Analysis

Opinion: Super League or not, football needs to evolve
Analysis

Opinion: Super League or not, football needs to evolve

While it’s still unclear whether the European Super League will happen or not, the possibility of the competition happening received a big boost after the European Union’s top court ruled that UEFA and FIFA acted unlawfully when they attempted to block the Super League project. A landmark moment as teams can now have more control over their destiny without the fear of being sanctioned by the game’s governing leaders. We’ve all seen the teams that have come out in support of the decision, those who claim that they don’t want to be part of the Super League, and others who have taken the opportunity to launch their populist campaign. Whatever happens with the European Super League project, I wanted to give my personal opinion on the current situation. Changes need to be made Under th...
Best U23 players in the world for 2024: Man City and Arsenal make it, Jamal Musiala or Jude Bellingham No. 1?
Analysis

Best U23 players in the world for 2024: Man City and Arsenal make it, Jamal Musiala or Jude Bellingham No. 1?

Who are the best U23 players in world football as the year 2023 closes? Is most of the young talent concentrated in the Premier League or more spread out amongst different leagues? And is Jude Bellingham or Jamal Musiala the best young player? Let's rank the top 10 U23 players in the world before 2024 begins. 10. Manchester City LW Jérémy Doku It may seem too soon to rank Jérémy Doku in the top ten of the world's best U23 players, given this is his first season with Manchester City and he hasn't even logged 700 minutes for the Citizens. However, Doku was already exceptional for Rennes before Pep Guardiola wisely snapped him up for City, where he has remained one of the world's finest dribblers with four dribbles completed per match in the world's most competitive league. A g...
Best Premier League wingers 2024: Man City dominate, West Ham in, Mohamed Salah or Bukayo Saka?
Analysis

Best Premier League wingers 2024: Man City dominate, West Ham in, Mohamed Salah or Bukayo Saka?

The Premier League is loaded with attacking talent right now, especially when it comes to wingers in the primes of their careers. With about half of the 2023/24 season in the books, let's try to rank the 10 best wingers in the English top flight based on overall pedigree and current performance. 10. Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham Since Son Heung-min is playing as a striker, Dejan Kulusevski is the Tottenham winger who gets ranked on the list. He's having another very strong season for Spurs, who were in the Premier League title mix for much of the season. Even now, Tottenham are in contention to return to the Champions League after missing out on European football entirely. Kulusevski has helped step up with Harry Kane gone to Bayern Munich, scoring goals but doing a lot more crea...
10 things you need to know about Kai Havertz
Analysis

10 things you need to know about Kai Havertz

Arsenal attacking midfielder Kai Havertz is one of the most talented players in world football, and he's also establishing himself as one of the most versatile. Here are 10 things you need to know about one of Arsenal's newest signings, going back to his days with Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen before arriving in North London. What is Kai Havertz's best position? This has often been a subject of debate, since Havertz has worn a number of hats during his young career thus far. He's even played left back for the German national team. Havertz is at his best when he can play as a support striker or attacking midfielder behind a striker. As a lone man up top, his finishing isn't consistent enough, and he isn't enough of a presence to be a true 9. Further, he doesn't have the unique skill-set...
Ranking the 10 best transfers in Real Madrid history
Analysis

Ranking the 10 best transfers in Real Madrid history

Nobody makes blockbuster signings quite like Real Madrid. From David Beckham and Zinédine Zidane to Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, Los Blancos have made some of world football's most iconic transfer splashes over the decades, using these superstar signings to mark different eras of the club. But while the Galácticos are known for the glitz and glamor, the most impressive thing about Real Madrid is how sustainably the club has been run over the last decade after president Florentino Pérez learned from his mistakes in his first run. Real Madrid have become a club capable of making huge signings like Jude Bellingham, but they are also able to unearth gems outside of the top five leagues or invest in top talents for less than 10 million euros. All the while, they generate plenty of reve...
Ranking the 10 best RWs in world football for 2023
Analysis

Ranking the 10 best RWs in world football for 2023

Who are the best right wingers in world football today in 2023 as we head into the calendar year 2024? Here is an updated list of the top 10 players at the position. Since inverted wingers are all the rage and left-footed players are scarcer than right-footed ones, it is especially difficult to find a world-class right winger capable of scoring goals and creating chances. So the players on this list are highly coveted. The ranking is based on a combination of overall pedigree and current performance, with the latter being the deciding factor. Players who are no longer primarily right wingers were discarded, such as Antoine Griezmann, while players who are better in other positions and not as consistent on the right wing, such as Rodrygo Goes, were not ranked as highly when specifical...
MLS playoffs predictions: Why FC Cincinnati can go all the way
Analysis

MLS playoffs predictions: Why FC Cincinnati can go all the way

The MLS playoffs are officially underway. New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City got things started on Wednesday by defeating Charlotte FC and San Jose Earthquakes in the Wild Card Round. Now that those matches are done and over with, the final MLS playoffs bracket are set. It's time to dive into our MLS playoffs predictions. We take a look at the Round One matchups, key players, and storylines you should be paying attention to all throughout the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. MLS playoffs format explained Before we get into our MLS playoffs predictions and previews, we need to go over the new MLS Cup Playoffs format. Prior to this season, the MLS Cup champion was determined by a single-elimination knockout tournament with the higher-seeded team having home field advantage in a one-off g...
Eden Hazard: The supreme entertainer that no coach could change
Analysis

Eden Hazard: The supreme entertainer that no coach could change

The exact date escapes me, but I recall it being early 2012. Perhaps it was late 2011, I don't know. Anyway, life as a Tottenham supporter was pretty sweet under Harry Redknapp. Despite the success of 2009/10, 2011/12 lives fonder in my memory. Bale, Modric, Van de Vaart, Adebayor, Parker; Redknapp's Spurs at their apex. This was also a time when transfer discourse appeared pre-historic compared to the current information overload. Jim White and his yellow tie was the Fabrizio Romano of that era. His word was gospel. However, that's merely to contextualise the time. Twitter/X hadn't yet emerged as a cesspit of transfer gossip, and Teletext may have still been in fashion - possibly. So, when my dad uttered to me during an innocuous car journey that he'd heard "from a bloke down the pu...
Ranking the 10 best left backs in men’s football right now in 2023
Analysis

Ranking the 10 best left backs in men’s football right now in 2023

Fullbacks are easy to overlook, but they are becoming increasingly vital in the modern game, especially to elite teams who have possession of the ball and need additional width. They need that width to both free space for the attackers in the middle and to offer additional venues for chance creation. Left backs tend to be scarcer than right backs for the simple fact that there are fewer left-footers. So having a game-breaking left back who can defend well while still creating a high volume of quality chances is the dream of every top team. And some clubs, like Juventus and Real Madrid, have found a proper solution to be difficult. So here are the best left backs in the world today, with this list subject to updates and changes as performances fluctuate and breakout stars emerge...
Ranking the 10 best right backs in men’s football right now in 2023
Analysis

Ranking the 10 best right backs in men’s football right now in 2023

The right back position may be one of the most overlooked in world football, but just ask clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and, most recently, Napoli what having an elite right-sided defender can do for a team. An elite right back can rule an entire flank with composed defending, quality passing in the build-up, supportive runs for the attackers, and game-changing assists via their crossing. So in honor of the right back and many of the unsung heroes who ply their trade at this position, let's take a closer look at the best players in the world who man the right side of the formation. 10. Malo Gusto Malo Gusto joins Christopher Nkunku as another top young talent headed to Chelsea this summer. The 20-year-old will not be the starter in every match, as the Blues alre...