Author: Frank G. Barnes

Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won't be able to guess my favorite team.
Kobbie Mainoo told Clarence Seedorf exactly what Manchester United fans wanted to hear
13Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Kobbie Mainoo told Clarence Seedorf exactly what Manchester United fans wanted to hear

Kobbie Mainoo is one of the most talented young midfielders in the world and the future of Manchester United, and he is finally coming into his own again under Michael Carrick in 2026/27, just as Man United fans had hoped. The young England international recently sat down with AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf, who asked him what he can improve on. And Mainoo gave the exact answer United fans wanted to hear: Mainoo wants to be more creative and decisive. He said to Seedorf on Amazon Prime Video Sport, "I want to get better at the killer pass. The pass that leads to a goal, creating opportunities for my teammates and stuff, and being around it. "Now, I'm known as a connector, get the ball and move the ball and stuff. "I definitely want to decide games more with my passing, whether with...
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Mikel Arteta has a different idea for Max Dowman in mind
13Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Mikel Arteta has a different idea for Max Dowman in mind

Max Dowman has mostly been playing as a No. 10 or left footed right winger who cuts inside for Arsenal, but in an effort to get their biggest young gem of them all more involved, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that it's time to start giving him minutes on the left wing. Arteta told reporters before the Champions League game against Lille, “We haven’t seen much of Max on the left, and I think especially the way we have evolved him and trained him in those two positions [centrally and on the right], probably at the moment is easier. But with the talent that he has, we need to throw him in that position at some point I think he will have the capacity to adapt to it.” Arsenal have nothing to lose by experimenting with Dowman on the left, even if it curtails his tantalizing goal scorin...
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Arsenal fans get brutal Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi injury news
12Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Arsenal fans get brutal Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi injury news

Arsenal star defender Piero Hincapie and midfielder Martin Zubimendi both suffered injuries over the weekend in the 2-1 win over Leeds United, and according to a report from Hand of Arsenal, neither key rotational piece will be available against Lille in the Champions League. And both players could miss more time. More tests are going to be run on both Hincapie and Zubi to determine how long the talented duo will be out for the Gunners. Zubimendi and Hincapie suffered ankle injuries during the post game against the Peacocks. While Arsenal will have Bruno Guimaraes fully fit in the midfield to start next to Declan Rice to soften the injury to Zubi, it is still a tough blow to the depth. Meanwhile, Hincapie being out leaves a hole at left back, which will likely continue to be fille...
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Jamie Carragher said what Liverpool fans have to admit about Ryan Gravenberch
12Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Jamie Carragher said what Liverpool fans have to admit about Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool got hosed by the refs after Ryan Gravenberch got booked a second time and sent, and the Reds were blown out 3-0 by Manchester City at Anfield from there on out. Gravenberch could do nothing about the blatantly terrible call from another horrendous Premier League referee, but, in truth, he hasn't been at his best level since the 2024/25 season when he was a Premier League Player of the Season candidate and Liverpool won the league. Still, Jamie Carragher, a Liverpool legend, knows just how important Gravenberch is, and he told the cold, hard truth about the Dutch international: Liverpool can't win without him. Carragher said after the game,"Ryan Gravenberch has to play in the Liverpool team. He has to. Now, he hasn't started the season really well with the new manager and...
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Bruno Guimaraes just made Arsenal fans love him even more
12Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Bruno Guimaraes just made Arsenal fans love him even more

Bruno Guimaraes had himself a dream appearance off the bench against Leeds United, scoring the winning goal in the 70th minute for Arsenal while drawing three fouls in a dynamic, almost bubbly display in the midfield. And after the game, his words to the Arsenal faithful will only endear him to the fan base even more, “It feels unbelievable. In the last game against Brighton, we were not at the level that this shirt demands. Today, the mentality was bouncing back. This is my first official game at home, scoring an important goal, three important points - I’m very happy!” Arsenal fans will be elated to hear Bruno G. call the team out for how terrible they were in that 3-0 loss to Brighton, because that was indeed totally inexcusable from the defending champions. Bruno really elevat...
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Liverpool fans will be pleased with Lewis Koumas’s approach to getting minutes
12Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Liverpool fans will be pleased with Lewis Koumas’s approach to getting minutes

Liverpool were forced to start young prospect Lewis Koumas, and while he could not decide the game in Alexander Isak's stead as the Reds were badly beaten 3-0 by Manchester City, he impressed with his work rate and running. Koumas told reporters that he intends on making the most of his opportunities, “I think any time you're on the pitch for Liverpool, you can't take it for granted because with the quality around you, you don't know whether it's going to be your last. So, to leave everything out there every game and try to affect it as much as I can is the plan. My hunger comes from representing Liverpool Football Club, wanting to give everything for the best club in the world. A lot of it is about what I do off the ball. The gaffer has shown trust to me that I can carry out his plans ...
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Morgan Rogers is answering the big doubts for Jordan Henderson
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Morgan Rogers is answering the big doubts for Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson raised a lot of eyebrows when Chelsea signed him, and many wondered why the Blues were after a "past it" Liverpool icon, but with his two goals and an assist against Bournemouth, he blew a lot of minds by totally bossing the pitch with incredible end product. Another new Chelsea signing who was a lot more expensive with much more hype has been a king of end product in Morgan Rogers, and the attacking midfielder waxed poetic about "Hendo" after the 5-1 win. Rogers told reporters, via Peter Rutzler of The Times, "People said he was too old and you saw (vs Bournemouth) what he does. Everyone in the dressing room knows what he can do. He's probably still the fittest player at the club to be honest. He's a machine. People forget about his football because they just think ...
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Bradley Barcola quietly showed an important positive for Liverpool vs. Man City
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Bradley Barcola quietly showed an important positive for Liverpool vs. Man City

New Liverpool attacking signing Bradley Barcola didn't affect the game much offensively and has been pretty quiet since his 120+ million pound move to Anfield this summer, but he did defend at a high level against Manchester City. The former PSG star won five duels in the first half alone at Anfield and three tackles to lead all players in the opening 45 minutes, and while he didn't have any more tackles in the second half, that is still an impressive defensive output. Barcola works hard for his teams, and that's why he is a back to back Champions League winner with PSG. Liverpool will care more about what he does offensively and will want to see that, but in his system, Andoni Iraola will be very pleased at Barcola's defensive work rate. Because if you are not scoring, assisting,...
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Jamie Carragher used Victor Munoz and Lewis Koumas to tear Florian Wirtz up again
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Jamie Carragher used Victor Munoz and Lewis Koumas to tear Florian Wirtz up again

Jamie Carragher already struck the first blow on Florian Wirtz early in the season, stating that this might just be the Liverpool attacking midfielder's true level. And after a disaster class in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City, the former Reds center back tore up the German international again. Speaking on Sky Sports, the iconic pundit said of Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, "Koumas and Munoz were better than the two 100 million pound players!" Barcola is at least new here and still adjusting, but Wirtz cost Liverpool 100 million pounds last year and has been around. And he is still a huge liability for the Reds, creating very little and almost never scoring or assisting. Meanwhile, Munoz and Koumas made fewer negative plays, lost the ball less, and didn't slow down attacks. Wirtz is des...
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Jurrien Timber gave Arsenal fans another reason to fall in love with Bruno Guimaraes
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Jurrien Timber gave Arsenal fans another reason to fall in love with Bruno Guimaraes

Arsenal spent 75 million pounds on Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United this summer transfer window, and now that he is getting back to full fitness, the Gunners are hyped for what he can do at the base of the midfield with Declan Rice. Guimaraes changed the game for Arsenal in the second half of their 2-1 win over Leeds United, scoring the winner in the 70th minute, and the club's young star right back Jurrien Timber was full of praise for the veteran Brazilian international: "The way Bruno entered was amazing. He changed the crowd's enthusiasm and the entire atmosphere of the stadium. I'm just describing him as an amazing player. Everyone can see his quality, and he proved it again today. Not only with his personality, but also by scoring goals. He's amazing. Bruno G. was first k...
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