The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Are football's new laws overcomplicating the game? This week, we’re discussing football’s new rules!We’ll talk the increased remit of VAR, throw-in countdowns and our own suggestions for new football laws.Host: Duncan AlexanderGuests: Michael...

NEW POD 🚨

@oilysailor.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social discuss IFAB's new football law proposals.

Which ones work, which ones don't?

And what new football laws would actually be a benefit to the game?

pod.fo/e/39d737

If you could introduce one new rule in football what would it be?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: The evolution of wingers, club DNA & tactical fouls It’s mailbag time!On this episode we’ll discuss:Wingers, penalty rebounds, tactical fouls and much more!Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey, Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Ho...

NEW MAILBAG IS LIVE 🚨

The team answer your questions on...

Wingers, rebounded penalties, tactical fouls and much more.

Get in touch with us tacticspod@theathletic.com!

pod.fo/e/397c62

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Arsenal's attacking woes & a proper relegation battle It’s February — and we have real jeopardy in both the Premier League title race and relegation battle.So this week, we’ll discuss the tactics we have seen, and will see from the teams at the ...

NEW POD 🚨

Title race, relegation battle and more!

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

pod.fo/e/392a2e

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Premier League trends: How to break down low blocks This week — we’re talking tactical trends… from low blocks, to headed clearances and the return of long-range screamers.Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey, Liam TharmeProduce...

NEW POD! 🚨

The team talk tactical trends.

High, low and mid-blocks.

And a serious discussion on the health risks around heading.

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

pod.fo/e/38e7c5

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: A cold, windy night in Stoke: How weather impacts football This week — we’re diving into the world of weather. How do the elements impact what happens on the pitch? From the rainy, cold and windy nights at Stoke.To the scorching heat of the 1994 Worl...

NEW POD 🚨

All about the weather! ☀️

How does it impact football, tactics, play styles? 🌧️

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

pod.fo/e/388f85

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Does the Premier League have an open-play goal problem? Arsenal are top of the Premier League, but only seventh for open play xG.So is that a Mikel Arteta issue - or a league-wide one?Host: Duncan AlexanderWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Ahmed WalidPr...

NEW POD 🚨

Arsenal, open play goals and Premier League vs Champions League styles.

@oilysailor.bsky.social @ahmed-walid.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social

pod.fo/e/383752

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

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: A stat for every Premier League club We’re more than halfway through the Premier League season. 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

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 — 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

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Who has the most settled squad in the Premier League? This week — 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

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Has Salah actually declined? This week — 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

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

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 — 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

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Can Spurs and Frank make it work? This week — 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

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 — 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

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

Great piece from @zonal-marking.bsky.social

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...

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 — and crucially, how do they fix their issues?Host: Michael B...

NEW POD 🚨

Four Premier League losses in a row — 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

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

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.

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?

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

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

Keep us posted!

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. 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 💪
Weaknesses 😐

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

pod.fo/e/342dc6

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

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? 🤔

pod.fo/e/33e8b2

Benfica 5-0 Vitória de Guimarães (2-0) Raúl Jiménez 16' (Liga NOS) YouTube video by Virais da Internet

@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?...

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Why goalkeepers are going long Today we’re discussing the evolution of goalkeeper distribution. Are teams actually going long more often, and how is it changing the game?Host: Duncan Alexander 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