Premier League trends: How to break down low blocks

The Athletic FC Podcast features a discussion on several key tactical trends in football, initiated by Michael Bailey and featuring insights from experts Michael Cox, Liam Twomey, and Mark Carey. The episode opens with a notable current event: the sacking of Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank. The hosts explore the struggles Frank faced, including disconnect between players and fans, poor performances in critical matches, and a lack of competitive spirit at home games. They mention injuries to key players that contributed to the team's underperformance.

Transitioning to tactical discussions, the conversation turns to low blocks in the game. Despite perceptions of an increased prevalence of low blocks, data suggests no significant rise in the overall time spent in low blocks by teams. Yet, the discussion emphasizes the importance of execution quality in these defenses, especially concerning team compactness and player positioning.

The podcast also delves into the notable increase in headed clearances across the tiers of English football, revealing that clubs are experiencing nearly double the headed clearances in matches compared to two years ago. This uptick raises health concerns regarding players' heading practices during training and matches. Additionally, the resurgence of long-range shooting is analyzed, with statistics showing a significant rise in goals scored from outside the box. The hosts discuss the implications of a new Premier League ball contributing to this phenomenon. The episode concludes with a quiz on all-time goal scorers from outside the box, adding an engaging twist to the tactical discourse.