Dominic Calvert-Lewis has scored six goals from a tiny part of the pitch — the smallest goalscoring area of any player in Europe this season. @thom-harris.bsky.social breaks down why he is so effective at creating chances there. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

Used Liverpool’s tendency to “win” games on xG as a topical Trojan horse to debunk the concept of winning on xG, and why xPoints tables often produce league standings that are clearly nonsense www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

If the Republic of Ireland's defeat to Armenia was unthinkable, then defeating Portugal 2-0 and coming from behind to beat Hungary 3-2 and snatch a World Cup play-off place stretched reality to breaking point. @conor-oneill.bsky.social on one of the most dramatic weeks in Irish footballing history.

Managed to tear myself away from the Parrott goal on infinite loop long enough to write about Ireland’s madcap week. A remarkable resurrection. www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

Plugged out of the football matrix during my hols this week, but wrote a piece on managerial sackings. Ranked sackings based on how deserved they were, measured the new manager bounce, and showed why their employment is most shaky on Mondays in December www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Lots of cautionary tales of Irish youngsters failing to make the grade in England, but it really is hard to manage expectations with Mason Melia. Profiled the Tottenham-bound St Pat's striker, easily the best young talent I have ever seen in LOI www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Maiden bluesky post! I analysed shot-blocking in the Premier League. Looked at: - Arsenal/Liverpool’s contrasting approach to defending long-range efforts - Why Man Utd struggle inside the box - The PL leading the way in old-school, bodies-on-the-line defending www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...