Breaking The Lines

"Carlos Tévez was always an energy bomb. A relentless fighter who had to battle constantly. For his life. Against poverty. Against coaches. And he won. Always." Krisztián Horváth pays tribute to the life and legacy of 'El Apache': breakingthelines.com/historical/car…

Where does Yaya Touré rank amongst the greatest midfielders of the 21st century? If we’re talking peak levels, he’s top 10. If we’re talking consistency, he might be top 20/25. Interesting read by @CalvinBurton_:

"Yaya Touré’s peak was undeniable, and the moments he provided matched his status. But those who impacted winning while enjoying fewer stand-out moments often have their careers overshadowed." @CalvinBurton_ takes a look at Yaya's misconstrued legacy: breakingthelines.com/historical/yay…

I wrote for @breakthelines about Liverpool's tactical problems, Mo Salah and the refusal to discuss how the death of Diogo Jota is impacting this football club. breakingthelines.com/premier-league…

“If the modern fan truly wants the return of the beautiful game, the standard of judgment must evolve. Celebrate the attempt as much as the outcome. Accept that invention carries failure. Value influence beyond the box score.” Are fans to blame for football becoming ‘robotic?’

"The same fans who say football lacks spontaneity are the first to circulate compilations of failed dribbles or misplaced passes when a creative player attempts something ambitious. We claim to want artistry but penalize the cost of it." @JahvonBarrett: breakingthelines.com/opinion/goals-…

Not sure what’s more shocking: the fact that Liverpool are 21 points off the top, or the fact that Arne Slot is still the manager. If they lose to Galatasaray, you’d imagine that there’s no way for him to stay put going into 2026/27, even if they win the FA Cup and finish top 4.

One year ago, Liverpool were dominating the competition and zooming towards the Premier League title under Arne Slot. Fast-forward to today, and they sit fifth and are in danger of suffering Champions League elimination to Galatasaray. @aziznahar_: breakingthelines.com/premier-league…

Excellent article about the career of Carlos Tévez (former player of West Ham, Manchester City, Boca Juniors and Juventus).

One of the best to ever do it. EL APACHE!!!

Four decades ago, Carlos Tévez was living in a crime-infested ghetto in Argentina, with his father and best friend being shot dead and his alcoholic mother nearly burning him to death. Fast-forward to today, and he’s living like luxury.

8 months ago, I wrote a piece on Max Dowman for @breakthelines, describing him as Arsenal's emerging jewel. Fast forward to last night & he is now the youngest goalscorer in PL history and the word on everyone's lips in the country. breakingthelines.com/player-analysi…

Leipzig have won each of their last two matches, and they sit fifth in the Bundesliga, level on 47 points with Stuttgart. Can they leapfrog Stuttgart with a win and go level with Hoffenheim? @AndysBetClubUK previews the game: breakingthelines.com/tactical-previ…

“Football has become less about who breaks lines, and more about who writes them patiently, deliberately, one controlled breath at a time.” Masterful reading by @keepIT_tactical:

"Coaches talk about 'creating depth' or 'playing into depth,' and fans imagine it as moving toward the opponent’s goal. But that’s the first misconception. Depth isn’t simply about moving forward. It’s about creating possibilities. @keepIT_tactical: breakingthelines.com/tactical-analy…

Interesting interesting

Do Cape Verde have what it takes to make it out of Group H?

13 years ago, Cape Verde participated in their maiden Africa Cup of Nations. Today, they're set to become the 2nd-smallest country by land area and the 3rd-least-populated country to play in a World Cup. Just what can we expect from the Blue Sharks? breakingthelines.com/world-cup-2026…

Tactics don’t die, they reinvent themselves. This is some fantastic pre-game reading by @BrettFjourno, well worth your time.

@breakthelines Really enjoyed writing my first piece for Breaking The Lines. The tactical landscape of elite football is in an interesting place right now.