The Football Addick

A footballers career is often short; in most cases players enjoy their best days during their twenties, before declining in performance when they enter their thirties. Football is undoubtedly a young man's game. Unfortunately for some players, their decline is both plain and sad to see. Footballers that have suffered such a decline include Fernando Torres and Michael Owen; both of which were forced to endure a number of injuries which depleted their footballing ability. But some footballers don't follow this trend. A number of players can actually be considered 'late bloomers': Those that aren't very good in their youth but thrive later on in their careers. This article will therefore consider the very best players currently playing in world football over the age of 35. Which two Spaniards make the list? Which Italian defender is rated at number 4? And is Zlatan Ibrahimovic ranked the best footballing veteran in the world? Find out the answer to all these ques...

On Sunday night, the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the 2016/2017 season was announced. In an award decided by every footballer plying their trade in the Premier League and given to the best player in the league equal to or under the age of 23, it was Dele Alli who was given this prestigious award. The 21 year-old midfielder ousted Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Leroy Sane on his way to receiving the trophy. Dele Alli has had another terrific season and this triumph is the second consecutive year that he has been named the PFA Young Player of the Year. But other youngsters have also had fine seasons, with Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku in particular enjoying prolific campaigns. So the question must be raised: Did Alli deserve to win the trophy? Or did one of the other contenders have a better season than the Spurs midfielder? In this article, The Football Addick (@FootballAddick) ranks the six footballers that were nominated for the award in...

On Sunday night, the Players' Player of the Year award for the 2016/2017 season was announced. In an award decided by each and every footballer plying their trade in the Premier League, it was N'Golo Kante who emerged victorious, fending off competition from Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez. Although most viewers of the Premier League on a weekly basis would have noted Kante's imperious performances in almost every game he has featured in, the question must still be raised: did he deserve to win the trophy? Or did one of the other contenders have a better season than the Frenchman? In this article, The Football Addick (@FootballAddick) ranks the six footballers that were nominated for the award in order of how they have performed, before revealing who he thinks should have won the PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2016/2017 season. 6) Zlatan Ibrahimovic 6) Zlatan has had a good season but could it have been bet...

Valero Texas Open Betting Tips: 2016 Valero Texas Open Champion, Charley Hoffman *Odds provided by Sky Bet Betting Tips: Charley Hoffman - 20/1: The reigning champion comes into this week with a great chance of retaining his crown. Although he missed the cut last week, he had been in goof form before that with a good showing at the Masters, as well as high finishes in Texas and Florida. But it's his recent course form that sets him apart from the rest of the field. His last six starts have been 1st, T11, T11, T3, T11, T2. Expect him to be a factor on Sunday. Billy Horschel - 25/1: Horschel is on this list on virtue of his history at this event. Regardless of any form in recent weeks, he always seems the play well here. He has four top 5's in his last three starts, and has had also recorded a T13 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a T4 at the Honda Classic in recent weeks. Brendan Steele - 25/1: The American returns to the event where he won hi...

Although it is uncommon to see Portuguese players plying their trade in the Premier League, a few elite players from the country have made a name for themselves on English shores.  In his sixth edition of TOP 5, The Football Addick will now turn his attention to naming his TOP 5 Premier League's Greatest Portuguese, using facts and figures to reinforce his claims. As aforementioned, there was not an extensive pool of Portuguese footballers to choose from. Those that were considered but did not make the Top 5 include Raul Meireles, Cedric Soares, Jose Bosingwa, Deco and Ricardo Quaresma. Deco and Quaresma were probably the two that came the closest to making the list, but their footballing peaks occurred away from England and thus were omitted. Now onto the list of the Premier League's Top 5 Greatest Portuguese. Which 2016 Euro Championship winner takes the number 5 spot? Which nine-year Premier League veteran makes the list? And can anyone come close to challenging Cristian...

I was watching Dortmund and AS Monaco contest their Champions League tie last week and I noticed something unusual. Unfortunately, the tie will probably be most noted for off-field incidents; where an explosion near the Dortmund bus prior to the game left Marc Bartra hospitalised. However, when their quarter final match-up was played, it was a thoroughly entertaining game with both teams showing a great deal of attacking flair. But the talent on show was not just limited to veteran professionals who have experienced occasions like this for years; three of the players on the pitch were teenagers.   18 year-old Kylian Mbappe terrorised the Dortmund defence from the outset as he bagged two goals. Ousname Dembele and Christian Pulisic were the other two teenagers on display and impressed themselves. Their notable displays on such a big stage made me think: Who are the most talented teenagers in world football? Do any of the three named above make the Top 5? Do any English ...

RBC Heritage Betting Tips RBC Heritage 2016 Champion, Branden Grace *Odds provided by Sky Bet Betting Tips: Matt Kuchar - 14/1: The former champion is the favourite to take the trophy at Hilton Head this week and he comes into the tournament in good form. One of the most consistent golfers in world golf, the American managed an impressive T4 finish at the US Masters last week. He also likes the event, having recorded three consecutive top 10's here, including his win in 2014. Branden Grace - 22/1: The defending champion will most probably be a factor again this year. In his last two starts at Hilton Head, he has a win and a T7 finish to his name. He is also in steady form recently, having made the cut in twelve of his last fourteen events. Luke Donald - 30/1: Donald has done everything but win in this event. Remarkably, in the last eight editions of the RBC Heritage, the Englishman has four second place finishes and two third place finishes. He has not been in the...

Germany are probably Europe's most decorated footballing nation, having won four world cups and three European Championships. However, despite the success of the international team, many of the nation's best players have largely remained in their homeland for the vast majority of their career's. Therefore, despite being Europe's top footballing nation; when you think of the Premier League's greatest players,  surprisingly   very few are German. Nevertheless, although German players have largely stayed away from English shores, there has been a handful of whom have decided to test themselves in the world' most exciting league. Players such as Lukas Podolski, Andre Schurrle, Jens Lehmann and Markus Babbel were all decent players when playing in England, but unfortunately none have made the Top 5. Bastian Schweinsteiger is probably the best and most decorated player to grace the Premier League, but unfortunately he has been omitted because of the torrid time he e...