Liverpool vs Anzhi Preview: Samuel Eto’o

False Nine co-editor James Dutton provides the second part of a trilogy previewing Anzhi Makhachkala’s trip to Anfield this week. The subject, the highest paid player in world football…

Samuel Eto’o is enjoying a prolific twilight to his glittering career in the Russian Premier League

Think of Anzhi Makhachkala and the first thing that comes to mind will probably be Samuel Eto’o; the Russian club’s marquee signing during the 2011 summer transfer window has become the poster-boy for one of the most ambitious clubs in European football. In return the iconic Cameroon striker has become the highest paid player in world football, earning a reported £350,000 per week – equating to roughly £16 million over a year. Continue reading

Liverpool vs Anzhi Preview: Lacina Traore

Ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League clash with Anzhi, False Nine editor Hugo Greenhalgh profiles dangerman Lacina Traore…

Think of Anzhi Makhachkala and the first thing that comes to mind will probably be Samuel Eto’o. Continue reading

The Changing Face of European Football

False Nine writer Ethan Meade forecasts greater challenges from Eastern Europe and Paris in elite European competition…

Upon his election as President of UEFA, Michel Platini made it an express concern to diffuse European power away from solely in the hands of the traditional powerhouses. He had numerous plans to do this, ranging from changing the format of Champions League qualification, to the often mentioned, but seldom properly understood, Financial Fair Play rules. Continue reading

Liverpool Already Answering Uefa’s Call

False Nine editor Andrew Belt reflects on European nights returning to Anfield and queries Uefa’s bid to increase the profile of the Europa League…

All Uefa had to do to stop themselves preaching to the converted was visit Anfield on August 9th. Not unusually, a near-capacity crowd of 43, 256 packed the old stadium to cheer on Liverpool after hordes of fans had queued for last-minute tickets, enticed by the prospect of seeing the Merseyside club flaunt their skills in European competition again. Continue reading

Europa League in need of revamp

 

False Nine editor Hugo Greenhalgh reflects on the Super Cup and the future of the Europa League

Watching last night‘s Super Cup, it would be easy to mistake Atlético Madrid as the Champions of Europe. Chelsea may have won three in three in the Premier League, but they looked sluggish and uncoordinated in the Super Cup as Atlético, marshalled by a rampant Radamel Falcao, punished the London side in a 4-1 victory. Continue reading