The big game of week 31 was at Old Trafford, where Manchester United were hosting Liverpool, Liverpool took the lead within the first five minutes with a Torres goal, which gave the faithful Liverpool fans a glimmer of hope, but their hopes were dashed within seven minutes, when Wayne Rooney scored the equaliser, Ji Sung Park put the Liverpool fans back into their misery, with a sixteeth minute winner, which has left Manchester United on top of the Premiership, with a two point gap over their closest rivals Arsenal.

Arsenal saw off local rivals West Ham 2-0 with goals from...

Not much change at the top this week, Manchester United retained top spot after a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Fulham, another two goals for Wayne Rooney has made him the most talked about footballer in the world at the moment and is cementing his position as one of the world's best strikers, Chelsea easily knocked over the 'Hammers' despite Scott Parker scoring one of the goals of the season to give West Ham an equaliser before half time aside, two goals for Didier Drogba and another from Malouda, saw the game finishing 4-1 in Chelsea's favour. Arsenal's last minute winner away at...

With three of the top seven playing in the FA Cup quarter finals, it gave the others around them the opportunity to take advantage of the situation, Chelsea were one of the three in the FA Cup and both their closest rivals took advantage, Paul Scholes's 100th Premiership goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 victory away at Lowly Wolves, leapfrogging Chelsea into the top spot and Arsenal joined Chelsea on 61 points after a 3-1 home victory over the team with the worst away record in the whole of English football, Burnley, with only one point from a possible forty five, on their travels.
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The Premierships topsy turvy season continues, whilst Manchester United were beating Aston Villa in the Carling Cup Final at Wembley, Chelsea had the opportunity to move four points clear at the top, if they could beat Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, the pre game focus was not on the teams at all but on whether Wayne Bridge (whose friend and team mate John Terry, who had an affair with his Wayne's girlfriend) would shake hands with Terry in the pre match customary manner. Click on this link to see what happened

Earlier this season, I mentioned in my blog, that it appears that everybody is giving every else a chance to stake a claim for the honours this season, well now I am convinced that nobody in the top three wants to win the Premiership title, nobody in the next four places wants to get fourth place and enter the Champions League and every body else in the Premiership wants to be relegated, it is amazing how there has been a complete lack of consistency by every team in the league, apart from Portsmouth who have consistently lost !!!

In week 27, Manchester lost easily at...

Week 26 of the Premiership was played midweek, due to the FA Cup games this weekend and it certainly came up with a few surprises, Chelsea the league leaders were beaten 2-1 away at Everton and it was the French striker Louis Saha, who poured more misery on John Terry, with two goals, both of which were down to mistakes by the Chelsea captain, Manchester United could have gone back to the top, if they had beaten Aston Villa, but a lack of discipline from Nani, saw him red carded, early in the game, and it was thanks to the battling attitude of the ten United men left on the field, that they...

After week 25 of the Premiership, Arsenal are still in third place, but they are licking their wounds, after being comprehensively beaten last week by Manchester United at the Emirates, they had to face a Chelsea side reeling from all the tabloid newspaper revelations about their captain John Terry's indiscretions, but the scandal seems to have only made the Chelsea team and Terry even more determined to not let things go astray on the pitch and an excellent team performance saw Chelsea take control at the top again, with a 2-0 victory, courtesy of two goals from Didier Drogba. It was not...

The big game of week 24 was undoubtedly Arsenal v Manchester United at the Emirates, or another billing could have been Boys v Men as Manchester United tore Arsenal apart by three goals to one and more to the point Wayne Rooney and Nani tore them apart. Rooney appears to be in the best form of his career, which is great news for Sir Alex and Fabio Capello, but certainly not for Arsene Wenger and the rest of the Premiership managers, Rooney is enjoying his football and producing some wonderful skills. Nani also showed off some great trickery in setting up United's first goal, leaving his...

The New year started in a very seasonal fashion with virtually all Premiership games postponed due to heavy snowfall, even the games where the pitches had undersoil heating and had been cleared of snow, were not played due to the state of the roads surrounding the stadiums, hence the first games of 2010 took place last weekend and it was the leaders Chelsea, even without their African Cup of Nation players, Didier Drogba and Essien, who tamed Sunderland with a 7-2 victory, to keep them top of the table.

Manchester United finally broke down a stubborn Burnley defence after...

Chelsea's draw away at Birmingham and a home victory to Fulham, has kept them on top of the Premiership, as we enter 2010, however Manchester United's victories against Hull and Wigan have put them only two points behind the leaders and Arsenal's six points against Aston Villa and Portsmouth have seen them going into the New Year with a two point deficit on Manchester United and a game in hand.

Tottenham have claimed fourth spot, after a draw away at Fulham and a convincing victory over local rivals West Ham, Spurs are now 4 points behind Arsenal and are staking a realistic...

Does any one want to win the Premiership this season ????

That is the question that I keep asking, when every team appear to be giving everyone else a chance to make a claim for the title !!!

League leaders Chelsea, could only manage a 1-1 draw away at West Ham, whilst second place Manchester United lost 3-0 away at Fulham and were convincingly beaten.

Arsenal remain in third place after beating Hull 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium, if they win their game in hand they will leap frog over United into second place, Aston Villa stumbled past Stoke...

The only real casualty of week 15 were Chelsea, who squandered a one nil lead into a 2-1 defeat away at Manchester City, Tevez was inspirational for City, but it was keeper Shay Given who took most of the acclaim, after saving a Frank Lampard penalty, after seven draws on the run and with a manager who was reported to be under pressure, Manchester City have responded with a fine victory over Arsenal in the Carling Cup and over league leaders in week 15.

Manchester United were in devastating form away at West Ham, with goals from Scholes, Gibson, Valencia and Rooney, giving...

The news this week is that Chelsea are definitely the favourites to win the Premiership crown this season, an emphatic 3-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, reduced Arsenal to also rans on the day and probably for the rest of the season. Chelsea dominated the game and solid defending allowed their forwards to pull Arsenal apart, I have been very impressed by Arsenal at times this season, but they looked like boys against men.

Liverpool finally managed to get three points, with an away victory at their arch rivals Everton, it was a much needed breather for the...

Last Saturday, I was in the Supersports studio in Randburg, covering the Manchester City v Burnley and the Wolves v Arsenal games, and I am still not convinced that Manchester City will be consistent enough to achieve a top four finish, they drew 3-3 with Burnley, a team who have performed awfully on their travels, if Man City are going to be a serious contender for a top four finish, they are going to have to be beating teams like Burnley convincingly.

Arsenal meanwhile are playing some beautiful football and getting results, Chelsea and Manchester United will have been...

Week 11 of the Premiership was a record, but unfortunately it was a record for players seeing red, nine players were sent off this weekend, and while seeing red was the order of the day, it was the blues of Chelsea with an emphatic 4-0 away victory at Bolton that has kept them as King's of the Premiership Castle.

Manchester United are only two points behind, after seeing off Blackburn, with goals from Berbatov and Rooney (congratulations must be passed on to Wayne and Coleen on the birth of their baby boy) Sir Alex will be hoping that his number one striker is not going to...

After a week of drama in the 2010 World Cup qualifying games, the players returned to their clubs for week nine of the Premiership, some managers were happier than others, Liverpool's Rafa Benitez was furious that his two most influential players, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, both returned from International duty with injuries, forcing them out of Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, Liverpool have now lost four of their first nine games, twice as many games as they lost in the whole of last season !!! If I am to be fair to Liverpool, it has to be mentioned that...

The big surprise of week 7 was high flying Chelsea's crushing 3-1 defeat away at Wigan, Chelsea started the day with a 100% record and on top of the table, Wigan were six from bottom, with only one victory from their first six games.

Chelsea clearly went into the game with a sloppy attitude and after the dismissal of Petr Cech in the 51st minute, for bringing down Hugo Rodellega, inside the penalty area, there was no stopping Wigan.

Manchester United took advantage of Chelsea's lack lustre performance by going to the top of the table with a 2-0 victory away...

It was a very exciting week 6 of the Premiership, the Manchester Derby game between United and City produced one of the best derby games of all time, Chelsea remain on top of the league after becoming the only team in the Premiership to retain a 100% record this season and Portsmouth have now played six, lost six !!!

On Saturday, Arsenal sent Wigan away with their tails between their legs after hitting four past them, Arsenal completely dominated the game, but were struggling to turn possession into goal advantage, when up stepped the new summer signing, Belgian...

Week 5 of the Premiership told us a few things, firstly Manchester United even without Ronaldo and Tevez are going to be the team to overcome, Chelsea can dig deep to gain crucial points, if Liverpool can find some consistency then they could be a force to be reckoned with, Arsenal for all their flair and attacking qualities, have to lay some defensive foundations and Manchester City are going to be a serious contender to the top four.

I went to watch the first six pointer of the season, in the top of the table clash between Tottenham and Manchester United, United were...

The season is now four weeks old and things are starting to take shape, Chelsea now lead the table after four wins out of four, a great start for their new manager Carlo Ancelotti, in second place with also four victories stand my old team Tottenham, they have had a great start and with Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Defoe in sparkling form, causing sleepless nights for their defensive opponents, Tottenham were top of the league after the first three games but have conceded top spot to Chelsea by a goal difference of one !!!!

Manchester United after faltering to a defeat away at...

It only seems like yesterday that the final game of last season was played, but amazing as it may seem, the first game of season 2009/10 starts on Saturday

So what will happen this season !!!!

Well, the top four of last year will again dominate the Champions League places, however, every year over the last four years one of the top four (Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal) have faltered, three and fours years ago, Tottenham pushed Arsenal all the way for the fourth place only to be thwarted at the last minute, two years ago Everton pushed...

Last night I was involved in a BBC radio show that was also broadcast on 702 in Johannesburg and Cape Talk 567, it was called 'One year to go' focusing on 2010.

There were interviews with Sepp Blatter, Danny Jordaan, Aaron Mokoena and Patrick Viera, if you would like to listen to the show, please click on this link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00l20y4/5_live_Sport_One_Year_to_Go/

A year today, 11th June 2010, the first ever World Cup Finals to be held in Africa will kick off in Johannesburg, with an estimated worldwide television audience of over 30 billion watching in 209 territories.

South Africa are guaranteed a place as hosts and Holland, Australia, South Korea and Japan have already qualified, the worlds focus is now on South Africa as we prepare to host the greatest sports event in the world.

I have just done an item with the BBC Website on my involvement in 2010, please click on this link, you will also see a picture of myself...

Week 38, was the final game of the 2008/9 season, with all the expectations of a few thrills and spills and surprise results.

It did not quite work out that way, the top four all won, meaning that the positions at the top remained the same.

Everton and Aston Villa both won, hence they stayed in their respective positions of fifth and sixth, and Fulham's defeat at home to Everton gave Tottenham the opportunity of finishing in seventh and an Europa League place, but Tottenham's, 3-1 defeat at Liverpool meant that Fulham grab the third Europa League place.
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'Congratulations to Manchester United' their 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal was enough to end Liverpool's dreams, and keep the Premiership trophy at Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson has now amassed 36 managerial trophies, and his magnificent players are being touted as the greatest squad ever assembled at the club. When you consider that the title was won with Gary Neville, Anderson, Paul Scholes, Ji Sung Park and Dimitar Berbatov on the substitutes bench and with Rio Ferdinand siting in the stand injured, it is difficult to argue against this squads credentials.

This seasons...

The biggest news of this week, was that after six games in charge, Alan Shearer finally got his first win as the Newcastle manager, and has lifted them out of the relegation drop zone.

With the game poised at 1-1 Shearer made two game changing substitutions, Obafemi Martins came on and scored within 55 seconds and Peter Lovenkrands came on and scored the goal which sealed the three very important points and added to Middlesborough's relegation woes.

Newcastle now have safety in sight and with their two remaining games, being a home game this weekend against...

Manchester United v Barcelona, Ronaldo and Rooney v Messi and Iniesta, the football purists cannot wait until May 27th, for the Champions League final 2009, but what controversy surrounded their paths to the final.

Within 11 minutes of the start, of the first semi final, the game was over, two goals from Ji Sung Park and Ronaldo, gave United a 3-0 aggregate lead and there was no way back for Arsenal, another Ronaldo goal gave Manchester United a 3-1 victory on the night and
4-1 on aggregate, booking their place in Rome and giving the United heroes the opportunity to...

Manchester United kicked off last weekends Premiership games with a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the day's early kick off, last week I was singing the praises of Ryan Giggs and it was his goal that turned things United's way, a cool finish from the edge of the box with the trademark quality from his left foot, left Middlesbrough with an uphill struggle in the men against boys battle, this game really showed the difference between the top clubs and the ones at the bottom and the only really amazing thing was that United only scored one more goal from Ji Sung Park. This left United six...

Dirk Kuyt's two goals put Liverpool back to the top (for two and a half hours) after a 3-1 victory over relegation threatened Hull, it also kept the pressure on Manchester United not to slip up.

Manchester United's game at home to Tottenham, kicked off two and a half hours later than the Liverpool game and at half time, with Tottenham taking a surprise two goal lead, it was looking as if the Liverpool pressure was having a telling effect on United, in a game that was full of drama, controversy and goals, things changed just after half time, the inspirational Carlos Tevez...

With three of the top four playing in the FA Cup semi finals last weekend, (Chelsea beat Arsenal and Everton beat a Manchester United reserve team on penalties to set up a FA Cup final on May 30th between Chelsea and Everton) it gave Aston Villa the chance to put some pressure on Arsenal for that fourth Champions league place, despite taking the lead after 11 minutes through an Emile Heskey goal (the 800th goal scored in the Premiership this season) Villa succombed to an 85th minute equaliser to continue their poor form at home this season (they have only won 5 of their 17 home games).

Liverpool were top of the league last week for 25 hours, this week they were the King's of the Castle for only three hours, a four nil victory over Blackburn, secured top spot, in the early televised kick off time, which enabled Liverpool to put a little bit more pressure on Man United, Torres scored twice, with his first goal a certain contender for goal of the season.

Manchester United had a tough encounter at relegation threatened Sunderland, an early goal from Paul Scholes should have settled the United nerves, but it was Sunderland who took the initiative and equalised...

It was only for about 25 hours, but at the weekend Liverpool were on top of the Premiership, Yossi Benayoun's injury time winner for Liverpool at Fulham, put them two points ahead of Manchester United and they continue to exert pressure on the Champions.

Liverpool completely controlled the game at Craven Cottage, but with Mark Schwarzer in fine form and the woodwork keeping Liverpool out on four occasions, it took a superb goal from substitute Benayoun to break the deadlock and the Fulham fans hearts.

Liverpool appear to be hitting form at exactly the right...

The International matches have taken centre stage this week, with all eyes on qualification for 2010.

One of the 2010 World Cup qualifying matches between the Ivory Coast and Malawi ended in tragedy, 22 people lost their lives, as a wall collapsed prior to the game, our condolences and prayers go out to the families and loved ones from all of us at eLan.

The British teams overall had a good week.

England's preparations for their midweek qualifier against Ukraine, were given a huge boost by a convincing 4-0 victory in the friendly against...

What do I know !!!!! I thought that the defeat of Manchester United by Liverpool was going to be a minor blip in United's Premiership title claims, but when Sir Alex was expecting his team to respond by thrashing Fulham, another story was unfolding !!!!

United responded in a way that nobody expected, nervous, lacking in discipline and well below their capabilities, as Fulham took full advantage by beating them 2-0.

With Scholes and Rooney both being sent off (both have the experience to know better) it made Fulham's day a lot easier.

Chelsea...

There I was virtually handing the Premiership trophy to Manchester United, when Liverpool produce their best performance of the season to embarrass the leaders with an emphatic 4-1 victory at Old Trafford, the gap between the two clubs is now only four points, albeit United still have a game in hand. Sir Alex was in no mood to give Liverpool any credit and declared after the match that United were the better team !!!!!!!!!. Now is the time to see how United respond, a defeat like this (it is the first time in seventeen years that United have conceded four goals at Old Trafford) can unsettle...

Last Tuesday night, there appeared a glimpse that maybe a challenge might still be made to Manchester United's Premiership title claims, a Didier Drogba goal in the 78th minute gave Chelsea a 1-0 victory away at Portsmouth and closed the gap at the top of the table to four points, if only the moody Drogba could be as committed every game as he has been in the last two games against Portsmouth and Juventus, then maybe there might still be some surprises at the top !!

After Liverpool's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough, they bounced back with a 2-0 home win against...

What a weekend for Manchester United, they did not even play a Premiership game, but Sir Alex's grip on the Premiership is tightening and they lifted the Carling Cup at Wembley, after beating Tottenham in a penalty shoot out.

Liverpool (who last Wednesday won away against Real Madrid in the Champions League) were well and truly beaten by Middlesbrough 2-0, which in effect has killed off their title ambitions,it appears that the off field problems regarding the clubs owners, are having a large impact on Benitez and his team, Arsenal had another disappointing home draw with...

Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Blackburn last weekend, strengthened their position as heirs to the Premiership crown, as both Liverpool and Arsenal drew, once again both failing to make the most of home advantage.

However, Manchester United's defence was finally beaten by Roque Santa Cruz, after going 1,333 minutes since conceding their last league goal, an amazing achievement.

Blackburn's Bafana players Benni McCarthy and Aaron Mokoena were both substitutes in this game, with Benni coming on for the last eleven minutes.

Liverpool fans...

Welcome to my first eLan blog, the aim of this blog is to keep you all up to date with what is going on in English Football, the English Premiership League and the way the England team is progressing towards appearing in the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa. (I might even pass comment about Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Republic of Ireland's chances of reaching the finals).



As the only European Ambassador for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa, it is going to be crucial for me that England qualify, England missed out on qualifying for the last...

As a player, Gary Mabbutt was the epitome of professionalism and sportsmanship. His lengthy career saw him win major honours whilst battling the effects of diabetes and serious injuries. Gary has genuinely earned the honour of being described as a true ambassador for the game.

Gary became one of the best known central defenders in English football in the 1980s and was a versatile player who also excelled in midfield. He played 147 games for his home town team, Bristol Rovers, before being transferred to Tottenham Hotspur, the club with which he has become synonymous. He...

The New year started in a very seasonal fashion with virtually all Premiership games postponed due to heavy snowfall, even the games where the pitche had undersoil heating and had been cleared of snow, were not played due to the state of the roads surrounding the stadiums, hence the first games of 2010 took place last weekend and it was the leaders Chelsea, even without their African Cup of Nation players, Didier Drogba and Essien, who tamed Sunderland with a 7-2 victory, to keep them top of the table.

Manchester United finally broke down a stubborn Burnley defence after...