We are all fascinated with celebrities. A desire for tales of fame and fortune, trial and tribulation and victory over defeat. Present day popular culture creates idols out of sports stars. And inversely, for many decades, sport has had an effect on modern popular culture. As an example, fashion now reflects sports clothing and it […]
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Juan Mata France Football Interview – An English Translation
Chelsea’s Spanish schemer, Juan Mata, recently did a very good one-on-one interview with Philippe Auclair for France Football. Auclair is their England Correspondent, and is a regular on the Guardian’s Football Weekly Podcast. His Eric Cantona Biography, “Cantona – The Rebel Who Would Be King” has been nominated for several awards. He described Mata as […]
Michael Ballack: Farewell to a Chelsea Legend
LAST week, Michael Ballack called time on his career. As a Chelsea legend, I could not help but be surprised by how little media coverage his retirement received. After Chelsea finally won the Champions League last May, ironically in Munich, many supporters said Ballack was the former player they felt would have been most deserving […]
Versatile Players: Tactical and Financial Benefits
A big buzzword often used when a new signing comes in to your club is the term ‘versatility’. It is often loosely banded around to herald a player’s ability to fit into a variety of positions with an adequate level of success, or in some cases, with a very good level of success.
Manchester United: Analysis of Attacking Options & Goals in Fergie Time
With a tough trip to Anfield this Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson has some tough choices to make regarding his starting selection in attacking positions. Most managers would be daunted by having to leave world class players on the substitutes bench, or out of the 18 altogether. However, football is now very much a “squad game”, […]
Gordon Igesund: Brazil and the baptism of fire
Bafana Bafana’s nickname literally translates to “the Boys, the Boys”. Friday the 7th September marks the day when boys will be expected to become men, as new coach, Gordon Igesund and South Africa face Brazil in a daunting friendly in São Paulo, playing in Brazil for the first time in South Africa’s history.
Andy Carroll – Analysis Of His Liverpool Departure
THERE are generally two types of managers in football. You get those that like to use the same tactics and style of football at every club they manage, and those who will adjust their tactics to suit the players at their disposal. Brendan Rodgers is certainly one of the former. The minute Liverpool’s owners decided […]
50 Sheikhs of Greed
THERE is this beautiful young girl. She wants the best out of life. She wants the best things in life. So what does she do? She attaches herself to a wealthy man. Diamonds, shoes, clothes, exotic holidays and expensive perfumes are the order of the day. Life could not be better. She is set for life. However, what would happen when […]
Nuri Şahin: Where will he fit in at Liverpool?
Nuri Şahin has finally completed his loan move to Liverpool. How will he fit in to their side, to English football, and to Brendan Rodgers’ football? Let’s take a look.
Branislav Ivanovic: A Right Back in a Centre Back’s Body
Branislav Ivanovic is a Chelsea cult hero. He’s also a world class defender. But is the Serbian defender a centre back who can reluctantly cover at right back, or a right back with the physical attributes to cover in central defence?
The implications of Alex Song to Barcelona
Alex Song’s move to Barcelona as Seydou Keita’s replacement has far greater ramifications than initially meets the eye. To look at this in the overall context, one has to first highlight the earlier bit of business the Spanish side completed this summer.
Chelsea 2012-13 Season Preview
I have decided to do this preview by category to allow for easier reading. As with any season preview at this stage of the transfer window – almost 2 weeks to go – there may still be significant movement, and even one quality signing can alter the squad’s balance enormously.
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Grant James
Grant James is a professional football analyst and coach who holds an FA Level 2 Coaching License, FA Youth Module 2, CAF B License, the Prozone Level 3 in Performance Analysis and has a one-year diploma in Sports Coaching Science from ETA. All views are his own.
Ebrahim Sadien
Ebrahim Sadien is an Italian football writer who also covers Bafana Bafana and local South African football.
Andy Forrester
Andy Forrester is a professional football match and opposition analyst based in Qatar. All views are his own.
