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.
15Aug By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Rankings

Ranking the top 5 defenses in the Premier League before the 2026/27 season begins

With the 2026/27 Premier League season set to get under way in roughly one week, it's time to take stock of the best defenses in the top flight. Because, as we all know, defense wins championships. 5. Chelsea It may seem weird to rank Chelsea in the top five of the best defenses in the Premier League, but there is more that goes into ranking a defense than the center backs, which were a huge problem for the Blues last season - and even led to Enzo Maresca's premature departure. But Chelsea got better at center back by signing one of the league's top ball winners in Maxence Lacroix, who will form a great duo when the latter is fully healthy. Losing Marc Cucurella is a huge blow, but Chelsea have young standouts to replace him - and Reece James, should the star right back get injured. ...
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Updated Premier League Power Rankings before the 2026/27 season starts
15Aug By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Rankings

Updated Premier League Power Rankings before the 2026/27 season starts

With just a week left until the 2026/27 Premier League season starts, it's time to power rank every team in the English top flight from worst to first. 20. Ipswich Town 19. Hull 18. Coventry Just like 2024/25, all the new Premier League clubs look set to go straight back down. Until they prove otherwise, they just don't have the talent on paper to cut it in the top flight, and unlike Sunderland and Leeds last season, they didn't make sweeping - and smart - upgrades to their squad. 17. Crystal Palace 16. Leeds 15. Nottingham Forest 14. Everton 13. Newcastle 12. Brentford 11. Sunderland 10. Bournemouth 9. Brighton The hodge podge of the Premier League table is incredibly difficult to predict, but it's quite alarming to see how little progress Newcastle United have made since Sa...
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3 Premier League teams ready to steal European qualification spots in the 2026/27 season
14Aug By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

3 Premier League teams ready to steal European qualification spots in the 2026/27 season

The 2026/27 Premier League season is only about a week away, and here are three teams that didn't make it into the top eight to qualify for European football last season who could come roaring back this season. Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham are easily the best bounce back candidates to bet on for the 2026/27 Premier League season, because they have been on a tear this summer transfer window. While winning the transfer window isn't always a blessing, the moves Roberto De Zerbi and Johan Lange make are definitely going to take Spurs to another level. After back to back 17th placed finishes in the Premier League, Tottenham finally have a great midfield with the additions of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, who join Rodrigo Bentancur and Archie Gray at the base and James Maddison in the ...
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Ranking Premier League strikers by skills: Best finishing, dribbling, heading, work rate, passing
14Aug By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Rankings

Ranking Premier League strikers by skills: Best finishing, dribbling, heading, work rate, passing

The 2026/27 Premier League season is rapidly approaching, and it's time to take a page out of ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky's book with NFL quarterbacks by ranking the top 10 strikers in the league in five different major traits. Finishing Erling Haaland, Manchester City Alexander Isak, Liverpool Eli Junior Kroupi, Bournemouth Igor Thiago, Brentford Benjamin Sesko, Manchester United Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool Jean-Philippe Mateta, Crystal Palace Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa Joao Pedro, Chelsea Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds Erling Haaland stands in a tier of his own, but let's not forget that before Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool and the injuries that ensued, some people wer wondering if he could be the best striker in the Premier League Meanwhile, Eli Junio...
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4 Premier League strikers aiming for bounce back seasons in 2026/27
13Aug By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Rankings

4 Premier League strikers aiming for bounce back seasons in 2026/27

The 2026/27 Premier League season is just weeks away. Here are four strikers who are looking to get back on track after off 2025/26 campaigns. Alexander Isak, Liverpool After scoring 23 goals with 6 assists in the 2024/25 Premier League season to post the best numbers of his career and build on a first campaign at St. James's Park that was already a massive success with 21 goals, Alexander Isak quickly realized that the grass is not always greener. He was atrocious last season, and while injuries were the main culprit of his disappointing campaign, he still played poorly even when he was healthy with just 3 goals in 14 appearances. Isak has more to prove than anyone else, because Liverpool spent a record fee on him, only to get markedly worse. Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal Arsenal won th...
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