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🚨🚨 Here we go! The first two parts of my comprehensive analysis of Ruben Amorim's Sporting CP. 🟢 General tactical style / 3-4-3 system and broad issues that arise ⚪️ 4-2-2-2 build-up vs man-marking and hybrid presses 🟢 New triple pivot this season thirdmanruns.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/eva…

@jonathanstoop I really enjoyed his other podcasts appearances too - e.g. Tim Ferris, The Knowledge Project.

One of the meta-principles I've taken from this: Experts across domains often understand each other better than an expert and novice in the same one. For me: going deep into football analysis taught me about learning. Learning about learning taught me about product management. Learning compounds because the principles are the same.

At least Fergie would go and lose these games 4-3 or something when he put 4 attackers on the pitch in a CL KO game.

Feels like a classic CL game with the Spanish side packing their team full of midfielders and the English side playing with just one proper central midfielder. But somehow the wrong way around given it's Real and City.

The insane athleticism and agility needed to get to the ball again without it bouncing after that first touch... Milliseconds difference but maybe Donnarumma smothers him if the ball bounces.

Valverde needing just 3 and 2 touches respectively for those two goals sums up how good he is.

Vicario has been terrible lately with preventing shots (glued to his line instead of coming out) but that's slightly better than passing the ball straight to the opposition. An all-timer from Kinsky here.

Ten Hag sold Alvaro Carreras so this could happen.

This is the tempo when we have to play 3 days after our previous game for the first time under Carrick. Fortunate we're playing against 10 men in both games as well.

Cherki is the key to creating speed-ups centrally. Yes they're playing vs a compact 5-3-2 which protects the centre but that Foden dribble and Cherki backheel in the same move is a prime example of what is still possible. Need to do more to create more of those situations.

City have played with 8 central players for quite a while now (4-3-2-1 then 4-2-2-2) but still very rarely enter the final third through the centre. Sometimes through the half space, but mostly through the wing through Nunes. Pep is far from maximising this system.

I’ll just leave this here. Bruno Fernandes is the most creative midfielder in the league. Cross or no cross, it doesn’t matter. He creates danger

Even the red card/penalty at 11v11 came about from Bruno somewhat unexpectedly speeding up play with that one-touch diagonal pass inside to Cunha. Never fail to be amazed by Bruno whenever I watch him live. Best #10 in the world.

Clear emphasis after HT to try to play through centrally more. Straight from the CBs or into Casemiro/Kobbie to play around the corner. And then Bruno can do his flicks and back heels between the lines that inject tempo and momentum.

Simultaneously lacking width and lacking any sort of central progression. Sesko for Amad had a negative effect in both aspects. Dalot having a shocker but feel bad for him because to paraphrase Glasner recently, we're playing exactly the passes they've set traps for us to make.

First time a 3-4-3 is creating indecision in the opponent's defensive structure at Old Trafford since Amorim took over. We have no clue when and where to jump from zonal to man-to-man.

God what a terrible moment for all us Wenger fans out there. Beating Marseille in the final for his first European trophy would have been the perfect story arc for Wenger after their (likely) match fixing in the 80s/90s denied his Monaco team more trophies.

Who's going to do this in the SF this time?

Ticking off another 🏟️ Atletico probably lucky to be level at the break. GK error for their goal and at the other end Vetlesen could've scored a hat trick from attacking the box from cutbacks.

Arsenal planned for this with late runs from deep (e.g. Rice breaking and almost playing in Gyok). Recently they've struggled vs M2M w/o Saka + Havertz. Gyok being an unreliable outlet in 1v1s in big spaces is funny because that's why he was signed. Saka back today has helped.

I had Gyokeres going 50/50 vs Ajer in the Brentford game the other week and it's more or less the same vs a 3rd choice Dragusin today. Eventually at some point you just have to say that's his level.