“In comparison to the emotionally-charged axing of a striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who averaged 30 goals a season, even the sale of David Beckham for, in Real Madrid's opinion, "peanuts", and the never-explained departure of Jaap Stam appear to be the rational acts of a sage and far-sighted manger. To offload a player because he could not be reconciled with a role within the squad is a failing of management.” RealGoalOpinionRolesPlayerFailingFootballSeasonsManagementRationalSoccerAnalysisComparisonSageVansDeparturePeanutsSquadMadridBeckhamStrikersReal Madrid Author:Pete Gill
“In a bygone era, penalty-takers would put their laces through the ball and threaten to put a permanent bulge in the netting. For reasons that remain a mystery, the modern preference is for side-footed placement and so the dilemma of goalkeepers has changed from whether to take a guess at dive right or left to if they should dive at all. Or at least that ought to have been their reappraisal. Almunia was feted as the hero in Rome but had he and Doni stayed in the centre of their goal then the number of saves they made in the shoot-out would have been doubled.” IfsShouldHas BeensMadeReasonLeftSidesGoalNumbersMysteryModernChangedFootballOughtHeroBallsErasSoccerPermanentAnalysisRomePenaltiesCentrePreferenceDilemmaLacePlacementGoalkeepers Author:Pete Gill
“Is it unprecedented for two goalkeepers employed in a match comprising seven goals to be the fixture's most competent protagonists?” TwoGoalFansMediaFootballSevenSoccerEmployedCompetentUnprecedentedProtagonistsGoalkeepersFixture Author:Pete Gill
