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Ken Early: Spurs fail to frank ambition with marquee signings

Ken Early: Spurs fail to frank ambition with marquee signings

Players being offered the opportunity to work twice as hard to stay in the same place

Mon Sept 02 2019 - 07:00
Ken Early: United paying the penalty for Solskjaer’s indecision

Ken Early: United paying the penalty for Solskjaer’s indecision

Nominating two penalty takers is nominating none, and creating extra uncertainty

Mon Aug 26 2019 - 06:30
Ken Early: VAR in danger of descending into pointless pedantry

Ken Early: VAR in danger of descending into pointless pedantry

Bad call that cost City victory against Spurs highlights a problem with how VAR is used

Mon Aug 19 2019 - 07:00
Ken Early: Exit of David Luiz may haunt Frank Lampard

Ken Early: Exit of David Luiz may haunt Frank Lampard

Chelsea manager is now left with a defence which looks shaky and creativity lost

Mon Aug 12 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Lethargic Liverpool may have turned up just in time

Ken Early: Lethargic Liverpool may have turned up just in time

Taking the plaudits is great, but now it’s time for City and Liverpool to get back to work

Mon Aug 05 2019 - 06:54
Ken Early: USA-England promises plenty for genuine football fans

Ken Early: USA-England promises plenty for genuine football fans

Technical standard of football is irrelevant if you get people to care about the teams

Mon Jul 01 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Hard to believe Neymar snr did not approve of son’s move to PSG

Ken Early: Hard to believe Neymar snr did not approve of son’s move to PSG

Neymar’s two unhappy years in Paris have been lucrative for one family member in particular

Wed Jun 26 2019 - 07:49
Ken Early: What if Maradona had been more like Messi?

Ken Early: What if Maradona had been more like Messi?

The style in which Diego Maradona did things inspired passionate devotion

Mon Jun 17 2019 - 01:56
Ken Early: England’s attempts to play like City are doomed

Ken Early: England’s attempts to play like City are doomed

Leave the high-end stuff to the Champions League. At international level, basic is best

Mon Jun 10 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Plenty of positives as Ireland again frustrate the Danes

Ken Early: Plenty of positives as Ireland again frustrate the Danes

Technical shortcomings aside Ireland already look an improved side under McCarthy

Fri Jun 07 2019 - 22:29
Ken Early: Prospect of facing Ireland again will do little to inspire Eriksen

Ken Early: Prospect of facing Ireland again will do little to inspire Eriksen

Midfielder will struggle to be motivated after Champions League heartache with Spurs

Thu Jun 06 2019 - 21:46
Ken Early: Klopp’s way has something extraordinary about it

Ken Early: Klopp’s way has something extraordinary about it

The mass celebrations in Madrid and Liverpool were no mere happy accident

Mon Jun 03 2019 - 10:45
Ken Early: Alisson in Wanda land completes fairytale season for Liverpool

Ken Early: Alisson in Wanda land completes fairytale season for Liverpool

Brazilian goalkeeper made the big saves when Tottenham’s pressure rocked Liverpool late on

Sun Jun 02 2019 - 00:41
Ken Early: Universal energy to decide fate of Spurs and Liverpool

Ken Early: Universal energy to decide fate of Spurs and Liverpool

Pochettino has a big decision to make on Kane, Klopp is trying to arrest dismal final record

Sat Jun 01 2019 - 07:00
Ken Early: Coutinho becomes a convenient scapegoat for Barcelona

Ken Early: Coutinho becomes a convenient scapegoat for Barcelona

Reality is club failed to identify a suitable role within the side for the talented Brazilian

Mon May 27 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: City’s domination has been bought – and they’re paying the price

Ken Early: City’s domination has been bought – and they’re paying the price

It’s time to accept that oil-funded success and mass popularity will never go well together

Mon May 20 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Guardiola’s joy will be tempered by Champions League regret

Ken Early: Guardiola’s joy will be tempered by Champions League regret

Premier League a testament to City manager – but defeat to Spurs will surely rankle

Mon May 13 2019 - 07:43
Ken Early: Klopp must find way of improving his finished product

Ken Early: Klopp must find way of improving his finished product

Should fairytale title finish not materialise, Liverpool boss facing a real conundrum

Mon May 06 2019 - 07:00
Ken Early: Football’s new age neutralises philosophies of the past

Ken Early: Football’s new age neutralises philosophies of the past

Analysis based on yesteryear is pointless in game that has changed unrecognisably

Mon Apr 29 2019 - 06:21
Ken Early: Solskjær is neither miracle man nor complete disaster

Ken Early: Solskjær is neither miracle man nor complete disaster

He has inherited a Manchester United squad of limited mobility and uncertain character

Mon Apr 22 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: How Delaney remained as FAI chief for 14 years

Ken Early: How Delaney remained as FAI chief for 14 years

When it comes to winning respect of provincial leagues, nothing beats giving them money

Mon Apr 15 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Barcelona’s reliance on Messi gives Man United a chance

Ken Early: Barcelona’s reliance on Messi gives Man United a chance

A decade on from Pep, they are just a normal rich team with the best player in the world

Mon Apr 08 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: City are the best team but Liverpool are winning ugly

Ken Early: City are the best team but Liverpool are winning ugly

Lloris’ error left Klopp celebrating rather than irritably justifying a failed team selection

Mon Apr 01 2019 - 06:32
Ken Early: From Delaney drama emerges some Irish positivity

Ken Early: From Delaney drama emerges some Irish positivity

Is it too much to suggest that the former FAI CEO deliberately took spotlight off the team?

Tue Mar 26 2019 - 22:42
Ken Early: John Delaney’s Rolls-Royce running out of road

Ken Early: John Delaney’s Rolls-Royce running out of road

Stepping aside of Irish football’s dominant figure will be seen as overdue by most fans

Mon Mar 25 2019 - 05:30
Ken Early: Republican slogans strangely back in vogue in the sporting realm

Ken Early: Republican slogans strangely back in vogue in the sporting realm

Daily drip-drip of horror easily forgotten by a young Rice or the crowd at Madison Square Garden

Sat Mar 23 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Bayern Munich exit a part of wider German decline

Ken Early: Bayern Munich exit a part of wider German decline

Coaches have come and gone at German club without any apparent overall plan

Mon Mar 18 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Luck will not always be on Solskjær's side

Ken Early: Luck will not always be on Solskjær's side

Dazzling start has so far only transformed a disastrous season into a merely bad one

Mon Mar 11 2019 - 07:00
Ken Early: VAR could further undermine soccer's integrity

Ken Early: VAR could further undermine soccer's integrity

Video assistant referee could further undermine soccer's integrity

Mon Mar 04 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Klopp must exude the confidence which guides Liverpool home

Ken Early: Klopp must exude the confidence which guides Liverpool home

Supporters still struggling to make the leap of faith that all will end well this season

Mon Feb 04 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: peace for Frenkie de Jong as Barça switch is completed

Ken Early: peace for Frenkie de Jong as Barça switch is completed

Big transfer sagas are so lengthy that by the end the player will do anything just to make it stop

Mon Jan 28 2019 - 06:38
Ken Early: Chelsea have no right to be doing so well

Ken Early: Chelsea have no right to be doing so well

Italian manager does not have the players in the squad to make his style work yet

Mon Jan 21 2019 - 07:00
Ken Early: Solskjær’s permanent managerial credentials getting ever stronger

Ken Early: Solskjær’s permanent managerial credentials getting ever stronger

Wembley victory over Spurs a major feather in United interim-manager’s cap

Mon Jan 14 2019 - 05:00
Ken Early: Money-mad Premier League has made FA Cup a freakshow

Ken Early: Money-mad Premier League has made FA Cup a freakshow

Unless you’ve been transferred for a huge fee, good luck getting a Premier League game, son

Mon Jan 07 2019 - 06:00
Ken Early: Odd man out Özil a luxury Emery and Arsenal cannot afford

Ken Early: Odd man out Özil a luxury Emery and Arsenal cannot afford

Manager’s priority has to be to address brittle side’s long-term defensive weakness

Mon Dec 31 2018 - 06:00
Ken Early: Pochettino must answer a very awkward question

Ken Early: Pochettino must answer a very awkward question

Spurs look like contenders but will the manager practise what he preaches and stay?

Mon Dec 24 2018 - 06:00
Ken Early: Like Napoleon, Mourinho is the outsider always trying to prove himself

Ken Early: Like Napoleon, Mourinho is the outsider always trying to prove himself

Special One has never recovered from losing faith in his own myth at Real Madrid

Wed Dec 19 2018 - 06:00
Ken Early: Mourinho is the manager Manchester United deserve

Ken Early: Mourinho is the manager Manchester United deserve

José’s ultra-cynical approach to the game reflects the concerns of the club itself

Mon Dec 17 2018 - 07:00
Ken Early: English football wrong to treat David Luiz as a joke

Ken Early: English football wrong to treat David Luiz as a joke

Individual scapegoating has done much to keep English football stupid over the years

Mon Dec 10 2018 - 07:00
Ken Early: A draw now feels like defeat for teams chasing City

Ken Early: A draw now feels like defeat for teams chasing City

For Liverpool, the need to win every game to cling on to Guardiola’s leaders is wearying

Mon Dec 03 2018 - 07:00
Ken Early: There's a confusing sensation around Ireland, is it optimism?

Ken Early: There's a confusing sensation around Ireland, is it optimism?

Conflicting emotions the order of the day as 'Succession Plan 2022' is unveiled

Mon Nov 26 2018 - 06:35
Ken Early: McCarthy the ‘safe’ choice but is he the right choice?

Ken Early: McCarthy the ‘safe’ choice but is he the right choice?

FAI has passed up the chance to take a new direction with Stephen Kenny

Sat Nov 24 2018 - 08:00
Ken Early: Cruel contrast at the Aviva as O'Neill's Ireland stagnate

Ken Early: Cruel contrast at the Aviva as O'Neill's Ireland stagnate

On a week when Irish rugby has scaled rare heights, football is sinking to a new low

Mon Nov 19 2018 - 07:16
Ken Early: Mourinho's risk-averse tactics making United players anxious

Ken Early: Mourinho's risk-averse tactics making United players anxious

United manager dismisses the stats – but he knows the numbers are going against him

Mon Nov 12 2018 - 07:00
Ken Early: Super League can pull elite clubs even further from fans

Ken Early: Super League can pull elite clubs even further from fans

Big European clubs see they have more in common with sheikhs than domestic leagues

Mon Nov 05 2018 - 06:00
Ken Early: The cult of Ramos has become Real’s fatal flaw

Ken Early: The cult of Ramos has become Real’s fatal flaw

Lopetegui’s failure in Madrid is down to Ramos’s rapid decline and Ronaldo’s exit

Mon Oct 29 2018 - 07:00
Ken Early: O’Neill promises Euro qualification, but who believes him?

Ken Early: O’Neill promises Euro qualification, but who believes him?

The manager's certainty following the loss to Wales was at odds with current form

Thu Oct 18 2018 - 06:15
Ken Early: Ireland’s clean sheet comes at a crippling cost

Ken Early: Ireland’s clean sheet comes at a crippling cost

Even Messi needs three chances to score a goal, Ireland seldom create three in a match

Mon Oct 15 2018 - 07:33
Ken Early: Victim role is a perfect fit for José Mourinho

Ken Early: Victim role is a perfect fit for José Mourinho

Master propagandist busy painting Woodward and United hierarchy into an awkward spot

Mon Oct 08 2018 - 07:00
Ken Early: Chelsea and Liverpool prove that fun football is best

Ken Early: Chelsea and Liverpool prove that fun football is best

Sarri and Klopp have made the game enjoyable for their players and it reaps rewards

Mon Oct 01 2018 - 06:45
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