The end of year is almost here, and that means it's time for our annual Top 100 Footballers list. This year, you, the readers of our website, will get to have your say. Just simply see the list of nominees below, and rearrange the list to suit your preference of first to last in each position. When we rank the Top 100 Footballers of the Year, we take into consideration a player's form throughout 2021, their club and national team success, difficulty of league, and their reputation + performances in the year prior. You can rank based on any criteria you desire! Below is our first poll of the year - ranking the best right backs in 2021.
Author: Rhys Desmond
Goalkeeper of the Year – Interactive Vote (Top 100 Footballers 2021)
The end of year is almost here, and that means it's time for our annual Top 100 Footballers list. This year, you, the readers of our website, will get to have your say. Just simply see the list of nominees below, and rearrange the list to suit your preference of first to last in each position. When we rank the Top 100 Footballers of the Year, we take into consideration a player's form throughout 2021, their club and national team success, difficulty of league, and their reputation + performances in the year prior. You can rank based on any criteria you desire! Below is our first poll of the year - ranking the best goalkeepers in 2021.
Christian Streich – SC Freiburg – Tactical Analysis (2021-22 Edition)
After back to back top ten finishes, SC Freiburg are now flying high toward a Champions League position in the German Bundesliga. Christian Streich's team have played some fantastic high pressing, high tempo football, beating some of the best teams in the league without any genuine stars in their side. So following up from our tactical analysis of the team last season, we take a look at how Christian Streich has revolutionized Freiburg in 2021-22.
Fred – Manchester United – Tactical Analysis
Since arriving at Manchester United in the summer of 2018, Fred has been under a microscope with each and every passing minute. Every action he takes on a football pitch seems to be scrutinized by those trying to justify his shortcomings, or those, like me, trying to justify why those shortcomings aren't actually so short. In recent weeks, the calls for Fred to be crowned one of United's most important players have only grown, as he performs a more attack-minded role within the team's double-pivot. So today, I present to you a dossier all about Manchester United's Fred, and why Manchester United would be worse without him.
Fox in the Box – November 2021
Magazine of November 2021! In this month's edition of Fox in the Box, we explore Antonio Conte's Spurs, Ralf Rangnick's potential for greatness with Manchester United, and a discussion about the Goalkeeper of the Year. Subscribe to our monthly subscription for $1.00 per month or login to your account, to view the magazine.
Overlapping Centre-Backs – Ebook
As humans, we have an innate desire to innovate. Whether it’s coming up with new inventions, new businesses or new ways of conducting work, we all strive to create change in the world. There are very few things in the world where this innate need is showcased more than in the world of football. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in specific principles around pressing, playing out from the back and quick transitions. Managers are becoming smarter by the day, constantly looking to innovate, and do something that nobody has ever done before in the beautiful game (relatively speaking of course). One of the most intriguing of all innovations to come to prominence in recent years is the concept of overlapping centre-backs. Essentially, this is an over-arching principle whereby outside-centre-backs in a back-three formation, have not only a defensive role, but a clearly defined attacking one. Teams like Sheffield United and Atalanta achieved widescale success utilizing overlapping centre-backs in the late 2010s, shocking the world with something new and unique that opposition teams simply could not cope with. While the strategy is relatively rare, there is no denying the potential effectiveness of the methodology when conducted right. That’s why in this ebook, I’m going to be breaking down how to coach a team with overlapping centre-backs, and the necessary steps to execute this tactic within your own system and style of play.
Bruce Arena – New England Revolution – Tactical Analysis
After a long, thirty-four game season, New England Revolution have won their first ever MLS Supporters' Shield. For anyone unfamiliar with the MLS' bizarre structures, that is the equivalent to winning a league title in any other league around the world. In the MLS, all it means is that New England have the best seed heading into the Playoffs, where they will hope to claim glory for good. But despite the insignificance of something that should be very significant, New England need to be commended for their incredible 2021 MLS season. The Revs lost just 5 of their 34 league games, scoring 65 goals in the process. Through it all they played some intriguing football, in a unique 4-3-1-2 system. Here is our tactical analysis of Bruce Arena's New England Revolution in 2021.
John Herdman – Canada – Tactical Analysis
After years of barely even being on the football map, Canada are suddenly thriving and well under the new leadership of John Herdman. The Canadian Men's National Team have won 71% of their matches since Herdman took over, following up from his personal successes with the Women's team, where he helped the nation claim two Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016. His first mission as men's national team coach was to help the Canadians earn their first qualification to a World Cup since 1986, and they have now gone 13 matches unbeaten in qualifying, with 9 wins and 4 draws. With just a few games to go in the round robin, Canada look destined to qualify for their first major international tournament in thirty-five years. Here is an analysis of John Herdman's work with the Canadian Men's National Team.
