Tag Archives: joe allen

Has Welsh Football ever had it so good?

Posted on by
1

article_75dc46dadf49b5c5_1361729383_9j-4aaqsk

In the wake of Swansea’s glorious League Cup triumph, The False Nine editor James Dutton explores the state of the Welsh game…

As the dust settles on Swansea’s emphatic Capital One Cup victory over the unlikely opposition of Bradford City, Blue Square Conference leaders Wrexham are due to travel to Wembley next month for the FA Trophy Final. Cardiff City sit eight points clear at the summit of the Championship with a game in hand, whilst Newport County sit just two points behind their North Walian countrymen, also with a game in hand.

Swansea’s meteoric rise from the basement of the Football League pyramid in 2004 to the heady heights of the Premier League, and now League Cup winners just nine years later, is an astounding tale. Next year the Swans will be playing European football; a chance for Welsh football to showcase its burgeoning ascension on the continent.  Continue reading →

Being Brendan

Posted on by
5

brendan-rodgers-david-brent

False Nine editor James Dutton assesses Brendan Rodgers’ start to life at Anfield…

“You train dogs, i like to educate players.”

Brendan Rodgers will likely look back at 2012 as the year that changed his life. Having built on the phenomenal success of his project at Swansea, he has become a household name across the country upon taking the reins of the hottest job on Merseyside. He also became the unwitting star attraction of a US television programme.

Described as a ‘fly-on-the-wall documentary/ reality show’, Being Liverpool came across as more of a shamelessly dreary and crass US sports promotional video for the increasingly Americanized brand of Liverpool FC. Aside from the franchise, the show provided the platform for new manager Brendan Rodgers to espouse both footballing and life virtues.

Continue reading →

Liverpool Already Answering Uefa’s Call

Posted on by
Reply

False Nine editor Andrew Belt reflects on European nights returning to Anfield and queries Uefa’s bid to increase the profile of the Europa League…

All Uefa had to do to stop themselves preaching to the converted was visit Anfield on August 9th. Not unusually, a near-capacity crowd of 43, 256 packed the old stadium to cheer on Liverpool after hordes of fans had queued for last-minute tickets, enticed by the prospect of seeing the Merseyside club flaunt their skills in European competition again. Continue reading →