In the 3rd part of our tactical evolution series, Charles Ajuyah (@tuale_CA) casts his gaze on the changing role of the fullback. This is a new role of some sorts. Naturally, the fullback does most of the things a central defender should. The difference is how they sometimes bomb into the opponents half to deliver crosses. Furthermore, they provide an...

10:35 PM. May 14, 1997.Referee Markus Merk, blows the full time whistle in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final. On the pitch two young men are locked in a warm embrace. Jose Mourinho, Sir Bobby Robson’s brilliant Portuguese assistant and Barcelona midfield linchpin, Pep Guardiola. Allies, working closely to help transmit the manager's ideas to the team, savouring victory...

In Part 2 of our continued series on tactical shifts in the modern game, we examine the role of the defender. The role of a central defender is obvious on paper. First, defend. Press, mark, tackle, intercept, foul if need be, cover your team mate. Possess positional awareness, play an opponent offside, cover spaces and half spaces, make clearances. Straightforward...

Football remains an ever changing sport. It is a science to some and those who see it as such try to find ways to improve the sport. As a result, things morph from their previous states to new and improved forms. In our new series we’ll examine how the roles in certain positions have changed in recent times. This does...

The beautiful round leather game has undergone a raft of tactical and positional changes down the years. From the introduction of the false 9 to the two CDM set and all that. In this article, we isolate, analyze and discuss the endangered nature of touchline wingers amidst the rise of inverted winger schemes. Being a winger was always pretty easy;...

The football world has been in awe of Josep Guardiola since the Spanish innovator/ fashion icon invented football in 2008. He introduced the “false nine” to modern man, a role played with incredible dexterity by Ferenc Puskas during the Palaeolithic era. He's won loads of trophies at Barcelona and Bayern Munich while making football look easy and Jose Mourinho...

"I think my philosophy can be successful if the players follow it because players can win matches, but it is the squad which wins titles.” - Frank de Boer Bold statement coming from a manager with a lot to prove at the Guiseppe Meazza Stadium. Of course at his Inter Milan presentation, De Boer had to seem confident....

US Sassuolo Calcio. Are they perhaps, "Serie A’s Leicester City"? Can already imagine you asking, "who?" and for good reason too. The young girl from the popular tale who some prince sought after all over glass slippers was similar. The Cinderella story is well known, (look it up). In like manner, Leicester's shocking Premiership conquest remains fresh in memories. Back...

The former Atleti player was signed by Barça at the beginning of last season but due to the transfer ban imposed on Barça, he was only able to make his debut at the beginning of this calendar year. For half a season he was unable to play any sort of football for Barcelona and only made a few appearances...

For years now, the Arsenal faithful all over the world have looked towards every summer hoping it would be the one where the club captured the “Number 9” which we all crave. Summer after summer though, there has been disappointment to the extent where Arsenal signing this number 9 became almost a fairy tale wish. It is all part...