TWTD.co.uk Blogs

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent PREM Poetry Of ITFC - Match 9 - “Hulloween”
A bit of a nightmare for captain Dara O’Shea on one of the goals, although he probably should’ve won a pen, too, after another attempt to swap shirts before the game’s over.

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent PREM Poetry Of ITFC - Match 8 - “Autumn Leif Stops Forest”
A stormy autumn night and a battling performance saw the spoils shared in this one. Liam Delap returned to bully his way around the pitch, including ripping captain Dara O’Shea’s shirt so much it was hanging off him at the end of the first half.

Premier League Preview: Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest got through four managers last season (Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Vitor Pereira) so when Oliver Glasner announced he was leaving Crystal Palace it was quite a shock that he ended up at Forest. They come into this game really needing a result after three straight defeats.

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent PREM Poetry Of ITFC - Match 7 - “A Poem That Might Mean Nothing”
I had to work, so watched most of this one via the medium of ‘latest scores’, which brings its own form of excitement. I used to love the old days of watching Ceefax and Teletext, waiting for the score to change while not remotely knowing what was going on.

Premier League Preview: Manchester City
Title challengers or relegation rivals? A lot will be riding on the outcome of Manchester City's appeal against their 114 charges. Regardless, this will be one of Town's toughest challenges this season.

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent PREM Poetry Of ITFC - Match 6 - “Crystal Palacios”
I was tempted to write this one all about Abdoul Ouattara, who was excellent, scored a cracker and had a flipping brilliant celebration to match.

Premier League Preview: Fulham
Fulham took a risk with the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa following the departure of Marco Silva over the summer. Silva had hit all of the targets set out for him and kept Fulham in the top flight for three Premier League seasons without them ever really being in danger of relegation, but it felt like a harmonious parting of ways for both parties when the time came.

Finding Our Identity
When 11 fresh signings accompany a new manager through the door in a single summer, most clubs would anticipate a period of adjustment. So before a ball was kicked in anger, the vast majority of our fanbase would have snatched at six points from the opening five league fixtures, which included three of last season's top-seven sides.

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent PREM Poetry Of ITFC - Match 5 - “The Fat Of The Land”
Abdul Fatawu will get some stick for his diving and subsequent sending off, but I’ve seen a lot to like in this lad.

Premier League Preview: Everton
Everton have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season under old hand David Moyes. An opening day win was followed up by three draws against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Tottenham whilst comfortably dispatching Preston North End and Wolves in the Carabao Cup as well.

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent PREM Poetry Of ITFC - Match 4 - “Timing”
I live in Crystal Palace, a mere 20-minute walk from Selhurst Park. But this was the first time I’d managed to secure an away ticket since living here, and it didn’t disappoint.

Premier League Preview: Crystal Palace
It’s a season of transition for Crystal Palace following an historic two years that saw both the FA Cup and then the Europa Conference League trophy make their way into the Selhurst Park trophy cabinet.

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent PREM Poetry Of ITFC - Steamrollered In Nine
After the first nine minutes, I’m frankly relieved it wasn’t a cricket score. A tough night for the Blues under the Friday night lights.

Premier League Preview: Liverpool
It’s two comeback draws from two games so far for Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool side and they have shown weaknesses in both.

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent PREM Poetry Of ITFC - “Next Level”
I made what BBC Good Food describes as ‘Next Level Ratatouille’ before going to watch this game in a pub. That was a success, Ipswich operating on another level away at Old Trafford, less so. So that’s where this week’s theme comes from.

Premier League Preview: Manchester United
A trip to Manchester United may not be as tough an ask as it once was, but the Red Devils under Michael Carrick are a whole different beast to the team that Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town side faced in 2024-25 when the Tractor Boys should have arguably come away with three points at Old Trafford.

Between The Lines 2, The Irreverent Prem Poetry Of ITFC - Basking In The Glow (Of Gary’s Teeth)
Well, here we are again.

Premier League Preview: Sunderland
Sunderland were the template for survival last season with a net spend of £135 million in the summer window of 2025 enhancing their squad, not just enough to compete, but enough to see them qualify for Europe this season.

Pre-Season Preview: Union Berlin
Union Berlin have structured their pre-season in the way that I set up mine on Football Manager. Their first two pre-season games they won 12-2 and 16-0 against lower league opposition before three draws and three defeats against some more competitive sides, then a victory against Cypriot side Aris Limassol last weekend.

Pre-Season Preview: Rayo Vallecano
Conference League finalists and the team that knocked Gary O'Neil's Strasbourg out of that same competition visit Portman Road on Saturday 8th August.