Alex Hess
Latest articles by Alex Hess

Southampton feed England's bloated big boys, but how long can they dine fine themselves?
By Alex Hess published
Southampton Southampton have seen their top talent snatched away by the Premier League's big guns far more than most clubs. Alex Hess explores the science behind the Saints' balancing act, and considers whether they can sustain their success

Dembele puts modern twist on traditional midfield all-rounder role
By Alex Hess published
Mousa Dembélé The Tottenham man is both a creator and a ball-winner, a combination that's become less common in today's game. Alex Hess analyses the Belgian's brilliant renaissance...

Clyne and Moreno are helping to end Liverpool's long-standing curse
By Alex Hess published
Liverpool Alex Hess argues that the Reds may have found two long-term solutions to their problem position...

Red-hot Blue to bench-dwelling onlooker: What has happened to Juan Mata?
By Alex Hess published
Juan Mata The Spain international used to be the Premier League's best playmaker but has now been dropped in favour of Jesse Lingard and Marouane Fellaini. Alex Hess asks where it all went wrong...

Fergie, fitting in and the future for Adnan Januzaj at Manchester United
By Alex Hess last updated
Adnan Januzaj Brought in by Sir Alex, matured by Moyes and then initially forgotten about by Van Gaal, the 20-year-old is now back in the picture at Old Trafford after a tough year. And now he has a real chance to shine, writes Alex Hess...

Ranked! Football's 10 most shocking matches of the last 20 years
By Alex Hess last updated
Lists Three years ago this month, Brazil’s World Cup humbling rocked football. But what results over the last two decades have sent the biggest shockwaves through the football world?

Ranked! Every current Premier League manager based on their work this season
By Alex Hess last updated
Premier League Rafa the gaffer, Jurgen the German and Dyche the worm-devourer – Alex Hess assess the Premier League’s bosses, with the exception of Darren Moore, who can’t be blamed for West Brom’s current state

5 big Premier League players facing make-or-break seasons at their current clubs
By Alex Hess published
Premier League Alex Hess looks at a clutch of stars who'll need to prove their worth in 2016/17

Arsenal will continue to start behind – and Arsene Wenger has lost his disciples for it
By Alex Hess published
Arsenal The Arsenal boss is driven by principle rather than stubbornness but, as Alex Hess explains, it's done him no favours with the Gunners' fanbase

What on earth has happened to Cesc Fabregas?
By Alex Hess published
Cesc Fabregas The Spaniard's form has taken a hit since the second half of last season. Alex Hess wants to know why...

Football fans are being shortchanged when it comes to broadcasters' post-match analysis
By Alex Hess published
Premier League Alex Hess argues that pundits spend too much time focusing on the actions of match officials

Local boy Marcus Rashford is battling Manchester United’s club values, as well as Ibra
By Alex Hess published
Marcus Rashford The 18-year-old might just be good enough to get into Jose’s team on merit alone, but his progress could be stunted by his club’s craving for attention, writes Alex Hess

What separates Rooney, Kane and Vardy the most has nothing to do with ability
By Alex Hess published
England Could self-belief actually lead to better technique? Alex Hess explains why mentality and ability are not as independent as you might think...

FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.8, Zinedine Zidane
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT 100 Greatest Some players are brutally effective, others elegant. Few, if any, have carried both traits as comfortably as the mercurial Frenchman

Di Maria shines as United stutter: Is the player really to blame for Old Trafford nightmare?
By Alex Hess published
Angel Di Maria The Argentina international is back to his brilliant best over in Ligue 1 this year. Alex Hess analyses why his big-money move to the Premier League in 2014 didn't work out...

Kicking it old school: how the traditional winger is coming back into fashion
By Alex Hess published
Premier League English football has lost many things, writes Alex Hess, but it's rediscovered its love for the touchline-hugging wideman – even if they are now in modern guises...

FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.22, David de Gea
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT100 It takes a special player to win Manchester United's Player of the Year award for three consecutive seasons – but then the Spaniard is deserving of such status

FourFourTwo's 2017 review: the best, worst and most bizarre events of the year
By Alex Hess published
Lists A comeback for the ages, the best teenager since Messi and a Carroll double - Alex Hess picks out the most memorable moments of the last 12 months

FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.9, Sergio Aguero
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT100 With 132 goals in 193 Premier League games for Manchester City, the Argentine is arguably English football's deadliest scorer – and 2017 was another profitable year

Timid and indecisive Mignolet is playing for his Liverpool future – contract or otherwise
By Alex Hess published
Simon Mignolet Reports suggest the Belgian is set to sign a new deal at Anfield, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's set to stay for the long-term. Alex Hess evaluates his two-and-a-half years on Merseyside...

The post-match interview: invaluable insight or inane exercise? FourFourTwo hears from the men behind the mics
By Alex Hess published
Premier League Alex Hess explores the after-game one-on-one – with the help of those who've been there and done it

Why New York City really doesn't love Frank Lampard
By Alex Hess last updated
Frank Lampard Alex Hess looks at what's going wrong for the ex-Chelsea goal-getter in the Big Apple - and how his saga affects the image of the MLS...

England’s elite demonstrating true value of collectivism over stars – all except Mourinho
By Alex Hess published
Premier League As Sergio Aguero and Jamie Vardy’s recent benchings have proved, nobody’s place is safe these days with a team’s best interests at heart. Alex Hess evaluates a growing trend...

Has Antonio Conte finally ended Roman Abramovich's quest for sexy football?
By Alex Hess published
Chelsea Maybe – just maybe – Chelsea's oligarch overlord has found what he's been looking for all along, writes Alex Hess

9 big moves for English forwards that resulted in shock or awe – take note Danny Ings
By Alex Hess last updated
Danny Ings Beware Danny Ings! That move to an English giant doesn't always go so smoothly. Here are nine big moves for England strikers that sparked fireworks or became damp squibs...
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