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What Is An Inside Forward?

20 Oct, 2025

Gone are the peak years of the archetypal 'big man, little man' strike partnership, where Premier League coaches opted for simplistic attacking pairings based on a tall, physical forward focused on hold-up play, and another set on finishing chances and knock-downs. In the modern era, it's very rare to see a top-level manager utilising two centre forwards at once, not just because this approach can be predictable, but also because it can...

Andoni Iraola Tactics Explained

19 Oct, 2025

When Andoni Iraola was appointed head coach of AFC Bournemouth in the summer of 2023, he was a relatively unknown quantity for many Premier League supporters. La Liga fans were aware of the excellent job he did at Rayo Vallecano — and the same could be said for his stints at Cypriot outfit AEK Larnaca and Spanish side Mirandes — but knowledge of his preferred style of play and specific methods was not widespread. Bournemouth's...

Mikel Arteta Tactics Explained

13 Oct, 2025

Mikel Arteta was still in his mid-thirties when he first started to gain serious respect in coaching circles. After retiring as a player, he took a job alongside Pep Guardiola as an assistant coach at Manchester City and rapidly started absorbing information from the influential Catalan head coach. In his second season at City, Arteta played a key role in helping the East Manchester team become the first side in Premier League history to...

Ange Postecoglou Tactics Explained

08 Oct, 2025

Ange Postecoglou's time at Tottenham Hotspur may have ended in glory — with Spurs lifting their first trophy in 17 years after beating Manchester United in the final of the 2025 Europa League — but domestically, it was a period of continual disappointment. The first Australian (and Greek) manager to take charge of a Premier League outfit, Postecoglou brought excitement and tactical innovation to the English top flight and masterminded some...

Ruben Amorim Tactics: What System Does Amorim Play at Manchester United?

06 Oct, 2025

Like many other managers who have attempted to make their mark in the post-Ferguson era, Ruben Amorim has endured a rocky time in charge of Manchester United. Since taking over the job in November 2024 after Erik Ten Hag’s disappointing tenure came to an end, the Portuguese coach has failed to deliver consistent performances and results that reflect the quality and resources United have at their disposal, with the club's run to the final of...

The Role Of The Deep Lying Playmaker

01 Oct, 2025

Attacking players are uniquely placed to get fans off their seats, bringing stadiums to life with their forward runs, dribbles, crosses, shots, and other assaults on goal. Those involved in creating chances often develop heroic status amongst supporters, particularly if they've got the vision to pick out a particularly special pass or through-ball. Often, these kinds of operators are described as playmakers, referring to their focus on...

What Is PPDA In Football? Passes Per Defensive Action Explained

22 Sep, 2025

A variety of different metrics have emerged in the 21st century to help us understand certain elements of football in greater detail. There are statistics relating to attacking output, such as Expected Goals (xG) or Expected Threat (xT), and those that focus on the defensive side of the game, such as xG blocked. Meanwhile, we also still get plenty of value from more simple stats like possession, pass, tackle or interception count, which...

The Target Man: Football Tactics Explained

05 Sep, 2025

Some of the terms used within football are a little outdated. One of the most positive sporting stories in recent years has been the rise of women's football across the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world, which has brought immense value to many players, fans, coaches, and clubs. However, much of the language that has become commonplace within the traditionally male-dominated sport doesn't reflect the historical presence of women in the...

What Is A High Line In Football? (+ Benefits and Drawbacks Of Using It)

20 Aug, 2025

In recent years, many old-school football pundits have expressed frustration about the ever-growing influence of new terminology like 'high press', 'counter-pressing' and 'transition' in modern football. At their core, these phrases are all about providing people with more precise and technical language to describe footballing actions we sometimes take for granted. But the pushback does reflect how some fans struggle to keep up with the...

What Is An Inverted Winger? (+ Tactical Analysis)

12 May, 2025

Wingers are often the most high-profile players in football. In the modern game, they're at the heart of most deadly attacks, their mixture of skill, speed and clever exploitation of wide space making them some of the trickiest players to deal with on the pitch. But they're also a continuously evolving breed; the days when legendary English wingers like Stanley Matthews were required to simply race up the touchline, paint their boots with...

What Are Patterns Of Play? (And How To Coach Tactical Patterns)

19 Apr, 2025

The vocabulary of football has expanded massively in recent years, with terms like transition , press resistance , and half-space all entering the popular lexicon of the sport and allowing casual fans to impress their friends with technical terms like never before. One of the more simple additions to the way people speak about the sport is the phrase 'patterns of play', which you'll now regularly hear on popular football podcasts or...

Soccer Positions Explained - Complete Guide (2025)

01 Jan, 2025

Sport never stands still for long. The game of soccer is constantly evolving, as coaches, tacticians, and players seek to find new ways to gain an edge over their rivals. One of the key areas in which soccer teams look to gain advantages is by trying out new formations and tactical systems. Soccer formations can vary massively; shapes such as 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 are built on a strong, compact back line, while other formations like 3-4-3...

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