Stat Attack: The Relentless Cristiano Ronaldo – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Just how ‘good’ is Cristiano Ronaldo? Earlier we shared news on the ‘ Cristiano Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit ‘ documentary which subjects CR to a series of innovate tests to measure his performances. But that’s still lab testing, off the pitch, not a true measure of a footballer’s abilities

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Stat Attack: The Relentless Cristiano Ronaldo

Rooney and Young – A Promising Partnership For United and England – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Rooney and Young, Young and Rooney. The two seemingly go hand in hand

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Rooney and Young – A Promising Partnership For United and England

The Best and Worst deals of the Transfer Window – originally posted on Soccerlens.com As the summer transfer window has now finally closed and viewing figures of Sky Sports News go back to normal levels, I think it’s time to look back at the best and worst of the deals done involving English Premier League sides.

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The Best and Worst deals of the Transfer Window

Aquilani’s departure epitomises Daglish’s philosophy – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Alberto Aquilani’s recent move to AC Milan stands as a visual representation of Kenny Daglish’s football ideology. While Liverpool’s recent treatment of Aquilani is at best confusing, and at worst troubling, it most likely typifies the philosophy of the pragmatic Scotsman who currently wears the crown at Anfield. Daglish stands at the nodal point of two paths

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Aquilani’s departure epitomises Daglish’s philosophy

Samir Nasri – Money Talks – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Samir Nasri ‘s departure means Arsenal lose another world class player after their prolific captain Fabregas signed for Barcelona a week ago. However the difference is very clear. Fabregas left after serving the club for 8 long years and he stayed for just 3 years.

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Samir Nasri – Money Talks

The next step for Financial Fair Play – originally posted on Soccerlens.com It is fact that the gap between the “haves” and “have nots” in European football grows evermore larger. Last season in the English Premier League proved this adroitly when Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure reportedly earned more per week than the entire Blackpool squad. The same situation manifests itself in every league

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The next step for Financial Fair Play

Chelsea Enjoy the Sun as Arsenal’s Summer of Pain Continues – originally posted on Soccerlens.com The English weather summed up Saturday’s football in its own unique style. Grey clouds and torrential rain for Arsenal, whilst Chelsea enjoyed late afternoon summer sun. André Villas-Boas claimed his first three points of the season, as the title challengers saw off a determined West Brom at Stamford Bridge

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Chelsea Enjoy the Sun as Arsenal’s Summer of Pain Continues

Tottenham confirm interest in Adebayor – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Spurs’ boss Harry Redknapp said that Tottenham are talking to Manchester City about striker Emmaneul Adebayor. The former Arsenal forward would be an excellent addition for Spurs, who are in desperate need for a quality striker

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Tottenham confirm interest in Adebayor

How Do Promoted Teams Fare In The English Premier League? – originally posted on Soccerlens.com How well do promoted teams fare in the English Premier League? What can fans of Swansea, QPR and Norwich City expect from the upcoming season? The graphic below plots the survival rates of teams promoted to the Premiership across the past decade and tells a stark tale

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How Do Promoted Teams Fare In The English Premier League?

Manchester United Season Preview: Tactics, 20th League Title, Sneijder And More – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Imagine that you’re appointed manager of Manchester United tomorrow morning. The world is at your feet

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Manchester United Season Preview: Tactics, 20th League Title, Sneijder And More

Should QPR, Norwich and Swansea be spending more or less? – originally posted on Soccerlens.com When writing a piece for the Montreal Gazette concerning how much each promoted side had paid to assemble their roster, it was interesting to note the circumstances of each team

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Should QPR, Norwich and Swansea be spending more or less?

Udinese are the easiest hurdle for Arsenal in an incredibly tough August – originally posted on Soccerlens.com The season hasn’t started yet, but Arsenal are already contemplating a tough month ahead with matches against Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Udinese to start their season with, plus trouble in the transfer market with Fabregas and Nasri pushing for moves away and a lack of incoming talent. There’s a strong temptation to categorise Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League qualifying playoffs against Serie A side Udinese as another sign of incredibly difficult times at the Emirates – but it might be the best thing to happen to Arsenal the whole of August. For starters, Udinese will still be in pre-season – their first league outing is against Juventus on the 28th, but the kicker will be the loss of three key players for Udinese during the summer – Sanchez (Barcelona), Inler (Napoli) and Zapata (Villareal).

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Udinese are the easiest hurdle for Arsenal in an incredibly tough August

Stat Attack: Who’s the best goalkeeper in Manchester? – originally posted on Soccerlens.com With David De Gea’s arrival, Manchester hosts two of the most promising young goalkeepers in European football today

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Stat Attack: Who’s the best goalkeeper in Manchester?

An Apology for Carlos Tevez – originally posted on Soccerlens.com An apologetic … for Carlos Tevez? Just days after a scathing open letter ?

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An Apology for Carlos Tevez

Tottenham Need Players to Match their Aspirations – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Another week draws to a close at White Hart Lane with Luka Modric still very much a Spurs player.

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Tottenham Need Players to Match their Aspirations

An Open Letter to Carlos Tevez – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Dear Carlos Tevez, For five years now you’ve been a shedload of trouble for the entire English Premier League. With this letter, I’d like to invite you to please stop moaning about the loneliness of Northern England and return to Argentina as you have for so long suggested you’d prefer

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An Open Letter to Carlos Tevez

Europe’s top shot-stoppers – are Cech and Casillas slipping? – originally posted on Soccerlens.com It is fallacy that a goalkeeper’s worth is measured in statistics. They can be measured only through very few statistics – goals conceded, shots faced, clearances or saves made or finally, a combination of all of the above

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Europe’s top shot-stoppers – are Cech and Casillas slipping?

Who needs Alexis Sanchez more – Manchester United or Manchester City? – originally posted on Soccerlens.com One of the hottest names in this transfer window is Chilean International star, Alexis Sanchez. After leading Udinese to a historical qualification to the Champions League, scoring 12 goals (his best ever goalscoring tally in a single season) and providing six assists, “El Niño Maravilla” looks mature enough to step up to one of Europe’s big boys; he appears to be in the midst of a tussle for his services between both Manchester clubs; City and United (along with a host of top European clubs as Udinese hawk their player to the highest bidder.

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Who needs Alexis Sanchez more – Manchester United or Manchester City?

Is Gervinho the right man for Arsenal? – originally posted on Soccerlens.com Arsène Wenger is on the hunt for a striker who could help the Gunners end a trophy drought that has stretched from 2005, and their main target is Ivory Coast international, Gervinho who was instrumental for Lille in their Ligue 1 title campaign last term: Gervinho in Ligue 1 Gervinho – Lille 2010-11 Appearances 35 Minutes On Pitch 2849 Goals 15 Mins per goal 190 Shots 78 Shots On Target 42 Shooting Accuracy 54% Chance Conversion 19% Touches per game 40 Goal Assists 10 Key Passes 36 Total Passes 786 Pass Completion % 79% Dribbles & Runs 199 Dribble Completion % 37% Gervinho was the only player to reach double figures in both goals scored (15, his highest season tally in professional football) and assists made (10) in Ligue 1, joining a group of only seven more players who did so amongst the top-5 European Leagues: Goals and Assists – top-5 European leagues (2010-11) Player Team Goals Assists Total Ronaldo Real Madrid 40 11 51 Messi Barcelona 31 18 49 Gervinho Lille 15 10 25 Ibrahimovic Milan 14 11 25 Müller FC Bayern München 12 11 23 Drogba Chelsea 11 13 24 Rooney Manchester United 11 11 22 Vidal Bayer 04 Leverkusen 10 11 21 Since his arrival in Ligue 1 in 2007/08, Gervinho has made more successful dribbles than any other player in the French top flight. Most dribbles completed in Ligue 1 since 2007/08 Player Dribbles Completed Gervinho (Lille/Le Mans) 231 Stéphane Dalmat (Sochaux/Rennes) 227 Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon/Marseille) 226 Stéphane Sessegnon (PSG/Le Mans) 211 Nicolas Maurice-Belay (Sochaux) 202 Do you think Arsenal should buy Gervinho?

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Is Gervinho the right man for Arsenal?

Have Liverpool lost the plot? – originally posted on Soccerlens.com There was widespread optimism around Anfield at the end of the season.

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Have Liverpool lost the plot?

Arsene Wenger: The Next Move – originally posted on Soccerlens.com There was a time when winning trophies was a habit at the Emirates. Or rather, Highbury. Such have been Arsenal’s performances that they have failed to win a major trophy since 2005

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Arsene Wenger: The Next Move

Can We Please Just Stick to the Football for Flocks Sake? – originally posted on Soccerlens.com How long will it take before employees of Manchester United fathom the club is King and they mere pawns? I fear the answer is ‘longer than they’ll be afforded’

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Can We Please Just Stick to the Football for Flocks Sake?

The title race is looking like a genuine four-horse race for next season with any one of Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchesters City and United in with a shout of the title. In this article, I look at why they fell short- or in the case of United, won the league- and what is needed this summer for a successful challenge in the forthcoming season

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Football Transfers Preview: Ins and Outs for the Six Premier League Title Contenders

As Manchester United parade their 19th league title, the rain-soaked celebrations are an appropriate metaphor for the 2010/2011 season. On one hand, they’ve won their 19th league title (12th under Ferguson), a title United fans wanted more than the Champions League for the last two years, and a title they’ve richly deserved. To put this title win into perspective, Chelsea won the league title last season with just 1 point – one goal conceded or one chance gone begging that that turned a win into a draw and pushed United to second place.

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United In Character: The Good And Bad Of Ferguson’s Manchester Reign

Castrol Football have used their year-round football stats to pick out the 11 best performers (in a 4-3-3 formation) in the English Premier League of the 2010/2011 season. Have a look, then discuss in the comments / share your picks for the best XI. Joe Hart The England international kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season (18)

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Castrol’s Premier League Team Of The Season

Perhaps it is because Romanticism eludes any attempt at a concise definition that it has become a term so freely tossed into the melting pot of football criticism and punditry. Like all great modern ideas (some say all great modern ideas are Romantic, but it’s probably best to ignore that debate for now), Romanticism’s is an osmotic essence, or lack thereof; it affirms the boldest of concrete thoughts in the most wild and wildly paradoxical ways

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Brave Blackpool Prove There’s No Room For Romance In The English Premier League

Manchester United and Barcelona meet at Wembley on Saturday to battle it out for the mantle of the best side in European club football.

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Factfile: 2011 Champions League Final

This weekend, three of Europe’s more famous clubs – Sampdoria, Frankfurt and West Ham – were condemned to the second divisions of their respective countries. Perhaps the smallest reverberations came with West Ham’s demotion: the Hammers struggled all season long under a hangdog, lame-dog manager and if the same the lack of spirit shown by several senior West Ham figures is reproduced next year, it could indicate a lengthy stay for the club in the second tier.

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Where to now for West Ham?

UEFA Champions League finalists, Barcelona and Manchester United will go face-to-face in their summer tours of the US. No matter what happens at Wembley, there will be a rematch. Barcelon will begin their summer tour in Europe against a yet unknown opponent followed by two matches in Munich’s Audi Cup on July 21st and 22nd.

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Barcelona 2011 US Tour: Manchester United, Chivas and Club America

It is beyond doubt that Kenny Dalglish’s reintroduction to the Anfield faithful has provided the catalyst for a sparkling run of form that has seen Liverpool win six and lose just two of their last nine league games. But what has actually altered on the pitch for The Reds to now find themselves just four points off the Champion’s League place that seemed unfeasible under Roy Hodgson? When Dalglish first took the hot seat, he experimented with a 3-5-2 formation, which saw Glen Johnson switching from his familiar right-back slot, to a more unconventional left wing-back role

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What has turned Liverpool’s season around?