Players Under The Microscope

Gerrard v Lampard: Who is top dog at club level?

Andrew Atherley / 18 March 2009 / Leave a comment

We've heard time and time again about how these two can't play together for England but noone doubts their individual performances at club level. But which of the two has been, and will be, most important to their team as...Read more »

Roque Santa Cruz: We know he scores goals but is this really a £25 million player?

Mike Norman / 11 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Roque Santa Cruz's proposed move to Man City in the January transfer window left some people fascinated and others questioning whether the Paraguayan striker was genuinely worth the £25 million he was valued at. "Mystical" Mike Norman investigates....Read more »

David Beckham: Why England can't live with him and can't live without him

Feizal Rahman / 15 February 2009 / Leave a comment

Feizal Rahman tells us why David Beckham's part in England's friendly against Spain in midweek epitomised the fact that very little has changed for the national side over the last few years, such as the inability to play creative football...Read more »

Premiership Betting: Van Der Sar's part in United's revival

Ralph Ellis / 27 January 2009 / Leave a comment

Ralph Ellis looks at how the void left by the departure of Peter Schmeichel back in 1999 has taken a while to fill but Edwin Van Der Sar has proved to be very much the man for the job of...Read more »

Cristiano Ronaldo: Will he be superstar or super sulk in the second half of the season?

Dan Fitch / 06 January 2009 / Leave a comment

With his dream move to Real Madrid little more than a mirage at the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled for form in recent weeks. But will he return to his best form over the next few matches or be guilty...Read more »

Premiership Strikers: Will Defoe come up short again this season?

Mike Norman / 18 December 2008 / Leave a comment

"Mystical" Mike Norman looks into his crystal ball to predict what Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe can achieve in the Premiership, UEFA Cup and on the international stage this season....Read more »

Wayne Rooney: Street striker out of his element

Dan Fitch / 09 December 2008 / 1 Comments

Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch tells us about Wayne Rooney's reality TV show "Wayne Rooney's Street Striker", how the Man Utd striker fares as a TV presenter and which other Premiership stars could soon be on our screens, other than...Read more »

Theo Walcott: This kid can go all the way...

Mike Norman / 07 December 2008 / Leave a comment

"Mystical" Mike Norman looks into his crystal ball to predict what the remainder of the season and indeed the next few years hold in store for Arsenal and England's Theo Walcott. The future looks bright......Read more »

Mikel Arteta: How long before we see this man wearing the Three Lions?

Mike Norman / 02 November 2008 / 1 Comments

"Mystical" Mike Norman is full of praise for Everton's versatile and skiful Spanish import Mikel Arteta. Soon he will be eligible to play for England courtsey of FIFA's five-year residency rule, but will he and should he get the call...Read more »

Robinho: Where will Man City's jewel in the crown fit in the jigsaw?

Mike Norman / 12 September 2008 / Leave a comment

"Mystical" Mike Norman consults his crystal ball to see where Man City's number 10 will fit within Mark Hughes' jigsaw. With the likes of SWP, Elano, Petrov, Jo and Benjani there as well, it's a nice problem to have....Read more »

Adrian Mutu: Fiorentina star has put Chelsea nightmare firmly behind him

Alsy / 12 August 2008 / Leave a comment

Morgan in the driving seat - Allsy examines the career of the Fiorentina and Romania skipper who has put leagl disputes and failed drugs tests behind him to become one of Europe's outstanding strikers...Read more »

Back Page Betting: Keane's conversion rate will make him a hit at Anfield

Ralph Ellis / 30 July 2008 / Leave a comment

Ralph Ellis is confounded by Robbie Keane's doubters. The Irishman's stats are consistently strong, and if he continues in the same vein at his new club this could be the year when Liverpool finally mount a serious title challenge....Read more »

Back Page Betting: Lampard purchase at a snip can help Inter conquer Europe

Ralph Ellis / 02 July 2008 / Leave a comment

The Special One is about to work his first piece of magic at Inter Milan. Some time in the next week or so he will complete the signing of Frank Lampard for a fee of about £7million....Read more »

What next for Cristiano Ronaldo?

Mike Norman / 30 May 2008 / 2 Comments

It's a good thing for his loyal readers that "Mystical" Mike Norman can refer to his crystal ball to predict where Cristiano Ronaldo will be in a couple of years time, because noone else seems to know.....Read more »