Podcast Episodes

Pressing 101: Why Arsenal and PSG are so good

In this special edition of The Athletic FC Tactics podcast - we focus on pressing. What does it involve in the modern game, which teams do it best - and worst - and how has it changed from when it wa…

Published on 4 hours ago

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: Michael Bailey

With…

Published on 4 days, 2 hours ago

Why Amorim's Man United system isn't working

This week, we’ll tell you why Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system he insists on using at Manchester United, isn’t functioning.

And we’ll look at other examples of managers who seem wedded to just one system…

Published on 1 week, 3 days ago

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 Bailey

Wi…

Published on 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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 promoted sides t…

Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago

New-look Liverpool & pragmatic Spurs: Premier League preview

Welcome back to The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast. 

We’re kickstarting the new season with our big Premier League preview show.

We’ll analyse the key tactical talking points, managerial changes and the n…

Published on 1 month ago

Creating the England DNA

On episode five of Football Architects we look at how England changed their fortunes from tournament failures to final makers - and in the women's case, winners. Hear from the man who brought about t…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

The secrets behind football's data pioneers

On episode four of Football Architects, we hear from the architects of the data world, who have worked for the biggest football clubs in England.

Every episode will also have a written piece on the we…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Forging Croatia's Golden Generation

On episode three of Football Architects, we’re focusing on international football's great over-performers, Croatia.

We’ll hear from Romeo Jozak, the former academy head and technical director of Dinam…

Published on 1 month, 4 weeks ago

How Belgium marched to world number one

On episode two of Football Architects, we’re focusing on the rise that took a stagnant Belgium to number one in FIFA’s world rankings.

We’ll hear about how they established a footballing DNA, and crea…

Published on 2 months ago