by Simon Harrison | 11 December, 2017
Risk-averse Barcelona remain decidedly set on short-term Lionel Messi reliance
When Athletic Club saw Ernesto Valverde head through the exit door in the summer, there was an immediate desire to appoint a replacement who would pro...
by Tim Vickery | 10 December, 2017
Why was Jo, recently named Player of the Year in Brazil, a flop in the Premier League?
The current cold snap should surely make it more understandable that a Brazilian striker once made a one-man bid to introduce the idea of a winter bre...
by Seb Stafford-Bloor | 06 December, 2017
Even against Manchester City, Manchester United will struggle for neutral support
Local football exists in a vacuum. This weekend, the Manchester and Liverpool derbies converge on the same day, meaning that we should brace for an av...
by Simon Harrison | 05 December, 2017
Getafe’s organised grit knows no bounds on their return to the Spanish top table
Getafe were not given much of a chance heading into the 2017/2018 La Liga season. Having battled their way back from Segunda to pit their wits against...
by James Yorke | 04 December, 2017
Which of the big six is best placed to rotate their squad ahead of the festive period?
December has arrived, and once more the Premier League departs from most of Europe by inflicting a heavy schedule on its teams. After last weekend kic...
by James Horncastle | 04 December, 2017
After Benevento shock, can Milan seriously improve under the management of Gennaro Gattuso?
When Milan’s sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli said last week that one of the reasons the club decided to change manager was to give the ...
by Tim Vickery | 03 December, 2017
Not quite a group of death, but Argentina have cause for concern after World Cup draw
The very concept of a World Cup ‘group of death’ is probably antiquated. Recent trends have widened gaps between club sides – and c...
by Ryan Baldi | 02 December, 2017
Tactical analysis: Why Justin Kluivert is wanted by many of Europe's biggest clubs
It’s been less than a year since he made his senior debut for Ajax, but Europe’s biggest and best clubs already have their eyes on Justin ...
by Seb Stafford-Bloor | 30 November, 2017
Guardiola’s maniacal celebration was actually most welcome
It’s the morning after the night before and the football world has split itself on either side of the Pep Guardiola incident. The Catalan r...
by James Horncastle | 29 November, 2017
Lampard-like Cristante turns career around - with a lot of help from Gasperini
We all know about Gian Piero Gasperini’s courage in throwing young players in at the deep end. That's just who he is. The 59-year-old began his ...
by Simon Harrison | 29 November, 2017
Atletico Madrid’s five-goal thrashing of Levante gives them until January to regroup
It is the story of Atletico Madrid’s season that they managed to win by a five-goal margin last weekend and still leave plenty of questions to b...
