Footballarguments
@footballarguments.bsky.social
The Bluesky home of https://footballarguments.wordpress.com/
Reposted by Footballarguments
One of the most important elements of football is something that nobody ever talks about: luck. So what is luck in football, how does it arise and why is the game so random? robfielder.substack.com/p/fooled-by-...
Fooled by Randomness - The Importance of Luck in Football (Part 1)
“I don’t believe in luck in football.
robfielder.substack.com
August 18, 2026 at 11:18 AM
One of the most important elements of football is something that nobody ever talks about: luck. So what is luck in football, how does it arise and why is the game so random? robfielder.substack.com/p/fooled-by-...
And a final reminder about the new blogpost
New blogpost:
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
July 23, 2026 at 8:26 PM
And a final reminder about the new blogpost
You have my full understanding if you've had enough of the World Cup by now. But if you've got room for even just a little more, I'd appreciate you taking a look:
New blogpost:
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
July 22, 2026 at 8:03 PM
You have my full understanding if you've had enough of the World Cup by now. But if you've got room for even just a little more, I'd appreciate you taking a look:
Reposted by Footballarguments
New blogpost:
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
July 21, 2026 at 9:13 PM
New blogpost:
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
New blogpost:
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
July 21, 2026 at 9:13 PM
New blogpost:
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
Team of the World Cup 2026
Written together with the marvellous @robfielder.bsky.social
A decent World Cup, one outstanding team, and at least two individual performances that will be remembered for a long time
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/t...
As you may have guessed, the write-up for the Team of the World Cup 2026 blogpost is currently underway. It will probably be published in the coming days.
In the meantime, who makes your Team of the Tournament? And who wins your Golden Ball? I found the latter question to be quite difficult.
In the meantime, who makes your Team of the Tournament? And who wins your Golden Ball? I found the latter question to be quite difficult.
July 20, 2026 at 5:51 PM
As you may have guessed, the write-up for the Team of the World Cup 2026 blogpost is currently underway. It will probably be published in the coming days.
In the meantime, who makes your Team of the Tournament? And who wins your Golden Ball? I found the latter question to be quite difficult.
In the meantime, who makes your Team of the Tournament? And who wins your Golden Ball? I found the latter question to be quite difficult.
I went into this match without too much emotional investment but I exited it disgusted. What a horrible match. 90% of the blame for that lies with Argentina but Spain should have done much better as well. The same goes for the referee.
July 19, 2026 at 10:12 PM
I went into this match without too much emotional investment but I exited it disgusted. What a horrible match. 90% of the blame for that lies with Argentina but Spain should have done much better as well. The same goes for the referee.
Reposted by Footballarguments
It's hard to know where to begin. With all the other all-time greats, either they're done with international football 5-10 years younger than he is now, or it's done with them.
Yet here he is, still the most impactful, most dangerous player at the entire tournament.
Yet here he is, still the most impactful, most dangerous player at the entire tournament.
Heading into this World Cup, I'd hardly watched Lionel Messi since the last one. I didn't know what to expect but I knew I wanted to enjoy probably watching him for the last time. I can't believe what I've seen:
It's more true than ever: There's Messi, then everyone else
Dominating a tournament two decades after his World Cup bow, even the game's greatest legends pale in comparison
likeanewsletter.substack.com
July 18, 2026 at 8:57 AM
It's hard to know where to begin. With all the other all-time greats, either they're done with international football 5-10 years younger than he is now, or it's done with them.
Yet here he is, still the most impactful, most dangerous player at the entire tournament.
Yet here he is, still the most impactful, most dangerous player at the entire tournament.
Excellent, excellent stuff.
I continue to think that as a scoring-passing-carrying triple threat, Pelé is the only player who may rival Messi for the GOAT-title.
(We'll never know for sure but Messi probably beats him as a playmaker and in terms of longevity.)
I continue to think that as a scoring-passing-carrying triple threat, Pelé is the only player who may rival Messi for the GOAT-title.
(We'll never know for sure but Messi probably beats him as a playmaker and in terms of longevity.)
I did it
I wrote the article
wish me luck
Lionel Messi is the GOAT, Ronaldo is not, why just about every statistical analyst agress
www.expectinggoals.com/p/messi-rona...
I wrote the article
wish me luck
Lionel Messi is the GOAT, Ronaldo is not, why just about every statistical analyst agress
www.expectinggoals.com/p/messi-rona...
Why Messi keeps thriving as Ronaldo fades: The GOAT's always been the best
I'm not proud, or tired
www.expectinggoals.com
July 16, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Excellent, excellent stuff.
I continue to think that as a scoring-passing-carrying triple threat, Pelé is the only player who may rival Messi for the GOAT-title.
(We'll never know for sure but Messi probably beats him as a playmaker and in terms of longevity.)
I continue to think that as a scoring-passing-carrying triple threat, Pelé is the only player who may rival Messi for the GOAT-title.
(We'll never know for sure but Messi probably beats him as a playmaker and in terms of longevity.)
The last time that Messi appeared in my selections was back in 2022-23 (Bench Team of the Season). I was pretty certain that, as great as he undoubtedly is, this would prove to be the final time he would ever feature.
Underestimated him again.
Underestimated him again.
July 16, 2026 at 5:23 PM
The last time that Messi appeared in my selections was back in 2022-23 (Bench Team of the Season). I was pretty certain that, as great as he undoubtedly is, this would prove to be the final time he would ever feature.
Underestimated him again.
Underestimated him again.
It's been ages since I saw a nominal top team that so brazenly attempted to win a match not through physicality, but through violence (and provocation). Some dark, dark Clasicos from the early 2010s come to mind.
July 15, 2026 at 7:52 PM
It's been ages since I saw a nominal top team that so brazenly attempted to win a match not through physicality, but through violence (and provocation). Some dark, dark Clasicos from the early 2010s come to mind.
The way things are shaping up, Messi will score with his hand at some point.
July 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
The way things are shaping up, Messi will score with his hand at some point.
Messi looks like a 39-year-old. So do his teammates.
July 7, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Messi looks like a 39-year-old. So do his teammates.
He will haunt Germany's pressing game for a while, very impressive
As well as the passing (90%) and defending (9 def contributions), Christ Inao Oulaï completed the most dribbles (5/5) in the Ivory Coast vs Germany game 🇨🇮
June 20, 2026 at 10:45 PM
He will haunt Germany's pressing game for a while, very impressive
Reposted by Footballarguments
Soeben ist die allerletzte Team-Vorschau auf die WM auf Laptoptrainer online gegangen. Die Analyse zu Deutschland ist nicht hinter einer Paywall versteckt. Damit habe ich das geschafft, woran ich selbst gezweifelt habe: Alle 48 Teams sind analysiert! www.laptoptrainer.de/2026/06/12/v...
Deutschland bei der WM 2026: Taktik-Vorschau | Laptoptrainer
Deutschland hofft bei der WM 2026 auf den fünften Titel. Auf Laptoptrainer.de gibt es eine taktische Vorschau auf diesen und alle anderen WM-Teilnehmer!
www.laptoptrainer.de
June 12, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Soeben ist die allerletzte Team-Vorschau auf die WM auf Laptoptrainer online gegangen. Die Analyse zu Deutschland ist nicht hinter einer Paywall versteckt. Damit habe ich das geschafft, woran ich selbst gezweifelt habe: Alle 48 Teams sind analysiert! www.laptoptrainer.de/2026/06/12/v...
Reposted by Footballarguments
Always a great pleasure to contribute to this and great to see Harry Kane win a very deserved player of the year. The best player in the world at the moment.
Want to get some closure in regard to last season before the World Cup starts?
New blogpost:
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Featuring (on the page, not on the pitch) the brilliant @lgambrose.bsky.social , @justin-kraft.de and @robfielder.bsky.social!
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/t...
New blogpost:
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Featuring (on the page, not on the pitch) the brilliant @lgambrose.bsky.social , @justin-kraft.de and @robfielder.bsky.social!
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/t...
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Manager: Mikel Arteta Bench: Courtois, Neuer, Maignan; Dimarco, Ruggeri, Cucurella; Marquinhos, Pacho, Tah, Upamecano, Senesi, Schlotterbeck; Timber, Hakimi, M. Llorente; J. Neves, Zubimendi, Pavlo…
footballarguments.wordpress.com
June 11, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Always a great pleasure to contribute to this and great to see Harry Kane win a very deserved player of the year. The best player in the world at the moment.
I don't want to distract you from the opening ceremony but:
Want to get some closure in regard to last season before the World Cup starts?
New blogpost:
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Featuring (on the page, not on the pitch) the brilliant @lgambrose.bsky.social , @justin-kraft.de and @robfielder.bsky.social!
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/t...
New blogpost:
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Featuring (on the page, not on the pitch) the brilliant @lgambrose.bsky.social , @justin-kraft.de and @robfielder.bsky.social!
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/t...
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Manager: Mikel Arteta Bench: Courtois, Neuer, Maignan; Dimarco, Ruggeri, Cucurella; Marquinhos, Pacho, Tah, Upamecano, Senesi, Schlotterbeck; Timber, Hakimi, M. Llorente; J. Neves, Zubimendi, Pavlo…
footballarguments.wordpress.com
June 11, 2026 at 6:39 PM
I don't want to distract you from the opening ceremony but:
Want to get some closure in regard to last season before the World Cup starts?
New blogpost:
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Featuring (on the page, not on the pitch) the brilliant @lgambrose.bsky.social , @justin-kraft.de and @robfielder.bsky.social!
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/t...
New blogpost:
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Featuring (on the page, not on the pitch) the brilliant @lgambrose.bsky.social , @justin-kraft.de and @robfielder.bsky.social!
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/t...
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Manager: Mikel Arteta Bench: Courtois, Neuer, Maignan; Dimarco, Ruggeri, Cucurella; Marquinhos, Pacho, Tah, Upamecano, Senesi, Schlotterbeck; Timber, Hakimi, M. Llorente; J. Neves, Zubimendi, Pavlo…
footballarguments.wordpress.com
June 11, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Want to get some closure in regard to last season before the World Cup starts?
New blogpost:
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Featuring (on the page, not on the pitch) the brilliant @lgambrose.bsky.social , @justin-kraft.de and @robfielder.bsky.social!
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/t...
New blogpost:
Team of the Season 2025-2026
Featuring (on the page, not on the pitch) the brilliant @lgambrose.bsky.social , @justin-kraft.de and @robfielder.bsky.social!
footballarguments.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/t...
Fall from grace
🇳🇱 Netherlands World Cup number 9s (1990-2026)
June 5, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Fall from grace
And another season in football history has ended. I often try to publish the Team of the Season blogpost the day after the Champions League final. I'm a bit behind schedule this time around, will probably take me about a week to finish it.
In the meantime, who would you pick?
In the meantime, who would you pick?
May 30, 2026 at 7:48 PM
And another season in football history has ended. I often try to publish the Team of the Season blogpost the day after the Champions League final. I'm a bit behind schedule this time around, will probably take me about a week to finish it.
In the meantime, who would you pick?
In the meantime, who would you pick?
In an age where football sometimes feels quite bonkers, I get a perverse kind of pleasure from this minimalism*.
(*aka 'very impressive deep-block defending that is far from easy')
(*aka 'very impressive deep-block defending that is far from easy')
May 30, 2026 at 4:56 PM
In an age where football sometimes feels quite bonkers, I get a perverse kind of pleasure from this minimalism*.
(*aka 'very impressive deep-block defending that is far from easy')
(*aka 'very impressive deep-block defending that is far from easy')
Reposted by Footballarguments
Catching up on some recent posts. The best players of the 1954 World Cup: robfielder.substack.com/p/the-best-p...
The Best Players of the 1954 World Cup
Moving on to 1954, we hit our stride with a lot more high-quality footage and a wealth of information about the competition (including the first English book focused on a single tournament).
robfielder.substack.com
May 29, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Catching up on some recent posts. The best players of the 1954 World Cup: robfielder.substack.com/p/the-best-p...
Reposted by Footballarguments
The first post-war World Cup. Who were the best players of the 1950 edition? Going back to something i looked at with @footballarguments.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/robfielder…
open.substack.com/pub/robfielder…
https://open.substack.com/pub/robfielder…
May 22, 2026 at 12:56 PM
The first post-war World Cup. Who were the best players of the 1950 edition? Going back to something i looked at with @footballarguments.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/robfielder…
open.substack.com/pub/robfielder…
Reposted by Footballarguments
Today's post looks at how we value tournaments. What criteria should we use and how does that change over time? This is the lead in to a series of detailed posts about individual competitions. open.substack.com/pub/robfielder…
https://open.substack.com/pub/robfielder…
May 11, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Today's post looks at how we value tournaments. What criteria should we use and how does that change over time? This is the lead in to a series of detailed posts about individual competitions. open.substack.com/pub/robfielder…
Reposted by Footballarguments
Today's newsletter is on the subject of trophies and whether they matter in assessing great players robfielder.substack.com/p/do-trophies-…
https://robfielder.substack.com/p/do-trophies-…
April 27, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Today's newsletter is on the subject of trophies and whether they matter in assessing great players robfielder.substack.com/p/do-trophies-…