When a player gains possession for their team after it was previously contested or loose. Different from tackles or interceptions - it's about picking up second balls, collecting clearances, and mopping up loose possession. Midfielders who win lots of ball recoveries are often underrated because the stat doesn't get as much attention as tackles or goals.
N'Golo Kanté consistently ranked among Europe's top players for ball recoveries - his ability to appear everywhere and collect second balls made Chelsea's midfield impossible to play through.
Robbie
Jan 28, 2026
How well a player keeps the ball under pressure. Good ball retention means they don't lose it often, even in tight spaces. Different from just passing accuracy because it accounts for pressure, body position, and shielding. Players with good retention can receive in difficult situations and give teammates time to move. Possession teams value it highly.
Thiago Alcântara's ball retention at Liverpool was exceptional - he could receive the ball surrounded by three opponents and somehow come out with it, using body feints and tight control to buy time and find an outlet.
Robbie
Jan 15, 2026
The side of the pitch where the ball is. When defending, you want more players ball side than away from it, since that's where the danger is. "Getting ball side" means positioning yourself between your opponent and the ball. Defenders who stay ball side cut off passing lanes; those who get caught wrong side get played in behind.
The first thing coaches teach young defenders is to stay ball side. If you're marking a striker and the ball is on the right, you need to be between that striker and the ball, not standing goalside waiting.
Robbie
Jan 13, 2026
A player whose style only really works in the Premier League. The term comes from "Barclays" (the old league sponsor) and is usually used to describe players who rely on physicality, work rate, or chaos over technical ability. Think midfielders who run a lot but can't pick a pass, or strikers who bully defenders but struggle with a first touch. When they move abroad or play in Europe, they get exposed.
Adama Traoré is often called a Barclaysman because his pace and power terrorize Premier League defenders, but he tends to disappear in games that require more patience and technical buildup.
Robbie
Feb 8, 2026
Real Madrid attackig trio Bale, Benzema and Cristiano (Ronaldo). They were the attacking front three for the Spanish giants between 2013 and 2018.
When you're talking about some of the best front threes in history, you have to put the BBC up there.
The Gaffer
Jan 30, 2026