Scour the length and breadth of Europe – maybe even the world – and you’d be hard-pressed to find a football club quite as fascinating, or quite as baffling, as Rayo Vallecano.    Known to many as the last of the Spanish neighbourhood clubs, Rayo’s famous red stripe represents not just a football club, but…

The hardest thing in life to live up to is expectations. In football, expectations on clubs, managers and players have never been higher. As fans, on top of expecting players to give their all-in games, we want them to be the epitome of perfection in their position.   We expect strikers to be as equally…

Graham Potter’s Brighton side are one of those fascinating stories that draw in sport’s fans time and time again. A smart transfer policy, one of the brightest tactical minds in the country at the helm, and countless suitors expressing an interest in their top assets.   A question of immense possibility and ‘what if’s?’ This…

Wolves are consistent again this season under new manager Bruno Lage who arrived in the summer from Benfica, replacing his fellow countryman Nuno Espirito Santo who moved on to Tottenham Hotspur.   Similar to Espirito Santo, Lage aims to play a hyper-compact system with three central defenders providing a strong foundation and wingbacks who provide…

“I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war, by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country,” – US Army General George S. Patton.   As funny as this may sound, the famous general was actually right. But the question is,…

Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world. Known for its narrow canals, and tourist attractions like the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Cathedral, the Italian city is picturesque and has drawn visitors from all over the planet.   Its football team Venezia does not boast a particularly illustrious history, but the…

Ball-playing centre-backs: a staple for modern football teams. Unfortunately, it is not a luxury that Antonio Conte has inherited at Tottenham Hotspur – a problem that has been evident in both of Spurs’ first Premier League games under him.    This is not a new issue, but it is certainly becoming incredibly evident now there…

Southampton took the lead early on via a goal from Adam Armstrong, who had joined in the summer to replace attacking talisman Danny Ings, who left for Aston Villa for a whopping fee of £30 million after refusing to sign a new contract extension.   With Ings missing out on a homecoming due to injury…

On November 2, 2021, Tottenham Hotspur announced the managerial appointment of Italian phenom Antonio Conte; a sluggish start to the new Premier League season under previous manager Nuno Espírito Santo saw the club slump to 9th in the table following four consecutive London derby defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Arsenal, and West Ham.   Eventually,…

Xavi finally made his debut as a coach in the Barcelona dugout. Since the departure of Lionel Messi at the beginning of the season, it has been evident that this season is going to be very difficult for Barcelona. As Antoine Griezmann was released on the transfer window deadline day, Barcelona’s star-studded forward line suddenly…