who recognised him.

Friday’s Guardiola family rendezvous certainly got chins wagging among the more knowledgable diners at the restaurant.

Was it simply a leisurely Friday afternoon family get together? If so, why were the Spaniards meeting in London?

Suarez to Bayern Munich? Surely not?

Yesterdays second captains podcast was quite exceptional, i thought.

Yes, really enjoyed that thanks. Two stories, neither perennials nor obscure at all, and then run them for all they're worth. The speakers seem to know less than the Football Weekly lot, but they more than make up for it with a bit of focus.

This was a really good thread btw, far too long since we've had one similar.

Guardiola enjoyed lunch in Borough Market’s lively restaurant Eliott’s Cafe - and was joined by Liverpool forward Suarez’s representative.

Good choice!

been catching up on some recent sunday times styles and now feel certain camilla long is the gatekeeper to b ronay's keymaster

just sayin like

These comments have been chosen by Guardian staff because they contribute to the debate.

GhostWiper

05 December 2013 12:05pm
This comment has been chosen by Guardian staff because it contributes to the debate
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1. Ask Ashley Young to dive more
2. Start properly initimdating referees again
3. Bring back Fergie time. I can't believe last night's game has finished already.
4. Ban some journalists from the club. Specifically the ones who are printing the results and league table
5. Deflect the attention by picking fights with other managers and call it mind games.

^^^an example of non-Menippean satire

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-reveal-plan-make-6394831

Fresh from banning ncjMedia titles , Newcastle United have broken from the pack to move in a new direction in terms of their relationship with the rest of the print media.

They have told reporters from national titles who are working in the North East that they will no longer be given access to their players between matches this season and will instead give those “privileges” to organisations that pay them.

This has never happened before. They are the first Premier League football club to try to do this and it will be interesting to see what kind of reaction it garners.

At least one national newspaper has delivered an unequivocal ‘no’ but the club seem determined to test the water on an unpopular plan.

The club have rather optimistically graded the packages as bronze, silver and gold with the level of payment determining the level of access.

Which package includes access to Steven Taylor?

need a few joe kinnear press conferences to whet the appetite imo

Newcastlol remain at the bleeding edge of finding new ways to make us lol

press shd retaliate by refusing to name them - use references to "a medium-sized northeastern club" - or any of the players in any match reports

a ban on alan pardew's voice being used on tv/radio

we will not negotiate with geordies

Amazed they haven't tried charging the press an admission fee to actual games yet tbh

all voices to be overdubbed by Brian Sewell

press shd retaliate by refusing to name them - use references to "a medium-sized northeastern club" - or any of the players in any match reports

A self-respecting media would've done this the first time Ferguson or whoever banned reporters. Ideally they'd just pretend they didn't exist - 3-0 walk overs for whoever the opponents are that week, a GSTQ-style blank in the league table, girl-with-monkey on screen for three minutes during motd.

who is more obsequious, sports journos or royal correspondents?

It was possible to script the narrative of Arsenal exhibiting time-honoured failings, chiefly the one about coming up short when the prize is in sight. They were passive in the second-half. They looked tired. After the 1-1 home draw against Everton on Sunday, this was another bad result and, next up for them, is Manchester City away on Saturday lunchtime. It is all going wrong … David Hytner

Aw c'mon, I mean I know you need to find an angle and I know a touch of hyperbole gets readers going - but maybe give it a week before unleashing this sort of challops?

David Hytner had AVB sacked last week didn't he?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/sports/soccer/ray-hudson-mixes-soccer-calls-with-awe.html

love the dour sad sacks in the comments, people are jealous of ray

Okay, this is awesome

“Cristiano awakens his sleeping sword of destruction — and it is Excalibur!”

"Messi, merciless, like Kathy Bates with that sledgehammer."

Lol yeah, that @liverayhudson account is fantastic value

"1-0, Pandev. "Pandev emerges from the shadows and Dracula, on a plate of liver, feasts!"

they might be funny written down but he is genuinely impossible to listen to

The past year or so has seen the resurgence of the out-and-out centre-forward – Robert Lewandowski, Falcao, Gonzalo Higuaín, Asamoah Gyan, Olivier Giroud

Admittedly I haven't seen much any UAE football but that seems like typical Wilson throwing in Gyan's name amongst that company.

Ha! Just looked up his stats. 53 goals in 48 appearances!

Guardian doing their best 100 footballers of 2013 thing. Nice to see that Kagawa had a better year than Javi Martinez.

got Nesta on the voting panel though, even the ILF Awards can't compete with that

Wonder where Emmanuel Mayuka will be this year.

Shinji Kagawa is no longer a footballer. He's an idea. And it's only gotten more powerful

A one year away from MLS Frank Lampard better than Isco as well. Madrid have missed a trick there.

Nice to see Conca on there. I've still seen no evidence that he actually exists.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1893299-ranking-the-10-coolest-teams-to-support-in-world-football

Conca probably isn't the best player at Guangzhou Evergrande atm. Elkeson has had an amazing season. xp

FC St. Pauli are perhaps the closest thing to a cult in world football, with their fans up there with the most diehard in world football. The punk-rock-esque club also proudly boast one of the biggest female fanbases in world football due to their anti-racist, anti-homophobic and anti-sexist nature.

Dan Talintyre's had a worldy there

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25488518

kompany in garth crooks' team of the week

Juventus have joined the queue of Serie A clubs ready to take Tottenham misfit Erik Lamela back to Italy.

The club record £30million summer signing has yet to score in the Premier League.

But the Argentina winger has a good reputation in Italy, where he made his name with Roma.

Rafa Benitez’s Napoli want to take him on loan, while Inter Milan could do a swap deal for striker Fredy Guarin.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-transfer-news-juventus-join-2957008

HIGHEST TROUSERS

Cardiff's popular alpha male Vincent Tan turned out for his first match since seeing off Malky Mackay in defiant garb: beltline higher than ever, with shades, replica top and leather gloves completing this season's must-have look.

>>>>>> the observer's football staff

Top 10 Epically Expensive Transfers of 2013
From: HuffingtonPost.com

FA Cup third round: 10 talking points from this weekend's action

7) Is Everton's eagerness to get rid of Jelavic wise?

It is clear why Everton want Nikica Jelavic off their wage bill after a patchy season and a-half in front of goal, but until Roberto Martínez finds a replacement, the Croatian's departure would leave Apostolos Vellios as the only back-up to Romelu Lukaku in attack at a key stage of the season. Graham Chase

• Match report: Everton 4-0 QPR

Despite Rafael’s development into a highly-rated attacking full-back, there remain concerns over his defensive capabilities, particularly when dealing with high balls into the far post.

Right-back is not a ‘must-do’ in January, but long-term targets would be Borussia Dortmund’s Lukasz Piszczek and England right-back Kyle Walker.