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Tactical Analysis: Defensive Frailties Haunt Manchester United in Thrilling Porto Draw
Last night’s Europa League clash between FC Porto and Manchester United was a match defined by its sheer unpredictability, ending in a thrilling 3-3 draw. The Red Devils, desperate to bounce back from their 3-0 humbling at the hands of Tottenham, a result that put Erik ten Hag’s job security in question, came out of…
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Manchester United Is Dead – All That’s Left is Funeral Arrangements
There was a time when Old Trafford was more fortress than stadium, when leaving with a draw felt like a biblical miracle – a kind of football exodus from the slaughterhouse. Teams came, saw, and prayed for mercy. But fast-forward to Sunday’s spectacle, and the hallowed turf felt more like an all-you-can-eat buffet than a…
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The Rebirth of Alavés: A Promising Start
Deportivo Alavés has been one of the pleasant surprises of the opening weeks of the campaign in Spain’s top-flight. The Vitoria-based team is emerging as one of the revelations of the 2024/25 LaLiga season. After securing their presence for another season in Spain’s top flight, Alavés are exceeding expectations with an extraordinary start to LaLiga…
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From the Ashes of Annihilation: Hansi Flick and the Rebirth of Barcelona’s Footballing Soul
There are appointments in football that carry the weight of prophecy, where fate and fortune collide, and one man holds the thread to both. Hansi Flick, the architect of that infamous 8-2 demolition of Barcelona, now finds himself standing at the very gates he once laid siege to — this time, as the man tasked…
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Analyzing the Different Variants of Build-up Play
Football is an ever-changing sport. Patterns and styles of play are always morphing, either into completely different forms or upgraded versions of previous systems and approaches. Such changes are necessary not only for the overall development of the game but also for managers and clubs as they continually find ways to stay ahead of their…
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How Arsenal Came Out on Top in the North London Derby
In an intriguing North London Derby, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal got the better of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur despite surrendering possession for most of the game as well as territory. Arsenal spent most of the game in front of their own box, but never really looked uncomfortable, thwarting Tottenham’s attacks by design centrally. If you’re as…
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Breaking the Mold: Position of the Season 2023/24: Part Three
Weak Link Games: Arsenal’s Search for a Left-sided Defender Statistically speaking, Arsenal had the Premier League’s best defense in 2023/24. Mikel Arteta’s side only conceded 29 goals in 38 matches, five fewer than the league’s next best defense, Manchester City. So, why has their marquee signing of the 2024 transfer window been Italian central…
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Breaking the Mold: Position of the Season 2023/24: Part Two
“Little Pep”: the late-blooming lynchpin of City’s title defense After winning a historic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 22/23, Manchester City could have afforded to rest on their champagne-soaked laurels in the 2023 summer transfer window. Relentless in their pursuit of dominance in English football, however, they went out…
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Breaking the Mold: Position of the Season 2023/24: Part One
The goal of this series is to describe a position of play that had the most pervasive impact on teams’ success across European football during a given season. When reflecting on the 2023/24 season, the evolving role of central defenders, or “centerbacks,” among successful teams in various leagues is prominent. This trend is fitting…
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Liverpool 2024/25: New Era, Same Ambition
The Premier League is back, and with it comes a wave of fresh optimism, new faces, and renewed expectations. While teams like Chelsea have opened their wallets wide in a bid to reclaim past glory, Liverpool has taken a more measured approach, quietly confident in their tried-and-tested formula. Under the guidance of their new manager,…
