Another excellent short explanation by @jonmackenzie.bsky.social on the constant battle between defensive solidity and attacking threat, and how tactically flexible top teams need to be.

podfollow.com/devils-in-th... I haven't been plugging the pod much lately, but I think this episode w @jonmackenzie.bsky.social is the best we've put out in a while. We dug into what Amorim's trying to do, how that fits into the current tactical norm, and what success might look like

Any @arsenalvpodcast.bsky.social patrons out there should definitely give the @clivepafc.bsky.social and @jonmackenzie.bsky.social tactics pod a listen. It was really, really good.

🚨NEW for Patrons🚨 Tactics Summit w/ @clivepafc.bsky.social & @jonmackenzie.bsky.social ⚽Arsenal’s tactical evolution 🌀How have Arsenal increased space to play in 🎯Focus on set pieces across the league 🔴LFC tactics this season 🎥your process to analyze a game www.patreon.com/posts/arsena...

Really excited for tomorrow's pod. No Friday Night Clive due to travel to Chicago for "goonerpalooza" But instead we have a pod with @clivepafc.bsky.social and @jonmackenzie.bsky.social talking Arsenal tactical evolution and more

On today’s ep w/ @iainmacintosh.bsky.social What's gone wrong at Liverpool w/ @jonmackenzie.bsky.social? Has Will Still got Saints firing w/ @georgerees-julian.bsky.social? Who is Villarreal’s free signing taking La Liga by storm? 🎧 podfollow.com/1823912083 📹 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phpr...

If you like Arsenal, you might like this?

If you've not caught this analysis from @jonmackenzie.bsky.social because it's ostensibly about Arsenal, give it a watch. It's of interest because Frank is not dissimilar to Arteta, and it speaks to the transition TF is navigating from being the blue team to the red. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T98o...

We often say that the most entertaining games of football are played at a “good tempo”. For @theathleticfc.bsky.social, I tried to quantify exactly what that is, and which Premier League teams play with a fast and slow tempo. Link below! www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

Brilliant analysis from @jonmackenzie.bsky.social here. So much work must have gone into producing this. Give it a watch peeps! 🤌🏾 youtu.be/T98omwBXiV0?...

A rare outing At The Board for me today where I spend some time looking at how and why Arsenal are playing more directly this season, the De Zerbi influence and why this tactical diversity is good for Arsenal. youtu.be/T98omwBXiV0

This is still such a great watch / listen if you haven’t gotten to it yet. Getting @jonmackenzie.bsky.social‘s view on Frank&Spurs is a gift.

Maiden bluesky post! I analysed shot-blocking in the Premier League. Looked at: - Arsenal/Liverpool’s contrasting approach to defending long-range efforts - Why Man Utd struggle inside the box - The PL leading the way in old-school, bodies-on-the-line defending www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

I really like the way Jon Mackenzie discussed the tactical landscape in football today. Very difficult to dominate playing in one way, you need to adapt to different opponents. (part 1)

Playing defensively is a dangerous game, as Pep Guardiola found out against Arsenal at the weekend. @jonmackenzie.bsky.social

Today's @theathleticfc.bsky.social Week in Football show is all about how Arsenal are different this season. Joe, Art de Roché and I talk you through Arteta's evolution through time and the weaknesses Arsenal have targeted this summer in their transfers. LINK: youtu.be/9JHPZcEk-kA

🔎 Problems with strategy of centre-back 'jumps' 🔎 How opposition teams are overloading midfield 🔎 Losing runners and possession @ahmed-walid.bsky.social breaks down Manchester United's out-of-possession issues under Ruben Amorim and how its hurting their whole game.

Learned a lot from this very astute and thoughtful analysis from @jonmackenzie.bsky.social & @lilywhitelab.bsky.social on the transformations in modern football tactics and Frank's high floor and possible low ceiling approach with Spurs so far. youtu.be/YjlKjMlfTa8?...

Here's a tidied transcript of Kish and Jon's chat about Spurs on Lilywhite Lounge Ep 6. It's a really intelligent, lucid discussion. Important stuff. Well worth carefully considering. Fun too. gistdoc.com/ed901d3954e9... Thanks to @lilywhitelab.bsky.social and @jonmackenzie.bsky.social 🙏 #COYS

@lilywhitelab.bsky.social and @jonmackenzie.bsky.social talk Tottenham tactics: pca.st/episode/153b... #COYS

✏️ Studying tempo in a high press, inspired by tactical analysis from @jonmackenzie.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social ▫️Pressing a ball reception = Less progression & more recoveries ▫️More time on the ball = More long passes & better success % cambiodejuegoenglish.beehiiv.com/p/tempo-and-...

An excellent analysis from @jonmackenzie.bsky.social on how Frank could use Xavi. Starts at 3m19s. #COYS www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCuV...

How could #MCFC's build-up change with the change in goalkeepers and the profile of players the club has signed in recent years? I spoke to @jonmackenzie.bsky.social for @bluemoonpodcast.com this week: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1QS...

The tactical change made by Arne Slot to turn the game in Liverpool's favour against Arsenal on Sunday 🔎 🎙️ @jonmackenzie.bsky.social

Yesterday's Did You Notice was all about how Arne Slot made a half time tweak to bring Liverpool back into the game in the second half

Here's the first @theathleticfc.bsky.social Week in Football show of the season... youtu.be/OhigFO4g6Yo

Enjoyed talking coaching, signings, Enzo Maresca and Pep Guardiola on @theathleticfc.bsky.social pod with @aakinwo.bsky.social and @jonmackenzie.bsky.social today pod.fo/e/3186ba

Here's my piece on why Arsenal struggled against Man United this weekend.

Was on @TheAthleticFC pod with @aakinwo.bsky.social , @jonmackenzie.bsky.social & @cweatherspoon.bsky.social to talk about the three promoted clubs, whether they will all go down again & who could stop them. pod.fo/e/313870

Arsenal fans are excited about the changes they're making on the ball this season... but I think they should be excited about the changes they're making off it too. I think they could ramp up their press again which will only benefit their new signings.

Back on my noticing bullshit. Here's a defensive weakness that Arne Slot has had since his time at Feyenoord but which PL coaches are starting to find ways to exploit. And Palace were able to exploit it in the run up to both of their goals.

Had the pleasure of chatting with @jonmackenzie.bsky.social about some of the things Enzo Maresca needs to fix defensively at Chelsea in 2025/26, the evolution of pressing ideas. Lots of tactics board in this one. Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUn5... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5AJ0...

We also have a special treat. Earlier in the summer we recorded a pod with @jonmackenzie.bsky.social on what it takes to survive the Premier League. Initially it was only for our Patreon subscribers but we've just opened it to all listeners. #lufc shows.acast.com/thegameofthe...

A few thoughts about what Thomas Frank's Brentford 2.0 approach might look like if you ported it over to the current Spurs squad. And then some more thoughts about how, when it comes to tactical approaches, context always matters. youtu.be/nm4R6PAsOa4?...

Lads... It's Tottenham... youtu.be/rLMGZ0eW9L0?...

Can't stop watching wristwatch restoration vids on YouTube

Why Premier League teams are scoring from their defensive corners. Piece on counter-attacks from corners and their slight return this season. www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...

How Newcastle United's man-to-man approach against Manchester United paid off... 🎙️ @jonmackenzie.bsky.social

It’s MATCH DAY and a European tour six-pointer too! 🖤🤍 And whilst the Cherries have been off the pace a bit lately Marco Silva’s whites are going up against the PL’s trickiest press Here’s how we could try to unlock it in #BOUFUL 👇

The tactical reason why the Manchester derby was dull 🔎 @jonmackenzie.bsky.social

Analysis of Nottingham Forest’s defensive organisation in their 1-0 victory against Man City on Saturday. www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...

Just as inevitably as Monday follows Sunday, so must that Monday involve some noticing and so here we are. And this week, I used the FA Cup weekend as an excuse to travel to the continent… or more like… the Conte-nent amirite?! [thread]

Rayo and Bournemouth under Iraola have claimed a combined 39.9% of available points in games with the majority of possession - 35.7% in games with 60+%. A bigger club than Bournemouth will come calling but the short/long-term scalability of his game style is a legitimate question despite this quote.

ttx

It's a Monday so we notice and how could we notice something other than Liverpool who now have two very well-deserved hands on the Premier League title? Anyway, today I want to talk about defending against false 9s so strap in [thread]

How time flies when you’re having fun… It’s that time of the week again where we notice things and this week hoo boy have we got some noticing to do… It’s all about this lad - Nico Gonzalez - and the impact he had on Manchester City this weekend [thread]

ttx

Good stuff from @jonmackenzie.bsky.social. Lots of options for Rashford (and Asensio) going forward. I could also see Emery keeping him wide and underlapping Maatsen, similar to how Dortmund used him. It’s never a bad thing to have some tactical flexibility! #AVFC

ttx

Ok. Ok. Settle down. I know it's a Monday afternoon and the transfer window is about to close but we are contractually obliged to notice something before the day is out. It couldn't be anything but Arsenal and let me tell you, I'm positively frothing to talk about their pressing [thread]