Articles By Charlie Rhodes (38171)

The Australian A-League — Coming Home (the local Marquee players)

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Apr 10 2023

Over the past three seasons, Australia’s marquee player system has quickly settled into two clear classes — the overseas marquee players and local players (usually, but not necessarily, returning from…

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Why are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Celtic, Bayern and PSV so desperate NOT to win their leagues?

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Aug 5 2022

I write a lot about the English Championship and in that league the top four, Stoke City, Bristol City, Watford and West Brom, are all doing their level best not…

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Hard Times For Halifax

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Apr 11 2023

As the non-league season gears up for its climax so, inevitably, do the lawyers, as the annual courtroom battles begin that could have a significant say on the relegation places…

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Who will be the Next Soccer Star?

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Aug 4 2022

While some of us are just big dreamers, there are a few who actually do have the talent to sign that dream contract with one of the world’s top clubs….

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The Australian A-League: Has the overseas Marquee experiment worked?

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Apr 10 2023

As I have written previously, the Australian A-League introduced the marquee player system as a way of attracting quality players while preventing expensive bidding wars that risked placing clubs in…

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Every Ince a Premiership Manager

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Feb 24 2012

“See I was supposed to be a footballer but they kept pickin’ the other kid who was a foot taller I got lazy and less enthusiastic I stopped trainin’ and…

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Interview with Bryan James, founder of Sons of Ben

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Aug 4 2022

Formerly the fans without a team, it’s been a long time coming for The SOBs. The Sons of Ben are a group of soccer fans from Philadelphia whose outspoken support…

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FC Dallas 2008 Season Preview

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Dec 12 2021

2007 review Owners of 2007’s last Western Conference playoff spot, FC Dallas made great strides with a very young team. They ended the regular season with thirteen wins, five draws,…

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La Liga Week 28: Barcelona fail to take advantage of Real Madrid’s slip

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Apr 8 2023

It seems as if neither of Spain’s big two really want to win La Liga this season. Real Madrid’s defeat at Deportivo was their eighth defeat in 2008 and thet…

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Race for the Premiership – Do Stoke, Bristol City, Watford or West Brom want to go up?

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Aug 5 2022

It’s a fact. Nobody wants to go up. Stoke are failing to seriously threaten teams who are reduced to ten men, Bristol City are losing at home, Watford are missing…

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The Australian A-League – an introduction to the Marquee player system

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Apr 10 2023

Australia’s A-League was born out of the ashes of the old National Soccer League (NSL). The NSL was plagued by poor management, ethnic rivalries and a low profile compared to…

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US Soccer News Roundup: Defecting Cubans, SuperLiga 08 schedule and Sueño MLS

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Feb 28 2012

It’s been a rather exciting week for American soccer fans. For the benefit of those overseas (and all those in the US that are living under a rock), I have…

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Weekend Predictions: Sunderland to beat Chelsea, Brum to beat Newcastle United, Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham to win

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Sep 9 2015

Gerry McDonnell returns with his weekly betting column on the English Premier League. There’s life in the old dog…unfortunately Like Wayne Rooney, I’m a lover of the old. I’m never…

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Watford to beat Stoke City, Bristol to draw, West Brom to beat Leicester and more

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Aug 5 2022

So near yet so far away! If Big Darius Henderson had converted from the spot at Ashton Gate I would have been writing this article in a much more optimistic…

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2007-2008 Champions League & UEFA Cup Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals Draw – LIVEBLOG

Author image Charlie Rhodes  •  Apr 5 2023

With now only 8 teams remaining in each respective tournament, UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon (Switzerland) will host the draws on Friday afternoon for the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the 2007/08…

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