THE LOWDOWN

Mark McGettigan or better known as FPL General within fantasy league circles is an avid player of Fantasy Football and has regularly finished within the top 500 over the past decade. This was an interesting chat with Mark getting to hear his story and some of the foundations behind his success. What's more if you are an avid or casual fantasy league player like me you will enjoy hearing more from Mark on his tactics, plans and strategies for GW4 and beyond. Also listen closely to the dilemna Mark has this week as a certain high valued player makes his long awaited return to the game. Expect to hear more about;- How he got involved playing the game?- Building a foundation for fantasy success.- Try not to get ownership% influencing you.- How many high value assets can you get in one team?- Who are the key players in fantasy football this season?- Personal v Professional conflict in fantasy football.Timestamps;00:00 - 07:46 - Intro07:47 - 13:44 - Fantasy success13:45 - 16:57 - FOMO16:58 - 21:37 - Wildcard21:38 - 24:21 - Professions that do well?24:22 - 30:19 - FutureMark's Twitter; https://twitter.com/FPLGeneral?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorMark's Podcast; https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-ronaldo-worth-taking-a-points-hit-for/id1341747815?i=1000534581959

Phil Denton is the co-author of The First 100 Days: Lessons in Leadership from the Football Bosses. When school headteacher Phil Denton bumped into Tranmere Rovers boss Micky Mellon, the two started swapping stories about their own leadership roles and they knew they had a lot to learn from each other. Thereafter the pair embarked on a journey of discovery interviewing top managers including Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and West Ham’s David Moyes who reveal the inside story of their first days in the job and explain the secret strategies that enabled them to lay the all-important foundations for success. Expect to hear more about;- What it was like to run a school like a football club?- The three p's; Purpose, People & Position- Why did Ole Gunnar Solskjaer literally knock down the walls at Carrington?- The 'burning platform' which David Moyes gave his West Ham players.- How to properly analyze the leadership challenge you walk into?- What are the key differences between coaching and management?Timestamps;00:00 - 05:05 - Intro05:06 - 09:57 - Purpose, People & Position09:58 - 21:17 - Solskjaer21:18 - 26:00 - Dyche26:01 - 31:26 - Moyes31:27 - 36:20 - School Fire Alarm36:21 - 41:50 - ReflectionsPhil's Twitter; https://twitter.com/phildenton81?lang=enThe First 100 Days; https://www.amazon.ae/First-100-Days-Leadership-Football/dp/1911613979

Dennis Lukens is the technical director of FC Dynamic in Ukraine and he has quite the story to tell. Furthermore he is the second ever American to hold a UEFA Pro License. This podcast was a pleasure to record with Dennis as he took us from his childhood playing football in 1950's New York to coaching in the professional game in North America and Europe. Tune in to hear more about Dennis' love for Irish football and his plans to one day be an owner of a League of Ireland team. Expect to hear more about;- Football in 1950's New York- Dennis' move to Ukraine and getting lucky at the 33rd time!- Doing his UEFA Pro Licence with Andriy Shevchenko- Dennis' quest to become an owner of a League of Ireland club- Dennis' advice for anyone chasing after their football dreamTimestamps;00:00 - 12:28 - USA12:29 - 23:26 - Ukraine23:27 - 26:55 - Ireland26:56 - 32:42 - Advice

Danny Maye is the lead senior youth phase coach at Southampton. This discussion is very insightful for anyone who wishes to learn more about the intricacies of working within a Premier League academy. Danny & I take a deep dive on his career to date which at times serves to be a brutally honest self-assessment. Nevertheless Danny imparts plenty of guidance as to how he and Southampton have evolved over time, successfully navigated change, refined their approach and always strive to be better. I really enjoyed this conversation with Danny and know you will too. Expect to hear more about;- The formative experiences behind his coaching career.- Why what value you contribute will always trump which background you come from?- What is so unique about the Southampton way?- The 95% v 5% rule.- What does an interdisciplinary process of working look like?- The common denominator between those that make it as professionals?- Cross pollinating from other sports & industries - is it relevant or effective?Timestamps;00:00 - 05:50 - Intro05:51 - 09:13 - Coaching Pathways09:14 - 16:30 - The Southampton Way16:31 - 22:56 - Holistic Development22:57 - 27:57 - Reflection27:58 - 34:29 - Character34:30 - 42:02 - Change & Evolution

Conor Nestor is the head coach of Cambodian Premier League side; Svay Rieng FC. Recently I was fortunate to speak with Conor about his football journey to date. From being a young boy falling in love with the game in Limerick to managing professionally Conor's story is an inspiration to many. Carving out a career following your passion. Hitting a wall, finding a solution. Remaining true to your values. Being clear on your principles. Whether you geek out on football analytics, love the art of coaching or a football romantic this episode has something for all football fans. This is an insightful and deep exploration into Conor's evolution as a person and coach. Expect to hear more about;- How following his passion led to a career?- The key difference between coaching grassroots and professionally?- How multi-faceted is his role as manager?- Insights into building a title winning team.- How xG saved his job?- How not be constrained by your KPI's?- Getting lost in the work and getting better at it.Timestamps;00:00 - 11:27 - Passion11:28 - 15:34 - Coaching15:35 - 25:27 - Management25:28 - 37:40 - Analysis37:41 - 42:35 - Session Design42:36 - 49:02 - Role Models /Leadership49:03 - 54:02 - Balance54:03 - 59:19 - Future59:20 - 1:06:24 - AdviceConor's Twitter; https://twitter.com/conornestor17?lang=en

Blaine McKenna is a UEFA A Licensed coach who's currently working in Phuket, Thailand. He has been on quite the adventure to date coaching in 11 countries over 5 different continents. In our discussion we focused on Blaine's twin passions, football and psychology. For young coaches out there this is an important conversation about the long road ahead and the challenges you will inevitably encounter. Yet Blaine is here to tell the tale and provides plenty lessons as to how we can all adapt and overcome. Expect to hear more about;- The power of networking- Why is storytelling important?- How to live more in the moment?- Looking at the holistic picture as a coach- What's it like to deliver a coaching session through a translator?- Blaine's evolution as a coach.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:22 - Inspiration04:23 - 10:02 - Perspective10:03 - 20:22 - Blaine's journey20:23 - 26:50 - Coaching practice26:51 - 33:24 - EvolutionBlaine's Twitter; https://twitter.com/BlaineMcKenna77?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorBlaine's Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/bmck77/?hl=en

I was delighted to sit down recently and record with one of my favourite authors; Sam Walker. Sam’s extensive research on leadership has reshaped many peoples thoughts including my own on sculpting a team. 'The Captain's Class' is a book which will certainly stand the test of time. Here in this hour long conversation Sam debunks the myths and fallacies over what true leadership looks like, describing some of the characteristics we come to eulogize Tier One captains by. Furthermore we also discuss how his research has influenced important decisions taken by Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel in recent times. Expect to hear more about;- How this was the outcome of 14 years of extensive research!- Sam's consensus as to why there is such a diverse range of Tier One teams?- How much at odds is this idea of leadership with today's individual powered society?- Can a star player also be the key leader?- Insights into the selection process of Harry Kane as Gareth Southgate's captain.- Why exactly are dynasties so rare?- How transferable are these lessons to the business world? Timestamps;00:00 - 06:42 - Intro06:43 - 15:49 - Carrying Water15:50 - 23:48 - Intelligent Fouls23:49 - 36:26 - Leadership Vacuums36:27 - 41:48 - Why dynasties fail41:49 - 51:30 - Intentional Leadership51:31 - 58:48 - Sport v BusinessSam's Twitter; https://twitter.com/samwalkers?lang=enSam's Website; https://bysamwalker.com/

Rhys Carr is a UEFA A Licensed individual development coach who's most recent role was at Sheffield United. If you are inclined like me and enjoy the finer intricacies of the game then sit back and listen to an expert from his field. Rhys opens up on his coaching journey to date divulging insights as to what it takes to make it the top. Furthermore he discusses how coaches can help improve that transition for players between passion and profession. What struck me about Rhys was his curiosity, thirst for knowledge and hunger for improvement. We close speaking about the future game and what this requires of the future coach. Expect to hear more about;- The cultural evolution of youth development.- Reflections upon his time at Sheffield United. - The two core tenets behind his individual development philosophy?- What lies behind the art of coaching?- How to improve the transition between passion & profession?- Aligning individual development plans to your game model.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:28 - Intro04:29 - 10:51 - Sheffield United10:52 - 20:55 - The Philosophy20:56 - 28:36 - Individual within the Game Model28:37 - 34:15 - Principles v Matchday34:16 - 39:36 - AdviceRhys' Twitter; https://twitter.com/rhyscarr86?lang=en

Dalibor Plavsic is an analyst with the Canadian men's national team. Yet who is he and how did he get here? In this episode Dalibor gives us an insight into the power of the beautiful game. We speak about the unifying power football can have on a country, best coaching practices, how principles have usurped systems and what he thinks the future of the game ought to look like. From escaping the Yugoslavia war as a young refugee, arriving in Canada to now working with the national team on the verge of making history, this is his story. Expect to hear more about;- How football helped to integrate Dalibor within society? - Why football is increasingly becoming a game of principles and not systems? - The art of coaching beyond “what & if scenarios?”- Embracing chaos in session design.- Insights into the analysis process within the Canadian men's national team.- What is so special about the culture within the Canadian setup?- Dalibor's thoughts as to what the future game of football looks like? Timestamps;00:00 - 07:52 - Unifying power of football07:53 - 13:30 - Principles > Systems13:31 - 20:52 - Embracing chaos20:53 - 28:30 - The player28:31 - 35:32 - Analysis35:33 - 41:07 - The future game41:08 - 44:09 - AdviceDalibor's Twitter; https://twitter.com/DaliborPlavsic_

We have a special episode this week as we gear up for the EURO 2020 Final between Italy & England. We discuss everything including;- Why this maybe our favourite international tournament ever?- The tactical trends which have defined Euro 2020.- How top level football is increasingly becoming more and more about systems?- Which key spaces Italy & England will look to dominate on Sunday? -What is so special about this group of England players?- Our picks for moment, performance, player & team of the tournament.Timestamps;00:00 - 09:57 - Tactical Trends09:58 - 23:53 - Final Preview23:54 - 33:05 - England33:06 - 46:16 - Moments of the tournament46:17 - 56:49 - Team of the tournament