Sam Presti: “There’s no silver platters in Oklahoma City. We don’t expect to be given anything & we don’t expect to unfold favorably as some teams in some cities are accustomed to. Every year, our goal is to repeat a process, not chase an outcome.”
“I’m attracted to the dark side of greatness. The gap between a hero and a villain is very similar to the gap between winning and losing and good to great. The gap is so much closer than people think. It’s the very small fundamental details that separate you,” Joe Mazzulla
The immeasurable value of fundamentals.
Thought this was a very good (and balanced) explanation of xG from @Soccermatics
"If you're thinking about future performance, xG is a better way of predicting that than the goals you scored.
But... "it is not a good idea to get too obsessed with the xG of the match that has just happened.
"Once you get up to between 3 and 6 games, you DO want to know the xG. Once you get over half a season, real goals become the important thing.
"Goals are reality, xG is a model."
Premium Members can watch the full 'Build your own xG model Masterclass' via the link below
@twelve_football
🔗https://t.co/cKUh4TIwxn
“Doing what you’re supposed to do when you don’t want to do it, as simple as that. It’s easy to work hard when things are going your way. It’s easy to face the challenges when you win the challenges. When you lose the challenges and you have to keep getting up and doing the same thing,” @shaiglalex
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander postgame, when asked if he knew he was going to take a stepback three for the game winner coming out of the huddle:
"No. I have answers to the test, but I've gotta see the questions first."
I really enjoyed sitting down with @USMNT assistant coach Jesús Pérez on the @ussoccer podcast. I’m fascinated by the way the modern game has changed with data and analytics playing a big role so I asked him about it. #USMNT
Watch the full interview here:
https://t.co/MdTQcMwvWH
This is a clip about myself executing a concept I’ve learned from studying teams like Bayern, Man City or Girona.
📌 Get tight to the fullback, wait for him to step out, then attack the space behind.
As players, we can learn so much just by observing.
🇳🇱 N.E.C. NIJMEGEN 2025-2026.
✍️ Arguably the most attack-minded and aggressive pressing side in Europe’s top leagues right now.
Many similarities with Herbert Chapman’s legendary WM formation at Arsenal during the 1930s.
📌 Two Fullback-type players moving inside to act as a wide central defenders.
📌 A flexible central centre-back with license to drop into the first line or step into midfield.
📌 Two midfielders acting as "half-backs", providing cover in the half-spaces during defensive phases.
📌 Two inside forwards with playmaking tendencies — hybrids between #10s and second strikers, operating between lines.
📌 Two very wide wingers + a centre-forward.
A team willing to sacrifice defensive balance to increase chance creation, using a full man-to-man defensive approach and line-ups loaded with attack-minded profiles.
➡️ From CD Castellón to PEC Zwolle, Dick Schreuder has shaped teams with very similar principles that refuse to hide: they play with bravery, accept risk as part of their identity, and seek to dominate opponents through a constant attacking mindset.
They’re absolutely worth a deeper look, hopefully we’ll be talking about them in detail on our YouTube channel soon at @TH_GAME_CHANGER.
🔎 BERGERAK UNTUK MENERIMA OPERAN
Cambiaso menyadari jalur operan dari bek tengah tidak tersedia karena ditutup oleh Adeyemi.
Dia lalu bergerak melebar demi membuka jalur operan baru.
Ketika Adeyemi bergeser, Cambiaso kembali bergerak ke ruang terbuka untuk menerima operan.
🧠 Peran penting Witan mengurai blok rapat Arema:
— Terkurung di antar lini, beri instruksi passing ke belakang
— Backpass memancing press dari lini tengah Arema
— Cari ruang dan membuka diri sebagai opsi umpan
— Tangga diagonal/“Escadinha” tercipta untuk progresi bola ke tengah
🔵🧠 Gol kedua Manchester City atas Liverpool lahir dari skema cerdas.
Sepak pojok pendek membantu mereka menang jumlah di sisi bola. Corner pun dimainkan cepat untuk mencegah lawan mengantisipasi.
Dengan begitu, City selalu punya pemain bebas untuk melakukan aksi ke gawang.
🛡️ PRESSING TRAP 🔒
Dalam pressing tinggi City, mereka menjebak Liverpool untuk membangun serangan melalui Ibrahima Konate.
Ketika bola tiba ke kakinya, City langsung menutup semua opsi terdekat. Liverpool pun dipaksa bermain di ruang sempit, dan pada akhirnya kehilangan bola.