Alex

@theathleticfc
Just personal opinions

[Dharnish @dharnishiqbal]

🚨 AVAILABLE FOR WORK

Along with freelancing for ESPN + doing the pod @nqatpod I am hunting for freelance/full-time opportunities around the World Cup and new season.

Here is an illustrious list of places I've recently worked with:

✍️ Features/Analysis/Player Profiles: ESPN, Sky Sports, BBC, Squawka, Sportinglife, Fotmob.

📱Social Media: WhoScored? Euros 2024

📽️Content Creation: tiktok-@ dharnishanalysis

💼 Please get in touch over DMs or at [email protected]

[Johyan @JohyanCruyff]

Let’s go through all the inclusions for England’s World Cup squad to understand Tuchel’s decision making:

Kane: obvious pick

Toney: set piece & penalty threat, provides all round play if Kane gets injured

Watkins: useful for if you need to sit back & counter or just to provide a different option in open play

Rashford, Gordon & Madueke: runners, these option are VITAL to maximise Kane who can’t run in behind but likes to drop deep to make space for others, they aren’t better individuals than those left out, but these guys were the most missed profiles in the Euros, can play inside or outside

Saka: obvious pick

Bellingham: obvious pick but also likes to ghost in behind at times, also a lot of pressing work, Kane needs energy around him

Rogers & Eze: both can play as 10’s & rotate out wide when needed, good in tight spaces & provide long shot threat which could cause teams to press higher making space for others, could’ve argued Gibbs-White here but Palmer & Foden haven’t done enough defensively + in Palmer’s case his passing isn’t as valuable with Kane’s passing range

Rice: obvious pick

Mainoo: if played with Rice then the latter can cover for him defensively, but he can press higher as an 8, Tuchel wants no defensive weak links as one bad moment in a cup & you’re out

Anderson: dictates the tempo from deep, needed with Rice who is better at carrying

Henderson: leadership, I doubt he plays many minutes but is just there to get the players motivated and focused behind the scenes

James: obvious pick

Livramento: chosen over Trent for better defensive work & better press resistance, I can definitely hear the argument for picking Trent though because although James could get injured/play in midfield, Spence can cover both fullback roles & then just bring Trent on if you need a goal

Spence: covers both fullback roles

O’Reilly: can rotate with the centre mid & left winger, adds height to set pieces

Guehi: I think Tuchel wants a left footer here (Guehi is right footed BUT EXTREMELY two footed) Branthwaite’s out, Colwill would be perfect here & there’s an argument he should be here but I guess Tuchel’s worried about the fact he’s only just returned from injury

Burn: left footed & adds set piece threat if England need a goal, could make an argument for Maguire here though

Konsa & Quansah: wide channel defenders, not Maguire’s strong suit

Stones: can play centre back, 6, & arguably right back, excellent ball playing ability, again could argue Maguire here though, the biggest issue with Tuchel’s current selection is the lack of aerial threat at centre back, I guess Tuchel’s counter argument would be his diamond zonal press means they usually have a +1 at the back anyway so even if they can’t win the first ball they’ll aim to win the second

Goalkeepers are obvious picks

I can hear the arguments for Maguire, Colwill (depending on how physically ready he is) & Trent (not to start but as a game changing sub) but i think the overall idea of what Tuchel’s going for is much better than Southgate’s

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Thomas Tuchel will announce his England squad for this summer's World Cup at 10am.

Harry Maguire has already confirmed he has not been included, while Cole Palmer, Phil Foden & Trent Alexander-Arnold are also expected to miss out.

Ivan Toney is set to be included.

For updates, analysis and insight from our writers, including @David_Ornstein, @JackPittBrooke & @SebSB, join our live blog: https://t.co/oXgtVzP8Wj

[Johyan @JohyanCruyff]

Big names were always going to miss out, they’ve arguably got seven top 10’s for a start

No point for England fans to go crazy or be optimistic until the full lineup is out but tactical fit will come first & A LOT of big names will have to be left out, so much quality

[John Walker @johnwalker_1986]

Group A: Czechia 🇨🇿 - Analysis

It is finally here, the first team of my World Cup Analysis Project and it's Czechia.

They will play a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 formation:
> Wing-Backs High & Wide
> Wingers Coming Inside as "10s"
> Lots of Crosses (3rd Highest in Europe)
> 3rd Most Big Chances Missed

They are also Set-Play Kings:
> 48% of Goals in Qualifying from Corners/IDFK's
> 3 Out of 4 of their vital Play-Off Goals from Corners

Player to Watch: Pavel Sulc (LW) - Lyon
> Pacey & Direct Dribbler
> Creativity & End Product
> 14⚽️/7🅰️ This Season

I am very excited to see them in what will be a very competitive group.

[David Ornstein @David_Ornstein]

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Agreement complete for Xabi Alonso to become Chelsea manager. 44yo Spaniard visited London early last week & accepted opportunity; 4yr contract now finalised - announcement imminent. Primary target throughout + wanted #CFC move @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/4022hQsMXA

[Jon Mackenzie @Jon_Mackenzie]

If you work for a media outlet that reviews book and are interested in getting hold of a review copy, do drop me a DM.

[Alex @AlexanderBrkr]

@ArchHausen It's a bit of a depressing start! Hahaha. Very good though.

I'd recommend Mark Waid's stuff, a lot of humour in his run

[Alex @AlexanderBrkr]

Definitely not a perfect season of #DareDevilSeason2 but that ending was superb, all things considered. I'm excited for another season - not something I was saying after S1

[Alex @AlexanderBrkr]

@ArchHausen My local comic book shop, but you can get some good omnibuses on Amazon :)

[Meia Armador - Mufaddal Idris Burhani @MeiaArmador__]

I analysed why settled man-to-man systems have very different trade-offs to going man-to-man in the high press.

While there are clear advantages to going man-to-man high up the pitch, remaining man-to-man once the opponent is in settled possession creates major cognitive, physical, technical, and strategic concerns.

I break down why coaches like Kompany and Enrique lean into it, where the approach can work, why it is far less scalable than many people think, and what it could mean for the future of out-of-possession approaches.

[Alex @AlexanderBrkr]

On The Athletic FC this week - could BlueCo drag Chelsea out of the Big Six if they continue running the club the way they are?

Out now 📹

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Tottenham Hotspur were football’s second most profitable club in 2018, yet despite revenues improving by £184.6million since then the club’s pre-tax result has swung from a £138.9m profit to that £120.6m deficit.

It is an alarming, quarter-billion adverse swing that, while subject to some caveats, will only worsen if they are relegated.

In fact, Tottenham would boast the biggest wage bill of any team to exit the Premier League.

How did they get into such a mess?

@CWeatherspoon_ explores Spurs‘ worsening finances.

https://t.co/p3rqUs7wKQ

[Liam Tharme @LiamTharmeCoach]

🚨 A shameless plug for my book Super Shoes: How advanced technology revolutionised running

Sunday in London saw the 2h barrier finally broken in a record-legal race (by two athletes!) and another women’s-only WR

The inside read as to how we got here: https://t.co/o8HB7qjlKQ

[Reubs @ReubenPinder]

This week's show (out in time for your Friday WFH lunchtime watch) is about the teams who's dropped off the most since last season in the Premier League, mainly Newcastle...

@AlexanderBrkr and @LiamTharmeCoach tell @AyoAkinwo how it happened. Enjoy!

https://t.co/pFypTcDY5q

[Alex @AlexanderBrkr]

Great to sit with @LiamTharmeCoach as we went on a deep dive as to why one particular team from the north has struggled so much this season...

[Jon Mackenzie @Jon_Mackenzie]

I'm not on the show this week but Alex and Liam have you well covered.

They're looking at the teams with the biggest drop off this season and asking how it happened.

LINK BELOW

[Jon Mackenzie @Jon_Mackenzie]

I'm not on the show this week but Alex and Liam have you well covered.

They're looking at the teams with the biggest drop off this season and asking how it happened.

LINK BELOW

[Pranav @pranav_m28]

Ordering this as soon as I get the chance.

[Kieran Doyle @Statford_Bridge]

Extremely fun and exciting. Can’t wait to read.

[Jack @JackM_77]

Jons work is consistently the best in the football tactics sphere. Easiest purchase I’ve made in a long time.