The Lowe-Down

  The date was 16 th March 2025. After years of hurt, Newcastle United defeated Liverpool in the League Cup Final to win their first trophy in 70 years. I was asked to write about this Newcastle triumph and its significance. Having watched the game from my sofa, without having a horse to run in this race, I didn’t think I was the best person to provide any insight on this joyful day for Newcastle United. Thankfully, I know just the person. I caught up with life-long Newcastle fan, Robbie Cornish on what it all meant to a Geordie.   We go on about years of hurt supporting England, it was 70 years since Newcastle won a major trophy, and you’ve now overcome it, how does that feel? Plain and simple, it was the best day of my life. When I was at uni occasionally the question used to come up what would you rather; England win the world cup? Or Newcastle win the premier league? I used to say jokingly I would rather Newcastle win the Carabao Cup than England win anything. Well ...

So, here we are again. We're at that stage of the season where the tables really "don't lie". Relegations and promotions TBC. And of course, the Champions League, Europe's top prize, really starts to heat up. As Europe's top teams start to tire, Real Madrid just slip it into third gear. Ready to hit the heights, time their sprints, and clinch the Champions League with a harrowing inevitability. However, let's not let that stop us believing we can have a new winner this year. The Champions League quarter finals begin!   Arsenal vs Madrid Perhaps the most glamorous looking tie of the round. And, you know what, I get it. These team haven’t played each other in the Champions League since 2006, when Thierry Henry was tearing through the Madrid defence in a yellow Arsenal kit. Every year we see Real vs City (including this year!) so it’s nice to see two of Europe’s top teams finally face off. Arsenal arrive into this leg in so-so form. Bukayo Saka coming ...

 Moyes Masterclass So with West Ham plumping for Potter, where did that leave David Moyes? I’m sure he wasn’t sat by his phone waiting for a call from West Ham. However, his phone did buzz, and again, it was an old flame of his. Everton Football Club sacked Sean Dyche and couldn’t resist the reunion with former manager, David Moyes. I mean, we can’t blame them, can we? Moyes brought the good times to Goodison Park, and bar a Roberto Martinez first season at Goodison, Moyes’ Everton were the most successful of their Premier League era. He qualified for the Champions League and regularly had them competing for a European place, despite their financial inequality with the former “big four”. Since Moyes’ departure back in 2013, Everton have often flirted with relegation and never been able to get near to the heights enjoyed under Moyes. This, despite, former owner Fashad Moshiri pumping in over £500million in signings and bringing in Champions League winning managers in Carlo Ancelotti...

They say never go back. Once you’ve left, never go back. In football, in work, in life. However, we all love a come-back story. The romantic in us wants to see a happy ending, and in football, a player or manager returning to the former club to pick them out of the mire, is a story we can’t resist. So here we are. In 2025, mid-way through the season, David Moyes has answered the calls of his former club. A challenge, a return, he simply couldn’t refuse. Can he win them another European trophy? Can he salvage their season? Is his return to West Ham a good idea? Wait, no! That’s not right. David Moyes has not returned to West Ham, instead it is his first lover in Everton that has seduced him back into management. Moyes’ most recent club, West Ham, have made a managerial change in the last week, with Julien Lopetegui getting the chop and Graham Potter receiving the call up. And with that the managerial merry-go-round has begun. Why did both clubs feel the need to change, and what can both...

  This is Manchester United “ All of this has been too familiar in recent years. We’ve been here before. And yet, a new dawn promises fresh hope.” The revolving door at Old Trafford has opened again and welcomed a new victim into its clutches. Welcome to the shadow realm, Erik Ten Hag. Not only do you join other high-profile managers such as Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, you also join an a-list of star footballers in Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, and Jason Sancho. Ooh look, there’s Angel Di Maria! And so, the cycle starts again. A new man is at the helm. Ruben Amorim. “As that famous sign states; “Welcome to Manchester”. Welcome to the circus that is, Manchester United. Best of luck here. All of this has been too familiar in recent years. We’ve been here before. And yet, a new dawn promises fresh hope. Ten Hag’s Troubles Whilst Manchester United have their own internal problems, which I’ll touch on shortly, it’s fair to say Ten Hag didn’t cover himself in too much gl...

International breaks. We’ve become accustomed to them interrupting the flow of the season. And for what, routine England wins before we yearn for the restart of the Premier League campaign? Well, yes. England won both games. 2-0 the scoreline in both. Normal service resumed. Except this time, it was different. The first time we hadn’t seen Gareth Southgate’s England. This time it was Lee Carsley’s England. Yes, that doesn’t sound right does it? Well, with two wins to his name, a glowing England U21s record and ultimately a lack of available alternatives, we might just have to get used to it. So, with that in mind, how did we arrive here and what does “Carsball” have to offer? After Spain’s convincing final win against England, Southgate called time on his England reign. His tenure had reached a natural conclusion. An overall success, given the position he has left us in, and yet a nagging feeling it could have been better. And of course, no trophy to show for his efforts. The attenti...