James Nalton
@jdnalton.bsky.social
Freelance sports and football writer for the Morning Star newspaper, Forbes, World Soccer magazine, Guardian US, FotMob, BBC, and the Soccer Times.
MLS, USL, US Open Cup, Concacaf and American soccer reverie.
MLS, USL, US Open Cup, Concacaf and American soccer reverie.
Pinned
James Nalton
@jdnalton.bsky.social
· Aug 1
📌 Heading into 2025/26, my freelance ⚽ writing will once again focus on Everton, Liverpool, and occasionally Manchester teams + others. Elsewhere, my coverage of American soccer from both sides of the Atlantic means I'm uniquely placed to cover the 2026 World Cup- I'm on the lookout for related work
MLS 27/28
Half the state of Wisconsin is hosting D3 playoff games today and it's absolutely beautiful.
November 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
MLS 27/28
Chelsea been really good with 10 men. Often a more considered final ball away from creating some good chances of their own.
November 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Chelsea been really good with 10 men. Often a more considered final ball away from creating some good chances of their own.
Fairly blatant red card, not sure why they're taking so long.
November 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Fairly blatant red card, not sure why they're taking so long.
Gakpo with the second goal - remains Liverpool's most productive attacker. Good for Gomez to get an assist on the back of a really good/useful display.
Nice bit of play from Wirtz, Gakpo and Isak. Gomez has been a good addition to this Liverpool setup, too.
November 30, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Gakpo with the second goal - remains Liverpool's most productive attacker. Good for Gomez to get an assist on the back of a really good/useful display.
It did seem like he wanted to get sent off.
Double yellow for dissent with your opposing team also trying to get you to walk away is earnestly very funny
November 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM
It did seem like he wanted to get sent off.
Paquetá basically asking to be sent off then complaining when he is.
November 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Paquetá basically asking to be sent off then complaining when he is.
A good shift and an impressive performance from Florian Wirtz for Liverpool vs West Ham.
November 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
A good shift and an impressive performance from Florian Wirtz for Liverpool vs West Ham.
Liverpool starting XI average positions v West Ham
November 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Liverpool starting XI average positions v West Ham
Nice bit of play from Wirtz, Gakpo and Isak. Gomez has been a good addition to this Liverpool setup, too.
November 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Nice bit of play from Wirtz, Gakpo and Isak. Gomez has been a good addition to this Liverpool setup, too.
Reposted by James Nalton
Liverpool being forced into making far more clearances per game this season than in previous years.
25/26 - 30 clearances per game
24/25 - 19
23/24 - 15
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
25/26 - 30 clearances per game
24/25 - 19
23/24 - 15
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
November 30, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Liverpool being forced into making far more clearances per game this season than in previous years.
25/26 - 30 clearances per game
24/25 - 19
23/24 - 15
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
25/26 - 30 clearances per game
24/25 - 19
23/24 - 15
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
Don't mind this Liverpool setup tbh. Could also drop Salah in as the 10/support striker, move Wirtz left, and bring on a striker who actually gets involved.
November 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Don't mind this Liverpool setup tbh. Could also drop Salah in as the 10/support striker, move Wirtz left, and bring on a striker who actually gets involved.
Liverpool lineup / formation at West Ham with no Salah
November 30, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Liverpool lineup / formation at West Ham with no Salah
Reposted by James Nalton
Virgil van Dijk had made more clearances than any other player in the Premier League this season (104, Opta via FBref).
November 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Virgil van Dijk had made more clearances than any other player in the Premier League this season (104, Opta via FBref).
Reposted by James Nalton
blimey. He made 109 all season in 2021/22.
(way below his average - he made 201 in 2018/19 - but this is on course for a mammoth figure)
(way below his average - he made 201 in 2018/19 - but this is on course for a mammoth figure)
Virgil van Dijk had made more clearances than any other player in the Premier League this season (104, Opta via FBref).
November 30, 2025 at 12:21 PM
blimey. He made 109 all season in 2021/22.
(way below his average - he made 201 in 2018/19 - but this is on course for a mammoth figure)
(way below his average - he made 201 in 2018/19 - but this is on course for a mammoth figure)
Liverpool being forced into making far more clearances per game this season than in previous years.
25/26 - 30 clearances per game
24/25 - 19
23/24 - 15
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
25/26 - 30 clearances per game
24/25 - 19
23/24 - 15
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
November 30, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Liverpool being forced into making far more clearances per game this season than in previous years.
25/26 - 30 clearances per game
24/25 - 19
23/24 - 15
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
25/26 - 30 clearances per game
24/25 - 19
23/24 - 15
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
The Luis Suarez suspension Inter Miami were so annoyed at MLS for at the start of the playoffs inadvertently showed them the key to progressing in said playoffs. Mascherano hasn't started him since, even though he was available, and they've blown every team away to reach the MLS Cup final.
November 30, 2025 at 11:51 AM
The Luis Suarez suspension Inter Miami were so annoyed at MLS for at the start of the playoffs inadvertently showed them the key to progressing in said playoffs. Mascherano hasn't started him since, even though he was available, and they've blown every team away to reach the MLS Cup final.
Reposted by James Nalton
ite, we need a Puskas award for assists
Ridiculous goal from Inter Miami to confirm their place in the MLS Cup final, scored by Telasco Segovia, Jordi Alba with the backheel assist after a length of the field sprint.
November 30, 2025 at 10:34 AM
ite, we need a Puskas award for assists
Reposted by James Nalton
Ridiculous goal from Inter Miami to confirm their place in the MLS Cup final, scored by Telasco Segovia, Jordi Alba with the backheel assist after a length of the field sprint.
November 30, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Ridiculous goal from Inter Miami to confirm their place in the MLS Cup final, scored by Telasco Segovia, Jordi Alba with the backheel assist after a length of the field sprint.
Ridiculous goal from Inter Miami to confirm their place in the MLS Cup final, scored by Telasco Segovia, Jordi Alba with the backheel assist after a length of the field sprint.
November 30, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Ridiculous goal from Inter Miami to confirm their place in the MLS Cup final, scored by Telasco Segovia, Jordi Alba with the backheel assist after a length of the field sprint.
Reposted by James Nalton
Yeah, six NYCFC defenders looking at Messi.
November 30, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Yeah, six NYCFC defenders looking at Messi.
Safe to say Silvetti has more space than he should have there. About 5 New York City defenders just ignore him. I suppose they were distracted by that Messi fella.
November 30, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Safe to say Silvetti has more space than he should have there. About 5 New York City defenders just ignore him. I suppose they were distracted by that Messi fella.
Really good header this
“Messi is arguably the best in the world, but we have…Justin Haak.” #MLSCupPlayoffs
November 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Really good header this
Reposted by James Nalton
Concacaf probably has the strongest flag game after Africa.
🌎 The 41 members of CONCACAF, the football confederation for North/Central America and the Caribbean, by sub-region:
🔴 North America Zone (3): 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸
🔵 Central America Zone (7): 🇧🇿🇨🇷🇸🇻🇬🇹🇭🇳🇳🇮🇵🇦
🟡 Caribbean Zone (31): 🇦🇮🇦🇬🇦🇼🇧🇸🇧🇧🇧🇲🇧🇶🇻🇬🇰🇾🇨🇺🇨🇼🇩🇲🇩🇴🇬🇫🇬🇩🇬🇵🇬🇾🇭🇹🇯🇲🇲🇶🇲🇸🇵🇷🇰🇳🇱🇨🇫🇷🇻🇨🇸🇽🇸🇷🇹🇹🇹🇨🇻🇮
🔴 North America Zone (3): 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸
🔵 Central America Zone (7): 🇧🇿🇨🇷🇸🇻🇬🇹🇭🇳🇳🇮🇵🇦
🟡 Caribbean Zone (31): 🇦🇮🇦🇬🇦🇼🇧🇸🇧🇧🇧🇲🇧🇶🇻🇬🇰🇾🇨🇺🇨🇼🇩🇲🇩🇴🇬🇫🇬🇩🇬🇵🇬🇾🇭🇹🇯🇲🇲🇶🇲🇸🇵🇷🇰🇳🇱🇨🇫🇷🇻🇨🇸🇽🇸🇷🇹🇹🇹🇨🇻🇮
November 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Concacaf probably has the strongest flag game after Africa.