It's too early to tell what is going to happen in the English leagues, but there have been some useful indicators. The three leagues below the Premier League have started off as they promised - incredibly tight and difficult to predict
There is a growing tide of disinterest in players underneath the international elite. The Premier League has created a sea of happy, rich bench warmers who care little for the club they play for
Every year a group of football journalists get together to thrash out their hopes, dreams and expectations for the upcoming season. This year, Man Utd were the predictable hot topic of conversation
Chinese tycoon Kenny Huang has stepped up his talks with Liverpool creditors in a bid for the club that is increasingly looking like it will be successful, which can only be a good thing for Liverpool
Listening properly to the ticking over of a club is a much underrated skill in football betting.
Each club has their own voice, their own way of doing things, and it is crucial to understand this when looking for clues as to how a club is going to perform, and how it expects to perform in the coming season.
July 12th: The battle of Johannesburg was won by Spain – and many people believe that it was the right result considering the rather questionable tactics of the Dutch.
So, that means the final verdicts are in on every team in this World Cup now. Remind yourself how every team fared in what was a truly engaging tournament.
former rangers marksman kris boyd is a useful addition to a middlesbrough squad that looks set to take the championship by storm
Of course, it is very early days, but there is some interesting ante-post betting in the English leagues this season.
July 8th: After one breathtaking semi-final and one war of attrition, we have our finalists – and it’s no surprise that the two hottest teams in the tournament are in it.
Germany failed to wrench possession from the pre-tournament favourites Spain, while The Netherlands hinted at the awesome attacking potential that they possess – and a jittery defence – in a thrilling first semi-final.
dutch coach bert van marwijk has instilled the two things that most dutch teams have been lacking - steel and a common purpose
The World Cup is like an global Expo of football – every nation brings their ideas about the future of the game to one exhibition – and the winner gets to dictate the preferred system of choice for the next couple of years.
July 5th: We’re down to the last four teams, and it doesn’t include Brazil of Argentina – much to most people’s surprise.
But after the dominance of South America, we have three European teams in the top four – and two sides who have never lifted the World Cup four. Will we have a new winner?
former french football president jean-pierre escalettes fell on his sword after france's poor world cup, but it might not be enough to appease the government
When the sports minister Roselyne Bachelot was sent to South Africa at the behest of France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy to warn the country’s football team, in no uncertain terms, that their poor conduct at the World Cup was letting down the French people and themselves it was seen as a last plea to a stricken side.
