Following the confirmation of Timo Werner’s much-anticipated transfer to Chelsea, having activated his £48 million release clause, Football Castle takes a look at how the striker fits into Frank Lampard’s team. The striker set a number of appearances and goalscoring records for a young player in the Bundesliga and has steadily developed into one of…
In the summer of 2019, AC Milan with its ever-revolving project needed a defensive midfielder to anchor freshly-hired Marco Giampaolo’s well-known 4-3-1-2 formation. The Italian tactician had his eyes set on Lucas Torreira who had performed the same job for him at Sampdoria, gaining plaudits from different corners. Torreira had moved to English side Arsenal…
After exactly 100 days, the Premier League returns from Coronavirus pandemic-enforced suspension to the delight of its worldwide fans. Aston Villa host Sheffield on wednesday before Manchester City and Arsenal complete the night’s double delight. In truth, this week can be marked with the return of ‘proper’ football despite the Bundesliga returning a month ago,…
To recall the happenings around AC Milan in recent times causes great grief. The upper chambers have seen far too many ins and outs. The corridors of Milan have revolved through Marco Fassone, Adriano Galliani, Leonardo, Massimiliano Mirabelli, Paolo Maldini, Ivan Gazidis, Zvonimir Boban and Paolo Scaroni. The instability at the top has seeped into…
Besides the core of a successful team is also finding the appropriate balance of fullbacks to execute a philosophy as it were. The modern-day fullback has to fulfill more attacking responsibilities for the team whilst maintaining the primary duty of defending their flank. It is based on this premise that the wingback system…
Not even a global pandemic and subsequent two-month pause could flip the script on Bayern Munich’s stroll to a record eighth Bundesliga title. Germany’s biggest football fixture was the biggest live sporting event in over two months since the Coronavirus outbreak, with fireworks expected in the title match. It required Dortmund to switch into…
The return of football from pandemic lockdown puts all teams on a level-playing field fitness-wise due to a very long period of inactivity at the start of the business end of the season. Many teams have little to play for this season – whilst some leagues have already been canceled – but for the teams…
Erling Haaland might have scored the first post-pandemic goal in top-flight football and inspired Borussia Dortmund to within a point of Bayern Munich in the Revierderby against Schalke on Saturday. Alphonso Davies and Bayern responded to the challenge showing no lockdown hangovers in their comfortable 2-nil victory away at Union Berlin on Sunday. The Bavarians…
After the long break from football action for two months in Germany, and to some extent across different leagues in Europe, the Bundesliga returns on Saturday in a different dimension; an unprecedented one as it…
The role of the modern-day fullback has been rethought into a more distinct attacking force. They are required to provide wide support for their winger on the overlap as much as stop attacking moves down their flank. Hence, the complete fullback is a rare quality in the game, one that often requires patience and development…
