𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜’𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 We asked the game’s dealmakers about: ▪️ Best and worst deals ▪️ Under-the-radar signings that could surprise people ▪️ Will more players go on strike?

A day in the life of the worst football team in the world www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

🔮 Europe & South America's World Cup duopoly will end 🔮 London clubs will move out of the city/share grounds 🔮 The USMNT will be a serious force 🔮 Fewer top managers will be ex-players @zonal-marking.bsky.social looks at some expectations about football from 25 years ago.

Enzo Maresca said #CFC didn’t have a discipline problem last season. He is saying the same this season. The numbers say otherwise. No PL club has more bookings over the last 3 years. More here from myself, @reallycerys.bsky.social & @anantaajith.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Wrote about the incredible synergy between Messi and Alba, creating a near-unstoppable two-man combo, and how it evolved from their first season together in 2012-13, all the way to the present day in Miami for @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Boca Juniors coach Miguel Angel Russo has died at the age of 69, the Argentine club said on Wednesday.

A breakdown of why Liverpool are in a mini-funk heading into the intl break w/ @adjones-journo.bsky.social & @greggevans40.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social - Teams shutting down Gravenberch - Issues out wide & out of possession - Substitution inconsistency www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

For 45 mins, Everton looked laboured & tactically confused. The rejigged setup did not work Then came the HT adjustments & fightback. Alcaraz, in particular, superb This felt like the new stadium's first proper 'Goodison' moment www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool post-match thoughts with @adjones-journo.bsky.social and @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social: - Liverpool errors and Caicedo's rocket - Chelsea's defensive crisis - How did Mamardashvili do? www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Is Antoine Semenyo the best player in the Premier League right now? The Bournemouth star scores with his right foot, scores with his left and is asking every team he faces — including Fulham last night — some serious questions 📝 @anantaajith.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Few better players to watch live in the Premier League right now than Antoine Semenyo Two great goals - one with either foot -, a constant threat with the ball and incredible work-rate without it Simply thrilling @theathleticfc.bsky.social

Everybody's favourite football metric xG drives this week's Alternative PL Table for @theathleticfc.bsky.social A deep dive into how and how well teams create opportunities, where they take their shots from and why some have struggled while others have thrived ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Another reminder last night of the gaps in this Everton squad. West Ham noticeably quicker & sharper in key areas & exploited #EFC's makeshift right flank Diouf, a standout at left back, an example of what Moyes' side are missing @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Pep Guardiola said after City 5-1 Burnley that Nico O'Reilly's run at the start of the 2nd half "sent a message" about their playing style Broke down why that was the case and how O'Reilly symbolizes Guardiola's use of ball-carriers for @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

🔙 Gabriel’s redemption arc 🤔 Why did VAR overturn Gyokeres’ penalty? 💪 Woltemade’s ruthless efficiency After Arsenal's dramatic late comeback win at Newcastle, @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social , Art de Roche & @anantaajith.bsky.social take a look at the talking points ⤵️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Wrote a quick #MCIBUR preview for @fotmob.com, which includes some crazy stats on Erling Haaland's start to the season and City's dominant record against the Clarets: www.fotmob.com/en-GB/topnew...

Nutrition plays a crucial role in performance. Story here on how the Red Roses have tackled nutrition during the Women's Rugby World Cup 🌹🍽️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

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...

Long balls have long been a fruitful strategy to bypass presses But after briefly going out of fashion as controlled possession grew, it's back for good in the PL I break down how each team uses them in this week's Alternative Table for @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Marcus Rashford's Barcelona loan spell has lift-off. Newcastle, in typical fashion, started aggressively, but Barcelona are too good a side to be dominated for long and the moment the visitors were waiting for arrived in the 58th minute from a familiar face. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Newcastle 1-2 Barcelona post-match thoughts with @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social: - Lift-off for Rashford - The Schar question - What did both teams learn? www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

▪️ Where does this leave Thomas Tuchel and England? ▪️ How did Morgan Rogers spark England into life? ▪️ What was the atmosphere like? ▪️ Was this an Anthony Barry masterclass? @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social dissect the main talking points after England's victory in Serbia.

Throughout Ruben Amorim’s tenure, Manchester United’s wide combinations have been present, but other tactical problems, poor execution and the lack of a reliable goalscorer have impacted their productivity. Piece on United's wide combinations involving the No 6. www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

⚫ Averages PL-high 0.21 xG per shot ⚪ Impeccable timing when arriving in the area ⚫ 2nd-most headed goals last season in PL, despite being 5'8" ⚪ Can play with & instead of Woltemade 👀 What Yoane Wissa brings to #NUFC, via @anantaajith.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

Week 3 of the Alternative Premier League Table on @theathleticfc.bsky.social is all about penalties - who's good and bad, who's cycled through multiple takers, who have succeeded in finding one specialist after the other and more ⏬ www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

Nuno Espirito Santo has said his relationship with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has changed since last season and the two are “not so close” anymore. More from @colinmillar.bsky.social ⤵️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

🔺 Who are the best and worst at attacking and defending corners? 🔺 What new tactics were deployed on the opening weekend? 🔺 Who improved & who got worse? @anantaajith.bsky.social breaks it all down in The Alternative Premier League Table ⤵️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Week 2 of the Alternative Premier League table, looking back at which current #PL teams created the most from set-pieces last season and what they repeated/did differently in MW1 Some surprises, interesting routines and a lot more for @theathleticfc.bsky.social 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Rishabh Pant passed 50 for the fifth time on the tour today - effectively batting on one leg. In 2022 his life and career was very different after a car accident left him with serious injuries. This is the story of his comeback. @anantaajith.bsky.social | bit.ly/44Pt6di

As revealed in today's Transfer DealSheet, Arsenal are exploring the addition of a more versatile attacking player, such as Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze or Morgan Rogers. What would Madueke, Eze or Rogers offer Arsenal? 📝 @thom-harris.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social 🔗 bit.ly/4kmYqEH

In the latest Transfers TLDR, @stevemadeley78.bsky.social, @anantaajith.bsky.social and @cweatherspoon.bsky.social explain the deal that saw Rayan Cherki join Manchester City: 🔹 His backstory in 100 words 🔹 How he'll fit into Pep Guardiola's team 🔹 Financial details and PSR impact for both clubs

Welcome to the first edition of The Transfer DealSheet for the 2025 summer window. This is our weekly guide to the transfer market. ■ @david-ornstein.bsky.social's One To Watch ■ Arsenal exploring Leroy Sane option ■ Manchester City exploring Rayan Cherki deal

The second in @theathleticfc.bsky.social Transfers TLDR series went live today, with @caoimhesport.bsky.social @anantaajith.bsky.social and @cweatherspoon.bsky.social outlining all you need to know about Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool.

With the CWC-related transfer window opening yesterday, @cweatherspoon.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social kicked off @theathleticfc.bsky.social transfer coverage with our new Transfer TDLR series, looking at Matheus Cunha to Manchester United.

Adam Wharton's passing playbook: Quick switches of play and a natural eye for progression The England international is the risk taker at the heart of the #CPFC midfield, and key to their approach Analysis from @thom-harris.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Absolutely delighted to have been able to write one of The Athletic's first cricket features - and no one better to write it about than the amazing Virat Kohli! A phenomenal cricketer with a generational body of work in whites to renew global interest in Test cricket when it was ebbing away 💯

Manchester United and Tottenham have played three times this season... and Tottenham have won all three. Ahead of their fourth meeting in the Europa League final, @anantaajith.bsky.social analyses what we can learn from those previous meetings — particularly why United keep losing.

Jules Kounde was the unlikely hero in an epic Copa del Rey final as Barcelona kick-started their treble quest. The key points from a dramatic cup final... 📝 @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social @anantaajith.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

This was originally meant to be a breakdown of what #MUFC did well in the first half But by the time Maguire scored, that idea was long gone So here's a breakdown of those final 11 mins of ET - another nudge to relive the glorious chaos @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/628...

At start of the season, The Athletic’s Opta-powered projections had Manchester City and Real Madrid as the most likely sides to win the Champions League. But Arsenal's steady rise now means they are the tournament favourites, just ahead of Barcelona. ✍️ @anantaajith.bsky.social 🔗 bit.ly/4j7o1S1

A centre-forward tops Arsenal's priority list this summer — but how do those of interest compare? Art de Roché and @anantaajith.bsky.social look at: 🇸🇪 Viktor Gyokeres 🇸🇮 Benjamin Sesko 🇸🇪 Alexander Isak 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ollie Watkins 🇧🇷 Matheus Cunha

Why Andre Onana has been going long with his passes and goal kicks It's not by accident, but a change led by Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff w/ @anantaajith.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...

Chelsea & their move for Geovany Quenda: 🔹 #CFC believe he's one of the top three under-23 wingers in the world 🔹 They want five wingers for the two wide roles 🔹 Left flank is where he'll most likely play 📝 @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social, @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social & @anantaajith.bsky.social

Manchester United needed a big performance — and they got one. A thrilling win over Real Sociedad featured three penalties and a red card - but United also needed a slice of luck at Old Trafford. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/619...

Snap piece with @anantaajith.bsky.social on really impressive win for Barca - with De Jong and Szczesny both showing why Flick has shown such faith in them www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...

Been my favourite centre forward in the Premier League this season. Will do great for England and is key to keeping #ITFC up. Rarely do struggling sides have a striker like him. Great insight here from @dansheldon.bsky.social and @anantaajith.bsky.social

📍Brighton covering #BHACHE for @theathleticfc.bsky.social

Snap piece from Bernabeu with @anantaajith.bsky.social on derbi which had more incident than quality and where Madrid misses mean three-way La Liga title race looks on www.nytimes.com/athletic/611...

Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola: pressing machine, transition monsters and a direct approach on the ball. Analysing their incredible performances this season with @liamtharme.bsky.social #AFCB www.nytimes.com/athletic/609...

Raphinha, Lewandowski and Yamal have become one of Europe's best attacking trios this season. A deep dive into how they work so well together for @theathleticfc.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/609...