Iconic Films

Keegan confronts grim reality

The manager now knows that his dream of competing with the best in the Barclays Premier League is doomed to failure

Failing the Lampard litmus test

I am more sure than ever that if you hate the Chelsea midfielder, you don’t know what you’re watching, says Martin Samuel

Arsenal cast net in direction of Johnson

Arsene Wenger views the Manchester City and England Under-21 midfield player as an ideal replacement for Mathieu Flamini

Grant could yet prove the doubters wrong

Victory in the Barclays Premier League or Champions League will automatically earn Avram Grant the title of genius, says Martin Samuel

Uefa’s great Russian Champions League rip-off

English fans should prepare themselves for the logistical and bureaucratic nightmare that is Moscow, says Martin Samuel

Guilty of ball watching?

Martin Samuel explains the difficulties and time-contraints that face football pundits who file match reports 'on the hoof'

United not a one-man team

Fernando Torres speaks only a little truth in belittling Sir Alex Ferguson's splendidly assembled group of players

Benitez moves towards date with history

Martin Samuel says Liverpool have evolved more than Chelsea since their victory in 2005 and they can upset odds again

Martin Samuel: Grant faces judgment days

If the Chelsea boss wishes to be taken seriously the minimum requirement is that he wins two of the next three matches

Beating traffic will drive Capello round bend

Leaving grounds early indicates that the England manager is already on the road to the fate that befell his predecessors

Safety first, progress last

What is the point of any club who have survival for its own sake as their aim, as so many in the league do these days?

Martin Samuel wins prestigious journalism honour

Ronaldinho for City? It's hard to credit

A global recession will make the task of breaking into the Premier League's elite even harder for the also-rans

Action man the model for Capello

An England player who is not in the starting lineup for his club is no good to the acclimatising boss, says Martin Samuel

Liverpool at the crossroads

With the right signings and an end to the boardroom hostilities, Rafael Benitez could still turn his team into champions

Europe is United’s to lose

If this most talented United team do not win the Champions League they will have underachieved and Ferguson knows it

Beckham can never be our Ronaldo

Fabio Capello thinks the former captain is capable of emulating the Portugal winger. Let's hope he was being diplomatic

Mascherano ignored warnings

Times have changed and the Liverpool player should have known that showing disrespect to a referee is not acceptable, says Martin Samuel

Oldies emerge victorious in generation game

Fabio Capello took one game to work out there is no cavalry of fabulous, gifted young England players coming over the hill