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Tactical Analysis: Roger Schmidt’s Benfica
Since leaving PSV in the summer of 2022, Roger Schmidt has settled in at a different red & (somewhat) white club, none other than Benfica. The German has led ‘As Aguias’ to a Portuguese title and a Supercup in only one and a half years at the capital club. It has been a difficult run…
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Tactical Analysis: How Marcello Lippi’s Italy Won the 2006 FIFA World Cup
The mid 2000s oversaw a dramatic shift in European football’s power dynamics as the once-dominant Italian clubs collective crowns started to slip. A combination of ageing squads, the infamous Calciopoli scandal which tarnished the league’s formerly gleaming reputation and the subsequent expulsion of Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio, who were the best teams in the country…
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Striving to Reclaim a Sense of Self – The Quest for Total Football in Barcelona
A 97′ penalty sealed a much-needed 2-1 road victory for Barcelona against Celta Vigo in the latest installation of La Liga’s weekly opera. It was a welcome three points that allowed marginal breathing space between themselves and the imposing figure of Atlético Madrid in fourth position. But it was yet another goal conceded in a…
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Can Bayer Leverkusen Win Their First Bundesliga Title Under Xabi Alonso?
Having won each of the last 11 Bundesliga titles, Bayern Munich’s dynasty is under threat with Bayer Leverkusen pushing for their first-ever league title under Spanish manager Xabi Alonso. They are the sole team in Europe who have yet to suffer defeat in all competitions, and they sit five points clear of Bayern in first…
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Manchester United’s Woes From Set-piece Situations
Manchester United entered February in ninth place after a chaotic start to the campaign both in terms of gaining points and quality of play, but today, they find themselves sixth in the table, five points behind Aston Villa and six behind Tottenham. Erik ten Hag’s team is very dependent on the match scenario – against…
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Analyzing the Intricacies of the Christmas Tree Formation
In the kaleidoscope of life’s pursuits, football, like a well-strung carol, resonates with the rhythms of passion and strategy. As we embark on this seasonal odyssey, let us unravel the peculiar allure of the Christmas tree formation—an emblematic display of tactics that mirrors the intricate dance of baubles on a festive fir. In the symphony…
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Ipswich Town – The Championship’s Surprise Package
Playing second-tier football for the first time in five years, Ipswich Town are a team catching the eye of football purists all over the globe following their promotion from League One in the 22/23 campaign. With a former Manchester United coach who graduated from the school of Fergie at the helm, it’s clear to see…
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Carlos Corberan’s Tactical Set-up at West Brom
Carlos Corberan joined West Brom with the club in the relegation zone midway through last season. His arrival sparked an impressive turnaround which saw them just miss out on a play-off place in the final game of the season. With the club in financial turmoil and the loss of Dara O’Shea, most West Brom fans were…
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Could the Erik ten Hag Era Be Nearing a Premature End at Manchester United?
‘Eras can come to an end’- a bold, confident and rousing Erik Ten Hag discussing Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp’s dominance upon his Manchester United arrival. Instead of dismantling incumbent powerhouses (namely Manchester City and Arsenal), it seems Ten Hag’s Manchester United ‘era’ has far less longevity than the ones he foresaw coming to an…
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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…
