Michael Carrick made one huge gamble in midweek but had doubled down away to high rollers Chelsea. A Ronaldo-less Manchester United looked organized out of possession, as Thomas Tuchel’s team struggled for clear openings throughout the game, despite their dominance. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.  United need their Tuchel moment. Gone is the […]

While known more for their extravagant spending, Chelsea are in fact built on a youth academy that is simply one of the best in Europe. While these products did not get to turn out for the first team till a fortuitous transfer window ban, two seasons were enough to demonstrate the kind of talent that […]

Thanks to their trademark pressing and transitions, Liverpool eventually cut through and punished an Arsenal team devoid of a game plan. Once Jürgen Klopp’s team found their formula, they relentless carved through Arsenal’s defensive block, in desperate need of structure in the big matches. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.  Considering the trajectories of […]

Any clash with Belgium is sure to increase the heart rates of the Welsh fans, bringing back memories from their EURO 2016 campaign. Even though the performance levels have fallen quite a bit ever since, they still managed to get the result they needed to ensure qualification for the play-offs to qualify for the 2022 […]

How do you crack a disciplined, determined 4-4-2 block? In the ultimate form of attack versus defense, Sweden forced Spain to grapple with this task once more. What followed was a low scoring but intriguing affair between two of the most organized outfits on the national circuit, setting the stage for a divisive figure to […]

In a grim year for a gifted outfit, qualification for the World Cup would have been consolation for the Portuguese. But Serbia had other ideas. Stellar names made the hosts the favorites, but they fell foul to a familiar problem, enduring dramatic heartbreak to leave the nation in stasis. Tactical analysis and match report by […]

The road to qualification prioritizes results over performances: a stumbling block for Spain in the past. But the visitors rose to the task that awaited them. Breaking down a deep 5-4-1 block, they held onto the win, setting up a tense duel with Sweden where everything is on the line. Tactical analysis and match report […]

Dogged deep blocks and rapid breakaways are chief ingredients for a shock victory, but West Ham are no longer your classic underdog. In a duel where the favorites pushed them to offer more, they rose to the challenge, bringing old and new ideas together to seal a stunning result. Tactical analysis and match report by […]

Antonio Conte is back in the Premier League, with a more difficult challenge bestowed upon him. In a rough game of football, Tottenham Hotspur showed signs of how they will look under their new boss, against an Everton team who looked to reinforce defensive stability. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.  A week in […]

In a dominant display, the Manchester Derby truly demonstrated why a top coach is so important, even at the highest level. City flexed their muscles in the buildup, whilst United’s new shape set the stage for Guardiola’s team to control. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.  In the crazy world of football politics, Ole […]