Roy Hodgson spoilt for choice if he decides to go back to basics | Michael Cox
The new England manager has always liked a traditional No9 – and utterly basic centre-forwards often thrive at international levelNow Roy Hodgson's main focus is the England job, it's difficult to work why he's seeing out the remainder of the season ...
Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck find each other in game of hidden duos | Michael Cox
It is rare to see two out-and-out strikers playing well together but partnerships still exist, they're just more complex relationshipsThe Premier League is celebrating the end of its second decade with various online polls, inviting readers to choose t...
Ramires’ raw energy makes him Chelsea’s upwardly mobile master | Michael Cox
The midfielder may not be the stereotypical Brazilian, but his incredible drive means he is perfect for the Premier LeagueNobody is ever impressed by Ramires the first time they see him play. Perhaps it is his nationality that creates unrealistic expec...
The Premier League ‘possession battle’ can be a fight worth losing | Michael Cox
The better sides tend to compete for possession during a game, but a team such as Newcastle can impress with less of the ballWhen one side are enjoying more than half of possession, it is common to hear that they are "winning the possession battle" –...
QPR’s Mark Hughes gets it right to expose Arsenal blind spots | Michael Cox
Rangers' 4-2-3-1 not only matched Arsenal in midfield but freed their wide men to exploit Thomas Vermaelen's tendency to move too high up the pitchJudging by Queens Park Rangers' January signings, playing only one man upfront wasn't exactly the plan. B...
Guardian Sport Network | Where do Premier League sides attack from?
A look at the route of attack – down the left, centre or right – for Premier League teams over the course of the seasonIn an individual match, it's easy to see that a side have a bias towards one particular flank. In Arsenal's 2-1 win over Newcastl...
Paul Scholes, Xavi and Andrea Pirlo revive the deep-lying playmaker | Michael Cox
The past weekend offered another chance to see three fabulous midfield technicians in their elementIt was a fine weekend for legendary deep-lying playmakers. In Spain, Xavi Hernández of Barcelona curled in a wonderful free-kick at Sevilla to complemen...
David Moyes v Harry Redknapp: a tactical breakdown | Michael Cox
Both are highly talented, but both still need to diversify in order to establish themselves in the top tier of coachesThere are various opposing tactics in football – attacking versus defensive, ball retention versus counter-attack, fluid versus stru...
Is Liverpool’s Luis Suárez simply trying to do too much on the pitch? | Michael Cox
Liverpool's Luis Suárez is this season's most talked about player, yet so little talk has been about his footballLuis Suárez is this season's most talked about player, yet so little talk has been about his football. Suárez is a fascinating player be...
Defending becoming a forgotten art for Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal | Michael Cox
The top Premier League sides are losing their discipline and ability to compete in Europe, as demonstrated by this season's high-scoring matchesAfter a fortnight that demonstrated English clubs' inability to control football matches in Europe, Arsenal'...
Arsenal’s flaws exposed as Sunderland stump opposition with hybrid approach | Michael Cox
Arsenal don't like pressure and they struggle to break down tight defences. Tactically, it begs the question: what are they good at?Arsenal's 2-0 defeat at Sunderland said so much about so many aspects of their play – their mental strength, their lev...
Why Manchester City’s pace could overrun Manchester United in midfield | Michael Cox