Sign in

James Benge

@jamesbenge.bsky.social
18K followers 251 following 3K posts

Football Correspondent, CBS Views own

PostsRepliesMedia
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Probably OK Computer and Kid A
000
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
By about 50 days
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Oh mate that sounds awesome, I really enjoyed their new album after a few years being down on Gorillaz
110
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Yeah the first time I listened to Ghosteen after the birth of my daughter was like being smashed in the stomach with a sledgehammer. But hey, does this look like the list of someone who listens to music to have a jolly time?
060
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Have to keep this to one per artist don’t you or else it’s a pointless endeavour
10340
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
How different might the last 18 years have been for the likes of Aston Villa, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City were it not for the takeover? On the Premier League’s sliding doors moment
cbssports.com
Manchester City's 'sliding doors' moment: How the Premier League changed after Abu Dhabi started spending
A look back at how the 2008 Abu Dhabi takeover altered English football and closed the door on rising contenders like Aston Villa and Everton who were poised to challenge Premier League elite
4427
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
What happened to Leeds and Portsmouth when ambition was uncapped?
170
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
And now Manchester City thrust the Premier League ever deeper into limbo while they hunt for that “irrefutable evidence” of theirs.
cbssports.com
English football can punish Manchester City for violations, but can Premier League ever recover what was lost?
An appeal will delay any immediate sanctions, but a guilty verdict on 114 charges leaves 17 years of trophies, title races and rivals like Liverpool and Arsenal trapped in an existential fog
3422
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Yes very true - the volume of players they bought at the £50m range really set that as the market for a starter for a PL team in the Champions League
130
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
When Manchester City return to Premier League action next month, what will their games mean? Title contenders, fighting against relegation or an utter irrelevance? The league’s present, like its past, has been warped beyond repair.
cbssports.com
English football can punish Manchester City for violations, but can Premier League ever recover what was lost?
An appeal will delay any immediate sanctions, but a guilty verdict on 114 charges leaves 17 years of trophies, title races and rivals like Liverpool and Arsenal trapped in an existential fog
1414917
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
KMI panel ruled 5 to 0 that John Brookes had made an incorrect call awarding the penalty to Sunderland for what he viewed as a foul by Ezri Konsa on Dan Ballard. However by 3 to 2 they viewed it as correct that VAR didn’t intervene.
32723
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Some bullshit that Only Connect isn't an option
3110
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Sorry what is?
000
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Manchester United's attack really is fascinating for so many of the wrong reasons www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/...
140
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Bruno Fernandes wasn’t Manchester United’s problem against Fulham. All in all, he was good by the standards of his position. It’s just that Manchester United need him to be better than that. If he isn’t the best playmaker in the league, their attack is toothless.
cbssports.com
Manchester United's big problem: When Bruno Fernandes isn't brilliant, Red Devils are ordinary
A fortunate equalizer at Fulham masks deep structural issues for Michael Carrick as his attack struggles when Bruno Fernandes isn't at his best
0140
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
FT Fulham 1, Manchester United 1 - In the end an avalanche of mediocre shots overwhelmed Fulham, who looked the better team in a pretty ordinary contest. The best you could say for United is it didn't get dramatically worse.
0130
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Such an impressive game from Iwobi with and without the ball. He showed game intelligence in his every action, his movement to receive the ball creating space for himself and others. Can't shake the sense that United made him look even better but he is a high grade PL pro.
4560
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Not sure the TV cameras will have spotted how abysmal United's defending of their left flank was just there. Robinson advances, Mbeumo does not track at all. Iwobi moves infield and through it all Dalot seems trapped with decision paralysis, taking the worst of many bad options.
1130
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
It should be frightening for United how easily Fulham are driving passes between their lines. Iwobi, Garcia and King very mobile in their positioning and too often their opponent is several steps behind.
141
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
In what way?
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Most non-penalty expected goals allowed in a game in Europe's top five leagues this season Racing Santander - 4.38 vs. Barcelona Manchester City - 4.25 vs. Sunderland Athletic Club - 4.23 vs. Barcelona Valencia - 4.08 vs. Barcelona Stuttgart - 4.06 vs. Bayern Munich
1304
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Can scarcely imagine a more perfect for Fulham (h)
080
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Weird one, before today Arsenal had allowed six shots that Opta judges as low pressure (i.e. defenders not really closing down) across their first four PL games. They've allowed three just in that first half against Brighton. They've conceded twice.
3605
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Something deeply uncomfortable about some of the noise being made about a 15 year old footballer. However good he might eventually grow up to be, he's a kid. He is entitled to the space to be that for a fair while yet.
5700
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Sorry, what is going on?
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
It's a subjective decision. It is therefore a matter of debate. I think it's pretty clear that, in comparison to Man City's goal, there is more room to debate the call. And most, if not every, sport have high consequence decisions that are subject to the opinion of officials.
240
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Arsenal seeking explanation from Pro Ref over dead ball officiating after Sunderland’s penalty award on Saturday.
cbssports.com
Premier League referees very bad weekend: Manchester United get apology, Arsenal seek explanation
The Gunners are demanding clarity on set-piece officiating against Sunderland as referees admit a crucial VAR error cost United in the Manchester derby.
3472
Reposted by James Benge
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Roberto de Zerbi says if Tottenham can push for longer then the scoring runs will come. On Tottenham’s scoring constipation.
cbssports.com
Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham struggle to 'unblock ourselves' as goalless streak extends to four games
A 0-0 draw with Everton leaves Tottenham improved but still in desperate need of attacking punch
6394
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Roberto de Zerbi says if Tottenham can push for longer then the scoring runs will come. On Tottenham’s scoring constipation.
cbssports.com
Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham struggle to 'unblock ourselves' as goalless streak extends to four games
A 0-0 draw with Everton leaves Tottenham improved but still in desperate need of attacking punch
6394
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Didn't feel nervous to me at any stage. Early on quite optimistic and expectant but a switch flicked just before half time and they were pretty miffed from there on out.
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
TV cameras pick up a placard held aloft by one of the Tottenham fans. "Please score a goal" it says.
5545
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
FT Tottenham 0, Everton 0 - Some boos at the end of a game that started so brightly for Spurs. Roberto De Zerbi giving Tel a dressing down on the pitch that *seems* to the way he was receiving the ball. There was one particular attack where he knocked the ball backwards under no pressure.
4290
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
An hour played here at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Half of Spurs' 0.34 xG has come from Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson.
1210
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Kind of assigned myself
210
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
HT Spurs 0, Everton 0 - Tottenham still the better team but lacking some of the burst from earlier in the game. 21 touches in the penalty area really ought to result in more than 0.32 xG.
380
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Strong start by Tottenham. Van Hecke's passing very zippy from deep. Gray and Fernandes swapping in and out of the right half space quite nicely. Spurs just need better shot selection.
380
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
To be clear, you raised the headline here. It was, you said, a specific issue you had with what I had written about Gyokeres. It was, you are now are, not written by me.
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
By answering your question?
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I’m fine with it
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Do you think I write the headlines?
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I think it’s pretty pointless trying to discuss this if you’re working from an assumption of personal animus towards Gyokeres (“knives out”). It flattens interesting debate. I don’t know Gyokeres, I don’t remember ever having spoken to him but I am very at ease about how fairly I’ve covered him.
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
That Arsenal were successful without Havertz does not mean they would not have been more successful with him. As for this implication that I’m swinging for a punching bag, I am not. I simply write about what I’m interested in, for instance a subpar outlier in an excellent team display,
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
If the back up striker can’t be good in such favourable circumstances then how often is the manager going to pick him? And if the manager doesn’t feel compelled to pick him, how is Havertz going to arrive in April playing anything like as well as he is now?
220
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Not greatly, no. Most of those chances created are passed where the following action is a low value shot, hardly through balls that tee someone up for a prime shooting chance.
110
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
He created four chances. He created no big chances.
110
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
No. If he were he would have got shots.
120
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Ok well I’m yet “yet to see much evidence of these adequate for Arsenal’s level forwards who stand in the right spots but don’t pose any serious threat to goalkeepers.”
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
That was not my experience of watching the game. I watch a lot of games, Arsenal and otherwise, and am yet to see much evidence of these elite forwards who stand in the right spots but don’t pose any serious threat to goalkeepers.
100
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
It’s intellectually vapid to assume click bait because you don’t agree with something.
140
James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
That wouldn’t be as interesting as how, in a game where Arsenal’s attack was functioning, Gyokeres was a non event
210