Admiration, Cristiano Ronaldo: Could we enjoy the work of a ruined man?
Cristiano Ronaldo has never pretended to be a perfect man, but is it time to draw the line between exemplary athlete and one fighting rape allegations? “This never happened. It will shock…
Simple Confession of Love To Stadium Atmosphere
Is there a more pure way of enjoying our sport than watching it along with the thousands of fellow pilgrims of the day? Stadiums are structures of brick and mortar, but on…
Hangin’ with the Kozakken Boys: The back alley of Dutch football
Our in-house Dutch football writer visited semi-pro club Kozakken Boys. While the spectacle was small, an important lesson was learned regarding the future of Dutch football. “Sorry, ik spreek geen Nederlands goed.”…
Harkes at The Wall, Part 3: Football, life and everything in between
We often use Shankly’s life and football quote for explaining the importance of football in our lives, but sometimes, life and football explain each other. I did not enter parenthood gracefully. There…
In conversation with Osian Roberts, the silent engine of Welsh football
We talk to Osian Roberts, who is currently in charge of everything that is needed to run Welsh football in full gear. “Bright, intelligent, studious. You know, if you were to talk…
Harkes at The Wall, Part 2 – A trip to watch Seattle Sounders
Our in-house writer continues on his journey of football, this time as a father going to a Seattle Sounders game with his mates, some of them dads themselves. You can read part…
Marko Arnautovic: West Ham United’s figurehead and talisman
It isn’t often that you can pinpoint one moment in which one person’s life or the way they are perceived is changed beyond recognition. But that is undoubtedly the case for Marko…
The subversive and taboo movement of preferring players to their laundry
There was a time, not so long ago, that footballers belonged to teams. Today, the same teams chase the stars, just so that their kit gets brighter. On the afternoon of September…
Una Nueva Ilusion – Spain and Tiki Taka Goes Bang-A-Rang with Lucho
Whenever Spain lose a major international fixture, it is only natural for many to dedicate obituaries to the team’s possessional style of play, or what a number of folks have come to…
Harkes at The Wall, Part I: A football fan’s journey through fandom
Very often, our initial experiences in sport define our relationship with it. Our in-house writer takes us through his first time at a football stadium. My father is the best of men.…
Leon Bailey: King of The Club, Enigma of Jamaica
“The ball is my life, so I have to live it.” – Leon Bailey Currently at the ever-so-familiar crossroads of choosing his national identity, Leon Bailey is a prodigy that everyone wants…
Almost Invincible by Dan Betts (An Arsenal book review)
Dan Betts tells us why it is important to remember and celebrate the achievements of George Graham and his Arsenal team who almost pulled off the impossible unbeaten season years before the…
Chelsea’s lucky jackpot: The resurgence of Ross Barkley
Under Maurizio Sarri, Ross Barkley seems to found his mojo, and the secret to that lies in shedding the tag of the next big thing. I completely understand why Antonio Conte spent…
Arsene’s Double Double by Dave Seager (A book review)
Reviewing a poetic tribute to Arsene Wenger in the style of Dr. Seuss Arsene Wenger is the most successful manager in the history of Arsenal Football Club. This is an undisputed fact no matter…
Danny Mills on PEDs, Injections & the Final That Changed His Life
As a youth, Danny Mills went to Norwich City games at Carrow Road, standing on milk crates just to get a view of the pitch. Little more than a decade later he…
Crying is ok: Tackling one of football’s oldest stigmas
Football is steeped in misplaced masculinity, and it is important to talk about myths and stigmas. Crying is one such act that is easily condescended at, overlooking the emotional, mental and physical…
What happened to Lauri Dalla Valle, the fallen heir of Fernando Torres?
Football is full of stories of players who made it against the odds, the young stars transforming potential into the real thing. But, there are even more players who never live up…
David Luiz: Captain, Geezer, Myshkin
Maurizio Sarri is revolutionising Chelsea football, but every such endeavour needs a leader. His best option may also be an unexpected one. David Luiz may not strike everyone as immediate captaincy candidate,…
Boston Gooners: A football fan club in a soccer nation
Our writer went to a pub in Boston on a Sunday, expecting the television to be screening the Arsenal vs Man United game. He opened the door to find 200 Arsenal fans…
Europa League: A lucrative, low-hanging fruit for Chelsea and Sarri
Even if it’s a second tier competition, the UEFA Europa League presents Chelsea with a golden ticket to the Champions’ League, and Sarri to return major European silverware in his first season…
A decade of Thomas Müller: Modern football’s greatest antithesis
What makes a good footballer? Is it his ability to dribble, ruthlessness in front of goal, eye for tactical detail, athleticism, a combination of all? Thomas Muller isn’t the answer to any…
Talking to Ralph Hasenhuettl: RB Leipzig’s very own superhero from the Alps
We talk to Ralph Hasenhuettl, the man from Austria who coached RB Leipzig to a second place finish in the Bundesliga in their debut season, and has set in motion a framework…
Remembering Fergus Suter, the first footballer to get paid to play
Remember when David Beckham had to explain to the Yanomami tribe that he made a living by kicking a ball around? We take a look at the first person who employed himself…
Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie, and the story of Feyenoord
A complex club like Feyenoord Rotterdam can only be truly understood by looking at two of its modern legends, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie. When Nazi Germany bombed Rotterdam in a…
Chelsea’s new hire: Re-affirming football’s transformation
Chelsea’s earnest pursuit towards hiring a new technical director showed once again how the control of the game has shifted from the field to boardrooms. They aren’t the only ones building a…
Ronaldo, Messi, Pele: The GOAT debate is unending, and shouldn’t matter
You could like Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi, or live by the art of Cruyff or the royalty of Pele. Football’s journey over time makes it impossible to compare eras. The “greatest…
Manchester United vs Tottenham – It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee
The scoreline might have made it look worse than it was, but Manchester United had a loss of this proportion coming, and need to wake up before its too late. Their rivals…
Wolverhampton vs Manchester City: An exhibition of courage and spunk
Most would’ve expected City to bulldoze past Wolverhampton, but Nuno Santo’s men showed a strength of character that many bigger teams could learn from. We’ll drive our ships to new lands To…
Sven Ulreich: A life behind Neuer’s giant shadow
Life’s never easy as a reserve goalkeeper, much less if you lurk behind Manuel Neuer. Sven Ulreich has made an example out of his grit and work ethic. As the camera slowly…
Je t’aime, Liverpool: How to Talk About Love and Your Football Club
This feature talks about how Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool aided a small victory over depression by answering an age-old question: why do people and football fans keep falling in love? August 10 –…