Author: Jack Wills
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Rooney’s Euro 2004: When Wayne ruled the world
“Remember the name, Wayne Rooney!” The above piece of commentary by Clive Tyldesley in October 2002 has aged like a bottle of Barolo. Commentators and supporters alike are fans of superlatives and the hyperbolic. It is oh-so-easy to get excited about a young player. Everyone wants to be the one to ‘discover’ the next big…
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Guess who’s back, back again? Malky’s back, hang your head
A decade on from Malky Mackay’s racist WhatsApp message scandal, and he still walks into top football jobs. He says he’s a changed man – but is he?
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Shirt sponsor sellouts – a financial road to nowhere
Heart on your sleeve, sponsor on your chest – where’s left for common sense? From iconic branding to senseless money-grabbing, we dive into the logic behind shirt sponsors.
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What’s The Goal Difference: Why a level goal difference is baffling
Annibale Frossi famously said the perfect match would end 0-0, but is every middling side chasing – or attaining – perfection? Jack Wills is not convinced.
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A.I vs. Football Journalism: Can Chat GPT help or hinder this saturated industry
As the end of the year looms nearer and nearer, I can’t help but get a tad wistful and nostalgic. I think of the year that has concluded, and I think of Christmases past. There’s a bit of a running joke in my family that I don’t like change, which is fair. When my brother…
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VAR – Can the boring curse be cured
VAR is here whether we like it or not, but is there any hope for improving the experience? Jack Wills rants on football’s marmite.
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Chelsea’s #9 Curse: The highs and lows of the 21st century
The number 9 shirt at Chelsea FC, in the 21st century anyway, seems to have carried an unusual curse… A succession of predominantly high-profile players have donned the now infamous jersey and faced challenges and struggles. From high-profile signings to promising talents, each wearer encountered difficulties that resulted in their usual goal-scoring prowess waning, in…
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Summer transfers 2023, Saudi spending, hypocrisy, and optimism
Lionel Messi rejected a sensational return to the Camp Nou to join MLS side Inter Miami. Karim Benzema leaves the Champions League powerhouse Real Madrid to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, and Jordan Henderson at the ripe old age of 33 is on the verge of cashing in his morals for one final payday. For…
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Football everything everywhere all at once – Give us fans a break!
Football football football football football…
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Welcome to Wrexham – The gang buys a club, and inherits a community
Welcome to Wrexham: Be honest, when two Hollywood icons took over non-league Wrexham, you didn’t expect to actually fall in love with the story did you? As Jack Wills explains, expect the unexpected.
Heart of Football 