“A friend of mine says that when he’s driving and listening to one of the countless football programmes on talk radio, in which fans call in to rant about their team’s manager, opponents, referees, ballboys, et cetera, he feels the urge to phone in himself and say: ‘Have you ever realised it doesn’t really matter?’ That’s how I’ve come to feel about football. I played it until my left knee dissolved into pulp, and have written about it for 25 years, but now I often think: I don’t like the game any more. Partly, this is professional deformation: I’ve got too close to the adored object and seen what it’s really like. But partly, I’m suffering from a condition that is common among middle-aged men yet rarely discussed because it’s considered an embarrassing taboo. Football just isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.” FT – Simon Kuper

“Gareth Bale scored twice in a match that started slowly, but turned into an exciting contest. Andre Villas-Boas handed a first start to Lewis Holtby – Jermain Defoe was injured, so Clint Dempsey played upfront. Alan Pardew named an unchanged XI from the side that beat Chelsea 3-2 last weekend. This was a relatively unexciting game tactically, but Bale’s half-time switch in position was very interesting.” Zonal Marking

“As someone who firmly believes that style is substance – at least in football, anyway – it feels slightly uncouth to question a manager so committed to doing things ‘the right way’. However, Wigan’s results under Roberto Martínez have been so underwhelming for so long that it seems only right to put him under the microscope. A charismatic and charming operator, Martínez has established a solid reputation for the way he educates players, fans and reporters alike. Managers the calibre of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger are happy to loan him their youngsters, believing that he will train them intelligently and progress their development into capable first-teamers.” Think Football

“The new that Spurs midfield Sandro will be out for the rest of the season has come as a big blow for Spurs. Spurs coped well in their first game without Sandro, recording a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United. Many expect Spurs to sign someone, but with Parker filling in for Sandro on Sunday, can they cope in their absence?” Think Football

“As Clint Dempsey finally managed to break through Manchester United’s stubborn defence on Sunday afternoon in Spurs’ 1-1 draw, the American wheeled away to the delighted home fans having scored his side’s decisive goal against the Red Devils for a second time this season. His 17 goals last season at Fulham won him a summer move to Tottenham. He may well be disappointed with a return of only five this season that has led a fair portion of the Spurs faithful to question the value of his signature.” ESPN

“Wheeler dealer Harry Redknapp has been at it again at QPR. Last week he signed sought after striker Loic Remy, who scored on his debut at the weekend. QPR’s 1-1 draw with West Ham is the latest in a string of improved results under Redknapp, but with the club still rock bottom on 15 points, is there any way back for the club?” Think Football

“An absolutely crazy start was followed by a much cagier, quieter period – both sides retained their unbeaten record. Jorge Jesus selected Lima as his second striker, and Nico Gaitan rather than Ola John on the left of midfield. Vitor Pereira was without his outside-right James Rodriguez, a significant loss. In his place, midfielder Steven Defour played out of position. There were three distinct phases in this game – (1) a goal-crazy opening 20 minutes, (2) Porto dominance for the rest of the first half, (3) a stronger showing from Benfica after half-time.” Zonal Marking

“Neighbouring England, in the west is a small country called Spain. Wait, that’s not quite right. It’s Wales. With a look at the Swansea team sheet that could be a warranted mistake. There is yet another evolution taking place in South Wales: with Brendan Rodgers’ legacy a platform that has seemingly been neglected to build upon, Michael Laudrup is stamping his authority on the team and club as a whole. Swansea are even more exciting, effervescent and ambitious than ever before.” Think Football

“Goalkeepers, to quote the great Brian Glanville, are different, and this is a theory which expands far beyond the mere otherness of their stock in trade. To define the goalkeeper as the sort of person who may – thanks, John Burridge, thanks a lot – may hang a metaphorical “You don’t have to be mad to work here but it helps” sign in the netting of their goal covers only one aspect of the lot of their job. Goalkeepers are the only people on the pitch who spend most of their match standing around doing very little apart from shouting and treading down imaginary divots in the grass and they are, of course, the only ones that are legally allowed to use their hands, but we are not concerning ourselves with such trifling matters here. Goalkeepers dress differently, and they have done since an amendment to the laws of the game in 1909 made them wear shirts that were either red or royal blue, with green being added as a third option three years later.” twohundredpercent

“No broadcaster worth his salt would compare a beaten footballer to a sick parrot these days, but the game remains as clichéd as ever. The funny old game with players who could turn on sixpences is gone, but a new breed of football clichés is emerging. Games are no longer comprised of two halves; they now have turning points. These are particularly useful for beaten managers and presenters of TV highlights shows. The biggest turning points of all are those refereeing decisions that prevent turning points – the penalties not given and the corner kicks that should have been goal kicks. These are much sought-after luxuries for frustrated managers who want to deflect attention away from their players.” Guardian

“Tottenham were expected to miss Luka Modric this season but the performances of Mousa Dembele have ensured that Andre Villas-Boas’ team are flying high in third place in the Premier League. Adam Bate looks at the statistics and wonders whether the Belgian is the complete midfielder.” skySPORTS

“Before we move forward, let’s take a step back. 2013 will bring new stories, and writers will continue to unveil value in the context of our day-to-day lives. But before we jump ahead, we really should take a step back. The internet is a wonderful place, but our constant consumption of content allows us to forget which stories were truly compelling, creative, well-researched, and told with conviction. For the second year in a row, I have compiled what I consider to be a list of the best writing in football. This year, I called upon some of the game’s most influential voices to reflect on how writing best interpreted, dissected, and brought meaning to the beautiful game. Consider this project to be a sort of anthology. The games will be remembered in history, but our reactions and our stories could have been forgotten. Instead, they’re here.” A Football Report