Sitemap - 2024 - Henry Winter's Goal Posts

Hansen, honours, a famous comment and those United kids.

Keepers, blockers and havoc-bringers

Spurs' problems are not just of Postecoglou's making.

In praise of Ian Holloway as he reaches 1,000 games in management.

Teenage kicks and the chance to dream. Merstham FC's remarkable FA Youth Cup run.

Marcus Rashford, Manchester United and the importance of legacy.

Southgate is not being voted manager of the year. He is being honoured by the nation for restoring pride in a national institution.

Marcus Rashford, Manchester United and a career at the crossroads.

War, weather, commercial concerns and long days' journeys into the footballing night.

The World Cup, controversial hosts and ghosts of the past

Nigel Pearson's popularity rooted in his zest for people, places, adventure and football.

David Coote, controversy and the need for individual responsibility.

Chelsea rising high on the Marescalator. And other thoughts from the weekend...

Postecoglou, Spurs and the art of dealing with fan rancour.

O'Neil under huge pressure. Lopetegui should be under even more.

Marc Guehi, the FA and freedom of choice.

Silence of The Lamb? No chance. The FA Cup is still a big noise.

Liverpool or Arsenal, Saka or Salah, and why Tamworth's advance in the Cup is their most famous run since Butch and Sundance.

Mason Mount, graft, craft and vision

Liverpool and the class of academy aces.

Bellingham, Rooney and why it's good to talk.

Mo Salah, Liverpool, metrics and emotion

Kyle Walker, slowing up or fighting back

Arsene Wenger, nerves and daring to think differently

Clubs, country and the sadly withdrawn boys.

Pep Guardiola, his vision and his impact

Bentancur, the FA, and inconsistency between the spoken and written slur.

Tried and trusted or tired and rusted? The England debate.

Carsley, legacy and hope for the future.

Kane, absent friends and the patriot games

Morgan Rogers and the importance of the EFL journey.

Gary Lineker's work on the box as well as in it should be cherished

Amorim's long to-do list...visa, Rashford, injuries, pundits...

Mark Robins was more than a manager to Coventry City fans. He was family.

Fines for booing anthems are meaningless. Players need to have a word with fans.

Thierry Henry, San Siro and the art of big goals in big games

The class of Xabi Alonso as player, coach and man

Ben Davies, sliding doors and wind-down windows.

The League Cup, City's pain and the patter of tiny feet.

Forlan, forehands and what football can learn from tennis

Do players who weren't the fastest often make the best managers?

Amorim, United and a squad needing rebuilding.

De Ligt, Ings and the need for specialist VARs

Jose Mourinho, light entertainment and dark arts

Football's warring parties have to work with the Regulator for the good of the game

Football, cameraphones and the importance of enjoying the moment as well as sharing it.

Elliot Anderson, the road ahead and the drive within

Too much controversy, too little communication

Ferguson, Ineos and a question of value and values

Tuchel, Bullingham and the flaws in the English coaching system.

Tall Germans, Little Englanders and a question of respect.

Pep Guardiola, England and an impossible dream?

Trent Alexander-Arnold and the England succession.

A night of why? And a case for Howe

George Baldock. A tribute.

Premier League civil war damages everyone.

Score draw between City and the Premier League. But the game is the loser.

Mbeumo's technique and work ethic need celebrating.

Bruno Fernandes, a game of cards and captaincy questions

Villa show how to challenge the elite

Rice and the hunger games

When dogma becomes damaging.

Swede dreams are made of this. Kulusevski central to Spurs' fortunes.

Under-pressure managers like Dyche and Ten Hag should not be for life, but at least until Christmas.

Dangerous challenges, confusing guidance and the need to protect players.

Alexander-Arnold, Real, Liverpool and the power of legacy.

Rodri, a huge hole for City to fill and huge issue for football to address.

Michael Oliver, a good referee, and why it's time to call time on the time-wasters.

Dyche conundrum, teenager calms adults, jury out on CL League Phase and more

Maddison, Johnson and how to win over fans, old or new.

When a ref's lamenting not lamentable.

Taylor swift and the Villainy at the Vitality

Give set-piece a chance, Ange.

Farewell to Sven.

Ronaldo has a point about Manchester United's lost identity.

Angel delight and other Wembley treats

In salute of Kane the centurion. And in search of his long-term successor at No 9.

It's not the singing, it's the noise around England that holds them back.

Lessons from a night of shame for England.

Heck's hike damages Villa

Is Leicester's cunning win good for the game?

Ronaldo faces the last dance. Again.

Keep Momentum. Why Liverpool have to keep Mo Salah.

Sterling should be kicking a ball not kicking his heels.

New England for the journey to New England.

Foden, Rice, Rodri praised by Uefa.

Why England players loved Sven.

Slot, Liverpool and the art of control.

Jenas story highlights importance of Match of the Day.

"Remember the good times." Sven-Goran Eriksson taught us plenty.

Foden and Palmer celebrated by PFA. But can they play together for England?

Romero, Romero wherefore art thou? Vardy pounces.

Enzo no no no and other stories.

City favourites again but Arteta could pip Pep.

Jude Bellingham’s demanding nature should be cherished. And adopted by all involved with England.

AI addio, offside calls sped up

Delia Smith and the importance of caring.

Oscar and other winners.

Amass the answer to a mess? Give him a chance.

Return of English football provides timely opportunity to spread some positivity in a troubled land.

Julian Alvarez and the hunger games.

In celebration of Michael Olise.

Chelsea lose some of their soul and fighting spirit by losing Gallagher

Craig Shakespeare. A tribute.

Steve McClaren, good coach, average manager and eternal optimist

Up your game? Jack Grealish shows against Barcelona what he can do.

Time right for Emile Smith Rowe to move on. He needs to play.

Reece James needs to be played to his strengths by Enzo Maresca, marauding down the right, not inverting into the middle.

The grapes of wrath. Why Bordeaux's demise stirs such anger.

Fans' protests over ticket prices intensify. Petitions, boycotts, soon tennis balls and black balloons. Interview with Andy Payne, leader of West Ham United fans' campaign.

As England and the FA debrief following Euro 2024, they have to absorb Uefa's review highlighting Luis de la Fuente's impact.

"Will the FA be looking for someone with Gareth Southgate's values?"

Fans form resistance movement to protect the game

More women's games need to be staged in Premier League stadiums. The interest is there.

However contrite Enzo Fernandez may be he deserves a ban.

Eddie Howe the man for all reasons. But Newcastle United will fight to keep him.

England's critical friends need listening to by FA.

Anguish and not enough ambition. A look at how England's players and manager fared.

"Gareth put up pictures of special moments – the Ashes, Rugby World Cup - and how we could impact a nation.'' Declan Rice.

"To kids playing non-League, the dream isn’t over. Keep going." Ollie Watkins and the power of belief.

Even if Southgate doesn't want to continue, the FA should offer him a consultancy role working on player and coach development.

Everybody expects the Spanish inquisition. But England could have the answers.

England have to remember boyhood dreams and seize the moment.

Harry Kane and his need to "make sharper movements in the box". Report from Dortmund.

Craig Bellamy ready to manage others having learned to manage himself.

"It's about respect. And I know how the Swiss felt." Luke Shaw on his sporting gesture to the beaten Swiss.

The enduring importance of Harry Kane.

Southgate attacks English "entitlement" but team still need to swap siege mentality for a "sieg" mentality in Germany.

Marcus Rashford, a talented player and introverted character at the crossroads.

"We (City players) bring ideas and solutions to certain things and try our best to better the (England) team as we’ve been so successful." John Stones.

Is three really the magic number for England? They need a change of mood and pace as much as change of system.

"Take nothing away from Jude, he still has a lot to do, but creating space for others is important." Ivan Toney

Mert Gunok's save is technically a lesser save than Gordon Banks' but carries more significance.

Antique road show or inspirational farewell tour? Split opinions. The truth is that Ronaldo is still relevant.

"We never give up." Jordan Pickford on England's resilience.

An affair of the heart, going head over heels, but a need for identity. A look at England in Gelsenkirchen

"Pressure is a privilege." Anthony Gordon, the Pele of the Peloton, on mindset, technique and speeding bikes.

Ordeal or no ordeal. England right to prepare for pens.

"My strengths are to be continued." Marc Guehi on learning and leadership.

Can't light a fire without a spark. Gazza's volley, Beckham's free-kick, Stones' header show how moods can turn.

Five things England need to do as they head into knockout stage.

In praise of Luka Modric. In awe of his goals, guile, talent, longevity, work ethic and dedication to his craft.

When Harry met Savvy, the whole Kane v Lineker debate is basically about people who care about England. Kane, Lineker and Southgate all do.

Acerbic punditry is nothing new. Brian Clough was the master of it.

“Both games playing against the back-three maybe caused us a bit of confusion." Harry Kane opens up on England issues.

No country for unfit men. Fast tempo of games in Germany means players have to be in peak condition.

England and a pressing issue. Jarrod Bowen joins the debate.

Buchenwald, football and a journey into the heart of darkness.

England expects better.

Jamal Musiala, an England age-group talent, represents Germany superbly. England have six players starting today who could have represented other countries.

“I get about 45 seconds’ enjoyment when the whistle blows. There should be more joy in it, but that’s not my reality." Gareth Southgate

"England were a world-class side when we met them (last in 2021). With the additions and experience they've gained...they're even better now." Kasper Schmeichel

Referees are human, too. Anthony Taylor's calmness and compassion must also be remembered in the Christian Eriksen story.

"I love being on the ball. Maybe playing futsal I was always comfortable taking it in tight areas." Kobbie Mainoo

Football's coming home in an overcrowded train, an overwhelmed tram system and an overpriced cab.

From "Here, There and Everywhere" to "Help!" a look at England's win through Beatles records.

Jude Bellingham an England leader at 20.

"My mentality is key. I always think about how I can be better." Jordan Pickford's work ethic.

All plaid out. A night out in Munich.

In praise of Jordan Pickford.

Erik ten Hag, the right decision by Manchester United, and the road ahead.

England set out to win hearts and minds and then win games in Germany.

"It's my heritage, my DNA, it's so special for me to play for Hungary." Callum Styles on his journey, on Szoboszlai, the Euros, and growing up watching Rooney and Ronaldo.

Gareth Southgate, the regeneration game, a squad for the Euros, but also a squad for the World Cup.

The first cut is the deepest: James Maddison's painful but logical omission from England's Euros squad.

Enemies, m'learned friends and the damage to a sport that's become a business and a geo-political plaything.

Shaw flank redemption needed by England. 10 things we learned at St James' Park including positives in Palmer, pens, Trent central while Wharton looks the business.

Gareth Southgate, England and a welcome shift to focus on the football. Just don't mention the wardrobe.

A stop-start half, VAR delays, Micky van de Ven's hamstring and one of the most significant moments in Tottenham Hotspur's season.

Jude Bellingham as smart off the field as on it.

Everton must take the raw emotion with them when they move home.

Chelsea are playing Championship Manager. Or rather Head Coach.

Lisandro Martinez's uplifting presence makes case for the defence of Erik ten Hag. But probably too late.

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United pressure, Wembley and the lessons of history.

Ademola Lookman's journey of thrills, skills and occasional spills from south London "cages" to European glory.

Branthwaite, McKenna and EFL fields of dreams.

Marcus Rashford pays the price for poor form and others' vibrancy.

England, Foden, Scholes and a lesson from history.

The art and craft of Phil Foden.

Arsenal fall short but take hope for the future.

10 things we'll miss about Jurgen Klopp

Fans the first line of defence against errant owners. West Brom show that.

D-Day for VAR. The case for and against. And why it should be given a chance.

Erling Haaland and the importance of a real No 9 not a false one.

Unai Emery, Aston Villa's fightback and the honest endeavour of the Premier League.

William The Conqueror. Saliba, the deft destroyer, gives Arsenal hope.

Rodri, Gordon and O'Neil surprise omissions on Premier League short-lists.

Jude Bellingham's intelligence on the road from and to Wembley.

Liam Rosenior and the need to back progressive young coaches.

Erik ten Hag's days are numbered but Manchester United must take time to find the right successor with the right character.

David Moyes deserves more respect from West Ham United's board. Celebrate his achievements, confirm his exit and then announce Lopetegui.

Conor Gallagher shows his footballing and emotional value to Chelsea. They have to keep him.

Goodbye yellow brick road? Why Jadon Sancho should stay at Borussia Dortmund, where he feels at home, and the frustration that Watford made only £3m for nurturing him.

Games abroad? Game's gone. Why everyone from English fans to the new Independent Regulator will resist Premier League matches being played in the USA.

Bayern Munich versus Real Madrid is not just about Harry Kane versus Jude Bellingham. It's also about the in-form, under-appreciated Eric Dier.

Mo Salah is a Liverpool legend, rightly adored, a creator of so many special memories, but the club will go on without him whenever he leaves

Michael Carrick returns to the dream factory where England stars are made.

Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool but he will never leave fans' hearts.

Chelsea have potential but need more experience and fight.

English football is at a crossroads today and desperately needs unity not division.

Kick-off time...

Manchester United's problem is as much with underperforming players as an underwhelming manager.

Cole Palmer needs more quality around him at Chelsea. Phil Foden continues to shine at Manchester City.

The FA damages the Cup by scrapping replays. And harms itself.

What the English can learn from a bad night in Europe...

Why on earth are Nottingham Forest alienating fans at this crucial moment of the season?

Clampdown on dissent intensifies