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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

The Athletic
Premier League
Manchester City
Football Tactics
Bernardo Silva
Aston Villa
Liverpool
Coaching Strategies
Match Tactics
Substitutions
Fullbacks
Chelsea
Plan B
Evolving Strategies
Game Management
Pressing Tactics
UEFA Champions League
Player Profiles
Women's Sports Coverage
PSG
Crystal Palace

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... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes289Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

Latest Episodes

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 Co... more

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 Alexande... more

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

Pr... more

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 ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ian Graham
Former Director of Research at Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC
Episode: The secrets behind football's data pioneers
Sarah Rudd
Former Head of Analytics at Arsenal FC and now CEO of SRC Football
SRC Football
Episode: The secrets behind football's data pioneers
Bob Bruyne
Technical Director of the Flemish Football Association, with years of experience in coaching and player development
Belgian FA
Episode: How Belgium marched to world number one
Ruben Jongkind
Former head of talent development at Ajax.
Episode: How Cruyff inspired Ajax's rebirth
Jacob Whitehead
Frequent contributor and writer for The Athletic.
The Athletic
Episode: How Cruyff inspired Ajax's rebirth
Liam Tharme
Tactics expert and contributor to The Athletic.
The Athletic
Episode: How Cruyff inspired Ajax's rebirth
Paul Power
Director of AI at Skillcorner
Skillcorner
Episode: How data and AI is shaping football
Nedim Anouar
Former Manchester City defender and contributor to the discussion on centre-backs
Episode: Building the ideal modern day centre-back
Art de Roché
Special guest Arsenal writer
The Athletic
Episode: How do teams cope without their star players?

Hosts

Michael Bailey
Host of the show, leading discussions on football tactics.
Michael Cox
Renowned football tactics writer and analyst.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Good

    Michael Cox could change his attitude, and not always say that some team is bad or dull, thats not what to do on an informative podcast. Hoever, the teactics and analysis is still pretty good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aiden chen harry potter
    United States7 months ago
  • I miss football

    What has this world come to ? People get so obsessed with tactics ! Its just so ridiculous people making content out of stupid data and stats . Really makes me angry

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Don’t change footy
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • If you want a competitive utopia…

    Great ep lads.

    Just on something that came up in the latest episode: the Scottish championship might be the best league in Europe for competition.

    Everything that is said about the English champ about competition and exciting is also true of the Scottish champ, but for the opposite reason.

    My team, Morton, finished two points off of 2nd and 6 off first. We didn’t even finish in the playoffs…

    The games might not have an incredible standard, but they’re always exciting, full of scraps and c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D.Adams02
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Love of data 🤝🏻 Love of football

    I love hearing you guys talk. Your passion for data, football and communicating your findings really comes through. Naturally I gravitate towards the teams and leagues I am interested in but even when I am willing to stretch to unfamiliar topics, I find myself getting rewarded and come away from episodes with a better knowledge of the game.

    One minor gripe I do have though is that whoever is mixing the audio needs to turn on - or dial up - the compression. This will help with minimising the pe... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Nathan_robbo
    Australiaa year ago
  • When did Michael Cox become insufferable?

    I used to love Michael’s analysis when he was humble 20 something writing about football (I found him in the build up to the 2010 World Cup), now he talks as if reclined on his throne, casually tossing out the final word on any given player or performance.

    3 stars for the show, they rest of the team still gives it a decent go.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nico_laos
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many listeners express enjoyment of the hosts' insights and the informative nature of episodes, while a few suggest improvements in audio quality and pacing.
Critiques include a desire for more varied content and less focus on statistics, which some find overwhelming or off-putting.
Listeners appreciate the deep tactical analysis and passion for data and football provided by the hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#159
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#18
India/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#26
South Korea/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#39
Ukraine/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#84
Japan/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#96
Russia/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mavericks, Donnarumma & are Arsenal too cautious?
Q: Is Mikel Arteta too cautious in his approach?
While there are instances of caution in Arteta's strategy, it is important to consider the context of each match, particularly in challenging away games.
Mavericks, Donnarumma & are Arsenal too cautious?
Q: How do you think the Womens Super League has changed tactically over the last five years?
The Women's Super League has become more systemized and competitive, resulting in players being less dominant individually compared to five years ago.
Mavericks, Donnarumma & are Arsenal too cautious?
Q: Do you think we will ever see Maverick players trusted again?
While the conversation has often pointed towards the loss of unpredictable players due to structured tactics, there is a sense that a backlash against complete positional play could open space for creativity.
Why Amorim's Man United system isn't working
Q: Are there key tactical differences beneath the surface, or has the system become outdated in the modern Premier League?
The system lacks the element of surprise it once had, as teams have adapted to facing it, and the player quality in Manchester United does not match the success of previous implementations.
Why Amorim's Man United system isn't working
Q: What position or maybe positions are most important in Ruben Amorim's system, you know, as and when he wants it to function well?
You need high quality wing backs to play the system effectively, particularly in creating balance and providing attacking options.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

What is The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show provides in-depth discussions on football tactics and analysis, aimed at listeners looking to enhance their understanding of the sport. The hosts engage in lively debates about current trends, team strategies, and individual player performances, often drawing on statistical data to support their insights. Unique to this show is the combination of tactical knowledge with a narrative that is accessible to both casual fans and more knowledgeable audiences. The discussions not only cover prominent leagues like the Premier League but also delve into international competitions like the Champions League, making it relevant throughout the football calendar.

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast:

1. Tifo Football Podcast
2. The Athletic FC Podcast
3. The Totally Football Show with James Richardson
4. Football Weekly
5. The Game

How many episodes of The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast are there?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 289 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast?

Recent guests on The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast include:

1. Ian Graham
2. Sarah Rudd
3. Bob Bruyne
4. Ruben Jongkind
5. Jacob Whitehead
6. Liam Tharme
7. Paul Power
8. Nedim Anouar

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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