February 2012
33 posts
Valencia's month from hell begins
afootballreport:
As we enter February, the shortest month of the year (let me be the first to remind you that this year February has 29 days), Valencia’s coaching staff must think this is some kind of sick joke. 8 games in 29 days. It’s been done before, of course. But not quite like this. To start the month, Valencia host Barcelona at the Mestalla in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. It’s...
Valencia's month from hell begins
afootballreport:
As we enter February, the shortest month of the year (let me be the first to remind you that this year February has 29 days), Valencia’s coaching staff must think this is some kind of sick joke. 8 games in 29 days. It’s been done before, of course. But not quite like this. To start the month, Valencia host Barcelona at the Mestalla in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. It’s...
Our Reaction to Transfer Deadline Day →
cheekychip:
afootballreport:
Pretty much. Unless you’re a QPR fan, nothing worth knowing went down. Though fake stories, false sightings of players on trains to [insert your city], and “Carlos Tevez to Aston Villa!!!” twitter hoaxes were in abundance. If you are interested, that’s fine. Our friends at The World’s Game summed up today’s events succinctly enough. Except actually.
The January...
January 2012
28 posts
Watchafootballreport:
Deaf Football in Great Britain
I’m well-aware of blind football, but deaf football is something that has been completely off my radar.
Deaf Football in Great Britain has a very proud and strong history, dating back to 1871, a history that is virtually unknown to the majority of the followers of football in Britain. Most deaf teams in Great Britain compete in mainstream football...
Back to Anfield South
afootballreport:
By Amy Eustace
There came a point at the beginning of last year when you simply knew it was coming. Perhaps it was the infamous Roy Hodgson face rub – a sure sign that man had reached his last bastion of pure desperation – the previous December, or the penalty that Steven Gerrard sent soaring uncharacteristically over the bar against Blackburn the same month. We all sensed...
As El Clásico divides and negativity gets...
afootballreport:
By Eric Beard
Doesn’t vehement hatred get kind of boring after a while? I mean, sure, if you want to let a little schadenfreude and anger out a couple of times a year, that’s fine. Everyone’s entitled to their fair share of irrational fandom. Maybe I’m not as creative as the Spanish press and [insert name of your Superclub]’s fans, but hatred gets kind of circular after a...
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On Balotelli action and Pepe inaction
afootballreport:
By Darshan Joshi
One week, two alleged stamps. Both assailants bad-boys of their clubs’ cities, further apart in distance than footballing heritage and seemingly now closer yet in terms of notoriety. One incident exponentially more temerarious than the other, and thus rightly so – relatively speaking –, one man went unpunished, and the other supplied with a four-match...
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The Premier League's All-time Best XI from the...
afootballreport:
By David Walker
The January transfer window is often a frenzied time with chairmen, managers and agents battling against the clock to secure new players. As a result, many players who move during this period often do so at over-inflated transfer fees and are hit-or-miss in terms of success. So while football clubs yet again gamble with their finances this month in the same...
Watch
“Me, You, and Jason Euell” by Patrick Cullinan
Shot on the way to, from, and at Port Vale vs AFC Wimbledon in England’s League 2 this past Saturday, the 14th of January, this film captures the sights and sounds of a typical football awayday.
Beyond the style of the short film in itself, we also love that Patrick Cullinan is an avid reader of AFR (not to mention an excellent contributor to the Off...
Kean In, Venkys Out
afootballreport:
By Gareth McKnight
As Blackburn Rovers languish towards the bottom of the Premier League, manager Steve Kean continues to be backed by the club’s Indian owners: The Venkys Group. Despite the current trend in the game of sacking underperforming managers prematurely, fan protests outside Ewood Park and the total inexperience of Scottish coach Steve Kean at this level, Kean...
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Letters from Shanghai: The non-Asian "Asian"...
afootballreport:
By Andrew Crawford, writing from Shanghai
Despite the city starting to slow down for the Chinese New Year, Shanghai Shenhua’s PR machine remains as busy as ever. The club’s website is more brightly coloured than usual and images of the new manager, Jean Tigana, and his star player, Nicolas Anelka, flicker across the screen whilst behind them, four silhouetted figures stand in...
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Beyond packed stadiums, there is Forest Pitch
afootballreport:
Interview with artist Craig Coulthard, the mind behind Forest Pitch, an event that will be part of the London 2012 Festival and Cultural Olympiad. Conducted by Eric Beard.
Succinct Briefing About Forest Pitch: A full size football pitch hidden deep within a commercial forest in the Scottish Borders. Trees that have been felled to make space for the pitch are being used to...
Wingers take central role in Tottenham’s title...
afootballreport:
By Richard Nash
Tottenham’s victory over Everton last week left them level on points with Manchester United and three points off league leaders Man City, confirming their position as genuine title rivals to the Manchester clubs. Much has been made of the additions of Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor as a reason for the club’s success, but the biggest change since last...
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If it isn't working, Fernando, change it.
afootballreport:
By Darshan Joshi
I find it difficult to engage in schadenfreude when it comes to Fernando Torres because he’s so pretty. Sure, it was funny at first – £50m former world’s best striker looking less likely to score six yards away from goal than world’s most hideous face Steve Buscemi at a nightclub – but it’s now become a global source of depression (step aside, financial...
Watchafootballreport:
Is fútbol in Mexico a sacred experience?
Did you know that fútbol became popular in Mexico because religious groups promoted it amongst their students? In this 17-minute video, which has an honors thesis-esque style, we look into how the experience of going to a match in Mexico or even playing fútbol has become a sort of sacred experience. Touching on aspects of religion such...
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Flaws and Consequences: The Curious Case of Luis...
afootballreport:
By Stuart Gilhooly, the solicitor for the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland who was also recently named Journalist of Year at the Irish Magazine Awards.
It seems as though Liverpool and Luis Suarez have finally closed the door on an unsavoury episode in their history and that of the English FA. Not without slamming it shut, mind, and taking the hinges as they...
Roberto Martinez - inspired by Walter Mazzarri's...
afootballreport:
By Richard Nash
After starting the season with their customary 4-3-3 formation, Wigan have now lined up in a 3-4-3 system ever since their 3-3 draw with Blackburn on November 19th. Roberto Martinez trialled the system in a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on October 1st, but then reverted back to his familiar 4-3-3 for their following game against Bolton. For the most part Martinez...
