In professional football “home advantage” is an established and quantifiable fact. Across leagues and eras, teams consistently perform better, secure more points, and score more goals in their home fixtures than […]
A new age as finally we move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium – a look at the managers who shaped us and got us there
As the hours tick down to our first competitive game at the Hill Dickinson stadium, on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey, a look at the managers who task it has […]
Lancashire County Cricket Club Special General Meeting, Monday 1st September 2025
Following on with looking at matters within Lancashire County Cricket Club and my recent podcast with Alan Higham, the founder of the County Cricket Members Group, matters at Lancashire continue to develop […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – Leeds United (a). Mixed opinions on the opening day
Welcome to the first Talking the Blues Podcast of the 2025/26 season when we review the opening fixture at Leeds. Plenty of passionate debate from Andy and George representing the Prosecution in […]
The Crossroads for English Domestic Cricket?
The English domestic cricket season stands at a critical juncture. The traditional rhythms of the summer have been fractured by competing pressures, creating what many stakeholders describe as a perfect storm The […]
The Esk Podcasts with Paul Quinn – An update on Lancashire County Cricket Club & the changes to County Cricket
In addition to Talking the Blues, I run an occasional podcast series called The Esk Podcasts with Paul Quinn covering topics other than Everton Football Club. Today it’s about Lancashire County Cricket […]
The Analysis Series: The English and Major European Football Broadcast Rights Market
Summary The European football broadcast market is dominated by the English Premier League, a trend that is accelerating, driven by its international appeal. Other major leagues demonstrate pockets of strength […]
A detailed analysis of the Friedkin Group
Summary The Friedkin Group is a privately held consortium of global businesses and investments dominated by the strategic vision of its Chairman and CEO, Dan Friedkin. The Group generates its financial […]
The Analysis Series: Yo-yos and Parachutes; Premier League Relegation, Subsequent Performance, and Financial Impact (2010-2024)
Introduction Dropping out of the English Premier League represents one of the most significant financial shocks in world football. The gulf in revenue between England’s top tier and its second, […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – the Roma game, the stadium, what type of club do we want to be and on to transfers
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with Andy and George Costigan. We look back on a momentous day with the first capacity crowd at the Hill Dickenson stadium. We examine […]
The Analysis Series: Premier League Academy Productivity and Profitability (2015-2025)
For years, certainly the last decade or more, there’s been a huge focus on football club academies – both the positive and negative aspects. Many young children (both boys and girls) […]
The Analysis Series: Women’s Super League
The Analysis Series: Women’s Super League The success of the women’s national side, “the Lionesses” has undoubtedly contributed to the growth of women’s professional football in England, particularly the Women’s […]
The Analysis Series: The Independent Football Regulator
The Analysis Series: The Independent Football Regulator and its likely Impact on English Football The Football Governance Act 2025 which received Royal Assent on 21 July 2025, marks the end […]
The Analysis Series: Everton’s stadium development in the context of 30 plus years stadium development across Europe
With the Hill Dickenson Stadium just a few short days away from its first capacity crowd, I thought it would be interesting to compare the building of other stadia in England […]
The Analysis Series: An Analysis of Lenders, Debt, and Influence in English and European Football
Section 1: The Evolving Financial Landscape of English and European Football The financial architecture of European football is undergoing a profound transformation. Driven by an unprecedented surge in revenue, the […]
The role of truth and realism in Everton’s recovery & what it means in the transfer window
The role of truth and realism in Everton’s recovery “The one thing I’ll do is I’ll tell the fans straight, and I’m telling it straight at the moment, we’re having a bit […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – first US Tour game (0-3 v Blackburn) are fans getting what they deserve & changes to the women’s team ownership structure
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. We look back on the first game of the US tour and have wildly differing views on so much […]
The Analysis Series: The £4 Billion Paycheck: An Analysis of Wage Cost Growth and Financial Sustainability in the Premier League (2010-2024)
I. Summary This report provides a financial analysis of the English Premier League over the 15-season period from 2009/10 to 2023/24, with a specific focus on the growth of wage […]
The Analysis Series: Premier League Clubs’ Earnings from UEFA European Football Competitions (2010-Present)
Summary This report provides a comprehensive financial analysis of Premier League clubs’ earnings from UEFA European football competitions—the Champions League (UCL), Europa League (UEL), and Europa Conference League (UECL)—from the 2010/11 season […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – post Blackburn, pre USA and a whole load of more interesting stuff
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. This week George and Andy look back on the Blackburn game, before we scale each of our anxiety levels […]