Ahmed Walid

Sorry for late reply! Thanks mate.

Even before his goals, one of the things that has stood out in Benjamin Sesko’s first season at Manchester United is his movement in and around the opposition penalty area.

Piece with @mjcritchley.bsky.social + @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

How Man United are getting the best out of Benjamin Sesko – Specialist coaches, gadgets and No 9 shirt decision The 22-year-old striker's obsessive commitment to self-improvement is paying off, with him scoring seven goals in his last eight games

Benjamin Sesko’s obsession with self-improvement is beginning to pay off

• becoming more ‘explosive’
• NFL-style training drills
• VR headsets
• testing his reflexes at home
• No 9 shirt decision

w/ @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social + @ahmed-walid.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Even before his goals, one of the things that has stood out in Benjamin Sesko’s first season at Manchester United is his movement in and around the opposition penalty area.

Piece with @mjcritchley.bsky.social + @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Why don’t more football teams place players on the side of the box for penalties? A tweak that a handful of teams are using could result in a curious marginal gain

Niche content: Corinthians Feminino put a player on either side of the box at penalties, rather than having everyone behind the box. I used Pythagoras’ theorem for the first time since my GCSEs and watched 50 saved penalties to see if others should do it too. ⬇️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

The Premier League landscape has changed.

The rise in physicality, duels and man-marking has meant that there are spaces to attack on the transition once you win the ball in midfield.

Arsenal or Man City will be champions with more than just control.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

The Premier League landscape has changed.

The rise in physicality, duels and man-marking has meant that there are spaces to attack on the transition once you win the ball in midfield.

Arsenal or Man City will be champions with more than just control.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

How Pep Guardiola has adapted Manchester City’s attack to thrive without wingers (Gift Article) Manchester City are hunting down Arsenal and they are doing it without wingers who have been so important to Guardiola

Despite having some problems in terms of control/finishing off games, and inconsistencies in the build-up and high press phases, Manchester City's attack in the final third has been impressive this season.

Piece on how they adapted w/o Doku and Savinho.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

I think there's another aspect to the 4-2-2-2 from an OOP perspective. This on-ball shape is suitable for Marmoush, Haaland and Semenyo together, which means you have the explosiveness of Semenyo and Marmoush when jumping in the high press as well.

Thanks mate!

Yeah, I definitely agree that the 4-2-2-2 and the narrow 4-3-3 have been more successful than the 3-1-3-3.

How Pep Guardiola has adapted Manchester City’s attack to thrive without wingers (Gift Article) Manchester City are hunting down Arsenal and they are doing it without wingers who have been so important to Guardiola

Despite having some problems in terms of control/finishing off games, and inconsistencies in the build-up and high press phases, Manchester City's attack in the final third has been impressive this season.

Piece on how they adapted w/o Doku and Savinho.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Manchester United’s midfield – Part 3: Kobbie Mainoo’s resurgence and how to maintain it (Gift Article) The academy graduate looks a player reborn under Michael Carrick, now the club must capitalise on their burgeoning talent

A column on Manchester United and Kobbie Mainoo. www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Manchester United’s midfield – Part 3: Kobbie Mainoo’s resurgence and how to maintain it (Gift Article) The academy graduate looks a player reborn under Michael Carrick, now the club must capitalise on their burgeoning talent

A column on Manchester United and Kobbie Mainoo. www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Yeah, very good point this

Variance, new ball and quality of individuals are some of the reasons behind the rise in long-range goals in the PL.

Teams and players are also creating better shooting situations from outside the box.

Is this affecting the type of long-range goals?
🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Variance, new ball and quality of individuals are some of the reasons behind the rise in long-range goals in the PL.

Teams and players are also creating better shooting situations from outside the box.

Is this affecting the type of long-range goals?
🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

High blocks, low blocks, everywhere you look...blocks.

Using data from SkillCorner, I break down how each side likes to set up out of possession, and what it means for their playing style.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

Piece here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

How Man Utd are smartly using their players outside the box from corners (Gift Article) Manchester United have dedicated time to working on set pieces — but it is players outside the box having an impact from corners

Michael Carrick and his coaching staff have added to Manchester United’s strong base on attacking set pieces.

Bryan Mbeumo’s goal against Spurs is an example of how they are building on one of the team’s strengths from corners this season.
#MUFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

How Man Utd are smartly using their players outside the box from corners (Gift Article) Manchester United have dedicated time to working on set pieces — but it is players outside the box having an impact from corners

Michael Carrick and his coaching staff have added to Manchester United’s strong base on attacking set pieces.

Bryan Mbeumo’s goal against Spurs is an example of how they are building on one of the team’s strengths from corners this season.
#MUFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

How shape-shifting Sunderland are using wide combinations to chase a top-half finish (Gift Article) The tactical flexibility of Regis Le Bris' squad is the primary reason they have readapted to Premier League life so successfully

How Sunderland's wide combinations have played a key role upon their return to the Premier League.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

How shape-shifting Sunderland are using wide combinations to chase a top-half finish (Gift Article) The tactical flexibility of Regis Le Bris' squad is the primary reason they have readapted to Premier League life so successfully

How Sunderland's wide combinations have played a key role upon their return to the Premier League.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Spectacular and sustainable? Why the Premier League is feasting on long-range goals Why we need to look beyond expected goals to explain a better conversion rate from outside the box this season

Teams are taking fewer shots from outside the box than ever in the Premier League, yet long-range goals are at their highest since 2013–14.

Explored why this is happening:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Michael Carrick knows the importance of being boring – and that’s a good thing The former Manchester United midfielder knew the value of risk-free football as a player and is the same as a head coach

Michael Carrick was often considered 'boring' in his playing career. But there are lots of benefits to being considered boring, and that might work well in his managerial career too.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

You’d never know this from the way the team is talked about but Arsenal rank 2nd in goals scored in the Premier League and just finished the League Phase of the Champions League with the most goals scored.

Fulham are flying (under the radar) – partly due to their clever passes behind defences Clever movement and incisive long passing have propelled Marco Silva's side to seventh. They face fourth-placed Manchester United next

How Fulham's runs in behind are helping their fight for a European spot.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Does the Premier League have an open-play goal problem? Arsenal are top of the Premier League, but only seventh for open play xG.So is that a Mikel Arteta issue - or a league-wide one?Host: Duncan AlexanderWith: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Ahmed WalidPr...

NEW POD 🚨

Arsenal, open play goals and Premier League vs Champions League styles.

@oilysailor.bsky.social @ahmed-walid.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social

pod.fo/e/383752

Fulham are flying (under the radar) – partly due to their clever passes behind defences Clever movement and incisive long passing have propelled Marco Silva's side to seventh. They face fourth-placed Manchester United next

How Fulham's runs in behind are helping their fight for a European spot.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

New manager, new danger: Why footballers are more susceptible to injuries after a coaching change Changing position or role can introduce different physical and biomechanical stresses to a player's body – with predictable consequences

The incidence of injuries increases when a new manager joins the club, but why might this be? Factors as simple as training pitches, training schedules, and tactical role changes can contribute to injury risk.

Link to the article for @theathleticfc.bsky.social here:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

How Manchester United’s attacking rotations left Manchester City in a spin Michael Carrick and his staff had the right attacking ideas on Saturday — and it was the players' execution that brought it to life

How Manchester United's front line rotated to attack the space behind City's defence.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

How Manchester United’s attacking rotations left Manchester City in a spin Michael Carrick and his staff had the right attacking ideas on Saturday — and it was the players' execution that brought it to life

How Manchester United's front line rotated to attack the space behind City's defence.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...