Premier League football has a surprisingly complex attitude toward the simple concept of solidly collecting points.

Arsenal have constantly been criticised in recent years for being tactically naïve, Liverpool were mocked when sloppy defensive work cost them last season's title, and Manchester City's apparent lack of professionalism is often cited as the reason for their occasional struggles.

Yet when Chelsea show tactical intelligence, defend well and conduct themselves professionally throughout...

Everyone says Borussia Dortmund are in crisis. Less than two years removed from making the Champions League final and less than three years removed from winning the Bundesliga, BVB have fallen into the relegation zone. With the league resuming this weekend after its annual winter break, Dortmund sit 17th, a full 30 points behind first-place Bayern Munich.

Proposed reasons for Dortmund's slide have ranged from injuries to lack of belief to the league catching on to Jurgen Klopp's tricks. Other...

Ask any English football fan for their opinion on Chelsea captain John Terry, and you'll probably receive a somewhat blunt response. The first answer is very rarely "complete defender." Terry appears almost universally despised among English football fans, with Chelsea supporters an obvious exception. Disliking Terry has become something of a national sport and, you could argue, with good reason.

Controversies from earlier in Terry's career range from somewhat trivial to the significantly more...

In the world of sport, periods of increased or decreased form from an individual or team are quick to be jumped upon. The "purple patch" is a phrase oft-used to describe an individual's improved performances over a short period of time, and the "in-form" player is heralded for this upturn in fortunes.

When, though, does a player stop being "in-form" and his performances reflect the norm? When does he stop "playing out of his skin" and instead perform exceptionally within it?

The players who...

This weekend the Premier League is preparing for a showdown between the division's best two clubs, as Manchester City travel to Chelsea for Saturday's late kickoff. It's a meeting between the top two, and while not realistically a true title decider, it's probably the biggest game of the season.

It's difficult, however, for the majority of other clubs to learn lessons from the Premier League's two title contenders. While Chelsea and Manchester City have performed well over the past half-decade...

How do you build for the future in January?

The pressures of the midseason transfer window are largely focused on the here and now. Teams buy in the winter in order to strengthen for the next five months, whether it be for a title race, European push or relegation battle; they don't generally spend with the next five years in mind. But this season has seen several intriguing transfer stories in which the needs of the present and the future overlap.

WINTER TRANSFER WINDOW LATEST

- Infographic: How a transfer works
- Karlsen: Premier League club-by-club needs
- Carter: Top 10 transfer targets in England
- Window Shopping: Club-by-club guide
- Delaney: Top free agents next summer
- Delaney: What January holds in store

West Bromwich Albion and England U-21...