Author: A Different League

FIFA 20: What Can Football Fans Expect?

A Different League

Over the years there have been many sports related video games and mobile apps that have been released. One of the most popular football games out there is FIFA that has been releasing titles since 1993. From FIFA International Soccer to FIFA 20, EA Sports have published a FIFA game every single year for football fans to enjoy. With FIFA 20 set to be released this September, will this game perform as well as all of the others? Football fans around the world have been able to play FIFA games…

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Holiday like a Premier League footballer courtesy of Cadbury and Ian Wright

A Different League
Ian Wright

Summers can be cruel for Premier League fans. Lack of football can be devastating, but Premier League fans can make up for it by holidaying like their favourite footballers this summer. Thanks to Cadbury and Ian Wright, you stand a chance to live life like a Premier League footballer, travel to the US and also take a Premier League trip to Europe this summer. Cadbury is offering fans a football lifeline with their You’re Off competition which offers winners a chance to go on an amazing football themed holiday. This week’s prize…

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Should You Be Using a Dedicated Sportsbook or a Casino to Place Wagers?

A Different League

There are two kinds of bookies available for online and mobile gamblers. First of all, there are sites offering multiple platforms such as casino, sportsbook and poker, for example. Another kind is a sportsbook that is focused on betting only. It has no casino games or bingo rooms to offer a variety of entertainment for the players. The question is: what kind of a gambling site is better for placing wagers on sports? Arguments for a Dedicated Sportsbook Are you only going to place bets on sports matches or other…

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The genius of Sergio Aguero

A Different League
Sergio Aguero

In July 2011, Manchester City paid Atletico Madrid €36 million to acquire the services of their young Argentine striker, Sergio Aguero. Aguero had enjoyed five seasons with Atleti after joining them from Independiente in Argentina in 2006. Even though Aguero was only 18 when he moved to LaLiga he was still Atletico Madrid’s record signing at the time, moving for €21.7 million. Standing at 5’8” tall, Aguero is smaller than the average footballer but what he lacks in height he makes up for in strength, technique and tenacity. He has…

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Villas-Boas gets Marseille job

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Andre Villas-Boas

Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has been announced as the new man at the helm of French giants Marseille. Marseille finished just outside of the European positions this season, in 5th, despite impressive firepower such as Mario Balotelli (8 goals in 15), and Florian Thauvin (16 in 33). Coach Rudi Garcia announced his decision to stand down at the end of the season last week. The new man heading to the South coast may raise some eyebrows, and could not have been described as a frontrunner during Royal…

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Man City Deny Guardiola Rumours

A Different League

Manchester City board member Alberto Galassi dismissed rumors regarding Pep Guardiola joining Juventus.  “I want to clarify what has been reported in the last few days and confirm what Guardiola said last week during the press conference,” said Galassi on Sky Italy. “He wants to stay at Manchester City. Besides, a club like Juventus would not have allowed such a news to come out like this. Man City could not have been left out without knowing and being advised. “This rumour is unfounded. It is unbelievable that the media pursue these…

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Real Madrid Issue Official Statement Addressing Pochettino

A Different League

Real Madrid have issued a official statement dismissing  Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino’s claims that his team were denied access to Los Blancos training facility.  The Lily Whites will fly into the Spanish capital soon ahead of their Champions League final clash with Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano, home to Real Madrid’s derby rivals Atletico Madrid, on June 1. Both clubs will be using Atletico’s training centre during their stay in Madrid.  Speaking to the press on Thursday, Pochettino lightheartedly claimed that he asked Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to accommodate his club in…

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Willian Determined For Europa League Glory

A Different League
Willian

Chelsea winger Willian believes the Europa League final in Baku will define his side’s season. The West Londoners secured Champions League qualification finishing third in the Premier League this season, but manager Maurizio Sarri has reportedly failed the Chelsea hierarchy with his first season performance. After a promising start to the campaign, the Blues suffered a dismal midseason run which saw them suffering humiliating defeats to Bournemouth, Spurs and Manchester City. It seemed they would be out of luck even betting on royal ascot this year. Willian did not hesitate to…

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The Premier League’s out of contract stars

A Different League

As the 2018/19 season finishes, we take a look at some players from the Premier League’s (PL) top six who will be out of contract this summer. Starting at Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has a lot of work today ahead of next season at Old Trafford. The players out of contract this summer at United are Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata. Ashley Young was awarded a one-year contract extension back in February so he will stay on for at least one more year. Club-captain, Valencia, will be…

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5 Trends in football for the 2020s

A Different League

Women’s football We’ll see an increase in the popularity of women’s football, as the infrastructure for women’s teams improves. Rich clubs like Man City provide top of the range facilities and the level of the game, along with it’s popularity, will soar. Young girls especially will embrace women’s football like never before, as parents push them in that direction to learn off positive female role models. Emergence of English managers The old generation of English managers are viewed as behind the times, and unwilling to embrace the technicalities and tactics…

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Is VAR Ruining the Game? How New Technology Has Slashed Sportsbook and Casino Odds

A Different League

Although VAR (Video Assistant Refereeing) has plenty of critics, after its use in the World Cup last year, it’s almost certain that the new technology will become a stable fixture in football. Whilst many argue that VAR is ruining the football as it slows the game down and takes away authority from the on-pitch referees, little has been said about how VAR will impact sports betting yet. In this article, we look at all the ways in which VAR has actually affected casino odds – both positively and negatively. How…

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Liverpool reap rewards of scouting excellence

A Different League

There is no argument to be had when comparing the squad of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to the embarrassment of riches available to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The club from the blue half of Manchester is able to deal with injuries to some of their most important players simply by entrusting another big-name in their place. Think of how much action Kevin De Bruyne has missed this season. The Belgian international has only started seven Premier League games in 2018/19. Yet, in De Bruyne’s absence, up stepped Bernardo Silva to…

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Could Spurs miss out on Champions League?

A Different League

With the announcement this week of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s full-time appointment as Manchester United manager, Spurs fans all over the world will have breathed a collective sigh of relief. For a long time, it looked as though Ed Woodward’s preferred candidate for the Old Trafford role was Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham’s over-achieving Argentine boss. The football world was expecting United to begin negotiating with Pochettino as soon as this season ended with Solskjaer having steadied the ship. As it happened, United’s former baby-faced assassin, Solskjaer, surprised us all with a 73%…

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Why Alvaro Morata is not the answer to Chelsea’s lack of goals

A Different League

Back when at Real Madrid, he was the future of the Santiago Bernabeu, and indeed of Spanish football.  In 2012/13 he had made his breakthrough under Jose Mourinho, making regular appearances and even starting in el clasico, playing a key role in a 2-1 victory, and made 12 league appearances that year, netting twice. 2013/14 saw further progress, 23 league matches, scoring 8 goals as Carlo Ancelotti joined the club and Morata found his place in rotation with Karem Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Angel Di Maria and an emerging…

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Does age really matter in football? Now we know

A Different League

Tottenham have never won the Premier League title and last claimed England’s top division back in 1961 but research shows that the upcoming season might finally bring an end to their 57-year wait. Mauricio Pochettino’s side came close last term, playing second fiddle to Chelsea, but, according to Can’t Win Anything With Kids, the Lilywhites may well be ready to put that right. The website has compared the age of every winning team since the Premier League began in 1992 and results suggests that sides with an average age of…

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Will Wenger ever be able to win over his doubters?

A Different League

The ‘will he – won’t he’ saga regarding Arsene Wenger’s future at Arsenal has now been resolved with a new two-year deal, but it remains to be seen how the fans will react going forward. Last season’s protests both inside the Emirates and in the skies above made it clear to the Frenchman that not everybody in the stands wanted him to remain in charge and there is bound to be a backlash to the news that he will be in the dug-out until the summer of 2019. So what…

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Cristiano Ronaldo to Win His 5th Ballon D’or

A Different League

There is always this fight between the fans of Cristiano Ronaldo and those of Lionel Messi about who is greater and better than the other. One thing many football enthusiasts fail to understand is that no player is completely better than the other. There are some abilities that define each football player. Because of the many skills involved in the game of football, one player may be completely good in what another cannot do. In that case, each of them are good in their own ways. However, the former FIFA…

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The best 3 signings in the Premier League this season

A Different League

The 2016/17 Premier League campaign is entering the final stages, with plenty still to play for at both the top and bottom of the table. The fight for survival continues, with Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hull City and Swansea City among the teams in danger of relegation. At the top of the table, meanwhile, there are still a number of clubs fighting for a top-four finish. Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are well on course for a place in next season’s Champions League, while Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal appear to…

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Predicted – The Stars of World Cup 2022, Qatar

A Different League

Qatar 2022 will be the first World Cup to break with the tradition of playing in June, ensuring that a long football-free summer occurs before the competition gets going in November and December 2022. For this, and let’s face it, many others reasons, the competition has been hitting the headlines fairly constantly over recent years, but who will be making the headlines on the pitch in six years time? Here is our pick: Federico Bernardeschi Club now: Fiorentina Club in 2022: AC Milan The Fiorentina playmaker played only his first…

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What can we expect from the Premier League after Christmas?

A Different League

As the halfway point of the season approaches, with the traditionally bumper packed festive period sure to throw up a few surprises, what can fans expect to see in the second half of what’s already looking to be a real thriller of a season? How Long can Chelsea’s Unbeaten Run Continue? Chelsea are now looking very much like the out and out favourites after a phenomenal 11 game unbeaten streak – Sun Bets have them to take the title at 4/6, and if their run continues, those odds will shrink very quickly. Currently 6 points ahead of nearest rival…

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Champions League group stages produce familiar names… and Leicester

A Different League

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, PSG, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Man. City and, umm, Leicester City all hope to be at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 3 June. That’s where Europe’s premier football event, the Champions League final, will be played and 12 teams are already safely through the group stage after five games to next February’s knockout round. Read on to see who could be joining them and which players have lit up the tournament so far. Group A Undefeated Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal top Group A with 11 points, but…

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Top football managers who never played in the top flight

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rodgers liverpool

Jose Mourinho has been cited as something of an exception, a manager who barely played football, coming through Barcelona as a translator and going on to win the Champions League as a manager. Yet Mourinho did have a low-level football career in Portugal, dampening slightly the romanticism of that story. But what about other managers? And what about you if you’re not a footballer by the age of 30 – is there still hope? We decided to take a look at the top managers who never played professional football: Brendan Rodgers…

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Barcelona look to kick-start title challenge in El Clasico

A Different League

Barcelona take on Real Madrid on Saturday in the first El Clásico of the season, and 173rd in the league. It is the 232nd in all competitions. The Catalans will have to make the most of their home advantage if they are to close the gap on their visitors, who top La Liga. Real sit six ahead of Barcelona going into the match, but anything goes when these two sides go head to head – Click here to watch El Clasico live streaming online and enjoy Barcelona vs Real Madrid…

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Claudio Ranieri’s Tinkerman tendencies are costing Leicester City

A Different League

Was Leicester City’s Premier League win all a dream? That’s the question that was being asked on social media during the Foxes recent 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and it seemed a legitimate one, such was the ease with which the Blues beat the 2016/17 Premier League champions. The defeat felt like more than just a lost three points for the Foxes. It was a power shift. Chelsea, the 2015-16 champions, were re-establishing themselves as a force in English football and Leicester City were being put in their…

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New look to EPL Champions League representatives

A Different League

English representation in Champions League has a different feel to it this year. The usual suspects such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are missing from the tournament, while the likes of Tottenham and Leicester City are rubbing shoulders with the European elites. However, Manchester City and Arsenal have retained a certain level of familiarity in the club football’s biggest prize. It’s been four years since an English club last won the tournament, and this season, City represents Premier League’s biggest hope in the tournament. The last year’s semi-finalists now…

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