The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

Are Man City simply playing against themselves now, did Lukaku have a point about Tuchel's system and why are Arsenal better in Aubameyang's absence?The Athletic's Michael Cox and Mark Carey once again open their notebooks and re-join host Ali Maxwell, following a busy period of festive football, to assess the state of play in key areas of the Premier League table in 2022... Is the title race already over, will Burnley's relegation record count for anything this season and has Ralf Rangnick actually improved Manchester United at all? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ali Maxwell. Mark Carey and John Muller are on a mission. A mission to go through the Premier League and identify a position and transfer for each team. It's a data scouting special! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic's tactics writer Michael Cox and data analytics writer Mark Carey join host Ali Maxwell for a festive dissection of the 'Christmas Tree' Formation... They trace it's roots from Crystal Palace in the 1970's, Ancelotti's fabled 80's Milan teams, through to Terry Venables 90's England and all the way to modern day Aston Villa and new manager Steven Gerrard. The trio debate its strengths and weakness, and even pick their own 'Xmas Tree PL XI' - one player per club rule! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic's newest signing and data analytics writer, John Muller, makes his podcast debut alongside Michael Cox and host Ali Maxwell, to discuss the growing trend of UNDER-lapping full-backs... The trio explore what it means to underlap both laterally and diagonally, who the real pioneers of this tactical evolution are and why more and more coaches are setting up their teams in this way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic's Michael Cox and Mark Carey, join host Ali Maxwell to discuss what incoming manager Ralf Rangnick's Manchester United may look like from a tactical perspective... The trio assess what they can learn from his old Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig sides and reflect on the nuanced differences between pressing and Rangnick's notorious 'gegenpressing' ideals.Plus, why the age profile of the current Manchester United squad adds another layer of interest to Ralf's appointment and which players might be the biggest winners and losers of his reign at Old Trafford... cough, Donny van de Beek, cough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic's Michael Cox, Mark Carey and host Ali Maxwell are joined by German football expert Raphael Honigstein as their European tour extends to Germany... Rafa guides the trio through Bayern's latest anti-vaxx headache and how Jude Bellingham is carrying an entire Borussia Dortmund midfield at just 18 years old!Plus, more on RB Leipzig's identity crisis, why Freiburg are the 'neutrals darlings' and why Union Berlin manager Urs Fischer and Sean Dyche need to grab a pint/stein together sometime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic's Michael Cox, Mark Carey and host Ali Maxwell, continue their survey of Europe's major leagues - Next stop, Spain, as Dermot Corrigan guides them through an usually chaotic start to this La Liga season...Together they explore why Klopp's recent criticism of Diego Simeone's Atletico was way off the mark, how much harm the Newcastle links have done to Unai Emery at Villarreal, if Barcelona youngsters Pedri and Gavi can form a similar partnership to the one their new manager Xavi had with Iniesta, why Vinicius Jr. needs confidence, not tactics, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The now Germany-bound Tom Worville stopped off in Milton Keynes with host Ali Maxwell for one last interview with MK Dons Sporting Director Liam Sweeting...Liam reveals how data contributed to an emergency manager search when Russell Martin departed for Swansea a week before the new League One season, how the Dons average as much possession as PSG, what midfielder Scott Twine has in common in Messi and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic's Michael Cox and host Ali Maxwell are joined by James Horncastle to discuss Jose Mourinho's latest vendetta with the Italian referees, what Juventus and Manchester United have in common, Milan's best start to a domestic season since the 50s and a Venetian Xmas Tree...Plus, how Diego Simeone's son has become Europe's hottest striker, why Fiorentina's starting XI is perennially changing, how Atalanta keep on surprising us and much much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Tom Worville's last podcast (before leaving us to join RB Leipzig!) host Ali Maxwell and The Athletic's Michael Cox, join him to reflect on the continued rise of data and analytics in football journalism and Tom's pioneering work in the field...From xG going mainstream, 'field tilt' being referenced on MNF, 'translating' the language of football data, the remaining 'blindspots' in the profession and even some advice for aspiring analytics writers - we say a fond farewell to Tom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices