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Sadiq Umar’s Resurgence in Almeria
Since announcing himself to the world on the big stage with four goals that helped Nigeria to a Bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics, Sadiq Umar has struggled to meet the weight of expectations on his broad shoulders. In Rio, Sadiq painted the picture of a young, lanky striker who was just as talented as…
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Jose Mourinho to Roma: The Special One Drinking in Very Last Chance Saloon
9th March 2004 and 26th May 2004, two dates that live long in the memory, two dates that made someone in their professional field the hottest possible commodity, two dates that launched the career of one of 21st-century football’s most prominent figures. The first of the two dates saw Costinha score a 90th-minute goal at Old…
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Player Analysis: Joaquín Correa
During his time as coach of Lazio, Simone Inzaghi has demonstrated the ability to get the best out of the players at his disposal as well as improve their skills. Since he was appointed as head coach of the Aquile in the summer of 2016, the former striker has been able to integrate players into…
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What Can Be Learnt About Football From Analysing 2018/19 Borussia Dortmund
Bolstering the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Christian Pulisic, Jadon Sancho, Julian Weigl and Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund were one of the most exciting teams to watch during the 2018/19 season. They forced games to be constantly played on the transition through their attacking football always played on the front foot, and they used fast attacks…
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The Rise and Fall of Eskişehirspor
Last season, İstanbul Başakşehir won the league title; this season, they are fighting relegation. Whilst Başakşehir are the most extreme and recent example of these drastic swings in form, they’re far from the only club that’s had its share of highs and lows. In Turkey, it is clear that flying high for a certain amount…
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Allegations, Autocrats and the ACL: FC Istiklol & Tajikistan’s Footballing Powerhouse
On Friday, April 30, 2021, FC Istiklol became the first-ever Tajik club to reach the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League. This capped off a dream debut in the competition for the Dushanbe-based side on a night of confusing and conflicting emotions; Istiklol were beaten on the night by Uzbekistan’s AGMK in a frustrating…
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Two Leagues, Five Perspectives: The Lowdown On the Ligue 1 & La Liga Title Races
The curtain will soon come down on the 2020/21 European football season. The ongoing Covid-19 crisis globally has seen football stadiums and their stands lying empty as the sport continues behind closed doors. One only hopes increased vaccination campaigns throughout Europe will finally see an end to empty stadiums for the entirety of the 2021/22…
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Attacking in a Front Five vs. a 4-4-2
Attacking with a front five is becoming more and more common in modern football. This is largely because it is paramount to positional play. Positional play is predicated on the occupation of specific spaces and zones, and attacking with a front five facilitates occupation of the five vertical corridors associated with positional play (two wide…
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Tactical Analysis: Steven Gerrard’s Rangers
After 10 years of waiting, Rangers put an end to Celtic’s domestic dominance by winning the Scottish Premiership this season. Their 55th title, which is the most of any club in the world, was a much-awaited one as it marks the end of an arduous decade for the club. The club wrapped up the title…
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Player Analysis: James Garner
James Garner, the Manchester United prodigy, the player they managed to bring to their youth academy having being brought up in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Garner is signed to Manchester United until 2022 with the club holding an option of another year. In the 2019/20 season, Garner was promoted to the first team starting eleven for Europa League group…
