Players Under The Microscope : UK & Ireland Football

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

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:13:10 +0000

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 the season draws to a close, asks Andrew Atherley.

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

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:56:06 +0000

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.

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

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:21:07 +0000

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 or beat the very top sides.

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

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:14:59 +0000

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 being Man Utd's number one.

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

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:40:10 +0000

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 of on-field indiscipline, asks Dan Fitch.

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

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:25:18 +0000

"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.

Wayne Rooney: Street striker out of his element

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:33:46 +0000

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 playing in a football match.

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

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:29:04 +0000

"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...

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

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:27:06 +0000

"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 from Mr Capello?

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

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:53:15 +0000

"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.

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

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:48:03 +0000

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

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

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:40:27 +0000

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.

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

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:45:51 +0000

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.

What next for Cristiano Ronaldo?

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:02:48 +0000

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..

Michael Owen - will he ever be a 'goal machine' again?

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:11:24 +0000

As Fabio Capello leaves Owen on the England bench, Frank Gregan wonders where the former 'Boy Wonder' goes from here...