The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

By The Athletic

Hosted by Michael Bailey, revered football tactics writer Michael Cox is joined by Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and more of The Athletic's brightest tactics and data department to break down the tactical and technical details behind the biggest footballing stories each week - assessing the latest trends, systems, players, managers and all manner of statistics in order to give you a deeper understanding of the game.<hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

11 episodes

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Home Advantage Diminishing Due to Reduced Crowd Influence

Jan 22, 2026

Home advantage is diminishing as crowd noise's influence on referees and players disappears, revealing a significant shift in match dynamics and tactical approaches.

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Premier League Season Data: Tactical Identities and Performance Metrics

Jan 15, 2026

Premier League teams reveal tactical shifts towards directness and physicality, with surprising lack of overall quality. Discover distinct team strategies, key player impacts, and surprising data points about league performance.

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Premier League Managerial Volatility and Succession Planning Challenges

Jan 08, 2026

Managerial tenures are shrinking, with most coaches lasting under two years. Clubs struggle with succession planning, needing clear vision beyond immediate results to find long-term leaders.

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Premier League Adaptability: Formations, Counter-Attacks, and Underrated Players

Dec 24, 2025

Dynamic formations overload the center and create width, but require adaptable managers to thrive in the Premier League's intense competition.

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Premier League Squad Rotation: Stability Versus Intensity

Dec 18, 2025

Premier League intensity surged 30% in a decade, yet squad stability doesn't guarantee points. Discover how top teams navigate rotation and cohesion to succeed.

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Star Player Freedom's Trade-Off Between Offense and Defense

Dec 11, 2025

Accommodating star players' freedom unlocks offense but creates defensive liabilities. Modern football demands collective discipline, making individual concessions a critical tactical risk.

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Football Managers Leverage Positional Flexibility for Tactical Advantage

Dec 04, 2025

Unlock football's tactical secrets: discover how positional flexibility transforms teams, creating unpredictable threats and maximizing player potential beyond traditional roles.

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Frank's Scalable Style Struggles at Tottenham

Nov 27, 2025

Thomas Frank's tactical identity struggles at Spurs, revealing how scalable style, not underdog tactics, defines big club success and managerial transitions.

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Arsenal's Defense: Modern Masterclass or Historic Hoax?

Nov 20, 2025

Arsenal's exceptional defense faces scrutiny: is it the Premier League's best ever, or does attack truly win titles?

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Defensive Midfielders Now Score Goals, Not Just Defend

Nov 13, 2025

Modern defensive midfielders transform static anchormen into dynamic playmakers, scoring goals and pressing high, a far cry from the role's original, purely defensive intent.

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Champions League Format Confusion: Tactical Battles Emerge

Nov 06, 2025

Analyst confusion reigns over the new Champions League format, diluting heavyweight clashes and diminishing the narrative impact of early-stage fixtures.

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