Articles
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Player Analysis: Ravil Tagir
When it comes to centre backs, Turkey are spoiled for choice at the moment. In Çağlar Söyüncü, Kaan Ayhan, Merih Demiral and Ozan Kabak, national team coach Şenol Güneş has a wealth of defensive ability to call upon, and that production line doesn’t look likely to stop any time soon. Ravil Tagir is a…
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The Tactical Blueprint Behind Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus
Before I begin with my tactical analysis of Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus, I’d like to give a massive thanks to @DaliborPlavsic_ for providing the Italian manager’s translated thesis. Being appointed manager at one of the world’s biggest clubs with little to no prior coaching experience is an inconceivable feat, unless your name carries the same…
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Jospin Nshimirimana: Burundi’s Best-kept Secret
Jospin Nshimirimana was born in Mutimbuzi, a commune in the west of Burundi, on 12 December 2001. He joined local club New Regime when he was very young and played there for a number of seasons prior to joining Delta Star who, at the time, were in the lower divisions of the Burundian football league…
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Data Analysis: Belgium’s Top Three U-23 Right Backs
From Victor Osimhen to Kalidou Koulibaly to Wilfred Ndidi, Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League has produced a treasure trove of elite talents in recent years. In this article, we will analyze three of the highest-rated right backs in Belgium’s top flight: Genk’s Joakim Mæhle, Antwerp’s Aurélio Buta, and Gent’s Alessio Castro-Montes. Issa Kaboré (19) has…
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How José Bordalás Has Transformed Getafe
There he stood, hair slicked to the side, black jacket waving in the wind as his eyes scanned the Coliseum. The September wind in Madrid was cool, but the football was not. Here, Getafe were on fire. It comes as a relief that José Bordalás has belatedly begun receiving praise for his management. Unceremoniously…
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Scouting Report: Burak İnce
It is the 87th minute in a game in 1. Lig, Turkey’s second division, between Boluspor and Altınordu. The two teams are drawing 1-1, when a ball is played up field on the counterattack. Altınordu winger Ahmet Dereli runs onto the loose pass, squaring a perfect ball to the supporting midfielder. He takes one…
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How Leicester City Are Sustaining Their Place Amongst England’s Elite
Leicester City are not usually considered part of English football’s elite. Rarely are they described as one of the Premier League’s top teams, and even a recent title win wasn’t enough to convince fans they were here to stay. However, after another season challenging for a Champions League spot, it is fair to call…
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Player Analysis: Luca Pellegrini
Italy has been a production line of defenders for decades, and with a new generation emerging, it is not surprising that there are some promising talents who can feature in the Azzurri defence in the future. Left back is one of those positions which the Italians have been blessed with talent. Starting from Renzo…
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Player Analysis: Rayan Aït-Nouri
After purchasing the Ligue 2 club for €1.3 million in 2011, Angers club president Saïd Chabane knew that to climb up the ranks of French football and become a sustainable, profitable club, a strong academy was needed. One that could generate quality assets for the first team that could also become another revenue stream. The…
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Roberto Baggio: The Legend of Il Divino Codino
The mullet. The number ten. Echoing cries of ‘é fino di Baggio’ from high up in the gantry. Few would’ve expected the Divine Ponytail to recover from that many setbacks. But here he was. Eight years after he scared Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi to pieces at the San Siro, Baggio simply drifted beyond…
