Life In The Championship Will Be Tight, As Day One Results Prove

Everyone expects this year's Championship to be one of the closest battles in years. No less than 12 teams will be battling it out for promotion, while for many, the difference between the playoffs and the relegation zone will only be a few points.

What Next for Michael Owen? For Sale in the Argos Catalogue?

Michael Owen has taken the extraordinary step of making a catalogue of his footballing life as a player and then distributing it around all 20 English Premier League clubs in a bid to build some interest in his flagging career.

"For Sale, one slightly used, uncared for striker. Price is free, will accept bread and water as payment."

This is probably a little bit of an exaggeration, but the very fact that the best English striker of his generation has had to go to such lengths to build some interest in attaining his signature, is proof alone that his time at Real Madrid and Newcastle has almost damaged his career beyond repair.

Alan Shearer Is Bluffing and Newcastle United Look Doomed

The bullshit parade of Alan Shearer rolls on. After another abject performance - under the 47th Newcastle manager this season against Portsmouth tonight - the Toon Army edged closer to the drop.

In his fourth game in charge, Newcastle picked up only their second point under the newest manager. Contacted in for a £100k a game with a bonus of £1million if they stay up, Alan Shearer looks to be the smartest man in football.

Liverpool Pressure United, Arsenal Roll On, Newcastle Look Down

Week 31 of the season saw Alan Shearer, with tongue firmly in cheek, leed Newcastle out for the first time yesterday, where they met a Chelsea team in no mood to extend the former-striker's welcoming party...

Shay Given Hits Out at Mike Ashley's Newcastle United "Regime"

In his first press conference as a Manchester City player, Shay Given fired a broadside at his previous employers Newcastle United. Having served as first choice goalkeeper for 12 loyal years at St. James' Park, the Irishman spoke of his unhappiness over the last six months and of what he feels was poor treatment by the club.

They Think It's All Over...EPL GameDay 17: Owen, Keane, Gomes, Gabby & Ince....

Gameday 17 of the English Premier League was all about managers and strikers, on and off the pitch. Michael Owen continued his return to form with a goal that set up Newcastle's 3-0 win over Portsmouth.

Gabriel Agbonlahor scored a couple for Aston Villa to enhance his already growing reputation, Didier Drogba came off the bench to change the complexion of the tie against West Ham, and Robbie Keane was firmly rooted to the bench as Rafael Benitez defied all known logic in leaving a £20M striker on the sidelines getting splinters while he made three baffling substitutions.

All good talking points, so let's move on...

Quotes of the Week That Was: Manchester City, West Ham, Newcastle, Ireland

Heres a few quotes from the world of football from the last week....



It'll be nice to know that every gallon of petrol a Man Yoo fan puts in his car is going straight into our kitty!-Noel Gallagher self confessed Man City fan.

Kevin Keegan Resigns: A Brief History To Understand Why He Left

The transfer deadline closed last night at midnight, with possibly Newcastle's chances of ever reaching the top four closing too.

The big losers in the amazing sale of Manchester City weren't Liverpool or even Chelsea. No, the big losers were Spurs, Aston Villa, Everton, and Newcastle.

How the managers, chairmen, and supporters of these clubs feel after the revelation that now City are a power to be reckoned with will only be seen in the next few weeks, as the slow realisation dawns on them that not only are the top four positions out of reach, but now the fifth position is gone too.

Kevin Keegan awoke this morning...