Ryan O'Hanlon
@rwohan.bsky.social
I wrote a book, which you can buy: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/net-gains_9781419758911/
Also, I write for ESPN. Everything's in here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kFcLd4yoHj_D4V5ODeutiy5DxWkDSOAtgvZ7xqr5Gfk/edit?tab=t.0
Also, I write for ESPN. Everything's in here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kFcLd4yoHj_D4V5ODeutiy5DxWkDSOAtgvZ7xqr5Gfk/edit?tab=t.0
Really tough result for Liverpool. You just can’t afford to lose a relegation six-pointer at home.
November 22, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Really tough result for Liverpool. You just can’t afford to lose a relegation six-pointer at home.
Reposted by Ryan O'Hanlon
Cristiano Ronaldo is so desperate to enter a US market that he has been kept out of for nearly a decade that he's now shilling for not one but two of the worst autocrats in the world newrepublic.com/article/2033...
November 19, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Cristiano Ronaldo is so desperate to enter a US market that he has been kept out of for nearly a decade that he's now shilling for not one but two of the worst autocrats in the world newrepublic.com/article/2033...
Outside of one or two seasons, pretty much every Liverpool-City game since 2018 has been the same: City control the game, both teams create a similar amount of chances, and whoever kicks/heads the ball better wins.
November 9, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Outside of one or two seasons, pretty much every Liverpool-City game since 2018 has been the same: City control the game, both teams create a similar amount of chances, and whoever kicks/heads the ball better wins.
A cagey, tactically complex first half where both teams played pretty well? Back in my day, every Liverpool-Real Madrid game ended up with Liverpool outshooting Real Madrid, 45-1, and Madrid winning, 2-0.
November 4, 2025 at 8:53 PM
A cagey, tactically complex first half where both teams played pretty well? Back in my day, every Liverpool-Real Madrid game ended up with Liverpool outshooting Real Madrid, 45-1, and Madrid winning, 2-0.
I temporarily revived No Grass in the Clouds to write about the strangers on the Internet who are getting mad at the person I'm going to marry about an article I wrote six years ago: nograssintheclouds.substack.com/p/on-set-pie...
On set pieces and staying sane
Last week, I wrote an article about the one slippery-slope of using data in soccer that I’d always worried about: the path where everyone gets good at set pieces at the expense of everything else.
nograssintheclouds.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I temporarily revived No Grass in the Clouds to write about the strangers on the Internet who are getting mad at the person I'm going to marry about an article I wrote six years ago: nograssintheclouds.substack.com/p/on-set-pie...
Write about the broader implications of data-driven decision-making on the aesthetics of a sport, and Arsenal fans post comments on an Instagram picture of your fiancée.
Write an article about how Arsenal are easily the best team in the Premier League, and Arsenal fans … barely say anything.
Write an article about how Arsenal are easily the best team in the Premier League, and Arsenal fans … barely say anything.
October 28, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Write about the broader implications of data-driven decision-making on the aesthetics of a sport, and Arsenal fans post comments on an Instagram picture of your fiancée.
Write an article about how Arsenal are easily the best team in the Premier League, and Arsenal fans … barely say anything.
Write an article about how Arsenal are easily the best team in the Premier League, and Arsenal fans … barely say anything.
I wrote about the best team in the Premier League, maybe the best defense we've ever seen, and whether those five open-play goals really even matter: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Why we know Arsenal will win the Premier League (and how they could still be stopped)
We're not even a quarter of the way through the Premier League season, but we're ready to call it: Arsenal are winning it all. Well, unless ...
www.espn.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I wrote about the best team in the Premier League, maybe the best defense we've ever seen, and whether those five open-play goals really even matter: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Broke out the ol' WHO YA GOT for El Clasico: Kylian Mbappe or Lamine Yamal? www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Move over Ronaldo and Messi, Spain's Clasico has a new star battle: Mbappé vs. Yamal
Not since Messi vs. Ronaldo has the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry given us a matchup like Yamal vs. Mbappe. So, which superstar would you rather have?
www.espn.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Broke out the ol' WHO YA GOT for El Clasico: Kylian Mbappe or Lamine Yamal? www.espn.com/soccer/story...
It was fun while it lasted.
Nick Pope has more assists than Florian Wirtz.
October 22, 2025 at 8:32 PM
It was fun while it lasted.
I've always wondered (and feared) what might happen if everyone started taking set pieces seriously. The first eight weeks of the Premier League season might be giving us a glimpse into the future, where soccer no longer features much, well, soccer: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Are set plays ruining the Premier League? How throw-ins are boosting Arsenal, but adding boredom
As Premier League teams learn set pieces are a more efficient way to score, open play goals become rarer. Can the game withstand such a shift?
www.espn.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I've always wondered (and feared) what might happen if everyone started taking set pieces seriously. The first eight weeks of the Premier League season might be giving us a glimpse into the future, where soccer no longer features much, well, soccer: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Reposted by Ryan O'Hanlon
Two months into the season, @rwohan.bsky.social and I did our first PREMIER LEAGUE RE-RANK.
📉 Liverpool, Brighton, Villa, Forest (duh)
📈 Bournemouth, Palace, Man Utd???, Everton!, the idea of promoted teams surviving (a couple, anyway)
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
📉 Liverpool, Brighton, Villa, Forest (duh)
📈 Bournemouth, Palace, Man Utd???, Everton!, the idea of promoted teams surviving (a couple, anyway)
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Every Premier League team reranked: Man United find footing; Spurs on unsustainable path
It's time to rank all 20 teams in the Premier League again: Man United might be on the right track, Spurs should worry, and Arsenal are easily the best.
www.espn.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Two months into the season, @rwohan.bsky.social and I did our first PREMIER LEAGUE RE-RANK.
📉 Liverpool, Brighton, Villa, Forest (duh)
📈 Bournemouth, Palace, Man Utd???, Everton!, the idea of promoted teams surviving (a couple, anyway)
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
📉 Liverpool, Brighton, Villa, Forest (duh)
📈 Bournemouth, Palace, Man Utd???, Everton!, the idea of promoted teams surviving (a couple, anyway)
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Follow This Simple, Four-Step Guide and I Promise That Your Terrible, Disappointing, Incredibly Wealthy Soccer Club Will See Results: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
How to fix Man United in four steps (with some help from Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City)
Man United haven't had sustained Premier League success in more than a decade. Here's what they need to do, by following the playbooks of Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City.
www.espn.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Follow This Simple, Four-Step Guide and I Promise That Your Terrible, Disappointing, Incredibly Wealthy Soccer Club Will See Results: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
This has been updated! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
October 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
This has been updated! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
I wrote about Liverpool's biggest problem so far this season: the guy who led the Premier League in goals and assists last season. www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Is it time to worry about Mohamed Salah at Liverpool?
There is a lot of uncertainty around this new-look Liverpool side right now, but one thing we know for sure: if Salah doesn't play like himself soon, nothing else matters.
www.espn.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I wrote about Liverpool's biggest problem so far this season: the guy who led the Premier League in goals and assists last season. www.espn.com/soccer/story...
The Cubarsi Zone is soccer's version of the corner three.
October 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The Cubarsi Zone is soccer's version of the corner three.
Here is a list of midfielders I would rather have on my team than Declan Rice:
October 4, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Here is a list of midfielders I would rather have on my team than Declan Rice:
Story of their season so far: Liverpool are incredible when the other team isn't trying to attack and bad whenever the other team has a reason to punch back. www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Liverpool can't keep winning games like this -- or can they?
Liverpool are undefeated so far this season, but they keep leaving it late when it comes to big wins. How long can this continue?
www.espn.com
September 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Story of their season so far: Liverpool are incredible when the other team isn't trying to attack and bad whenever the other team has a reason to punch back. www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Can we predict who will win the Ballon d'Or in 10 years? I tried to do it: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Dowman? Ngumoha? Yamal? Predicting the 2035 Men's Ballon d'Or
What were players doing 10 years before they won soccer's greatest individual prize? Ryan O'Hanlon gets his crystal ball out to see which current rising star will lift the Ballon d'Or in 2035.
www.espn.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Can we predict who will win the Ballon d'Or in 10 years? I tried to do it: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
May we all never have to watch a game that ends with nine center backs on the field ever again.
September 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM
May we all never have to watch a game that ends with nine center backs on the field ever again.
Burnley completed 81 passes today. Can't remember the last time I've seen a team go 90 minutes without getting to at least 100.
September 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Burnley completed 81 passes today. Can't remember the last time I've seen a team go 90 minutes without getting to at least 100.
Reposted by Ryan O'Hanlon
Hello, friends. It's FORWARD PROGRESS DAY.
"A cinematic celebration of college football’s exploding influence and a rigorous look at how and why the sport may look totally new once again," according to whoever wrote the summary blurb on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/Forward-Prog...
"A cinematic celebration of college football’s exploding influence and a rigorous look at how and why the sport may look totally new once again," according to whoever wrote the summary blurb on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/Forward-Prog...
Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football
Amazon.com: Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football: 9781637278703: Connelly, Bill: Books
www.amazon.com
September 2, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Hello, friends. It's FORWARD PROGRESS DAY.
"A cinematic celebration of college football’s exploding influence and a rigorous look at how and why the sport may look totally new once again," according to whoever wrote the summary blurb on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/Forward-Prog...
"A cinematic celebration of college football’s exploding influence and a rigorous look at how and why the sport may look totally new once again," according to whoever wrote the summary blurb on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/Forward-Prog...
Liverpool: have played zero good games.
Also Liverpool: nine points from nine, two points clear at the top, already won two of the toughest fixtures of the season.
Also Liverpool: nine points from nine, two points clear at the top, already won two of the toughest fixtures of the season.
August 31, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Liverpool: have played zero good games.
Also Liverpool: nine points from nine, two points clear at the top, already won two of the toughest fixtures of the season.
Also Liverpool: nine points from nine, two points clear at the top, already won two of the toughest fixtures of the season.
That might be the dumbest soccer game I’ve ever seen.
August 25, 2025 at 9:07 PM
That might be the dumbest soccer game I’ve ever seen.
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have made Manchester United better. Now they're pretty much exactly as good as Fulham.
August 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have made Manchester United better. Now they're pretty much exactly as good as Fulham.
I wrote about the best transfers of the past decade that still totally flopped: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
The best worst transfers: Why the likes of Sancho, Werner were actually smart signings
Sometimes, a transfer should work out, but doesn't. Here are the best worst transfers over the past decade in the Premier League and beyond.
www.espn.com
August 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I wrote about the best transfers of the past decade that still totally flopped: www.espn.com/soccer/story...