At Euro 2024, Xavi Simons launched himself onto the global football stage. The attacking midfielder served up three assists for the Netherlands on their run to the semi-finals, where the 21-year-old also found the net against England. During the season prior to the quadrennial showpiece, Simons had scored 19 goals from midfield – making him …
Xavi Simons Debacle Highlights the Risks of Transfer Buy Back Clauses Read More »
If you thought that transfer fees in football were out of control, the cherry was placed on the cake by the game between Chelsea and Manchester City on the opening weekend of the Premier League 2024/25 season. When you add up the transfer fees commanded by the 22 players that made up the starting elevens …
With a footballing CV that features the likes of French lower league outfit Beauvais, Finnish side PK-35 and non-league’s Blyth Spartans, you get a flavour of the level at which Ali Dia was comfortable at. But that didn’t stop the Senegalese striker from appearing in the Premier League for Southampton – thanks, in part, to …
The Story of Ali Dia: The Premier League’s Worst-Ever Player Read More »
It’s unusual, to say the least, for a footballer to be asked to play in a completely new position at the age of 25 – and especially so during a major international tournament. England deployed Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield in the early rounds of EURO 2024 – despite the fact he has never played there …
Trent Alexander-Arnold & the Footballers That Have Changed Position During Their Career Read More »
We’ve written on these very pages about the concept of an ‘Invincibles’ season – that is, a team that goes through an entire league campaign unbeaten. But Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, can lay claim to a unique record of his own; an unbeaten run that finally came to an end at the 2024 FA Cup …
Rodri’s Incredible Unbeaten Streak Comes to an End Read More »
If we told you that a former Premier League star was going to score a hat-trick in a major final in 2024, you might be hoping that it was Harry Kane doing the honours for the Three Lions at the Euros. Perhaps that will still come to pass, but the player in question adding his …
When Edgar Ié was spotted as a youngster and snapped up by the youth academy at Sporting Lisbon, before being scouted by FC Barcelona, he must have thought he had the football world at his feet. Unfortunately for him, he would make only one appearance for the senior Barca squad, before embarking on a European …
Edelino and Edgar Ié Join Ranks of Twins in Football… Or Do They? Read More »
As the 2023/24 Premier League season draws to a close, thoughts for many fans turn to the upcoming European Championship in Germany. The Three Lions are the favourites with many betting sites, just ahead of France, with the hosts Germany, Spain and Portugal not too far behind. A lot of patriotic money – England fans …
Where Does Jordan Pickford Rank Among England’s Best Goalkeepers? Read More »
