A.C Milan has for the last decade been a sleeping giant of European Football. They’re currently in the mix for the Serie A title with a new, young team. The unexpected catalyst for their rebuild is the returning Zlatan Ibrahimovich – a literal giant. Zlatan Ibrahimovich returned to A.C Milan halfway through last season. In
The Cult Of Jurgen Klopp Is Crumbling Before Our Eyes
Jurgen Klopp loves being an underdog. Unfortunately for the Liverpool manager, he’s not an underdog anymore. He’s a winner. You might assume that winning the Champions League, the Premier League after 30 years and generally restoring Liverpool to their former glory might make Jurgen Klopp happy. Instead, it seems to be making him increasingly irate.
Patrick Bamford Is Living Proof of the Bielsa Legacy
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford scored his 100th career goal to help his team to a 2 – 0 win against Crystal Palace. It was Bamford’s 12th Premier League goal of the season and with the win, Leeds head into the top half of the table. Under Bielsa, Leeds have massively over achieved in the
VAR Gets Decisions Right – But At What Cost
The Premier League has a problem with VAR, and it’s not clear how it’s going to solve it. The figures show that VAR does it’s job. Since its implementation, close to 99% of refereeing decisions are correct compared to 91% before VAR. If that was the only effect it had on the game, it would
Phil Foden: The English Starlet & Guardiola Apprentice
The last time Manchester City won at Anfield was in 2003. Midfielder Phil Foden was just two years old. He’s still a baby, at least in footballing terms, which is a scary prospect for the rest of the league. Phil Foden was sublime as Manchester City seized control of the Premier League title race with
Arsenal Improving In Spite Of Themselves
It’s ludicrous to suggest that a game when Arsenal had two red cards was their best performance of the season. However, the 2 – 1 defeat to Wolves at Molineux probably was. Arsenal started in a confident mood, and had a Bukayo Saka goal disallowed early for a VAR offside call. They hit the bar
The Power of Narrative Might Not Be Enough To Save Jose Mourinho
The appointment of Jose Mourinho as Tottenham Hotspur manager was one that raised a few eyebrows. The Portuguese looked to be finished in top level football after another patented Jose Mourinho implosion at Manchester United. After crashing and burning at Chelsea (twice) and United, his time in the Premier League was over. That Tottenham hired
Absent Fans, The Most Gripping Premier League Title Race Is Being Run
There’s no question that Premier League football in empty stadiums is a hollow representation of the real thing. Whether your soundtrack is the surreal fake crowd noise or the echoing voices of the players, it’s impossible not to be struck by the relative flatness of football without the fans. The condensed schedule means that no
The Contrary Symmetry of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez
If you had said in 2016 that Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez would now be winding down their careers in relative obscurity, no one would have believed you. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez joined Arsenal within a year of each other from Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Stars that the team sorely needed they nearly,
Jurgen Klopp Back On Track After Key Spurs Win
Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool looked like ‘us’ after they ended their 5 game winless streak in the league against Tottenham. Liverpool ran out 3 – 1 winners with goals from Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane. It could have been different, though. Spurs had a Son goal disallowed for a marginal offside after VAR