Tag: Manchester City

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?

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.

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.

How Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City could look in 2026-27

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

The 2026-27 season will mark the first time in ten years that Pep Guardiola has not been one of the dominant forces in the Premier League. After six Premier League trophies and a Champions League title to his name, Pep Guardiola finally closed the curtains on his time at Manchester City, making way for a new era. Now, as the season nears closer, it appears that an irreplaceable player could be on their way out. Here is how Manchester City might look next season.

Picking the 2025-26 Premier League Team of the Season

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Premier League

Every time you open social media and listen to the noise of the 2025-26 Premier League season, you will often hear cries of "worst season ever." Even Arne Slot called the league "boring". I beg to differ. This feels like a season that will come down to the final day, and still have plenty to play for in the remaining fixtures. But before the final run-in, I wanted to cast my Premier League Team of the season for 2025-26.

United’s attacking depth the difference against Arsenal

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Masterclasses, Match Analysis, Premier League, Team Analysis

Manchester United may have been second-best for long stretches against Arsenal, but the match ultimately exposed a growing truth about Carrick's team: they can score from anywhere, at any moment, through anyone. While Arsenal controlled the possession, United’s depth in attack - spread across the squad rather than one star, proved decisive. In a season defined by inconsistency, this ability to flip a match on its head in seconds might be their most valuable weapon in the race for Champions League football.

Manchester City’s dominance is being challenged — and this time it feels different

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Masterclasses, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting, Team Analysis

Manchester City have won eight of the past twelve Premier League titles. They've been the dominating force in the league, and the drivers behind many modern tactical innovations. But they are no longer an unstoppable force. With some questionable decisions in the transfer market, this golden era at City has essentially evaporated. They now find themselves seven points adrift, with looming question marks over what's next for many of their once invincible stars. Here is why Manchester City's dominance in the Premier League might finally be over, once and for all.

Why big clubs keep getting transfers wrong

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Data Analysis, Recruitment & Scouting

To football clubs, £100 million might no longer seem like an insane amount of money. They seem to have money to spare. But it never works. And herein lies the reason why clubs like Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth will always have better transfer strategies. Think of how many proven Premier League players you could sign for that total sum of £100-125 million. Think of how many young players you could convince to join for that total fee. This is the problem with the spending of big clubs, and why most big transfers fail.