-
![]()
Player Analysis: Arthur Cabral
A 23-year-old Brazilian striker who has 57 goals and assists in his last 62 games; somehow, Arthur Cabral is yet to gain the praise he truly deserves. Attention is beginning to burgeon, especially since West Ham have reportedly made a recent £17m bid for him. The hammers are not the only Premier League club…
-
![]()
Player Analysis: Rafa Silva
Rafael Alexandre Fernandes Ferreira da Silva, more commonly known as “Rafa” in the football world, is continuing his great run of form at Benfica for the fourth consecutive season of what is year 6 of his contract at the club. Now at age 28, he seems to have nearly perfected his game. With 22…
-
![]()
Data Analysis: José Mourinho’s Roma
There is no manager in world football who causes as much divisiveness among journalists, pundits, and supporters as Jose Mourinho. His AS Roma tenure has only just begun, yet the narrative around his team has already swung one extreme to the other — from potential title contenders to underachievers who may struggle to qualify for…
-
![]()
Jorginho – Chelsea’s Main Man in the Middle Comes Third in the Ballon d’Or Rankings
There’s always some controversy when the latest Ballon d’Or rankings come around, none more so this year when Robert Lewandowski was pipped to the prestigious award by now seven-time winner Lionel Messi. Simon Kjaer’s ranking raised a few eyebrows too, making it into the top 20 in 18th. A formidable presence at the back…
-
![]()
Redefining the Fullback Position: Joao Cancelo and Trent Alexander-Arnold
Traditionally, the fullback positions on the pitch, either in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 system were generally saddled with the major responsibility of defending, by stopping the opposition’s wingers and or wing forwards from creating goal-scoring situations as well as covering up spaces for center backs who move out of position. On top of that,…
-
![]()
Birmingham’s Glorious Gunners: How Seb Larsson, Nicklas Bendtner and Fabrice Muamba Made Their Name
For many clubs, falling from established Premier League status to the Championship bears resemblance to the infamous story of when rapper Coolio dived into the crowd at a gig in Stoke-on-Trent only to be robbed and injured by those in attendance. One moment, everyone below you is watching on in envy, merely standing and…
-
![]()
Scipio Africanus and the Carthaginians: The Flank Dilemma in the Premier League
“I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war, by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country,” – US Army General George S. Patton. As funny as this may sound, the famous general was actually right. But the question is,…
-
![]()
Tactical Analysis: Paolo Zanetti’s Venezia
Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world. Known for its narrow canals, and tourist attractions like the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Cathedral, the Italian city is picturesque and has drawn visitors from all over the planet. Its football team Venezia does not boast a particularly illustrious history, but the…
-
![]()
Player Analysis: Samson Akinyoola
Goals garner attention; this is nothing new within the footballing ecosystem. Good goals get clicks, whilst good goalscorers get famous; with this in mind, it is no surprise that they are the most lauded and sought after commodity in football. Increasingly teams are willing to risk financial failure on forwards who play at a…
-
![]()
The Fall of Bulgarian Football: A Sad Decline or Corrupted Farce?
The year is 1993, 17th of November. Bulgaria, in the face of Emil Kostadinov, have just managed an extraordinary goal in the dying seconds of stoppage time against France to go to the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the expense of their opposition. Despite Bulgaria having a history of being a tricky side over…
