Blog - Football Castle

October 17, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

A reddish affair

It’s make or break for the two most successful clubs in English football. As Liverpool take steps into modern-day greatness, Manchester United keep taking more steps away from it. Fortunes can’t be more contrasted in such a historic fixture. A 3-1 loss away to Liverpool proved to be José Mourinho‘s final game as United manager,…

October 14, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, International Football, Tactical Analysis

Nigeria’s plot to upstage Africa

A monumental friendly clash between Brazil and Nigeria at the Singapore national stadium provided insights into the Super Eagles’ improvement. It was one of those fixtures arguably every football-loving Nigerian has once dreamed to see, with the first and only previous encounter being a 3-nil loss for Nigeria in 2003. The Super Eagles struggled to…

October 7, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

Is this the moment it changed hands?

A huge Pendulum swing in Premier League title race saw Liverpool go eight points clear of Champions City this weekend. A surprise considering the league is only eight games into the season. The current situation was characterized by Liverpool’s last-gasp win at home to Leicester whilst Manchester City were dealt a shock home loss to…

October 5, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Serie A, Tactical Analysis

Derby D’Italia with a difference

Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri square off in the Derby D’Italia which presents the first face-off between this season’s Serie A title favourites. The ex-Chelsea managers are looking to continue their relative trophy-success with the blues, on their return to the Italian top flight with Inter Milan and Juventus. Conte craves the huge psychological boost…

September 28, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Player Analysis, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

Brilliant Bobby Firmino

Liverpool have become an effective winning unit amidst their unbeaten start to the league season, and winning run from last season which stands at 15 games. That invincibility, however, has developed an innate nature of winning games without playing at their best. Jürgen Klopp’s charges currently stand five points above Manchester City at the top…

September 16, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

Lampard’s roller-coaster lads

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea are up for a roller-coaster season after yet another evidence of their buccaneering nature last weekend. The youngblues and their equally young manager have, however, been erratic at times in the Premier League this term. They did skip past the daunting challenge of Wolves at the Molineux helped by Tammy Abraham’s first…

September 11, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, International Football, Tactical Analysis

Nigeria’s New era, Old habits

Nigeria’s first appearance since winning bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations provided the opportunity to fine-tune preparations for competitive games. The 2-all friendly draw with Ukraine at Dnipro Arena offered a glimpse into the new era for the young Eagles. Quite rightly, the Super Eagles started on the front foot and looked hungry from…

September 6, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Player Analysis, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

Tammy Abraham the biggest vindicator of Chelsea’s loan system?

As Tammy Abraham scores goals and begins to look the part in the Chelsea first team squad this season. Parallels are drawn between his career and that of his ‘more senior’ counterpart only 29 days younger; Marcus Rashford. On the evening of 25 February 2016, Marcus Rashford debuted for Manchester United in an Europa League Round…

September 2, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Player Analysis, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

Fernandinho relevance

Champions Manchester City suffered a huge blow in the loss of Aymeric Laporte to a serious-looking knee injury against Brighton on Saturday. A very untimely incident considering he was set to make his long overdue international debut for France this month. Losing their best defender after failing to replace captain Vincent Kompany over the transfer…

August 30, 2019

Bolu Alabi-Hundeyin

Features, Premier League, Tactical Analysis

North London Derby Hostilities

Tensions run high across North London as one of the fiercest rivalries in world football is rekindled when Arsenal face Tottenham Hotspur at The Emirates. Arsenal are unbeaten in 18 of their last 19 home games and play Spurs who have not won away to Arsenal since November 2010. Form goes out the window in…