The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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 Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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: Michael Bailey
Guests: Liam Tharme, Michael Cox, Cerys Jones
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Duncan Alexander and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Duncan Alexander and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Bailey
With: Michael Cox and Mark Carey
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Champions League returned this week with some huge clashes and intriguing results.
So, at the halfway point of the league phase — how are the favourites shaping up, and who has caught our eye on Europe’s biggest stage?
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producers: Mike Stavrou, Ben Green & Steve Hankey
Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
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 Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 steadily dropping.
We find out why.
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and Michael Cox
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
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 future plans.
With: Jordan Campbell & İlkay Gündoğan
Executive Producer: Abi Paterson
Producers: Mike Stavrou and Paul Iliffe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 squad by Tuchel, despite their “star status”.
When building a team, what is the priority; star players, or players who fit the system?
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and Michael Cox
Producer: Mike Stavrou
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 Carey
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today we tackle the Premier League’s promoted clubs – who collectively, so far this season, are flying.
How are they doing it and more importantly, can they sustain it?
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 in front of our eyes?
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There were a mere 19 goals across 20 games in the Premier League last weekend.
Which got us thinking — why so few? And is it partly to do with the influx of new signings creating unfamiliarity and uncertainty?
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6633559/2025/09/16/premier-league-signings-goals/
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 was just called ‘closing down’.
Host Duncan Alexander is joined by Mark Carey and Liam Tharme to discuss.
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
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: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou & Paul Iliffe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 - can that approach really work?
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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
With: Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 threatening to be competitive…
Host: Michael Bailey
With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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