Talking Tactics

Talking Tactics discuss Liverpool beating Chelsea, the Havertz and Mount dynamic, are we bullying Kepa, and where Mane ranks in the PL? Tottenham scored five against Southampton, should Mourinho get credit, and did Bale's arrival have any influence? Manchester United lost to Crystal Palace. Why would anyone want Alvaro Morata? Setien sued Barcelona. Apparently, there's no racism in France (despite...

Talking Tactics discuss whether Chelsea fans should let go of their Willian slander after his Arsenal debut? In 2020: How old is 30 really? Why does Mourinho picks these XIs? Vardy/Drogba. Even as they spend money, can you be happy as a Chelsea supporter with Kepa in goal? In France: PSG are off to a bad start, will it last? Also, Neymar claims he was racially abused, so we investigate the nature...

Talking Tactics discuss the close of this chapter in Lionel Messi's Barcelona saga. We do our 2020/21 season preview. Who will win the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, and Ligue 1? In the EPL, who gets top four, and who is relegated? Who wins the 2020/21 Champions League? We go through transfers like James to Everton, and have items like Greenwood and Foden's Icelandic adventures, cor...

Talking Tactics discuss the fallout of Lionel Messi asking to be released from his Barcelona contract. Has Messi reached his limit, or is this political manoeuvring? Is it worth it for Barcelona to make this difficult? And how big would his loss be for the club? Thiago Silva is a Chelsea player: can having an elder as a centre-back work? Donny van de Beek to Manchester United? We close with Lyon 3...

Talking Tactics discuss 2020 Champions League final. Did Neymar flop, and if so, was that more a personal issue, or something Bayern caused? Mbappe is just 21, but perhaps he might be too aware of that for his own good. It is fair to slam Paris-Saint Germain when we know just how great this Bayern Munich team has been? In addition: Ronald Koeman has taken over Barcelona. We share some poverty stor...

Talking Tactics discuss Manchester City's exit in the Champions League quarter-finals vs. Lyon. Will Guardiola out-thinking himself in big games turn his project sour, and what should happen moving forward? We move to Atletico Madrid, discussing whether Simeone can continue to be a pragmatist in an ever-changing landscape. Did Have Hope have hope for PSG vs. Atalanta? Then we take your questions o...

In this Talking Tactics emergency communication, we discuss the shocking result in Lisbon, where Bayern Munich dispatched of Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final 8-2. Barcelona head coach Quique Setién and technical director Eric Abidal have already been casualties after the result, so we investigate what happened in the game, and what should happen with Barcelona moving forward. Specif...

Talking Tactics are joined by Forward to discuss the merits of Frank Lampard's Chelsea. How should success be defined this season? How will new signings alter the team, and for whom would Forward swap Lampard? This leads us to Juventus hiring Andrea Pirlo as head coach. Why is former legends coaching clubs they played for a trend? How should we feel about Sarri, and why does France get three Champ...

Talking Tactics are joined by Paul Ansorge (of No Question About That) to discuss Arsenal winning the FA Cup final over Chelsea (but before, a pre-podcast conversation on what makes a great season). We then tackle Jadon Sancho's proposed move to Manchester United. Why is Conte always complaining? Paul talks about his love for cricket, and we answer some questions about what we've learned is necess...

Talking Tactics discuss Juventus winning their ninth consecutive Serie A title. The Premier League's Top 4 race is decided, but should it be roundly celebrated by Chelsea and Manchester United, knowing how bad their seasons were? Top 5 EPL champions. Should Jordan Henderson be winning individual awards? Mbappe is out for three weeks. Havertz, Sancho, and Osimhen looked ready to move. You guys aske...

Talking Tactics discuss Real Madrid winning La Liga, what it means for Zidane, and how Barcelona should respond. Arsenal beat Manchester City. Chelsea beat Manchester United. We investigate how the London clubs beat their Manchester rivals in the FA Cup, getting into the particulars on Mikel Arteta, Frank Lampard, David de Gea, and the head trauma suffered by Eric Bailly. The 2020 Ballon d'Or has...

Talking Tactics are joined by Neeks (of Neeks Sports) to discuss Manchester City's Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling, and what it means for Financial Fair Play. We then talk about Neeks' club Manchester United, their 2-2 draw vs. Southampton, and the Top 4 ramifications. The North London Derby was eventful, we discuss Arsenal's predicament. Then we look at La Liga, break down the UEFA Champion...

Talking Tactics discuss Mourinho and the bust-up between Lloris and Son. How great has this Liverpool season been in relation to other great seasons from the past? Bartomeu says VAR has favored Real Madrid against Barcelona, is he right? Osimhen may be moving to Napoli, but is it the right move for the Nigerian striker? We also take your questions on a few things as well. - Check our Patreon page,...

Talking Tactics discuss Liverpool being crowned Premier League champions: What are the pitfalls, and how should a city celebrate something they've been without for three decades? What are the issues at Barcelona? Has Zidane forged a reputation as an effective manager? If Juventus are willing to pay Buffon, should he refuse their money? Then we take your questions on football in the United States,...

Talking Tactics discuss Jose Mourinho's striker rant, the state of Arsenal Football Club, Kante's new role, Liverpool's boring draw vs. Everton, and the WLM banner flown over the Etihad before Manchester City baptised Burnley 5-0. Among other things, we take your questions on Phil Foden, whether an individual should be blamed for a team's performance, and who is better: Messi or Maradona? - Check...

Talking Tactics discuss the return of the Premier League. How do we think things will look? What does having #BlackLivesMatter on the back of football shirts do, and it is productive? What does Kick It Out (the anti-racist organization)actually do, and how effective is their activism? What would a boycott of players look like? Also, why doesn't Eden Hazard shoot more? Have Hope tells us a rugby ta...

Talking Tactics are joined by Scams (of the Shirtless Plantain Show) to discuss Man United 1-0 Man City. Has Ole turned the ship, and when is Guardiola's next sabbatical? Chelsea beat Everton 4-0. We discuss the affect the new coronavirus is having on Italian football (and increasingly European football). Juventus v Inter Milan was played behind closed doors, Inter didn't show up. We skim the Cham...

Talking Tactics discuss Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona. What was Quique Setien thinking? Are we seeing Lionel Messi's decline, and Have Hope ponders why people seem to be enjoying that idea. Is it right to be harsh with Vinicius, considering he's 19? Juventus and Inter didn't play, why not? Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich was eventful. In England, Liverpool lost their invincible streak, losing 0-3 to Watfor...

Talking Tactics discuss Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham. Is Mourinho making himself a clown with his excuses, or do they make sense? What is up with VAR? Should Ederson take penalties for Manchester City? We predict the rest of Liverpool's schedule. Messi scored four for Barcelona, and Eden Hazard is injured again for Real Madrid. Haaland and Lewandowski peak our interest, again, in the Bundesliga, and did...

Talking Tactics are joined by NiiNii FC of BlueLionsTV (who joins around 40:00) to discuss Chelsea 0-2 Manchester United. Does Lampard know his best XI, and thoughts on the striker situation. What's holding back Man United? Man City's ban. Have Arsenal found something? Should Liverpool attractiveness matter? Barca using unknown rules. Hazard is disrespected. Haaland scores again. PSG draw 4-4, and...

Talking Tactics discuss the Milan Derby. The rise of Romelu Lukaku. Ighalo to Manchester United. Chelsea, Kepa, and good goalkeepers. The Champions League Round of 16 preview. Who were our first favourite footballers? How good is Jordan Henderson? Then we take your questions on whether this Liverpool side are a template for future clubs, Zlatan, and Real Madrid v Manchester City amongst other thin...

Talking Tactics discuss whether the combination of Sarri and Ronaldo are a match for Juventus. What is the bigger issue at Barcelona, talent or mentality? Should Diego Simeone leave Atletico Madrid after almost 10 years in charge? Erling Haaland now has five goals in two games (all off the bench), will Have Hope give him his credit? Chelsea are a mess. Then your questions on analytics, England's N...

Talking Tactics discuss Liverpool 2-0 Man United. Are teams beating themselves before they play Liverpool, and could that mean an unbeaten season? Chelsea lost to Newcastle, we critique Lampard's management and tactics. Also, why blame Kante? Where should Cavani go, and who should want him? Haaland scored a hat-trick on his BVB debut. Have Hope wants to debate Casemiro v Fabinho. Then we take ques...

Talking Tactics discuss Barcelona sacking Ernesto Valverde. What should Barca do with Luis Suarez out for four months? Should Federico Valverde have taken out Morata, and is it comparable to Suarez's handball v Ghana? Are super cups relevant? As Liverpool keep winning, should we question the Premier League's merit? If so, what leagues are safe? Can 29-year-old Hazard be in a "new generation?" Also...

Talking Tactics discuss whether meaningful transfers can happen in January. Paul Pogba and Manchester United seem broken. Is it time for the central midfielder to go, and what should United do in that event? Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick in Serie A, we let Have Hope jump in his bag. Why judging players is relative. The Chinese Super League have imposed salary limits. Then your questions on Lu...