Alex Hess
Latest articles by Alex Hess
David Moyes and Big Sam: broken by dream jobs, or are their struggles just coincidence?
By Alex Hess last updated
Premier League The huge managerial posts that could have left them with ever-lasting legacies served only to dent their steely reputations – and now both of their teams are staring relegation in the face. Alex Hess evaluates the damage done by disaster
Theo Walcott at 30: a strange, muddled career where reality was never as good as the fantasy
By Alex Hess last updated
Theo Walcott The Everton winger leaves his 20s behind on Saturday, prompting Alex Hess to ponder what comes next for a player who has failed to live up to the early hype
Why Arsene Wenger is standing at his most defining crossroads yet with Arsenal
By Alex Hess published
Arsenal The Frenchman's football blueprint could still be vindicated this season, but his north London rivals are worryingly instilling it more successfully, argues Alex Hess...
Newcastle can never succeed with Mike Ashley's identity-draining ownership
By Alex Hess last updated
Newcastle United The Magpies could be drifting towards a second relegation to the Championship in seven years. Alex Hess explains why all of the club's problems can be traced back to the boardroom...
Why Frank Lampard is ignoring history for romance - all for an unhappy ending
By Alex Hess published
Chelsea The Chelsea great is gambling with his legacy by returning to Stamford Bridge. As Alex Hess writes, more accomplished managers than him have been discarded in recent years
The heartwarming tale of Radamel Falcao's spectacular rebirth
By Alex Hess published
Radamel Falcao He looked an irreparably broken player at Manchester United and at Chelsea, but the Colombian striker has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance in Monaco
Pepe Reina: the semi-tragic tale of a keeper in all the right places at the wrong times
By Alex Hess last updated
Pepe Reina The former Liverpool shot-stopper's career is one littered with misfortune and near misses, as Alex Hess recalls...
Why it might be time to recognise Brendan Rodgers for the elite coach he is
By Alex Hess published
Brendan Rodgers The Leicester boss has impressed at every job he's had – yet self-mythologising and cringe quotes have made him a divisive figure. Will he guide the Foxes back into the Champions League?
Why Rafa Benitez is a legitimate manager of the season contender
By Alex Hess published
Rafael Benítez Keeping Newcastle clear of relegation – and well clear at that – is easily among the season's finest achievements, writes Alex Hess
FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2017: No.9, Jurgen Klopp
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT 50 Managers The two-time Bundesliga winner hasn’t yet achieved glory with Liverpool, but Merseyside's Mr. Charisma has consistently performed above his resources
The sorry story of Cesc: how Fabregas became a sad victim of football’s changing times
By Alex Hess last updated
Chelsea The 31-year-old was once considered among the Premier League’s great technicians, but has somehow become a relic of a bygone era, writes Alex Hess. But how?
Is the rise of the Premier League's lower-league heroes about to end?
By Alex Hess published
Premier League The top flight has greater strength and spending power than ever before, but that hasn't stopped players from further down the English football pyramid rising to the top. But will it continue? Alex Hess investigates...
The changing face of the Championship: how England’s second tier shifted its style
By Alex Hess last updated
Championship There are exceptions to the rule, writes Alex Hess, but the league is seeing a cultural change that's causing ever-more disparity between promotion challengers and drop-dodgers
8 Premier League stars who urgently need to leave their clubs this month
By Alex Hess last updated
Premier League Stuck in a rut, but still with something to offer – Alex Hess on the Premier League players who need a move ASAP to reboot their careers
Why so serious? Klopp and Ranieri show Jose, Pep and Conte that football's meant to be fun
By Alex Hess last updated
Jürgen Klopp Sure, the latter trio are incredibly successful coaches – but why don't they ever seem to enjoy themselves? And come to think of it, why doesn't anyone? Alex Hess investigates
FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.15, Eden Hazard
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT100 At his best, Chelsea's brilliant Belgian is arguably a top-10 player in the world. But something, somewhere is holding him back
Rafa, Fergie, Clough and Louis: Is man-management overrated?
By Alex Hess last updated
Brian Clough Knowing how to handle a group of players has always been considered a cornerstone of management, but Alex Hess argues it's not all it's cracked up to be...
Chelsea showing signs of youth change under Conte – but is this the real thing?
By Alex Hess published
Chelsea It's early days, says Alex Hess, but the Blues certainly seem more willing to give youth a chance under the guidance of Antonio Conte
Why Sky Sports are in danger of ruining a winning formula
By Alex Hess last updated
Thierry Henry Thierry Henry's puzzling criticism of Javier Hernandez earned the Arsenal legend widespread criticism, but Alex Hess wonders whether the Frenchman's presence is a more a damaging long-term prospect...
FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.19, Paul Pogba
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT100 As a measure of Pogba's excellence, just look at Manchester United when he's not in the side. The Frenchman offers what nobody else can at Old Trafford – and yet there's still so much to come
FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.13, Marco van Basten
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT 100 Greatest From the school of Total Football came the Total Finisher, a forward whose illustrious career was cruelly cut short
Jose Mourinho and Old Trafford should be a perfect match – so why are Manchester United horrible at home?
By Alex Hess published
Manchester United History tells us this should make for a winning combination, but results tell a very different story. Alex Hess explores the issues
West Ham need something drastic to kickstart a revival – they might not get it in the Premier League
By Alex Hess published
West Ham United After a decade of David Gold and David Sullivan's ownership, West Ham need a shot in the arm - and it's not going to come from another season where they narrowly miss relegation
5 big things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend
By Alex Hess published
Premier League Alex Hess picks out the key talking points ahead of another round of top-flight tussles
The life and loathing of Samir Nasri: arrogant irritant or misunderstood misfit?
By Alex Hess last updated
Samir Nasri Manchester City's out-of-favour playmker is hardly Mr Popular in England or his homeland, but Alex Hess suggests why now is exactly the time to keep him close at Eastlands...