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Liam Tharme

@liamtharme.bsky.social
1.2K followers 184 following 29 posts

Football Tactics Writer at The Athletic ⚽️ MSc Sports Performance Analysis. Passions include athletics, Ligue 1 and flat whites.

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Reposted by Liam Tharme
The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
It's a familiar story: a Brentford striker scores lots of goals ➡️ gets signed by another club ➡️ Brentford are tipped to struggle. Except they don't. The west London club are experts in centre-forward succession planning. @liamtharme.bsky.social explains how it works ⬇️ bit.ly/4pDFMes
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
I spent 30 mins talking with Eliud Kipchoge. The nicest man in athletics. Everything about his new “world tour” (7 marathons, 7 continents, 2yrs), racing Bekele, 1:59 in Vienna, WRs in Berlin, books, mentorship & Kipyegon’s sub4 attempt @theathletic.com 🇰🇪 www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
nytimes.com
Eliud Kipchoge exclusive interview: Breaking records, the sub-two-hour marathon and his new 'World Tour'
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The Athletic @theathletic.com · 08/10/2025
"I wrote down in my goal book that I want to become a 100m and 200m world champion, and then a 4x100m champion again.” Melissa Jefferson-Wooden had more than a breakout year in 2025. The American spoke to @liamtharme.bsky.social about it.
nytimes.com
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden interview: ‘I really did everything that I wanted to do this year’
The 24-year-old American’s remarkable season brought 19 wins from 20 individual races, and seven revisions to her personal bests
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast @tacticspod.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Pod tomorrow on this very subject. Any questions for the panel? @zonal-marking.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social
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The Athletic @theathletic.com · 13/09/2025
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wants a dream ending at the World Championships but, whatever happens, the 38-year-old's incredible legacy is assured, writes @liamtharme.bsky.social ⤵️ 🔗 theathletic.com/6615685/?sou...
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
It’s World Champs week! 🇯🇵 First up, I spoke to Mondo Duplantis’ former coaches @lsu.bsky.social and the Swedish NT 🇸🇪 to understand how he went from child prodigy to doubly Olympic champ and 13x world records www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
nytimes.com
Armand Duplantis, the making of a generational talent: ‘It’s like I’m a performing artist’
Armand Duplantis is just 25 but is already an all-time sports great
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Mark Carey @markcarey93.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Send in your questions for @theathleticfc.bsky.social Tactics Podcast special mailbag episode! What trend, team, or player has caught your eye from the season so far? Or are there any tactical/data questions you would like us to address? Let us know below! www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
nytimes.com
Mailbag: Send in your questions for The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast
Send in your questions now ahead of a special episode of The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
A piece I’ve wanted to write all summer: why four Jamaican 🇯🇲 field athletes, three of whom were Olympic medalists in Paris, are switching allegiance to Turkey 🇹🇷 I asked Rajindra Campbell (shot put) + Roje Stona (discus) about their decisions in Zürich www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
nytimes.com
Why are Jamaica's Olympic medalists switching to represent Turkey?
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast @tacticspod.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Send in your questions now ahead of a mailbag episode of the pod next week. Drop them here, or follow the link below. www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
nytimes.com
Mailbag: Send in your questions for The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
No Gabby Thomas in Tokyo. A real shame. She’s out with an Achilles problem which started in May and resurfaced in July. She was the only track athlete with three golds (200m, 4x100m, 4x400m) in Paris, and took silver in Budapest over 200m. www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
nytimes.com
Olympic 200m champion Thomas to miss World Championships with injury
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The Athletic @theathletic.com · 04/08/2025
Track coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the father of double Olympic champion Jakob and his six siblings, was convicted of hitting daughter Ingrid with a towel but cleared of all of the abuse charges made by his children after a high-profile trial in Norway this year. He speaks to @liamtharme.bsky.social.
theathletic.com
Gjert Ingebrigtsen interview: ‘Of course there is a winner when it comes to the verdict’
Gjert Ingebrigtsen speaks after a harrowing trial in which his double Olympic champion son Jakob and daughter Ingrid accused him of abuse
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Jacob Whitehead @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Part five of Football Architects — it's a topical one.... This is how the implementation of the FA's England DNA project supercharged the national teams — women, men, and juniors — to the most successful period in their history. W/ @liamtharme.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
nytimes.com
Football Architects: The England DNA behind the pursuit of tournament-winning teams
In December 2014, The FA laid out its vision for future internationals to be exceptional across four “corners” - this is what happened next
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
US T&F trials start today! 🇺🇸 Here’s your preview: • Qualification process • Syd’s switch to 400m flat • Lyles’ 200m defence • Quincy Wilson but not Hall in 400m • Brazier/Muhammad’s comebacks • Houlihan’s return + more Coverage @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...
nytimes.com
U.S. track and field championships: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and more to watch in Eugene
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
Refreshing + insightful chats with Donovan Brazier and Jake Wightman at the London DL 💎 yesterday as two former World Champs attempt comebacks in the 800m and 1,500m Faster races, aggressive tactics, less room for error. US & GB trials soon - both could make Tokyo www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
nytimes.com
Wightman and Brazier's tough comebacks show turbocharging of men's middle-distance running
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Interviewed KJT yesterday ahead of her long jumping in the London DL 💎 Her Paris thoughts and review, chasing Thiam & Hall, reinventing herself and becoming more than a jumper, and her connection with heptathlon 🇬🇧 www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
nytimes.com
Katarina Johnson-Thompson interview: 'I just want to continue heptathlon for as long as I'm capable'
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast @tacticspod.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
ICYMI Episode one of Football Architects on Ajax is available to listen to now! With @michaeljbailey.bsky.social @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social and excerpts of an interview with Jasper van Leeuwen and Ruben Jongkind. pod.fo/e/2f4b77
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast @tacticspod.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Episode two of Football Architects is LIVE! This part focuses on the rise of Belgium to No.1 in the world. Featuring @michaeljbailey.bsky.social @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social pod.fo/e/2f8cce
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: How Belgium marched to world number one
On episode two of Football Architects, we’re focusing on the rise that took a stagnant Belgium to number one in FIFA’s world rankings.We’ll hear about how they established a footballing DNA, ...
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Had the privilege of chatting to Olympic and World 200m silver medalist Kenny Bednarek for 45 mins Olympics review, his upbringing, racing Tebogo, block starts, relaxing off the bend, JuCo and UO dreams, wanting triple gold in Tokyo, fixing US men’s 4x100 & more www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
nytimes.com
Kenny Bednarek knows what he wants, if he can just relax: ‘Make money, get gold medals and just run fast’
The American is on a mission to become the world's fastest sprinter
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
What’s it going to take for Faith Kipyegon to become the first female four-minute miler? I spoke to people from Breaking2 in 2017 (Kipchoge’s sub-two marathon shot) to understand physiological + drafting demands for Breaking4. Spoiler: it’s a huge “moonshot” 🇰🇪 www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...
nytimes.com
What it would take for Faith Kipyegon to become the first female sub four-minute miler
How learnings from the sub-two hour marathon project have been carried into Thursday's sub-four mile record attempt in Paris
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The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
The end of 2024-25 was a good advert for how youth development in England has been transformed. But no two players have the same pathway — @liamtharme.bsky.social spoke to the Premier League’s Director of Football Neil Saunders and Liam Delap about the nation's talent revolution.
nytimes.com
How the Premier League revolutionised academies to create pathways for Delap, Eze, Johnson and many more
For a while, the footballers developed at English clubs were considered inferior. But no longer. What has changed?
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast @tacticspod.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Tomorrow the Tactics pod brings you a classic: Alternative Team of The Season! One player from every club in the bottom half of the table plus one wildcard - send us your suggestions below 👇
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Dominic Fifield @domfifield.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Jean-Philippe Mateta: My Game In My Words “I don’t just want to be, ‘JP scores when he makes the run in behind’. I can dribble, I can shoot first touch, I can score with my left or right, and more with my head" @mattwoosie.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social #CPFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...
nytimes.com
Jean-Philippe Mateta: My Game in My Words
The Crystal Palace striker talks instincts, finishing technique with both feet and that protective headgear ahead of the FA Cup final
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Matt Davies Adams @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
A labour of love for me to fill in on the @theathleticfc.bsky.social tactics pod and talk #NFFC today. @zonal-marking.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social and @markcarey93.bsky.social brought the knowledge pod.fo/e/2c2575
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: How Forest have outsmarted the Premier League’s elite
This week… we’re talking about Nuno Espirito Santo’s Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest.We’ll break down how a team who flirted with relegation last season have become one of the mo...
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Jakob Ingebrigtsen testified today (he will for 1hr 30 tomorrow too) against his father, Gjert, who is on trial for abuse charges against Jakob and his younger sister Ingrid. A report from day two of the trial, w/ @sigvekvamme.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...
nytimes.com
Jakob Ingebrigtsen says he was slapped, kicked by father Gjert who ‘had control over my entire life’
The 59-year-old Gjert Ingebrigtsen denies charges of abuse against two of his seven children.
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast @tacticspod.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
NEW POD! It's Champions League review/preview time. We look at the RO16 results and ahead to the quarters. With @michaeljbailey.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social @liamtharme.bsky.social & @markcarey93.bsky.social pod.fo/e/2b827a
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Who are the Champions League favourites now?
We’re focusing our attention on the Champions League.This season’s competition is at the quarter-final stages — giving us the perfect moment to look back on what’s happened and what the res...
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Eddie Howe stressed that, with patience, Lewis Hall would become a top player. He was right. Hall has replaced Trippier’s creativity and brings so much out of Gordon with his underlaps. Involved in all 4 goals v Forest yesterday. Give him his flowers. www.nytimes.com/athletic/615...
nytimes.com
Lewis Hall is Newcastle’s new attacking weapon – as Nottingham Forest discovered
Why Eddie Howe's patient restructure of his defence is paying dividends
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Newcastle went with a hybrid defensive approach of a 5-4-1 mid-block and man-for-man press v City. Bounce passes and long balls unlocked them, and Newcastle conceded 3 in a PL first half for the first time under Howe — he called it a “painful watch”. www.nytimes.com/athletic/613...
nytimes.com
How Newcastle's man-for-man press was undone by bounce passes and long balls
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Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 15/02/2025
Chris Wood has now scored 29 goals in 41 Premier League appearances for Nottingham Forest under Nuno Espírito Santo. Since his first game in charge (23 Dec 2023), only Haaland (32), Isak (31) and Palmer (30) have more Premier League goals than Wood.
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Ousmane Dembélé is on fire. Only the fourth PSG player to score in 8 consecutive games, he’s hit 20+ goals in a season for the first time, and already has more goals in 2025 than 2024. How Luis Enrique switching him from winger to No 9 has unlocked Dembélé. www.nytimes.com/athletic/613...
nytimes.com
How PSG started using Ousmane Dembele as a No 9 and unlocked the form of his life
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
It’s one year today that Kelvin Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, died in a traffic accident. I wrote this piece ahead of the Olympic marathon in August, speaking to those who knew him and raced against him. Kiptum (2:00:35) still holds the WR from Chicago in 2023. www.nytimes.com/athletic/568...
nytimes.com
Kelvin Kiptum: The tragic loss of the marathon runner who was set to redefine the sport
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Athletics Weekly @athleticsweekly.com · 02/02/2025
George Mills breaks Josh Kerr’s UK 3000m record with 7:27.92. The 25-year-old beats Kerr’s mark of 7:30.14 with big win at the Meeting de l’Eure in Val-de-Reuil.
athleticsweekly.com
George Mills breaks Josh Kerr's UK 3000m record with 7:27.92 - AW
The 25-year-old beats Kerr's mark of 7:30.14 with big win at the Meeting de l’Eure in Val-de-Reuil
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
This is absolutely excellent www.nytimes.com/athletic/609... Patrick Mahomes and the secrets of the Dad Bod: What we get wrong about athleticism
nytimes.com
Patrick Mahomes and the secrets of the Dad Bod: What we get wrong about athleticism
Patrick Mahomes and Nikola Jokić aren't just superstars. They challenge us to better understand the hidden secrets of athleticism.
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Ahmed Walid @ahmed-walid.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola: pressing machine, transition monsters and a direct approach on the ball. Analysing their incredible performances this season with @liamtharme.bsky.social #AFCB www.nytimes.com/athletic/609...
nytimes.com
How Bournemouth became the Premier League’s best team to watch – and worst to play against
How the division's smallest club took a risk, backed their talented head coach, recruited smartly and refined their style
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Angeliño, I’m applauding. Nothing I enjoy more than seeing a winger or full/wing-back locking off the back-post at a cross from the other side. Such a useful and valuable source of goals and chances.
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast @tacticspod.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
NEW POD! @michaeljbailey.bsky.social @zonal-marking.bsky.social @markcarey93.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social provide a key statistic for EVERY team in the Premier League! Plus, as promised, a fantastic quiz by Mark. Enjoy! pod.fo/e/2a64b0
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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast: Premier League analysed: A stat for every club
This week we are bringing you a Tactics staple - a key statistic for every team in the Premier League. From Liverpool’s direct attacks to Crystal Palace’s runs in behind - we have you covered....
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The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Morgan Rogers joined Aston Villa on February 1 2024. Since then, he has: ▪️ Helped Aston Villa finish fourth in the Premier League ▪️ Earned a senior England call-up ▪️ Played a key role in Villa securing a place in the Champions League last 16 ▪️ Scored a hat-trick in the UCL Not a bad year.
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
La crise continuera One away point all season, key players sold, poor investment on money made from good sales in the past, a lack of a core in the squad. Sad times at Rennes currently
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Athletics Weekly @athleticsweekly.com · 29/01/2025
"I’d hate for athletics to just be considered an Olympic sport, which a lot of people would label it as." Jake Wightman talks through his British indoor 1000m attempt at the Keely Klassic, evolving athletics and recovery from injury 🏃 ✍️ @timadams1.bsky.social
athleticsweekly.com
Jake Wightman: "I'd hate for athletics to just be considered an Olympic sport" - AW
The 2022 world 1500m champion also emphasises why the Keely Klassic is so important to athletics in the UK
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Manchester United have made their smartest signing for a while: a sprinting coach. Harry Marra’s CV is as impressive as it is long and varied. United were injury-hit last season, and there’s so many gains to be had. Coaches need to be coached too. www.nytimes.com/athletic/609...
nytimes.com
Why Manchester United signing a running coach makes sense - even if it wasn't Amorim's call
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Coming of age performances from Barcola and João Neves last night against Manchester City. They’ve been excellent in Ligue 1 but making the step up to UCL is something else. Lucho has his Verratti and Mbappé replacements. www.nytimes.com/athletic/608...
nytimes.com
Barcola and Neves show they are perfect fits for Luis Enrique’s post-Mbappe PSG
There was clear evidence against Manchester City that Luis Enrique now has players better suited to delivering what he wants
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Athletics Weekly @athleticsweekly.com · 21/01/2025
"I think that keeping the people interested [outside of the Olympics], giving them something to watch, to come to and being a part of is really important." World indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery on why the Keely Klassic is so important.
athleticsweekly.com
Molly Caudery on why the Keely Klassic could be the missing link - AW
Pole vaulter says new event in Birmingham on February 15 will help draw interest in athletics ahead of the UK Indoor Champs a few days later
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The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Leny Yoro, Sven Botman, Benoit Badiashile — and now #MCFC's Abdukodir Khusanov. When Premier League clubs go shopping for defenders, they tend to cast their net in Ligue 1 — but why? @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social explain. 🔗 bit.ly/4hn9QqW
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Recent weeks, and two goals against Villa proved it, show that Arsenal are a genuine threat from byline crosses. In Saka’s absence, Trossard & Martinelli are being creative, but Arsenal have regressed in defending their own box. Tactical whac-a-mole for Arteta. www.nytimes.com/athletic/607...
nytimes.com
Mikel Arteta's struggles with tactical Whac-A-Mole
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Brighton have attempted the most dribbles in Europe’s top-five leagues, and it isn’t a good thing. A piece on why it is at the roots of their creativity/game management issues and a reflection of squad imbalances (depth of wingers, lacking passing midfielders). www.nytimes.com/athletic/605...
nytimes.com
Brighton have attempted the most dribbles in Europe – that isn’t a good thing
Fabian Hurzeler is lacking technicians who can control games. It is hurting Brighton's chances of qualifying for Europe
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Mark Carey @markcarey93.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Arne Slot recently said, "Deep runs are probably the most important thing in football.” I used SkillCorner data to look at the different styles of such runs in behind across the Premier League. @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/605...
nytimes.com
Why deep runs are “probably the most important thing in football”
Runs beyond the defensive line are crucial to a team’s attacking potency in the Premier League — now we can measure their impact
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
5 of Graham Potter’s first 6 Premier League games with West Ham are London derbies. Neither he (in London derbies with Chelsea, or Brighton v Palace matches) nor West Ham have good records recently in derbies. Both need to change that quickly. www.nytimes.com/athletic/605...
nytimes.com
Potter must improve his record in derbies if he is to turn West Ham's season round
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
Valencia does it again. The home of men’s and women’s HM WRs, men’s 10km and women’s 10km (mixed) WRs. It’s called the Ciudad del running for a reason 🇪🇸
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Athletics Weekly @athleticsweekly.com · 12/01/2025
BRITISH RECORD An unbelievable run from Rory Leonard as he sets a British 10km record of 27:38 at the Valencia 10km 🔥 The previous record was 27:44 and both held by Mo Farah and Emile Cairess 🇬🇧 Nick Rose did clock 27:34 in New Orleans in 1984 but it was never officially recognised by UKA 🏃
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Liam Tharme @liamtharme.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
Had a theory that inswingers have gone up in the PL. Checked it. They have. Did some more research, ran some numbers, made some viz and watched the tape — here’s how and why. www.nytimes.com/athletic/604...
nytimes.com
Has the Premier League's obsession with inswinging corners become counterproductive?
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