By - 29/11/2009

Coaching Keepers Like You

I'VE always had one eye on doing more than just playing football - and those who know me will realise that setting up the goalkeeping school and some other bits which I've done this season is just me being me, making the maximum out of what spare time I have.

My first priority will...

By - 07/10/2009

Half-Time

I often get asked about what actually happens at half-time.

The management team will always spend the first three or four minutes in their own room away from the dressing-room, which leaves the players to bring up anything they want to between themselves.

There are some lads,...

By - 27/09/2009

Game Over

Before I talk about injury-time specifically, I want to make the point that it's always baffled me how you can have two games of football where the ball is in play for 65 minutes during one and 50 minutes during another. I find it really interesting.

It gets me thinking that game...

By - 22/08/2009

Player Power?

In simple terms, when you sign a contract with a club you are at that moment committing yourself for the length of that deal to work within the parameters which you've agreed upon.

In reality these days, contracts have becoming little more than bargaining tools for clubs to extract...

By - 06/08/2009

Money, Money, Money

I can genuinely see this influx of 'artificial' money into the Premier League changing the face of the competition in years to come.

Whether the balance of power can shift quite as quickly as this season I'm not so sure - it's a tough ask to get so many new people to gel together...

By - 08/07/2009

In Reality

I'm not so much a TV watcher, as a TV wallpaper man. You know what I mean, on in the background with something you don't really have to concentrate on to know what's happening (that's Friends for me, by the way, for a feel-good factor even though I've watched them all a million times...

By - 20/06/2009

Malky In (& more Brendan chat)

Thanks for all your responses - it's great to have such feedback on my website.

There are some great points and, since I wrote my piece, a few things have come to light which I would like to explain.

I wrote it without being fully aware of exactly what quotes had been said...

By - 08/06/2009

Rodgers & Out

It's obviously very disappointing to see Brendan go. I've spoken to many Watford fans in the past few days and I can understand their feelings towards him right now. My thoughts on the matter are probably not in line with most fans but for what it’s worth I’ll give my opinion...

I...

By - 09/03/2009

Loan or Reserves?

There's definitely more players going out on loan than ever there was - rather than staying put in a reserve team - and it just shows the game is changing.

More of a demand from lower-divisions clubs running on smaller squads has made it easier for bigger teams to lend their players...

By - 16/02/2009

All Change?

There's so much pressure for instant success in the game now that no one should be truly surprised by the sacking of managers like Luiz Felipe Scolari.

People talk about the fact that our current game's best managers have all been given time and, yes, that's true. But would Sir Alex...

By - 14/01/2009

Window Watching

In the last week or so, I've read quite a bit of comment about the transfer window and the effect it can have on your club while football is open for business, so to speak.

I'm not sure I totally agree with the theory that it destabilises clubs. I think results themselves, across the...

By - 31/12/2008

Long Throws & Set-Pieces

There's been lots of focus on Rory Delap's long throws this season and, as a by-product, how set-pieces can be such an important part of a team's armoury.

Over a third of Stoke's goals this season have come as a result of those throw-ins but, it's fair to argue, if they were...

By - 25/11/2008

Home and Away

I was looking at the league tables in the newspaper the other day and it never ceases to surprise me just how much better most teams' home form is over their away form, although it's not quite so noticeable in the Football League as it is in the Premiership.

I mean, after all,...

By - 03/11/2008

Momentum

Football's such a tough sport to be successful at that you have to capitalise on the momentum and initiative in a match when you have it - because there's plenty of moments when things will happen 'against the run of play' or without either side being on top.

Take Southampton...

By - 14/10/2008

Opportunities & Knocks

With me playing and Mark Tyler here on loan covering, injuries have dictated much to do with the goalkeeping situation at the club this season. And it got me thinking about how injuries have a massive say in what goes on.

Taking it back a few seasons, I can remember having a good...