Thore Haugstad
Latest articles by Thore Haugstad

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...

How do you replace a player like Cristiano Ronaldo?
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Real Madrid Real Madrid now face life without their greatest ever goalscorer, but do they splash out on a direct replacement or is there another solution? Thore Haugstad explores the Liga giant's options

Why Zlatan's suspension will work in Man United's favour against Arsenal
By Thore Haugstad published
Premier League The Swede's ban might mean that Marcus Rashford can unleash terror on the Gunners' backline again, explains Thore Haugstad

So, seriously: what's wrong with Cristiano Ronaldo right now?
By Thore Haugstad published
Cristiano Ronaldo Nearly four months into the season, CR7 has more new children than he does La Liga goals. Thore Haugstad looks into why...

FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.2, Lionel Messi
By Thore Haugstad published
FFT 100 Greatest Aged 30, he’s broken all-time records while lifting a host of personal and club awards – yet it’s only in watching Messi you can appreciate a one-off genius

How Manchester United can beat Manchester City – even without Paul Pogba
By Thore Haugstad published
Manchester United The suspended midfielder is a big miss for the Old Trafford side, but Thore Haugstad explains how Jose Mourinho can adjust his gameplan with confidence

Why Cristiano Ronaldo has been Real Madrid's major problem this season... but he can also be their solution
By Thore Haugstad published
Real Madrid It's been a wretched season for Real Madrid, but Thore Haugstad explains that all is not lost - providing Cristiano Ronaldo has his shooting boots on for a crunch Champions League tie against PSG

Ranked! Real Madrid’s 23 Premier League signings, from worst to best
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Real Madrid David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo – and now Eden Hazard, too. The Belgian aside, Thore Haugstad ranks all of Real Madrid’s other Premier League signings over the last 20 years

How Liverpool can stop Cristiano Ronaldo
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Cristiano Ronaldo As Liverpool gear up to face European champions Real Madrid, Thore Haugstad assesses how Brendan Rodgers can possibly hope to stop CR7 at Anfield...

When Alex Ferguson got sacked at St Mirren: 40 years on from the job that made him
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Sir Alex Ferguson On this day in 1978, Fergie was told to clear his desk at Love Street. He lost his fight in court, with an industrial tribunal ruling he had "neither by experience nor talent, any managerial ability at all". Showed them, didn't he?

Analysed: Why Pep got it right despite his Barcelona bashing
By Thore Haugstad published
Stats Zone The 4-0 scoreline may suggest a thrashing, but Thore Haugstad explains why the Catalan's tactics were actually spot on at the Camp Nou on Wednesday

Tottenham vs Man City tactical preview: Why De Bruyne's absence spells danger for Guardiola's men
By Thore Haugstad published
Premier League It's second against first in the Premier League this weekend, and Thore Haugstad believes the loss of the Belgian playmaker could prove costly for the visitors to White Hart Lane...

FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.29, Luis Suarez
By Thore Haugstad last updated
FFT100 The Uruguayan hasn't enjoyed his best year, reflected in a tumble down this list for 2017. But a brand new one – and a World Cup – is just around the corner...

Why James Rodriguez to Manchester United just doesn't make enough sense
By Thore Haugstad published
James Rodríguez The Colombian ace is set to leave Real Madrid, but Thore Haugstad explains why the Premier League club at the front of the queue might not be the best fit

How Diego Costa is running less but scoring more – and why it should worry Spurs
By Thore Haugstad published
Premier League Thore Haugstad explains why the former Atletico Madrid man is thriving in Antonio Conte's system - and why he's a particular danger to Spurs this weekend

FourFourTwo’s tactical review: Defenders save Spurs, Arsene and Alexis, Jose’s magic tweak
By Thore Haugstad published
Premier League Thore Haugstad uses Stats Zone to report four trends from the weekend’s big Premier League fixtures

Man City vs Arsenal: would Pep be doing better if he'd taken over Arsenal?
By Thore Haugstad published
Arsenal Thore Haugstad peers into an alternate reality where Pep succeeds Arsene; would he be doing better at the Emirates?

How new-look Barcelona pose an entirely different threat to Man City this time around
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Barcelona Thore Haugstad evaluates the big changes Luis Enrique has made to maximise the havoc caused by his blistering Barcelona frontline...

How good really is Zidane the manager? Why the Real Madrid boss just keeps on winning
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Zinedine Zidane The enigma of Zizou has outsiders puzzled. As he takes aim at a hat-trick of Champions League titles as a coach, Thore Haugstad explores the ‘Zidane effect’

Timeline: How Jose and Pep lost the love and became best of enemies
By Thore Haugstad published
Premier League Ahead of Saturday's watchalong of the first Guardiola/Mourinho Clasico, we look at where it all went wrong for them: close during their early days together at Barcelona, but somewhere down the line, warmth became friction and a great rivalry was born

Liverpool vs Man United tactical preview: Set-pieces could settle it for Jose
By Thore Haugstad published
Premier League Liverpool have regularly dazzled in open play so far this season, but Thore Haugstad explains why corners and free-kicks could prove their downfall on Monday night

He’s bringing sexy back: 5 tactical notes from Zidane’s first game in charge
By Thore Haugstad published
Zinedine Zidane Thore Haugstad was at the Bernabeu using Stats Zone to analyse the Frenchman’s first game in charge of Real Madrid...

FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2017: No.4, Diego Simeone
By Thore Haugstad last updated
FFT 50 Managers He's raised expectations to the point that anything less than ultimate triumph seems like failure. But make no mistake: the brilliant Simeone still has Atleti punching above their weight

Erik Lamela the perfect symbol of Pochettino's new Tottenham
By Thore Haugstad last updated
Erik Lamela There have been plenty of promising signs in Erik Lamela's early performances for Spurs this season - Thore Haugstad outlines what it is the Argentine forward is finally doing right...
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