17 March ~ Having held a grim-faced silenzio stampa (press silence) for the past week, Jose Mourinho's relationship with the Italian media had reached a new low on the eve of Inter's Champions League return leg against Chelsea. A touchline ban, a pitiful display against Catania and ongoing grief with Mario Balotelli had formed a simmering backdrop to the game, with the Nerazzurri lumbered with the added burden of being Italy's sole survivors in the competition.

17 March ~ The future of Crystal Palace appears to be anything but straightforward at the moment and, for the first time this season, the club's fans are coming to terms with the fact that their place in the Championship is under genuine threat. With Palace currently in the hands of administrator Brendan Guilfoyle, the loss of Neil Warnock to QPR couldn't have come at a worse time. The task of securing a new owner for the club was put to one side as frantic phone calls were made in an attempt to find a coach who was willing to steady what is already an extremely unstable ship.

The new WSC is out now, available from all good newsagents or dispatched on the day of order from the WSC shop. Including:
How Chester's demise is an indictment of the football authorities.
Media reaction to the Ashley Cole and John Terry sagas.
The folly of Champions League play-offs, and why they failed in the Netherlands.
Why it's never boring at Brunton Park.
The last 1930 World Cup survivor turns 100, and other international centurions.
How to create a football news story out of nothing.
East Africans denied a chance in the UK by mad administrators and nonsensical immigration law.

16 March ~ German football fans have enjoyed a largely positive press for the past 20 years thanks to a number of well co-ordinated campaigns. Among other things, these have helped to retain standing areas, affordable tickets and a reasonable number of Saturday afternoon kick-offs. And it's thanks to the concerted efforts of fan groups that the atmosphere in stadiums makes for a loud and boisterous match day. Although some people might find the idea of a "conductor" with a megaphone at the front of the terrace leading the chants as a little less than spontaneous, it's certainly preferable to a mute support restricted to either cheering goals or moaning.

16 March ~ You see, this is what we badge-fanciers have to put up with in the main. Hundreds and hundreds of clubs with no visual imagination whatsoever. Repeatedly one will be presented with the club's name and colours on a shield surrounded by decorative foliage or simply the club colours and "Est. 1926". And this one takes the absolute biscuit. Read more