Great Footballing Nicknames

Often affectionate and always with an edge of humour.  Most nicknames attributed to players are from the fans themselves.  Others are personal and some even come from the media.  The most comical nicknames tend to be based on dominant physical features and quirks of players personalities.  There doesn't appear to be as many characters in the game or big personalities as there seemed to be in the past.  Despite that, it hasn't stopped fans and the players themselves donning unique names.

 

 

  

 

Calamity James- David James

David James, as famous for his haircuts as his goalkeeping.  He has had many a blunder and innumerable crazy moments between the sticks.  It fits very well.  A cowboy film called Calamity Jane and a character from the popular comic strip The Beano are possible origins of his nickname.

Manchester United vs Chelsea Preview

 

It is only the second week into the Premier League season and frustratingly there is no Manchester United game this weekend.  Curse the fixture computer.  Monday night will be David Moyes first match at Old Trafford and it will be the first time in twenty seven years that Sir Alex is not leading the team out.  It also sees the return of a never forgotten foe in Jose Mourinho.

Four From Four

 

 

 

This is a bit of an idea I have had for a regular piece.  It will be an opportunity to catch more football and to focus on specific players/teams.  I have decided to pick one newly transferred player from the four leagues I mainly watch- Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and The Bundesliga.  As well as watching them, I will also look to fans forums and each countries made to gauge the players progress and importantly what the fans think.  I have decided to do posts once a month to overview how they've been doing. 

 

 

 

 Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund) - Bundesliga

 

The German league is already underway.  Caught Dortmunds impressive win vs Ausburg yesterday.  They took a little while to get going but when they did, they were very entertaining.  It was a dream debut for Aubameyang, scoring a hat-trick.  Mkhitaryan is currently injured and therefore needed to sit out Dormund's first match.

The highly rated midfielder transferred from Shakhtar Donetsk for what is believed to be in the region of €25.75 million.  In purchasing him, he is the most expensive player the club has ever bought.  Price tags come with pressure.  He just enjoyed a very successful club season, scoring 25 goals from midfield and therefore must be feeling full of confidence.  It is a step up certainly, but he is coming into a good team boasting plenty of talented players.  With the loss of Mario Goetze and he being a mature player at 25. Dortmund, will be looking for him (once fit) to have an immediate impact.  Looking forward to seeing this player as he is one I have never watched, only heard of.  As ever, it will be enjoyable following and watching Dortmund play- could be a tricky season for them given the sheer strength and talent of the present Bayern side.

England vs Scotland

 

It had certainly been a long time in coming this fixture.  The two sides, which form the oldest of footballing rivalries have not met since 1999.  The rivalry itself dates back to 1870 and the first match officially played between the countries was in 1872.  Though a friendly it was much more, the tie means a great deal to players and fans alike.  The Tartan Army as usual took plentiful support.  Descending upon London in their kilts, tam o'shanter hats and armed with fairy liquid in some cases!  The match at Wembley kicked off at 8pm and the starting lineups were as follows:-

 

Hart; Walker, Cahill, Jagileka, Baines; Gerrard, Wilshere; Walcott, Cleverley; Welbeck, Rooney

McGregor; Hutton, Hanley, Martin, Whittaker; Forrest, Morrison, Brown; Maloney, Snodgrass, Miller

 

 

Community Shield 2013

Manchester United vs Wigan

 

 

 

Manchester United vs Wigan Preview

The Night Before.....

 

Manchester United have not enjoyed the best pre-season results wise.  Coming into the game, Wigan are certainly in better form.  They already have a competitive game under their belt, which was an impressive 4-0 win vs Barnsley away from home.  A team full of confidence they still have most of the players they had last season.  They have some decent players, particularly James McCarthy who has caught the eye on a-few occasions.  There have been a number of clubs in for linked with him this summer but he is yet to move.  They have been known for their nice attacking football under the now, Everton man Martinez.  This often meant that they leaked a-lot of goals.  Hopefully United's attack is on form to exploit that.  The way that United themselves, have been defending over pre-season has not been encouraging.  Hoping that Vidic is sharp tomorrow as he has had limited preperation due to a niggling injury.  I am feeling a little nervous but very excited to have proper football back.  It is a meaningless game in the grand scheme, but as it is Moyes first competitive match it is a bit more important than usual.  Should United lose, panic buttons should not be pressed.  However, with a tough start the team needs to get out of the blocks quick- no room to be slow starters this term. 

More Football Book Reviews

 

The Miracle Of Castel Di Sangro- Joe McGinniss

This is a really charming book about football at a lower level, about a team who plays with a deep passion and love for the game.  The team Castel di Sangro, is based in a smallish Italian town called L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The team had a meteoric rise to the second division of Italian football- Serie B.  The author, McGinnis is most known as a writer of true crime novels and more recently, the biography of Sarah Palin.  He is a big sports fan, laterally a football fan.  He writes with humour and takes you, the reader on the journey with him.  It is clear that he is not a lifelong football fan but it does not have too much of an affect (well apart from perhaps he thinking himself an expert).  He travels to Italy and becomes the clubs chief writer.  He has fantastic access and in time becomes part of the club and with that part of the local community.  He gets to know the players, management and other associates at the club.  He encounters and introduces you to some great characters.  He also provides a fantastic insight into Italian football and culture of both the game and Italy as a country.  A football season is a rollercoaster ride, it is the 1996/97 season which he follows them.  There is so much in the book, it seems like it is about more than just one season. 

Football Stadium Foods From Around The World

I love food and cookery.  It is a real interest of mine.  Football is the most popular and watched sport in the world.  Food traditions and culture varies enormously from country to country, climate of course plays a big part too.  Around the world there are traditional snack foods eaten at matches.  Alcohol is a popular drink, but in some countries such as Argentina's there are bans and others it is not consumed for religious/cultural reasons.  In this post I will take a look at the foods served up to matchgoers from England to Africa and beyond.