Kevin Parvizi, Author at The Trivela Effect

Ranking the 10 best goalkeepers in the world in 2023

17Mar

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features

Ranking the 10 best goalkeepers in the world in 2023

Goalkeepers don't get enough praise in the modern game, even though the best goalkeepers so often make the difference between victory and defeat. Look no further than Thibaut Courtois' heroics throughout the 2021/22 season for LaLiga and Champions League winners Real Madrid. Let's rank the 10 best goalkeepers in world football right now, at this very moment in time. That means the GOAT Manuel Neuer has to be taken out, but once he returns from a broken leg and gets back in form, he will surely rank on this list again. 10. Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG A hero for the Italian national team in the 2020 European Championships, Gianluigi Donnarumma is a phenom who started his first Serie A match for Milan at the age of 16. Within just a few years, Donnarumma became the best goalkeeper in...

Ranking the 10 best strikers in Ligue 1 history

11Mar

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features

Ranking the 10 best strikers in Ligue 1 history

Known as the "League of Talents", Ligue 1 has produced so many wonderful footballers over the years, particularly attacking players. There has always been a rich pool of attacking talent in the French top flight over the decades, as Ballon d'Or winners and world-class goal-scorers have made their names initially in Ligue 1. So in honor of that, let's take a look at the 10 greatest strikers to have plied their craft in French football. There are a number of active players on the list, but there are also plenty of stars of the past to celebrate. 10. Edinson Cavani, PSG It was always sad to see Edinson Cavani "fail comps" make rounds on social media, because while Cavani was not known for being a finisher on the level of the players ahead of him on this list, you won't find many more wel...

The 10 biggest breakout stars of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season

10Mar

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features

The 10 biggest breakout stars of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season

Ligue 1 is known as the "league of talents" because of all the wonderful up-and-coming players and hidden gems who develop in the French top flight. The 2022/23 season has given us a number of breakout stars worth celebrating, including some players who have escaped any sort of mainstream attention. So let's take a closer look at the biggest breakout stars of the Ligue 1 campaign thus far. Lorient DM Enzo Le Fée Bournemouth's owner has a minority share in Lorient, and the Premier League side already plucked one of Ligue 1's big attacking breakout stars, Dango Ouattara, in the winter transfer window. They were close to signing Enzo Le Fée, but Lorient were able to hold onto their current best player. Le Fée is legitimately one of the best players in Ligue 1 and one of the best yo...

The problem with Antonio Conte at Tottenham

9Mar

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features

The problem with Antonio Conte at Tottenham

Although Tottenham are in the thick of the top-four race in the Premier League and are, in fact, in fourth ahead of Liverpool and Newcastle, there is a feeling that Spurs could part ways with manager Antonio Conte. That feeling has been echoed by the man himself, with Conte even publicly admitting he could be fired before the season ends. There are plenty of intelligent Spurs fans who have been swayed to the "Conte Out" camp, such as Cartilage Free Captain's Ryan Ratty. When it comes to the basic skills a manager needs, such as his tactical acumen, Conte is undoubtedly one of the best in the world. His accomplishments with Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and the Italian national team speak for themselves. However, in many of those cases, his final split was far from clean, and he has...

9Mar

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features

Why the PSG project has failed

Since Qatar bought PSG in 2011, they have dominated Ligue 1 but have continually failed in the Champions League. For a second straight season, they have been knocked out of the competition in the first round of the knockout stages, the Round of 16, failing to score a single goal across two legs against Bayern München in a 3-0 aggregate loss. The previous year, they fell victim to a rapid-fire Karim Benzema hat-trick as part of a Real Madrid "Remontada". PSG have spent more than any other club on player salaries, signing Kylian Mbappé to an unprecedented contract this past summer to convince him to stay instead of signing with the club that eliminated them, Real Madrid. Yet keeping Mbappé alongside other blockbuster earners Lionel Messi and Neymar, hiring a new manager, and signing se...

Ranking the 20 best players in Real Betis history

6Mar

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Ranking the 20 best players in Real Betis history

Real Betis are one of the most historic clubs in LaLiga with a fanbase that any club on the planet would envy. The culture of the club, the support they give to their players, and the way they remember their legends is truly something that must be respected and given honor to, especially in the more corporate modern game. So from the stars of the past to those in the present like Sergio Canales and Nabil Fekir, let us take a look and rank the best 20 players in the history of Real Betis, including two star strikers as bonus honorable mentions. 22. ST Pepe Mel Another great Real Betis striker, Pepe Mel made a profound impact on the Seville-based club despite only playing for them for a handful of seasons. Pepe Mel scored 50 goals in over 100 appearances, winning the Pichichi in S...

Ranking the 10 best center backs in Real Madrid history

1Mar

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Ranking the 10 best center backs in Real Madrid history

Although Real Madrid is a club famous for its attacking superstars and dominance on the offensive side of the ball, they've also boasted some strong defensive spines over their many decades of excellence as an organization. So let's take some time to recognize the great center backs who have plied their trade for the Merengue club over the years, ranking the top 10 central defenders in the history of Real Madrid. 10. Iván Helguera Capable of shining as a defensive midfielder or center back, Iván Helguera was a talented footballer who could pick out difficult passes and lead the line. An intelligent defender, Helguera is one of the most underappreciated players in Real Madrid history, and you wonder if he would be cherished by more fanbases around the world for his unique skill set ...

6Feb

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

The racism against Vinícius Júnior and the people who embolden it

Real Madrid left winger Vinícius Júnior is one of the best players in LaLiga. His skill, dedication to his craft, and relentless determination on the pitch make him one of the most exciting and influential players in world football. But the ugliness of racism threatens to rob us of the joy of watching Vini Jr. at his most confident, effervescent best. All the while, the Spanish media and federation itself sit idly by or, worse yet, help fan the flames of the racism he faces. There is something about Vinícius Júnior that threatens the most insecure people. Watching a young, successful Black man enjoy his football and his life is, apparently, so threatening to droves of Spanish football fans - and those abroad online who engage in this behavior or defend it - that the Brazilian forward is...

Ranking the 5 best managers in Serie A for 2023

28Jan

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features

Ranking the 5 best managers in Serie A for 2023

Many of the most acclaimed managers in world football have made their names in Serie A. From Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid to current Tottenham manager Antonio Conte (formerly of Chelsea), there are plenty of former Serie A managers who have found success abroad. There are even those who excelled in Serie A, left for successful stints elsewhere, and are back in Calcio as elite managers, Maurizio Sarri and the incomparable José Mourinho come to mind here. But who are the current best managers in Serie A? Where do the likes of Sarri and Mourinho stack up among the top managers in the league in 2023? Before I continue, though, I would like to give an honorable mention to Simone Inzaghi. He has done great things for Inter Milan and was an absolute star while in charge of Lazio. But h...

Appreciating José Mourinho’s unforgettable Real Madrid legacy

26Jan

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features

Appreciating José Mourinho’s unforgettable Real Madrid legacy

José Mourinho joined Real Madrid in 2010 after accomplishing one of the most incredible managerial feats in the modern era. He won the treble with Inter Milan, making them the only Serie A club to have accomplished this feat. He did this by knocking out his former club Chelsea in the Round of 16, Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in the semifinals, and another dynasty-level side in Bayern München in the Final. It was an incredible run by Mourinho, who had previously won the Champions League with FC Porto in an even more unprecedented feat. He then went on to dominate the Premier League with Chelsea, putting the London club on the map as one of the elite clubs in European football. After reaching the pinnacle with Inter, Mourinho joined Real Madrid at an important time for the club. Despite s...