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2010-09-08T13:53:02Z

In the weeks leading up to the start of the new La Liga season in Spain, much of the talk had focused on the increasing predictability of the Real Madrid and Barcelona duopoly.

After all, last year’s runners up Real had been busy yet again this summer assembling another new look team with their new look manager. Whilst Barcelona, for all their financial woes, had still found room to sign David Villa.

Bundesliga review and early blues for McClaren

2010-08-28T20:09:12Z

The Bundesliga is off and running and this weekend delivered the second round of league matches for the 2010/11 season. The British press will be keeping a particularly keen eye on the competition this campaign as they wait to see if Steve McClaren can follow up his successful two-year tenure at FC Twente with another league title in a new country.

Whilst McClaren's new employers Wolfsburg should be in the mix of the title race, the focus will also be on some usual suspects. Lois van Gaal's Bayern Munich will be the team for everyone else to beat after they secured a domestic league and cup double last season and almost claimed the Champions League as well. Another strong contender is Schalke 04, runners-up last time out and managed by Felix Magath- a man who has already won the Bundesliga 3 times with Bayern and Wolfsburg.

Ligue 1 champions Marseille get usurped by Ligue 2 equivalent

2010-08-20T01:20:56Z

The French league got underway on 7th August, and whilst the season may only be two fixtures old the Ligue 1 table already has an interesting look to it. For a start the current champions Marseille have managed to lose both of their two opening games, to Caen and Valenciennes respectively. The latter may have finished in a respectable 10th place last season but Caen is the real surprise package...

Marriage made in Wales for Cardiff and Craig Bellamy

2010-08-17T18:11:17Z

After much speculation and some predictable developments Cardiff City have secured Craig Bellamy on a season-long loan deal. The Welsh capital team are amongst the strong favourites for Championship promotion after their performances last season saw them finish fourth and narrowly lose the play-off final to Ian Holloway's Blackpool 3-2.

Now having secured Bellamy in their quest for the Premier League, Cardiff City have made a massive statement to the rest of the Championship contenders. By placing the erstwhile striker up front with the impressive Michael Chopra, Dave Jones' team have a forward line-up that would be intimidating enough for rivals in the Premier League alone.

Fantasy Football Style- Premier League predictions for the new season.

2010-08-06T02:49:12Z

Time draws near for the beginning of the new football seasons across Europe. This weekend (aghh tomorrow- time waits for no fan then!) the Football League will get up and running again in England. The following weekend will be the Premier League’s turn (August 14th).

In fact one of the Premier League clubs have already got their season underway- Liverpool having just begun in their quest to emulate Roy Hodgson's former team Fulham. By entering the Europa League at the third qualifying round they face the prospect of a long and arduous season, but Liverpool fans will be hopeful that their new manager can raise his team to the challenge like he did last season.

Can David James or the next England goalkeeper please stand up?!

2010-08-03T03:34:28Z

The big news from beneath the Premier League this last week was all about Bristol City, or namely all about David James. The current England no. 1 signed a one-year deal for the Championship side last Friday after the confirmation of his release from Portsmouth (where he had initially been offered a new contract after their relegation last season).

This was subsequently withdrawn after the appointment of Steve Cotterill as their new manager, a position James was rumoured to have been keen on whilst also wishing to prolong his playing career. Instead Steve Coppell has made the first seismic signing in his Ashton Gate surroundings and bolstered those fans hoping for a repeat of his Reading successes.

Has Steven Gerrard lost his ambition or is it just misplaced?

2010-07-22T02:47:44Z

Congratulations are in order for Liverpool FC, not only have they appointed Roy Hodgson as their man to replace Rafa Benitez as manager, but it now appears that their captain has been talked into extending his love affair with the club. Add this to the acquisition of Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea, and the red half of merseyside have possibly had their best week since the tail end of the season before last!

World Cup: Golden boot consolation and Octopus contemplation

2010-07-10T17:52:40Z

After very nearly a month the 2010 FIFA World Cup is reaching it's climax. This evening's 3rd place play-off between Uruguay and Germany will have a sense of what might have been for the beaten semi-finalists. However both camps have been keen to stress that there is plenty left to play for, even if the match is usually seen as being of little overall importance.

So it's goodbye from them and goodbye from him!

2010-07-04T15:55:47Z

First there was France and Italy and then less surprisingly England and Portugal, now Brazil and Argentina have also joined the slagheap for the 2010 World Cup. By the quarterfinal stage many pundits and 'experts' held the belief that the final would feature either Brazil or Argentina, possibly even both, in what would have been a World Cup first.

So much for predictions in the world of football. On Friday evening Dunga's Brazil had imploded in the second half of their quarter-final with the Netherlands, and it now looks like the manager will be leaving his post imminently. Meanwhile Maradona's quest to emulate Mário Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer was shattered by the latter's country.

Maradona closing in on greatness all over again.

2010-07-03T13:58:46Z

After the drama and excitement of yesterday's first two World Cup quarterfinals today sees the realisation of Germany versus Argentina for a place in the semi-final. This match has been talked up since the draw became clear following the second round matches last weekend. And rather like Gary Linekar said after England's elimination to Germany, it's probably best England didn't get through after all, because beating Argentina would have been far beyond them.