Kyle Lafferty, Conor McMenamin and the cloud of sectarianism still lingering in Northern Irish footballSociety has changed from the daily bulletins of bloodshed, but some attitudes remain hard and oldSat Oct 01 2022 - 06:00
Michael Walker: Graham Potter has plenty to think about at ChelseaCan modern Chelsea allow Potter the time to impose himself and his methods on a squad with egosSat Sept 17 2022 - 06:00
Michael Walker: Great sporting strategists know value of controlled rhythmFrom the late great Bob Paisley through to Richard Williams and Pep Guardiola runs a singular overview: an ability to see what others cannotSat Sept 03 2022 - 06:00
Michael Walker: Conte’s management changing the nature of TottenhamAntonio Conte presiding over a change in Tottenham's very identitySat Aug 20 2022 - 08:00
Michael Walker: Never have geopolitics been so prominent as the Premier League reaches 30Foreign ownership has changed English football and suddenly Mo Salah is connected to Hong Kong’s democracySat Aug 06 2022 - 06:00
Florentino Perez still targeting Galactico’s to guarantee Madrid’s futureMichael Walker piece ahead of Champions League finalSat May 28 2022 - 06:00
Toffeeopolis: Cherish Goodison Park while it is still hereEverton fans staring into the prospect of losing spiritual home in new developmentSun May 15 2022 - 05:00
Andy Robertson: The left-back that is the heart and soul of LiverpoolThe Scot has an energising presence on the pitch, an unrelenting keennessFri Apr 29 2022 - 13:00
The horrors of Ukraine are in sharp contrast to the calmness of ModricThe Real Madrid superstar did against Chelsea what he has always done – made the complicated look simpleFri Apr 15 2022 - 22:00
Man City and Liverpool shaping up to be the greatest modern rivalryAn absorbing title race between two Premier League titans – this is what football is aboutSat Apr 02 2022 - 10:30
Michael Walker: Rangnick’s problems seen by O’Farrell nearly 50 years earlierOnly Irish man to manage United faced the similar internal problems that beset the clubSat Mar 12 2022 - 06:00
Michael Walker: Chelsea never stood a chance against Caoimhin KelleherSure, wasn’t it an Irish goalkeeper who came up with the penalty-kick in the first place?Sat Mar 05 2022 - 09:00
Michael Walker: Sunderland miss out on ‘box office’ appealThe past is not all bad - there’s Liam Miller in it and there are lessons to be recalledSat Feb 12 2022 - 07:00
Blackburn Rovers - from Venky’s basketcase to Premier League aspirationsMowbray’s side have promotion in their sights while Derby fight for their livesSat Jan 29 2022 - 06:00
Mohamed Salah’s example can help Marcus Rashford rediscover the fireMan United forward looks laboured and unhappy as Egpytian plays with a smileSat Jan 15 2022 - 08:00
Michael Walker: In 2021 football fell further into the grip of money and politicsQatar World Cup looms in 2022 but innocence and optimism still permeates the gameSat Jan 01 2022 - 10:00
Michael Walker: Rangnick the theorist here to put philosophy into practiceFormer Schalke boss has gone from ridicule to respect as he brings his style to UnitedSun Dec 05 2021 - 07:00
Michael Walker: ‘Stevie V’ the poster boy of the great Premier League relegation resetEvery team has a strategy until threat of the drop punches them in the mouthSat Nov 20 2021 - 10:00
Michael Walker: Relentless football machine keeps turningUnder pressure managers the latest instalment of the endless drama that is footballSat Nov 06 2021 - 07:12
Michael Walker: Manchester United limp on but the tills still ring as loud as everFor the money-men at the top of the club, just qualifying for the Champions League is keySun Oct 24 2021 - 08:00
Michael Walker: Latest incidence of sports-washing leaves fans hung out to dryMotivation of Watford owners and those behind Newcastle takeover open to questionSat Oct 09 2021 - 06:00
Michael Walker: Tuchel’s courage to be simple marks him out among his peersThe German coach may have found the perfect club for his philosophy at ChelseaSat Sept 25 2021 - 07:00
Cristiano Ronaldo and Steve Bruce return to Old Trafford with very different aimsBoth United legends but for Bruce this could be the beginning of something very differentSat Sept 11 2021 - 08:00
Chris Hughton at a crossroads as Forest head into a basement date with DerbyAt 62, you wonder what next if he becomes City Ground’s latest managerial casualtySat Aug 28 2021 - 06:00
Fans are back, the Premier League is back – let the drama commenceMichael Walker: If City buy Kane it’s hard to see them not lifting the trophy once againSat Aug 14 2021 - 08:00
Rousing, beguiling Euro 2020 has the heavyweight final it deservesFor England or Italy historic elevation awaits as an absorbing month comes to an endSat Jul 10 2021 - 06:00
Gareth Southgate’s extraordinary letter says a lot about EnglandUnprecedented ‘Dear England’ letter shows exactly where coach’s inclusive squad standSat Jun 12 2021 - 08:00
Michael Walker: Happy 75th George Best, the show’s still going on without youThe Belfast prince added to his legend off the field but on it he was a man of substanceSat May 22 2021 - 07:00
Kevin Kilbane: Alan McLoughlin belonged to footballFormer Ireland midfielder remembers his friend and colleague with whom he shared so muchSat May 08 2021 - 06:00
Oil, money and football: Hartlepool know all about itMichael Walker: Boris Johnson, like many, sees football through the lens of soft powerSat May 01 2021 - 07:00
Michael Walker: Where are the plaudits for Zinedine Zidane’s coaching career?Frenchman’s managerial reputation remains uncertain despite considerable successSat Apr 17 2021 - 06:00
Evergreen Wes Hoolahan playing central part in Cambridge adventureFormer Shelbourne playmaker is 38 but one of the U’s key menSat Apr 03 2021 - 07:00
Michael Walker: How Ian St John helped turn Liverpool all redThe Scottish striker changed Liverpool and of how many can that be said?Sat Mar 13 2021 - 08:00
Michael Walker: Why Marcelo Bielsa is manager of the season so farSouth American’s relentless intensity and his team’s flair makes everybody smileSat Feb 27 2021 - 08:00
As the glorious past fades, Lionel Messi’s Barcelona future looks more uncertainWith Atlético moving clear at the top it could be another trophyless season for the great oneSat Feb 13 2021 - 07:30
What would Hans Keller have made of Neil Warnock and Pep Guardiola?Michael Walker: In Music, Closed Societies and Football Keller defends individualismSat Jan 30 2021 - 09:00
Key to Dean Smith’s success? Humanity, understanding and a little bit of WalsallAston Villa manager learned at his first club the importance of connecting with playersSat Jan 23 2021 - 06:00
Michael Walker: World from which Colin Bell emerged is all but goneMining, coal, part of the north-east of England’s raison d’etre, has goneSat Jan 09 2021 - 08:00
Michael Walker: Missing fans meant even momentous victories were draped in lossDreadful year also marked by the passing of many football greatsFri Dec 25 2020 - 06:00
Michael Walker: Arsenal’s Arteta revolution is already stallingGunners are in need a major squad overhaul as they struggle for Premier League goalsSun Dec 06 2020 - 09:00
Michael Walker: Chelsea’s significant six provide an upgradeAfter investing €250 million in the summer window Lampard’s team are taking shapeSat Nov 21 2020 - 05:00
Story of Nobby Stiles embodied a special era of footballersMichael Walker: World Cup winner’s book gives fascinating detail on a different timeSat Nov 07 2020 - 07:00
Michael Walker: Is De Gea an answer again amid questions at United?Solskjaer’s team show improvements as Southampton’s faith in Hasenhuttl rewardedSat Oct 24 2020 - 06:00
Big six pay-per-putsch is two fingers to English football’s history and heritageProject Big Picture looks like a cynical step towards a breakaway European Super LeagueSat Oct 17 2020 - 06:00
Dirty Leeds to Flirty Leeds: Bielsa’s transformation continues apaceArgentinean manager is changing public persona of the club at the highest levelSat Oct 03 2020 - 06:00
Michael Walker: Gareth Bale’s place in Real’s history a strange type of gloryAs the great Matt Busby wrote, you can win without affection but you will gain nothingSat Sept 19 2020 - 07:00
Michael Walker: Chelsea might be best placed to close gap on LiverpoolFrank Lampard still needs to sort out things at the back before they can mount a real challengeSat Sept 05 2020 - 06:00
Michael Walker: There are legitimate concerns about PSG’s purpose as a clubBobby Robson once told us what a football club should be and what it should meanSat Aug 22 2020 - 06:00
Michael Walker: Pressure mounts on Barcelona to stop slideIt’s been five years since they conquered Europe and are increasingly reliant on MessiSat Aug 08 2020 - 08:00
Michael Walker: John Wayne should have had a Jackie Charlton calendarA leader, and for his willingness to be blunt, to challenge orthodoxy, he was cherishedSat Jul 18 2020 - 08:00
