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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

@tacticspod.bsky.social

The Athletic's tactics writers break down the details behind the biggest footballing stories each week. @zonal-marking.bsky.social, @michaeljbailey.bsky.social, @markcarey93.bsky.social, @liamtharme.bsky.social & more! Email: tacticspod@theathletic.com

2,705 Followers  |  21 Following  |  87 Posts  |  Joined: 25.11.2024  |  2.0555

Latest posts by tacticspod.bsky.social on Bluesky

Preview
The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: No sweet home: Is 'home advantage' fading? This week, we’re diving into the world of home and away - discussing the tactical differences between performing in front of your own fans, and taking to the road.What are the key elements to pla...

NEW POD! 🚨

Does home advantage still exist in football?

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

pod.fo/e/37e770

22.01.2026 17:22 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: A stat for every Premier League club We’re more than halfway through the Premier League season.Β So this week, we’ll use our good old friend data to assess the main talking point for all 20 clubs.Host: Duncan AlexanderWith: Michae...

NEW POD 🚨

A statistic (or two) for EVERY Premier League club!

Enjoy!

@zonal-marking.bsky.social @oilysailor.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social

pod.fo/e/379613

15.01.2026 14:07 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: How to fix Man United in the short term This week, there’s only one topic in town: Manchester United Football Club.Ruben Amorim’s gone, so how do they go about replacing him β€” both in the short, and long term?And how does any club ...

FIRST POD OF 2026! 🚨

New year, still talking about Manchester United.

More specifically, caretaker managers, interim managers, and long-term planning.

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

pod.fo/e/374ac7

08.01.2026 17:02 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Who has the most settled squad in the Premier League? This week β€” we’re talking the tactics of squad rotation…Who are the most and least stable Premier League clubs in how they use their players?And does stability equal success?Host: Michael Bai...

NEW POD! 🚨

Today we ask - who has the most settled squad in the Premier League?

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

pod.fo/e/3694c4

18.12.2025 17:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Has Salah actually declined? This week β€” we’re talking about the tactics surrounding player power.Can stars be given total freedom, or is the collective more important?Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and ...

NEW POD 🚨

Salah, Real Madrid and star players vs the collective.

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

Enjoy!

pod.fo/e/3644a2

11.12.2025 16:03 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Who are the Premier League's most versatile players? On this episode, we run through some of the high profile players to have switched positions in the Premier League recently.Also - what makes players flexible? And who excels in multiple roles?Host:...

NEW POD 🚨

This week, we're talking positional versatility.

Which players are performing well in different roles?

@zonal-marking.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social @michaeljbailey.bsky.social & Cerys Jones discuss.

pod.fo/e/35fd18

04.12.2025 16:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Mailbag: Angeball 2.0, the new No.10s & tactical revolutions This week, we bring you our first, long-awaited listener mailbag! You’ve been sending in some excellent questions and ideas since we came back for the new season β€” and now is the time for us to...

Hey - we've covered this on previous pods!

11.40: pod.fo/e/2fe34d

& pod.fo/e/35f0e4

03.12.2025 11:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Can Spurs and Frank make it work? This week β€” we’re discussing how managers make the jump from a relatively small club, to one of the big guns, and with a particular focus on Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur.Host: Michael Bail...

NEW POD! 🚨

How do managers go from small clubs to big clubs?

Frank, Pochettino, Hodgson, Rodgers, Moyes, Potter, Maresca etc etc.

With @zonal-marking.bsky.social @oilysailor.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social & @michaeljbailey.bsky.social

pod.fo/e/35b2ff

27.11.2025 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Have Arsenal built the Premier League’s best ever defence? This week - we’re asking if defence really wins you titles.Should you build your team around a solid defence β€” or a free-flowing attack?Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Duncan Alexander a...

NEW POD! 🚨

Does defence really win titles?

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

pod.fo/e/3569af

20.11.2025 16:11 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Why are defensive midfielders scoring so many goals? This week, we’re tackling the defensive midfield position.How has it evolved, who does it best and why are they suddenly scoring loads of goals?Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox and Mark Care...

NEW POD 🚨

How has the defensive midfield position evolved?

Who does it best?

Why are they suddenly scoring loads of goals?

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

pod.fo/e/3522c8

13.11.2025 15:09 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Great piece from @zonal-marking.bsky.social

03.11.2025 14:07 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Why the five-substitute era has not been good for football Lawmakers have completely overlooked the impact of introducing extra substitutes: it increases the tempo of the game and increases fatigue

The use of five substitutes has had no positive impact, and probably some bad impact www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

02.11.2025 12:41 β€” πŸ‘ 44    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 4
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: How to fix Liverpool The defending Premier League champions have lost four league matches in a row.So, where is it going wrong for Arne Slot’s Liverpool β€” and crucially, how do they fix their issues?Host: Michael B...

NEW POD 🚨

Four Premier League losses in a row β€” seven points shy of league leaders Arsenal after nine matches.

How do Liverpool fix their tactical issues?

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

pod.fo/e/34776f

30.10.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Is it going to get better, or does something drastic need to change?

29.10.2025 13:27 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Slot is trying to adapt to a post-Salah world with Salah still in the team which in the short term is causing problems.
The many new faces also bring difficulties but some of them couldn't be avoided (Diaz/TAA wanting to leave, Jota). One mistake though was not buying Robertson replacement in 2024.

29.10.2025 13:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Pretty basic question.What's gone wrong?
They can't break deep defences, get countered a lot and their shape looks bad when defending them, they concede from long throws and set pieces almost every match.
Slots' use of his squad is confusing. I thought the summer signings were part of a big plan?

29.10.2025 13:20 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

On tomorrow's pod, we're talking Liverpool.

Send in your questions/thoughts for @zonal-marking.bsky.social, @liamtharme.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social

29.10.2025 12:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

Keep us posted!

24.10.2025 09:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: A guide to the 4-4-2 formation This season there have been zero instances of teams starting with a 4-4-2 in the Premier League.Β In the late 2000s the majority of teams lined up in a 4-4-2 - but since then, that figure has been ...

NEW POD!

A guide to the 4-4-2 formation.

Strengths πŸ’ͺ
Weaknesses 😐

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

pod.fo/e/342dc6

23.10.2025 09:55 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Gundogan interview: Klopp vs Guardiola, Man City's treble & more Iconic former Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan sat down with The Athletic's Jordan Campbell to discuss playing under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, City's treble-winning team and his f...

ICYMI

A special interview with İlkay Gündoğan.

The iconic former Manchester City midfielder at down with The Athletic's Jordan Campbell to discuss playing under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, City's treble-winning team and more!

Don't miss it!

pod.fo/e/33fd01

21.10.2025 10:20 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Does Jude Bellingham get into England's best side? Thomas Tuchel’s England team selection for the wins over Wales and Latvia got us thinking about star players and their value.Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish were left out of the squ...

NEW POD 🚨

@zonal-marking.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social join @michaeljbailey.bsky.social to chat star players and their value.

So is it system first, or stars first? πŸ€”

pod.fo/e/33e8b2

16.10.2025 17:49 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Benfica 5-0 VitΓ³ria de GuimarΓ£es (2-0) RaΓΊl JimΓ©nez 16' (Liga NOS)
YouTube video by Virais da Internet Benfica 5-0 VitΓ³ria de GuimarΓ£es (2-0) RaΓΊl JimΓ©nez 16' (Liga NOS)

@markcarey93.bsky.social @oilysailor.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social Loved the pod - in case you’ve never seen this enormous launch from Ederson to Raul Jimenez when they were playing together for Benfica, here it is: youtu.be/Iud-CdPbAhs?...

10.10.2025 10:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Why goalkeepers are going long Today we’re discussing the evolution of goalkeeper distribution.Β Are teams actually going long more often, and how is it changing the game?Host: Duncan AlexanderΒ With: Michael Cox and Mark Care...

NEW POD!

Why are goalkeepers going long this season?

What's happened to the long throw?

Duncan (@oilysailor.bsky.social) is joined by Michael (@zonal-marking.bsky.social) and Mark (@markcarey93.bsky.social) to discuss!

pod.fo/e/33a5db

09.10.2025 15:38 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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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.Β 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

02.10.2025 16:28 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Great spot! Hope you enjoyed the pod 🀝

29.09.2025 09:03 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I look forward to this episode but also Pep has never been a Pepist

28.09.2025 22:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

25.09.2025 16:12 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

On tomorrow's pod we'll be asking if Pep Guardiola has actually changed Man City's approach this season.

How different does this City team look compared to 2016-17?

Send your questions for the panel!

24.09.2025 13:12 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mikel Arteta versus Pep Guardiola has become a boring battle of overwhelming caution The Arsenal manager and his Manchester City counterpart appear to be finding new ways to create dull games. Where is the ambition?

an article on GuardiolAI and ChatGPTeta's latest attempt to remove any hint of human creativity from their meetings
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

22.09.2025 11:59 β€” πŸ‘ 57    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 10    πŸ“Œ 2
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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 β€” 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

19.09.2025 09:35 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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