Neel Shelat
@shelatneel.bsky.social
Devotee of the religion of football
Freelance Journalist/Analyst/Consultant covering the game around the globe. Featured on Al Jazeera, Forbes.com, FourFourTwo, Analytics FC, FotMob, World Soccer, The Blizzard, SCOUTED, The Transfer Flow, Gløry & more
Freelance Journalist/Analyst/Consultant covering the game around the globe. Featured on Al Jazeera, Forbes.com, FourFourTwo, Analytics FC, FotMob, World Soccer, The Blizzard, SCOUTED, The Transfer Flow, Gløry & more
Pinned
Manchester City's over-reliance on Erling Haaland is crazier than you think
City are the top scorers in the Premier League this season, but only one of their players has found the back of the net multiple times.
www.thetransferflow.com
Manchester City's attacking reliance on Erling Haaland is at a level that we have never seen before in the big five leagues. How sustainable is this approach? I took a look for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/manchester...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/manchester...
Manchester City's attacking reliance on Erling Haaland is at a level that we have never seen before in the big five leagues. How sustainable is this approach? I took a look for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/manchester...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/manchester...
Manchester City's over-reliance on Erling Haaland is crazier than you think
City are the top scorers in the Premier League this season, but only one of their players has found the back of the net multiple times.
www.thetransferflow.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Manchester City's attacking reliance on Erling Haaland is at a level that we have never seen before in the big five leagues. How sustainable is this approach? I took a look for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/manchester...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/manchester...
Back when I was getting into football analysis I thought it probably wasn't a good idea for Nigeria to play four forwards and Alex Iwobi as one of the two midfielders.
Fast forward many years, and Nigeria are STILL playing Iwobi in midfield. And I STILL don't think it's a good idea. #NGAGAB
Fast forward many years, and Nigeria are STILL playing Iwobi in midfield. And I STILL don't think it's a good idea. #NGAGAB
November 13, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Back when I was getting into football analysis I thought it probably wasn't a good idea for Nigeria to play four forwards and Alex Iwobi as one of the two midfielders.
Fast forward many years, and Nigeria are STILL playing Iwobi in midfield. And I STILL don't think it's a good idea. #NGAGAB
Fast forward many years, and Nigeria are STILL playing Iwobi in midfield. And I STILL don't think it's a good idea. #NGAGAB
Reposted by Neel Shelat
A year after winning the Champions League, Vitinha is putting up even more outrageous numbers.
Where does he rank among the best midfielders in the world?
www.thetransferflow.com/p/vitinha-ha...
Where does he rank among the best midfielders in the world?
www.thetransferflow.com/p/vitinha-ha...
Vitinha has morphed into one of the world's best midfielders
The Champions League winner keeps getting better.
www.thetransferflow.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
A year after winning the Champions League, Vitinha is putting up even more outrageous numbers.
Where does he rank among the best midfielders in the world?
www.thetransferflow.com/p/vitinha-ha...
Where does he rank among the best midfielders in the world?
www.thetransferflow.com/p/vitinha-ha...
Vitinha is right up there with the very best players in the world right now, so I took a look at what makes him so good for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/vitinha-ha...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/vitinha-ha...
Vitinha has morphed into one of the world's best midfielders
The Champions League winner keeps getting better.
www.thetransferflow.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Vitinha is right up there with the very best players in the world right now, so I took a look at what makes him so good for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/vitinha-ha...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/vitinha-ha...
Manchester City and Liverpool are set to face off for the first time this season in just under an hour in what promises to be a pivotal match for their title hopes. Preview for @fotmob.com:
www.fotmob.com/topnews/2386...
www.fotmob.com/topnews/2386...
Preview: Title chasers Manchester City and Liverpool face off in a pivotal clash
Two of the Premier League’s top three are involved in this weekend’s headline fixture, which could well determine the next twist in the title race.
www.fotmob.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Manchester City and Liverpool are set to face off for the first time this season in just under an hour in what promises to be a pivotal match for their title hopes. Preview for @fotmob.com:
www.fotmob.com/topnews/2386...
www.fotmob.com/topnews/2386...
North Korea are now the outright most successful team in U17 Women's World Cups after comfortably defeating the Dutch debutantes today. Report for Forbes Sports:
www.forbes.com/sites/neelsh...
www.forbes.com/sites/neelsh...
North Korea Defeats Netherlands To Defend FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Title
2024 champion North Korea retained the Under-17 Women's World Cup crown with a comprehensive win over the Netherlands in the final.
www.forbes.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
North Korea are now the outright most successful team in U17 Women's World Cups after comfortably defeating the Dutch debutantes today. Report for Forbes Sports:
www.forbes.com/sites/neelsh...
www.forbes.com/sites/neelsh...
Bayern's record-breaking start to the season has come to a halt at 16 straight wins, but a stoppage-time equaliser means that Union have failed to record their first-ever win over the Rekordmeister (in 13 attempts). #FCUFCB
#Footy-Live
#Footy-Live
November 8, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Bayern's record-breaking start to the season has come to a halt at 16 straight wins, but a stoppage-time equaliser means that Union have failed to record their first-ever win over the Rekordmeister (in 13 attempts). #FCUFCB
#Footy-Live
#Footy-Live
Reposted by Neel Shelat
New podcast! @patrickbvs.bsky.social and @shelatneel.bsky.social talk UEFA Champions League.
• Bayern make a statement against PSG
• Is Vini Jr. out of Madrid's plans?
• Chelsea and Barca turn in shockers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDe...
• Bayern make a statement against PSG
• Is Vini Jr. out of Madrid's plans?
• Chelsea and Barca turn in shockers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDe...
This team just became Champions League favorites | Ep. 138
YouTube video by The Transfer Flow
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:46 PM
New podcast! @patrickbvs.bsky.social and @shelatneel.bsky.social talk UEFA Champions League.
• Bayern make a statement against PSG
• Is Vini Jr. out of Madrid's plans?
• Chelsea and Barca turn in shockers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDe...
• Bayern make a statement against PSG
• Is Vini Jr. out of Madrid's plans?
• Chelsea and Barca turn in shockers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDe...
Really enjoyed making my debut on the @thetransferflow.bsky.social TransferFlow Patreon, on which we had a great chat about clubs building talent pipelines in certain regions/markets (including various examples) and I had my football scores app addiction diagnosed:
www.patreon.com/posts/video-...
www.patreon.com/posts/video-...
(Video) How Clubs Build (and Break) Their Talent Pipelines + Football HOT TAKES | Ep. 3 | The Transfer Flow
Get more from The Transfer Flow on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Really enjoyed making my debut on the @thetransferflow.bsky.social TransferFlow Patreon, on which we had a great chat about clubs building talent pipelines in certain regions/markets (including various examples) and I had my football scores app addiction diagnosed:
www.patreon.com/posts/video-...
www.patreon.com/posts/video-...
Agreed to get back on the @thetransferflow.bsky.social podcast this week only because we talked about a team that is NOT top of the Azerbaijan Premier League (among other UCL participants):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDe...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDe...
This team just became Champions League favorites | Ep. 138
YouTube video by The Transfer Flow
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Agreed to get back on the @thetransferflow.bsky.social podcast this week only because we talked about a team that is NOT top of the Azerbaijan Premier League (among other UCL participants):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDe...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDe...
I wonder who'd noticed how good Foden had been this season before tonight...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/phil-foden...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/phil-foden...
Phil Foden is getting back to his best in a new role for Manchester City
He might not be scoring, but he's making things work in midfield.
www.thetransferflow.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I wonder who'd noticed how good Foden had been this season before tonight...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/phil-foden...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/phil-foden...
Reposted by Neel Shelat
Tonight's Bayern-PSG match might be the best of this Champions League stage.
Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise are in outrageous form. Are the Bavarians real CL contenders?
www.thetransferflow.com/p/are-bayern...
Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise are in outrageous form. Are the Bavarians real CL contenders?
www.thetransferflow.com/p/are-bayern...
Are Bayern Munich serious Champions League contenders?
We should find out just how good they are when they face PSG tonight
www.thetransferflow.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Tonight's Bayern-PSG match might be the best of this Champions League stage.
Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise are in outrageous form. Are the Bavarians real CL contenders?
www.thetransferflow.com/p/are-bayern...
Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise are in outrageous form. Are the Bavarians real CL contenders?
www.thetransferflow.com/p/are-bayern...
Bayern Munich have gotten off to an incredible start this season with 15 wins out of 15. Their domestic dominance is no surprise, but do they have the juice to go the distance in Europe? I took a look for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/are-bayern...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/are-bayern...
Are Bayern Munich serious Champions League contenders?
We should find out just how good they are when they face PSG tonight
www.thetransferflow.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Bayern Munich have gotten off to an incredible start this season with 15 wins out of 15. Their domestic dominance is no surprise, but do they have the juice to go the distance in Europe? I took a look for @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/are-bayern...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/are-bayern...
Signe Gaupset opened the scoring as Brann clinched the Toppserien title yesterday. She certainly has been the standout star of the season, but it's a league full of talent, as I explored for @analyticsfc.bsky.social:
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
November 2, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Signe Gaupset opened the scoring as Brann clinched the Toppserien title yesterday. She certainly has been the standout star of the season, but it's a league full of talent, as I explored for @analyticsfc.bsky.social:
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
Tottenham and Chelsea's London derby headlines this weekend's Premier League action. Match preview for FotMob:
www.fotmob.com/topnews/2370...
www.fotmob.com/topnews/2370...
Preview: Spurs and Chelsea meet in London Derby
Bitter London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea meet in this weekend’s headline Premier League fixture, with three points and six places between them.
www.fotmob.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Tottenham and Chelsea's London derby headlines this weekend's Premier League action. Match preview for FotMob:
www.fotmob.com/topnews/2370...
www.fotmob.com/topnews/2370...
WAFCON qualifiers were the highlight of this international break, and they did not disappoint. Roundup for The Cutback:
open.substack.com/pub/thecutba...
open.substack.com/pub/thecutba...
WAFCON 2026 qualifiers: Cameroon miss out again, South Africa battle through
Newcomers Cape Verde and Malawi join familiar faces among 12 teams competing at next year's tournament in Morocco
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
WAFCON qualifiers were the highlight of this international break, and they did not disappoint. Roundup for The Cutback:
open.substack.com/pub/thecutba...
open.substack.com/pub/thecutba...
Quite a day of WAFCON qualifiers as the second legs of the final round are almost all done. So far:
- 🇨🇲 3x runners-up Cameroon missed out again
- 🇿🇦 2024 champs South Africa needed a stoppage-time winner to beat DR Congo
- 🇲🇼 Malawi have sealed their debut
- 🇨🇲 3x runners-up Cameroon missed out again
- 🇿🇦 2024 champs South Africa needed a stoppage-time winner to beat DR Congo
- 🇲🇼 Malawi have sealed their debut
October 28, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Quite a day of WAFCON qualifiers as the second legs of the final round are almost all done. So far:
- 🇨🇲 3x runners-up Cameroon missed out again
- 🇿🇦 2024 champs South Africa needed a stoppage-time winner to beat DR Congo
- 🇲🇼 Malawi have sealed their debut
- 🇨🇲 3x runners-up Cameroon missed out again
- 🇿🇦 2024 champs South Africa needed a stoppage-time winner to beat DR Congo
- 🇲🇼 Malawi have sealed their debut
Reposted by Neel Shelat
🌍 Market Analysis – Norway’s Toppserien
@shelatneel.bsky.social looks at one of Europe’s more youthful elite women’s leagues and showcases some of the exceptional talent to be found there
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
@shelatneel.bsky.social looks at one of Europe’s more youthful elite women’s leagues and showcases some of the exceptional talent to be found there
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
Market Analysis: Norway’s Youthful Toppserien - Analytics FC
Neel Shelat looks at Norway's Toppserien, a market with real importance for elite-level recruitment and the promise of its youth development
analyticsfc.co.uk
October 25, 2025 at 9:15 AM
🌍 Market Analysis – Norway’s Toppserien
@shelatneel.bsky.social looks at one of Europe’s more youthful elite women’s leagues and showcases some of the exceptional talent to be found there
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
@shelatneel.bsky.social looks at one of Europe’s more youthful elite women’s leagues and showcases some of the exceptional talent to be found there
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
Looked at some numbers to not merely board but absolutely get on top of the Arsenal hypetrain Mumbai local style. For @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/you-may-no...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/you-may-no...
You may not like Arsenal, but this is what peak performance looks like
Arsenal are now four points clear at the top of the Premier League and certainly look like the best team in the division.
www.thetransferflow.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Looked at some numbers to not merely board but absolutely get on top of the Arsenal hypetrain Mumbai local style. For @thetransferflow.bsky.social:
www.thetransferflow.com/p/you-may-no...
www.thetransferflow.com/p/you-may-no...
The average age (weighted by minutes played) of Toppserien has hovered around the 23-year-old mark season after season. Naturally, then, it is a great hub for young talent development, as I explored for @analyticsfc.bsky.social:
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
Market Analysis: Norway’s Youthful Toppserien - Analytics FC
Neel Shelat looks at Norway's Toppserien, a market with real importance for elite-level recruitment and the promise of its youth development
analyticsfc.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The average age (weighted by minutes played) of Toppserien has hovered around the 23-year-old mark season after season. Naturally, then, it is a great hub for young talent development, as I explored for @analyticsfc.bsky.social:
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2025/10...
El Clásico is the big one this weekend, and it kicks off in under an hour! Quick match preview for @fotmob.com:
www.fotmob.com/en-GB/topnew...
www.fotmob.com/en-GB/topnew...
Preview: Table-toppers Real Madrid and Barcelona meet for the season’s first Clásico
The newest chapter of the storied rivalry between Spain’s two most successful clubs is set to be written at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.
www.fotmob.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
El Clásico is the big one this weekend, and it kicks off in under an hour! Quick match preview for @fotmob.com:
www.fotmob.com/en-GB/topnew...
www.fotmob.com/en-GB/topnew...
The amount of distance Michael Kayode gets on his long throws without needing to loop them too much is just insane. #BRELIV
#Footy-Live
#Footy-Live
October 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The amount of distance Michael Kayode gets on his long throws without needing to loop them too much is just insane. #BRELIV
#Footy-Live
#Footy-Live
Exciting times @thetransferflow.bsky.social as we've launched a Patreon! Sign up to get at least one bonus episode every week plus other goodies (and support our work):
www.patreon.com/cw/TheTransf...
www.patreon.com/cw/TheTransf...
The Transfer Flow | Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 25, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Exciting times @thetransferflow.bsky.social as we've launched a Patreon! Sign up to get at least one bonus episode every week plus other goodies (and support our work):
www.patreon.com/cw/TheTransf...
www.patreon.com/cw/TheTransf...
Another excellent issue of @worldsoccermag.bsky.social is out now, featuring truckloads of interesting stories including an on-ground report from Morocco when I visited earlier this year:
www.worldsoccer.com/latest-issue...
www.worldsoccer.com/latest-issue...
Out now: World Soccer November 2025 - World Soccer
In this issue It has long been my suspicion that young footballers are better now than they’ve ever been. So many of the high-profile teenagers that have burst onto the scene over the last decade or s...
www.worldsoccer.com
October 25, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Another excellent issue of @worldsoccermag.bsky.social is out now, featuring truckloads of interesting stories including an on-ground report from Morocco when I visited earlier this year:
www.worldsoccer.com/latest-issue...
www.worldsoccer.com/latest-issue...
Reposted by Neel Shelat
New podcast! @PatrickBVS and @ShelatNeel break down the latest Champions League chaos:
• Arsenal destroy Atletico Madrid
• Liverpool experiment their way past Frankfurt
• El Clásico preview
Plus a sneak peek at what’s coming on Patreon!
youtu.be/rWe_jHv7A0c
• Arsenal destroy Atletico Madrid
• Liverpool experiment their way past Frankfurt
• El Clásico preview
Plus a sneak peek at what’s coming on Patreon!
youtu.be/rWe_jHv7A0c
Is This Liverpool's Best Lineup? + Why Real Madrid Will BEAT Barcelona | Ep. 134
YouTube video by The Transfer Flow
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
New podcast! @PatrickBVS and @ShelatNeel break down the latest Champions League chaos:
• Arsenal destroy Atletico Madrid
• Liverpool experiment their way past Frankfurt
• El Clásico preview
Plus a sneak peek at what’s coming on Patreon!
youtu.be/rWe_jHv7A0c
• Arsenal destroy Atletico Madrid
• Liverpool experiment their way past Frankfurt
• El Clásico preview
Plus a sneak peek at what’s coming on Patreon!
youtu.be/rWe_jHv7A0c