The Politics Of Sport - Why Do They Keep Getting Away With It?

By Shane Thomas

The point of a verdict in an inquiry, investigation, or legal proceedings is to act as a full stop. To clear the fog of questions surrounding an issue, remove the anxiety of indecision, and let us breathe because we now know where we stand.

The Diary Of A Pessimistic Arsenal Fan - How Good Was Arsenal's Season?

By Shane Thomas

It's part of the post-match ritual of any final. The losing team's fans trudge off, disconsolate. The winning team's fans stay in their seats, vocalising their joy in the form of odes to the heroes of the occasion. For them, and the players, their work is done.

Dangerous Tackling? Blame The FA.

By Shane Thomas

Regular readers of this blog (all two of them) will know that one of my biggest bugbears in football is dangerous tackling. Even more infuriating is seeing such conduct go unpunished. So like many in football, the FA's decision not to take retrospective action against Wigan's Callum McManaman for his egregious challenge on Newcastle's Massadio Haidara left me disgusted.

The Diary Of A Pessimistic Arsenal Fan - Arteta Gets The Clock Ticking Again

By Shane Thomas

ARSENAL 2-0 WEST BROM

You could feel it from Arsenal station all the way up to the Emirates Stadium. As the throngs of fans took their seats, the primary emotion was one of anxiety. Last weekend's miserable display against Swansea was a harsh slap to the face for the club. Had we turned up to see a painful repeat?

The Diary Of A Pessimistic Arsenal Fan - The New Signings

By Shane Thomas

So, 2011/12 ended as a season in which Arsenal got away with it, and scraped into the Champions League for the 13th successive campaign. Their star man, Robin Van Persie has departed, and Alex Song is likely to join him. However, the club approach the 2012/13 season with a degree of understated optimism.

Roy Hodgson: Right Man, Wrong Country?

By Shane Thomas

The appointment of Roy Hodgson as the manager of the England team was met with as much enthusiasm as the England team are these days. The pervasive sense of ennui that surrounds the squad, combined with the shambolic co-ordination of the hiring process, means that Hodgson is immediately starting behind the 8-ball, particularly with large swathes of the tabloid press, who favoured Harry Redknapp being given the job.