Monthly Archives: September 2026

The ghost penalty run-up: Why did Youri Tielemans mimic Bruno Fernandes?

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“When Bruno Fernandes stepped up to the penalty spot on Sunday afternoon, all eyes were at first on him. Understandably so: Manchester United’s captain had missed two penalties in pre-season. But after Fernandes duly converted for the second goal of his hat-trick against Ipswich Town, it was Youri Tielemans’ antics in the background that drew attention. As Fernandes undertook his trademark run-up, Tielemans mirrored him exactly, sidestepping and stuttering in synchronisation. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)

The 10 data-led transfers that have gone under the radar this summer

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Bournemouth might have unearthed another top talent in Alvaro Rodriguez
“For the second summer in succession, Premier League clubs spent more money on transfer fees than every team from La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 combined. A total outlay of just over €4billion (£3.4bn; $4.6bn) was driven by nine-figure deals for Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez towards the top of the food chain. Still, 16 of the 20 sides in the English top flight invested at least €100million (£86m; $116m) in their squads, highlighting the division’s growing strength in depth. Many of the game’s biggest names may only be heading one way, but that didn’t stop some of Europe’s shrewd operators making some intriguing signings away from the spotlight. As the dust settles on another hectic window, The Athletic’s Thom Harris picks out 10 promising data-led signings who could be drawing the attention of the big spenders in years to come. …”
NYT/ATH

Barcelona, Atletico, acrimony and Arsenal: The Julian Alvarez transfer saga is not over

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“… That is how one senior Atletico Madrid source described the situation surrounding Julian Alvarez this summer. Although deadline day ended with Alvarez staying at Atletico, the fallout from the window’s most bitter transfer saga is only just settling — and the story is far from over. Here, informed by conversations with over a dozen sources (who each asked to speak anonymously to protect relationships), The Athletic explains how Alvarez’s ‘dream move’ to Barcelona failed to materialise, with the two La Liga clubs instead spiralling into acrimony and accusation. Atletico accused Barca of ‘disgusting behaviour’ as the Spanish league champions pursued their striker — and reported them to the Spanish FA. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)

Anfield

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“Anfield is a football stadium in the area of Anfield, Liverpool, England, which has been the home of Liverpool Football Club since their formation in 1892. The stadium has a seating capacity of 61,276, making it the fifth-largest football stadium in England.[1] It was originally the home of Everton from 1884 to 1891 before they moved to Goodison Park after a dispute with the club president John Houlding who members voted out, leading Houlding to form Liverpool FC. The stadium has four stands: the Spion Kop, the Main Stand, the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, and the Anfield Road End. The record attendance of 61,905 was set at a match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1952. The ground converted to an all-seater stadium in 1994 as a result of the Taylor Report, which reduced its capacity. Two gates at the stadium are named after former Liverpool managers: Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. Both managers have been honoured with statues outside the stadium: Shankly’s unveiled in 1997 by the Kop Stand and Paisley’s in 2020 by the Main Stand. …”
W – Anfield (Video)

More misery for Tottenham. More goals for Chelsea. Who won the Premier League weekend?

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“Welcome to week two of The Athletic’s Premier League performance table — the sort of ranking system Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage refuses to take any comfort from. In case you missed week one, this isn’t the official standings, where results are the be-all and end-all. In our performance-based take, there’s a clean slate at the start of each gameweek, which means you can go from top to bottom (and vice versa) in the space of a few days, with the one-to-20 rankings assessed purely on how well each team played in their previous match. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)

Barcelona breeze past Rayo but all eyes in Spain remain on Julián Álvarez

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“If Raphinha has any misgivings about playing as a makeshift No 9 for Barcelona, he is doing a good job of hiding it. Julián Álvarez would have been proud of the Brazilian’s two neat finishes that inspired the Spanish champions to a 5-2 victory against Rayo Vallecano on Monday night, 24 hours before the transfer deadline. Lamine Yamal scored two wonderful goals of his own in a performance that reassured everyone he is back to his best. Add Anthony Gordon to the mix – impressive again in his link-up play – and you have a fluid, fearsome front three. …”
Guardian

Harry Kane: My game in my words

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“It’s late summer in the hazy Bavarian countryside. In a sports club half an hour outside Munich, beside pale stone houses buttered by the sunshine and deer chewing quietly at the grass, Harry Kane is talking The Athletic through an individual season for the ages. Kane scored 73 goals for club and country. But he is a prohibitive favourite to win the Ballon d’Or later this year because of his many other dimensions. Kane is football’s heavyweight goalscorer, but also the creative, physical and emotional heart of a Bayern Munich side that won a domestic double last season and will again contend to become European champions. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)
W – Harry Kane

Chelsea’s perfect yet unserious start to the Premier League season – Jonathan Wilson

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“Two Premier League games played for Chelsea under Xabi Alonso: two wins and seven goals scored. It’s the sort of start that would delight many new managers – only two other clubs can boast about a six-point start this Premier League season (albeit with Arsenal to play later on Monday). Points gained in this odd transitional phase, when almost nobody seems quite ready, could prove extremely valuable come the end of the season. And yet, for all the attacking potency, there must also be concerns about Chelsea’s openness and the five goals conceded. …”
Guardian

Jaissle’s Newcastle already have a clearer and better tactical identity than De Zerbi’s Spurs

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“Newcastle’s 2-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur confirmed more than just Matthias Jaissle’s first victory as head coach. Three weeks after replacing Eddie Howe, this performance and result showed that Jaissle’s side have a clearer and better tactical identity than Spurs under Roberto De Zerbi — who is nearly five months into his tenure. Newcastle were not box office, but they were organised and effective. Inside a minute they showed their game plan, when No 6 Nico Gonzalez hit a diagonal ball from deep to advancing right-back Amar Dedic. The narrow positioning of winger Anthony Elanga, who occupied Spurs left-back Andy Robertson, created an overload. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)