The Athletic Football Tactics Podcast
Hosted by Ali Maxwell, revered football tactics writer Michael Cox is joined by more of The Athletic's brightest tactics and data analytics writers 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.
Episodes
May 23, 2024 • 44 mins
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 gam...
Mark as Played
May 16, 2024 • 42 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox and Mark Carey join Ali Maxwell to put together an alternative team of the season from the 23/24 Premier League.
Mark and Michael are allowed to choose one player from each of the teams in the bottom half of the Premier League to make up their side.
The mathematically minded amongst you will clock that only gives them eleven players, so from one team they get two picks.
This episode re...
Mark as Played
May 9, 2024 • 52 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to discuss the final stages of this season’s Champions League in men’s football.
Real Madrid came from behind in the dying minutes to knock out Bayern Munich and further cement their pedigree in this competition.
Borussia Dortmund ensured their surprising run this season continued by securing a second consecutive 1-0 win over Paris St Germain...
Mark as Played
May 2, 2024 • 41 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to discuss how Liverpool can ensure a smooth succession from Arne Slot to Jurgen Klopp.
We look at how well suited his style of play and personality are for taking on one of the biggest jobs in club football.
And how well set up Liverpool are as a club to move on from such a legendary manager?
Then, we look to the past to see if we can learn...
Mark as Played
April 25, 2024 • 50 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to discuss which leagues are the most competitive in Europe.
We cast our eyes across Europe’s top five leagues, and then beyond them into the top twenty leagues across the continent, including some second tiers…
What matters most when measuring what makes a competitive league?
Is it the finance or the depth of talent in each league year on ...
Mark as Played
April 18, 2024 • 45 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to reflect on the Champions League quarter finals; which concluded this week.
First up, Bayern Munich let their experience show by knocking out Arsenal 3-2 on aggregate at the Allianz Arena.
We then head to Manchester as reigning European champions Manchester City failed to retain their crown as they were knocked out on penalties by the peren...
Mark as Played
April 11, 2024 • 54 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to reflect on the halfway point of the Champions League quarter finals; and what to look out for when those ties conclude next week.
First up, it’s Arsenal and Bayern Munich sharing the first leg spoils by drawing 2-2 in North London.
We then head to Madrid and rule the rule over the incredible 3-3 draw between Real Madrid and reigning Europe...
Mark as Played
April 4, 2024 • 49 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to take a look at where the Premier League title contenders may drop precious points.
Firstly, we run the rule over the final clash between the pretenders to the crown this season.
Was Man City vs Arsenal just really boring or were there some “tactically intriguing” aspects?
The title race remains as tight as it was when we last cast our ey...
Mark as Played
March 28, 2024 • 46 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Jay Harris, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to take a look at specialist coaches.
From set pieces to subs to sleep and scran, elite football teams are constantly on the lookout for ways to make improvements.
One thing you will learn is why they’re NOT making marginal gains…
So which specialist coaching jobs have gone from niche to mainstream?
How do you measure success when a coachin...
Mark as Played
March 21, 2024 • 49 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and Jon Mackenzie join Ali Maxwell to do a deep dive into Internazionale.
Simone Inzaghi’s side are dominating Serie A in every sense of the word.
They have a bigger lead at this stage of the season than runaway leaders Napoli had last time out and at time of recording they have the best defensive record of any team in Europe’s top five leagues.
So what makes them so good?...
Mark as Played
March 14, 2024 • 46 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to reflect on the Champions League last 16.
Manchester City, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, PSG, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund make up the 2024 Champions League quarter finals.
So what shape are the last eight in Europe’s elite competition in?
Which individual players shone in the last 16?
And how has the first kno...
Mark as Played
March 7, 2024 • 46 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Duncan Alexander and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to reflect on one of the Premier League’s great managerial rivalries.
Pep Guardiola's final tactical tussle with Jurgen Klopp, in the Premier League at least, is this weekend.
We look at their individual influences on the English game since they arrived and how they’ve influenced each other too.
But who has struggled the most against ...
Mark as Played
February 29, 2024 • 37 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell break down what is potentially the most exciting title race for years.
At time of recording, two points separate three teams at the top of the Premier League.
We’ve scoured over the three title contenders to see if we can scientifically suss out who’ll be crowned Premier League champions in May.
Will it be Man City, Liverpool or Arsenal?
An...
Mark as Played
February 22, 2024 • 41 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to ask whether modern football teams actually want superstars anymore?
Kylian Mbappé is leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer but, whisper it quietly; will they be a better team without him?
How have Tottenham Hotspur adapted to the loss of their star man Harry Kane?
And how Have Bayern Munich had to adapt to having him?
Also, is tourn...
Mark as Played
February 15, 2024 • 45 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to give an overview of the runners and riders as the Champions League enters the last 16.
Will anyone be able to stop Manchester City from retaining their crown?
Should Bayern Munich be amongst the favourites considering their recent blunders in the Bundesliga?
And is a dark horse going to ride to glory in this year’s competition?
Produced ...
Mark as Played
February 8, 2024 • 45 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to discuss how to take on the elite teams.
Should teams adapt their style against the big boys to try and get a result, or try to play the way they want to regardless of opposition?
Who has been most effective against the elite teams in the Premier League this season?
And what about when elite teams play each other?
Produced by Steve Hankey...
Mark as Played
February 1, 2024 • 49 mins
In this episode, The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to discuss the tactical differences between the two eras of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool tenure.
We’re broadly speaking splitting Klopp’s teams into the 2019 - 21 side as “Liverpool 1.0” and looking at this current iteration as “Liverpool 2.0”
What were peak Klopp Liverpool tactically?
What has and hasn’t changed in the transition to this new te...
Mark as Played
January 25, 2024 • 48 mins
In this episode, the Tactics Pod team launch a load of stats into your ears, so strap in.
The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Thom Harris and Liam Tharme join Ali Maxwell to sift through forty five minutes of figures, including…
Who is the fouliest footballer in the Premier League so far this season?
Which side loves turning the opposition around at the coin toss?
What is the biggest (statistical) problem with Manchester United this se...
Mark as Played
January 18, 2024 • 39 mins
The Athletic's Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme join host Ali Maxwell, to reflect on Jose Mourinho's fall from grace - 20 years on from winning the Champions League with Porto.
Has modern club football left Mourinho behind. Do a younger generation of footballers tire of his methods too quickly and has he ever been a 'defensive' coach?
Plus, why he is perfectly suited to international management now.
Produced by Adonis Prats...
Mark as Played
January 11, 2024 • 48 mins
Since Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup, the prevailing 'narrative' has been their desperate need to sign a more clinical goalscorer in the January transfer window... But does a number 9 who could fulfil all the requirements of an Arsenal striker even exist?
Host Ali Maxwell is joined by The Athletic's Michael Cox, Mark Carey & Liam Tharme - for their first podcast of 2024 - to explore the 'unrealistic' expectations on the mode...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
Shootings are not unusual in Belize. Shootings of cops are. When a wealthy woman – part of one of the most powerful families in Belize – is found on a pier late at night, next to a body, it becomes the country’s biggest news story in a generation. New episodes every Monday!
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.