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The Renaissance of Gaël Kakuta
Chelsea youngsters and loan moves away; a story as old as time. A forgotten man in many regards, Gaël Kakuta epitomised Chelsea’s extensive loan policy, and for someone who promised so much, his career nosedived before it had really even begun. Before their recent transfer ban and the appointment of Frank Lampard as manager,…
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Scouting Report: Cheick Doucouré
A first-round European Cup tie on a chilly October evening hung in the balance. It was 1969 and the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard was packed to the rafters. There was no doubt that Saint-Étienne had fought hard and, despite levelling up the 2-0 advantage Bayern Munich held from the first leg, the imperious German outfit still remained…
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Mathew Benham & Brentford: A Story on Innovation through Statistical Analysis
In the world of football these days, it takes bold minds, great thinkers, risk-takers and innovators to change the usual norm, to use a limited budget to achieve success, to outthink the richer clubs, and to use unorthodox methods to succeed in a hugely competitive sport. This is exactly what Mathew Benham has achieved at…
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A Theoretical and Statistical Analysis of WSL Defenders
The development of football as a sport has undeniably been enormous over the last century. Rules, tactics, infrastructure and various other aspects of the game have gradually evolved over time and continue to grow. And although it might not be the most historical on paper, the WSL (and hence, women’s football too) has also undergone…
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Player Analysis: Antonín Barák
When Antonín Barák arrived in Italy in the summer of 2017, it seemed that Udinese had discovered another hidden gem. A tall and slender playmaker who was languid in movement, the Czech international was not blessed with much speed, but he possessed clean technique on the ball. With the Zebrette, he scored seven goals in…
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Data Analysis: Gabriel Menino
In just one year, Gabriel Menino has reached heights that most Brazilian youngsters can only dream of. After making his professional debut in a 4-0 victory over Ituano on January 22, 2020, Menino quickly cemented a starting spot for Palmeiras, received a call-up to the Brazilian national team, and reached the Copa do Brasil Final.…
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Why Cologne Is the Fresh Start Emmanuel Dennis Needed
For football fans that are neither Nigerian nor Club Brugge supporters, the name Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis is not one that particularly rings a bell. Most people only remember him as the guy that scored a brace for Club Brugge, and then performed the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo celebration in a Champions League group stage match against…
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Player Analysis: Rúben Dias
Under the management of Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have been a record-breaking, effective force in the Premier League, mainly recognized for their free-flowing, attacking football and possession-based style of play. But despite splurging over £300 million on defenders throughout Guardiola’s reign, the Spaniard has struggled to find a consistent back four. However, that issue has…
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Player Analysis: Abdoulaye Doucouré
Carlo Ancelotti in his first full season as an Everton manager decided to change the outlook of his squad. It was clear from last season that Everton needed major changes across different departments after Ancelotti managed to salvage their season with a respectable mid-table finish (12th) in the league after a disastrous first half of…
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How Philosophies Shape the Coaching Narrative
There are a great number of things that differentiate the managers at the top end of world football. Capturing all that nuance in the general football discourse has never been a priority of the culture around this sport; what you end up with is broad categorisations for managers that are impossible to escape whenever they…
