Christopher Davies - The Japan Times

November 01, 2025

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Christopher Davies

Christopher Davies of the London Daily Telegraph is one of Britain's most prominent soccer writers. He regularly covers Premier League powers Arsenal and Chelsea in the Champions League, and he covers the Republic of Ireland internationally. Davies has covered eight World Cups and is a former chairman of the Football Writers' Association in England.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Jul 13, 2018

Future bright for England after trip to semis

There are two ways of looking at England in the 2018 World Cup. By almost unanimous agreement, England overachieved by reaching the semifinals and, because of the 2-1 loss to Croatia, playing Belgium in Saturday's third place playoff. The quarterfinals was the best most back home expected, or realistically...

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Jun 29, 2018

England's lack of depth a significant concern

There are two ways of looking at England's 1-0 defeat by Belgium. Finishing second in Group H meant that on Tuesday, England plays Colombia with the prospect of either Switzerland or Sweden for the winner. Group winner Belgium meets Japan on Monday and the winner of that game faces Brazil or Mexico....

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Jun 15, 2018

England hoping to end major tournament jinx

England has been there, seen it, but not done it over the past two major international football tournaments, failing to progress from the group stage with embarrassing results against countries perceived as minnows.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Jun 1, 2018

Southgate will keep World Cup foes guessing

With two friendly matches before the real thing gets underway in Russia you would think coaches should select the team with which they hope to open their 2018 World Cup campaign.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

May 18, 2018

Antonio Conte looks to give Chelsea a trophy on way out

If the Chelsea players want to give Antonio Conte a farewell present of winning the F.A. Cup final against Manchester United on Saturday, they will have to raise their game considerably from the shambolic, error-ridden performance in the 3-0 defeat by Newcastle United last Sunday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

May 4, 2018

Putting Wenger's long run into perspective

Arsene Wenger will be given a hero's farewell at Emirates Stadium on Sunday when Arsenal plays Burnley, though the genuine affection rightly afforded him will be matched by a sense of relief that the greatest manager in the club's history is leaving after 22 years.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Apr 20, 2018

Man United faithful restless with Mourinho

Manchester United could probably have had Pep Guardiola, but in January 2013 the Catalan had agreed to take over at Bayern Munich. Instead, four months later, United appointed David Moyes as Alex Ferguson's successor.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Apr 6, 2018

Mighty Man City given reality check by Liverpool

Manchester City has collected compliments and plaudits almost on a weekly basis this season and rightly so, though the premature if inevitable claims about Pep Guardiola's team being the best English side of all-time took a severe dent when Liverpool thrashed — not too strong a word — the visitors...

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Mar 22, 2018

Gareth Southgate faces difficult decisions to select England lineup for World Cup

As the countdown to Russia 2018 begins, England head coach Gareth Southgate does not so much have a selection headache as a full-blown migraine. The fact is that too many England players either aren't playing or aren't playing well.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Mar 9, 2018

Wenger putting off the inevitable

Yes, it was a big win. No, Arsenal was not expected to beat AC Milan 2-0 at San Siro in the Europa League.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Jan 26, 2018

Clock ticking on Conte's time with Chelsea

"Antonio Conte has left his post as head coach of Chelsea. The club would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future."

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Jan 12, 2018

Liverpool moving on with Coutinho gone

Come May, Philippe Coutinho will probably have a La Liga and possibly a Copa del Rey winners' medal. He cannot play for Barcelona in the Champions League as he is ineligible, but two — even one — medal would be welcome because they would be the first club honors the Brazil midfielder, 25, has won....

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Dec 29, 2017

Gap between big and small clubs a real issue

You could imagine the Sky Sports executives' expressions as they heard soccer pundit Jamie Carragher at halftime during Manchester City's 1-0 win at Newcastle on Wednesday.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Dec 15, 2017

Sean Dyche has Burnley moving in right direction

The Visit Lancashire website lists as one of the things to see in Burnley as the "iconic Singing Ringing Tree which towers high above Burnley on Crown Point Moor and has been named in the top 10 pieces of 'sound art' in the world."

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Dec 1, 2017

Everton turns to Sam Allardyce in bid to stay up

"Sam Allardyce has resigned as manager of Crystal Palace and says he has 'no ambition to take another job' in football."

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Nov 17, 2017

Spurs likely to come up short again in title hunt

Such is the standard Manchester City are setting this season, an away draw against a title rival can no longer be considered a good result.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Nov 3, 2017

Mourinho's strategy not yielding desired results

Jose Mourinho returns to Chelsea on Sunday and it is the safest of bets that Saturday's press conference will fire the first bullets ahead of a match neither side can afford to lose. Antonio Conte will inevitably be in Mourinho's sights, but to the many targets for the Vitriolic One was added Manchester...

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Oct 20, 2017

Man City's De Bruyne in a league of his own

To death and taxes as the only certainties in life can, for managers on Planet Football, be added a blunder in the transfer market that comes back to haunt them.

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Oct 6, 2017

England uninspiring in victory over Slovenia

Gareth Southgate wanted England to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals in style. Harry Kane's late winner in the 1-0 win over Slovenia on Thursday sealed England's place in Russia, but a match of numbing tedium was so poor Sunday's now academic final group match in Lithuania will test the loyalty of...

Japan Times

SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT

Sep 22, 2017

Multiple issues keep Liverpool from contending

Despite being only five points behind joint-leaders Manchester City and Manchester United, Jürgen Klopp knows that Liverpool will not win the Premier League title. If Liverpool is some way behind the Manchester duo plus Chelsea in terms of defensive quality if not points, it has been lapped by the cream...

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.

Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell

By Alex K.T. Martin

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