Articles
-
![]()
Wendel : The Future of Brazil’s Midfield?
At the end of the 2017, Fluminese’s young Brazilian midfielder Marcus Wendel Valle da Silva, commonly known as Wendel was linked with a move to PSG. The Parisian club even sent a delegation to Rio de Janeiro to strike a deal with Fluminense. Despite finding an agreement, PSG withdrew their interest in the player…
-
![]()
The Journey of Ariel Holan: What to Expect From the Candidate for the Atlanta United Job
Atlanta United currently find themselves at a crossroads. The franchise’s first two years of existence, characterised by investment in young South American talent and a free flowing, high pressing and devastating brand of football culminating in a 2018 MLS Cup win, set an impossibly high standard to follow in the near future. As Gerardo…
-
![]()
Scouting Report: Saïd Benrahma
Since saving Brentford FC from bankruptcy in 2012, Matthew Benham has done an astounding job of changing the way the club is viewed. Over the years, he has invested in rebuilding the academy, reinventing training facilities, and constructing one of the best analytics departments in the country. On top of all of that, Brentford are…
-
![]()
Scouting Report: Sander Berge
Heads turned when newly-promoted English side Sheffield United secured the signing of 21-year old Norwegian international Sander Berge from Belgian champions Genk in January 2020. Having joined Genk three years prior as a replacement for the outgoing Wilfred Ndidi, Berge had emerged as a rock in the heart of midfield, earning interest from Manchester United,…
-
![]()
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Emerging Modern Full-back or Center Back in the Making?
The purchase of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace for £49.50m in the summer of 2019 was seen as an important aspect of a defensive overhaul at Manchester United. The Red Devils had spent the past few seasons hanging by a thread defensively, leaning heavily on the shot-stopping heroics of David De Gea. Following the…
-
![]()
Ismaïla Sarr: The Senegalese Star Who’s Thriving at Vicarage Road
On December 14, 2019, top-of-the-table Liverpool faced off against relegation strugglers Watford, in their final Premier League match before taking off for the Club World Cup in Qatar. The Reds won 2-0 courtesy of a Mohammed Salah brace, but the game wasn’t as one-sided as the scoreline suggested. The visitors created several chances throughout…
-
![]()
Tactical Analysis: Arsenal vs. Watford
In their final match of the 2019/20 Premier League season, Arsenal took on Watford, who were in dire need of a victory in order to stay up. But Arsenal’s attack proved to be too strong for Watford’s helpless defence, and the Hornets themselves 3-0 down within half an hour. The game eventually ended up…
-
![]()
How Claudio Ranieri Steered Sampdoria to Safety
Sampdoria were in a colossal crisis in the early stages of the 2019/20 Serie A season, but the Ligurian club slowly worked its way out of trouble and avoided relegation. After losing six out of the opening seven league matches, the Blucerchiati replaced manager Eusebio Di Francesco with Claudio Ranieri, the man who had…
-
![]()
Tactical Analysis: Manchester United’s Post-Lockdown Revival
Since the return of the Premier League after the COVID-19 outbreak, Manchester United have continued their wonderful form; Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side stretched their unbeaten run to 20 games in all competitions, their longest unbeaten run under the Norwegian manager. This good form has allowed United to qualify for the Champions League next season,…
-
![]()
A Season in Red: How Ole Gunnar Solskjær Turned the Tide at Old Trafford
How do you define success in football? Not every team is going to win it all at the start of a new era; nor is every team willing to wait years despite positive signs, so where is the line drawn? Jürgen Klopp, the most loved man on one side of Liverpool, took four years…
