Mark White
@markwhite.bsky.social
content editor at fourfourtwo, cat lover
Fittingly underappreciated
November 29, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Fittingly underappreciated
Granit Xhaka in that Sunderland team is a cheat code. It's up there with N'Golo Kante at Leicester, a world-class superstar making it look like it's 12v11 every week
November 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Granit Xhaka in that Sunderland team is a cheat code. It's up there with N'Golo Kante at Leicester, a world-class superstar making it look like it's 12v11 every week
10.30pm on Black Friday and I've not bought anything yet
November 28, 2025 at 10:32 PM
10.30pm on Black Friday and I've not bought anything yet
On Tuchel moving away from Ancelottism and why Bellingham's "behaviour" should be encouraged, for FourFourTwo
www.fourfourtwo.com/person/playe...
www.fourfourtwo.com/person/playe...
England are uncomfortable with Jude Bellingham: and Thomas Tuchel will never win anything while that’s the case
Jude Bellingham is dominating conversation following England's international break - and Thomas Tuchel must not make this a regular occurrence
www.fourfourtwo.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
On Tuchel moving away from Ancelottism and why Bellingham's "behaviour" should be encouraged, for FourFourTwo
www.fourfourtwo.com/person/playe...
www.fourfourtwo.com/person/playe...
Why on earth is Samu no.3 for Spain? Strip them of the Euros, heathens
November 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Why on earth is Samu no.3 for Spain? Strip them of the Euros, heathens
God I'm tired of the phrase "litmus test of your football knowedge". Fuck off, now
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM
God I'm tired of the phrase "litmus test of your football knowedge". Fuck off, now
Pep Guardiola didn't defend in a 5-4-1 low block out of respect to Arsenal. He did it because he didn't rate them.
City could have stayed in that shape for three hours and Arsenal would never have scored. Sure enough, the moment they pushed high and Martinelli had pitch to run into, Arsenal scored.
City could have stayed in that shape for three hours and Arsenal would never have scored. Sure enough, the moment they pushed high and Martinelli had pitch to run into, Arsenal scored.
November 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Pep Guardiola didn't defend in a 5-4-1 low block out of respect to Arsenal. He did it because he didn't rate them.
City could have stayed in that shape for three hours and Arsenal would never have scored. Sure enough, the moment they pushed high and Martinelli had pitch to run into, Arsenal scored.
City could have stayed in that shape for three hours and Arsenal would never have scored. Sure enough, the moment they pushed high and Martinelli had pitch to run into, Arsenal scored.
Do we need to have a conversation about Alonso picking up Pep's galaxy brain in big games gene?
November 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Do we need to have a conversation about Alonso picking up Pep's galaxy brain in big games gene?
June expectation: Xabi Alonso will make Real Madrid more structured
November reality: Fluid 3-5-2ish shape with Valverde in the first line, Camavinga as a right winger, Bellingham floating and Vinicius as outlet 50 yards north of most of his team-mates
November reality: Fluid 3-5-2ish shape with Valverde in the first line, Camavinga as a right winger, Bellingham floating and Vinicius as outlet 50 yards north of most of his team-mates
November 4, 2025 at 8:55 PM
June expectation: Xabi Alonso will make Real Madrid more structured
November reality: Fluid 3-5-2ish shape with Valverde in the first line, Camavinga as a right winger, Bellingham floating and Vinicius as outlet 50 yards north of most of his team-mates
November reality: Fluid 3-5-2ish shape with Valverde in the first line, Camavinga as a right winger, Bellingham floating and Vinicius as outlet 50 yards north of most of his team-mates
Every club in the league would take Granit Xhaka, change my mind
November 3, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Every club in the league would take Granit Xhaka, change my mind
If a bigger team does sign Iliman Ndiaye – and I hope they don't – it has to be someone like Newcastle. Like Grealish, he needs a manager who will platform him with transitional chaos.
November 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
If a bigger team does sign Iliman Ndiaye – and I hope they don't – it has to be someone like Newcastle. Like Grealish, he needs a manager who will platform him with transitional chaos.
Declan Rice is dropping into the backline in buildup for Arsenal more than ever, now that he has a midfield partner in Martin Zubimendi, capable of receiving in the block and cutting through mid-blocks
New for @fourfourtwo.com
www.fourfourtwo.com/team/tactics...
New for @fourfourtwo.com
www.fourfourtwo.com/team/tactics...
Tactics: How Arsenal solved their biggest weakness to beat Burnley
Arsenal beat Burnley 2-0 - and managed to fix their biggest problem while they did so
www.fourfourtwo.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Declan Rice is dropping into the backline in buildup for Arsenal more than ever, now that he has a midfield partner in Martin Zubimendi, capable of receiving in the block and cutting through mid-blocks
New for @fourfourtwo.com
www.fourfourtwo.com/team/tactics...
New for @fourfourtwo.com
www.fourfourtwo.com/team/tactics...
Best goalkeeper in the world, Emi Martinez, up to his usual tricks
November 1, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Best goalkeeper in the world, Emi Martinez, up to his usual tricks
One of Liverpool's £100m players on the bench, the other benching their best attacker this season. Should've gone for a proper no.6
October 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
One of Liverpool's £100m players on the bench, the other benching their best attacker this season. Should've gone for a proper no.6
Riccardo Calafiori is Arsenal's best finisher. Weird
October 18, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Riccardo Calafiori is Arsenal's best finisher. Weird
Death, taxes and Chelsea in big games.
October 4, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Death, taxes and Chelsea in big games.
Semenyo centre-forward arc needed. Like Ousmane Dembele with the ability to make it stick serially. Would have him in a heartbeat at Arsenal
October 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Semenyo centre-forward arc needed. Like Ousmane Dembele with the ability to make it stick serially. Would have him in a heartbeat at Arsenal
Andoni Iraola is so good. System is good but his platforming of his players is world class, everyone profiled to perfection
October 3, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Andoni Iraola is so good. System is good but his platforming of his players is world class, everyone profiled to perfection
Thanks to Tom and the @scoutedftbl.com team for asking me to vote in the #SCOUTED50. I tried to be as impartial as my heart would allow.
October 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Thanks to Tom and the @scoutedftbl.com team for asking me to vote in the #SCOUTED50. I tried to be as impartial as my heart would allow.
Galatasaray raised Slot by leaving Leroy Sane on the bench and holding Liverpool at arm's length. This is a superteam of discarded parts
September 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Galatasaray raised Slot by leaving Leroy Sane on the bench and holding Liverpool at arm's length. This is a superteam of discarded parts
I don't mean it in a mean way but could just totally picture Cody Gakpo at Galatasaray. He's a good player but like, maybe one day
September 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I don't mean it in a mean way but could just totally picture Cody Gakpo at Galatasaray. He's a good player but like, maybe one day
Ruben Amorim at Manchester United:
– Has brought on a centre-back in 42/49 games
– Has won 18/49 games
Incredible
– Has brought on a centre-back in 42/49 games
– Has won 18/49 games
Incredible
September 27, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Ruben Amorim at Manchester United:
– Has brought on a centre-back in 42/49 games
– Has won 18/49 games
Incredible
– Has brought on a centre-back in 42/49 games
– Has won 18/49 games
Incredible
I don't think I've ever seen an Arsenal performance with such a combination of dominance and comfortability be quite so fucking dreadful to watch hahaha
September 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I don't think I've ever seen an Arsenal performance with such a combination of dominance and comfortability be quite so fucking dreadful to watch hahaha
Respect to Aitana Bonmati – but bizarre that you can lose the two biggest finals in a year, see your pen saved in one, and take the Ballon d'Or in this day and age.
September 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Respect to Aitana Bonmati – but bizarre that you can lose the two biggest finals in a year, see your pen saved in one, and take the Ballon d'Or in this day and age.
Arsenal's lineup isn't a result of Arteta being cautious, it's a compromise for not having Havertz, who would ordinarily do the jobs of both Gyokeres and Merino.
Gyokeres isn't a pressure valve to hold the ball up: Merino is there to win the initial duel, with Gyokeres there for the second ball.
Gyokeres isn't a pressure valve to hold the ball up: Merino is there to win the initial duel, with Gyokeres there for the second ball.
September 22, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Arsenal's lineup isn't a result of Arteta being cautious, it's a compromise for not having Havertz, who would ordinarily do the jobs of both Gyokeres and Merino.
Gyokeres isn't a pressure valve to hold the ball up: Merino is there to win the initial duel, with Gyokeres there for the second ball.
Gyokeres isn't a pressure valve to hold the ball up: Merino is there to win the initial duel, with Gyokeres there for the second ball.