Thore Haugstad
Latest articles by Thore Haugstad

Erling Haaland: Who the man of 2022 will sign for next
By Thore Haugstad published
Erling Haaland is on the move in the next 12 months – this is the story of striker's rapid rise, his astonishing exploits and what the future holds for Mino Raiola's prized asset

Thierry Henry’s assist record of 2002/03: how Arsenal's talisman reinvented the Premier League striker
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Thierry Henry Kevin De Bruyne is trying to record the most assists in a Premier League season, but the current record-holder was playing a whole different ball game...

FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2017: No.2, Zinedine Zidane
By Thore Haugstad last updated
FFT 50 Managers He’s been in his job for less than two years and has won as many Champions Leagues as Mourinho, Ferguson or Guardiola. Zinedine Zidane is an enigma – and a winner

Chelsea vs Liverpool tactical preview: Why Conte might well be jealous of Klopp
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Premier League The Italian will long for the dynamic options his German counterpart has in his engine room, and Thore Haugstad explains why that could be the key factor on Friday

How would Manchester City fare against the great modern European club sides?
By Thore Haugstad published
Manchester City Pep Guardiola’s side have every Premier League record in their sights – but how would they match up against the very best from home and abroad?

Why Mauricio Pochettino is masterminding his biggest achievement yet at Tottenham
By Thore Haugstad published
Tottenham Hotspur No signings, injuries to large swathes of his squad, major stadium delays and more. Unlike Jose Mourinho, the Argentine has battled through it all to break more records at Spurs

FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.1, Lionel Messi
By Thore Haugstad last updated
FFT100 Nobody in Europe's big five leagues has scored more goals in 2017. Nobody in La Liga has managed more assists, chances created, dribbles or key passes. Since summer he has almost single-handedly dragged a Barça side in crisis to the La Liga summit, and his country to the World Cup. He is the best player in the world...

The Casemiro conundrum: how much should Real Madrid value grit over quality?
By Thore Haugstad published
Casemiro He may not be as glamorous as some of his superstar team-mates, but Thore Haugstad explains why the defensive midfielder will be vital at the Camp Nou...

How Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is turning into Zinedine Zidane
By Thore Haugstad published
Manchester United The Norwegian is unlikely to win three straight Champions League titles at Old Trafford, but there are plenty of legitimate parallels between Zizou's work and his own so far, writes Thore Haugstad

Analysed: Why Liverpool boss Klopp prefers mobile Firmino to static Benteke
By Thore Haugstad published
Stats Zone The Brazilian was labelled a "real centre-forward" by his manager on Sunday, pushing his ex-Aston Villa team-mate down the pecking order. Thore Haugstad considers why the Belgian is struggling for playing time...

FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.5, Cristiano Ronaldo
By Thore Haugstad last updated
FFT 100 Greatest Dazzling talent, unrelenting dedication, a big-game match-winner – and he isn’t finished yet...

How to stop Barcelona: 5 ways Atletico Madrid silenced the MSN trident
By Thore Haugstad published
La Liga Halting Messi, Suarez and Neymar is far from easy, but Diego Simeone's side managed to do it on Wednesday night. Thore Haugstad, armed with Stats Zone, was at the Camp Nou to observe their approach...

How Barcelona lost their identity under Luis Enrique
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Stats Zone After their humbling by PSG, Thore Haugstad explains why the Catalans have become a different team under their current boss

Year Zero: The season that made Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, 2002/03)
By Thore Haugstad published
Year Zero Once, he was an unknown kid suffering relegation – then became the hottest young striker in Europe. This is how the 2002/03 season changed the life of this young Spaniard forever

Why Antoine Griezmann really is the perfect signing for Mourinho and Manchester United
By Thore Haugstad published
Manchester United It's not just because he's an excellent player. The French star began life at Atletico Madrid as a breathless winger, but Diego Simeone has turned him into a well-rounded winner – as Thore Haugstad explains

How England really can win by learning from Germany… and stealing from Pep Guardiola
By Thore Haugstad published
England International football isn’t an environment for originality, writes Thore Haugstad – so Gareth Southgate shouldn’t be afraid to base his ideas on pre-existing concepts

Why Mauricio Pochettino is the closest thing the Premier League has to a young Alex Ferguson
By Thore Haugstad published
Mauricio Pochettino The Tottenham manager’s methods and early achievements have much in common with his idol’s, explains Thore Haugstad

FFT100 2018: No.19, Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
By Thore Haugstad published
FFT100 Chuckles were barely stifled when Liverpool spent £75m on the Dutchman in January. Now he's arguably the best centre-back on the planet – and nobody's laughing any more

Tottenham vs Liverpool preview: Why Wanyama could struggle to replace Dembele's influence
By Thore Haugstad published
Premier League The Belgium international remains banned for the visit of Jurgen Klopp's charges. As Thore Haugstad explains, his drive and composure in the engine room will be sorely missed...

5 reasons why Real Madrid are struggling this season
By Thore Haugstad published
Real Madrid From being pre-season Liga favourites to eight points behind Barcelona, Real Madrid’s poor form is threatening to make for a disastrous campaign. Thore Haugstad explores the situation as Los Blancos prepare to face Tottenham in the Champions League

How Pep has evolved since leaving Barça – and how his tactics could fare in England
By Thore Haugstad published
Pep Guardiola If he joins the Premier League next season the Catalan faces a challenge like he's never had before, but would he sink or swim in such an unpredictable league? Thore Haugstad theorises...

Tactical Review: Pep's 2-3-5, Koeman's defensive masterclass and Zlatan's link-up play
By Thore Haugstad published
Stats Zone Four tactical observations from Matchday 1 of the Premier League (by Thore Haugstad), illustrated using our award-winning Stats Zone app…

FourFourTwo’s tactical review: Giroud vs Januzaj, blunted Spurs, Klopp’s aerial kings
By Thore Haugstad published
Premier League Thore Haugstad uses Stats Zone to report four trends from the weekend’s Premier League fixtures