The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

Long throws & tall No.9s: The Premier League goes old school

34 snips
Aug 21, 2025
Michael Cox, a renowned football tactics writer, joins Mark Carey and Liam Tharme from The Athletic’s data department to discuss the Premier League's nostalgic return to classic football. They dive into the rising prominence of long throw-ins and traditional No. 9s, exploring how newly promoted teams are making their mark. The trio debates the changing nature of physicality in football, with a focus on striker roles and recruitment strategies, challenging the myth that taller players always have the edge. Tune in for tactical insights that remind us of the game's roots!
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INSIGHT

English Game Retains Direct DNA

  • English football still shows a distinct direct, physical style despite extreme internationalisation of the Premier League.
  • That old-school tendency appears to be resurfacing in parts of the league this season.
INSIGHT

Box Throw-Ins Spiked On Opening Weekend

  • Mark Carey found 28 attacking-quarter box throw-ins in gameweek one, more than any week back to 2018-19 in their dataset.
  • That spike suggests a genuine uptick in long throw usage across many teams this opening weekend.
INSIGHT

In-Swinging Corners Became Dominant

  • Premier League clubs massively increased in-swinging corners last season, hitting around 60% of deliveries.
  • That shift is notably a Premier League phenomenon not mirrored across Serie A or Bundesliga.
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