By Brian Sears 24 May 2010 . Blackpool are setting new standards for ‘small fish in big ponds’ as they ascend to the Premier League. Their ground capacity will be the smallest of any of the 44 clubs to have been members of that top division, and their average following this season at Bloomfield Road […]

By Brian Sears 21 May 2010 A new in-depth sportingintelligence analysis of the play-off winners during the 23 seasons of the play-offs’ existence in English football suggests that Blackpool have statistical history on their side when they face Cardiff tomorrow in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. The Welsh team may be the favourites, but […]

By Brian Sears 17 May 2010 Chelsea have just completed the Double but Manchester United were the team of the Noughties in English football, comfortably topping a new table that takes into account average league finishes for the past 10 years. With five Premier League title wins in the past 10 years, as well as […]

By Brian Sears 14 May 2010 Portsmouth are not unique in having been the champions of England as well as inhabitants of the bottom division in English professional football during the period since WWII. Burnley and Wolves have also achieved that “feat”, and all three clubs came together in the same Premier League season in […]

By Brian Sears 8 May 2010 English football crowds outside the Premier League have defied the worst recession in decades to hit a 50-year high according to exclusive analysis of gates during the season that finished this afternoon when the final ball was kicked in Leagues One and Two. As we forecast earlier in the […]

By Brian Sears 7 May 2010 So to another dramatic denouement of close-run action, intrigue, drama and tension. But less about the general election. Let’s talk football. The Premier League season ends on Sunday and everyone wants to know one thing: who’s going to win the title? The bookies – and probably the instincts – […]

By Brian Sears 30 April 2010 It’s going to the wire, and we’re not just talking about the title. The Premier League could still see a record number of goals scored this season, and other club milestones in scoring could be reached. Without further ado, here’s what to look out for between now and the […]

By Brian Sears 23 April 2010 This is the 15th season of the 20-club Premier League, and whatever happens in the remainder of it Manchester City are already assured of one thing: their best-ever Premier League season by points total in a 38-game season. Yes, yes, it might well have cost City approximately a squillion […]

By Brian Sears 16 April 2010 Last Sunday, three of the four Premier League games ended 0-0, including Manchester United’s trip to Blackburn. When Rovers are judged on their tally of no-score bore draws (seven this season, yawn) they are officially the most boring team in the Premier League. Liverpool-Fulham was also a snooze if […]

By Brian Sears 9 April 2010 A top six finish in this season’s Premier League is probably beyond Birmingham despite their fine campaign under Alex McLeish. But another kind of top six finish is realistically within their grasp: they remain on course to achieve one of the best ever seasonal performances for a club in […]