Articles
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Toronto FC Crash out of MLS Playoffs at First Round
Toronto FC was defeated in its first game of the 2020 MLS Playoffs. One of the tournament favourites bowed out early at the hands of a capable Nashville SC who advances in the competition thanks to an overtime goal by super-sub Daniel Armando Ríos, who became Nashville’s first ever MLS player after joining from Chivas…
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Premier League Predictions: Matchday Ten
With it being FA Cup weekend across the lower leagues of English football, can Matchday Ten provide possible shocks and upsets? We analyse the matchups. Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United The announcement of Wilfried Zaha testing positive for COVID-19 came as a blow for Crystal Palace, especially as it came just a few…
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The Making of Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger is one of the most revered men in football. Not only is he a brilliant manager, he’s also a motivator, a teacher, a confidant and an eternal student of the beautiful game. Nevertheless, his final years at Arsenal were marred by everyone in the footballing world having an opinion on whether he should…
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Ross Barkley’s Rebirth at Aston Villa
Since arriving on loan on September 30, Ross Barkley has gone from being a fringe player at Chelsea to being a key performer for Aston Villa. Barkley’s path to the starting line-up was put in jeopardy after the arrivals of Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, but since trading London for Birmingham, he is making a…
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Player Analysis: Douglas Luiz
After being relegated for the first time in 29 years, Aston Villa spent three years in England’s second tier before winning the Championship play-off against Derby County and booking their ticket to the Premier League. Eager to avoid the mistakes of 2015/16, Villa spent nearly £140 million on transfers as they looked to reinforce their…
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Gabriel Martinelli: The Unconventional Road to the Top
The fact that Gabriel Martinelli is set to return from injury well ahead of schedule is no surprise to those who know the young Brazilian. The São Paulo-born forward has fought for everything he’s got in the game, working his way from amateur football in Brazil to the dizzying heights of the Premier League in…
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Tactical Analysis: Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain
On November 20, Monaco welcomed Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Louis II, in search of a victory to continue their two-match winning streak. Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel’s side looked to build on their impressive form prior to the international break and add onto their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table. With star…
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Player Analysis: Orkun Kökçü
Inside the Grote Kerk church in Haarlem lies one of the world’s most famous organs. It is renowned for its decoration and has been played through the centuries by celebrated musicians such as Mozart. This city in the western Netherlands has a history of producing works of art and, in Orkun Kökçü, looks to have…
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José Mourinho: The Inter Years
At the end of August 2018, following a 3-0 defeat of Manchester United at home to Tottenham Hotspur, a frustrated José Mourinho quoted the German philosopher, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, in defence of himself when asked whether he was still one of the world’s great managers. “Did you read any philosopher? You spent time…
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How Unai Emery’s Villarreal Maneuvered Getafe’s 4-4-2 High Press
Out of all the 20 teams in La Liga, José Bordalás’s Getafe are the most antithetical to the possession-heavy style of play that has encompassed Spanish football over the past decade. Their extremely direct play in possession combined with their high intensity, physical pressing off the ball has been a constant menace for most sides…
