In this episode, it’s alternative team of the season time!

To remind you of the rules, instead of focusing on the top teams - we all pick an eleven with one player from each of the bottom 10 teams in the Premier League table (as it stands on Thursday 22nd May) and then one “wildcard” player - basically one other player from the bottom half clubs.

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme.

Producers: Mike Stavrou and Steve Hankey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re talking Italian managers.

Specifically… Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte.

Ancelotti will be joining the Brazilian men’s national team this summer, drawing his second spell at Real Madrid to a close.

Meanwhile, Antonio Conte could be about to win the Scudetto with a third Italian club… potentially adding Napoli to his successes with Juventus and Internazionale.

Broadly speaking, Ancelotti has been more successful in European competitions — with Conte having a better success rate bringing home the domestic bacon.

But is there something in their tactical philosophies that has caused this? That’s what we talk about in this episode.

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme.

Producer: Steve Hankey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show, we’re focused on the second legs of the Champions League semi-finals.

We’ll analyse a tie for the ages - Inter’s 7-6 aggregate win over Barcelona. And also PSG’s victory against Arsenal.

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Mark Carey and Liam Tharme

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show, we analyse the first legs of the Champions League semi-finals.

We’ll discover how PSG’s press nullified Arsenal, and discuss probably the game of the season so far — Barca’s thriller against Inter.

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Mark Carey and Thom Harris

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re looking at an incredibly tight race in the Premier League to seal European football for next season.

And we’ll discuss which of those teams are best set-up for success.

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Mark Carey and Liam Tharme

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we look back at the Champions League quarter finals.

We also look ahead to the semi-finals and discuss the merits of Arsenal, Paris St Germain, Internazionale and Barcelona.

If you want more on Inter, listen here - https://pod.fo/e/2296a4

For our bonus PSG episode, listen here - https://pod.fo/e/2c3d48

Or watch here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB5AzIuR_cU

For a bit on Barcelona, listen here - https://pod.fo/e/27b242

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Liam Tharme, Mark Carey, Thom Harris and Michael Cox.

Producer: Steve Hankey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re focusing on French footballing identity.

And we’ll attempt to discover why there is a lack of French managers across Europe’s top leagues.

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey, Tom Williams

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus edition of The Athletic FC Tactics podcast - Alex Barker and Liam Tharme tell you all you need to know about Luis Enrique’s PSG.

They’ve just wrapped up Ligue 1 and could become the first side to win the title unbeaten.

They’re also in the final of the Coupe de France and face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this week.

So how has Enrique made them so dominant?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.