Brian Reade

The Daily Mirror columnist at the heart of football. Read his column on MirrorFootball every Saturday

Rafa Benitez is victim of a witch-hunt against foreign managers

    Brian Reade 21:34 06/11/09

    Last autumn it was the turn of Juande Ramos to be burnt at the stake.Well, Avram Grant's corpse had been licked clean, so we needed a new heretic. By ... Read more+

    Sami Hyypia, not Xabi Alonso, is Liverpool's biggest loss

      Brian Reade 21:32 06/11/09

      The general consensus is that a club has never missed a player more badly than Liverpool miss Xabi Alonso. But although he's left a Grand Canyon-sized... Read more+

      Patrice Evra must learn to put le sock in it

        Brian Reade 21:28 06/11/09

        Every club has a player who likes to mouth off. Quite often he's wrong, and quite often he leaves his fans either cringing or bemused.One such player ... Read more+

        Alan Curbishley's chequed out just in time for Hull job

          So Alan Curbishley looks like getting £2 million from West Ham, after he walked away from Upton Park when they sold two players behind his back.It's a... Read more+

          Losing Jack Rodwell could be last straw at Everton for David Moyes

            The two Manchester clubs are reputedly set to compete for the signature of Everton whizzkid Jack Rodwell. But if I were in the Everton hierarchy I'd t... Read more+

            John Barnes' taxing mission to Rwanda

              On the surface it appears the most bizarre quote you'll ever hear from an agent about an English footballing superstar turned TV celeb: "He has one th... Read more+

              Stephen Ireland's hospital pass

                Stephen Ireland thought he was about to die after he took a funny turn and was rushed to hospital during the Carling Cup tie with Fulham.Thankfully he... Read more+

                Beckham's Law is pain in Spain for Jermaine Pennant

                  Fabulous news from Spain where the government plans to change what has become known as Beckham's Law.From next year all foreign players who move there... Read more+

                  How Clive Tyldesley jinxed Liverpool's Champions League hopes

                    Memo to Clive Tyldesley. I know you're paid to get over-excited about the prospects of English clubs in Europe, and laying on the hype comes pretty na... Read more+

                    Tottenham's David Bentley should take a lesson in perseverance from Robbie Keane

                      The summer before last, two big-money stars blinked into the flashbulbs and declared their life-long love for a pair of birds. David Bentley for a coc... Read more+

                      Sorry Carling... booze has turned your tournament into the Snarling Cup

                        You've doubtless read this season of the stabbings at West Ham, the mass brawl in Carlisle, and the smashed-up buffet bar at Barnsley.But did you real... Read more+

                        Freddy Shepherd's bungling has already renamed Toon's home Sid James' Park

                          Freddy Shepherd has been laying in to his successor at Newcastle after Mike Ashley contemplated selling the naming rights to St James's Park.After pai... Read more+

                          Players like Diouf in a spit of bother over swine flu

                            The Health Protection Agency should do a bit more thinking before issuing swine flu warnings to footballers.First, this advice to stop spitting as tha... Read more+

                            Nothing divine about Liverpool's ponytails

                              Many wondered why Fabio Capello visited the Emirates on Wednesday when there were only four Englishmen playing. All of them kids with little chance of... Read more+

                              No surprise to see Royal Mail's Adam Crozier having another bout with strikers

                                I've always believed football to be a supreme teacher of life lessons.Take the postal dispute, with people asking 'where is the leader of the Royal Ma... Read more+

                                Rafa Benitez is Alex Ferguson - just 20 years later

                                  One man inside Anfield tomorrow will know, better than any other, the pressure Rafa Benitez is under.Someone who understands just how isolated a manag... Read more+

                                  Shove your sky high wages, I'd rather have been a poor pro in the 70s

                                    I've asked many footballers from the 60s, 70s and 80s if they resent the unbelievable sums of money "earned" by today's players, many of whom are not ... Read more+

                                    David Moyes' refusal to blame defeat on injuries shows he is a class act

                                      The next time you hear a manager blame a defeat on injuries (you've only got until tea-time to wait) think of David Moyes. And laugh.His Everton side ... Read more+

                                      Why Arsene Wenger was spot on to turn down Real Madrid

                                        One manager who was always on his way the second Florentino Perez regained ownership of Real Madrid was Manuel Pellegrini.Now that his Real Madrid sid... Read more+

                                        England will need bullet-proof vests in South Africa - if they go out at the quarter-finals again

                                          The German Football Federation has swiftly denied reports that they will force their players to wear bullet-proof vests whenever they leave their hote... Read more+

                                          Women! Confused about the offside rule? Don't worry, the men don't know the rules either

                                            I rarely address items specifically to women readers, but this has to be said.If you are ever again patronised by men about your inability to comprehe... Read more+

                                            Headmaster Capello has given our dunces the chance to finish top of the class

                                              It would have been easy for Fabio Capello to throw a toga-party on Wednesday night and allow himself to be feted like Caesar.To put his arm around "ma... Read more+

                                              You'd be mad to miss out on crazy Maradona's World Cup adventure

                                                I was amazed at the number of people in this country who wanted Argentina to miss World Cup qualification because they see Maradona as a despicable ch... Read more+

                                                Emile Heskey's loyalty should begin and end with Villa

                                                  When Emile Heskey was with England he was quoted as saying he'd have to leave Aston Villa to ensure his ticket to South Africa.When he returned to his... Read more+

                                                  Megson taps into Red reserves with Fergie praise

                                                    Every Manchester United reserve who is unlikely to break into the first-team this season, should take note of this quote from Gary Megson about their ... Read more+

                                                    Latest opinions

                                                    Blog

                                                    10@10 in pictures: Kevin Keegan eats British beef and Thanks but no Yanks - the best football banners

                                                    Football Banter 10:12 12/11/09

                                                        Football banners, much like chants, are a long held tradition in Britain's grounds.The best ones, mu... Read More+

                                                        Column

                                                        How to stop divers like David Ngog in one fell swoop

                                                        John Cross 10:05 12/11/09

                                                            There is one simple way to stop divers.When managers see a player cheat they should drop them, fine ... Read More+

                                                            Column

                                                            Why didn't Jonny Evans get sent off against Chelsea? Because Didier Drogba is the footballer who cried wolf...

                                                            John Cross 10:04 12/11/09

                                                                Do you remember when your mum used to tell you about the little boy who cried wolf? The one time whe... Read More+

                                                                Column

                                                                Why I admire the ambitious arrogance of Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner

                                                                John Cross 10:03 12/11/09

                                                                    Nicklas Bendtner has divided opinion up until this season.Bendtner is 21, yet to make himself an Ars... Read More+

                                                                    Blog

                                                                    Liverpool want Pavluchenko, Rooney set for Southampton and all today's transfer gossip

                                                                    Football Spy 09:34 12/11/09

                                                                        From the Daily Mirror: Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko on loan Ev... Read More+

                                                                        Blog

                                                                        'I was so angry in the game at Middlesbrough I was close to tears' - Stephen Ireland on his inner demons

                                                                        Mirror Football Blog 08:52 12/11/09

                                                                            By Oliver Holt in Abu DhabiStephen Ireland is not a straightforward man. We know that. His grannies ... Read More+

                                                                            Column

                                                                            Goal shy striker Emile Heskey is set to miss England's World Cup boat

                                                                            James Nursey 08:00 12/11/09

                                                                                Emile Heskey is not in the latest England squad and quite frankly I doubt he will ever get back in a... Read More+

                                                                                Column

                                                                                Never mind the play-offs, Coventry fans should be more worried about avoiding the drop

                                                                                James Nursey 07:58 12/11/09

                                                                                    Last season three former Premier League sides were relegated from the Championship, and I think Cove... Read More+

                                                                                    Blog

                                                                                    The Big Interview: James Milner is dreaming of emulating hero Beckham

                                                                                    Mirror Football Blog 23:00 11/11/09

                                                                                        Interview by John CrossJames Milner grew up dreaming of being David Beckham at the World Cup - now h... Read More+

                                                                                        Column

                                                                                        If there was an FA Cup for patronising commentators, ITV would be firm favourites

                                                                                        Non-League 16:29 11/11/09

                                                                                            Paul Carter writes about non-league football. He is a Luton Town fan, which probably means you autom... Read More+

                                                                                            Column

                                                                                            Rio Ferdinand's replacement? The Top 10 things you need to know about Simon Kjaer - plus video of him in action

                                                                                            10 Things You Need To Know About... 15:12 11/11/09

                                                                                                Palermo defender Simon Kjaer is the latest European youngster to have the Premier League's top clubs... Read More+

                                                                                                Column

                                                                                                Victor who? The Top 10 things you need to know about Tottenham transfer target Victor Moses

                                                                                                10 Things You Need To Know About... 15:03 11/11/09

                                                                                                    Tottenham are the latest Premier League club to be linked with Crystal Palace's teenage star Victor ... Read More+

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                                                                                                    Latest blogs

                                                                                                    10@10 in pictures: Kevin Keegan eats British beef and Thanks but no Yanks - the best football banners - Football Banter
                                                                                                      Liverpool want Pavluchenko, Rooney set for Southampton and all today's transfer gossip - Football Spy
                                                                                                        'I was so angry in the game at Middlesbrough I was close to tears' - Stephen Ireland on his inner demons - Mirror Football Blog
                                                                                                          The Big Interview: James Milner is dreaming of emulating hero Beckham - Mirror Football Blog
                                                                                                            If there was an FA Cup for patronising commentators, ITV would be firm favourites - Non-League
                                                                                                              Rio Ferdinand's replacement? The Top 10 things you need to know about Simon Kjaer - plus video of him in action - 10 Things You Need To Know About...
                                                                                                                Victor who? The Top 10 things you need to know about Tottenham transfer target Victor Moses - 10 Things You Need To Know About...
                                                                                                                  Rio Ferdinand's lookalike and Franck Ribery ribaldry - the five best things we've found on the web today - Football Banter