CoachingFootball retweeted
🇪🇺 Top 5 League Midfielders : Progressive action rate
🥇 J. Manzambi (Aston Villa, 21) — 30.26
🥈 J. Rudoni (Coventry City, 25) — 30.15
🥉 J. Robinson (Monza, 19) — 29.86
🏅 Javi Hernández (Espanyol, 22) — 29.68
🏅 F. Thauvin (Lens, 33) — 29.53
📊 Free trial: datamb.football
ALT This is an automated tweet 🤖 Position, league, age and metrics were chosen randomly in the 2025/26 dataset. Player age and team refer to their age and team during the season. Positions are determined via the player's average heat map. Join the free trial for more leagues and tools!
CoachingFootball retweeted
📈 That's 3 wins in their last 4 Premier League games for Aston Villa beating top the table today. And they've got 100% record in the Champions League too.
But it's not just how Aston Villa are playing under Unai Emery that's so 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚, it's the way he keeps the club moving forward despite losing so many important players this summer:
▪️They lost their best player to Chelsea.
▪️They lost their best defender to Arsenal.
▪️They lost their midfield engine to Man Utd.
▪️They lost their left-back to PSG.
▪️They lost their top scorer to Saudi.
▪️They lost their World Cup winning goalkeeper to Chelsea.
Emery demands maximum intensity and the highest standards from his team, consistently finding ways to win football matches. No excuses, just hard work.
CoachingFootball retweeted
Last summer, Aston Villa lost Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey, Lucas Digne, Enzo Barrenechea, and Emi Martinez.
As a result of that, they had a very poor start to the season; 4-0 loss, 1-0 loss, and a 0-0 draw. ZERO goal scored in their first three games of the season.
Since then, they've been UNDEFEATED in their last 8 games in all comps — 7 wins, 1 draw.
Now, this is what you get from a top manager. He found a way to get the best out of his team despite losing that many quality players.
He's got a Chelsea reject firing upfront (Nico Jackson), and a United reject holding things down at the back (Lindelof).
Look at that Villa team and give me one reason why they're so much better than us despite us having the better players? Answer is, the manager. He is a top-level tactician and coach who demands 100% hard work from his players.
My point being, Man Utd owners/board have their own share of blame, but we should be getting much better results and performances with our players, and that's on the manager.
CoachingFootball retweeted
There are fixture swings for some of the teams from GW9
#FPL Players to target from the respective teams :
1) Bournemouth
🟤 Tavernier
🟤 Evanilson
🟤 Silva/Truffert
2) Tottenham
⚪ Van Hecke
⚪ Kudus
⚪ Pedro Porro/Kinsky
3) Aston Villa
🟣 Manzambi
🟣 Jackson
🟣 Suzuki/Mcginn
4) Brighton
🔵 Vuskovic
🔵 Hinshelwood
🔵 Gross
5) Everton
🔵 Tarkowski
🔵 Dewsbury Hall
🔵 Pickford
6) Liverpool
🔴 Isak
🔴 Jacquet
🔴 Gakpo
Anyone else?
CoachingFootball retweeted
Here's the issue:
- Aston Villa, under Emery, have a habit of getting into a compact 4-4-2 structure OOP (out-of-possession) and then hit on the break utilizing the pace of their forwards.
- What happened in the first half, is that, McGinn was dropping deeper and dragging Dias along with him, whom we saw in midfield due to the same.
- This leaves Guehi 1v1 with Jackson, with the latter's pace being way superior than the former, causing problems during transition. Guehi made a mistake and got a yellow later owing to the same problem, he hasn't been able to handle Jackson due to pace.
The 2-2-6 has worked structurally but if you are light at the back, then the defenders should be able to deal with their opposite men.
Solution? Replace Guehi with Bouaddi.
Here's why:
- Khusanov moves back to RCB, and has the pace to deal with Jackson, with better long passing range as well.
- Bouaddi moves into right-midfield with Anderson shifted to the left to solidify the right-flank, which has been the main offensive side for Villa.
- Enzo Fernandez moves forward to the right half-spaces, occasionally interchanging with Gvardiol and Cherki to have more options through midfield in terms of outlets.
The 2+2 rest defence remains and we still create overloads at the top. A simple fix, atleast on paper.
CoachingFootball retweeted
🚨⚽ ATTENTION COACHES! GET INVOLVED IN THIS ONE! 🧠
Aston Villa's game plan worked brilliantly against Manchester City yesterday afternoon! 👏
Villa pressed in a 4-4-2, deliberately allowing City space in the wide areas.
However, when the ball went wide, Villa's two central midfielders often dropped in between their centre backs, allowing Villa to fill the half spaces and double up in wide areas.
A really interesting tactical approach!
🤔 SO, HERE'S THE QUESTION FOR ALL YOU COACHES...
How would YOU counter this tactical setup if you are Manchester City manager?
What solutions would you come up with to break down Villa's defensive structure?
👇 We'd love to get as many different ideas as possible in the comments section!
⚽ There's no single right answer.
💬 Comments very welcome below 👇
#FootballCoaching #FootballTactics #TacticalAnalysis #AstonVilla #ManchesterCity #CoachingDiscussion
CoachingFootball retweeted
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa consistently found central access to attack Enzo Maresca’s Man City space between the lines.
Villa primarily built up with a double pivot, but John McGinn could drop deeper to form a midfield three.
Either creating another passing option or drawing opponents with him, opening a passing lane for Nicolas Jackson — before attacking the large space for transition.
For the winning goal, Jackson attacked both gaps: first during the build-up, then to receive Mbaye’s cutback. Punishing Man City’s lack of compactness.
CoachingFootball retweeted
息子達がいたジュニアユースにめちゃくちゃ怖くて理不尽の塊のようなコーチが一人だけいて、選手から恐れられ、嫌われていた。
しかし、そのコーチが見た代は例外なく強くなりリーグ優勝など、結果が出る。
卒団後、数年経ってOBが遊びにくる率はそのコーチの教え子が圧倒的に多い
考えさせられる🤔
CoachingFootball retweeted
ARSENAL - EVERTON
Arsenal construyó en 4-3-3. Everton presionó alto hombre a hombre con una rotación lateral en el lado izquierdo.
Arsenal jugó balones largos hacia Gyökeres.
Arsenal atacó en 3-2-5/2-2-6 con White iniciando bajo y luego superponiéndose, Lewis-Skelly invertido, y extremos amplios. El bloque medio y bajo de Everton fue 4-2-3-1 orientado zonalmente y al hombre.
Everton construyó en 4-3-3. Arsenal presionó alto hombre a hombre con una rotación lateral en el lado izquierdo.
Everton jugó balones largos hacia Barry.
Everton atacó en 4-3-3 con laterales y extremos en distinta línea vertical. El bloque medio y bajo de Arsenal fue 4-4-2 zonal.
CoachingFootball retweeted
Jump to swing faster.
Hop forward on one foot and stick the landing. Then kick the same way: stay tall, swing through.
Online sessions available worldwide — DM me 📩
CoachingFootball retweeted
Defending from 1v1 to 4v4 starts with delay.
Slow the attack. Create time to recover and organise. Then defend as a team: pressure, cover, balance.
Gaps invite danger. Tight units control space.
CoachingFootball retweeted
Este tipo de ejercicios los utilizan incluso algunos pilotos de Fórmula 1 justo antes de las carreras porque los veo cada semana.
Parece un juego de niños, pero les sirve para activar la coordinación ojo-mano, trabajar los reflejos y entrar concentrados en la competición.
CoachingFootball retweeted
Here are 9 game-proven coaching principles you can use tomorrow.
I've developed these principles through years of coaching. They guide how I design training sessions, develop players, and approach matches.
They're not formations or fixed playing patterns.
They're behaviours I want players to develop, regardless of the system we play.
#SundayShare
//
1. Forward Mentality
Look forward first. Can you pass, dribble, or combine to progress? If not, keep possession and look for the next opportunity.
2. Bravery on the Ball
Encourage players to receive under pressure, take opponents on, and make decisions. Don't punish every mistake. Players need the confidence to try.
3. Active Defending
Don't just wait for opponents to make mistakes. Close space, apply pressure, challenge for the ball, and make life difficult for the opposition.
4. Technique at Speed
Good technique must work at match speed. Train players to execute actions quickly, under pressure, and with limited time and space.
5. Transition Awareness
When possession changes, react immediately. Win the ball? Look to attack. Lose it? Apply pressure or recover your defensive position.
6. Balance of Individual & Team
Encourage individual initiative while maintaining collective responsibility. Players should recognise when to solve situations themselves and when to use teammates.
7. Courage & Competitive Edge
Demand players who compete. Challenge for duels, fight for second balls, recover after mistakes, and don't shy away from difficult situations.
8. Off-the-Ball Movement
Players without the ball must remain active. Create passing options, move opponents, attack available spaces, and support the player in possession.
9. Desire to Score & Win
Develop players who actively look to create chances, score goals, and win games. Possession should have a purpose. Encourage players to be decisive near goal.
//
One important point:
Don't try to coach all nine principles tomorrow.
Choose 2–3 that your team needs most.
Design training situations where those behaviours are needed. Reinforce them consistently. Gradually increase the difficulty.
The goal isn't for players to remember nine principles.
The goal is for those principles to become visible in how they play.
//
P.S. Want to build brave, fast, and competitive players?
Learn how to apply these 9 principles inside Football Coaching Hub.
Try 7 days free: skool.com/football-coaching-…
🤖 Made with AI
CoachingFootball retweeted
Raya ficou demasiado tempo com a bola e o Arsenal foi penalizado com um canto a favor do Everton ⏱️
#DAZNPremier
CoachingFootball retweeted
Watch a player’s feet and you see their execution. Watch what they do before receiving the ball and you begin to understand their decisions…
Jamie Carragher’s analysis of Florian Wirtz highlights something every footballer can develop: the ability to scan and search, read the game, and anticipate what might happen next.
For me, this is attention in action. And I explain this in my new book, Compete.
High attention means staying focused and connected to the game. It involves actively searching for information that helps you recognise opportunities, detect dangers, and decide what to do next.
Where is the pressure coming from? Which teammate is moving? Where is space opening? What has changed since your last look?
Much of the work behind an effective first touch or incisive pass happens before the ball arrives…
Imagine receiving between the lines. Before the pass, you check over your shoulder. An opponent is approaching from your right. A teammate is moving beyond their defender. Space is opening to your left.
That information can help shape your body position, your first touch, and your next action.
You see before you receive…
But you also keep reading. The opponent might slow down. The passing lane might close. Your teammate might change direction. Your early look helps you prepare, while your next look helps you adapt.
This is anticipation: recognising developing clues and preparing for what they suggest, while remaining ready for something different.
In my new book, Compete, I encourage players to imagine a ‘Focus Flashlight’ on their forehead. Widen the beam to take in teammates, opponents and space. Narrow it towards a useful detail, such as a defender’s body position. Then widen it again as the picture changes.
Scanning has a purpose. Moving your head helps when you pick up information you can use…but let’s be clear, scanning works in servitude of searching. Search, search, search for the cues to read the game with speed and accuracy.
Football keeps moving. Every action changes the picture. Keep your attention available to it.
Scan and search. See and notice. Read, act, and read again.
CoachingFootball retweeted
For me, ball mastery is a relationship with the ball: touches with every part of both feet, to escape pressure and outplay an opponent.
How do you coach it?
