Tactics are the transfer of coach-to-player knowledge to inform decision-making on the pitch. Technique is the sport-specific execution of a skill, and ball mastery in general.

Liverpool's defensive set-up on wide free-kick

•Expecting inswinger towards far post: staggering first bank + Van Dijk back post
•Zonal defending of 6-yard box and blocking of 3 runners Collective issues within this set-up:

Wary of a Modric shot or far-post cross, Liverpool overload the far post zonally and bring their bank close to their GK.

The central zone is completely undefended, and their full-backs are on opposite sides - a negative for their counters.

This pressing shape can work - but it requires more communication than usual.

A sub-principle of our press is for the CBs to "step out" of their line and follow the striker when they drop (we have done this since pre-season).

https://twitter.com/TalkinTactics/status/1627763295930273803

To have the ball-near CB engage the CF when dropping, you need to have the ball on that side.

United usually force this by having their wingers curve their press runs from "out-to-in". It forces the ball inside, where the midfield is compact and the CB can step out.

THREAD: Analysis of Manchester United's gameplan versus Leicester City and the half-time changes made by Erik ten Hag and his analysts that won the game: TEAM SELECTION:

• Martinez-Lindelof CB partnership (ball progression + carrying + high line)
• Fred-Sabitzer-Weghorst midfield (intensity + long ball target)
• Rashford #9 (scoring threat and creation of depth)
• Weghorst #10 (long ball target + hold-up play)

THREAD: How Erik ten Hag's Manchester United planned to beat Manchester City at Old Trafford

Key points of the GAMEPLAN of #MUFC in GW 18 of their Premier League season. Starting XI choices:

-Malacia at LB gave extra intensity to wide 1v1s and security in deep build-up (1st phase)
-Fred-Casemiro pivot gave 2nd ball prowess & intensity in duels
-Rashford & Bruno wide gave transitional threat
-Martial offered technical security up front

(Long) Thread: Analysis of every goal conceded by Manchester United in the 2022/23 season.

I'm going to pick apart every detail of the goals #MUFC concede below. I will try to offer my insight and highlight/sample systemic faults on a team-tactical or individual level. Some considerations before we dig deeper:
-My aim is to deliver my insight into what happens and for what reason
-My aim is not to single out players positively or negatively
-The process of analysis is one where POVs come together to find a solution - feel free to argue!

I'm going through United's PL opener and there's *a lot more* to unpack than you might think. #MUFC were second-best on Sunday due to an overflow of factors:

A thread on my perspective of United's defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion. During the live watch, I noticed United looked quite uncertain on the ball. Even before #BHA's goals, players looked nervous and did not wholly execute the game plan - or at least not the game plans they stuck to during pre-season.

Prior to Erik Ten Hag's first #MUFC game, their last training session got televised and recorded for all fans to see. In this thread below I will offer some insight on the new staff, their training structure and didactics. Before the first module, players were brought onto the grass and were introduced to the second session of the day. In the morning the players had already gone through a physical training session, which was not open to fans as usual.

Thread:

Public access to professional teams' training sessions is rarely granted, yet today Chelsea live-streamed one of the world's best coaches' final #UCLFinal preparations.

Below I will go through every module and give a bit of insight into Tuchel's methodology. MODULE 1: Activation

1' run around the pitch at jogging speed.
Purpose: warm muscles to increase stretch.

2'30" static stretching in circle formation.

As Manchester United's 2020-2021 season fizzles out with a disappointing performance in Gdańsk, it felt right to shortly revise my thread on #MUFC's main tactical problems back in February.

I will also throw in some other tweets, so consider this a shortened season review. Globally, it's important to have knowledge of a few items. First is the coaching staff's game model and their tactical periodisation.

Next is understanding the importance of the principles mentioned in the original thread - not only for this game model but for every team.

A little extract from Nick Cowell's "Tactical Periodisation" chapter:

• Balance between recovery & game model coaching
• SSG's (Small-sided Games) offer coaching opportunities while minimizing risks of excess effort (leading to muscle damage)
• Short duration
• Simple

https://twitter.com/staggeredlines/status/1397455454146531328

#MUFC's dynamic warm-up: approx. 170 metres run to next module station.

9v2 rondo: faster decision-making, more surfaces of both feet used, more wall passes (third man combinations) to play between opponents.

Rondo session of 4 minutes.