Patrick Barclay



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Full name: Patrick Barclay

Area of interest: Sport, esp. Football

Journals/Organisation: Evening Standard | The Times

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Website: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/biography/patrick-barclay | http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/columnists/patrickbarclay

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Networks: https://twitter.com/#!/paddybarclay



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Career: Football writer for The Guardian (1976), Today, The Independent, The Observer, joined the The Sunday Telegraph in 1995; moved to The Times, departing in January 2012
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Barclay#Journalism_career

Current position/role: Evening Standard football commentator


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Role: chief football commentator

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Website: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/columnists/patrickbarclay

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Articles: 2011

 * for Fifa to shut transfer window'' - Agents like it, the media seem to revel in it and increasingly fans ask questions about it that suggest that, while some are anxious, just as many are excited by the prospect of new faces - 30th January
 * Dalglish the entertainer can lead new era at Liverpool'' - If Richard Keys believed “dark forces” were behind the departure of Andy Gray and himself from Sky Sports, imagine how Roy Hodgson must have felt on the termination of his spell as Liverpool manager - 29th January
 * Tottenham Hotspur demolish Olympic Stadium myth'' - The first thing to do about the London Olympic Stadium is to be honest and admit that it is built on a myth - 15th January
 * Walcott’s confession underlines dilemma of professionals'' - Congratulations to Theo Walcott for admitting that he dived towards the end of Arsenal’s FA Cup tie on Saturday - 10th January
 * may have their saviour in Platini'' - 7th January
 * Coe’s idea a step too far for Brand Beckham'' - Although Lord Coe cheerfully confessed to having exceeded his remit as Olympic supremo, his suggestion yesterday morning hit BBC Radio 5 Live like a whirlwind: why not have David Beckham manage the Great Britain football team at the 2012 Games? - 4th January
 * for a messiah are not worthy of Anfield'' - Anfield will always be a great place to watch football. But it has been belittled in the eyes of the wider game - 1st January



Articles: 2010

 * Hughes in trouble as fans forget their history'' - I just hope your Christmas was as enjoyable as mine, during which I asked a chap at a party to explain what he did for a living and he concluded: “It’s not an exact science.” His business was precision engineering - 27th December
 * Sepp Blatter jokes just aren’t funny any more'' - Day by day, it seems, Fifa under Sepp Blatter becomes more ridiculous and more desperately in need of a successful challenge to the president when he offers himself for re-election in the spring - 18th December
 * opera recognises only hero or dunce'' - If every one of the 20 Barclays Premier League clubs had a Sir Alex Ferguson as manager, three would still be relegated - 11th December
 * victory deserves a fair (air-conditioned) wind'' - 2nd December
 * is the price of Chelsea’s pursuit of holy grail'' - 30th November
 * one stadium for fans who love to go down memory Lane'' - Say what you like about White Hart Lane — and I curse the place, or at least its location, with every snail’s-pace judder of the sardine-tin bus up Tottenham High Road — it is one of English football’s great theatres - 24th November
 * and Co keep the Scottish production line rolling'' - There have been 64 complete seasons of English football since the end of the Second World War and what links 26 of them? The championship was won under Scottish management - 21st November
 * international game buy back its prestige'' - 20th November
 * tackling is a blight, but can anyone remove it?'' - 14th November
 * hold their old enemy in great esteem'' - In 2000, the French bestrode football as the Spanish do today and the English envied them, wishing that the secrets of their success could cross the Channel. What a difference a decade can make. In 2010, only France saved England from becoming the laughing stock of the World Cup - 13th November
 * hope for Hargreaves with club and country'' - When an injury-prone player keeps making unsuccessful comebacks, the temptation is sometimes to wish him out of his misery - 7th November
 * Hughton’s new order must be rewarded'' - 4th November
 * Gomes, not Mark Clattenburg, guilty of misjudging key decision'' - 31st October
 * Sepp, but now it is time you went'' - For the good of the game — it seems an appropriate time to borrow Fifa’s most resonant slogan — Sepp Blatter must go - 30th October
 * Rooney saga sure to have knock-on effect for United funds'' - Among the losers are the fans - 25th October
 * bid is favourite and not in need of any dark deals'' - Is there any other scenario, these days, but the worst-case? - 18th October
 * Holloway challenging kings of the jungle with Blackpool'' - Ian Holloway is being hailed as deceptive: a “character” in the Blackpool tradition - 16th October
 * Mal’s champagne moments, free thinking and creativity'' - There were champagne days at Maine Road — and there were Malcolm Allison’s champagne days. The difference was none too subtle - 15th October
 * United fans will fear another star exit at discord with manager'' - All football managers tell lies. Tommy Docherty, a predecessor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, said that — and he was telling the truth - 14th October
 * Cole travels impressively from Hall of Shame to Hall of Fame'' - 15th October
 * should be given to the public, not supporters'' - Football may be surprised to learn that the majority of people in this country have little or no interest in football. They are the ones who “deserve better” in these troubled times - 11th October 2010
 * to success? U(nited) S(tate) of A(nfield)'' - At the Leaders in Football conference in London this week, David Davies, the former FA chief executive, reminded his audience that Lord Triesman had used the same stage two years previously to issue a warning of the dangers of debt in the English game - 9th October 2010
 * not go back to the days when cloggers were revered'' - The gladiatorial side of the game is, however, part of England’s footballing culture and always has been. It sometimes becomes too large a part - 6th October 2010
 * Jack Wilshere ready to do a man’s job'' - 2nd October 2010
 * Beckham Octobercould lose face in bid to win the Jack Warner vote'' - 26th September
 * luck: the road ahead is slippery'' - Sometimes the only way is down and the state of David Moyes’s Everton, whom most observers expected to improve this season, is a stark reminder to Gérard Houllier of what he faces upon taking over as manager of Aston Villa today - 20th September
 * may force rivals to throw in towel' - On Tuesday, Marko Marin thrillingly rescued a point for Werder Bremen against Tottenham Hotspur. On Wednesday, Mezut Özil, into whose creative shoes Marin stepped when Real Madrid beckoned, delighted aficionados at the Bernabéu. And these 21-year-olds represent only the tip of Germany’s iceberg - 18th September
 * rearguard action successfully bridges border gap'' - Walter Smith doesn’t specialise in euphoria, so it was characteristic that he should combine praise of his players’ efforts in taking a point at Old Trafford with a swipe at Uefa for “allowing a situation to develop which is totally wrong” - 14th September
 * deserves chance to repair career'' - Hindsight can indeed be a wonderful thing and when Gérard Houllier finally gets to Aston Villa and renews acquaintance with Emile Heskey, the manager and his erstwhile Liverpool forward are bound to recall the day the Frenchman nearly died — and have a laugh about it - 11th September
 * may do well to steel ourselves for another Swan dive'' - What odds would you give me against there having been, in English football since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, at least one betting scam such as the three Pakistani cricketers are accused of involvement in? - 6th September
 * of Rooney proves well under way'' - The stadium may have been the same as when Wayne Rooney last scored for his country, but the landscape had changed - 4th September
 * fate awaits Fabio Capello unless England bounce back after World Cup'' - 3rd September
 * reigns at FA as Mikel Arteta is revealed eligible – for Spain only'' - The question of whether Mikel Arteta should be picked by Fabio Capello for England turns out to be academic - 2nd September
 * Arsène Wenger’s persistent moaning hits its target'' - It is understandable that the Arsenal manager warned this week of an environment that permits threats to the beauty and dignity of the game - 28th August
 * to grab overseas aid adds to slide in England’s reputation'' - Since joining Everton in 2005, Mikel Arteta has proved one of the most accomplished midfield players in the Barclays Premier League. Martin O’Neill is one of the English game’s most gifted and admirable managers. But neither should be even considered by England - 23rd August
 * tries to expand on Hodgson’s foundations'' - Amid all the excitement, we forgot to ask Mark Hughes to tip Bobby Zamora for England. But the new Fulham manager has plenty of time to get used to that - 22nd August
 * Sir Alex Ferguson drew up blueprint for spending sprees'' - Every now and again, Sir Alex Ferguson emits a succinct phrase — his description of Manchester City as “noisy neighbours” as they crowed about the capture of Carlos Tévez was a put-down of quality — but by and large Manchester United’s manager and the mot juste are to be found on different pages of life’s chronicle - 21st August
 * right over new Premier League rules'' - On the face of it, the new Premier League rule stipulating that squads must have no more than 25 senior players, eight of whom have been reared in a League academy, is sensible in several ways - 17th August
 * Beckham finished with England? Doubt it'' - A period more glamorous than glorious, but the player’s commitment to the Three Lions’ cause cannot be doubted - 12th August
 * provides yet another poke in the eye for Fabio Capello'' - Once it was thought that Fabio Capello might make things better, but he has made them worse - 9th August
 * of the future Arsenal present case for title bid'' - Unlike some, I cannot wait for a Barclays Premier League ball to be kicked - 7th August
 * one new, English manager'' - The FA needs to build a national football culture vaguely comparable to those that have benefited Spain and Holland (and even France) instead of hiring foreign mercenaries as manager - 20th July
 * misses boat again over chance to get Hodgson'' - Suppose that Greece had gone to the European Championship in 2004 under Otto Rehhagel (a foreign coach not wholly dissimilar to Fabio Capello… - 6th July
 * Forlán hits the volume control for Uruguay'' - Forlán was alternating between midfield and the front, playing much as people expected Wayne Rooney to do for England. Except that he was actually doing it - 2nd July
 * to spare a thought for Enke'' - For most of the players who will take part in tomorrow’s match in Bloemfontein, the future will be redefined to some degree - 25th June
 * Capello fails, saviour waits at SW6'' - A few days after Steve McClaren ceased to be England head coach, the job was described by Fabio Capello as a “beautiful challenge” - 23rd June
 * of football or empty feeling?'' - This is not necessarily going to be the worst World Cup since the nadir of 1990. But there is a serious danger, for reasons all too evident to the eye and ear - 18th June
 * in history is lit by spirit of Nelson Mandela'' - It is highly irregular for a Fifa president to address the crowd before the opening match of a World Cup. But Sepp Blatter does love a public appearance and on this unique occasion there was something worth delaying the kick-off to say: that Nelson Mandela was present in spirit - 12th June
 * rests lightly with man of the world'' - The weight of a nation’s hopes is nothing new to the shoulders of Carlos Alberto Parreira - 11th June
 * must stop its nonsense and set Kims free'' - Preventing Kim Myong Won from playing in any other position than goalkeeper is unfair on Kim Jong Hun, the North Korea coach - 7th June
 * wise to consider outside chancer'' - The Liverpool legend is well placed to manage the uncertainty at Anfield after the sudden departure of Rafael Benitez - 5th June
 * is not the time to mess with formations'' - England’s system is 4-2-3-1 and the time for tinkering with it is not the week before the journey to South Africa - 1st June
 * more clubs enter administration? Bank on it'' - The present system coerced former chairman David Moores into making a decision that may yet prove catastrophic for Liverpool - 29th May
 * irresponsibility is ground for concern'' - There was no excuse for sending England out to perform on a suspect surface so close to a World Cup - 25th May
 * ready to step on world stage'' - the Liverpool full back eased fears about the defensive side of his game with his performance last night - 25th May
 * must be patient for Special One to deliver'' - There is a lot of ground for Real to make up and Mourinho may find that the miracle takes a little longer this time - 24th May
 * right for Capello to take a dare on Rooney'' - England manager should try to partner the Manchester United striker in tandem with Steven Gerrard in tonight’s friendly against Mexico - 24th May
 * prevails in double Dutch duel'' - Inter’s Holland international wins the plaudits in battle against Arjen Robben, his compatriot, who struggled with markers - 22nd May
 * League final finds its place'' - Uefa deserve utmost credit for staging the showpiece event on a Saturday night - it is better for players and fans - 22nd May
 * armies are paying the price for actions of mercenaries'' - Team-building from clubs such as Ajax and Aston Villa is not as important as before because of money of others - 22nd May
 * Triesman had to go after remarks'' - No matter how much sympathy you may feel for Lord Triesman and his family, his departure from the 2018 bid team was a matter of course - 17th May
 * circus is impossible balancing act'' - Offer of place on Fabio Capello's coaching team is a strange, sentimental offer by a man whose reputation is for pragmatism - 15th May
 * achievements will put him in demand'' - Getting Fulham to the Europa League final has marked manager out as a motivator, tactician and trainer of the highest order - 13th May
 * departure reflects badly on West Ham'' -Charade that culminated in the announcement of manager’s dismissal has done no credit to the club - 12th May
 * iron fist strikes blow for flexibility'' - Despite his tough guy image, the England manager has shown he is willing to compromise over selection, and rightly so - 10th May
 * master in need of new inspiration'' - Unless United’s finances are in a healthier state than the fans assume, the Sir Alex Ferguson era may be drawing to a close - 10th May
 * pays price for ignoring home-grown managers'' - Harry Redknapp’s success in taking Tottenham to the Champions League shows that the English manager is not a dying breed - 9th May
 * forgotten men still await payday'' - Shaka Hislop, Kenwyne Jones and others are among the Trinidad & Tobago players out of pocket after the 2006 World Cup - 3rd May
 * keeps poise in face of setback'' - Manchester United manager demonstrates sangfroid as the domestic title seemingly moves farther out of reach - 2nd May
 * exit looms and Benítez shouldn’t walk alone'' - Liverpool need new ownership, and when the manager goes, he should be followed swiftly by his players - 1st May
 * may rue missed chance to take Mourinho'' - Old Trafford club will not be the only ones wishing they had made a move for the "Special One" before now - 29th April
 * dilemmas dominate Capello’s World Cup roulette'' - Few managers will have as many options to weigh up before the campaign in South Africa gets under way - 26th April
 * United miss out on mastery of Mourinho?'' - The club could face competition from Real Madrid if they want the “Special One” to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson - 24th April
 * team stands out but there is strength in depth'' - Premier League compelling viewing because all title contenders are seriously flawed and not a patch on last year’s champions - 19th April
 * tears bathe the memory of glorious failure'' -Italia ’90 was the moment that football became fashionable, but it was a truly terrible World Cup for the England team - 17th April
 * on horizon for Liverpool despite stadium woe'' - It looks like the bankers will come to the rescue of club’s owners, but new stadium is still no more than a distant dream- 15th April
 * on Continent makes refreshing change'' - The point of European football is to present a challenge, not an opportunity for muscle-flexing - 10th April
 * tries to hide his team’s limitations'' - Even after all these years and all the success he has brought to United, Manchester United manager finds himself under pressure - 5th April
 * men earn opportunity to progress'' - The injury to Cesc Fabregas could be a hugely significant one to an Arsenal side who at least showed their fighting spirit - 1st April
 * owners should feel in debt to Uefa'' - Uefa’s draft regulations on ‘financial fair play’ limit sum that can be spent without imposing restrictions on ownership - 29th March
 * should begin fire sale with Drogba'' - Patrick Barclay believes Chelsea must bring in a new manager and dispose of the ageing players in their squad to be great again - 27th March
 * ‘Boss’ summons Special One for Madrid summit'' - Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to meet Jose Mourinho — the man who may yet succeed him — in the Champions League final in Madrid - 22nd March
 * Special One of SW6 overlooked for too long'' - That Fulham manager Roy Hodgson should appear almost an overnight success at 62, reflects dismally on his native land - 20th March
 * has Ancelotti looking for consistency'' - Chelsea's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan poses questions of manager - 17th March
 * are banished as selfless Wayne Rooney shows how it is done'' - Manchester United forward has rid himself of the demons that made him see red so often and has become a team man - 15th March
 * more like millstone for Liverpool'' - Anniversary of 4-1 triumph at Old Trafford on Monday has shown how far Rafael Benitez’s side have fallen in the space of a year - 10th March
 * pulls Arsenal out of tight spot'' - France player's goalline clearance and goal helped to beat Porto but domestic title still looks better bet - 10th March
 * hand of Henry is aloft over help for officials'' - There is no need for specialist technology when television can sort out injustices without interruption to the flow of play - 8th March
 * Knights taking United fans for a ride'' - There is every reason to be sceptical of the bid to oust the Glazer family, who will probably now dig in for the long haul - 6th March
 * crowd see another off-day for referees'' - For Phil Dowd not to have dismissed United’s Nemanja Vidic for his double foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor simply beggared belief - 1st March
 * fans should not turn drama into crisis'' - World Cup is nearly here: time for fans to start panicking about injuries, Wayne Rooney, and, of course, penalty shoot-outs - 27th February
 * immune to golf’s obsession with Tiger'' - When Diego Maradona was hurled out of the World Cup, it was news for a day or two. Golf treats its stars too seriously - 23rd February
 * will be more offenders to come'' - The next team to offend like Wolves will receive a heavier fine, but clubs will still consider the punishment to be worth it - 19th February
 * should shield taxpayer from Portsmouth'' - If Portsmouth cannot pay their tax bill, the League should pay it for them rather than let football cheat society out of money - 15th February
 * growing concerns before World Cup'' - The injury to Ashley Cole underlines how fragile are the foundations of the team the manager has built for South Africa - 13th February
 * fails to learn his lesson over antics'' - He is a fine footballer and a formidable warrior, but John Terry should have kept his mouth shut after losing England captaincy - 8th February
 * A(rsenal) to Z(agreb) of Walcott’s fading promise'' - Arsenal player has regressed since his hat-trick against Croatia and there are concerns that his problems are not purely physical - 6th February
 * can now support England without mixed feelings'' - Rio Ferdinand has learnt from his ban and has turned into a consummate professional who deserves to be England captain - 6th February
 * must give Rooney England captaincy'' - England manager must make easiest and most popular decision of his career by taking captain’s armband away from John Terry - 1st February
 * of Nations fails to march to its own beat'' - What a great shame the tournament in Africa has gone on almost unnoticed, says Patrick Barclay, who suggests some improvements - 30th January
 * Premier League clubs often to blame for own problems'' - If FA had taken strong stand against football agents in first place, most of the problems facing the game would have vanished - 25th January
 * pump up the volume on for video reviews'' -Football must avoid rewarding a reasonable argument for the use of technology with a hasty solution in the way that cricket has - 17th January
 * Alex Ferguson’s compliance at odds with his achievements'' - Manchester United fans seeking someone to blame for the club's indignities need look no further than the manager - 16th January
 * move that can chime in with the times'' - Few clubs would be better represented by their supporters than Portsmouth and the time has come to tap into their energy - 14th January
 * needs our support more than ever'' - There is no more reason to ratchet up the fear factor for World Cup in South Africa despite what happened in Angola - 9th January
 * Blanc shaping up to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager'' - The United old boy has worked wonders at Bordeaux in France and is the new favourite to succeed Sir Alex at Old Trafford - 4th January
 * feet, quick brain – an ideal mix for a manager'' - Those who have lacked pace as players are most likely to succeed as managers, which is why Jamie Carragher will be a success - 3rd January



Articles: 2009

 * Villa still lack that touch of special magic'' - While there is much to commend in Martin O’Neill’s team, they don't have a player who can regularly turn matches - 28th December
 * easier to debate than a young life lost'' - Robert Enke's absence from World Cup should be felt more deeply - 28th December
 * to be up in arms at Hughes sacking'' - Was the Manchester City manager's dismissal really a disgrace, a travesty and the bottom of a moral pit? - 26th December
 * and Dann put case for the defence'' - Polished young Birmingham City duo deserve to be acclaimed the best players of the Premier League so far this season - 24th December
 * should take chance to cash in on Gerrard'' - Anfield club can no longer afford prima donna captain whose brilliance constrains some of those around him - 21th December
 * miss Europe's big business'' - Rafael Benitez's struggling side have been supplanted by the likes of Chelsea and Inter Milan in European competition - 18th December
 * of British players cheating is foreign'' - Just as the war criminals are always on the losing side, the cheats are always foreigners as far as the fans are concerned - 14th December
 * summer lets Giggs bask in respect'' - Manchester United player, who has an air of eternal youth, is in the best form of his career, says his manager - 12th December
 * League clubs must tackle curse of agents and their inflated fees'' - 7th December
 * Beckham succeed where Moore failed?'' - The modern icon of the English game has made his way to South Africa and is sprinkling his stardust on the World Cup bid - 4th December
 * business plan must go back to the future'' - 28th November
 * priorities are wrong when it comes to tackling the diving debate'' - 23rd November
 * reactions to manner of Ireland's defeat against France are shameful'' - 21st November
 * replays now a must for World Cup after Ireland's hard luck story'' - 20th November
 * shadow team eases Fabio Capello's selection process for 2010 World Cup'' - 16th November
 * England v Qatar in World Cup will be harder'' - The FA could be up against new wealth and ambition in the fight to stage the World Cup. It would be an unequal battle - 14th November
 * for appeal against the name game that torments supporters'' - Mike Ashley's decision to rename St James' Park is an issue that deserves our attention and condemnation - 11th November
 * at arch-rivals Chelsea hits Sir Alex Ferguson hard'' - 9th November
 * Alex Ferguson remains the rock of ages for Old Trafford'' - 7th November
 * Finnegan’s wake-up call over ‘fit and proper’ professionals'' - Patrick Barclay is hopeful Marlon King's agent will not be able to find employment for the striker he is released from prison - 5th November
 * Alex Ferguson shows unfriendly face to England internationals'' - Manchester United manager may criticise England's timing, but he had even worse problems when he was in charge of Aberdeen - 31st October
 * City overtake Middlesbrough in more ways than one'' - Gareth Southgate’s dismissal means there is a vacancy for title of undisputed king of the boardrooms - 26th October
 * must learn the lost art of defending'' - The idea of a defensive coach still sounds novel, but England would be well advised to revive thepost - 24th October
 * of colour have little relevance to the big picture'' - Patrick Barclay argues after John Barnes's sacking it is an irksome waste of time and energy to discuss if race was an issue - 19th October
 * Sir Alex Ferguson’s sorry state satisfy Respect campaigners?'' - It is not true that Sir Alex Ferguson has never apologised before. He said sorry as recently as May 1983 - 12th October
 * all their flair, it will be best to ignore the odds on City for a while'' - 6th October
 * team find net in historical switch'' - Five major broadcasters opt out of showing England's match in the Ukraine, so the only option is to watch it on the internet - 5th October
 * Liverpool struggle on empty-handed'' - 5th October
 * clubs should not be protected species'' - It is always wrong when those teams who do not live within their means are propped up at the public’s expense - 3rd October
 * van Persie goes up in our regard by admitting he goes down'' - Arsenal striker is not the first one to admit he exaggerated falls - Ian Wright did so 12 years ago, but the story was buried - 2nd October
 * game: born in England ... raised elsewhere'' - Only if your idea of football is a 22-man brawl could England be said to have mothered, or fathered - 26th September
 * admitted it made a mistake, now I’ll own up to mine'' - 22nd September
 * Manchester made room for two at the top'' - The duel for local and national supremacy at Old Trafford on Sunday has echoes of what happened in the city 42 seasons ago - 19th September
 * League’s stance is to be applauded'' - from next season, clubs must have eight "home-grown" players in squads of 25 - 15th September
 * something vital? Catch up with it on video'' - Uefa would make the debate over video replays easier by admitting its error in imposing a ban on Eduardo - 14th September
 * rules need tearing up'' - A footballer is as entitled as anyone else to entertain offers of alternative employment while under contract - 7th September
 * officials will deter players from diving'' - Fifa are considering extra assistants to catch cheats though they should be careful over the punishment - 3rd September
 * say break-even football is wrong. Bet it isn’t . . .'' - The rich will always be with us, but for hundreds of clubs all over Europe the desire is a level playing field financially - 29th August
 * should not beat itself up'' - Patrick Barclay says it is time to for football to learn and not recriminate after the clashes between West Ham and Millwall fans - 26th August
 * injury corrupts as much as fake blood'' - While bad practices in rugby have stolen the headlines, football should not take too lofty an attitude of morality - 24th August
 * strike partnership buoys Carlo Ancelotti'' - The Chelsea manager does not have an awful lot in reserve, but if Plan A keeps working so impressively, he need not worry - 23rd August
 * denies Adrian Boothroyd chance to promote himself'' - Mistaken perception of former Watford manager as favouring the long-ball game hampering his attempt to find work - 22nd August
 * four looks beyond City’s expensive side'' - Mark Hughes has either assembled a squad of quality players with something to prove or a group of pricey top-four rejects - 10th August
 * forecast looks good for England’s chances'' - The South African conditions will be conducive to the high-tempo, high-pressure football that the English play by instinct - 8th August
 * Bobby Robson: Great man, fabulous manager'' - He shared traits with Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson and Bob Paisley, but there will only ever be one Bobby Robson - 1st August
 * Wenger still the best seller in town'' - Arsenal manager will profit from three more excellent deals but must buy well to make it worth it in title race - 31st July
 * for fans to start Tyneside takeover'' - If supporters really do care about their club, they should dig deep into their pockets and buy Newcastle from Mike Ashley - 15th June
 * Ronaldo is thankless task for Ferguson'' - Irresistible force becomes irreplaceable as Portuguese is most effective player United has seen since Second World War - 12th June
 * can go all the way - with patience'' - If Fabio Capello can teach his side to retain possession in the next 13 months, a first World Cup in 44 years awaits - 8th June
 * debts a cause for concern'' - As Manchester United and Liverpool are hampered by big interest payments, the situation in Spain is just as worrying - 6th June
 * will be tested by culture shock'' - The new Chelsea manager lacks experience outside of Milanello, giving Patrick Barclay grave concerns over his prospects - 1st June
 * has technique to live with the best'' - Chelsea midfielder's splendid goal against Everton gives England some hope in next year's World Cup - 31st May
 * United must solve Rooney conundrum'' - Playing the England forward on the flank is not going to get the best performance from a talent that needs to be liberated - 30th May
 * cannot delay over his successor'' - The sooner that the Manchester United manager starts grooming the man to take over from him at Old Trafford, the better - 29th May
 * a small-town club with high hopes'' - 27th May
 * proper values provide an example to be cherished'' - 26th May
 * crime deserves punishment'' - Uefa has shown weakness by not making the Chelsea midfielder pay for putting his hands on the Norwegian referee - 25th May
 * must start work on the succession'' - Trying to find a successor capable of continuing to win trophies at Old Trafford may be ultimate challenge for Sir Alex Ferguson - 19th May
 * Cup bid over Olympics any time'' - The 2012 London Games will be a disaster, whereas a successful World Cup bid would do so much good - 18th May
 * Alex Ferguson proves mastery at Manchester United with rotation system'' - United manager's ability to juggle resources without affecting balance of team sets him apart from his rivals - 11th May
 * right to have say on Premier League'' - Seen as meddling by some, the Sport Secretary is quite entitled to be concerned about fate of national game - 9th May
 * prove their own worst enemies'' - everyone in football has felt cheated - 8th May
 * Lionel Messi prove match for United?'' - Argentinian's artistic skills will be put to the ultimate test against experience of the holders in Champions League showdown - 7th May
 * hope for a fair fight at the Bridge'' - It would be an error to deem anti-Chelsea anyone hoping scintillating Barcelona to reach the final of the Champions League - 5th May
 * Guus hoodwink Russia despite promises?'' - Should Barcelona be dispatched on Wednesday, the voices demanding Dutchman stays at Chelsea will become deafening - 4th May
 * to hail at St Mary’s after decline'' - Southampton become the latest club to fall on hard times as their days in the Premier League seem light years away - 28th April
 * should have taken a stand over Mike Riley mind game'' - Referees are too soft to take a serious stand when their character is brought into question by Premier League managers - 25th April
 * United's kids are put out to grass'' - 21st April
 * Hodgson could fry much bigger fish away from Fulham'' - 20th April
 * concrete being built at the ‘Moo Camp’'' - The club may have its critics, but there is much to admire in what is being achieved by Pete Winkelman at Milton Keynes - 17th April
 * reckless gamblers cost taxpayer'' - Our national sport has wasted millions of public money and it is about time the perpetrators were made to pay - 14th April
 * must go back to basics'' - The Uefa Cup needs radical reform, not just a change of name, if it is to halt its decline in the eyes of football fans - 7th April
 * United will still win the title but not until the final day'' - Sir Alex Ferguson's charges have lost some authority but the title should be won at Hull - 4th April
 * Spain can stop England'' - Look around the football world and you hardly find teams who will fill Fabio Capello with dread - 3rd April
 * of striking impact made by canny Capello'' - Even if Michael Owen had played every match for Newcastle United this season, he would not be England’s man for tonight - 1st April
 * talk gives home truths amid wider picture'' - Premier League may share out TV money more evenly than its European rivals, but can it claim to be as competitive? - 31st March
 * Clough features in TV balancing act'' - ITV documentary proves that truth can be stranger than friction - 25th March
 * can win the 2010 World Cup'' - The national team are good at false dawns, but Fabio Capello's side are equipped to lift the World Cup in South Africa - 23rd March
 * tears could be over with local interest'' - Newcastle have struggled since Mike Ashley's arrival, but they may be about to receive help from a group of their fans - 21st March
 * for referees to get shirty with grapplers'' - The only way to make defenders learn that there is no place for wrestling in football is to make it a red-card offence - 16th March
 * would be perfect fit at Old Trafford'' - Everton manager David Moyes would be the perfect choice to succeed Alex Ferguson at Manchester United - 14th March
 * future is bright'' - Júlio Baptista had Manuel Almunia at his mercy and should have settled the match in Roma’s favour - 12th March
 * toothless lions set for early exit'' - Europe used to be in awe of them, but now there is nothing to fear from Italians at club level - 9th March



News & updates:

 * Football writer Patrick Barclay leaves Sunday Telegraph to join Times - Guardian.co, 5th December 2008
 * Barclay to leave The Times in January - Patrick Barclay is to leave the Times next month after two and a half years as the newspaper’s chief football commentator - Christopher Davies, Football Writers' Association, 6th December 2011



References:


Links:

 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Barclay