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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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Tactical Observations from the First Clasico of the 2023/24 Season
In epochs gone by, El Clasico stood as a battlefield among gods, an epic exchange that even the demi-gods deemed worthy. Legends, etched in the grains of time, were born from the clashes that transcended the mortal realm. Today, however, it stands diminished, a mere mortal’s contest, a fading echo of its once divine essence.…
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Barcelona’s Ball Progression in El Clasico Should Have Yielded More Results
Barcelona lost the El Clasico last week to Real Madrid but can definitely vouch for the fact that in the biggest game in Spanish football, they certainly deserved more. The most striking thing about Barcelona was how easy they found it to get the ball from defence into attack yielding many promising chances. The Catalan…
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The Midas Touch: Ange Postecoglou’s Impact at Tottenham Hotspur
We’ve got our club back. A sentiment that has rung all over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over this short season. A statement that has faced ridicule from rival fans. Back? Back from what? From trophyless to trophyless? From not losing at the Emirates to drawing? Please, little old Tottenham are going back to a period…
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Analyzing Manchester United’s Start to their Champions League Campaign, their Injury Crisis, and their Right Winger Problem
Manchester United started the second season under Erik ten Hag in a rather mixed fashion – in the opening rounds of the Premier League, the club forced two victories over the mid-league teams, and lost to direct competitors in the fight for Champions League places. Fans were waiting for the situation to improve after the…
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Why Didn’t Manchester City Go Longer to Erling Haaland in Their Defeat to Arsenal?
Mikel Arteta has finally beaten his former boss Pep Guardiola, ending a streak of 12 straight losses for Arsenal against Manchester City, with a late goal from substitute Gabriel Martinelli seeing the Gunners prevail 1-0 at the Emirates. In an attritional battle not perceived as the greatest game entertainment-wise, the tactics were fascinating. The biggest…
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Tactical Analysis: How Sadio Mané Operating as an Inside Forward Has Freed up Cristiano Ronaldo in Al-Nassr’s Attack
Al-Nassr opened their AFC Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win at Iranian giants Persepolis, a match that would see Senegalese winger Sadio Mané operate as an inside forward. The ex Liverpool superstar is one of the few wingers in the world who can truly excel at both playing as a touchline winger, holding the…
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How Edson Álvarez and James Ward-Prowse Have Transformed West Ham’s Midfield
West Ham United started their summer business by selling captain Declan Rice to Arsenal for a club-record fee. After a rapid flurry of action before the transfer window slammed shut, the Hammers have reasons to believe their midfield unit is the best it has ever been. David Moyes’ side have made a fast start…
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How Mikel Arteta Finally Beat His Former Employers and Handed Manchester City a Second-Straight League Defeat
A Manchester City victory in this league fixture has been a procession in recent years, with a combined score of 19-3 in their last seven wins against Arsenal. Mikel Arteta had managed to beat 23 out of the 24 teams he has faced in the league, with only City — where he worked as an…
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Tactical Analysis: How Al-Nassr Used Sadio Mané and Otávio to the Benefit of their Attack-Minded Right Back vs Persepolis
With a squad boasting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Seko Fofana, Marcelo Brozović, and Aymeric Laporte, it’s no surprise that Al-Nassr have begun the season in impressive fashion. After falling to back-to-back losses to Al-Ettifaq and Al-Taawoun, Al-Nassr beat Shabab Al-Ahli 4-2, scoring three goals in the final 12 minutes to secure a comeback victory…