Arsenal and West Ham among latest Premier League clubs proving why a director of football is now necessary August 15, 2019 They go by a number of titles, working tirelessly throughout the transfer window to recruit the best players and maximise value. Whether labelled as sporting director, director of football or something else, the responsibilities are similar. The position is a growing phenomenon in England, and in some instances those in the role are becoming cult [...]
Adrian the hero but Pulisic and Firmino impress in Liverpool’s Super Cup victory over Chelsea on penalties August 14, 2019 Adrian played just five times for West Ham last season – all cup games, the last of which was a miserable FA Cup defeat against AFC Wimbledon in January. Over the summer he was without a contract, training alone. Fast-forward to just his second game for Liverpool, and his first start for his new club [...]
English footballers are back in vogue in the Premier League: Why a no-deal Brexit means it is a sign of things to come August 14, 2019 “That is a conundrum that we have to solve,” said Gareth Southgate in December last year, addressing the increasingly marginal status of English footballers in the Premier League. The England manager was speaking after the number of native players hit an all-time low, with just 54 of the 220 who had been named in starting [...]
European Super Cup an inconvenience for Premier League sides August 13, 2019 Tonight’s European Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul is a rarity in that the fixture does not feature a Spanish side for the first time since 2013. In the last 10 years, all but one Super Cup has been claimed by either Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, with four of the last [...]
Frank Lampard’s brave approach backfires on Chelsea managerial debut as Blues ship four at reinvigorated Manchester United August 11, 2019 Few footballing unions are as long and happy as Frank Lampard’s association with Chelsea, with whom he renewed his vows when he returned to the club as manager last month. Not many honeymoons have been so short, either. On his first Premier League match in charge of the team he played for with such distinction [...]
VAR could avoid £100m errors or ensure the right team wins the Premier League, its flaws are a small price to pay August 11, 2019 Death, taxes and Manchester City racking up a cricket score at the London Stadium; whatever life throws at us it is reassuring to know that some things remain unavoidable. Also in that category: people moaning about the video assistant referee (VAR), which had a major bearing on whether West Ham shipped three, four or five [...]
Summer transfer window: Premier League narrowly misses out on all-time record as £1.41bn is splashed August 8, 2019 When Premier League clubs voted to shut the transfer window before the season started the reasoning was clear: get business done earlier to avoid disruption on the pitch. The change, which began last year and had its second outing with deadline day, was not unanimously agreed upon, with five clubs voting against and one abstaining, [...]
Anatomy of a modern football fan: The evolving trends and tastes of the Premier League’s global following August 8, 2019 Concept kits blurring the lines between football and fashion; freestylers and video gaming encouraging a new breed of young player; supporters following leagues and superstar players before teams; a hunger for more sophisticated and relevant punditry. It is fair to say that football and fandom is changing. And on the eve of a new Premier [...]
Why fired-up Liverpool can end Manchester City’s Premier League reign and Manchester United could fall out of the top six August 8, 2019 What separates Manchester City and Liverpool from the rest of the Premier League is that they have settled squads which excelled last season, playing to their optimum level almost every week in a brilliant title race that City eventually just edged. Sustaining that lead is so difficult and this is why Pep Guardiola got such [...]
VAR in our time: A bluffer’s guide to how video assistant referees will and won’t be used in the Premier League August 8, 2019 A quiet business estate built on the site of a former rubbish tip in the furthermost fringes of west London could hardly feel more removed from the hustle, bustle and stardust of Premier League football. But it is here, at Stockley Park in Harlington, where the outcome of a new top-flight season will be shaped [...]