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Through the Looking Glass of Big Data: SSC Napoli 2015/16 and the Vindication of Maurizio Sarri: Part Three
Part III: Valentine’s Day heartbreakers and (quite a few) record-breakers Fresh from their first “Winter Champions” title in the 21st century, Napoli strolled to five straight victories in the new year, led by six goals from Gonzalo Higuain, who had taken his record to 24 goals in as many games. Jose Callejon had also…
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Through the Looking Glass of Big Data: SSC Napoli 2015/16 and the Vindication of Maurizio Sarri: Part Two
Part II: A First Campione D’Invierno (Or, Tuscan Men Love to Curse) After a faltering start to the season with a paltry two points from the first nine, it was the first match in the Europa League against Club Brugge where Napoli began to show signs of life. By the end of the Rafa…
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Through the Looking Glass of Big Data: SSC Napoli 2015/16 and the Vindication of Maurizio Sarri: Part One
Before Luciano Spalletti’s new-look Napoli led by Kvicha “Kvaradona” Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen conquered the Serie A in 2022/23 for the first time since a certain Argentinian had led them to the Scudetto over 30 years prior, it was the unassuming rise of Maurizio Sarri seven years prior that had seemingly marked the start of…
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Nice: An Overlooked Renaissance On The French Riviera
Amine Gouiri may get the plaudits, Andy Delort the respect, but an emerging talent emanating and shining brightly in Nice is a dynamic 20-year-old Khéphren Thuram. The son of former French footballer Lillian Thuram and the younger brother of Borussia Monchengladbach, forward Marcus Thuram, Khéphren is becoming a cornerstone of The Gailter Garrison at…
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The Statistical Ranking of Europe’s Top 5 Leagues
There’s no doubt in most football fan’s minds; the top five European leagues are the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, the Bundesliga, and La Liga. For some perspective, the market value of the top 20 European leagues outside the ‘Big Five’ is £7.6 billion. You have to triple that figure to reach the £23…
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Is Dean Henderson the Answer to Manchester United’s Goalkeeping Crisis?
Between the 2013/14 season and the 2017/18 season, David de Gea was a savior in an otherwise catastrophic Manchester United side, winning the club’s Player of the Season award four out of the five years. But since the start of the 2018/19 season, the Spaniard has been inconsistent in his shot-stopping and previously world class…
