English Clubs

Today Was Made For r/Soccer

Thursdays are the quirkiest of footballing days. With the Europa League in action, there’s simultaneously too much for any one person to follow and yet not enough to keep anyone but the most devoted of fans interested. It’s a perfect day for r/Soccer to ensure you’re up to date on all things football, and this Thursday was a doozy. It was a day made for r/Soccer.

Let’s start, as with all things r/Soccer, with something that overpromotes an American, and as usual, that American is Christian Pulisic. 

Move Over England, Spain Is Now The Real Master Of The Long Ball

Football was changed forever in the 1950's by a man named Charles Reep, a retired Wing Commander from the British Royal Air Force. After watching and meticulously analyzing hundreds of soccer games, Reep came to the conclusion that the majority of goals in soccer come from moves of three passes or fewer.

This simple deduction shaped British football from that point on, changing it from a game based on individual dribbling ability and guile into a long ball jamboree and war of field position. Thus, England became a country known for aerial duels and rough and tumble soccer.

Liverpool Escapes Leipzig, But This Was No Turning Point

Jurgen Klopp will breathe a sigh of relief on Wednesday night. Liverpool finally put away an indifferent RB Leipzig with a 2-0 win at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, completing a 4-0 aggregate victory in the Champions League Round of 16. But this was far from a return to form for the defending Premier League champions, and it wasn’t the type of performance that will inspire a turning point in Liverpool’s season.

Forget VAR, It's Time To Rethink The Way Football Arbitrates Aerial Challenges

Much of the discussion surrounding soccer refereeing this season has focused on the use of the Video Assistant Referee. The VAR controversy is dangerous to the modern game, but there is another issue — a serious player safety concern — that is being carelessly overlooked because of the VAR commotion. 

Man City’s Dominance Has Only Added To The Mental Fog Of Late-Stage Pandemic

There was a point in Manchester City’s 21-game win streak where we ran out of things to say. To watch them is to immediately understand the profundity of Pep Guardiola’s highly drilled machinations and the osmosis of an obsession with spatial perception (here comes João Cancelo into the midfield); that and the recognition of İlkay Gündoğan as an absolute monster of the No. 8 position. 

Vacant Space: 7 Matches From This Past Year That Covid Prevented From Being Classics

When we look back at football in 2020/21 over the years to come, there will be no classics, no games to remember — because without fans, matches just don't have the same impact.

Of course, these changes were necessary to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus, and, if current trends hold, it seems that fans will soon be allowed back in stadiums again.

Female Coaches Can Help Bring Professional Men’s Soccer Into The 21st Century

As the 2020 American NFL season drew to a close with Tom Brady winning his record seventh Super Bowl, it was interesting to note another sporting first: the three women involved in the game — two coaches and one official.

With eight women currently coaching in the NFL, there’s still a long way to go when it comes to parity, but it does seem that women are finally breaking into elite men’s sports coaching in the U.S.

Harry Kane Hits Contender For Goal Of The Season And Gareth Bale Scores Twice

Harry Kane scored two and assisted two, Gareth Bale got a brace of his own and Son Heung-min provided one assist as Tottenham’s in-form front three fueled a 4-1 hammering of Crystal Palace on Sunday. 

It was a complete performance from Spurs, who opened the scoring in the 25th minute after Lucas Moura poked it off Luka Milivojević and into the path of Kane. The English striker advanced towards goal before squaring to Bale for the tap-in. 

Manchester United Ends Manchester City’s Winning Streak With Derby Victory

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City's 21-match winning streak was ended by rivals Manchester United as Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side enjoyed a 2-0 Premier League derby victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

United won thanks to an early penalty from Bruno Fernandes and a second-half strike from Luke Shaw with the result narrowing City's lead at the top of the table to 11 points over United with 10 games remaining. It was City's first defeat in all competitions since Nov. 21.

20-Year-Old Oklahoman Daryl Dike Is Destroying The EFL Championship After Today’s Banger

Daryl Dike is not long for the Championship. In this form, he’ll either guide his new club to promotion or be bought up by a Premier League club by the summer.

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