Tom Ellis
Tom writes the numbers-first football. He owns the weekly FPL captain pick, the xG-led match breakdowns, the head-to-head deep-dives and the predictor articles. Before joining FootballBoard he was a sports-data analyst — the kind of writer who leads with the metric, then explains why it matters, and slips a caveat in parentheses where most would put a dramatic adjective.
By Tom
30 articlesUSMNT close international window with 1-0 win over Canada
A Justin Ellis first-half goal proved enough as the USA wrapped up four wins from four in an extended international window, beating Canada 1-0 at Allianz Field.
By Tom Ellis · 7 Oct 2026Premier LeagueJason McCarthy: Retiring at 29 to Coach at Brighton
Former Wycombe defender Jason McCarthy made 301 career appearances before stepping away at 29 to pursue coaching — and landed a role at one of English football's most progressive clubs.
By Tom Ellis · 6 Oct 2026InternationalsSouth Korea captain sorry for mocking military service after Asian Games gold
Lee Gi-hyuk has apologised after publicly boasting he would avoid South Korea's mandatory military service following the team's Asian Games triumph over Japan.
By Tom Ellis · 6 Oct 2026League TwoHarry McKirdy retires at 29 after 56 goals across 10 seasons
Former Swindon, Hibernian and Crawley striker Harry McKirdy has retired from professional football at 29, ending a career that produced 56 goals in 225 games.
By Tom Ellis · 5 Oct 2026League OneMichael Duff set to take charge at Bradford City
Bradford City are poised to appoint Michael Duff as manager, bringing in the former Wycombe Wanderers boss to succeed Graham Alexander at Valley Parade.
By Tom Ellis · 5 Oct 2026InternationalsScotland vs Slovenia: Who Should Pocognoli Pick at Hampden?
Scotland host Slovenia at Hampden on Tuesday (19:45 BST) needing a win to build momentum, but Scott McKenna's red card forces at least one change.
By Tom Ellis · 5 Oct 2026InternationalsRonaldo's Portugal Future Rests With Him, Says Jesus
Jorge Jesus insists Cristiano Ronaldo can return to the Portugal squad whenever he chooses, after the 41-year-old walked out during the Nations League.
By Tom Ellis · 5 Oct 2026Women's FootballClàudia Pina hits four as Barcelona thrash Real Madrid 7-0 in Liga F
Clàudia Pina scored four goals as Barcelona demolished Real Madrid 7-0 in the Liga F Clásico, opening up a five-point lead at the top of the table.
By Tom Ellis · 5 Oct 2026InternationalsNations League Round-Up: Wales, Ireland and Five Games on Sunday
Wales host Denmark looking to build on Thursday's win over Norway, while Ireland face Israel again in a match moved to Serbia and played behind closed doors.
By Tom Ellis · 4 Oct 2026InternationalsEngland 7-0 Croatia: Bellingham leads rout in Rijeka
Jude Bellingham was rated 9/10 as England produced one of their best recent performances, thrashing Croatia 7-0 in a Nations League fixture in Rijeka.
By Tom Ellis · 4 Oct 2026TransfersGerrard Backs McInnes to Make Rangers Return Unnecessary
Steven Gerrard says he has full respect for Derek McInnes and hopes Rangers thrive so well under the current boss that a return for him never materialises.
By Tom Ellis · 4 Oct 2026InternationalsModric 'ashamed' after Croatia's 7-0 thrashing by England
Luka Modric admitted he felt 'ashamed' for the first time in 20 years as a Croatia international after Saturday's 7-0 Nations League hammering by England in Rijeka.
By Tom Ellis · 4 Oct 2026Premier LeagueRaheem Sterling: How a Career Unravelled So Quickly
Once Thomas Tuchel's marquee Chelsea signing, Sterling is now without a club and awaiting sentencing — a stark contrast to Harry Kane's continued record-breaking.
By Tom Ellis · 3 Oct 2026Stats & FPLBBC Sport Daily Football Quizzes: How to Test Your Knowledge
BBC Sport's three daily football quizzes — Who Am I?, Five in Five and Brainteaser — offer a quick and competitive way to test your football knowledge every day.
By Tom Ellis · 3 Oct 2026Premier LeagueAston Villa face Sevilla in the Antonio Puerta Trophy explained
Aston Villa travel to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán as the first English club invited to compete in Sevilla's annual memorial fixture, now in its 15th edition.
By Tom Ellis · 2 Oct 2026InternationalsFootball Daily TCV: Commentator Stories, Man City & England
BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily TCV episode brings together John Murray, Ali Bruce-Ball and Conor McNamara to discuss the life of a football commentator.
By Tom Ellis · 2 Oct 2026League TwoHolloway: Swindon injury crisis leaves him 'dead man walking'
Ian Holloway warns he may not survive as Swindon boss if form fails to improve, with 13 players sidelined and no away win to show from eight league games.
By Tom Ellis · 2 Oct 2026Champions LeagueReal Madrid hand UEFA 50,000-Page Dossier in Barça Payments Row
Real Madrid have submitted what UEFA describe as a 'substantial' dossier of evidence to European football's governing body over Barcelona's payments to a former refereeing official.
By Tom Ellis · 2 Oct 2026OpinionBBC Sport's Daily Football Quizzes: How Sharp Is Your Knowledge?
BBC Sport runs three daily football quizzes — Who Am I?, Five in Five and Brainteaser — designed to test fans of every level on their football knowledge.
By Tom Ellis · 2 Oct 2026Premier LeagueHull City's Gourna-Douath Involved in Car Crash Near Training Ground
Lucas Gourna-Douath's Mercedes was found on its side on Millhouse Woods Lane in Cottingham — the second crash involving a Hull City player on the same road in three weeks.
By Tom Ellis · 1 Oct 2026InternationalsRobertson set to earn his 100th Scotland cap against North Macedonia
Andy Robertson is on the verge of becoming only the second Scotland men's player to reach 100 international caps, with the milestone expected against North Macedonia.
By Tom Ellis · 1 Oct 2026InternationalsRobertson set to earn 100th Scotland cap against North Macedonia
Andy Robertson will become only the second Scotland men's player to reach 100 caps when he faces North Macedonia on Saturday, sitting three behind Kenny Dalglish.
By Tom Ellis · 1 Oct 2026InternationalsWhy US Soccer's Youth System Is Broken — and Hard to Fix
World Cup disappointments have reignited debate over America's costly, fragmented youth development system, but sustained reform remains as elusive as ever.
By Tom Ellis · 1 Oct 2026InternationalsKlopp dismisses racist social media abuse of Germany squad as 'idiocy'
Jürgen Klopp has hit back at social media attacks questioning the ethnic makeup of his Germany squad, calling the debate 'complete nonsense' and 'idiocy'.
By Tom Ellis · 1 Oct 2026Premier LeagueJaissle's Resilience: From Tumour at Five to Newcastle Head Coach
Matthias Jaissle overcame a childhood tumour and a career-ending knee injury at 20 before finding his calling in coaching — now he leads Newcastle United.
By Tom Ellis · 1 Oct 2026Women's FootballArsenal drop two-goal lead in Women's Champions League draw at Paris FC
Arsenal squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Paris FC in their Women's Champions League league-phase opener away in France.
By Tom Ellis · 30 Sept 2026InternationalsJesus insists Ronaldo rift is overblown ahead of Denmark tie
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has played down tension with Cristiano Ronaldo after the 41-year-old was unused in Sunday's 2-1 win over Norway in Oslo.
By Tom Ellis · 30 Sept 2026InternationalsAngus Gunn Under Scrutiny After Scotland's 3-0 Loss to Switzerland
Scotland's goalkeeper Angus Gunn faces questions over his role in the 3-0 Nations League defeat to Switzerland at Hampden, with coach Pocognoli facing a selection call.
By Tom Ellis · 30 Sept 2026InternationalsAlexander-Arnold's 35th Cap Shows Tuchel Has a Decision to Make
Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a trademark assist on his first England start under Thomas Tuchel, but questions about his long-term role remain unresolved.
By Tom Ellis · 30 Sept 2026Stats & FPLBBC Sport's Daily Football Quizzes: How to Test Your Knowledge
BBC Sport runs three free daily football quizzes — Who Am I?, Five in Five and Brainteaser — offering fans a quick way to test their football knowledge every day.
By Tom Ellis · 30 Sept 2026
