Here at FootballOwl, we love looking at young stars that are looking to be the next big things in world football. New players come along every year looking to impress and this season has been no different. The players in this list have all had extraordinary seasons that have really pushed them into the limelight. This is FootballOwl's breakout Team of the Season! GK: Alex Meret (Napoli) Alex Meret will be one of the lesser known names in our Team…
Football clubs bring joy and pain to millions of people around the world. In their most basic form, however, they are a company just like any other. With many employees on different wages, day to day running costs and rent, there is not much difference in a financial statement. In January, Arsenal FC released their financial statements and there are some interesting things to note when looking through them. So here is our analysis of Arsenal's finances The end of…
This time of the season can be a stressful one for many clubs. Going for the title, qualification to the European cups, or fighting for survival. For others, they got their business wrapped up already. Thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta, Mainz fans can rest easy in their beds. The young striker has scored 12 goals this season, and at just under 1/3 of Mainz's total goals, Mateta has definitely played a big part in the clubs survival this season. Just like…
Introduction On his arrival at Manchester City, Pep had a few doubters about whether his style would work in the world’s “toughest league”. Could his possession hungry style work in the fast paced Premier League? This tactical analysis of Pep Guardiola will discuss the issues he faced, and how he turned it around. If you watched his Manchester City side in his first season (2016/17), you might have thought they had a point. At the start of his Barcelona tenure,…
Think of the top teams in Italy and some names stand above the rest. Teams such as Juventus, Roma, and the Milan teams have a rich history, once being the conquerors of Europe. One side that has flown significantly under the radar in past seasons, though, is Atalanta. Currently sitting in 8th, the team are not necessarily over performing, but their record of 54 goals (just one less than Juventus) is impressive. In this article we will explore what Atalanta…
In the last 10 years, there has been only two real stars of world football. Two of the greatest players to ever grace the game in Messi and Ronaldo have been battling it out and have really had the spotlight on them. It has now been 13 years since Fabio Cannavaro won the Balon D'Or. It may just be a coincidence, but in the recent times, top quality centre backs have been in short supply. Aymeric Laporte and Virgil van…
A New Chapter: Becoming Arsenal’s No. 9 A name known to many football fans across Europe, Alexandre Lacazette made the switch to the Premier League in the summer of 2017 when he swapped his hometown club Lyon, for the red and white of Arsenal. Having been linked with a host of clubs across Europe, Arsenal perhaps got a little lucky as his almost inevitable move to Atletico Madrid, where he would have linked up with compatriot and close friend Antoine…
Football is a universal language. Stars are born on every continent, and African players are no different. Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are tearing up the Premier League goal charts. Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly is being consistently mentioned as one of the world’s best centre backs. We posted an article on Achraf Hakimi, Morocco’s young defender, now there is another young Moroccan making a name for himself. Leganes striker Youssef En-Nesyri’s stats show he is one to watch. So here is…
Nicolò Zaniolo is a name that not many would have heard until his remarkable two-goal performance against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League last 16. The 19 year old became the youngest Italian player to score two goals in a UCL match - ever. He’s also the youngest player to score in a UCL knockout tie since Kylian Mbappe in May 2017, and the second youngest ever to score a brace, once again after Mbappe (April 2017). Zaniolo also…
Many would say the last 12 months has seen a change in the way young footballers from Premier League clubs kick off their careers. They believe instead of going to the lower leagues, or sitting on the bench, it helps to take their talents abroad, and Watford’s Dodi Lukebakio stats show he is taking the same initiative. Dodi Lukebakio – Watford’s One to Watch The Bundesliga is now getting a new image. Before, it was once the league of competition,…