The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast Underrated Premier League players & formation changes
Dec 24, 2025
Join Michael Cox, a revered football tactics writer, Liam Tharme, a savvy tactics and data journalist, and Mark Carey, a tactical insight expert, as they dive into the nuanced world of Premier League strategies. They explore the intriguing history of the Christmas Tree formation, how it fits into modern football, and identify underrated players like Dewsbury-Hall and Joao Gomes. The trio also debates the merits of basketball-style substitutions, tackling injury risks and tactical adjustments in the fast-paced game.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Limits Of The Christmas Tree Shape
- The Christmas tree (4-3-2-1) lets you fit more creative number 10s onto the pitch but sacrifices natural width.
- Michael Cox warns it often works better on paper than in modern transition-heavy football.
How City Make Narrow Shapes Work
- Manchester City have used a narrow Christmas-tree-like setup to overload midfield and then flip width in the final third.
- Liam Tharme notes the shape succeeds because City can stretch and underlap once in the opponent half.
Formation Names And Old Debates
- Michael Cox recalls older era formation names like the pyramid and the Christmas tree's visual appeal.
- He also remembers debates about including the goalkeeper as 'one' in formation notation at academy level.