The Lowdown

Recently I was delighted to be joined by The Athletic's Liam Tharme to breakdown the current Premier League campaign. From changes in the dugout to on the field, the narrowing quality gap and the ever evolving nature of the game there are no shortage of talking points. Listen to learn out why there has been a huge dropoff in the number of throughballs, which new manager has already conceded his philosophy for the greater good and so much more. We also discussed;

- What Chelsea fans can expect to see of Graham Potter?

- How soon should a managerial reign be evaluated?

- How have Man City have adapted to Erling Haaland?

- Why Liverpool have stagnated?

- Has the quality gap ever been as narrower in the Premier League?

- Who is most likely to break into the top 6?

- The trends which characterise the evolution of football.

Timestamps;

00:00 - 03:31 - Intro

03:32 - 09:08 - Potter

09:09 - 14:55 - Ten Hag

14:56 - 19:34 - Man City & Haaland

19:35 - 23:30 - Liverpool

23:31 - 29:11 - Quality Gap

29:12 - 35:20 - Evolution of Football

35:21 - 40:36 - Death of the Throughball

40:37 - 43:35 - World Cup

43:36 - 45:14 - Advice

Liam's Twitter;https://twitter.com/LiamTharmeCoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

“Creativity is to find the rule and break it”.

Recently appointed as Kansas City's head of coaching, Gerard Jones has leveraged curiosity as a force multiplier in his career to date. Traversing continents in the search of knowledge and experiences to help shape the future player and coach. The mixture of an innate passion for the game alongside surrounding himself with the best ensured success was inevitable. In the midst of Gerard's persistent quest to educate and improve himself and those around him I was delighted to share in his accompany for an hour dissecting many facets of the game including;

- Translating curiosity into actionable insights which inform your coaching.

- The lengths and extents to which Gerard went to build a career in the game?

- Detailing the shift in coaching profiles coming through the game?

- Sensemaking in a VUCA world.

- What does the future game look like?

- Why is “Football coaching is an art underpinned by science”?

Timestamps;

00:00 - 14:50 - Intro

14:51 - 25:38 - Pracademic

25:39 - 37:10 - Player Development

37:11 - 47:08 - Cultural Considerations

47:09 - 53:46 - Innovation

53:47 - 1:00:20 - US v UK?

1:00:21 - 1:01:48 - Advice

Ulearnably ; https://ulearnbly.com/get-app

Gerard's Twitter; https://twitter.com/GerardJones?refsrc=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

“You cannot see something right or wrong, there are observations of tactical patterns, it's about being more effective than the other side in the way you want to play.”

Max Bergmann of Hallescher FC made headlines earlier this year becoming one of the youngest coaches ever to manage a coach in German football history at 24 years old. Here he discusses his (young) career to date detailing how he found his passion for football in the form of analysis. Taking on multiple responsibilities has only supercharged his development in the game. Beginning as a writer for Total Football Analysis Max produced outstanding tactical content whilst in the same process educating himself and others. Fascinating listen with a coach I am sure we will continue to hear more of in the coming years.

Listen to find out more including;

- Building integrity as a young coach.

- Creating tactical content to educate self and others.

- What Max looks for in analyzing a game?

- Maximizing out on roles and responsibilities in the third division.

- Why there is a continuous pipeline of young German coaches?

- Overcoming stereotypes in professional football.

Max' Twitter; https://twitter.com/maxbergmnn?lang=en

“If I don't take that opportunity, someone else will”.

Andy Parslow is the first team set piece coach at Swansea City. At the time of recording he was just after completing his final season with AFC Wimbledon. Rising through the academy pathway Andy has made a career out of his passion, rising to the challenge in the stomping ground of the EFL. As the topic of set pieces continues to populate football speak, Andy has been recognised as of one of the finest in the UK. Here in this episode he shares with us his whole process from achieving buyin, design & implementation to the feedback cycle. With grand ambitions he has been sure not to skip steps along the way. A path worth trailblazing and now Andy returns to share some of the lessons of his journey thus far.

Listen to find out more including;

- Where his passion and curiosity for set pieces originated?

- How Andy defines his role and responsibility?

- The topic of unpaid internships.

- How AFC Wimbledon became the UK's top set piece scorers in 2021?

- Preparation & Analysis in a condensed EFL season.

- Why principles > pre set routines?

- The importance of player freedom in designing & implementing set pieces.

Timestamps;

00:00 - 02:30 - Intro

02:31 - 05:40 - Internships

05:41 - 10:03 - AFC Wimbledon

10:04 - 20:27 - Set Pieces

20:28 - 23:40 - Feedback Process

23:41 - 27:45 - Future

27:46 - 29:21 - Advice

“The aim of Football Coach Evolution is not to change the world but to develop coaches based on more objective & reliable information”.

Raymond Verheijen is the owner of Football Coach Evolution providing a best in class coaching education to coaches all over the world. Having served as an assistant in four World Cups & Euros alongside being mentored by the likes of Louis Van Gaal & Guus Hiddink there are few better equipped to guide the next generation. Utilizing evolutionary knowledge to explain tactical principles & methodology, Raymond has created a universal football language to better equip coaches for the challenges ahead. Yet knowledge is only the starting point and we gain insight as to the challenges faced when we begin to apply this objective knowledge in our respective environments. In this episode which is the longest I have recorded to date I believe there is something here for everyone no matter what level of the game you are involved in. An openness to learn, collaborate and falsify our opinions are the only way we can hope to evolve and further grow the game. Thank you Raymond for a wonderful and thought provoking chat.

Listen to find out more including;

- Raymond's coaching origin story.

- How Raymond turned his biggest disappointment into his biggest opportunity?

- Why has there been a “pollution of football language & methodology?”

- Top down control v Top down guidance.

- Guus Hiddink's mastery in change management.

- How to ensure your tactical principles are built on solid foundations?

- Can we change the conversation at boardroom level?

Timestamps;

00:00 - 04:30 - Intro

04:31 - 14:51 - Universal Football Language

14:52 - 25:37 - Application

25:38 - 32:47 - Change Management

32:48 - 45:38 - Clarity of Role

45:39 - 1:00:22 - Knowledge or Experience?

1:00:23 - 1:14:32 - Intelligence or Consciousness?

1:14:33 - 1:24:25 - Advice

Raymond's Website; https://www.fcevolution.com/

Raymond's new book; https://www.fcevolution.com/winkel/books/tactical-principles/

Owen Eastwood is a performance coach who has worked with organisations such as NATO, South African Cricket and England Rugby. He is probably best known for his role as performance coach within Gareth Southgate's England setup where he has spent the best part of seven years. He has carved out a reputation in elite sport for creating the optimal environment for teams to succeed. Here he brings us on a journey reflecting on his career, the lessons learned and allowing us remarkable access into his work. It's an episode you will listen to again and again. Enjoy.

Listen to find out more including;

- Why “Belonging” is never an achieved state?

- What the art of good storytelling looks like?

- The ancient Maori belief Owen uses to maximise a team's performance?

- Inside his role within Gareth Southgate's England squad and reflecting upon how the national team culture has changed.

- Why being authentic and personal are the two key tools to navigating the future successfully?

- Owen's challenge to to each of you listening.

Timestamps;

00:00 - 06:08 - Intro

06:09 - 11:11 - Peer to Peer

11:12 - 20:47 - Belonging

20:48 - 27:38 - Storytelling

27:39 - 34:23 -Whakapapa

34:24 - 37:28 - Future

37:29 - 40:21 - Advice

Owen's Book; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Belonging-Ancient-Togetherness-Owen-Eastwood/dp/1529415063

“Don't always chase the dream, work hard and things will happen for you”.

Willie McNab is the Head of Children's Football at Celtic Football Club. With 20+ years in the game he has accumulated experience coaching at all ends of the spectrum. It was so insightful to hear Willie reflect upon his wide ranging coaching pathway with plenty of anecdotes and lessons to boot. Priding himself on a football philosophy built on beliefs and values, Willie has helped foster a process driven culture within Celtic's academy. A lifelong learner, he speaks fondly of his time being back in the classroom completing a MSc in Performance Coaching and the importance of being inquisitive and asking good questions. An episode not be missed.

Listen to find out more including;

- A senior coaching debut at 18!

- The interviewing tactics of the great Tommy Burns.

- Building a philosophy beyond the x's and o's.

- Overcoming challenges in the pursuit of creating robust players (and coaches).

- Why having a coaching strategy is a better alternative than a pre described coaching style?

- What is so unique about the environment and the player/coach relationships at Celtic Football Club?

Timestamps;

00:00 - 09:36 - Intro

09:37 - 14:56 - Reflection & Progress

14:57 - 21:53 - Celtic

21:54 - 26:50 - Head of Children's Football

26:51 - 35:31 - Holistic Development

35:32 - 47:50 - Robust players & coaches

47:51 - 57:52 - Lifelong Learning

57:53 - 59:20 - Advice

Nuno Cardoso is the CEO of Proplayer Group. For a long time he believed that differentiation and strategic collaboration can change the game of football. So much so that Proplayer Group have now bought a seat at the table acquiring Sport Clube Vianense in the Portuguese lower leagues. They have done so amid the backdrop of an unfavourable investment climate and an equally uncertain future. Rather than dismissing conversations about the future game, Nuno and his colleagues are imploring the football community to embrace this era of change. Listen to find out more including;

- Fleeing war torn Angola as a young child.

- How football is ridden of inefficiencies?

- Why bureaucracy is killing the growth potential of Portuguese football?

- Inside the process of building a “professional team on an amateur budget”.

- Why instead of avoiding conversations about NFT's we should be building strategies!

Timestamps;

00:00 - 03:40 - Intro

03:41 - 09:06 - Angola

09:07 - 18:29 - Football's Inefficiencies

18:30 - 22:06 - Portugal

22:07 - 27:30 - Sport Clube Vianense

27:31 - 31:32 - Future of Football

31:33 - 40:57 - Tokens & NFT's

40:58 - 43:38 - Life as CEO

43:39 - 46:38 - Advice

Proplayer Group; https://proplayer.pt/

My guest today needs no introduction. Stephen Constantine is a familiar name in coaching circles with a coaching career spanning over 20 years having coached five different countries and numerous clubs on four different continents. As he returns home briefly from his call to adventure he joined me to discuss his career in detail. With countless lessons ranging from team building to adapting to new cultures, amid all the organisational hurdles to navigate in between Stephen has been kind enough to provide some eye opening truths about the beautiful game. Was the route quite as scenic as promised? Nonetheless it is evident that the hunger which took Stephen from Delhi to the Den still remains. What's next? Find out more here including;

- How Stephen's childhood influenced his ability to adapt to new surroundings?

- Building your game idea from solid foundations.

- Asking Michel Platini why he did not become a coach?

- The differences in buy in between club and international football.

- Why you cannot separate long term development and short term results?

- Why consistency is the key to high performance?

Timestamps;

00:00 - 04:36 - Intro

04:37 - 09:35 - Adapting

09:36 - 18:22 - Foundations

18:23 - 27:43 - India

27:44 - 32:45 - Hiring Bias

32:46 - 36:46 - Empathy

36:47 - 42:36 - Reflections & Progress

42:37 - 44:35 - Advice

There are few who know how challenging the role of Sporting Director is better than Mike Rigg. Having worked the role at a number of clubs including Man City, Fulham, QPR and Burnley, Mike is now educating the next generation of the perils and prospects involved alongside his colleagues at the Association of Sporting Directors.

Fit & alignment in finding the right job, being able to link the business with the football, managing player recruitment amidst the noise, you can tell it is not easy to go travel this path which often changes. However with a bit of purpose and clarity you might just not only survive but triumph. What we discussed included;

- How has the role of Sporting Director evolved over the years?

- The three different hats of a Sporting Director.

- What Mike's apprenticeship looked like at Blackburn in the pre-data age?

- Fit & Alignment in finding positions.

- Which two things are important to succeeding in the job?

- Playing long term but being judged short term.

Timestamps;

00:00 - 06:20 - What is the role?

06:21 - 11:16 - Apprenticeship

11:17 - 20:36 - Fit & Alignment

20:37 - 27:06 - Income v Outcome

27:07 - 33:12 - Recruitment

33:13 - 37:09 - Advice

Association of Sporting Directors; https://associationofsportingdirectors.com/