Search: ' Lex Gold'

London winning the right to stage the 2012 Olympic Games has dominated the agenda this month

Anyone who winced through the eye-wateringly bad “celebration” of London’s staging of the 2012 Olympics held in The Mall on Sunday, August 24, had better steel themselves for four long years of witless build-up, from which football, sadly, will not be immune. The sporting and political establishment are only too aware of the commercial opportunities such a team could provide and they aren’t going to let it go.

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Three years after the Americans' takeover, Manchester United's season might appear to vindicate the Glazers. But Ashley Shaw remains suspicious, despite their dramatic European Cup win

As the dust settles on Manchester United’s “Golden Double”, there is a feeling that, unlike the victories of 1999 and 1968, Moscow 2008 will come to be seen as the start of a great era rather than the end of one. Both those previous European Cup-winning teams were predominantly British, but this time around the players are largely from overseas or have racked up sufficient experience to make the transition from domestic domination to European success that much easier. Unusually, this United team have suffered only one major catastrophe in Europe (the under-strength humiliation at Milan last year) and there’s cause to believe that there won’t be another nine-year wait.

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What are the expectations for the team?
Thanks to the apparently golden touch of Guus Hiddink, probably greater than ever before. Russia teams of the past have generally managed to be less than the sum of their parts; Hiddink has managed to reverse that. The general feeling is that reaching the knockout stages would be a success. With a relatively tough group, Hiddink himself has tried to dampen any false hopes and said that his main target is the 2010 World Cup.

Is the coach popular?
He is now, although he has had to overcome the initial mistrust of those who said a foreigner would never get his head round the enigma that is Russian football. Along with his fellow Dutchman Dick Advocaat at Zenit St Petersburg, he seems to have cracked it.

Which players are good interviewees and who are the worst?
Andrei Arshavin and Vladislav Radimov, two of Advocaat’s players at Zenit, are always good value – friendly and open. At the other extreme, the grumpy and monosyllabic Sergei Ignashevich of CSKA Moscow is generally best avoided.

Are then any players with unusual hobbies or business interests?
Arshavin has a degree in fashion design, which included a thesis on “The development of sportswear manufacturing”. Alexei Smertin collects wine, and runs his own football academy in his native Barnaul in Siberia. He’s also obsessed with the works of John Fowles (author of The French Lieutenant’s Woman, among others), turning up at the novelist’s house in Dorset to introduce himself.

Do any of the players have famous girlfriends or wives?
There are no A-List celebrities, but plenty of wannabes. Four years ago, ahead of Euro 2004 a group of the players’ wives posed nude for a calendar. No word of a reprise this year though.

Will there be any rehearsed goal celebrations?
Unlikely. The Russians don’t go in for this kind of flamboyance. Don’t expect anything more exciting than some fist‑pumping.

Are there any players involved in politics?
Arshavin capitalised on his popularity as Russian football’s golden boy to gain election to the St Petersburg legislative assembly in 2006, campaigning on Vladimir Putin’s United Russia ticket.

What will the media coverage be like?
Sovietsky Sport and the estimable Sport Express will battle it out for the heavyweight coverage in print. The garrulous Andrei Kanchelskis, now general director at first division club FC Nosta (owned by Alisher Usmanov, who also owns just under 25 per cent of Arsenal), may pop up as a TV pundit.

Will there be many fans travelling to the tournament?
Not really. With the costs of getting and staying there beyond the average Russian, the travelling support tends to be restricted to the caviar sandwich eaters of the burgeoning business class, who can doubtless take the chance to check up on their Swiss bank accounts. Russian football song culture remains primitive and unimaginative, not least where the national team is concerned.

Dan Brennan

Here are some football-related (and other) websites we like, and also links to some of our advertisers. If you would like your site to be listed here, or you have a site you would like to recommend to us, please drop us a line and we’ll have a look at it.

General football sites
A Football Report Colourful insight on the game
A2Z Soccer Irish soccer news and fixtures
Better Football Coaching blog with technique, tactics, drills and games for grassroots coaches
Better Soccer Coaching Free soccer coaching tips and advice newsletter
Danger Here Humorous Irish football site
Early Bath Football soaps for fans of almost every team
Elcentrocampista A fresh perspective on the game in Spain
Elephants Online All the news and info on Ivory Coast
European Football Statistics Figures (including attendances) from across the continent
Flashscore Live scores and results from 500 leagues
Football books News and reviews
Football Crests Their history and meaning
Football Fans.eu Logging and sharing your match and stadium visits
Football Filter Only the best football sources
Football Management Commentary on the management of clubs by Dr John Beech
Footballness Trivia quizes every week
Football Pakistan Coverage and development of the game in Pakistan
Football Perspectives Analyses of issues surrounding the game on and off the pitch
Football Portugal Daily-updated review of the Portugese football scene
Football Programmes Lots of stuff for collectors
Football Squads Statsfeast for squad news junkies
Football Target News on all the big leagues
Goalkeepers are Different Interesting custodian-based fact site
Golazo Argentino Concentrating on Argentinian football
Groundtastic Everything you could possibly wish to know about football grounds
Hasta El Gol Siempre All about the game in Argentina
In Bed With Maradona The Home Of World Football
Inside Left Scottish football, not just the Old Firm
Junk Archive Liberate your loft and leave a legacy
La Celeste Blog The only English-speaking blog for the Uruguay national team
Les Rosbifs English players abroad, at every level
Must Read Soccer The day’s best soccer writing
Nigel’s Webspace Galleries of English Football Cards 1965/66 – 1979/80
90:00 Soccer Magazine The first magazine of its kind in the US 
Nordic Football News The game in northern Europe
Old Football Games Almost 200 nostalgic football games
Peter Upton’s Subbuteo Tribute Website Nostalgia, news and comment
Pitch Invasion Football culture around the world
Played in Britain Retrospectives of Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly and more
Roy of the Rovers Roy, Blackie, Tubbie, the other bloke – all your faves are here
Political Economy of Football Insights into matters of business
Soccerbase Comprehensive facts, figure, data and information about football
Soccerphile.com News and opinions
Sporting Life UK football news, betting info and live match updates
Sportingly better Predictions and fantasy football tips
Sports Books Direct Online sports book shop
Sports Pubs Useful little site with reviews of TV sports pubs in the London area
Statto.com A major internet resource for the football statistician and betting enthusiast
Subbuteo World The online home of table football
Terrace Bint Attempting to address some of the issues of girls and women who go to football
Twohundredpercent Daily insight, particulatly strong on the lower leagues
The Soccer Observer American soccer leagues and the US national teams
The Swiss Ramble Detailed breakdowns of football and finance
The Two Unfortunates The non-partisan blog for everything to do with the English second tier
Voetbalblog Dutch and international football news site 
Welsh Football The independent voice of Welsh soccer

Clubs
AFC Bournemouth Court Offside
AFC Wimbledon WISA, SW19’s army
Aberdeen Aberdeen Mad
Accrington Stanley Vital Stanley, Stanley Mad
Airdrie Utd The Stomp
Ajax Ajax Showtime
Albion Rovers AlbionRovers.com
Aldershot Town Shotsweb
Alloa Athletic The Duffle
Annan Athletic Official Website
Arbroath Official Website
Argentinos Juniors The Hand Of Dan
Arsenal The Gooner
Aston Villa Heroes & Villains, VillaTalk
Ayr Utd The Honest Men Trust
Barnet Barnet Mad, BFCSA  
Barnsley Barnsleyfc.org.uk
Berwick Rangers Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust
Birmingham City Small Heath Alliance, Keep Right On  
Bishop Auckland Bishop AFC
Blackburn Rovers BRFCS
Blackburn Utd Blackburn United FC
Blackpool AVFTT
Bolton Wanderers The Wanderer
Borussia Dortmund BVB09
Bournemouth Court Offside
Bradford City City Gent
Brechin City Official Website
Brentford Griffin Park Grapevine
Brighton & Hove Albion North Stand Chat, The Plight of the Seagull
Bristol City BCST
Bristol Rovers BRSC
Burnley Clarets Mad
Bury The Shakers
Cardiff City Bob Bank Hero
Carlisle Utd CUFC Online
Celtic TalkCeltic.net
Charlton Athletic Addicks Championship Diary, Charlton Life, Addickted
Chelsea CFCnet, Chelsea 2D
Cheltenham Town Cheltenhamshire
Chester City Deva Chat, Chester City
Chesterfield Official Forum, Chesterfield
Clyde Official Website
Colchester Utd The U’sual
Coventry City Gary Mabbutt’s Knee
Cowdenbeath Cowdenbeath.net
Crewe Alexandra Crewe Mad
Crystal Palace The Holmesdale Online, The BBS
Dagenham & Redbridge D&R Forum
Darlington Quakers Mad
Derby County The Rams
Djurgårdens Djurgårdens
Doncaster Rovers Viva Rovers, Unofficial Website
Dumbarton On The Rocks
Dundee The Dees
Dundee Utd TheArabian.co.uk
Dunfermline Athletic Pars Fans
East Fife Away From The Numbers
East Stirlingshire Shire Shout
Elgin City Elgin City Mad
Exeter City Exeweb
Falkirk Falkirk Mad
Forfar Athletic Forfar Athletic Mad
Fulham Fulham Web
Gillingham Brian Moore’s Head
Greenock Morton Greenock Morton Supporters’ Trust
Grimsby Town GTST, Cod Almighty
Halesowen Town Bright Golden Haze
Hamilton Academical Hoops Apocalypse, Accies Mad
Hartlepool Utd The Poolie Bunker
Heart of Midlothian Jambos Kickback
Hereford Utd Bulls News, Bulls Banter
Heriot-Watt University FC HWUFC
Hibernian Easter Road
Huddersfield Town This Is The Barmy Army, Terrier Bytes
Hull City Amber Nectar
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Caley Thistle Online
Ipswich Town TWTD, Pride of Anglia
Kilmarnock Killie FC
Leeds Utd Marching On Together, LUFC talk
Leicester City Foxes Talk, Talking Balls
Leyton Orient Official Forum  
Lincoln City The Forgotten Imp
Liverpool Well Red Magazine, Red and White Kop, This Is Anfield
Livingston Livi Lions
Luton Town Luton Outlaws
Macclesfield Town Maccfans
Manchester City Blue Moon
Manchester Utd IMUSA, Red News, Red Cafe
Mansfield Town StagsNet
Merthyr Tydfil Martyrs To The Cause
Middlesbrough ComeOnBoro, Miniboro
Millwall House of Fun, MISA
Montrose Montrose Mad
Morecambe Morecambe Supporters’ Club
Motherwell Steelmen Online
Newcastle Utd Talk of the Tyne
Northampton Town Cobblers Mad
Norwich City CarrowRoad.net
Nottingham Forest Forest Forum
Notts County Up the Maggies, Notts County Mad
Oldham Athletic Latics Mad
Oxford Utd Rage Online, Minchery Farm Web
Partick Thistle One Team in Glasgow
Peterhead Peterhead Mad
Peterborough Utd London Road
Plymouth Argyle PASOTI, Greens On Screen
Port Vale One Vale Fan
Portsmouth Pompey Fans
Prescot Cables The Sons of Slacky Brow
Preston North End Lilywhite Magic
Queen of the South The Only Team in the Bible
Queen’s Park Queen’s Park Spiders
Queens Park Rangers Independent R’s, QPRNet
Raith Rovers Raith Rovers Mad
Rangers Follow Follow
Reading Hob Nob Anyone?
Rochdale RochdaleAFC.com, May Contain Football
Ross County The Jailender
Rotherham Utd RUST
Scunthorpe Utd Irn-Bru.net
Sheffield Utd The Crossed Blades
Sheffield Wednesday Owlstalk
Shrewsbury Town Amber and Blue
Southampton Saints Web
Southend Utd ShrimperZone
Spartans spartansfc.com
St Johnstone St Johnstone Mad
St Mirren Black & White Army
Stenhousemuir Stenhousemuir Mad
Stirling Albion stirlingalbion.com
Stockport County Yellow Board
Stoke City The Oatcake , Stoke City Blog
Stranraer Stair Park Online
Sunderland Salut! Sunderland, Ready To Go, A Love Supreme
Swansea City SCFC.co.uk
Swindon Town The Washbag, Swindon Town Forum
Tottenham Hotspur Come On You Spurs, TheSpursWeb
Tranmere Rovers White Review
Tring Athletic TAFC
Walsall Up The Saddlers
Watford BHaPPY, Glory Horns
West Bromwich Albion Boing Boing Baggies
West Ham Utd Knees Up Mother Brown
Wigan Athletic Wiganer
Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolves Blog, Wolves Web Fan Club
Wrexham ONTTSS
Wycombe Wanderers Chairboys
Yeovil Town Ciderspace, The Green Room  

Other stuff we like
Al Jazeera 24 hour news coverage from around the world
The Avengers Everything there is to know about the one of the best British TV series
Book Scans US pulp paperback covers of the 1950s and 60s
Classic Cafes A celebration of London’s vintage formica cafes
Framley Examiner The UK’s top local newspaper since 1978
Garageband Stick your song up and let the world review it
I Like Part of the industry of human happiness
Internet Movie Database Find that Anna Karina filmography
J-List All manner of products to be bought from Japan
Kennedy Assassination Home Page Lone nut or conspiracy?
London Review of Books The UK’s leading literary magazine
The Mausoleum Club Forums packed with information and opinion on classic TV
Naomi Klein Anti-capitalist books and articles
Nice Cup of Tea And A Sit Down Essential biscuit reviews
The Onion America’s finest news source
OTA Berlin Berlin blog and serviced apartments
Popbitch Who did what to whom
PopCult Mag Taking emphemera seriously
Red Meat Surreal cartoons drawn by monkeys
Republic The campaign for an elected head of state
Sexy Execs Meet the silver-foxes and their lovely lady friends who rule our corporate world
Smoke A small, peculiar, magazine about London life
The Straight Dope Essential information
Things Magazine An online journal about objects and meanings
Trash Fiction Reviews of paperbacks covering horror, sex, music, film and TV tie-ins, Sherlock Holmes pastiches and lots more
Trash Palace Your one-stop shop for genre films from around the world
TV Cream Resurrecting long-dead British TV classics 

 
Advertisers
BetVictor offer the best odds on Premier League football and have a great range of markets, specials and offers
The Soccer Store Authorised seller of Samba Football Goals

Around the turn of the century, individual club webzines started to sign up to broader networks that in theory offered support, money and more users. But the results have not always been pretty and since Sky took over the Rivals group disaffection has grown. Ian Plenderleith analyses a splintered market

To the indifference of a cruel and doubtless unsuspecting world, a conflict has been brewing in the hard-boiled realm of the webzine, and things are about to get dirty. No fewer than six umbrella networks are now striving to claim the mantle of that timeworn marketing tool, “the voice of the fans”, and are fighting it out for a limited share of the readership and the revenue.

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