Featured articles
Out of Europe, out of places to hide
“Yet those losses, draws and scrappy wins had a dark undertone. One of a lack of confidence, from the players in themselves, and in their tactics. One that didn’t reek of arrogance, the arrogance that allowed them to crush all their opposition on the way to the 2020 Champions League. Bayern Munich have looked laboured all season, and eventually they hit a wall, on Europe’s biggest stage, with no more “it’ll be alright on the night” left to save them.”
Bayern Munich suffered a shock elimination at the hands of Villarreal in the Champions League – but it had been coming. Click the title to read more.
Paris Saint-Germain (3) vs. Bayern Munich (2) preview: Mauricio Pochettino’s side look to finish what they started last Wednesday
“For Bayern Munich and their manager Hansi Flick, is the fact that Paris Saint-Germain administered upon them their most strenuous examination in 2021 last week – and with injuries confining plenty of his senior cavalry to the treatment table, the pass mark for the re-sit has been left much higher than they are used to.”
Click the title to read my thoughts before the hotly anticipated second leg in this Champions League quarter-final.
After their worst defeat in 90 years, it’s time for Germany to look in at themselves and consider their World Cup winning chapter to be officially over
“Regardless of who’s choosing whether or not Herr Löw stays in a job, it’s fair to see why the questions are really starting to be asked. Sympathies are beginning to run thin with the national coach, especially after the exclusion of Thomas Müller, Jérôme Boateng and Mats Hummels, two of whom were pivotal in FC Bayern’s 2020 Treble winning season, after the failed campaign in Russia. It also spelt the end of Mesut Özil’s time with the national side; the Arsenal midfielder instead quitting the team himself after he accused the German Football Federation (DFB) of being complicit in racism he faced against his Turkish roots. In other words, the last two years has hardly managed to win the German footballing authorities much support.”
– After a disastrous three years for the German National Team, problems came to a head against Spain in the Nations League. Read my take on what’s gone wrong for them here:
You’re Gavin’ a laugh
“As students in their final year of the British education system like myself look ahead to their progression to work, apprenticeships or higher education, the last thing we needed was a pandemic to throw years of increasingly intense work into disarray. When that was realized, however, a further rub of salt into the wounds would have surely been a botched, haphazard system of generating grades that provided us with no sense of assurance.
That is where the irony of the situation comes into play.”
Click the title to read my thoughts on this year’s historic A-Level results day, and how the qualification boards haven’t made it easy for themselves, but more importantly, the students.
Interview with Jim Maxwell
“Tim Paine, by accident, coming in as a leader has turned out to be a very mature and reasonable, fair captain. He’s done a great job.” Maxwell pauses, nods and continues. “To a large extent, Australia’s reputation has in fact been restored in many ways thanks to the change that took place in the captaincy and the coach.”
Read my exclusive interview with veteran cricket commentator Jim Maxwell, where we talk all things cricket from safety to sandpaper.
Kai Havertz will only improve as a player – and his age is the best asset in his locker
“For many followers of the Bundesliga, or European football in general, Kai Havertz is no unfamiliar name. Having burst onto the scene last season, the tall, marauding German youngster ended the 2018/19 campaign with 20 goals and seven assists to his name.”
Read more about why the Leverkusen 20-year old has got everyone talking here.
Ben Stokes makes history at Headingley with 135 not out
“Leach was then on strike for the beginning of the next over, from Cummins. First ball, bouncer, over his head. A cheer from the crowd. Second ball, defended, and an even bigger cheer. Third ball, he pokes it away for a single to level the scores. Tie game, and the crowd roared. I was on my feet. I never thought I’d be joining a standing ovation for a single.” –
Read my take from Headingley on a famous day of cricket.
The Premier League on Amazon Prime – a look back on a successful weekend
“20 matches for £7.99 looks a great-value deal, especially in comparison to the Sky Day Pass seen earlier. The price was not to watch the football, rather a monthly fee to get an Amazon Prime account, with the matches included. Amazon offers a free month trial too, so if you don’t have Prime you could technically watch all the games for free, enjoy the one-day delivery benefits when it’s December 23rd and you realise you forgot to buy your dad a present (oops), and in January cancel and not be charged.”
My take on an enjoyable broadcasting experience.
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