Stories By Harry De Cosemo

• Sport

  Could Alexander Isak solve Arsenal’s striker dilemma?

  Tactical trends are helping football evolve constantly but the modern game has arguably seen the biggest breakaway from the norm to date. Coaches are the people with the power to create change, and nobody has done that quite like Pep Guardiola.

• Sport

  Can Coutinho resurrect his career after Barcelona farce?

  It was January 2018 and Philippe Coutinho was sat on a plane to Barcelona, having said goodbye to Liverpool. Any sadness he felt at departing Anfield must have been balanced by anticipation at the prospect of emulating Ronaldinho under the Camp Nou lights.

• Sport

  Kieran Trippier arrival hints a bright Newcastle future

  Doom and dread always sells. Negativity and controversy are sexy and it has always been that way, particularly in the medium of football punditry. From the moment the takeover of Newcastle was completed, there have been doubters and deniers peddling ideals that they need to be cautious and realistic about the future, harnessing the dreams of a fanbase so devoid of any hope for so long.

• Sport

  Will Adama Traore ever live up to his potential?

  At Barcelona, there have been so many great hopes for the academy. Even in this, the darkest of times, when success seems further away than at any point in their modern history, players like Gavi, Pedri and Ansu Fati are providing positivity.

• Sport

  Conditions not right for Benitez to thrive at Everton

  Rafael Benitez is an interesting character. There are few managers so swayed by emotion and his best work is done where he is loved, in communities who appreciate and share his obsession with football.

• Sport

  Is Darwin Nunez the latest global star to emerge from Benfica?

  Benfica have a rich history of producing global football stars. Is Darwin Nunez the latest player who is set to become a star?     Benfica are one of the greatest football factories in Europe and their record of producing quality footballers is so often overlooked.

• Sport

  Mason Greenwood still has plenty of time to fulfil potential

  This generation of England youngsters is already more exciting than almost any seen before. Structured coaching, deep planning and an approach which seeps through every level of the Football Association have helped to develop a conveyor belt of talent, which is finding its feet at the highest level for both club and country.

• Sport

  Arsenal facing familiar dilemma over Aubameyang form

  For Arsenal, internal and external criticism never seems too far away. When they started this season in typically meek, flimsy style, going down 2-0 to a Brentford side fresh from promotion, the knives were out for Mikel Arteta.

• Sport

  Ballon d’Or 2021 hysteria proves how high Messi has set the bar

  Eventually 30 Ballon d’Or 2021 nominations were whittled down to the final two, despite the illusion of secrecy, Lionel Messi was left next to Robert Lewandowski in the running and the seating plan.

• Sport

  Newcastle United fans have cause to be positive despite current woes

  Mike Ashley departed Newcastle United at the beginning of October like an overthrown dictator. Not two months on, the full force of the empty destruction he left is being felt hard. It will be no consolation to Eddie Howe, in the St James’ Park dugout for the first time against Norwich City on Tuesday night after a bout of coronavirus, that without Ciaran Clark’s ninth minute red card, his team would most likely have won their first Premier League game of the season.

• Sport

  Criticism of Ralf Rangnick appointment is no more than lazy punditry

  As Ralf Rangnick takes charge of Manchester United on an interim basis, his doubters have become writing him off before he’s even taken charge of a game.   It is human nature to fear the unknown but, for British football pundits, we are past the point of not knowing being a problem.

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