Articles
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Breaking The Monopoly – Bursaspor’s 2009-10 Triumph
Irrespective of the pandemic, the title race in Turkey’s Super Lig this season has been compelling. However, unlike recent seasons, none of the likely contenders are from the so-called “Istanbul Big Three” clubs of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. If one of Trabzonspor, İstanbul Başakşehir or Sivasspor win the league this season, it will be just…
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Qatar’s Sports Diplomacy Project
Since the start of the century, and in particular within the last decade, Qatar has taken steps to establish itself as a sporting nation as part of a wider drive to improve its international profile. A huge part of this drive has been its focus on the footballing sphere. The Qatari approach to ‘football diplomacy’…
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How Manchester City Can Beat Liverpool
Despite already locking up the Premier League title with a record seven games left to play, Liverpool will be determined to leave the Etihad with 3 points on Thursday night. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will face a tough task to defeat one of the most dynamic teams that the Premier League has ever seen, as…
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Analyzing the Fight to Stay Afloat in the Premier League
The Premier League title race may be over, but the battle for survival is hotly contested with five teams scrapping for their Premier League status. I will look at how each time has found themselves facing relegation and what a drop down to the Championship could mean for them. With the COVID-19 pandemic having…
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Scouting Report: Marcus Edwards
Whether you’re Bojan Krkić, Ryo Miyachi, or Alen Halilović, being called the next Lionel Messi tends to be a curse rather than a blessing. In September 2016, then Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino gave 17-year-old attacking talent Marcus Edwards the same treatment. “The qualities — it’s only looks, his body and the way that he plays…
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Scouting Report: Mateu Morey
With Achraf Hakimi’s two-year loan coming to an end, Borussia Dortmund have worked swiftly to sign his replacement, bringing in Thomas Meunier on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. However, the Belgian right back turns 29 in September, and his attacking shortcomings have led many to speculate whether he can adequately replace Hakimi in…
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Jürgen Klopp and the Magical Art of Losing
We had known for a while. We’d started believing them a long time ago. Before the dystopia of Project Restart, we knew it was only a matter of time. Yet, when the moment finally crystallized on Thursday at Stamford Bridge, there was an overwhelming sense of wonder. They actually did it. Liverpool is an…
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How Manchester United Built the Most Potent Attack in Premier League History: Part 2: Reaching the Pinnacle
With the aid of his prominent assistant coach Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson had revitalised Manchester United by revamping their style of play by simultaneously using innovative methods and drawing inspiration from other top sides. In the past, Ferguson had implemented a lone single striker, a 4-5-1 formation and man-marking ploys by drawing inspiration…
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The False Dawn of West Ham United
“I’m forever blowing bubbles, Pretty bubbles in the air, They fly so high, Nearly reach the sky, And like my dreams, they fade and die, Fortune’s always hiding, I’ve looked everywhere…” West Ham’s long-cherished matchday chant is a bittersweet ode to the highs and lows of relentless, undying hope. In recent years, the song…
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Football in Conflict Zones
It is just past 6 am in Ukraine on the morning of August 23. The Donbass Arena, home to Ukrainian football champions Shakhtar Donetsk, was just bombed twice as the conflict between national forces and pro-Russian separatists hit a peak. As it is not a match day, the 52,000-capacity stadium was empty and…
