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World Soccer views and news
Portsmouth have a chance to come back fighting fit
Every football fan should be delighted that Portsmouth Football Club are all set to go into administration on Friday — for all the right reasons.
Anything that will save Portsmouth from a High Court appearance when they face being wound-up by the British taxman, should be welcomed by fans not only of Portsmouth, but of every other club.
Of course, going into administration is not exactly the most desirable thing for any business, football club or otherwise, to have to endure.
But if it means Portsmouth survive, then it is by far the lesser of two evils and must be relatively speaking, welcomed.
Portsmouth’s woes unlikely to slow Premier League’s journey to oblivion
There is something of the boy who cried wolf about Portsmouth’s appearance in the High Court this week as fans were warned that the 112-year old club was within hours of going out of business.
In the last 20 years or so literally dozens of English league clubs have gone into administration, some more than once, but how many have actually folded?
West Ham shock as Englishmen buy Premier League club!
Londoners David Sullivan and David Gold have bucked a growing trend in England’s Premier League by taking control of 50 percent of West Ham United.
It returned a club steeped in the tradition of the English game to home ownership after an ill-fated three years of foreign control that has left the club deep in debt.
UPDATE: Derby fever hits the predictions league
Monday update: You would think 14 games into the season we would have learnt who was likely to beat who in the Premier League. Sadly not. I did OK for a change but only Martyn Herman really covered himself in glory with two five pointers for Villa 1-1 Spurs and Manchester City collecting yet another draw against Hull City.
But I wouldn’t celebrate like Jimmy Bullard just yet, Martyn, you’re still third bottom.
Midweek Premier League special. Can you beat the panel?
Never let it be said that we at Reuters Soccer Blog shirk a challenge. Our attempts at score prediction on the opening weekend produced results that were modest at best but never fear, we’re straight back in for another shot (that’ll doubtless be blasted over the bar).
Once again, please send in your own predictions … they can scarcely be any worse than ours, and if you do especially well, we’ll gladly let you lord it over us here on the blog.
Bolton leave Portsmouth red faced and empty handed
Much like a homeowner who decided to hold out for a higher offer and now finds himself stuck in a credit crunch, negative equity nightmare, Premier League side Portsmouth have made a highly regrettable financial faux pas.
Amidst the crazy antics of the January transfer window, Portsmouth decided to reject a 3.5 million pounds bid for midfielder Sean Davis from rivals Bolton Wanderers. On Wednesday he joined Gary Megson’s side for free.
Are clubs to blame for naming Adams and Ince in the first place?
For the second time in less than two months a young Englishman who had a great playing career has been sacked as the manager of a struggling Premier League club.
Tony Adams was dismissed from Portsmouth on Monday after being in charge at Fratton Park for just 16 league matches, one league match less than his old England team mate Paul Ince lasted at Blackburn Rovers.
Kissing the badge, and other inadvisable ideas
Score goals, kiss badge, declare love for fans, sign long-term contract, collect wages, change your mind and decide you want out a few months later; it’s becoming all too familiar.
Two glaring examples of this have hit the headlines in England recently with the opening of the January transfer window, starting with Jermain Defoe’s decision to follow Harry Redknapp back to Tottenham from Portsmouth.
Vlog on the pitch – Champions League final predictions
Vlog on the pitch duo Jon Bramley and Darcy Lambton think Manchester United will beat Chelsea on Wednesday but host Owen Wyatt is not so sure. (Although judging by the haircut he has already lost a bet this week.)
Who is your money on for the big clash in Moscow? Will Didier Drogba ignore the mind games and win the game just like the semi-final against Liverpool?
It’s not all fast cars and parties
Footballers. If we aren’t reading about their exploits on the pitch, more often than not we can read about their exploits off it. Much is speculation and the rest can’t be mentioned before the watershed, but as I recently read, it’s not always bad.
West Ham United striker Craig Bellamy is more used to finding himself in hot water rather than hot weather, but following a recent trip to Sierra Leone, the Wales international has formed the Craig Bellamy Foundation there.
