Articles
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What Is Beautiful Football?
What is beautiful football? We always hear the phrase “beautiful football” discussed in podcasts, pubs, and dinner tables. Some people spend hours on social media fighting about the very meaning those two words. Some managers lose their jobs for not getting their teams to play beautiful football. Some coaches lose their players because they’re sick…
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Tactical Analysis: Leicester’s Calculated Pressing against Sevilla
Earlier this week, Craig Shakespeare was appointed as permanent manager of Leicester City Football Club following the controversial sacking of Premier League winner Claudio Ranieri. Despite seemingly everyone’s love for the Italian boss, it cannot be argued that Leicester’s performances in recent weeks have improved since his departure. In the last 16 of the UEFA…
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Scouting Report: Miguel Almirón
BACKGROUND At 14 years old, Miguel Almirón had a trial with Nacional and was told he was too small for football. This didn’t stop Almirón from chasing his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He went to Cerro Porteno and spent 5 years in the youth system honing his skills. Miguel Almirón has played in…
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Scouting Report: Jorge Meré
It all began in 2005, in a mid-sized city in northern Spain, Asturias to be specific. An 8-year-old boy named Jorge Meré put on a pair of football boots and started training in the youth tiers of Real Oviedo. During this timeframe, Oviedo found themselves bouncing between the third and fourth divisions while battling a…
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Scouting Report: Ronald Matarrita
After producing Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz and Keylor Navas, it appears that Costa Rica’s next top prospect is Ronald Matarrita. 22-year-old had a fine debut season for New York City FC in 2016, and will try to carry that success into 2017. While it is not easy to make a name for yourself when you…
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Scouting Report: Wylan Cyprien
As the Ligue 1 title race heats up nearing the last third of the season, all eyes are squarely on the typical battle between Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain. However, only 3 points behind Monaco—and level with PSG—sits an unlikely challenger, who many overlooked at the beginning of the year. Despite a fourth place finish last…
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Scouting Report: Kellyn Acosta
Kellyn Acosta is a product of what is widely regarded as the best academy in America, FC Dallas. Acosta made his professional debut for the club at 18 years of age in August of 2013. Kellyn also received his first international call up in 2016 from former USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann. While he was…
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Tactical Analysis: Liverpool vs. Arsenal
Last Saturday, Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool hosted Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal in one of the major top six clashes of the season. The last time the two sides met was on the opening day of the season when Liverpool took the Emirates by storm, finding themselves 4-1 up before eventually being pegged back to a final score of 4-3, and Klopp’s…
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What to Expect From Patrick Vieira’s Men In 2017
Background NYCFC had high expectations coming into the 2015 MLS season having signed world class players including David Villa and Frank Lampard before the team had even stepped foot on a pitch together. After a rough start to the season NYCFC realized they needed a player to create the opportunities for David Villa, a midfield…
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Scouting Report: Dani Ceballos
On August 7, 1996. a star was born in Utrera, Andalusia. Daniel Ceballos Fernández (known as Dani) has become Real Betis’ key player this season, while also delivering hope to the future of Spain, dominating the U21 side’s midfield. Ceballos joined Sevilla FC’s youth team in 2004 at 8 years old, but was released 5 years later…
