Damning numbers prove Ronaldo's reputation from long range has hit rock bottom
by Martin Laurence
at Pazartesi, Nis 13 2020 10:00
Rewind back over ten years and Cristiano Ronaldo's reputation was rocketing as fast as his shots. The Portugal star, particularly at Manchester United, was renowned for scoring some truly astonishing strikes from outside the box.Be it from open play - see Porto in the Champions League - or free-kick...
Joe Lolley interview on scapegoating footballers, finishing the season and Forest form
by Martin Laurence
at Cuma, Nis 10 2020 12:00
While the inactivity of the game itself continues and will do for the next month across Europe at least, it's been a big week of news in English football.From Liverpool announcing that they would furlough staff only to reverse their decision after a backlash from fans, to FA chairman Greg Clarke cla...
Liverpool past and present: Suarez vs Salah - at their best, who was better?
by Martin Laurence
at Çarşamba, Nis 8 2020 09:00
To say Liverpool have boasted some impressive goalscorers over the past ten years would be an understatement.The previous decade started with Fernando Torres spearheading the Reds attack, with Luis Suarez replacing the Spaniard in 2011 and said decade ending with Mohamed Salah firing home for fun.It...
Stats study proves Messi is among Europe's elite dribblers but Neymar isn't
by Martin Laurence
at Salı, Nis 7 2020 10:50
When it comes to dribbling there have been some remarkable figures posted in Europe's top five leagues this season.Numerous players immediately spring to mind when thinking about the best players at going past an opponent, with Lionel Messi, Neymar and - more recently - Adama Traore chief among them...
Alternative XI: Grealish stars from 'Best of the Rest' outside Premier League top six
by Martin Laurence
at Perşembe, Nis 2 2020 17:42
If the expected PFA Team of the Year touted a month ago was anything to go by, even Kevin De Bruyne will be lucky to break the Liverpool monopoly over the side.Given their dominance in the Premier League this year, some feel that the lineup should be an all red affair, though it's fair to say our ra...
Fantasy head-to-head: Fabregas vs Ozil at their playmaking peaks
by Martin Laurence
at Salı, Mar 31 2020 17:03
With 16 assists to his name, Kevin De Bruyne was well on track to becoming the first Premier League player to reach 20 in a single season since Thierry Henry in 2003 prior to the postponement of the campaign. The Belgian may still have the chance to do so, of course, but truth be told his figures we...
Alexander-Arnold vs Hakimi: Assessing the merits of Europe's top young right-backs
by Martin Laurence
at Cumartesi, Mar 28 2020 13:00
When we released our Under-21 Team of the Season so far earlier this week there was one particular talking point that, it's fair to say, ruffled a few feathers.It was less to do with the inclusion of Borussia Dortmund star Achraf Hakimi and more the subsequent exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold at ...
Manchester clubs dominate most improved Premier League XI
by Martin Laurence
at Perşembe, Mar 26 2020 15:06
If you ever played competitive amateur football at any level, you would know that any award for the 'most improved player' isn't necessarily seen or taken as a compliment! A somewhat glorified participation acknowledgement in many cases, that's certainly not true of the following lineup.With an inde...
Salah pips Messi to spot in latest stat-themed European XI
by Martin Laurence
at Çarşamba, Mar 25 2020 11:12
In the latest in our series of stat-themed XIs we reveal a lineup of the players to have attempted the most shots by playing position across Europe's top five leagues this season.In the interest of fairness - having done the same for our key pass XI - we're excluding set pieces, so in this instance ...
Ronaldo misses out on #7 in best 1-11 shirt number lineup
by Martin Laurence
at Pazartesi, Mar 23 2020 17:26
Teamsheet announcements over tannoys at football matches aren't what they used to be. Gone are the days when players are reeled off from 1 to 11 in terms of their squad numbers. In fact, your lucky to get past the third player in a starting lineup before reaching some ridiculously obscure numbers, a...