Articles
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Player Analysis: Calvin Ramsay
Scotland’s ability to produce world-class full backs in recent years has rightfully been well commended with Kieran Tierney and Andrew Robertson becoming two of the best in Europe. However, that has not translated to the right back position where Motherwell’s Stephen O’Donnell has tended to be the number one choice in recent years. But…
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Player Analysis: Franck Kessié
Franck Kessié left his native Ivory Coast when he was 18 years old. He had already made appearances for his country at senior level before he made the move to Italy in 2015. Despite some struggles adapting to Italian football, the 24-year-old has become one of the best midfielders in the league. Kessié came…
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Previewing Matchday 5 of the Premier League Season
It has been a sensational week of football that has seen the return of European club competition, a jam-packed midweek fixture that resulted in a mixed bag of results for English clubs. The reigning Champions League winners narrowly defeated Zenit at home via a late goal from Romelu Lukaku, whilst last season’s finalists defeated RB…
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Each Premier League Side’s Signing of the Summer
Now that the summer transfer window is shut, we can get back to strictly the business of football on the pitch. With that in mind, who was the key summer signing for each Premier League club? Before starting, a few variables were considered when choosing these picks: the price paid for the player, the age…
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Demystifying a Legend: Didier Drogba
Ivorian and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is widely regarded as one of the greatest African strikers of all time and is up there with the best in Premier League history. And while he did enough in his fantastic career to earn that reputation, some might argue he could have done more considering the immense talent…
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Analyzing Rafa Benítez’s Immediate Impact at Everton
For many, supporting a football club can feel like being on a rollercoaster, with endless twists and turns and plenty of fun along the way. But at Everton, it feels more like a doom-laden, ‘gritty realism’ horror movie, with the latest change of narrative dividing its loyal fan base six ways from Sunday. Over…
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Tactical Analysis: Lazio vs. Milan
As the club season gets underway and we enjoy the madcap lunacy that is Serie A with each passing game, Sunday brought us one of the first ‘big seven’ clashes of the season. Lazio’s Maurizio Sarri-balling apostles came up against an exciting Milan team whose progress under Stefano Pioli can’t help but be admired. …
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The Team of Matchday 4 of the 2021/22 Premier League Season
One of the most controversial international breaks of the past few years has come to an end, and the Premier League has now returned with various emotionally gripping and tactically fascinating matches. A week that brought us the second debut of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United and the first victories of the season for Arsenal…
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The Tactical Evolution of Cristiano Ronaldo
Chapter 1: A Star is Born Cristiano Ronaldo broke through at Sporting at the age of 16 under manager Laszlo Boloni, and it was clear from the very start that he was one of the best talents in Europe at that time. Initially, Cristiano played as a pure winger, attacking the byline and crossing…
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Traps, Overloads and Vertical Transitions – Benitez’s Everton’s Use of Wide Pressing Traps and How It Can Facilitate the Toffees in Possession Approach
As Everton meandered to another mid-table finish in Carlo Ancelotti’s first full season, something which has become more common than not in recent years, it suffices to say Everton fans looked ahead to the summer transfer window wondering what direction Ancelotti and Marcel Brands would take Everton’s squad, some with trepidation considering the scattergun recruitment…
