Category: Coach Education

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?

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.

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.

Matthias Jaissle – Newcastle United – Tactical Analysis

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

Matthias Jaissle has only been in charge for a month now, and Newcastle are still a work in progress. They've lost some of their most influential figureheads, and are rapidly changing their approach and identity. Instilling his philosophies across the pitch and integrating all the new faces will take time. But with so much in the Premier League also being new, Jaissle has started the campaign on an impressive unbeaten run. While it's only three matches in, Newcastle fans can be optimistic that they've found a new spark to life in the league.

Tactical talking points from Matchday 1

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Game of Numbers, Masterclasses, Premier League, Team Analysis

The new season has sprung upon us, enlisting a host of exciting tactical tweaks to explore. Some things might not last more than a match, and that's all part of the fun of the first round of fixtures. Here is what stood out to me from Matchday 1.