Luca Hardman

UEFA Qualified coach | BSc Football Coaching and Performance (1st) | Former Loan Player Analyst at a Championship Club | Current Pre-Academy Coach

[Manchester City @ManCity]

Incredible.

[Blackpool FC @BlackpoolFC]

Jerry Yates returns!! 😍

Blackpool Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Jerry Yates on a season-long loan deal from @LutonTown.

🍊 #UTMP

[UEFA @UEFA]

Statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National AssociationStatement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National AssociationStatement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National AssociationStatement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National Associations

[USMNT Only @usmntonly]

Mauricio Pochettino said that ‘American sports reward losers’ when asked about the style of play in top European nations vs. in the U.S. 😯🇺🇸

QUESTION: “We know how England, France, Spain play… Players from countries with a strong tradition have a recognizable style. What is the style of the US team? What kind of football do the Americans want to play?”

ANSWER: “Their culture is playful. They want to play. We told them, “Guys, playing soccer is one thing, competing is another.” They’re two completely different sports. They grow up in a culture of playing. Why? If you start in MLS and you haven’t won a game in three months and you’re at the bottom, what’s the consequence if there’s no promotion or relegation, no international competition? American sports reward losers! But soccer is different: if you reward those who don’t win… If you don’t have goals, you don’t fight. If I lose, what happens? Nothing. They just fire the coach. Also, the American player is disciplined. But with a sense of complacency that isn’t good in soccer. It took us a year and a half to change that mentality.”

[EL PAIS]

[YouTube @YouTube]

a 3-hour video essay on the tactical evolution of the inverted fullback is exactly what we need right now

[Manchester City @ManCity]

A message for Pep 🩵

[Manchester City @ManCity]

👑

[Bayern & Germany @iMiaSanMia]

Harry Kane's long ball, Luis Díaz's first touch and finish 🌟

[Tekkers Foot @tekkersfoot]

🚨🇧🇷 RODRYGO DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR BRAZIL!

https://t.co/x7sfe7wfOE

[Manchester City @ManCity]

We're delighted to confirm the permanent appointment of Kolo Toure to Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff 🩵

[Manchester City @ManCity]

Welcoming a special visitor 🙌

#FIFACWC | LIVE on https://t.co/qHE6dSCgcV

[FIFA Club Football @FIFACF]

Two defenders beat. One kid in disbelief.

@ManCity | #FIFACWC

[Blackpool FC @BlackpoolFC]

Niall Ennis returns to Blackpool on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee from @stokecity.

🍊 #UTMP | https://t.co/CXzepjKWWB

[Connor Holden @ConnorHolden00]

Splits Forwards — Tactical Meta

Against teams who want to press man to man from goal kicks, teams have been looking to implement the usage of split forwards (can be ST and LW/RW or a no10/no8..)

This allows you to pin BOTH CBs, forcing a 2v2 moment (unless the opposition keep a +1 - in which case there is a free man elsewhere)

2v2 scenarios offer good chances for verticality, hitting the channels and encouraging direct 2v2 attacks in artificial transitions

[Fahd @fahdahmed987]

Miguel Cardoso's Mamelodi Sundowns is a fun team to watch.

I've been watching their game against Borussia Dortmund and noticed how they focused a lot on side connections - especially during build up but it's something the use in the middle and final thirds as well.

[Sherlock @MurphysIaw_]

Thomas Tuchel: “My team’s mindset was to play out wide early, then low longline passes — for them it felt safe & easy. Just leave it to the guy up front. That’s exactly the kind of pass we didnt want — it invites the opponent to win the ball. So we cut off the corners.“

Kovač:

[Roger Bonet "Ruxi" @Ruxiiii4]

LONG DIAGONAL BUILD UP & NUMERICAL ADVANTAGE ON THE FAR SIDE.

📌 Setting up an Overload at the far side (3v2).

Long diagonal passes are also harder for defenders to handle than vertical ones and easier for forwards to attack.

📹 @LiveTagPro

https://t.co/nWiCsi0WsD

[Fahd @fahdahmed987]

We've seen many teams across Europe utilizing a 4-2-4 build-up shape as it has many benefits, as explained by Fabregas.

It's the versatility that's offered, which is arguably the biggest advantage.

If the opponents try to press with a -1, then the free man will try to be found. On the other hand, if they go man for man, there's the option of trying to find players between the lines (if the opposition center backs do not jump quick enough) or play direct for the wingers.

I was introduced to this idea by watching De Zerbi's Brighton. Hurzeler still uses it.

[Jamie Hamilton @stirling_j]

Ayr Utd U16s relational 5v5+4 pre-match warm up and 1st half match clips.
The players have not been conditioned to perceive with positional game logic.
Their positioning and movement emerges as functional solutions to solve ball progression problems.