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PODCAST

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

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 of the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

sports soccer,

All Episodes

48:37

Man City vs Arsenal: The lowest quality title decider...

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/04/16

This week, there’s only one story in town — the Premier League title clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.Can Mikel Arteta finally get the better of his old mentor?Or will Pep Guardiola pull yet another tactical rabbit out of his hat?Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey & Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou, Si Watts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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34:25

Who has the best attack in Europe?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/04/09

This week, we’re diving into the world of attacking partnerships.How have roles at the top of the pitch changed over time?And must all attackers be able to defend?Host: Matt Davies-AdamsGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey & Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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38:38

Man United & England: How to build a complete midfield

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/04/02

This week, we’re discussing midfield combinations.From your creators, to destroyers; how do player roles complement each other?Let’s build a complete midfield!Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey & Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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36:24

The impact of football’s relentless schedule

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/03/26

This week, we’re discussing football’s relentless schedule.What impact is it having on players and matches?And… can we measure whether football is actually more intense than it used to be?Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey & Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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36:01

Have Premier League clubs really struggled in Europe?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/03/19

This week, we’re discussing an enthralling round of Champions League Round of 16 ties.From Premier League struggles and Pep Guardiola’s European record, to how good Bayern Munich and Real Madrid really are.Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey & Duncan AlexanderProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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48:58

Varying fortunes of recent managerial hires

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/03/12

In this episode, we’re discussing whether the appointments of Liam Rosenior at Chelsea, Michael Carrick at Manchester United and Igor Tudor at Tottenham Hotspur have paid off or not.What have they changed at their respective clubs, and are they better off for it?Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Cerys Jones.Producer: Steve Hankey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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38:09

Are football's new laws overcomplicating the game?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/03/05

This week, we’re discussing football’s new rules!We’ll talk the increased remit of VAR, throw-in countdowns and our own suggestions for new football laws.Host: Duncan AlexanderGuests: Michael Cox, Mark CareyProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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33:24

The evolution of wingers, club DNA & tactical fouls

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/02/26

It’s mailbag time!On this episode we’ll discuss:Wingers, penalty rebounds, tactical fouls and much more!Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey, Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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38:02

Arsenal's attacking woes & a proper relegation battle

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/02/19

It’s February — and we have real jeopardy in both the Premier League title race and relegation battle.So this week, we’ll discuss the tactics we have seen, and will see from the teams at the top and bottom of the table.Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey, Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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37:42

Premier League trends: How to break down low blocks

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/02/12

This week — we’re talking tactical trends… from low blocks, to headed clearances and the return of long-range screamers.Host: Michael BaileyGuests: Michael Cox, Mark Carey, Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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36:46

A cold, windy night in Stoke: How weather impacts...

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/02/05

This week — we’re diving into the world of weather.How do the elements impact what happens on the pitch?From the rainy, cold and windy nights at Stoke.To the scorching heat of the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.We’ll discuss it all.Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Conor O'NeillProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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33:44

Does the Premier League have an open-play goal problem?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/01/29

Arsenal are top of the Premier League, but only seventh for open play xG.So is that a Mikel Arteta issue - or a league-wide one?Host: Duncan AlexanderWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Ahmed WalidProducer: Mike StavrouWe’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26. Three lucky entries will win $/£100 worth of Amazon vouchers too. So whether you’re a long-time listener or a new one, we want your feedback. Go to:

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37:42

No sweet home: Is 'home advantage' fading?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/01/22

This week, we’re diving into the world of home and away - discussing the tactical differences between performing in front of your own fans, and taking to the road.What are the key elements to playing on home turf, and how does it impact what happens on the pitch?Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam TharmeProducer: Mike StavrouWe’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26. Three lucky entries will win $/£100

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35:30

A stat for every Premier League club

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/01/15

We’re more than halfway through the Premier League season.So this week, we’ll use our good old friend data to assess the main talking point for all 20 clubs.Host: Duncan AlexanderWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey, Liam Tharme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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37:21

How to fix Man United in the short term

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2026/01/08

This week, there’s only one topic in town: Manchester United Football Club.Ruben Amorim’s gone, so how do they go about replacing him — both in the short, and long term?And how does any club figure out its managerial appointments, from caretaker and interim bosses to those all-in project managers.Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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28:33

Underrated Premier League players & formation changes

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2025/12/24

This week — we’re opening our festive mailbag!We discuss the Christmas tree formation, teams who should change systems,basketball-style substitutions and more.Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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28:08

Who has the most settled squad in the Premier League?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2025/12/18

This week — we’re talking the tactics of squad rotation…Who are the most and least stable Premier League clubs in how they use their players?And does stability equal success?Host: Michael BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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36:15

Has Salah actually declined?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2025/12/11

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 BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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36:57

Who are the Premier League's most versatile players?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2025/12/04

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 BaileyGuests: Liam Tharme, Michael Cox, Cerys JonesProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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37:32

Can Spurs and Frank make it work?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast ·

2025/11/27

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 BaileyWith: Michael Cox, Duncan Alexander and Liam TharmeProducer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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548 results

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