Author: Rhys Desmond

Across the past decade, I have worked with thousands of players and coaches across multiple sports and disciplines. I recognize the value of diving deeper beyond the first glance, and uncovering the deeper-lying ways to enhance performance. I make a commitment toward positive reinforcement, research-backed insights, and making the experience fun for those that work with me. If you’re interested in learning more about my site or experiencing my coaching, feel free to reach out! 👊⚽

Elliot Anderson’s start to life at Manchester City, and what happens next?

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Central Midfield, Data Analysis, Masterclasses, Player Analysis, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting

If you've been living under a rock during this international break from club football, you may have missed that Manchester City have been charged with 114 Premier League financial rule breaches. If the punishment fits the crime, Manchester City will almost certainly be relegated from the league, meaning they will lose all of their strongest assets at the club. Players like Elliot Anderson, who have just come in for 100 million pounds, will soon be surplus to requirements. So what happens now for a player like Anderson?

Total Football Analysis stole 3 of my articles

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in World Football

I've been writing about football for over 10 years on this website. In that time, I've had the odd instance of stolen words and zapped insights. Normally it comes from small, lazy creators trying to start a YouTube channel or their own site. Other times it comes from websites that don't seem to have any humans behind them. I didn't think a platform as established as Total Football Analysis and their writers would resort to stealing of intellectual property, but here we are. Here are the three articles in question, each posted 1 day after my original posting on TheMastermindSite.com.

What we learned from Canada’s friendly wins over Chile and Peru

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Masterclasses, Team Analysis

Canada's first matches since the World Cup revealed a team with more quality, competition and depth than ever before. Luc De Fougerolles and Nathan Saliba strengthened their claims for automatic starting roles, while Liam Millar and Jacob Shaffelburg continued to impress. The next generation have shown that they're not waiting around for their opportunity. They're taking it. Here is what we learned from Canada's wins against Chile and Peru.

3 Canadian stars making their mark at new clubs

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Central Midfield, Data Analysis, Masterclasses, Player Analysis, Recruitment & Scouting, Striker

The 2026 summer transfer window was a busy one for Canadians. Just about every one of our national team stars changed clubs - many earning exciting moves to take their careers in new directions. It's only September, but it's gone better than expected for most. Here is how our biggest stars have fared since their big summer moves.

Pascal Groß: Brighton’s £1.7 million masterstroke

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Game of Numbers, Masterclasses, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting

In the month of September, Pascal Groß has arguably been the best midfielder in the division. Certainly one of the most influential, putting up 3 goals and 3 assists to start this season. Here is what makes the German midfielder so special.

Fabian Hürzeler – Brighton – Tactical Analysis

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Managers, Premier League, Team Analysis

Brighton have been one of the best teams in the Premier League so far in 2026-27, topping the charts on goals, xG, and clean sheets. They're also second in the possession table behind only Manchester City, as one of the only remaining 'press and possess' teams in the league. Along the way, they've been tactically flexible and complex, making for one of the most fun teams to root for right now. Here is an analysis of Fabian Hürzeler's Brighton so far in 2026-27.

Enzo Fernandez, VAR and the offside decision that changed the Manchester derby

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Masterclasses, Premier League

The controversy around this is ultimately about more than just an error of judgement. It's the fact that the on-field team initially came to the correct decision. If VAR wanted to ask the refereeing team to have another look and review the footage, the assistant referee involved in making that call could have been reviewing the footage alongside them. In the end, they made the wrong decision, and Manchester United now suffer as a result.

Xabi Alonso – Chelsea – Tactical Analysis

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Managers, Masterclasses, Premier League, Team Analysis

It's been four Premier League matches for Xabi Alonso at Chelsea, and already, the Blues are so much more fun. They're scoring goals left, right, and centre, have the most harmonious and eye-pleasing front three in the league, and a tactically complex shape full of new faces and utter disorganization in defense. Chelsea fans might have been hoping for a slightly better start to this season, but they can be optimistic about the club's direction under Xabi Alonso. Here is an analysis of Chelsea so far this season, and what needs to change.