Spoiler

Revealed: the real reason behind Arsenal’s dramatic recent revival

How announcer learning players’ surnames saved Arsenal’s season

There are several theories as to why Arsenal have gone from sailing along in summer holiday mode to sudden favourites for fourth with a decent chance of overhauling Tottenham.

Some will link it to the absence of Aaron Ramsey, as anonymous as Robin van Persie has been brilliant in recent months. Others will point to [...]

Meet the great Rafa Benitez, a big hit in England, Spain and Italy

Benitez’s trophy-littered Inter stint, as seen through Rafa’s eyes...

With Rafael Benitez approaching 15 months out of work, The Spoiler has found a way that he could pocket a tidy sum before finding a new club: offering the UK and Spain’s millions of unemployed youngsters a crash course in CV embellishment.

As the last coach to have won La Liga with someone other than [...]

AVB out, RDM in, Chelsea to hire a two-initialled manager in June

Is Spalletti the man to restore two-name normality at Chelsea?

Just hours passed between Chelsea firing up the Bunsen burner for the zany scientific experiment of putting cone distributor Roberto Di Matteo in charge until the summer and the previous promoters of such a strategy, Wolves, being thumped 5-0 round the corner.

Luckily for RDM, as he will surely be labelled within a week – [...]

Is Villas-Boas so fed up that he actually wants Chelsea to get rid?

AVB kindly points out that this is usually sacking season at Chelsea

It’s tough to know how to feel about Andre Villas-Boas. He’s not the most endearing boss – though Mick McCarthy’s demise pushes him up that table – yet there has to be some sympathy as he tries to assert authority over the squad who think that they can manage themselves.

Saturday’s 3-0 stroll past a [...]

They want their Villa back, but what defines Aston Villa-ness?

Not the man affectionately known as the dirty Bluenose b******

Alex McLeish was predictably lampooned as Aston Villa endured their fifth 0-0 draw with a bottom-half rival this season away to bottom club Wigan.

And along with the bland, worn-out cries of “you don’t know what you’re doing” came a chorus that similarly unpopular predecessor Gerard Houllier was once treated to: “we want our Villa [...]

Why Pearce should run from the England job while he still can

England caretakers somehow fare even worse than the full-timers

Most appear to feel that Stuart Pearce isn’t worthy of his opportunity to audition for the England job against Holland on Wednesday, but I prefer to flip the argument around: surely nobody deserves the torment, even for only one game.

The position is after all cursed, and even the few the one who escaped without [...]

Shrewsbury to swat aside Crawley in League Two glamour tie

Crawley to capitulate as the fourth tier is thrust under the spotlight

The Premier League lived up to its grandiose hype for once this weekend, however it’s still invigorating to have a break occasionally, so resist the urge to sneer at Monday’s only televised offering hailing from League Two.

If Sky Sports were as keen to promote their infrequent fourth-tier coverage as the steady stream of big [...]

When Ligue 1 signings go bad (look away Tottenham fans)

Could Eden Hazard follow in Steve Marlet’s unassuming footsteps?

Given the news that new Messi-Ronaldo-and-Joe-Cole all rolled into one Eden Hazard is keen on joining Tottenham, most are applauding the fact that Spurs are now at a level where they can attract such glamorous names. Trust The Spoiler to stiletto stamp all over that bubble with four examples of bright, shiny Ligue 1 talents [...]