An entertaining preview of the forthcoming Premier League clash between QPR and Sunderland written for the Salut Sunderland fan’s website by Kieran Robinson. Featuring comment on Rangers manager Harry Redknapp, Rs captain Joey Barton, the lack of pubs for away fans in Shepherds Bush and why Sunderland fans don’t age well.
Continue reading SAFC fans ‘don’t age well’ | QPR: Who are You? Salut! Sunderland
Category Archives: Football
Roll up for the Premier League sack race
Tony Pulis’ departure from Crystal Palace just 2 days before the start of the new season, began football’s annual managerial merry-go-round; illustrating the precarious nature of a football manager’s position in England’s professional leagues. Continue reading Roll up for the Premier League sack race
Colombia: An altered image 20 years on from Escobar
Colombia face host nation Brazil in the Quarter Finals of the World Cup tonight, in possibly the biggest game of their footballing history; the game taking place 20 years and 2 days after defender Andrés Escobar was shot dead having scored the own-goal which eliminated his team from the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Continue reading Colombia: An altered image 20 years on from Escobar
Away Days: Blades 0, QPR 3, August 14th 2010
From the vaults: A personal view of QPR’s first away game of the 2010/11 season, a campaign which ended in a triumphant return to the Premier League – originally posted on www.qprdot.org Sunday 15th August 2010
Just Recovered . . .
Sometimes I wonder why I do it?
Continue reading Away Days: Blades 0, QPR 3, August 14th 2010
Street fighting Suárez bites off more than he can chew
As the final whistle blew at Natal’s Estadio das Dunas, Uruaguay striker Luis Suárez stood alone in the centre circle. As his team-mates celebrated the 1-0 victory which had ensured their progress to the last 16 of the World Cup Finals at the expense of Italy, the Liverpool striker suspected his own tournament would end in customary controversy. Continue reading Street fighting Suárez bites off more than he can chew
The False 9: Explained
The term “false 9” refers to a player playing in a lone-striker position who drops deep to search for the ball. The intention is to draw opposing central defenders with him and create a diversion for team-mates to move into space behind the defensive line and exploit chances to score. Continue reading The False 9: Explained
Müller and Pepe’s clash shows FIFA must act to curb simulation
The incident leading to Portugal defender Pepe’s red-card against Germany at the World Cup Finals has again drawn the issue of “play-acting” into sharp focus.
With the Germans 2-0 up and comfortably heading for half-time, attacking-midfielder Thomas Müller, 24, was felled by a stray finger to his upper lip whilst competing for the ball with Pepe.
Continue reading Müller and Pepe’s clash shows FIFA must act to curb simulation
Catenaccio: Unlocked
A common stereotype in the coverage of Italian football is that it is still bound and shackled in the all-encompassing embrace of Catenaccio, the tactical system which came to prominence during the 1960s with a strong emphasis on defence.
The Azzurri are often described as playing in the “Catenaccio style” and whilst certain characteristics remain, the system itself died many years ago.
Tiki-Taka: Explained
Tiki-Taka is a set of tactics and style of play which aims to make the best use of space on a football pitch though precise, patient passing and the fluid movement of players between positions.
The aim is to monopolise position and possession of the ball, thus limiting chances for the opposition and creating regular chances for players to score.
When played well, it can lead to some of the most beautifully exhilarating scenes in sport, yet when plans go awry; it can also bring some of the most frustrating.
Continue reading Tiki-Taka: Explained
It’s just like watching Brazil: Diego Costa and the expat players returning home
The World Cup begins on Thursday evening in São Paulo with hosts and 5 times champions, Brazil, taking on a Croatian side with 2 members of their squad returning to the land of their birth.
Continue reading It’s just like watching Brazil: Diego Costa and the expat players returning home
David Villa and a tale of two (new) cities
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
The opening words from Charles Dickens’ 1859 novel “A Tale of Two Cities” go some way to describing the feelings of A-League side Melbourne Heart’s fans after two announcements on Thursday.
News that Spain’s all-time leading goal scorer David Villa, 32, was moving down under to join Melbourne Heart as a loan signing from sister club New York City was promptly followed by the unveiling of the club’s re-branding as “Melbourne City.”
Continue reading David Villa and a tale of two (new) cities
Sepp, FIFA, and a challenged global legacy
Fresh claims surrounding the choice to award the 2022 World Cup Finals to Qatar surfaced this week; the latest in a long line of stories to challenge the legacy of football’s world governing body FIFA, and its president Sepp Blatter. Continue reading Sepp, FIFA, and a challenged global legacy
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