James Taylor
Why Crystal Palace are in trouble
No league wins in 2023. 27 points from 26 games. Two goals in their last five games. This is relegation form. If Crystal Palace are not careful, they will soon find themselves in the midst of a relegation scrap. Firstly, although this form is concerning for Palace fans, they have...
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United edge past Palace
Manchester United demonstrated their improved defensive resilience as their 10 men held on for three points against Crystal Palace to move into third place. The afternoon looked set to be a comfortable affair when Rashford doubled United’s advantage, following an early penalty converted by Bruno Fernandes. However, a Casemiro red...
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Away support, the real ‘magic of the cup’?
Jubilation or heartbreak? For football fans, away days often dictate these emotions. Seeing your team score a late winner away from home is an emotion like no other. Watching your team get demolished, while surrounded by jubilant home support, can be almost soul-destroying. If I was asked to describe what...
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Rashford completes derby turnaround
Manchester United came from behind at Old Trafford, to move a point behind Manchester City and right into a title race. A cautious opening hour was sparked into life by City substitute Jack Grealish, before Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford completed a United comeback. The first half was a cautious...
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Disappointment: Neymar Jr’s legacy
Neymar Junior. One of the most high-profile, skilful, talked about footballers in the world. Following another World Cup disappointment with pre-tournament favourites Brazil, what is Neymar’s legacy? Has he ever lived up to the expectations? Will he have a final chance at World Cup redemption? The 30-year-old went into this...
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Mid-season Premier League review
After 14/15 games in the Premier League so far, we now have an unprecedented break until Boxing Day while the World Cup is played in Qatar. The eyes of the world now lie on Qatar, but in England, the break gives managers an opportunity to review their season so far...
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The curious case of FC Barcelona
Top of La Liga. Knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage. €1.3 billion in debt. Having spent €150 million in the summer to bring in Lewandowski, Kounde and Raphinha, expectations were and still are high for this season. Starting with their European campaign, they drew a challenging...
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The story of United’s attacking woes
Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney: each of these players has led the line for Manchester United in the Premier League. What ten Hag would do to bring one of them back now. After a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle, their search for a centre forward must...
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Electric Arsenal return to the top as Liverpool’s dismal run continues
Are Arsenal the real deal? Are Liverpool in decline or just in a temporary slump? Although the 3-2 score indicates a tight encounter, the game was controlled by Arteta’s men, with their performance encapsulated by the energy of their young Brazilian forward, Gabriel Martinelli. After an electric start, Martinelli found...
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Haaland runs riot as United’s problems are exposed
Another Manchester derby. Another Manchester City win. Another Erling Haaland hat-trick. For Manchester United, the second time this season they have found themselves trailing 4-0 at half-time. They responded to that last 4-0 half-time humiliation at Brentford by winning the next four league games. Even if they were to do...
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FA Cup winners to Basement Boys: can Leicester City save themselves?
Bottom of the league. One point. 22 goals conceded. Brendan Rodgers’ side, which secured a fifth-place finish alongside an FA Cup triumph just two seasons ago, look set for a potential relegation battle this year. But how exactly has it gone so badly wrong for Leicester City, a side which...
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Ronaldo to leave United again: what next?
It has been widely reported that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester United this summer to continue playing Champions League football throughout the final years of his career. His absence from the start of pre-season training for United indicates that these are not just rumours, and the 37-year-old will likely...
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