Alex Hess
Latest articles by Alex Hess
Theo Walcott at 30: a strange, muddled career where reality was never as good as the fantasy
By Alex Hess last updated
Theo Walcott The Everton winger leaves his 20s behind on Saturday, prompting Alex Hess to ponder what comes next for a player who has failed to live up to the early hype
Why Arsene Wenger is standing at his most defining crossroads yet with Arsenal
By Alex Hess published
Arsenal The Frenchman's football blueprint could still be vindicated this season, but his north London rivals are worryingly instilling it more successfully, argues Alex Hess...
Newcastle can never succeed with Mike Ashley's identity-draining ownership
By Alex Hess last updated
Newcastle United The Magpies could be drifting towards a second relegation to the Championship in seven years. Alex Hess explains why all of the club's problems can be traced back to the boardroom...
Why Frank Lampard is ignoring history for romance - all for an unhappy ending
By Alex Hess published
Chelsea The Chelsea great is gambling with his legacy by returning to Stamford Bridge. As Alex Hess writes, more accomplished managers than him have been discarded in recent years
Pepe Reina: the semi-tragic tale of a keeper in all the right places at the wrong times
By Alex Hess last updated
Pepe Reina The former Liverpool shot-stopper's career is one littered with misfortune and near misses, as Alex Hess recalls...
Why it might be time to recognise Brendan Rodgers for the elite coach he is
By Alex Hess published
Brendan Rodgers The Leicester boss has impressed at every job he's had – yet self-mythologising and cringe quotes have made him a divisive figure. Will he guide the Foxes back into the Champions League?
Why Rafa Benitez is a legitimate manager of the season contender
By Alex Hess published
Rafael Benítez Keeping Newcastle clear of relegation – and well clear at that – is easily among the season's finest achievements, writes Alex Hess
FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2017: No.9, Jurgen Klopp
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT 50 Managers The two-time Bundesliga winner hasn’t yet achieved glory with Liverpool, but Merseyside's Mr. Charisma has consistently performed above his resources
The sorry story of Cesc: how Fabregas became a sad victim of football’s changing times
By Alex Hess last updated
Chelsea The 31-year-old was once considered among the Premier League’s great technicians, but has somehow become a relic of a bygone era, writes Alex Hess. But how?
The changing face of the Championship: how England’s second tier shifted its style
By Alex Hess last updated
Championship There are exceptions to the rule, writes Alex Hess, but the league is seeing a cultural change that's causing ever-more disparity between promotion challengers and drop-dodgers
8 Premier League stars who urgently need to leave their clubs this month
By Alex Hess last updated
Premier League Stuck in a rut, but still with something to offer – Alex Hess on the Premier League players who need a move ASAP to reboot their careers
FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.15, Eden Hazard
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT100 At his best, Chelsea's brilliant Belgian is arguably a top-10 player in the world. But something, somewhere is holding him back
Chelsea showing signs of youth change under Conte – but is this the real thing?
By Alex Hess published
Chelsea It's early days, says Alex Hess, but the Blues certainly seem more willing to give youth a chance under the guidance of Antonio Conte
FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.13, Marco van Basten
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT 100 Greatest From the school of Total Football came the Total Finisher, a forward whose illustrious career was cruelly cut short
West Ham need something drastic to kickstart a revival – they might not get it in the Premier League
By Alex Hess published
West Ham United After a decade of David Gold and David Sullivan's ownership, West Ham need a shot in the arm - and it's not going to come from another season where they narrowly miss relegation
Southampton feed England's bloated big boys, but how long can they dine fine themselves?
By Alex Hess published
Southampton Southampton have seen their top talent snatched away by the Premier League's big guns far more than most clubs. Alex Hess explores the science behind the Saints' balancing act, and considers whether they can sustain their success
Dembele puts modern twist on traditional midfield all-rounder role
By Alex Hess published
Mousa Dembélé The Tottenham man is both a creator and a ball-winner, a combination that's become less common in today's game. Alex Hess analyses the Belgian's brilliant renaissance...
Clyne and Moreno are helping to end Liverpool's long-standing curse
By Alex Hess published
Liverpool Alex Hess argues that the Reds may have found two long-term solutions to their problem position...
Arsenal will continue to start behind – and Arsene Wenger has lost his disciples for it
By Alex Hess published
Arsenal The Arsenal boss is driven by principle rather than stubbornness but, as Alex Hess explains, it's done him no favours with the Gunners' fanbase
What on earth has happened to Cesc Fabregas?
By Alex Hess published
Cesc Fabregas The Spaniard's form has taken a hit since the second half of last season. Alex Hess wants to know why...
Arsenal’s ‘nice guy’ Brits are more Coldplay than Sex Pistols – but are they destined for mediocrity?
By Alex Hess published
Arsenal The stuttering growth of the Gunners’ rising stars suggests that Arsene Wenger has lost his touch with developing youth, writes Alex Hess…
FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.8, Zinedine Zidane
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT 100 Greatest Some players are brutally effective, others elegant. Few, if any, have carried both traits as comfortably as the mercurial Frenchman
FourFourTwo's 2017 review: the best, worst and most bizarre events of the year
By Alex Hess published
Lists A comeback for the ages, the best teenager since Messi and a Carroll double - Alex Hess picks out the most memorable moments of the last 12 months
FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.9, Sergio Aguero
By Alex Hess last updated
FFT100 With 132 goals in 193 Premier League games for Manchester City, the Argentine is arguably English football's deadliest scorer – and 2017 was another profitable year
Timid and indecisive Mignolet is playing for his Liverpool future – contract or otherwise
By Alex Hess published
Simon Mignolet Reports suggest the Belgian is set to sign a new deal at Anfield, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's set to stay for the long-term. Alex Hess evaluates his two-and-a-half years on Merseyside...
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