Stuartnoel

LATEST ARTICLES ( 1142 )

• Getting the Horn

  

  After a long overdue absence from these pages, our Englishman in New York, Luge Pravda is BACK.  And when we say BACK we really mean BACK. Read more

  Posted on 29 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Hearts and Minds

  

  Two years ago life looked quite good for Hearts fans as they took the field for the Europa League Play-Off against Liverpool at Tynecastle. Read more

  Posted on 28 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• The Djurgarden of Eden

  

  Just over a year ago I was lucky enough to attend one of the final football matches played in the Olympia Stadion in Stockholm. Read more

  Posted on 21 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Spanish Eyes Aren’t Smiling Today

  

  During the summer months my licence to roam to watch football carries a few endorsements.  I have to factor in “family time” around any games I want to get to,... Read more

  Posted on 20 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….Argentina 0 Germany 1

  

  So this is it. 30 days since it all started, over 15,000 words written on this blog and countless beers in the name of World Cup research.  The two best teams i... Read more

  Posted on 13 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• The Golden Generation of German Football

  

  There has been millions of words written about the most remarkable game in the history of the World Cup Finals.  The six or so first half minutes when Germany... Read more

  Posted on 13 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Matt Finish Saves Hammer’s Pre-season Blushes

  

  At the end of last season many West Ham fans faced a dilemma.  Premier League survival had been assured, which of course was the prime objective of any club... Read more

  Posted on 13 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….Brazil 0 Netherlands 3

  

  We all know this is the game that neither team really wants to play. I’m sure a lot of the Dutch team would want to be on a beach somewhere, enjoying a week or... Read more

  Posted on 13 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Football Back for the Daggers

  

  Last season exceeded most of the expectations of the Victoria Road faithful. Pre season favourites for the drop, home form played a big part in that apparent... Read more

  Posted on 11 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Don’t Believe the Hyypia

  

  It’s always nice to build up to a climax in your season, knowing that those cold Tuesday night away trips to the corners of Suffolk when the last train leaves... Read more

  Posted on 06 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….Netherlands 0 Costa Rica 0

  

  The quarter-finals haven’t yet set the competition alight after such a barn-storming group stage.  So far the games have gone to form and there was little chanc... Read more

  Posted on 05 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….Brazil 2 Colombia 1

  

  I thought the wait would never end…finally we have football back on our TVs.  With it being hotter than Greece*I decided to keep the al fresco feeling going... Read more

  Posted on 04 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….France 0 Germany 1

  

  We had a bet at home that the 1982 Battiston incident would be mentioned within 30 seconds of the TV coverage. We were wrong – it was 45 seconds and then it... Read more

  Posted on 04 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….Belgium 2 USA 1

  

  Back by popular request for potentially his last run out in the World Cup is Andy Mack with his view from downtown Manhattan on the mood in the US Camp for thei... Read more

  Posted on 02 July 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….Germany 2 Algeria 1

  

  “It was the best of times, it was one of the worst of footballing crimes.”  Paul Doyle’s opening line in the Guardian two weeks ago took us back to darker... Read more

  Posted on 30 June 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• The Five Best Keepers of the World Cup…so Far

  Normally in these major tournaments we see more keepers who fall into the “oh dear” bracket rather than the “Wow” one.  In general, the goalies have had a good... Read more

  Posted on 30 June 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things about….France 2 Nigeria 0

  The big question before this game was which Nigeria team would turn up.  They had stumbled through the group, flattering to deceive in their single win against... Read more

  Posted on 30 June 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….Netherlands 2 Mexico 1

  

  I could get very used to weekends like this.  The beauty of having games on at 5pm and 9pm is that you can do a day of family stuff, get home, watch game one,... Read more

  Posted on 29 June 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things about….Colombia 2 Uruguay 0

  

  So how do you follow that game?  Brazil v Chile was nearly three hours of pure football gold, as Partridge would have said.  Penalties are the cruelest way to... Read more

  Posted on 28 June 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS

• Five Things from….Brazil 1 Chile 1

  

  Out of all of the weekend’s games, this one promised to be the most fiery.  Two teams who don’t appear to have a defensive bone in their bodies (I mean, David... Read more

  Posted on 28 June 2014 SOCCER, SPORTS