The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast Why has this season started so slowly?
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Sep 18, 2025 This week’s conversation dives into the startlingly low Premier League goal count, with only 19 goals across 20 matches. The hosts explore how the influx of new signings may be disrupting team cohesion and attacking strategies. They highlight specific examples from clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea, showcasing integration challenges and tactical shifts. A lively quiz adds fun, while discussions around coaching dynamics, squad size, and player fit provide deeper insights into the current season's sluggish start.
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New Attacking Lines Take Time
- Many top teams changed fundamental attacking personnel this summer, creating unfamiliarity in the final third.
- That turnover helps explain a higher early-season clean-sheet rate and fewer goals so far.
Churn Harms Points Only Modestly
- Squad churn's effect on points is weaker than intuition suggests, with large churn costing roughly two points on average.
- Club context and role of new players matter more than churn alone.
Brentford's Two Key Departures
- Brentford lost both of last season's top scorers and still haven't settled their replacements three games in.
- That double departure left their attack destabilised and searching for combinations.