The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to talk about why this Premier League season has had an unbelievable number of goals.

The number of goals being scored in the top division of English men’s football is at its highest rate since the 1960s.

But what has caused this?

Are goalkeepers not as good as they used to be at keeping the ball out of the net?

What has VAR done to the game in the context of goals given or denied?

And are players shooting more and better?

This and much, much more on the final Tactics podcast of the 23/24 season.

Hosted by: Ali Maxwell

With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey & Liam Tharme

Produced by: Steve Hankey

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In this episode, we discuss the tactical trends of 2023.

The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to explore...

First up, full backs and defenders moving into midfield. Inversions, actions and equal & opposite reactions are all covered here.

Did the back three become an endangered species in 2023 and will wingbacks go the way of the Dodo in 2024?

What were the big statistical trends this year? More goals, fewer red cards and the comeback of... the comeback.

The 2023 “Calendar Year” table finds Chelsea and Aston Villa in unexpected places.

And Michael reflects on the multiple tactical evolutions we saw during the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Produced by Steve Hankey.

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This week, we’re focusing on Bundesliga title rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.

The evolution of these two sides under the coaching of Xabi Alonso and Vincent Kompany respectively, got us thinking... do some managers require a team of elite players in order to succeed?

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Seb Stafford-Bloor, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme

Producer: Mike Stavrou

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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 discuss them!

So, the topics on today’s agenda include: Angeball 2.0, the new No.10 role and tactical revolutions at smaller clubs.

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme

Producer: Mike Stavrou

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5793283/2024/09/26/premier-league-takeaways-five-games/

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This week, we’re focusing on the world of football data and whether it’s had the profound impact on the game — on and off the pitch — that everyone thinks it has.

So, has data actually changed football?

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme

Producer: Mike Stavrou

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5756088/2024/09/11/how-has-data-changed-football/

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5697684/2024/09/03/football-analytics-uk-evolution/

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