The zones between the central area and the flanks, roughly where the edges of the penalty box would extend up the pitch. Important because they sit in the gaps between defenders - between centre-back and full-back, or between central and wide midfielders. Players who can receive here are hard to mark and have good angles to face goal or play passes. A big concept in modern positional play.
Kevin De Bruyne is a master of the right half-space - he drifts into this zone between opposition midfield and defense, receives on the turn, and either drives at goal or picks out teammates with his signature cross-field passes.
Robbie
Jan 16, 2026
Receiving the ball side-on so you're already facing partially up the pitch, ready to play forward or turn quickly. Better than receiving flat-footed with your back to goal. Players who check their shoulder before receiving can set up half-turns and play faster. It's a small thing that separates players who keep attacks moving from those who have to stop and turn.
Toni Kroos was a master of the half-turn - he'd check over his shoulder, receive on the half-turn, and immediately play a forward pass, never wasting a touch or losing momentum in Real Madrid's build-up.
Robbie
Jan 24, 2026
Scoring three goals in one game. The term came from cricket but works in football too. A "perfect hat-trick" means one with your left foot, one with your right, and one header. Players usually get to keep the match ball. There's also the "flawless hat-trick" (three in a row with no one else scoring in between) and "super hat-trick" (four goals).
Lionel Messi's hat-trick against Real Madrid in 2007 made him the youngest player to score three in El Clásico, announcing his arrival as Barcelona's next superstar at just 19 years old.
Robbie
Jan 15, 2026
A visual showing where a player spends their time on the pitch, with warmer colors (red, orange) indicating more activity. Heat maps reveal actual positioning versus nominal position - a "winger" whose heat map is entirely central isn't playing like a winger. They show work rate, defensive contribution, and where a player's influence is concentrated.
Salah's heat map at Liverpool shows he's much more than a right winger. The warm zones extend into central areas and even the left side, showing how much he drifts to find space and get involved across the front line.
Robbie
Jan 19, 2026
Fabrizio Romano's catchphrase for confirming a transfer is done. When he tweets "Here we go!" millions of followers know the deal is agreed. It's become the unofficial official announcement in football - fans refresh his account constantly during transfer windows waiting for those three words.
When Fabrizio Romano tweeted "Erling Haaland to Manchester City, here we go!" in May 2022, it sent football social media into overdrive - the phrase confirmed what had been rumored for months and signaled the start of City's new era.
Robbie
Feb 10, 2026