http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/ Ian Winwood Trinity Mirror Trinity Mirror http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-Barnsley-have-left-me-with-the-strangest-feeling-this-spring-Ian-Winwood-column-article359527.html With something like 10 games remaining in the current season, this week I found myself experiencing the strangest of sensations: complete relaxation.For the first time since Barnsley, the team that I support, were returned to the second tier of English football in the spring of 2006, it seems like we’re not going to spend this year’s spring half-expecting to get sprung from the Championship.I can’t lie – I’m not quite sure exactly how I feel about this. On Tuesday night my South Yorkshire Sup... With something like 10 games remaining in the current season, this week I found myself experiencing the strangest of sensations: complete relaxation.For the first time since Barnsley, the team that I support, were returned to the second tier of English football in the spring of 2006, it seems like we’re not going to spend this year’s spring half-expecting to get sprung from the Championship.I can’t lie – I’m not quite sure exactly how I feel about this. On Tuesday night my South Yorkshire Sup... Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:02:55 GMT http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-Barnsley-have-left-me-with-the-strangest-feeling-this-spring-Ian-Winwood-column-article359527.html 2010-03-19T10:02:55Z true http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-I-m-happy-to-apologise-to-Plymouth-fans-but-I-hope-your-team-goes-down-Ian-Winwood-column-article359507.html I don’t suppose by saying this that I’m going to make too many friends in the south west of England, but Plymouth Argyle’s midweek win against the often hapless Bristol City caused me to inwardly groan.Why? Because if you pointed a gun at my head – or even placed a pint in my hand – I’d admit that Plymouth are the side that I would most like to see relegated from the Championship.Please understand me – Plymouth fans, I really have nothing against your club. In theory I love it when sides from... I don’t suppose by saying this that I’m going to make too many friends in the south west of England, but Plymouth Argyle’s midweek win against the often hapless Bristol City caused me to inwardly groan.Why? Because if you pointed a gun at my head – or even placed a pint in my hand – I’d admit that Plymouth are the side that I would most like to see relegated from the Championship.Please understand me – Plymouth fans, I really have nothing against your club. In theory I love it when sides from... Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:01:35 GMT http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-I-m-happy-to-apologise-to-Plymouth-fans-but-I-hope-your-team-goes-down-Ian-Winwood-column-article359507.html 2010-03-19T10:01:35Z true http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-Arsenal-star-Sol-Campbell-is-my-hero-of-the-week-for-his-gesture-to-Portsmouth-Ian-Winwood-column-article359503.html The hero of the week award this Friday goes to the admittedly unlikely figure of Sol Campbell. For those of you who didn’t catch the news, the defender who these days possesses all the mobility of a cement mixer chained to the Cenotaph agreed to defer the money he is owed by Portsmouth Football Club.Now, you might argue that Campbell is a very rich man indeed, and that Portsmouth are a very, very poor club. Both of these observations are true. But Sol is owed the money and he has a right to c... The hero of the week award this Friday goes to the admittedly unlikely figure of Sol Campbell. For those of you who didn’t catch the news, the defender who these days possesses all the mobility of a cement mixer chained to the Cenotaph agreed to defer the money he is owed by Portsmouth Football Club.Now, you might argue that Campbell is a very rich man indeed, and that Portsmouth are a very, very poor club. Both of these observations are true. But Sol is owed the money and he has a right to c... Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:55 GMT http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-Arsenal-star-Sol-Campbell-is-my-hero-of-the-week-for-his-gesture-to-Portsmouth-Ian-Winwood-column-article359503.html 2010-03-19T10:00:55Z true http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/It-would-be-wrong-to-remember-Keith-Alexander-in-terms-of-his-race-but-with-so-few-other-black-managers-it-s-hard-not-to-The-Ian-Winwood-column-article352905.html Many tributes have been paid in the past few days to the memory of Keith Alexander, the 53 year old manager of Macclesfield Town who died unexpectedly and suddenly last week.Perhaps the most fitting tribute to a man whose managerial career took in six league clubs came from the players at his last one. In what must have been difficult circumstances to say the least, the players of Macclesfield Town took to the field away at Hereford and won their match 2-0.The death of Keith Alexander is a tr... Many tributes have been paid in the past few days to the memory of Keith Alexander, the 53 year old manager of Macclesfield Town who died unexpectedly and suddenly last week.Perhaps the most fitting tribute to a man whose managerial career took in six league clubs came from the players at his last one. In what must have been difficult circumstances to say the least, the players of Macclesfield Town took to the field away at Hereford and won their match 2-0.The death of Keith Alexander is a tr... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:24:27 GMT http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/It-would-be-wrong-to-remember-Keith-Alexander-in-terms-of-his-race-but-with-so-few-other-black-managers-it-s-hard-not-to-The-Ian-Winwood-column-article352905.html 2010-03-12T15:24:27Z true http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/I-couldn-t-give-a-stuff-what-Alan-Green-thinks-it-s-my-ticket-and-I-ll-leave-early-if-I-want-to-The-Ian-Winwood-column-article352873.html The award for patronising berk of the week this Friday goes to Alan Green, the outspoken commentator at 5Live. Commentating on the game between Arsenal and Burnley at the weekend, Green looked around the stadium early doors and was appalled at the number of people who had yet to take their seats.“I’m sorry folks,” he said, “I don’t get your commitment to football.”Personally, I couldn’t give a good God damn if Alan Green ‘got’ my commitment to football or not. But if the Ulsterman does care t... The award for patronising berk of the week this Friday goes to Alan Green, the outspoken commentator at 5Live. Commentating on the game between Arsenal and Burnley at the weekend, Green looked around the stadium early doors and was appalled at the number of people who had yet to take their seats.“I’m sorry folks,” he said, “I don’t get your commitment to football.”Personally, I couldn’t give a good God damn if Alan Green ‘got’ my commitment to football or not. But if the Ulsterman does care t... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:15:28 GMT http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/I-couldn-t-give-a-stuff-what-Alan-Green-thinks-it-s-my-ticket-and-I-ll-leave-early-if-I-want-to-The-Ian-Winwood-column-article352873.html 2010-03-12T15:15:28Z true http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-I-m-betting-Newcastle-fans-will-miss-the-Championship-next-season-The-Ian-Winwood-Column-article345125.html We have reached the point in the season when things are beginning to be set in stone.The nights are getting lighter and the weather will soon be getting warmer.We know that Portsmouth will be relegated, and we know the Newcastle United will be taking their place in the Premier League.I've no doubt that for the Toon Army, relegation last May felt and looked like the end of the world.While the rest of the football fraternity tried not to kill themselves laughing as time was called on the Magpie... We have reached the point in the season when things are beginning to be set in stone.The nights are getting lighter and the weather will soon be getting warmer.We know that Portsmouth will be relegated, and we know the Newcastle United will be taking their place in the Premier League.I've no doubt that for the Toon Army, relegation last May felt and looked like the end of the world.While the rest of the football fraternity tried not to kill themselves laughing as time was called on the Magpie... Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:04:36 GMT http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-I-m-betting-Newcastle-fans-will-miss-the-Championship-next-season-The-Ian-Winwood-Column-article345125.html 2010-03-05T14:04:36Z true http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-it-s-time-that-poor-Crystal-Palace-boss-Paul-Hart-was-afforded-some-Sport-Relief-The-Ian-Winwood-Column-article345119.html Viewers of BBC TV will have noticed that we’re approaching the time of year that signals the give-a-thon that is Sport Relief. Among the stripy socks and David Beckham designed t-shirts, there are people who have done some remarkable and difficult things in the name of this charity cause.There’s comedian and actor Eddie Izzard, a man who has run an astonishing 43 marathons in 51 days. The footage of him struggling along Britain’s windy and rain swept roads is almost as almost as hard on the e... Viewers of BBC TV will have noticed that we’re approaching the time of year that signals the give-a-thon that is Sport Relief. Among the stripy socks and David Beckham designed t-shirts, there are people who have done some remarkable and difficult things in the name of this charity cause.There’s comedian and actor Eddie Izzard, a man who has run an astonishing 43 marathons in 51 days. The footage of him struggling along Britain’s windy and rain swept roads is almost as almost as hard on the e... Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:00:05 GMT http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/Why-it-s-time-that-poor-Crystal-Palace-boss-Paul-Hart-was-afforded-some-Sport-Relief-The-Ian-Winwood-Column-article345119.html 2010-03-05T14:00:05Z true http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/How-can-anyone-take-the-Carling-Cup-seriously-when-it-s-final-fights-for-air-time-with-league-games-The-Ian-Winwood-Column-article345117.html Last weekend saw the first major final of the 2009-2010 season, when Aston Villa faced off against Manchester United in the Carling Cup Final at Wemberlee Stadium. And lost.For many people, the game was a very big deal. The fans certainly seemed excited. Villains packed the pubs of Baker Street and Camden Town on Saturday night singing loud and slightly threatening songs about how their team were going to triumph in the next day’s game. What these supporters lacked in foresight they certainly... Last weekend saw the first major final of the 2009-2010 season, when Aston Villa faced off against Manchester United in the Carling Cup Final at Wemberlee Stadium. And lost.For many people, the game was a very big deal. The fans certainly seemed excited. Villains packed the pubs of Baker Street and Camden Town on Saturday night singing loud and slightly threatening songs about how their team were going to triumph in the next day’s game. What these supporters lacked in foresight they certainly... Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ian-winwood/How-can-anyone-take-the-Carling-Cup-seriously-when-it-s-final-fights-for-air-time-with-league-games-The-Ian-Winwood-Column-article345117.html 2010-03-05T14:00:00Z true