Jesse Lingard – The Krillin who came good for Manchester United
We look into the story of Jesse Lingard, and how he has battled a lack of physical and technical gifts to graft his way into the Man United first team. Two things…
Standing tall amidst the body blows: The story of Lasse Schöne at Ajax
Lasse Schöne is Ajax’ veteran: a composed playmaker in a youthful and vibrant squad. We look into his story and the lifetime of experiences at the club. He came to the club…
The Foundations of A Dynasty – An Ode to Victor Valdes
World football’s most thankless job was Victor Valdes’ bread and butter, cementing his legend in the dynasty that is modern Barcelona. Building a dynasty requires immense preparation and conviction. Merely believing in…
Jurgen Klopp’s Groundhog Days – Defeating Deja Vu and the Dross
Sun rises in the East and Liverpool concedes goals to tin-pot teams. Jurgen Klopp was trapped in a perpetual purgatory until one fine day deja vu gave in. Phil: It’s the same thing…
A Metalhead with the measure of Mozart – A Farewell to Tomáš Rosický
Tomas Rosicky is a metalhead, but his play exhibited the time signatures of Mozart. We say farewell to Arsenal’s most painful “what ifs” in recent history. January 2014, the third round of…
“Ricardo Kaká made me love Liverpool and quit my job” – A Tribute
I blame Ricardo Kaká for turning me into a romantic. For me being at constant odds when I had job security but never the satisfaction. Here’s my tribute. I don’t know about…
Ernesto Valverde: Building A Steadier Barca – An Alternative Match Report
Display at the El Clasico held at the Bernabeu calls for us to take a deeper look at Ernesto Valverde’s role in building a steadier version of FC Barcelona “Buffalo soldier, dreadlock…
Pep Guardiola and Man City Breaking the Levee: An Alternative Match Report
Man City and Pep Guardiola are surging through the Premier League. Their flow is an affront to Brexit and the bulwarks of English football’s old insularity. Cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t…
Jürgen Klopp in the Middle – An Alternative Match Report
Between the dysfunctional defence and selection dilemmas, there is a spot. Jürgen Klopp will meet you there. Here’s why anger over the 1-1 Everton draw is justified, maybe even useful. As I…
Luis Alberto – From Doubt at Liverpool to Deliverance at Lazio
We look into the career of Luis Alberto, once a hitherto unknown face roaming the grass at Melwood Training Ground, who’s now beginning to take on the world. In a city that…
David de Gea, The Whip of Manchester – An Alternative Match Report
David de Gea was cracking his invisible whip against the Alamo-siege of Arsenal’s attack on Manchester United’s goalpost. This is the start of his legend. At night the chimney fire shed the…
A gypsy who could kick a ball: The chronicles of Christian Vieri
We take a look at the life of Christian Vieri, a man who almost didn’t play football, but when he turned to it, had a career many would kill for. Change is…
Ravel Morrison, An Englishman in Mexico – Trading the crown for Sombreros
One of the most promising youth players in Man United’s history, Ravel Morrison now finds himself playing football in Mexico’s burning cauldron of a league. The ecstasy, the bewilderment, the sheer passion.…
A lifetime of lessons: In reverence to Professor Pirlo
We applaud in gratitude to Andrea Pirlo and how he taught an entire generation the importance of poise, patience and staying still in the midst of a storm. I waded through the…
The FA Women’s Super League: Building The Future For Women’s Football
We take a dive into the genesis of WSL and The FA’s efforts into laying the groundwork for making women’s football UK’s 2nd most popular sport. A crowd of 30,000 has gathered…
Arsenal Ladies – The Foot Soldiers of Women’s Football
Carrying forward the legacy of Dick, Kerr’s Ladies FC, there’s perhaps no other club in the world that did more for women’s football than Arsenal Ladies. It’s 1971. The world is seeing…
Body Over Mind? – Daniel Sturridge and the Certainty of an Uncertain Fate
To be or not to be? Daniel Sturridge’s career as one of football’s finest showmen is caught in a Shakespearean struggle between a matter of mind and body. Injured. Sounds like a…
Lucas Pezzini Leiva – The Man in the Arena, Um Tributo
Lucas Leiva’s journey from a boy to a man coincided with many Liverpool fans’. Here’s one writing his farewell and thanks fit for a man in the arena. It is not…
Bournemouth AFC: Forever Fighting the Right Battle
Football Paradise dives deep into the story of Bournemouth AFC, charting their incredible rise from near-extinction to a strong force in the Premier League. In October 2000, a gangling 18-year-old Jermain Defoe…
Alexis Sanchez: Arsenal’s Greatest Challenge This Transfer Window
It’s a summer of reckoning for Arsene Wenger, as he enters the battle to keep his biggest star at the club, with Manchester City lurking dangerously close. Known to the locals as…
Bricklayer Who Built the Bastion – Bob Paisley’s Liverpool Legacy Through Anecdotes
A legacy can only be built brick by brick and no one knew it better than Liverpool’s Bob Paisley. Here’s his through anecdotes. “You’re having one on me, aren’t you?” The city…
Introducing, Omar Abdulrahman – The Fresh Prince of Asian Football
Will Omar Abdulrahman finally become the player that bridges the gap between Asian football and Europe? Football Paradise charts his course for greatness. January 2015, it’s the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals and…
Fear and Loathing at the Theatre of Dreams
This is war for the soul of Manchester United at the theatre of Dreams, and if putting up with the persona of a psycho-anarchist at the helm, then so be it. (United…
One Season Wonder – Swiveling the double-edged sword of nurturing wonderkids
There are stories aplenty of stars shining bright and then fading away. We delve deep into how European football handles the one season wonder phenomenon. “At first I was afraid, I was…