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12/1/2023
17 : 54
The Aston Villa Guide to Crashing the Top Four
Aston Villa, huh? We're more than a third of the way into the Premier League season — and they're tied with Liverpool, one point back of Manchester City, and two points back of Arsenal. What
11/28/2023
17 : 44
Three Columns for the Price of One Email!
Happy Thanksgiving, to those who celebrated. Happy Last Thursday of November, to those who didn't. Anyway, I slacked off on the emails last week. Here's everything I've written recently: -
11/17/2023
17 : 54
What if We Designed Soccer from Scratch?
Soccer is broken. Not the kicking-of-the-ball-can't-use-your-hands part; that's beautiful, always has been. Ok, maybe not always; early versions of soccer were brutal and ugly, an expression of
11/14/2023
18 : 4
Who Are the Most Important Players in the Premier League?
My latest column for ESPN is up. I continued my crusade in support of the idea that “soccer teams win soccer games because of the quality of their soccer players”. In this one, I identified the Premier
11/10/2023
18 : 14
I Talked to the Theoretical Physicist Who Helped Save Liverpool
I finally got in touch with Liverpool's former Head of Research, Ian Graham. We talked about how the club used his and his team's data to win every possible trophy, how the rest of the sport is
11/7/2023
18 : 14
Why You Don't Want Another Erling Haaland
My latest column for ESPN is up. Inspired by a recent conversation, I tried to identify European soccer's “triple threats”: The other day, I spoke to someone who helped build a team that won the
11/3/2023
16 : 34
Why Every Team Would Be Better With Harry Kane
Ahead of Saturday's Der Klassiker between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, I wrote about Harry Kane, who might be better than ever before: Tottenham are not better because they're without
10/31/2023
17 : 54
The Premier League, Ranked, Vol. 3
The third edition of the Premier League power rankings I do with my buddy Bill Connelly just went up on ol' ESPN dot com. Here's a tidbit, of me on Spurs: That said, Spurs are not this good. No
10/27/2023
17 : 14
Who Ya' Got: Barcelona or Real Madrid?
I just feel like you don't hear the phrase “aloha means goodbye” anymore, right? Seemed like I was hearing that once a week back when I was in elementary school. Anyway: aloha! I wrote about
10/24/2023
21 : 24
What Happens When Moneyball Works Too Well?
My latest ESPN piece went up earlier today. I wrote about how the Billy Beane-led ownership group at Toulouse, who play Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday, had to relinquish control of the club
10/20/2023
15 : 44
What Are Eight Games in the Premier League Really Worth?
Hi! I'm keeping my promise so far: sending out one of these every time I have a new piece published. Today, I wrote about what we can learn from only eight games of Premier League soccer — and how
10/19/2023
3 : 10
NET GAINS Just Turned One!
Happy day to all those who celebrate
7/16/2023
6/30/2023
6/30/2023
5/12/2023
4/29/2023
4/21/2023
17 : 44
You Won. TAA Is a Midfielder Now.
Hello — from Ireland! If any of you happen to be in Ireland right now, gimme a shout. Love it here, and I'll be around for the next couple weeks. Met a bartender who was a Manchester United fan and
4/21/2023
4/21/2023