Mark Carey

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Why the promoted sides are so much better this season Today we tackle the Premier League’s promoted clubs – who collectively, so far this season, are flying. How are they doing it and more importantly, can they sustain it?Host: Michael BaileyWith...

NEW POD!

Why are the promoted sides better this season?

@zonal-marking.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social & @michaeljbailey.bsky.social have the answers!

pod.fo/e/335c3e

We often say that the most entertaining games of football are played at a “good tempo”.

For @theathleticfc.bsky.social, I tried to quantify exactly what that is, and which Premier League teams play with a fast and slow tempo.

Link below!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

We often say that the most entertaining games of football are played at a “good tempo”.

For @theathleticfc.bsky.social, I tried to quantify exactly what that is, and which Premier League teams play with a fast and slow tempo.

Link below!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

Thanks, I guess?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Has Guardiola actually changed his philosophy? Pep Guardiola’s defensive tactics in Manchester City’s Premier League draw at Arsenal last weekend caused quite the stir.Was it a one off? Or has Guardiola’s philosophy been slowly changing i...

NEW POD 🚨

Has Pep Guardiola really changed, or was the match against Arsenal an anomaly?

@zonal-marking.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social join @michaeljbailey.bsky.social to discuss!

pod.fo/e/3318c0

Maiden bluesky post!

I analysed shot-blocking in the Premier League. Looked at:

- Arsenal/Liverpool’s contrasting approach to defending long-range efforts
- Why Man Utd struggle inside the box
- The PL leading the way in old-school, bodies-on-the-line defending

www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Wrong person tagged

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Why has this season started so slowly? There were a mere 19 goals across 20 games in the Premier League last weekend.Which got us thinking — why so few? And is it partly to do with the influx of new signings creating unfamiliarity and...

NEW POD 🚨

Why has this Premier League season started so slowly?

@zonal-marking.bsky.social, @liamtharme.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social join @michaeljbailey.bsky.social to discuss.

pod.fo/e/32cff1

Thank you for all of the time and effort you put into this, Jase. Hugely appreciated!

An appreciation for the lesser-heralded near-post cross.

Who targets that zone the most? Which players get across their man most often? How does it compare to far-post deliveries?

Full piece below for @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Arsenal are the "gold standard" for pressing, according to @markcarey93.bsky.social

Listen to our full pod on pressing 101.

Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJt...

Audio: pod.fo/e/32ac79

That is....extreme 😂

It has been a theme of the early weeks of the season, but Liverpool appear to have shifted their defensive shape from a 4-2-4 (in 2024-25) to a staggered 4-3-3 (in 2025-26).

I break down why that might be for @theathleticfc.bsky.social, piece below!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast Why Arsenal and PSG are so good at pressing

NEW MONDAY POD DROP 🚨

We rotate the squad, with @oilysailor.bsky.social joined by @markcarey93.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social to talk pressing.

The best structures, who does it best, who does it worst?

Video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJt...

Audio: pod.fo/e/32ac79

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Mavericks, Donnarumma & are Arsenal too cautious? It’s the international break in men’s football and that means only one thing… mailbag time!We’re going to answer your questions on all sorts — iPads, subs, mavericks and more!Host: Michae...

NEW MAILBAG POD 🚨

@michaeljbailey.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social answer your questions on...

- Maverick players
- Donnarumma to City
- Are Arsenal too cautious?

& much, much more!

pod.fo/e/328a93

There is something about a one-two that is so aesthetically pleasing.

For @theathleticfc.bsky.social, I dug into the data to quantify the action itself, before looking at who engages in them the most!

Full piece here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

The rise of the individual striker coach: 'It's about maximising potential and marginal gains'

This is good from @markcarey93.bsky.social on the rise of individual player coaching in the Premier League (for @theathleticfc.bsky.social)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Mailbag: Send in your questions for The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast Send in your questions now ahead of a special episode of The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

Send in your questions for @theathleticfc.bsky.social Tactics Podcast special mailbag episode!

What trend, team, or player has caught your eye from the season so far?

Or are there any tactical/data questions you would like us to address?

Let us know below!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Dowman and Ngumoha: The pathway for academy players This week, we’re charting the journey from academy to first team football.What are the main tactical challenges in making the jump, and how has the transition changed over time?Host: Michael Bail...

NEW POD ALERT! 🚨

@michaeljbailey.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social talk the pathway from academy to first-team football.

PLUS, the winners of our caption Amorim competition.

Listen here: pod.fo/e/31feaa

The Totally Football Show with James Richardson: Spurs expose Man City again, and Dowmania at Arsenal Jimbo has Daniel Storey, Adrian Clarke and Mark Carey for company after an absorbing second weekend of the Premier League season.Tenacious Tottenham make it two wins out of two with yet another vic...

🚨MONDAY POD!🚨

It's @acjimbo.bsky.social, @danielstorey85.bsky.social, @adrianjclarke.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social 🎙️

💪Two out of two for tenacious Tottenham
🧑‍🎓Dowmania at Arsenal
🏟️Everton's winning start with @tomwfootball.bsky.social
🧩Fernandes not fitting in at #MUFC?

pod.fo/e/31c4ad

Arsenal have mastered set-pieces in recent seasons, Leeds have spent the summer signing players who are at least 6ft.

When they meet at the Emirates today it could be a battle of the giants.

But how important is height in both boxes?

@markcarey93.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

The story behind the ‘Lavolpiana build-up’ loved by Guardiola and used by Arsenal and Liverpool It is a tactical term that has been popularised by Guardiola, but fewer people might be aware of the man who inspired it

Something a bit different here from @markcarey93.bsky.social - such a great read.

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Long throws & tall No.9s: The Premier League goes old school One week of the Premier League season down, 37 to go.And today we’re asking whether the English top flight has gone old school… with more long throw-ins than ever, “proper” No.9s and promot...

New pod!

The Premier League goes old school!

@michaeljbailey.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social

pod.fo/e/3198c0

How Real Madrid play: Xabi Alonso’s new ideas mean big change for Spanish giants The 43-year-old Spaniard's approach represents a marked change from that of predecessor Carlo Ancelotti

Ahead of tomorrow's first La Liga game, how Real Madrid play is out now for @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

Please check who you are tagging before you post! Thank you

The secrets behind football's data pioneers The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast · Episode

And here’s the accompanying podcast with @markcarey93.bsky.social.

Great to speak to Ian Graham and Sarah Rudd, amongst others.

open.spotify.com/episode/6MRs...

"They are the safeguard of the culture of the club."

What does a sporting director do?
Where does their role fit in a hierarchy?
How do you get the job?
How can you judge if they are successful?

📝 @markcarey93.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Cole Palmer really is ‘scary good’. This was his superstar moment Yet again, Palmer delivered when it mattered most for Chelsea, scoring twice and setting up the other goal in their final thrashing of PSG

Yet again, Cole Palmer delivered when it mattered most for Chelsea, scoring twice and setting up the other goal in their Club World Cup final win against PSG.

The Chelsea forward has looked back to his very best in the United States — and this was his superstar moment.

✍️ @markcarey93.bsky.social

Club World Cup final guide: Will Chelsea or PSG be crowned the best on Earth? Sunday's match between the English and French sides promises to be a fascinating tactical battle

🔹 PSG's desire to exploit wide areas
🔹 Switches of play crucial to creating space
🔹 Significance of Chelsea team selection
🔹 Why transitions could be key for #CFC

Who will win the Club World Cup?

@markcarey93.bsky.social on where the final could be won & lost.

Kylian Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois and the anatomy of a wonder goal and save Real were clinically efficient in both boxes during a frantic period of added time to see off Borussia Dortmund and reach the semi-finals

Real Madrid’s winning reputation is built on their clinical efficiency in both boxes. Never was that more true than against Borussia Dortmund, with Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois summoning two world-class actions in a matter of minutes...

@markcarey93.bsky.social & Mario Cortegana