The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

This week — we’re talking about the tactics surrounding player power. Can stars be given total freedom, or is the collective more important? Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we run through some of the high profile players to have switched positions in the Premier League recently. Also - what makes players flexible? And who excels in multiple roles? Host: Michael Bailey Guests: Liam Tharme, Michael Cox, Cerys Jones Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week — we’re discussing how managers make the jump from a relatively small club, to one of the big guns, and with a particular focus on Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur. Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Duncan Alexander and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week - we’re asking if defence really wins you titles. Should you build your team around a solid defence — or a free-flowing attack? Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Duncan Alexander and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re tackling the defensive midfield position. How has it evolved, who does it best and why are they suddenly scoring loads of goals? Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox and Mark Carey  Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Champions League returned this week with some huge clashes and intriguing results.  So, at the halfway point of the league phase — how are the favourites shaping up, and who has caught our eye on Europe’s biggest stage? Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producers: Mike Stavrou, Ben Green & Steve Hankey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

The defending Premier League champions have lost four league matches in a row. So, where is it going wrong for Arne Slot’s Liverpool — and crucially, how do they fix their issues? Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This season there have been zero instances of teams starting with a 4-4-2 in the Premier League.  In the late 2000s the majority of teams lined up in a 4-4-2 - but since then, that figure has been steadily dropping. We find out why. Host: Michael Bailey With: Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and Michael Cox Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iconic former Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan sat down with The Athletic's Jordan Campbell to discuss playing under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, City's treble-winning team and his future plans. With: Jordan Campbell & İlkay Gündoğan Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producers: Mike Stavrou and Paul Iliffe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomas Tuchel’s England team selection for the wins over Wales and Latvia got us thinking about star players and their value. Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish were left out of the squad by Tuchel, despite their “star status”. When building a team, what is the priority; star players, or players who fit the system? Host: Michael Bailey With: Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and Michael Cox Produ...

Today we’re discussing the evolution of goalkeeper distribution.  Are teams actually going long more often, and how is it changing the game? Host: Duncan Alexander  With: Michael Cox and Mark Carey  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we tackle the Premier League’s promoted clubs – who collectively, so far this season, are flying.  How are they doing it and more importantly, can they sustain it? Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pep Guardiola’s defensive tactics in Manchester City’s Premier League draw at Arsenal last weekend caused quite the stir. Was it a one off? Or has Guardiola’s philosophy been slowly changing in front of our eyes? Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6633559/2025/09/16/premier-league-signings-goals/   Hosted on...

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 Alexander is joined by Mark Carey and Liam Tharme to discuss. Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted...

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 Producer: Mike Stavrou & Paul Iliffe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re charting the journey from academy to first team football. What are the main tactical challenges in making the jump, and how has the transition changed over time? Host: Michael Bailey With: Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One week of the Premier League season down, 37 to go. And today we’re asking whether the English top flight has gone old school … with more long throw-ins than ever, “proper” No.9s and promoted sides threatening to be competitive… Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast.  We’re kickstarting the new season with our big Premier League preview show. We’ll analyse the key tactical talking points, managerial changes and the new entrants to the English top flight. Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On episode five of Football Architects we look at how England changed their fortunes from tournament failures to final makers - and in the women's case, winners. Hear from the man who brought about the culture change and brought back pride to the Three Lions. Every episode will also have a written piece on the website, which we will link here Host: Michael Bailey With: Jacob Whitehead and Liam Tha...

On episode four of Football Architects, we hear from the architects of the data world, who have worked for the biggest football clubs in England. Every episode will also have a written piece on the website, which we will link below. Host: Michael Bailey With: Jacob Whitehead and Mark Carey Producer: Mike Stavrou https://pod.fo/e/2fe33b   https://pod.fo/e/2fe34e   Hosted on Acast. See aca...

On episode three of Football Architects, we’re focusing on international football's great over-performers, Croatia. We’ll hear from Romeo Jozak, the former academy head and technical director of Dinamo Zagreb and technical director of Croatia from 2013-17. Every episode will also have a written piece on the website, which we will link below. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6445372/2025/07/17...

On episode two of Football Architects, we’re focusing on the rise that took a stagnant Belgium to number one in FIFA’s world rankings. We’ll hear about how they established a footballing DNA, and created a team of legendary players such as Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and many more.  Every episode will also have a written piece on the website, which we will link below. https://www.nytimes.co...

Welcome to Football Architects - a summer series for The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast.  Over the next five weeks, we’ll tell the stories of esteemed footballing nations and clubs, speaking to the unsung heroes who changed history. Today’s episode is focused on Ajax’s rebirth and how the club was rebuilt in the image of legendary figure Johan Cruyff. Host Michael Bailey will be joined by The At...