City should look for the positives, even if defeat hurts

City came crashing back to earth tonight, after they were taught a European football masterclass by Bayern Munich. But Editor Dean Mears explains why this is anything but positive for City's future and progression.

Finding YOUR Row Z

We're looking for the help of our readers to take a picture of Row Z at their club when they next attended a game, the idea is to create a collage for the new site to headline the home page. You can either tweet the picture to @FindingRowZ or email them to findingrowz@live.co.uk.

Message for our readers

Finding Row Z has undergone the process of moving to a new home, please bear with us as we attempt to move out with minimal fuss to the site. 

Thanks

Dean

Editor Finding Row Z

Does your history really make you a big club in the present day?

After reading Stan Collymore's claim that Nottingham Forest are a big club, Editor Dean Mears looks at whether your history really makes you a big club in the modern day.

Should he stay or should he go now?

Sunday's game will be the biggest in Fernando Torres' Chelsea career, some claim his Chelsea career properly started this season, but the truth is it started last January. Editor Dean Mears ponders whether Chelsea should look to sell Torres if he doesn't come good.

Justice For Reece- Help our campaign

As you know we recently interviewed Reece Scragg, who runs the blog Shirt Off 4 Wolves. We have been shocked to find out that Reece has been banned from tomorrows game against QPR, please email the club this letter to put pressure on them to change their minds.

Finding Row Z Interview- Reece Scragg

Anybody that has attended a game at Molinuex may have noticed Reece in the stands, shirtless. Reece runs the blog Shirt Off For Wolves, where he hopes to raise money for charity be attending every game shirtless. Editor Dean Mears caught up with Reece to find out more about SO4W.

August Goal of The Month Winner

You decided this Gareth Barry strike against Bolton was the best you saw in August. He'll be entered into the goal of the season competition come May.

The Kevin Davies Diary

Kevin uses his dairy this week to apologise to Tom Cleverly and Kevin also reveals problems in the Wanderers' camp.

The Twitter Revolution

Editor Dean Mears takes a look at an interesting Twitter revolution, and ponders the question 'Will Steve Kean become the first football manager sacked thanks to Twitter?'

Boycott Genk

As Chelsea ask their supporters for a massive £40 a ticket for their UEFA Champions League group stage matches, editor Dean Mears looks into the Chelsea Supporters Group plan to boycott Genk.

The Great Football Experiment

Finding Row Z is pleased announced it has joined forces with Nivea for Men UK and Ivory FC to promote the Great Football Experiment.

Would the Rooney Rule actually work?

As sports journalist Ollie Holt and the Mirror newspaper launched their 'Open Goal' campaign to bring the NFL's Rooney Rule to English football, editor Dean Mears looks into whether the rule would actually work.

Looking Back Through The Transfer Window

With the transfer window firmly shut, Adam Sharpe takes us through all the in-comings and outgoings of this summers window.

Is Victor Valdés the most under rated goalkeeper in world football?

After watching Valdés pull off a world class stage in the dying moments of Barcelona's thrashing of Villarreal, Editor Dean Mears looked at Victor's career and asks the question, just why isn't he regarded as the best?

Which formation fits best for West Ham?

Having sold Scott Parker to Tottenham and the transfer window being closed. Editor Dean Mears takes a look at possible formations Big Sam can employ for West Ham.

Transfer Deadline Day Round-Up

As another deadline day passes, Editor Dean Mears takes a look at all the moves from yesterday in the Premier League and gives us his best and worst signings.

Champions League draw reaction

Adam Sharpe takes us through the teams that the four English clubs will face in this seasons Champions League.

'The West Ham Way' is better off forgotten

If promotion is the main target for West Ham, Editor Dean Mears ponders whether 'The West Ham Way' is better off forgotten.

Best and Worst Champions League secenarios

With the Champions League draw later today, Editor Dean Mears looks at the best and worst case scenarios for our English based teams.

Finding Row Z Giveaway Competition.

We took the giveaway competition to Twitter, and the lucky winner was Ben Rebuck from London. He correctly answered Alan Shearer to the question 'Which player has scored the most Premier League goals' and was the quickest too. A signed copy of Kissing The Badge- How much do you know about 20 years of the Premier League, is on its way now.

Big thank you to Phil for providing the book, and don't forget you can read our interview with him here, follow Phil on Twitter here and buy the book here.

Can Parker and Nolan actually play together?

Editor Dean Mears poses the question, are Nolan and Parker West Hams version of England's Gerrard and Lampard.

Two In The Bush

Nathan Kosky delves into the good news coming out of QPR.

Finding Row Z- Giveaway Competition!

As promised in the interview Finding Row Z had with 'Kissing The Badge' author Phil Ascough (which can be found here) we have a fantastic competition for all you readers.

You could win a signed copy of Phil's brilliant book Kissing The Badge- How much do you know about 20 years of the Premier League?

All you have to do is answer this question correctly and you could be the lucky winner.

Which player holds the record for most Premiership goals scored?

A) Thierry Henry

B) Alan Shearer

C) Andy Cole

Send your answers to this address- findingrowz@live.co.uk or tweet your answers to Finding Row Z with the hashtag kissingthebadgecompetition and a winner will be selected next week.

Entries are limited to one per person either on email or Twitter. Entries close on Wednesday 24th August at midnight and  a winner will be selected on Thursday 25th August 2011. 

Are West Ham too good not to go up?

After claims West Ham were 'too good to go down', Editor Dean Mears asks the question, are West Ham now 'too good not to go up?'

Finding Row Z Predictor League Update

With the first round of Premier League matches now over, Finding Row Z Editor is sitting pretty at the top of the Finding Row Z mini league with a whopping zero points, followed by Adam Sharpe on -10 and Nathan Kosky on -20.

Dean guessed the correct result of West Brom vs. Manchester United, Newcastle vs. Arsenal and Manchester City vs. Swansea City.

Adam guessed the correct result of the same matches, but the use of the insurance and banker chip came in to play meaning Dean stayed 10 points ahead.


Want to join our league? Head over to the TalkSPORT website and join the mini league Finding Row Z, with the pin: F6AE3-IBD

Finding Row Z Interview- Stacey Little

Taking some time out from her busy schedule of work, football and swearing at Danny Gabbidon on Twitter, West Ham Ladies midfielder Stacey Little spoke to Editor Dean Mears about football, the Olympics and life outside the beautiful game.

Start of Premier League Predictions

Editor Dean Mears runs through his top 4 and his bottom 3 for the upcoming Premier League season.

Barclays Premier League Preview- Sunderland AFC



The Sunderland Debate

Tom White, editor and writer at The Sunderland Debate, previews the season ahead for Steve Bruce's Sunderland, this piece and others can be found on his website.

Premier League: 7th FA Cup: 6th Round Carling Cup: Semi Finals

The Smell of Football- Review.

Following our interview with former player/physio turned author Mick Rathbone, our very own Nathan Kosky gives us his view on The Smell of Football.

Finding Row Z Predictor League

Finding Row Z is launching it's predictor league, using the TalkSPORT website. We have formed a league, and you will be able to take on our writers and show off your Derren Brown skills.

Please head to the TalkSPORT predictor site and sign up and join the Finding Row Z league, with the PIN: F6AE3-IBD

LEAGUE NAME: FINDINGROWZ
PIN: F6AE3-IBD

Finding Row Z Interview- Mick Rathbone

Editor Dean Mears caught up with former Birmingham, Blackburn, Preston, Halifax player/ Halifax manager/ Preston and Everton physio Mick Rathbone about his career in both football and physiotherapy and his new book The Smell Of Football, which is available from all good book stores and some bad ones too.

Are United facing another goalkeeping headache?

As United's new number 1 David De Gea made two high profile mistakes in Sunday's Community Shield against Manchester United, Editor Dean Mears takes a look at Fergie's trouble to replace Peter Schmeichel and whether his task replacing Van Der Sar will even harder.

Finding Row Z Interview- Phil Ascough

The first in hopefully a long line of interviews, Editor Dean Mears speaks to journalist/author Phil Ascough about his new book Kissing The Badge- How much do you know about 20 years of the Premier League?

Start of season Championship preview

With the wait for the football season to begin nearly over, Editor Dean Mears picks his Championship promotion challengers and his relegation scrappers.

Would Rangers or Celtic be good enough for the Premiership?

With Rangers heading out of the Champions League qualifying to Mid Table Swedish side Malmo, Editor Dean Mears took to Twitter to find out where the people think Rangers and Celtic would stack up against English opposition.

The Kevin Davies Diary

Hi everyone,

Well what a week it's been for the Davies'. Kids went to a birthday party on the weekend, and when I arrived they had just started the Pinata, the kids tried but couldn't smash down the donkey, the kids tried to get me to have a go but I don't like the spotlight much. Then I noticed somebody had crossed a football over to the pinata and my predatory instincts took over and I just smashed the pinata and the sweets everywhere, Richard Keys would have been proud.

Tough week at training, but started to get our feet on some balls, the boss got a bit upset when we asked if he would let us train without him, he went and stood behind the goal for a while and came back looking a bit upset so we cheered him up by putting the u11 goalie between the sticks and let Owen take shots at him. He looks rough and tough but on the inside he's a big softie. Some positive news at home though, the wife asked me to pass her the salt so things are looking .

Until next time,

Super Kevin Davies.

The Málaga Story

There's a new name being mentioned alongside those who can afford the highest transfers and wages in the world, and not one you'd automatically expect. Editor Dean Mears looks at the history of Málaga CF and how they look set to become one of Europe's major players.

It took Malaga just five years to climb through the Spainish leagues.

The Kevin Davies Diary

Hi everyone, it's been a few months since I left twitter, and I've been really lonely. The wife still hasn't spoke to me after I elbowed her for writing a message about clairvoyants on my page, and with the season being finished all the lads have been away.

I've decided to start this diary, exclusive to Finding Row Z where you can keep up to date with everything I've been up to, just don't post comments about Blackburn's style of play or I'll get upset. Like last week the boss made us do laps, which wasn't really fair, I just wanted to practice on my jump for 'headers', I must admit I lost it a bit, went to Sainsbury's and spent £300 pound on watermelon and spent 3 hours in the back garden letting off some steam.

Anyway, I hope you like my diary.

All the best.

Super Kevin Davies

(The Kevin Davies Diary is 100% fake and is not written by Kevin Davies, and is in no way intended to offend Kevin in anyway.)

From Young Gunners To Young Goners

As the website www.sincearsenallastwonatrophy.co.uk keeps ticking, tormenting Arsenal fans as to how long it's been since they last won a trophy (6 years 1 month 28 days 16 hours 15 minutes and 3 seconds as I type this) Daniel Blazer looks deeper into the myth surrounding Arsene Wenger's success with youngsters.

The Ongoing Luka Modric Saga

After Chelsea's latest £27 million pound bid for Luka Modric was rejected, Adam Sharpe discuses the ongoing saga.

England's Penalty Misses.

After watching England Ladies crash out on penalties to France, Editor Dean Mears takes us through a top (or bottom) 10 of England's worst penalty misses.

Over Hyped and Over Valued- Young English Footballers

Over priced English youngsters means they're never likely to succeed, writes Dean Mears.

Can Guus Hiddink be Andre Villas-Boas' helper with Chelsea's senior stars?

Editor Dean Mears look at potential problems facing new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, and how Guus Hiddink could be his helper.

Chelsea are famous for the power it’s players hold within the club, and with a new manager just  six years older than the average of the squad, Andre Villas-Boas could become another manager sent packing by its dominant senior players.However, should Guus Hiddink arrive in a Director of Football role, he could prove a vital link between senior players and a manager who are separated by a matter of months.

Luka Modric- The season's first transfer story

Adam Sharpe looks at the transfer deal that is about to light up the summer transfer window.

This weekend saw this transfer windowʼs first real transfer saga develop.

Will Financial Fairplay change the game or create a new one?‏

Nathan Kosky asses the new plans brought forward by football league director Greg Clarke, to try and get control over massive debt levels in English football.


With the news this week that Football League clubs have voted to phase in spending caps related to a clubs turnover, can this really be the first overdue step towards managing football's finances in a sensible manner?

Barclays Premier League Season Preview- West Bromich Albion

Tom Harper previews West Bromich Albion ahead of the 2011-2012 Barclays Premier League season.

Barclays Premier League Season Preview- Chelsea.

Editor Dean Mears previews Chelsea Football Club ahead of the 2011-2012 Barclays Premier League season.

Barclays Premier League Season Preview- Tottenham Hotspur. Another view.

Nathan Kosky takes another look at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the 2011-2012 Barclays Premier League season.

Barclays Premier League season preview- Tottenham Hotspur

Adam Sharpe previews Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the 2011-2012 Barclays Premier League season.

Barclays Premier League Season Preview- Blackburn Rovers

Glen Mullan previews Blackburn Rovers ahead of the 2011-2012 Barclays Premier League season.

Are safe standing areas a viable option for British football?

Editor Dean Mears looks at whether safe standing areas are a viable option for British football.


On the 15^th April 1989, the biggest British sporting disaster turned the world of football on its head. 95 Liverpool fans died on that fateful day at Hillsborough, crushed to death for reasons that still, to this day remain unclear.