Category: Featured Column

Featured Articles

Will Chelsea fall at the last hurdle?

Vyom Chaudhary

  Liverpool did it in 2014, Arsenal did it in 2008 and Newcastle United did it spectacularly in 1996. Abrupt and unexpected capitulations are not a rare occurrence in the Premier League, and as unstoppable as Chelsea might have looked in the first half of this season, the real test – the test of champions – comes later. As we’ve seen so many times before, January can be a cruel, cold month for the league leaders. Within a few weeks, everything can change. Some of Chelsea’s rivals who looked lukewarm before…

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Dimitri Payet: Hero to Zero Within a Week

Vyom Chaudhary

If you are an avid football follower, you would have already heard the news of Dimitri Payet putting his foot down with West Ham because he wants to leave the club, as a lot of fans have shared their unhappiness of his desire to leave. With that being said, a lot of fans don’t mind the fact players want to leave their beloved clubs, as they always expect it, but the way in which Dimitri Payet has handled his desire to leave is despicable. This is a player who last…

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Manchester United move ahead of Barca and Madrid to top the Deloitte’s Football Money League

Sanket Kumar

Manchester United might be sitting on a lowly 6th position in the English Premier League but find themselves sitting pretty at the top of the Deloitte’s Money Football League (2015-2016) for the first time since 2003-2004. The Deloitte Football Money League measures clubs’ earnings from matchday revenue, broadcast rights and commercial sources, and ranks them on that basis. Champions League holders Real Madrid were top of this table for last 11 years but slipped to the third position behind United and arch-rivals Barcelona despite crossing the €600-million barrier for the first time.…

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Four bizarre ways Dutch legend Marco Van Basten intends to revolutionize football

Sanket Kumar
fifa

The former AC Milan and Netherlands forward who won the Ballon d’Or thrice was appointed the technical director of FIFA in September 2016 to oversee innovations in the ‘beautiful game’. Here are the four most bizarre (read ludicrous) suggestions from the former World Player of the Year to make football more ‘honest, dynamic, interesting and attractive.’: ICE-HOCKEY STYLE SHOOTOUT Marco van Basten’s proposed PK change: “Maybe the player should start 25 meters from goal.” Hmm. https://t.co/9LAoW4wVKB — Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 18, 2017 Basten’s suggestion puts an end to…

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Transfer Round: Evra returns, Depay to leave, Terry stays

Sanket Kumar

January transfer window is known for its unsettling nature which involves players losing focus halfway through the season, panic buys and inflated deals. A Different League brings you the top transfer stories from the iconic day that today is, Friday the 13th. CHELSEA LEGEND JOHN TERRY GOING NOWHERE The 36-year-old central defender has found it difficult to break into Conte’s back three having made just four starts in the Premier League this season. Following the arrival of Nathan Ake from Bournemouth, there were rumours linking the former England captain with…

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Arsenal legend Parlour plays a ‘shocking’ game of Blackjack

Vyom Chaudhary

Arsenal great Ray Parlour left many in awe during his long and illustrious career with the Gunners. However, the ‘The Romford Pele’ cut out a helpless figure earlier this year and was left in ‘shock’ when he took on former TOWIE and Celebrity Big Brother star Amy Childs in a unique, but interesting, game of ‘Electric Blackjack’. The event was hosted by online casino specialists 888casino. Blackjack master John Scanlon (of Aspers Casino), trained both celebrities in the essentials of the game.  They further enhanced their knowledge of the game through Ultimate Blackjack…

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Top ten clubs with highest net debt, Manchester United still on top?

Sanket Kumar

The European Club Football Landscape report reveals that English giants Manchester United have accrued a debt of £464million courtesy the Glazers’ take over of the club in 2005. It has also been reported that the debt value went up by 25% over the past one year taking their sum of debt to €200million more than any other club in Europe. This has also been the source of widespread anger among the Red Devils fanbase, who have often expressed their outburst publicly over the years. United might lead the pack when it comes…

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Steven Gerrard to be awarded Freedom of the City

Sanket Kumar

Former England skipper and Liverpool legend Steven George Gerrard will be awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool. Stevie G has been nominated for this award owing to his service and contribution to Liverpool Football Club, National and International football alongside his charity work at the Merseyside. He will be receiving the city’s highest civic honour which has left him speechless, Gerrard admitted. The title of Freedom of the City is an honorary title granted by a city or corporation. It is granted to individuals to recognize exceptional services,…

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Analysis – Bilic comments call Payet’s commitment into question

Stephen Donovan

On Thursday morning, West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic confirmed the suspicions of many by revealing that star man Dimitri Payet is intent on leaving the club, a fact which reflects badly on the player himself, as well as representing yet another setback in what has been a frustrating campaign for the Londoners up until now. Last term the Frenchman lit up the Premier League, delivering a number of starring contributions as West Ham finished an excellent seventh place and were among the division’s great entertainers. Some of what he…

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Chelsea – Kings of England?

Vyom Chaudhary

September 24th, 2016. The Men in Blue walk down the tunnel dejectedly, it is still only half-time, but an unknowing spectator would think they just got relegated. Three down. They were three down at half-time, goals from a brilliant front three of Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil ensuring that their rivals would have bragging rights for months to come. Word on the street predicted doom for the new Italian manager. Fast forward three months later. 13 league games, 13 wins to match the Premier League record, 32 goals…

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What can we expect from the Premier League after Christmas?

A Different League

As the halfway point of the season approaches, with the traditionally bumper packed festive period sure to throw up a few surprises, what can fans expect to see in the second half of what’s already looking to be a real thriller of a season? How Long can Chelsea’s Unbeaten Run Continue? Chelsea are now looking very much like the out and out favourites after a phenomenal 11 game unbeaten streak – Sun Bets have them to take the title at 4/6, and if their run continues, those odds will shrink very quickly. Currently 6 points ahead of nearest rival…

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Watford face point deduction, possible expulsion from competitions

Vyom Chaudhary

Watford are in serious trouble over allegations of forging a bank letter addressed to the Football League. The Daily Telegraph has claimed that the Hornets forged a letter from the international bank HSBC prior to the purchase of the club by Italian owner Gino Pozzo in 2014. The letter served as a guarantee from the bank that Pozzo had enough funds available to bankroll the club. The Telegraph has reportedly obtained a copy of the letter and has passed it on to the bank and the police. The EFL has…

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Arsenal main man to sign new deal

Vyom Chaudhary

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s future at the club is one of the most discussed topics among the club fanbase at the moment. The French manager has divided the club fanbase for quite some time now and still a large section of the fanbase doesn’t want him to continue beyond his current deal, which expires next summer. Wenger’s future was even discussed in the club’s AGM today. Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick, when quizzed about the manager’s future, said: “We will talk when the time is right but for now, we…

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Filipe Luis and Luis Suarez quarrel following La Liga clash

Vyom Chaudhary
Luis Suarez, Barcelona

Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis and Barcelona striker Luis Suarez exchanged remarks about each other following the 1-1 draw between both sides in La Liga on Wednesday night. The squabble between the two players was the result of a dangerous foul from Suarez on Luis. In the 83rd minute of the game at Nou Camp, Suarez caught Luis with his studs as the Brazilian was attempting to clear the ball. The Uruguayan escaped with a yellow card for his foul. El árbitro amonesta a Luis Suárez con tarjeta amarilla por…

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Another brace from Liverpool reject Mario Balotelli propels Nice to the summit of Ligue 1

Vyom Chaudhary

Liverpool-reject Mario Balotelli has finally found some form on his loan move with Ligue 1 side Nice. The 26-year-old, who joined Liverpool in 2014 for £16m, managed to score just one goal in his first season for the Reds. In the summer of 2015, he joined his former club AC Milan on a loan move. However, his time with Milan was plagued with injuries, and he managed only eight starts and a solitary goal during his second spell with the club. This summer, he joined Nice on a free season-long…

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If Rooney starts again, United are finished! [Tweets]

Vyom Chaudhary

Manchester United’s woes continued as they succumbed to their third consecutive defeat in all competitions today. Watford defeated Jose Mourinho’s side 3-1 at Vicarage Road to leave them six points behind neighbours City in the league table. It was a huge blow to the Red Devils as they were considered by many the only team capable of challenging Guardiola’s rampaging City for the league title this season. There were a lot of talking points in the game, but United skipper Wayne Rooney grabbed the headlines with his woeful performance on…

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Top 5 performers in the Premier League so far

A Different League

This Premier League season was hotly anticipated after the managerial changes at most of the top clubs – in came Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte. Surely one of them at least would struggle, and the key to the season would as ever be making the most of the players at their disposal. So who are those players that have made an immediate impression, and have any of the players from outside the top sides had a stunning start? Here we look at the most impressive performers from the…

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Diego Costa continues to show class and create controversy

Vincent Van Genechten

In each of the last two seasons, Diego Costa has been Chelsea’s top goal scorer, despite not always being either fully fit or in the best of form. That was particularly the case during the early part of last season, whereby after scoring 20 Premier League goals in his maiden year with Chelsea, Costa’s goal scoring touch largely deserted him. Specifically during the first half of the 2015-2016 Premier League season, the 27-year-old striker scored just three goals in 14 games, although Costa’s performances markedly improved thereafter, as he rediscovered…

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Three Premier League clubs interested in Barcelona star

Vyom Chaudhary

Barcelona striker Munir El Haddadi is a hot prospect among the Premier League clubs at the moment. The latest reports have suggested that as many as three English clubs are interested in the 20-year-old forward. Catalan newspaper Sport suggested on Monday that the North London club Tottenham are in talks with the Catalan club over the potential signing of the talented youngster. The youth prodigy is currently sitting behind the likes of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar in the pecking order at Barcelona and could decide to leave the…

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Koeman engineering an improved Everton

Vincent Van Genechten

Unbeaten in their first two English Premier League games of the 2016-2017 season under the guidance of Ronald Koeman, who has worked with patience and intelligence to bolster the club’s squad, Everton seem to be a much improved team from the one which Roberto Martinez led during the last two seasons. Whilst each of those ended with Everton finishing 11th in the English Premier League, the Toffees are undoubtedly well prepared to perform better this campaign, given the depth and quality of their pool of players, who Koeman is engineering…

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Aguero set for another season as Manchester City’s talisman

Vincent Van Genechten

Many teams, whether they be competing at either the top of the European game or amateur level, have a talisman, with that figure for Manchester City undoubtedly being Sergio Aguero. Aguero a chief architect of City’s success The 28-year-old Argentinean has been a main driver behind City’s success over the last five years, during which time the club have won five trophies. The first of those was the 2011-2012 English Premier League title. City dramatically clinched that after beating Queens Park Rangers 3-2 on the last day of the season,…

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Premier League clubs won’t have to worry about the Champions League coefficient anymore

Vyom Chaudhary

UEFA is considering a change in the current format of the premier club competition Champions League, reports ESPN FC. In the current format, only top three European leagues have three guaranteed spots in the group stage and one spot in the final qualifying round. The Premier League currently occupies the third spot in the coefficient ranking and is involved in a battle with Serie A, who are placed fourth, for the elusive third spot. La Liga and Bundesliga occupy the first two spots in the ranking. However, with the new format the…

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Coutinho’s creative craft crucial to Liverpool

Stuart Campbell

During the first weekend of the 2016-2017 English Premier League season, there were several outstanding individual performances, but none more so than the one Phillipe Coutinho produced for Liverpool in their enthralling 4-3 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Classy Coutinho’s superb start to the season As well as scoring twice, Coutinho was the fulcrum of Liverpool’s attack, just as he has consistently been since joining the club in January 2013. Whilst Coutinho scored with a wonderfully executed free kick, which he earned himself, in first half stoppage time…

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The crazy Arsenal – Liverpool made Twitter go wild

Vincent Van Genechten

Arsenal didn’t start the new Premier League season on a positive note. The Gunners suffered a 4-3 home defeat against Liverpool. Theo Walcott had put Arsenal 1-0 up but the Reds made it 4-1 with goals from two goals from Philippe Coutinho, and one from both Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane. The last one coming after an impressive run. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Callum Chambers rocketed the Gunners back in the game but to no avail. Not surprisingly, Twitter went crazy during and after the game: Show me the Mane! pic.twitter.com/9P92EFAtsA — Dinesh…

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Twitter thinks Leicester City might get relegated this season

Vyom Chaudhary

The new season of Premier League finally kicked off this weekend, but things didn’t go quite as planned for current champions Leicester City. The Foxes started their season with a 2-1 defeat at recently promoted Hull City and became the first Premier League champions to start their title defence with a defeat. The Tigers were the better team on the day and deservedly won the game in front of the home crowd. Following the game, many football fans have already started tipping the Foxes for relegation this season. The story is…

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