Author Archive: Tom Sunderland
Born in Cardiff but raised by Irish folk, my family's inherent support lies with Manchester United. That being said, my loyalty does sway in the direction of Sunderland AFC but all in all, just a lover of sport.
Chelsea Seal Second Consecutive European Title With Late Ivanovic Winner
In the first of our two European tournament finals, Chelsea and Benfica may not have started by offering up goal bonanza that all were hoping for, but a second-half surge at the Amsterdam Arena quickly corrected any fears of a bore draw. A more deserving candidate to walk away as the winner of this tie [...]
Daniel Sturridge, Frank Lampard Goalfests Celebrated in EPL Week 37
In the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, only two sides managed to keep clean sheets across eight fixtures, once again highlighting the value for entertainment held in the English top flight. With Arsenal, Manchester City and newly-crowned FA Cup champions Wigan Athletic still to feature in this week’s meetings, the action doesn’t look [...]
Tyne-Wear Rivals Newcastle United and Sunderland Fighting to Escape Relegation
With just two games left to run in the Premier League calendar and Manchester United already decided as champions, attention now turns to two specific races— those being the race for a top four finish and the race against relegation. Unfortunately for the north-east, this season hasn’t been a particularly good one for Sunderland and [...]
Roma to Snatch Ajax Star Toby Alderweireld’s Signature from Premier League Suitors
One year on from selling former club captain Jan Vertonghen to Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax are set to lose another of their defensive stars after it became apparent that Toby Alderweireld was closing in on a switch to AS Roma. It’s been apparent for some time that the Belgian star would be leaving the Amsterdam Arena [...]
Premier League Top 5: Gabby Agbonlahor Double Earns Player of the Week Credentials
In a double-stacked week of Premier League fixtures, we’re merely halfway through what the English top flight has to offer us this week when it comes to fixtures. However, even with the extra dosage of midweek action waiting in the wings, this past weekend satiated our need for Premier League adrenaline quite nicely, albeit with [...]
Manchester United vs Chelsea: Key Battles in Old Trafford clash
Following on from their 5-2 aggregate victory over FC Basel during midweek, Chelsea can only hope to build on their Europa League final berth by recording what might be an even more impressive win at Manchester United this weekend. By now, the two teams are very well acquainted having met on no less than four [...]
Chelsea vs. FC Basel Tactical Preview
Already 2-1 up from their first-leg trip to Switzerland, Chelsea play hosts to FC Basel this week hoping to tie up their place in this season’s Europa League final with the aim of winning a European title for the second consecutive campaign. David Luiz’s 90th-minute winner gives Rafa Benitez’s side a controlling gripwith of the [...]
EPL Week 35: Frank Lampard, Romelu Lukaku and Star Performers for Liverpool
With the Premier League title now decided, attention turns slightly southward in the top flight in terms of pivotal action. As such, it’s from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion that this week’s biggest players all arrive. But who was their club’s man marvel this time around? With fights still [...]
Gareth Bale Leads EPL Week 34 Parade
Manchester United could go on to win the Premier League title with victory over Aston Villa this evening, but the weekend’s domestic action was about far more than just what’s going on at the top of the table. As ever, SWOL kept a keen eye on the English top flight, with five individuals standing out [...]
EPL Week 33 Top Performers: Sessegnon Sparkles for Sunderland
With Sunderland having achieved a victory at St. James’ Park by more than two goals for the first time in more than 50 years, Paolo Di Canio is quickly shrugging off what controversy may have surrounded his appointment at the Stadium of Light. The Mackems’ 3-0 triumph against their age-old rivals was undoubtedly the highlight [...]
Matthew Lowton Golazo Leads Out EPL Week 32
In the final fixture of the weekend, Manchester United swiftly quashed any ideas that Manchester City might have had to slow the Red Devils’ run to the title after dealing Robert Mancini’s men a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in their Monday night encounter. At the other end of the table, things got a lot [...]
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Edin Dzeko shine in UEFA World Cup Qualifying
Officially halfway through our UEFA qualification run, the 2014 World Cup stage is beginning to take shape with its eventual participants all edging closer to securing their Brazilian berths. However, for nations both big and small, such a feat is nigh impossible without a touch of star quality, a lot of which is on show [...]
Defenders Dominate in Premier League Week 30
With seven sides managing to keep clean sheets and six others conceding just the one goals this weekend, EPL Week 30 was one for the defenders to be proud of. With Manchester City’s stars failing to perform at Goodison Park, bitter rivals Manchester United took another step towards reclaiming the Premier League title, establishing a [...]
Luis Suarez and Andros Townsend Light Up EPL Week 29
With a bounty of FA Cup action diverting some attention away from the Premier League action on display, we had only six matches to peruse in Week 29 of our calendar. Regardless, the English top flight offered up its usual dose of elite action, albeit on a smaller scale, with places up for grabs mostly [...]
Barcelona vs. AC Milan: Key Battles in Champions League Round of 16 Clash at Camp Nou
This week’s Champions League action at the Camp Nou promises to separate the wheat from the chaff, testing whether world-beating Barcelona can overcome the 2-0 deficit suffered in their first-leg meeting with AC Milan. Massimiliano Allegri’s resurgent Rossoneri are finally looking more like the Milan of days gone by and are seeking to ride out the [...]
EPL Week 28 Review: Luis Suarez and Shinji Kagawa Hat-Tricks Dazzle
Both featuring prominently in 4-0 triumphs for Liverpool and Manchester United, respectively, Luis Suarez and Shinji Kagawa lead this week’s recount of the Premier League’s biggest performers. With just 10 weeks left of the English top flight season, it is now that players either start to revel in their duties or flounder beneath their responsibilities [...]
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