Creative Links are quite similar to our attacking midfielder persona - the 'Creative Ten'. The main difference is that they play up front, and typically conduct more of their play with their back to goal in linking up with their teammates. You could call them a 'False 9', a playmaking centre-forward, or something between a '9' and a '10.'
Tag: Karim Benzema
Carlo Ancelotti – Real Madrid – Tactical Analysis
Carlo Ancelotti has long been a legend of the game. But despite managing for over 20 years, now at the age of 62, Ancelotti has continued to update his tactics and methodologies to serve the modern era. That has now transferred into a fourth UEFA Champions League title for the manager himself, his second at Real Madrid. Los Blancos have been exceptional this season under the influence of Ancelotti, winning La Liga by thirteen points, and beating both of England's top two clubs en route to a Champions League triumph. With that, we take a tactical glance at how Carlo Ancelotti achieved miracles in 2021-22.
Top 100 Male Footballers 2021 Edition (20-1)
It's time for the finale! Two weeks ago today, we launched our voting polls for the best player in each position across the calendar year. It’s all part of our annual Top 100 Footballers list, where this year, you get to have your say. In just one week, we had hundreds of votes in each category, helping us develop a comprehensive list of the very best footballers on planet earth this year. Here is our Top 100 Footballers of 2021, as voted by you, ending our countdown with numbers 20-1.
Player 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 poll ranking the best strikers in 2021.
Striker 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 poll ranking the best strikers in 2021.
Futbol Masterminds – Southgate’s Selection Headache and Paul Pogba’s Roller Coaster Ride
Kausty and Rhys dissect all eight Round of 16 ties, including in-depth analyses of Gareth Southgate's winning tactics for England against Germany, and Didier Deschamps' losing tactics for France against Switzerland. Kausty has some choice words to say about Paul Pogba, but Rhys comes to the Manchester United man's defense, calling it one of the standout performances from a player at the tournament so far. Rhys and Kausty also disagree on how Southgate should progress his team moving forward, and make their picks for the final of this summer's championships. Follow @futbolmasterminds on Instagram to see more of the show and subscribe via Itunes and Spotify!
France 1-0 Germany – Tactical Analysis
In a match full of energy and fire, one that felt almost like a semi-final, France came out on top with relative ease over a fruitless Germany team. Didier Deschamps men secured a 1-0 victory at the unfortunate hands (or feet) of Mats Hummels banging the ball into the back of his own net, allowing the world champions to jump up into second in the group. Here is our tactical analysis of the match!
Zinedine Zidane – Real Madrid – Tactical Analysis (2020-21 Edition)
After a slow start to the season, Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid are now flying on all cylinders, currently on a 14-match unbeaten streak that's propelled them toward the top of La Liga and the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Zidane doesn't have the same squad that won him the Champions League in three back to back years between 2016 and 2018, but he is getting the best out of what he has at his disposal once again. After a massive 2-1 win over Barcelona in El Clasico this past weekend and the side securing a place in the UEFA Champions League semis, the side could be on a path toward victory in either competition. As a result, we now take a look at the tactics Zinedine Zidane has deployed throughout the 2020-21 season at Real Madrid.
Top 100 Male Footballers 2020 (40-21)
2020 was a strange year for everyone in the world, not just footballers. But the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that we haven’t gotten as much football as we might have done otherwise. That said, there were still plenty of matches played across the year, and some surprise performers and performances along the way. As always, TheMastermindSite.com will now count down the top 100 male footballers in the world for the year. This list takes into account a player’s form in 2020 as its primary mechanism, with reputation, difficulty of league, club and national team success each playing a secondary role. So with that in mind, here is TheMastermindSite’s Top 100 Male Footballers in the World for 2020 (40-21).
Top 100 Male Footballers 2019 (40-31)
It’s almost the end of the year, so it’s only fitting that we count down the top 100 footballers of 2019. Check out the start of the list (40-31) below. 40. Ederson Moraes Manchester City have had a bit of a rough go of it this season. As a result, Ederson has also had a … Continue reading Top 100 Male Footballers 2019 (40-31)
Top 100 Footballers In The World 2018 (80-61)
Here is the second batch of the Top 100 Footballers of the Year for 2018 - numbers 80-61. Enjoy! For more on what goes into determining The Mastermind’s Top 100 of 2018 click here. For the first set (100-81) click here! 80. Gonzalo Higuain Why Gonzalo Higuain left Juventus for AC Milan is still a bit fuzzy. … Continue reading Top 100 Footballers In The World 2018 (80-61)