This Is A Local Team…For Local People

South Africa’s Brazilian coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira has come out and said that the South Africa World Cup squad will be largely made up of locally based players.He is quoted as saying:“The team that will play in the World Cup will be made up by 65-70 per cent of locally-based players. This is largely because the overseas-based players are not regulars in their teams. But the door will always http://bit.ly/4G4qLX

Could This Be The Reason Africa Doesn’t Do That Well At World Cups

I found this extremely interesting article on how African nations use over-age players in tournaments. The author thinks this is preventing the development of players and could be the reason why African countries seemingly underperform at major tournaments.The argument he puts forward is that: because African nations use overage players in Under 21 and Under 18 tournaments, they are not http://bit.ly/8WSWN4

Players Who Really Shouldn’t Be At the 2010 World Cup…But Just Might

You’ll hear ex-players, with their cushy jobs as ‘state-the-bloody-obvious’ media pundits, bang on and on about needing experienced players in national squads who know what to do when the team is up against it.And, I concede, it’s a fair point. However, what often happens is that managers end up playing safe and picking players that are way past their prime. I expect this World Cup Finals to be http://bit.ly/6kSBlF

Blackburn vs Fulham Match Preview

El Hadj Diouf is suspended for Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers, while Fulham welcome defender Brede Hangeland back into the squad.
Hangeland had been missing with a knee injury, but is fit again and will start in central defence in place of Chris Smalling.
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson will freshen up his forward line in the absence of […] http://bit.ly/6S5G8S

Aston Villa vs West Ham Preview

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel will return to the Aston Villa starting lineup to face a West Ham United side who have no fit senior strikers.
Mexican striker Guillermo Franco picked up an injury in training for Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham and joins Carlton Cole, Kieron Dyer and Luis Boa Morte on the sidelines.
Youngsters Frank Nouble or Freddie […] http://bit.ly/6PqPwz

Bolton Wanderers vs Arsenal Preview

New Bolton boss Owen Coyle has a number of players returning after illness, while Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is back from a hamstring strain.
Also returning to give Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger a boost is defender Gael Clichy, although it looks likely that the full back will be on the bench for Arsenal’s visit to the […] http://bit.ly/5G6JGy

Reserving Judgement on the African Teams At The World Cup

So, the African Cup of Nations is well underway and, in between pretending to do some work, I’ve been watching a fair bit on Eurosport TV.And the conclusion I’ve come to so far: I don’t think any of these teams is consistent or, frankly, good enough to even reach the quarter finals of the World Cup.Every time a World Cup Finals comes around, there is always media speculation about the potential http://bit.ly/5jYIDp

England 2018 World Cup Bid Already In Doubt Shocker!

Forgive the headline, please. It’s just that, on occasion, it’s nice to pretend to be writing for the Daily Star. In fact, that’s probably preferable to actually writing for it, which, I would imagine, would be soul destroying.I digress.So, what could derail England’s fledgling World Cup bid, I hear you ask? Well, how about the fact that the Museum of Football in Preston will be closing down at http://bit.ly/7pfMnn

Laws Becomes New Burnley Boss

Brian Laws has become the new manager of Burnley FC, after the departure of Owen Coyle to Bolton earlier this month.
Laws, 48, numbers Burnley among his former clubs while a player and was recently sacked by Sheffield Wednesday.
A statement put out by Burnley FC read:
“We believe Brian will deliver a continuity of the culture […] http://bit.ly/4rj1Xf

Caldwell Signs Wigan Deal

Gary Caldwell has signed for Wigan Athletic from Celtic on a four and a half year deal.
The 27 year old defender is quoted on the official Wigan website saying :
“The manager made it quite clear what his ambitions are for this club and how much he wanted to bring me here,” Caldwell told Wigan’s official […] http://bit.ly/62kbTK