It has been a starting point for some of the world’s top soccer players. As youngsters, the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka all played in the Mondial Montaigu youth tournament in France. Known as “Mondial Minimes,” the 40-year-old competition is contested by under-16 national teams over Easter, […]
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All in the mind – Is the brain the new frontier in football training?
Today’s soccer professionals have a battery of physios, fitness trainers and doctors all striving to fine-tune their players’ physique for optimum performance. But are football clubs missing a trick in overlooking dedicated training for the most important organ of all — the brain? Scientists at London’s Brunel University believe the game’s top talents, such as […]
From Paris To Barcelona – The Transfer That Sparked A Revolution
It can be all too easy to forget Ronaldinho’s role in the creation of today’s Barcelona. Shepherded swiftly towards the exit door by incoming coach Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2008, the brilliant Brazilian would play no part in a team which would go on to become the world’s finest footballing side and be […]
The tweaks that led to Barca’s comeback
A few days before Barca’s second-leg vs Milan, I posted an article going through some of the problems Barca were facing – tactically and otherwise – during a difficult run in their season. Changes were required. Spanish football expert Andy West takes a look at some of reasons Barca were able to mount their historic comeback. […]
What’s up, Barca? On recent form and the future
It all seemed to start unravelling with the showing in Milan. Sure, they had been beaten by Celtic earlier in the season but that was a game in which there were chances for Barca and they could have scored a few. That wasn’t the case against Milan, nor was it the case in the 2nd […]
Outflanked – How Barca’s Pep Revolution Was Based On Width
Part of the fun of watching FC Barcelona over the last four and a half years has been watching them tinkering with the norms of football tactics and formations. For their fans, and for neutrals who simply enjoy watching individual or group displays of extreme technique applied at high speed, there has been plenty to […]
Gazza downfall a warning to young players
When a young Paul Gascoigne was asked for his footballing hero, he gave an unequivocal answer. Bryan Robson, captain of England, was his choice but the reasoning was troubling. He had not chosen ‘Robbo’ for his bravery, goalscoring from midfield or inspirational leadership. Instead, Robson was hailed above all others because of his ability to […]
Undeserving Messi ‘out of this world’ according to Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is ‘from a different planet’ as he assesses his sublime talents, but does not believe he was a worthy winner of the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year prize. … When asked whether Messi would have got his vote in the FIFA poll, Wenger […]
Real Madrid go missing again as Barcelona effort takes its toll
Four times Real Madrid have visited Andalucia in La Liga this term – and on each occasion they have left Spain’s southernmost province with nothing. Indeed, if the capital club can draw comfort from one thing after Saturday’s lacklustre loss in Granada, it is that they do not now have to return to the region […]
Guardiola to Munich – Pep decides Bayern is the place to be
So, after confirming a few weeks ago that he would return to coaching in the summer, and then seemingly implying that he would pick an English Premier League club, Pep’s future has been revealed. As confirmed by the club themselves, Guardiola will join German giants Bayern Munich this summer on a deal that will keep […]
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