Neil Weatherall’s Post

Dare to Win: England’s Tactical Debate Under Lee Carsley Over the last few days, the football world has been buzzing with discussions surrounding England’s tactical approach against Greece under interim manager Lee Carsley. At the heart of the debate is Carsley’s decision to play a false 9, fielding England’s top talents. Was this a reaction to public discontent following the summer championships, where key players like Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon were left out of the starting lineup? Or was it a reflection of his previous success with the U21s, where he had employed similar tactics? It’s tempting to compare Carsley’s decision to Pep Guardiola’s success at Manchester City, where the false 9 has been a hallmark. After all, if one of the most successful managers in the world can do it, why shouldn’t others follow suit? The phrases “fortune favors the brave” and “he who dares wins” have often been directed at England’s last manager, Gareth Southgate, who was frequently criticized for his conservative approach. Fans and pundits alike wanted him to “take the handbrake off” and attack with more aggression. Yet, Southgate’s results speak for themselves. He guided England to a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals, making him one of the most successful England managers in recent memory. Southgate’s more cautious approach was grounded in defensive balance. Without it, teams become vulnerable to counter-attacks—something that was evident in England’s performance against Greece. Carsley’s attacking setup left England exposed, and the scoreline could have been worse, with Greece squandering several clear-cut chances. This raises an important question: was Southgate right in his pragmatism, or should Carsley be praised for his bravery in trying something new? Some pundits argue that tactical experiments should be confined to training sessions, not high-profile matches. However, I believe it’s in real games that the most valuable lessons are learned. Carsley’s willingness to take risks and experiment in a competitive setting is commendable. It’s through these experiences that managers evolve and refine their approach. That said, Carsley’s decision to omit a traditional number 9, like Ollie Watkins or Dominic Solanke, from the starting lineup has attracted intense scrutiny. Perhaps if he had fielded a recognised striker, the criticism would have been less severe. The narrative would have been entirely different had England clicked and cruised to victory with a display of attacking flair. Carsley would have been hailed as the next Pep, a visionary unafraid to take bold decisions. Instead, his post-match comments have been dissected and labeled as weaknesses, raising doubts about his desire for the permanent job. But why? Isn’t this exactly the kind of experimentation fans and pundits have been calling for? A manager willing to take risks is the manager England wants?

HOW SLOT IS HANDS ON WITH TRENT ET AL In the article, the technical focus is on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive development under the guidance of Arne Slot. Slot, the Liverpool right-back's coach, has taken over the role of enhancing Alexander-Arnold's defensive abilities, an area often criticised in the past. Alexander-Arnold expressed his ambition to become the most feared defender in Europe, and Slot has been instrumental in helping him work towards that goal. The two have developed a routine where Slot meticulously analyses Alexander-Arnold’s performances after each match, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement. This process includes detailed reviews, sometimes involving up to 20 clips, with a focus on defensive positioning and one-on-one situations. Slot’s method is described as harsh but constructive, ensuring that any mistakes are called out and addressed in subsequent matches. Alexander-Arnold, known for his attacking prowess, is now equally invested in his defensive contribution. His collaboration with Slot has led to improvements in his defensive stats, such as clean sheets and preventing opposition wingers from advancing. Slot's coaching involves setting specific targets for Alexander-Arnold, like the number of times an opponent gets past him, crosses, or takes shots, helping to develop a more balanced and effective playing style. This detailed coaching relationship with Slot is also likely to influence Alexander-Arnold's future at the club, with trophies being a key factor in his decision-making process regarding his contract extension. Trent’s future is still in the balance. Trent’s desire is to win trophies, is he holding out to see if Liveprool can compete at the highest level and stay, or decide to leave. The power is in his hand. Shoud Trent stay, nail his colours to the mast or should he hold out? Is he going to do a Steve McManaman job on Liverpool and go for a free? I will not forgive him if he does. https://lnkd.in/ej6pnaVX

HOW SLOT IS HANDS ON WITH TRENT ET AL In the article, the technical focus is on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive development under the guidance of Arne Slot. Slot, the Liverpool right-back's coach, has taken over the role of enhancing Alexander-Arnold's defensive abilities, an area often criticised in the past. Alexander-Arnold expressed his ambition to become the most feared defender in Europe, and Slot has been instrumental in helping him work towards that goal. The two have developed a routine where Slot meticulously analyses Alexander-Arnold’s performances after each match, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement. This process includes detailed reviews, sometimes involving up to 20 clips, with a focus on defensive positioning and one-on-one situations. Slot’s method is described as harsh but constructive, ensuring that any mistakes are called out and addressed in subsequent matches. Alexander-Arnold, known for his attacking prowess, is now equally invested in his defensive contribution. His collaboration with Slot has led to improvements in his defensive stats, such as clean sheets and preventing opposition wingers from advancing. Slot's coaching involves setting specific targets for Alexander-Arnold, like the number of times an opponent gets past him, crosses, or takes shots, helping to develop a more balanced and effective playing style. This detailed coaching relationship with Slot is also likely to influence Alexander-Arnold's future at the club, with trophies being a key factor in his decision-making process regarding his contract extension. Trent’s future is still in the balance. Trent’s desire is to win trophies, is he holding out to see if Liveprool can compete at the highest level and stay, or decide to leave. The power is in his hand. Shoud Trent stay, nail his colours to the mast or should he hold out? Is he going to do a Steve McManaman job on Liverpool and go for a free? I will not forgive him if he does. https://lnkd.in/eBmD9CvC

Time for the #TFAArchives! Each day, Fintan O'Reilly dips into the TFA archives of 10,000+ articles and pulls out a few that are relevant based on current events and Chris Beaumont tries to remember to post them. Pep Guardiola’s sixth Premier League title with Manchester City equals the 12th league title of his managerial career (three Bundesliga titles with FC Bayern and three LaLiga titles with Barcelona). The Catalan tactician’s use of wingers has been a hot talking point throughout his career and an area that’s evolved significantly — we analysed the evolution of Guardiola’s wingers one year ago: https://lnkd.in/esxEdktN Brest have achieved UEFA Champions League qualification in Ligue 1 — read all about how Éric Roy engineered this success via our tactical analysis breakdown of his impressive side: https://lnkd.in/eawgNRPa Sturm Graz have officially dethroned Red Bull Salzburg and won the Austrian Bundesliga title — not a bad feather in coach Christian Ilzer’s cap. Read all about Sturm Graz’s highly-rated 46 y/o coach: https://lnkd.in/esiKb4TE Marcel Rapp has successfully guided Holsten Kiel to the German Bundesliga via their second-place finish in 2. Bundesliga. We featured the 45 y/o manager in our TFA 24 for 24 magazine special: https://lnkd.in/e4cgBsPW And that is it for today - we will be back in the morning with the latest analysis. #football #analysis #scouting #tactics #soccer #tactical #recruitment #data #analytics #viz

Thought For Thursday – effective teamwork Like many football fans, I’m eagerly anticipating the start of Euro24. But contrary to popular belief, I won’t be cheering on England – Italy have always been my team as my dad was born there and he’d probably disown me if I didn’t support the mighty Azzurri. I obviously have an interest in England, though, given the fact it’s where I grew up. Over the last 20yrs, I’ve followed the media scrutiny of England’s chronic underperformance in major championships despite the wealth of talent the managers have had at their disposal. The Lampard vs Gerrard debate has now shifted to Foden vs Bellingham in the #10 role. Should players be picked on current form or should tournament experience and past performances count? Two holding midfielders in a 4-5-1 formation or a more attack-minded 4-3-3? Pundits frequently identify the lack of cohesion, teamwork and balance as the key factor in the side’s lack of silverware and it’s hard to argue with this assessment. Consider Euro 20/21 when England reached the final on home turf and played a very average Italian team. Italy had been written off ahead of the tournament due to their lack of star players and the fact they’d failed to qualify for WC18. On paper, England had a far superior squad and their quality was evident from kick-off when they took an early lead. But Italy worked their way back into the game and eventually won on penalties, defying the odds and somehow becoming European Champions. This was despite not having the best squad, possessing the most skilful players or playing the best football. How did they do this? The answer is that the team was more than the sum of its parts. They were organised, disciplined and (most important of all) a unified team. Everyone understood their role and executed it to the best of their ability. No egos, no bickering, no negativity – just grit, determination and everyone pulling in the same direction. They had a clear plan and stuck to it with conviction. The relevance of this really struck me this week when we conducted our internal six-month reviews. During our Team Meeting and 1-2-1s, I realised that the ESMOS Recruitment team is made up of professionals who all bring their own skills and personalities to the table... but we’re successful as a business because we’re more than the sum of our parts. We work together brilliantly and support each other in achieving our common goal. This, in turn, creates a great environment to work in and ensures we consistently get the best out of each other. So who’ll win the Euros this summer? Despite the hype that’s gathering momentum in the UK, I don’t think it’ll be England. They don't have enough cohesion and camaraderie. The team that ends up with the trophy will be the one in which every player puts their ego to one side, executes their role to the best of their ability and fully buys into the collective vision. Teamwork is key. #recruitment #eventsindustry #eventprofs #hiring

Leyton Orient: Keep Or Release – Opinion https://ift.tt/5KU6NpC As the end of season approaches managers, coaches, and recruitment teams will already have an idea of which players in their squads they would like to keep, so let’s take a look at which players I think Leyton Orient should keep and who should be let go… Contract expiry dates have been taken from TransferMarkt. I have also looked back through articles released on the Leyton Orient website with contract renewals which will also be linked. The season as a whole for Orient, has largely been a success, being a newly promoted team, the first aim should always be to stay up and then build from there. At the time of writing, The O’s sit in 10th place, while mathematically possible of still getting a top six spot, it would prove to be an incredibly tough challenge, especially given key players have been out for long periods of the season. There are a total of 13 players out of contract at the club in the summer, with five of those being on loan the club, Idris El Mizouni (Ipswich), Shaq Forde (Watford), Sol Brynn (Middlesbrough), Khayon Edwards (Arsenal) and Daniel Adu-Adjei (AFC Bournemouth). While February signing Jack Simpson, who is out of contract in the summer has a view to extend his deal at E10. The likes of Jordan Graham, Jordan Brown, Dan Agyei are all contracted for next year. Below is the list of our out of contract players and look at their futures with the club. Tom James – Defender The 27 year old, joined Leyton Orient, in the summer of 2021 on an initial one year contract. In the summer of 2022, James signed a new two year contract having played a vital role in the O’s promotion campaign last year, with some special goals coming against Grimsby Town and Sutton United. The full back can play either side of the defence, as well as playing as part of a three. So far this season, he has played 38 games in League One, so far this season. This is the defenders second spell playing in League One, after spending six months with Wigan back in the 20/21 season. Opinion – Release, this is a tough one, as he has appeared in all but three of our games this season in the league, however I think that a full back that is better defensively as well as has more pace would be better. But considering his appearance record this season, I would not be surprised, if the club decided to renew. Rob Hunt – Defender Another O’s full back who is out of contract, again comfortable at playing on either side of the defence, has been signed for multiple clubs under Wellens (Oldham, Swindon, Orient). He signed for the club in the Summer of 2022, on a two year contract. The 28 year old full back, has played a total of 30 games so far this season, and scored his only goal for the club in a 2-2 draw away at Northampton. It was announced on an interview with The Orient Outlook Podcast, that Rob Hunt, is one of three players to currently be offered new contracts by the club. Opin...

Football is teaching us all a lesson right now ⚽ On Sunday "Klopp's Kids" beat Chelsea to secure the League Cup. In the Liverpool team, 5 players had only started playing senior top-tier football this season, with one playing only 33 minutes of senior football in total! 2 further players were 21 and under. To make the context more crazy, they were put against a team that cost around £1bn to put together. What does this say? 💡 Experience isn't everything. Bringing people into your team with no experience requires looking at other traits: - Determination - Passion - Eagerness to learn - Talent - Culture fit/expansion of culture diversity - Providing the right mentor Using your experienced team members to teach the newcomers is a powerful tool, and having fresh eyes and ideas in the team equally so. A shoutout to Xabi Alonso on this theme too. A manager in his first senior management role and first full season is kicking butt in Germany with his Leverkusen side rocking traditional champions Bayern Munich and setting a host of records in their league. Klopp took a chance. Leverkusen took a chance. Take a chance on a promising newbie 🏆 #hiring #future #management #motivation #success

Lessons from Gareth S. I remember the big tournaments back to the World Cup 1978 – when Argentina won (I remember the volume of long hair most of all, I’d never seen that before). The past few years of England football have been a proper emotional roller coaster. After finishing bottom of their group in the 2014 World Cup they followed that with more disappointing performances in Euro 2016. Enter Gareth Southgate. And the turnaround in performance is remarkable. World Cup SF in 2018, Euro Final in 2020, World Cup QF in 2022, and of course – a close second in the Final last Sunday So so close…. But it's not coming home just yet. He has also fostered a strong sense of unity amongst the players. The team loves him (bizarre that the public and the press generally don’t). I’m a fan. And I hope he chooses to stay on (if he wants to). Here is what we can all learn from Mr S. - Vision and Direction He took charge during challenging times and turned around a struggling team with clear goals and a long-term vision. Applicable Learning - Set a clear strategic direction and align efforts towards common goals. This clarity helps teams to navigate tough times and steers the organisation towards success. I’ve always been a big fan of objective trees. - Develop Talent Gareth believed in and supported younger players who many previous managers may not have taken risks on – Saka, Mainoo, Palmer, he fostered their development and built confidence. Applicable Learning  - Invest in development, recognise and realise potential, and provide growth opportunities. - Performance Improvement He led the team to consistent progress in major tournaments, showing continuous improvement. Applicable Learning - Continuously drive performance improvements. Set high-performance standards, measure progress, live by them, and celebrate success. - Build a Resilient Culture Gareth revolutionised the team's approach to penalty shootouts, transforming them from a game of luck to an exercise in control and preparation. He changed the team’s mindset towards risk. Applicable Learning - Create a resilient culture that encourages employees to embrace challenges and view setbacks as opportunities for growth. Personally I hope he stays – the WC qualifiers are just around the corner – the team is on his side – let’s get behind him. Otherwise, big Sam might return… Fingers crossed for the next one #leadership #teamwork

Total Football (soccer) is a tactical system in which any player can take over the role of any other player in a team. In this fluid system, no player is fixed in a predetermined role; anyone can successively play as an attacker, a midfielder and a defender. The only player who must stay in a specified position is the goal keeper. Soccer as well as American Football is usually dominated by formations, structure, control and planned plays. The same is the case for most management styles. Most leaders believe that control, structure, formations and planned actions (plays) is the only way you can succeed as an organization. But as the Dutch Manager Rinus Michel realized in the 70’s, if you loosen up on structure and control and allow your players (employees) the freedom to move outside the traditional formations and essentially trust them to do what needs to be done, while fluidly supporting each other, without over (micro) managing them, you often achieve even greater result and with much happier players (employees) as well. Using this strategy Rinus guided the Dutch to the 1974 World Cup finals beating both Argentina and Brazil along the way. So if you want your “team” to succeed, in a world against much "better" and structured competition, consider total football as a management strategy. You’ll be glad you did and so will your teammates, even if you don't win the "World Cup final" 😉

Newcastle United Football Club’s search for a Sporting Director: Part 1 I was asked on this platform for my views on this. Look, I’m based in the City (which is a fantastic city) and together with Ryan McKnight we hosted the last Football Transfer Forum at St James’ Park. However, I would pose the question, is it a good time for a Sporting Director to join Newcastle? On the pitch, escaping relegation was an incredible feat. Then last season’s 4th place finish was equally as incredible. This season after starting well but then exiting the Champions League, they have gone off the boil a touch. It happens. The recent signings have brought the age of the squad down a little and introduced some extra pace and energy. There’s also been a bit of a boost as the academy has added a couple of talented players into the mix. Despite these academy players breaking through, the academy does need a lot of attention if its is to compete with the top clubs. The under 18’s exited the Youth Cup with a 0-5 defeat at SJP. With regards to facilities both training grounds need investment too. The club didn’t sign any first teamers in the January window although they did, in my opinion, need some major reinforcements. Profit and Sustainability Rules, which becalmed the transfer window, were cited as the main reason for their lack of signings. This will be a key issue in the summer transfer window for any new Sporting Director. Can he add significant signings, preferably starters to the squad? However, the club have been boosted by the return of Harvey Barnes (another with pace and energy) and hopefully Sandro Tonali can return and be ready for action next season. Joelinton’s contract needs to be sorted asap. In fact, the player who was signed and flopped as a striker, has been transformed by the coaching staff into a top level, powerhouse midfielder. He owes them a lot. One of the main jobs of the Sporting Director is to identify and recruit the head coach. And the relationships between all senior figures at the club should be tight, co-operative and open. Obviously the head coach, who has addressed Dan Ashworth’s situation publicly, is already in situ and has done a very good job. It is essential that any new Sporting Director can have already, or form, a strong relationship with Eddie Howe. As a footnote, Andy Howe (Eddie’s nephew) has just been promoted in the recruitment department. From the outside looking in, the head coach is in a strong position in regards to presenting a case for further backing. The Women’s team is in good hands and is currently top of their league and are favourites for promotion. They turned professional last summer and that is paying dividends. All that being said, some of the names bandied around to take up the role may think that the timing isn’t quite right. I’ll discuss who should (imo) be in the frame in Part 2 tomorrow. ASA Football Agent Education Football Transfer Forum | Etihad Stadium | 15-16 May Yossi Benayoun