All Martin Laurence posts on WhoScored.com Articles RSS

Player Focus: Why Ljajic is a Better Option than Jovetic

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Player Focus: Why Ljajic is a Better Option than Jovetic Maybe a punch in the face was just what was required where Adem Ljajic is concerned. The former Partizan prospect appeared to be stagnating somewhat at Fiorentina before former coach Delio Rossi took offence to some sarcastic applause from the young Serbian. Here is a player who was on the cusp of s...

Player Focus: The Top Rated Substitutes in Europe's Top 5 Leagues

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Player Focus: The Top Rated Substitutes in Europe's Top 5 Leagues The phrase super-sub has been around for some time now, with a number of players picking up the somewhat unwanted tag having become renowned for making an impact from the bench.In this piece we look at those with the best WhoScored rating purely in the games in which they were used as a substitute, ...

Player Focus: An Alternative Look at Europe's Most Creative Players

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Player Focus: An Alternative Look at Europe's Most Creative Players It's fair to say that when you think of Europe's most creative players your mind tends to wander towards Spain's plethora of midfield talent. Indeed, in Europe's top 5 leagues last season it was Man City's David Silva who picked up the most key passes per game (3.3) and Barcelona's Andres Iniesta wh...

Player Focus: Is There Better Value for Money than Cavani?

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Player Focus: Is There Better Value for Money than Cavani? Edinson Cavani's brace against Italy in the third place play-off of the Confederations Cup served as a reminder of what the Uruguayan can do, having also netted in the semi-final showdown with Brazil.Since then it has been reported that Chelsea have had a bid in the region of £43m rejected for...

Player Focus: Why A Dortmund Deal Suits Aubameyang

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Player Focus: Why A Dortmund Deal Suits Aubameyang Rarely has such a proportion of the European football media's interest revolved around the comings and goings in Ligue 1, but with moneybags PSG and now Monaco willing to splash some ridiculous cash to secure success, in the short term at least, many an eye has been cast towards France's top flight ...

Player Focus: Is There Anyone Out There Quite Like Leighton Baines?

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Player Focus: Is There Anyone Out There Quite Like Leighton Baines? The role of the modern day full back has become increasingly important, with the ball often recycled out to the right and left sided defenders more often than any other position. Nowadays their capabilities in attack are often as important as their solidity at the back, and there are few that have s...

Player Focus: Will Moyes Weigh up a Return for Ronaldo?

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Player Focus: Will Moyes Weigh up a Return for Ronaldo? Many are tipping Chelsea to be Manchester United’s main title contenders next season, and while the Blues have already secured the return of a Special One this summer, Red Devils’ fans are still dreaming of a reunion of their own.Quality out wide is not something that United have often l...

Player Focus: Impressive Players at the Euro U21 Championships

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Player Focus: Impressive Players at the Euro U21 Championships Thus far the European Under-21 Championships in Israel have been packed full of eye catching and noteworthy displays, just not from England's perspective. The familiarity with which the somewhat ironically named 'Three Lions' whimpered out of the tournament left very few shocked and eluded to a futu...

Player Focus: Why Draxler and Schürrle Aren't Chelsea's Priority

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Player Focus: Why Draxler and Schürrle Aren't Chelsea's Priority Jose Mourinho’s long awaited return to Chelsea is complete and with it hoards of swooning fans in West London are satisfied that the glory days in the Premier League are set to return.The club can now start to play their hand with regards to transfer dealings this summer, but the reports to da...

Player Focus: Special Delivery Revisited - Europe's Top Crossers

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Player Focus: Special Delivery Revisited - Europe's Top Crossers With the development of the more aesthetically pleasing short passing, tiki-taka playing style, according to some at least, the art of crossing can be undervalued.When used effectively, however, accurate delivery into the box can still be profitable to some of Europe's top sides. Indeed, only two te...