Over a Cup of Tea

Chelsea cannot win on penalties

RSS for Paul Parker blog — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:16:55 +0000

Chelsea cannot afford to let the Champions League final go to penalties. It is an English side against a German one - on Bayern's home pitch. There is only one winner there. Although Bayern's penalties weren't brilliant against Real Madrid … Continue reading →

Di Matteo’s last hurrah

RSS for Jim White blog — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:17 +0000

Without doubt, the calmest man in the maelstrom stew of nerves and emotions on the touchline of the Allianz Arena tomorrow night will be Roberto Di Matteo. That slight smile that gives him the appearance of a Bond villain will … Continue reading →

Are Bayern Munich the home side? Not for me

RSS for Arsene Wenger Blog — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:43:54 +0000

You cannot compare a final with a match at home. A match at home in the league is a real one: that means 95 per cent of supporters are there for the hosts. In a final, it's 50-50, so it's … Continue reading →

Don’t expect Chelsea to park the bus

RSS for Armchair Pundit Blog — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:18:07 +0000

"Unjust, cruel, horrible, unmerited. Any adjective is not enough to define the incredible elimination of Barca at the hands of Chelsea. Few times has a team done so much to deserve to reach the Champions League final as that of … Continue reading →

The best of a bad bunch?

RSS for Jim White blog — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:25:16 +0000

In Sweden they must barely be able to contain the laughter. In France, you imagine the footage of John Terry stumbling around the Anfield pitch like a drunk on a wedding dancefloor is playing on a continuous loop on Laurent … Continue reading →

England squad: Winners and losers

RSS for Armchair Pundit Blog — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:24:41 +0000

Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad created a host of talking points, with enough contentious selections to get #HodgsonOut trending on Twitter. But did the new England boss make the right decisions? Here is a look at the key inclusions and … Continue reading →

England squad: Winners and losers

RSS for Armchair Pundit Blog — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:24:41 +0000

Learning from past is key to City future

RSS for Paul Parker blog — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:07:55 +0000

It may have taken right up until the final seconds of the season to decide it, but you have to say that Manchester City fully deserve their Premier League title. The football they have played, some of the goals they … Continue reading →

Fergie’s mind games are meaningless

RSS for Paul Parker blog — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:04:08 +0000

Sir Alex Ferguson has gone big on the 'mind games' ahead of the Premier League finale tomorrow, but I do not think his comments will have any effect on Manchester City or QPR. He has effectively tried to deliver Mark … Continue reading →

Has success come at a cost for City?

RSS for Jim White blog — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:28:23 +0000

With the kind of timing publishers must dread, this month sees the release of Colin Shindler's latest memoir. The author sold an awful lot of copies of his earlier tale, "Manchester United Ruined My Life", which was released well over … Continue reading →