He ain't heavy, he's my brother

Blood is thicker than water, and in these current climes, it's still thicker than an isotonic re-hydration drink. With that in mind, Chelsea seem to have shown some good sense in recruiting Thorgan Hazard to join his brother Eden. They join a long line of brothers to grace the top division of English football (assuming they play together that is, there is already talk of Hazard junior being loaned away).

Some of the other sets of brothers have been famous throughout the history of English football, and here we'll look at three sets, who played together at some point in their careers. Admittedly some did better than others, but it could well lead nicely into a piece about fathers and sons as well... There is a common club amongst the three, but don't hold that against me.

The Nevilles

The Oasis tribute act lacked the ability to write the theme tune, sing the theme tune...

The spawn of the infamous Neville Neville, Gary and Phil were products of the Manchester United youth teams of the 1990s, and seemed to be on a personal quest to rack up medals and enemies in equal measure. Right-back Gary made 400 appearances for United over nearly twenty years, as well as 85 caps for England. Phil was perhaps unfortunate to be seen as more of a utility player, but still made over 250 appearances, before being sold to Everton.

Gary seemed to inspire nothing but hate, especially amongst Liverpool fans. His frequent celebrations in front of them caused no end of issues, even resulting in an FA charge in 2006. Phil pissed off an entire country at Euro 2000, after his foul gave away a penalty against Romania, which led to England being eliminated in the group stage.

Gary has gone on to be a pundit for Sky and England coach, while Phil continues to play for Everton. And the fans continue to sing about "The Neville Family"...

The Charltons

Their Mum said "If you can't play together..."

Another pair of England internationals, Jack and Bobby were huge figures in the game throughout the 1950s, 60s and early 70s. World Cup winners both, and playing for rival clubs (Jack spent his entire playing career with Leeds, Bobby mostly at Manchester United).

Bobby was perhaps the more famous as a player, by virtue of being England's all time leading scorer, as well as winning three league titles and a European Cup. It's safe to say that Jack's managerial career was certainly of a higher profile, with his famous run as Ireland coach, taking them to two World Cups.

Definitely not as controversial as the Nevilles, but one feels like you can't take a piss in Old Trafford without bumping into Bobby hanging around, and no doubt Jack keeping the bar dry of Guinness.

The Wallaces

Hummel kits, a proper throwback

In October 1988, the Wallace brothers Rod, Danny and Ray all lined up for Southampton, becoming the first trio of brothers to line up for the same English professional team. The family connection didn't last too long however - Danny left within a year to join Manchester United, while Ray and Rod moved to Leeds in 1991.

Rod actually won the most medals, winning league titles with Leeds and Rangers. Danny's move to Manchester was bad timing, as the emergence of Ryan Giggs did for him, while Ray went to Birmingham and beyond. Danny was unfortunately diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but managed to complete the London Marathon in 2006.

It's a feat unlikely to be seen for a long time...

Others worth a mention...

Denis and Leslie Compton
Brian and Mark Stein
Kolo and Yaya Toure
Fabio and Rafael (more Man United?)
Frank and Ronald de Boer
Ronald and Erwin Koeman

European qualifiers - a hidden treasure

This close season has been a different one for me than usual. A pretty good Euro 2012 ended on July 1st, and with the build up to the Olympics, football is for once quite low down the sporting agenda, below cricket, tennis, golf, and the fortnightly procession of cars driving around in a circle that is known as Formula One.

This summer, I started another blog/website www.escapetosuomi.com, aimed at more of a niche market, namely Finnish football. My vested interest in the subject was the subject of an old post referring to my Finnish wife and being subjected to a stream of Finnish media, culture and sport.

Luckily I was already aware that the Finnish domestic league was one that played throughout the summer, and I got into it just before the resumption of European competition. The Champions League final was on May 19th, and the first qualifying round for the 2012/13 edition begun on July 3rd, just forty-five days later.

Liverpool play TNS in 2005, weeks after being crowned Champions of Europe

Back in 2005, England got it's first taste of early-season European action after Liverpool were crowbarred into the tournament they had just won, as UEFA rules had not previously allowed the holders direct entry, and finishing fifth meant they'd have been destined for the UEFA Cup. On the 13th of July, Liverpool entertained Welsh side TNS at Anfield in what would normally have been a friendly. A necessary evil?

Most of the 'smaller' clubs in Europe see their sides' continental ambitions live or die in July and August, before the bigger clubs even dust themselves down to go to the Monte Carlo draw. As part of my new brief, I actually went to Wales to see the second leg of the first round tie between Llanelli and KuPS (Mrs N's hometown team), and to see it from a different perspective was refreshing.

Llanelli's Stebonheath Park under the lights

534 brave souls turned out in the pissing rain, including around fifty from Kuopio. The home club were fantastic, treating it almost as a cup final (hope that doesn't sound too patronising!), the general manager was in contact regarding press passes to the game, and even the local mayor turned up. The prize on offer was a two-legged tie to the fourth best team in Israel, as well as €100,000. Not far away, second division Cefn Druids made it through by virtue of finishing runners-up in the Welsh Cup.

There is even the occasional shock: In this week's second qualifying round for the Champions League, Dudelange of Luxembourg (ranked 317 in UEFA rankings) recorded only their fourth ever European aggregate victory against Red Bull Salzburg (ranked 69th). It's not just the British who like an underdog, Twitter exploded with glee at the result, although there is the element of anti-establishment involved, with the splendid Mirko Bolesan noting how amusing it is when sides who destroy their history fall on their face, in reference to the owners, who appear to have proved that they do not give you wings.

Dudelange players enjoy their moment in the sun

English clubs scoff, ignore and mock these early ties. For some clubs, these are the life blood. Even a run to the play-off round in the Champions League can result in over two million Euros prize money. They'll never play in a final, and are unlikely to play any games past Christmas, but it means far more than any pre-season friendly. To see the UEFA flag above the small terrace and the exotic visitors is enough. Plus it keeps us minority bloggers in business before the big boys come back to the playground...

(SHAMELESS PLUG) And if you do have any interest in Finnish (or other occasional Scandinavian and European) football, feel free to head to Escape To Suomi...

Pre-season friendlies

No sooner had the Juan Mata's fourth goal for Spain against Italy hit the net, and Iker Casillas lifted the trophy, were some of the bigger clubs in Europe already preparing for next season. Last season's stars return bloated from their jaunts, roasting in Magaluf and acting the prat in Hollywood.

It's a time when the large visit the little, and the huge make voyages east and west. Pre-season friendlies seem to be less about blooding new stars and young players, and more about making a few extra quid in new markets.

Liverpool had to import fans from Malayia to fill the Kop

With the disparity in incomes between Premier League clubs and their lower division neighbours, some 'generous' big clubs often borrow facilities for reserve games, and boast of partnerships. The debt is often repaid by way of a glamorous July friendly, where the big club may unveil a new signing or two, and then chuck the kids on for the second half. A double figure victory later, and things return to normal for another year. Until the agreement falls through for various reasons, the friendly vanishes, and the smaller club loses a valuable cash cow, all so that the big team can play in Nigeria for a few notes.

The two handsome chaps in the background enjoy Barnet v Arsenal in 2008

The main reason for friendlies now is to earn big bucks and nothing else. Sell some shirts in Japan, boost the sponsorships with Koreans, try and win over a franchise in Texas. We see the footage on Sky Sports of thousands of young Asian youths fawning over Premier League players, wearing replica shirts. Clubs whoring themselves knowing they are due a new sponsor in a couple of seasons so they need to up the profile. Premier League clubs playing each other in Beijing, a slightly watered down version of the vulgar game 39 suggestion.

Tevez in front of a packed crowd

At the weekend, Manchester City lost 1-0 to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in a friendly played in Austria. Do the club even care that they lost? We'll see come May whether it was worth it.

Rangers feeling blue - Sunday League football at Ibrox?

They say Friday the 13th is unlucky for some. This month, on that date, the artist formerly known as Glasgow Rangers will find out at what level they will be playing their matches next season. It's safe to say that this is by far the highest profile case of club punishment ever seen in Britain. There have been relegations, points deductions and transfer embargoes, but a top-flight club potentially sentenced to non-league football is a very real spectre. Whether things will get that serious, it's huge.

Television companies will have to cope with at least one year without Old Firm derbies (in the league at least), another Scottish club finally get a crack at Champions League football (Motherwell), and Third Division players may get to play at Ibrox after all. It's all change in Scotland.

Club 12 open the season at home to Berwick

Their fellow Scottish Premier League clubs voted unanimously to expel Rangers from the division, and they now wait a vote of clubs in the Scottish Football League on Friday 13th July - the potential outcomes are likely to be either: Begin the new season in Division One, in place of either Dundee (runners-up last season), or Dunfermline (relegated from the SPL); go direct to Division Three, the bottom of the system (allowing other clubs to filter upwards); or not be allowed to enter the league at all, and be sentenced to limbo.

This site has never made pretentions of any serious journalism, and in Rangers' case I'd leave anything investigative to the peerless blog Rangers Tax Case, who has done more than most to expose the club and it's lies. I could add that it's pretty ironic that a club whose fans have such allegiance to the Queen, are willing to withold/swindle the Crown out of millions of pounds in tax...

Craig Whyte, wannabe Flock Of Seagulls frontman

There are several companies, big and small, that have suffered and been put out by the Rangers situation. Among them are Arsenal. Not directly perhaps, but as part of a century old partnership between the two clubs, Whyte sold sixteen shares in the London club, which had been held by Rangers since 1910 (Arsenal were going through financial difficulties at the time), then diverted the money away from Rangers. Arsenal fans have a right to be upset for more reason that one - the shares were sold the Alisher Usmanov fronted Red And White, while a close link between the clubs has been lost, possibly forever.

For all the flak thrown at fans of the Old Firm clubs, albeit a minority, it's hard to say that they deserve what has happened. Celtic went through huge financial difficulties in the late 80s/early 90s, and survived in their current form. The Rangers fans, who not that long ago were enjoying Champions League football, are now worried if they'll be playing league football at all.

These guys may get a game for new Rangers

Having been to Ibrox (albeit for a pre-season friendly in 1992 against Marseille), it was certainly a venue fit for the top flight. Ultimately, the club will bear the responsibility for the actions of those acting in it's name. That the purchase of the club could be leveraged against the future sales of tickets shows that the system is deeply flawed.

From Old Trafford to Stair Park, Rangers will be hoping in the back of their mind for any league football at all. They may not have many of their existing players left, but most importantly, the fans will remain.