Latest articles by Alex Hess
The 5 major things that Gareth Southgate has done to reboot this England team
Gareth Southgate It’s not all waistcoats and being polite: these are the ways that Southgate has transformed the Three Lions, from wielding the axe to breaking a curse
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham really did prove that trophies are not the only measure of success
Tottenham Hotspur The outgoing Spurs manager didn’t deliver silverware – but he built a project and left a legacy that fans will cherish for a long time
FourFourTwo’s Best 100 Football Players in the World 2016: No.11 – Thomas Muller
FFT100 Alex Hess takes a look at the space invader who just misses out on the top ten…
FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.20, Paolo Maldini
FFT 100 Greatest The imperious Italian spent 25 years at Milan achieving glory and acclaim as one of the greatest defenders football has ever seen
Can we actually tell how good Garry Monk is yet?
Garry Monk The Swansea boss has been tipped as a future England manager. Alex Hess warns that such predictions may be premature...
What Adam Lallana’s Liverpool rebirth can teach us about football
Adam Lallana The Englishman struggled under Brendan Rodgers and his inability to last a match became notorious, but he’s now thriving under Jurgen Klopp against all expectations, writes Alex Hess…
Why Chelsea fans have hated Sarriball this season – and even victory in Europe won't help him
Chelsea Even success in the Europa League may not save Maurizio Sarri. But why are the Stamford Bridge faithful so opposed to his “progressive” playing style?
Official! The 16 lowest-scoring forwards in Premier League history
Premier League Not our opinion: it’s the raw data from our pals at STATS which tells us these men avoided goals like the plague during their time in the Premier League
FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.7, N'Golo Kante
FFT100 A back-to-back Premier League champion with different clubs – one of them the most unlikely title winners in English football history. Is the Frenchman really this good? Just try watching his teams without him...
Why Philippe Coutinho was probably doomed from the start at Barcelona
Barcelona He’s been neither bad nor brilliant at the Camp Nou, but already the Barça board are weighing up the possibility of cashing in. What gives?
The curious case of Alvaro Morata: a struggling striker yet to find his level
Chelsea He's about to end his difficult Chelsea spell after similar struggles at Real Madrid and Juventus – indicative of a player who just hasn't been quite good enough to make such a grade, writes Alex Hess
The 6 best Premier League players outside the top six this season
Premier League Virgil van Dijk and Raheem Sterling are set for a clean sweep of the individual awards this term, but these stars outside the top bracket deserve some love too
Where did it all go wrong for Jack Wilshere?
Jack Wilshere The 24-year-old Arsenal midfielder’s loan move to Bournemouth caught everyone off guard, but perhaps it’s been a while coming. Alex Hess assesses the situation…
Klopp at Liverpool, five months on: how victory over United could kick-start a new Reds revolution
Jürgen Klopp Alex Hess evaluates the German’s Anfield adventure 35 games in, as his Merseysiders bid to topple their M62 rivals in Europe...
Why Tottenham deserve even more credit than you think this season
Premier League Many Premier League teams have fallen away the season after a failed title bid, which Alex Hess believes makes Spurs' current campaign all the more impressive
Rafa Benitez is one of football's most misunderstood figures – even if he's a walking contradiction
Rafael Benítez The apparently awkward and aloof tactician has opted to remain at St James' Park despite relegation, a decision that Alex Hess explains underlines his capacity for emotion...
FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017: No.4, Christian Pulisic
100 Best Teenagers Despite seeing their country fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, Americans at least have something to cling to: their teenage sensation who's already his country's most important star
We really need to talk about Everton's defence – because nobody seems to be noticing...
Everton A year ago, the Toffees’ rearguard appeared to be their weak link. Now, with one of the best defensive records in the Premier League last season, it could be their key strength
How Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham showed up a transfer-obsessed nation
Tottenham Hotspur At almost no point has it been considered that there might actually be benefits to not buying anyone – until now, writes Alex Hess
FourFourTwo’s Best 100 Football Players in the World 2016: No.21 – Diego Godin
FFT100 Alex Hess hails Atletico Madrid's defensive rock after another brilliant 12 months…
Always the bridesmaid? How Higuain rebuilt his reputation to become Europe's most wanted striker
Gonzalo Higuaín The Argentine striker has Naples dreaming of a first Scudetto since the Maradona-inspired triumph of 1990. Alex Hess examines why the former Madrid goal-getter prefers operating in a smaller pond...
FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.25, David Silva
FFT100 He may be going for a skinhead look these days, but it's still the same – or perhaps even better – classy David Silva we're drooling over
The fall of Neymar: where PSG's ill-tempered talisman has been going wrong
PSG He was supposed to be the player who broke Messi and Ronaldo’s duopoly at the top – but now everything is falling apart around him. Can Neymar find happiness again?
What happened to France’s lost ‘87 Generation? A tale of promise, bust-ups and bitterness
France In 2004, Karim Benzema, Samir Nasri, Hatem Ben Arfa and Jeremy Menez were dazzling with France’s under-17s, all braced for bigger things. Yet, in their nation’s big year, none of them are around – and never will play a minute together, writes Alex Hess...
