Ilkay Gündogan Passing(2012-13)

Arrigo Sacchi talking about Tactics

Moyes is Irreplaceable

Whilst David Moyes’s move to Manchester United is a great opportunity for him personally, and no Everton fan would begrudge him the chance to move on to the next level, it is very difficult to see how the Blues can adequately replace the great man.

Hazard hoping for Mourinho return

Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard says he would love to see Jose Mourinho return to the club over the summer.

The Portuguese manager arrived at Stamford Bridge on the crest of a wave in June 2004, after leading Porto to the Champions League title and enjoyed an extremely successful three seasons incharge which saw the Blues win two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.

Learning About Your Own Table Image As Well As The Others

You could read any strategy guide on poker and notice that they always point you in the direction of understanding the table image of your opponents. Whilst this is of course very important, so is understanding your very own image and what information it is giving to your opponents.

Borussia Dortmund - Road to Wembley

FC Bayern München - The Road to Wembley

Which Football Players Need to Lose a Few Pounds

Maintaining peak athletic condition is a demanding and gruelling task. Cardio-vascular and muscular endurance are vital for footballers to ensure that their speed and agility keep them running and repeatedly using their quads and calves throughout a match. In addition a footballer also needs a specific body composition. Slim players are able to carry their weight for longer and are more successful on the pitch.

Issues Sir Alex Ferguson must solve in the summer

Robin Van Persie inspired Manchester United to a 20th title on Monday night with a sublime hat-trick against the relegation-threatened Aston Villa. It was fitting that the Dutchman was the one who scored the goals which won United the title as his decision to join United instead of City was pivotal in deciding whether the Championship came back to Old Trafford or not.

Win 10 Subscriptions To Zinio!

Thanks to folks at Zinio.com,we have 10 free magazine subscriptions to give away. The Winners are free to choose any title from the thousands available at Zinio. Magazines like Four Four Two,World Soccer and Champions Matchday all can be subscribed for free if you are among the lucky winners.

Holland 2-0 Brazil-1974 FIFA World Cup:Total Football At Its Best

Holland spearheaded by Johann Cryuff beat Brazil in a second round group fixture in Dortmund,Germany. The way Holland played was revolutionary at that time and even the modern day Barcelona(although more successful  can't claim to have played such football. No Dutch player playing in a fixed position,the first goal by Nesskens was a perfect example of totaalvoetbal.

Sir Alex Ferguson's strange obsession with Ryan Giggs

Manchester City comfortably beat Manchester United 2-1 on Monday to reduce the deficit between them and the Red Devils to 12 points. Although the race for the title might be over, this loss against City was a continuation of United’s poor performances after their loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16. One major area of concern for the Red Devils is their midfield. In the past few seasons, the United midfield was constantly overrun and outplayed by quality opposition. One common factor in most of these games is the presence of Ryan Giggs in the center of midfield. Ryan Giggs is certainly one of the all time greats to have played the game. But to play him as a part of a 2-men center midfield against the likes of Yaya Toure, Xavi and Iniesta is suicidal.

Zinedine Zidane vs Brazil 2006 World Cup

Is the future strikerless for Germany?

The last time we asked this question it was for Spain and the answer turned out to be a yes. Spain were the the first national team go in without a recognised striker in a major tournament . So will Germany do the same?

Michael Carrick - The key to English hopes of reaching Brazil

A constant presence in the Manchester United midfield over the past few years, Michael Carrick has managed to accumulate only 26 caps for England. Of course, being around the time of England’s so called ‘Golden Generation’, Carrick could really never expect to play for the Three Lions. Manager after manager insisted upon using the 4-4-2 ,with Lampard and Gerrard in midfield. When someone like Paul Scholes, easily the best English midfielder of this generation, is shunted out wide left in favour of Lampard and Gerrard, Carrick would not have been surprised to be neglected by the national coach time after time. But now, having his best season in years, Carrick finally seems to have made a spot for himself in the England midfield. Especially with Jack Wilshere, Carrick will be vital for England in the middle of the park.

The Messi Camera-Argentina Vs Venezuela

Mario Götze Compilation

Defoe or Adebayor: whom should AVB pick?

As Tottenham Hotspur enter the business end of the season, they would try doubly hard not to repeat the mistakes of last season when they somehow managed to finish below Arsenal. Andre Vilas-Boas can of course call the services of a much stronger and improved Gareth Bale, who has almost single-handedly driven Spurs ahead this season.

The Rise of the forward destroyer

Over the last decade we have seen the disappearance of the classic number 10, especially in European football. The most famous example of course being Juan Roman Riquelme, who is one of the most talented footballers to have emerged out of Argentina.

Today, all the best players in the world either are players who are forwards or are players who have moved inside from wide areas. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, Andres Iniesta and Mesut Ozil are all among the very best in the world and can play in numerous positions across the pitch. They are all mobile, more involved in the game and of course, are found in more threatening positions than a classic number 10.

Down the memory lane - 'The Diamond demolition' in the Kolkata derby

Kolkata derby is the most awaited match in a football fanatic’s calendar in the city.

The year was 1997, and on the 13th of July, the stage was set for the biggest clash in Indian football – the Kolkata derby. Mohun Bagan and East Bengal were to battle it out at the Salt Lake Stadium which is the second biggest non-motorsport stadium in the world.

The problem with Wayne Rooney

The issue with Wayne Rooney is simply that there isn’t one that he can solely control. It’s inherently our own problem on how we view him and subsequently what we expect.

When the boy from Croxteth burst onto the scene at Everton as a 16 year old record breaker, scoring that goal against Arsenal, something happened. Suddenly fans, players, managers and media all bolted up and took notice of him. He was the name on everyone’s lips. The player every club wanted. Instantly he was the hope of a nation too.

Johann Cruyff explains the diamond formation

What Sir Alex Ferguson would have learnt from watching the Clasico

Sir Alex Ferguson was in the stands at Camp Nou watching the Copa Del Rey semi-final second leg. He watched Real Madrid put up a clinical and ruthless performance to finish off the Catalans. The Scot certainly would have gone home more worried than he was when he boarded the flight to Barcelona. Real Madrid’s performance as a team on a whole was outstanding, and Barcelona had very few sniffs at goal. Lionel Messi was anonymous, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo was at his breathtaking best. Here are a few things Sir Alex would have learnt from his time in Spain:

A Sad Day in Football: AC Milan 2:0 Barcelona

If you don't understand satire,please don't read this article.

I couldn't believe my eyes when i saw the final score the next day morning. AC Milan 2-0 Barcelona!! How can a team which is the very definition of Anti-Football,Serie A 's Stoke City beat the great Barcelona. Then when i looked at the highlights then i realized as usual Milan cheated,conned and deceived and managed to stick two past the great Catalan side. Definitely one of the saddest days in football's history,someone should stop this from happening again or otherwise football will die out. Maybe Xavi's father should be made as UEFA's technical director,then we won't see such sham happening again.

Pep Guardiola- 26 minutes of Guardiola as a player

Real Madrid vs Manchester United: Talking Tactics

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Jose Mourinho. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Robin Van Persie. Wayne Rooney vs Mesut Ozil. Xabi Alonso vs Michael Carrick. Real Madrid vs Manchester United. The match the world is waiting for.

It is strange that two of the greatest European giants have met just 4 times so far in the Champions League. And the fact that out thrice the winner of this tie has gone on to win the Cup with big ears makes it even more mouth-watering. Both teams have so far kept their plans and starting line-up under wraps as expected. But let’s look at the key tactical points, which will determine how this epic battle is going to play out.

Jack Wilshere-Spanish brain with an English heart

Jack Wilshere’s man of the match performance against Brazil shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to Arsene Wenger or Arsenal fans. After all, they have seen him at close quarters excelling against the likes of Xavi and Iniesta at the Camp Nou. The Brazilian side at Wembley may not share much resemblance with Tele Santana’s team which captured the imagination of fans worldwide but for the English fans who’re so used to failure and under performance, Jack Wilshere is a breath of fresh air. And for once, England were not outplayed and out-passed on the pitch against a quality opposition. More than the result, Roy Hodgson would take more pleasure from the performance and the fact that his midfield came out on top. Add the outstanding but undervalued Michael Carrick to the mix and England have got strength in depth which few teams in the world can boast of.

Football Career Ended By Injury – Poker Became Sam Trickett's Silver Lining

You may never have heard the name Sam Trickett before, yet he is an English-born poker player who has just enjoyed his most profitable year of his career. Since last July he has pocketed $13,111,185 from live tournaments alone, that does not include what he has earned from cash games and whilst playing poker online.

Why Belgium can be the Dark Horses in Brazil 2014

Wednesday night’s victory over Slovakia did little to quell the growing expectation that currently surrounds the Belgium national team, but it took a 90th minute goal from substitute Dries Mertens to secure the win.
A near faultless record in qualification has left Belgium on course for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with three wins out of four and the Red Devils look set to qualify ahead of Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Scotland and Wales in Group A.

El Clasico-Players who have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid

Several high-profile players of great ability have represented both Barcelona and Real Madrid, and we’re not talking about guys moving on for a last shot or easy pay packet when they’re past it. We aren't interested in transfers like Michael Owen to Manchester United or a Christian Vieri to AC Milan (well, not unless I find time to write about Javier Saviola). No, we’re talking about players who donned both the Castilian white and the Catalan blue and red during their prime years and who made a real impact in the heated matches between both sides.

Leroy Fer-What Everton fans can expect

Leroy Fer will sign for Everton after passing his medicals. The Dutch international, aged 23, was one of the most silent moves in this transfer market. After being transferred from Feyenoord to Twente one and half year ago, the midfielder will have an opportunity to showcase his skills in the Premier League.

Luis Suarez-Best Goals Ever

FA Cup 4th Round-Talking Points

Luton Town

Luton Town, 85 places beneath Norwich City, have become the first non-league side in 24 years to knock out top-tier opposition from the FA Cup. The celebrations in the dressing room of the side plying its trade in the Blue Square Bet Premier League showed that the magic of the FA Cup still lives on. As far as Norwich City is concerned, this just maybe the wake up call they need. Chris Hughton’s side haven’t been able to replicate their form of last season and find themselves in 13th position.

Top 10 Goals of The Week-January Week #4

2013.01.04 by GOTW

Michael Carrick-The Brain Of Manchester United

Africa Cup of Nations – Ivory Coast: Preview

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations gets underway this weekend with Ivory Coast firm favourites in the football betting odds to win the tournament won in 1992. Under the leadership of captain Didier Drogba, the Elephants are expected not only to claim their second Afcon title but also do it in style.

Can Michu be Spain’s next False 9?

We all know that Spain’s Ballon d’Or winning coach Vicente Del Bosque rewrote football coaching manuals when he picked a team without a recognised striker for the Euro 2012 finals against Italy(We predicted this move almost a year back). Of course, this move’s origin lays in the fact that Cesc Fabregas had played as a false 9 over the past season under Pep Guardiola for Barcelona. But this season under Tito, Cesc has returned to a more traditional midfield role. And with age catching up with Xavi and Xabi, Spain needs Fabregas in a more traditional midfield role. So who do they play up front?

Anims Tito!

Barcelona's 4-2-4 Formation under Tito

FC Barcelona - The Guardiola System 2008-2012 [Video]