Articles
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Tactical Analysis: Compactness and Coverage in Possession
The most cited quotation in tactical theory can be attributed to Johan Cruyff, who once said, “If you have the ball you must make the field as big as possible, and if you don’t have the ball you must make it as small as possible.” This is for good reason, as it encapsulates a…
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Player Analysis: Jack Grealish Under Gareth Southgate
One of the shining lights from England’s November Internationals was Jack Grealish’s prevalence as an important player for England manager Gareth Southgate. Previously, Grealish was very much on the fringes for the Three Lions after taking what felt like an eternity for him to get his first senior call-up. Over the last few years,…
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Are Alexandre Lacazette and Roberto Firmino Really Underperforming ? A Comparison With the Other No 9’s in the Premier League
Recently, when Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was bombarded with questions on Roberto Firmino’s diminishing goal-scoring record, he said: “I don’t have to say one word about Bobby Firmino and how important he is for us, I don’t waste time with that. He was in so many games the difference-maker without scoring maybe, I’m not…
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Jill Ellis: A Hero Born Out of Scrutiny
Prior to 2019, only one manager in the history of football had won two successive World Cups. That man was Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo, who led his nation to football’s biggest prize in 1934 and 1938. With a star cast at his disposal, his innovativeness was great to watch and he etched his name as one…
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The Redemption of Louis van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar
What can be said about Louis van Gaal? The legendary Dutch manager is a winner; a visionary; a stern pragmatist. No matter what way one looks at him, his brilliance precedes his arrogance, for success was never too far away from him. Early in his managerial career, he changed the method at Ajax, forming…
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Player Analysis: Yunus Musah
From Giovanni Reyna to Christian Pulisic to Weston McKennie to Tyler Adams, the United States currently boasts an unprecedented amount of young talents playing in Europe’s top 5 leagues, and it appears as though the next American prospect could be on the horizon. At 17 years of age, Yunus Musah finds himself entrenched in a…
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The Making Of An Iconic Football Kit – Inside The Game
A club’s football kit is often the most prized possession of a football fan who can wear the same outfit of their beloved team and their favourite player while willing their charges on from inside the ground or from afar. Wearing your team’s shirt is a conversation starter on the train, a reason for curious…
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Tactical Analysis: Southampton 2020/21
“Just over a year since their lowest point, Southampton reach their highest point”, said Sky Sports commentator Rob Hawthorne as Southampton, albeit temporarily, rose to the top of the Premier League for the first time in their history after a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle on the most recent Friday Night Football. Southampton sat…
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Premier League Predictions: Matchday Nine
The Premier League returns from an eventful international break, with clubs wanting to start Matchday Nine with a win. Here is what to watch out for. Newcastle vs Chelsea After a disappointing defeat at Southampton, the international break brought added worries for Newcastle, as Miguel Almirón’s agent Daniel Campos hinted the forward is ready…
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Filip Djuričić’s Second Youth at Sassuolo
When Filip Djuričić arrived at southern Italian club Benevento in January 2018, it seemed that his career was at the crossroads. It wasn’t long ago that Djuričić was on the cusp of signing for Manchester United, only for work permit issues to scupper the deal as the young Serb would have been forced to…
