Player Focus: Chico Flores, Swansea’s unsung hero

April 18, 2013
By
Player Focus: Chico Flores, Swansea’s unsung hero

In a season of success for Swansea where their transfer bargains and attractive football have been great to watch, Chico Flores has stood out as one of the unsung heroes of the team. The Spanish centre half has managed to settle in to this league very quickly and set up a strong bond with club…

Read more »

Who should be Arsenal’s long term number one goal-keeper?

April 18, 2013
By
Who should be Arsenal’s long term number one goal-keeper?

Since the days of Seaman and Lehmann Arsenal’s goalkeepers haven’t been crowned in glory, in fact it’s the polar opposite. Arsenal’s goalkeepers have been ridiculed and almost made fun of for being well below ‘Arsenal standard’. However in the last two seasons Arsenal seemed to have uncovered a very good keeper in the form of…

Read more »

Statistical Analysis: Do Man United need more goals from their support players?

April 17, 2013
By
Statistical Analysis: Do Man United need more goals from their support players?

Manchester United are 15 points clear in the Premier League which makes it strange to analyse areas of weakness in their side. With the transfer window approaching though several high-profile players are being linked with a move, notably Falcao of Atletico Madrid. However, one real area of weakness that needs strengthening (despite the imminent arrival…

Read more »

Who were the weekend’s big winners and losers from around Europe?

April 17, 2013
By
Who were the weekend’s big winners and losers from around Europe?

Winners Deportivo La Coruna, the La Liga champions from 2000, looked destined for relegation a few weeks ago sitting bottom of La Liga and in very poor form. However, after appointing their third manager of the season Fernando Vazquez, Deportivo have won four on the bounce with their latest victory being a 4-0 win over…

Read more »

Contextualizing Spurs recent ‘collapse’

April 17, 2013
By
Contextualizing Spurs recent ‘collapse’

In March following Tottenham Hotspur’s recent defeats away at Liverpool and home to Fulham which threatened to undermine the hard work of January and February including the home victory over arch rivals Arsenal, Tottenham conspired to ruin their own chances of European glory when they lost in Switzerland to Basel succumbing to a very English…

Read more »

Statistical Analysis: Do Chelsea need to sign a ball-playing centre-back?

April 16, 2013
By
Statistical Analysis: Do Chelsea need to sign a ball-playing centre-back?

Of the top fourty passers in Europe in terms of passes played, 8 players are central defenders. Not one of these players though is a Premier League centre-back. Chico, of Swansea, is the only Premier League centre-back in the top 50 passers. That being said, there is still a growing emphasis on ball playing defenders…

Read more »

Tactical Analysis: How crucial is Mikel Arteta to Arsenal’s run in?

April 16, 2013
By
Tactical Analysis: How crucial is Mikel Arteta to Arsenal’s run in?

The Spanish midfielder netted a penalty that instigated Arsenal’s comeback on Saturday versus Norwich and has generally been in very good form this season. No player in the Premier League has completed more passes per game than Arteta and only Ki from Swansea has a better pass accuracy than Arteta by just 0.1%. Much attention…

Read more »

Statistical Analysis: Have Chelsea’s strikers cost them in the Premier League?

April 15, 2013
By
Statistical Analysis: Have Chelsea’s strikers cost them in the Premier League?

It seems a simplistic enough argument to make. Torres form has been poor, Ba has only scored twice in the league whilst Chelsea’s other striker, and (now at Liverpool) Daniel Sturridge managed just one goal. Chelsea have the joint second best defence in the league in terms of goals conceded, which means we must look…

Read more »

Tactical Analysis: Do Manchester United need Falcao?

April 15, 2013
By
Tactical Analysis: Do Manchester United need Falcao?

Various bookmakers have slashed odds on Atletico Madrid striker Falcao to join Manchester United, in what would be one of the marquee signings of the summer, if it comes off. Sir Alex Ferguson has distanced himself from the reports over the weekend, but he is often known to keep his cards close to his chest…

Read more »

Tactical Analysis: What went wrong for Spurs against Basel?

April 13, 2013
By
Tactical Analysis: What went wrong for Spurs against Basel?

Tottenham Hotspurs’ European dreams were shattered on Thursday night as Swiss club FC Basel got the better of the North Londoners in an enthralling penalty shoot-out after 120 minutes of torrid football were unable to separate the two teams on aggregate. Frankly, Spurs were far from their best and it was surprising to see Andres…

Read more »

Player Focus: What role does Marco Verratti play for PSG?

April 12, 2013
By
Player Focus: What role does Marco Verratti play for PSG?

Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, Busquets, Fàbregas – the wealth of Spain’s talent in the centre of the park is infinite. That country is a production line conveying quality midfielder after quality midfielder. The modern game is captivated and awestruck with each passing maestro. So much so that their foreign counterparts are even overshadowed. Over in Italy,…

Read more »

Statistical Analysis: How badly have Spurs missed Sandro?

April 12, 2013
By
Statistical Analysis: How badly have Spurs missed Sandro?

Sandro started the season brilliantly alongside Dembele in Spurs’ midfield pivot. However in January he was ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. With Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone and Tom Carroll in the squad many didn’t think the blow would be that bad. However, Sandro’s miss has been sorely felt…

Read more »

Three big games to watch out for across Europe this weekend

April 12, 2013
By
Three big games to watch out for across Europe this weekend

There are plenty of big games in Europe this weekend and Sam Thompson joins us again to preview the weekends biggest three matches from Europe’s top five leagues … Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (Saturday 13th April, 5.30pm, Bundesliga) This fixture sees 4th in the Bundesliga hosting 3rd as Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen fight it out…

Read more »