an article on GuardiolAI and ChatGPTeta's latest attempt to remove any hint of human creativity from their meetings www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

mailbag episode this week on our tactics pod. Please submit questions below 😀

New pod! The Premier League goes old school! @michaeljbailey.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social pod.fo/e/3198c0

Isak hits out & Newcastle dig in. In attempting to force through a move, the centre-forward has hardened the club’s position and made life more difficult for himself (and everyone else). #NUFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

🥇TOTALLY GOLD!🥇 Today - in 2020- @acjimbo.bsky.social, @zonal-marking.bsky.social, @danielstorey85.bsky.social and @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social look back on the 03/04 season. Featuring the Invincibles, the dawn of Abramovich and Ronaldo, and the end of the PL on ITV pod.fo/e/2f6bbf

Time to introduce a series me and the Tactics team have been working on. 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 - the unsung stories behind modern football successes. First, Johan Cruyff’s rejuvenation of Ajax’s academy with insight from his former colleagues on why he felt the need for change. pod.fo/e/2f4b77

🏷️ Spurs’ owners have been open to offers for ages…so what’s going on? ⭐️ Wrexham valuation vs “key person risk” 📺 What does the WBD split mean for TNT Sports & football fans? 💶 Drogheda Utd, Crystal Palace & UEFA 😎 Independent Regulator nears summer sign-off www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

I wanted a profound experience on my way to the Europa League final. I spent 34 hours on a ferry. My piece: www.nytimes.com/athletic/636...

Producer Mike has had a go, please don't be mean to me 😆 Find out who the actual experts picked tomorrow!

Tomorrow the Tactics pod brings you a classic: Alternative Team of The Season! One player from every club in the bottom half of the table plus one wildcard - send us your suggestions below 👇

How can anyone not like football. Unbelievable game of contrasting styles. So much quality on show but so much spirit as well.

Post-PSG discussion. A cathartic one. pod.fo/e/2ced1e

Jakub Kiwior absolutely flawless at the Bernabeu, pretty incredible stuff especially given his performance in this competition vs Bayern last year.

I could cry 😭

The Champions League does it again, drama of the highest order. PSG should’ve really seen that out at 5-1 up on aggregate and Donnarumma kept them in it. This is really the tournament of comebacks 😟

This has to be one of the most entertaining yet effective sides of the last decade. On the ball they have threats all over the pitch and when they lose it their counter press is ridiculous.

Not one, but two pieces of PSG content for you ahead of the Villa match tonight. Tactics video with Alex Barker & Liam Tharme: youtu.be/vB5AzIuR_cU?... And Athletic FC Podcast with Ayo Akinwolere, Tom Williams & Dermot Corrigan focusing on Luis Enrique: pod.fo/e/2c4c8a Enjoy!

PSG single-handedly battling robotic football by having the best 1vs1 wingers all on the pitch at the same time. Delightful.

Jam-packed TAFC pod for you today… What makes a talisman and is the concept still relevant in 2025? The dangers of being over-reliant on a star player With @aakinwo.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social @philhay.bsky.social and more! pod.fo/e/2b4f02

London drenched in sunlight is literally a different place. I’ve just seen someone who’s not in a pub smile!

Football can be… fun? 😅

Time and space you get in this competition vs the Premier League tells you all you need to know about the disparity between England’s top flight and the other leagues

Really enjoyed this today. Go and give it a listen! My soul is craving beautiful football, but it’s hard to have beautiful football AND success, as we’ve discovered.

Our chat with Paul Power of SkillCorner is LIVE! - How do clubs use data to recruit managers and players? - What metrics are used in player analysis? - Have other sports influenced football? - What is the role of AI in analysis? Enjoy! pod.fo/e/2af8f8

Get your questions in so I don't have to answer @markposts.bsky.social 😆

We've got a special guest in the studio tomorrow Mr @counterattack9.bsky.social from Skillcorner! Any data questions for him or the panel, let us know!

Florian Wirtz missed a huge late chance at Bayern on Saturday; the Bundesliga title race is probably over. But he's the best around at finding space between the lines, and given the speed/compactness of the modern game, one of the best I've ever seen in that respect. www.nytimes.com/athletic/613...

The march trudged up Tottenham High Road, protestors branding their ‘Time for Change’ scarfs & anti-ENIC & Daniel Levy banners. A hardcore remained in the south stand post-match, voicing the same discontent. @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social on a day of mutiny at #THFC.

Even if nothing comes of this season for Arsenal, the fact that in MLS and Nwaneri they’ve discovered potentially generational talents will save them tens, if not hundreds, of millions down the line.

Goodbye Premier League title, once again youtu.be/r6s2OouzFKs?...

Tomorrow we are discussing the January signings who could have the biggest impact at their new clubs... Any suggestions, or players you want us to discuss? @michaeljbailey.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social @thom-harris.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social

Adam and Abi combine again for another excellent, entertaining & detailed pod - this time on the inner workings of the transfer window. Give it a listen!

17!!!

Before today Arsenal had beaten City once in the Premier League since 2015 (1-0 last season). That’s such a significant win.

Changing of the Guardiola.

Big day for humbleness.

What an absolutely joyous footballer, MLS. We’re incredibly luckily to have him and Nwaneri at the same time.

NEW POD! @michaeljbailey.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social provide a key statistic for EVERY team in the Premier League! Plus, as promised, a fantastic quiz by Mark. Enjoy! pod.fo/e/2a64b0

Arsenal will play Milan, PSV, Feyenoord or Juventus in the Round of 16. All winnable matches, they’ll be happy with that.

Couldn’t think of a more perfect January signing for Arsenal than Ollie Watkins. PL proven, excellent finisher, scored in big moments, does everything you want from a striker off the ball and on it… and… a Gooner! 🤤🤤🤤

I have to say the recent wrestling music at half time at the Emirates has me feeling equally perturbed

Cannot believe what I’ve just seen. The most standard yellow card for a tactical foul you’ll see is somehow a red……

Don’t get me wrong I get annoyed about decisions like this the same as any other Arsenal fans. But it was four years ago! Four! Gotta learn to let things go!

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang talks Mikel Arteta, Chelsea and Barcelona in an exclusive interview with @david-ornstein.bsky.social — which you can listen to on The Athletic FC Podcast ⤵️ 🎧 podfollow.com/athletic-fc-...

Not sure there’s a much better feeling than soaking in post-NLD win content 😌

FC episode today on the exhilarating Kvicha Kvaradona and where his future may lie... As well as an update on Arsenal's pursuit of Zubimendi. pod.fo/e/29db50

🔴 Forget Saka 🔴 Forget Havertz's misses 🔴 Forget the last week Arsenal and Tottenham are worlds apart, and even if recent form might suggest otherwise, Mikel Arteta's side still go into tomorrow's north London derby as huge favourites. ✍️ @alitweedale.bsky.social theanalyst.com/2025/01/arse...

■ Why he wanted to leave Arsenal but stayed ■ How his relationship with Arteta broke ■ The ‘chaos’ of Chelsea ■ Harrowing burglary that left him ‘lost’ ■ Barcelona his ‘best memory’ ■ Why he moved to Saudi Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang speaks exclusively to @david-ornstein.bsky.social ⬇️ bit.ly/3DHfF3P

🚨NEW PODCAST: Reflecting on five years of Mikel Arteta with @mikestavrou.bsky.social We also preview the Crystal Palace game, discuss Jesus’ chances of starting & have a bit of Christmas fun 👇🏼 🎧: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t... 📺: youtu.be/7vjw93JSDwk?...

Can’t remember two goalkeeping performances that bad in one match. Ridiculous.