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Michael Cox

@zonal-marking.bsky.social
23K followers 92 following 1K posts

Football/soccer for The Athletic. Posting article links here, but only having arguments on twitter.

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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Less than a month in, Arsenal are on the verge of being out of contention for the WSL title. They often start seasons slowly but with this squad it feels much more worrying. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...
nytimes.com
Are Arsenal’s WSL title hopes over already?
Arsenal often start seasons slowly, but with Man City up next, a defeat would represent a deeper crisis than ever before.
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Xavi 1-1 Klopp at the Johan Cruyff Arena. A ferocious game, a fair result, the beginning of a new era for two sides recovering from an early World Cup exit on penalties and trying to rediscover their identity. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/762...
nytimes.com
Xavi versus Klopp was a landmark moment in international football’s new era of big-name managers
As the Netherlands and Germany look to bounce back from the 2026 World Cup, they have turned to heavyweight coaches with a clear vision
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Football clubs clearly aren't very good at appointing managers because they routinely sack them after a year. It is time to involve the players more in the process. They are likely to be better judges than clueless owners or faceless sporting directors. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...
nytimes.com
Football clubs keep getting managerial appointments wrong. Would the players do a better job of it?
‘Player power’ is often bemoaned, but there are good reasons to believe the dressing room could make better choices for their next boss
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Man Utd are clearly rather immobile...but it's also refreshing to see a side not hooked on relentless man-marking in midfield. This is how football looked for a long time. It means you can play technical midfielders, not runners! I hope it's not proven outdated. www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...
nytimes.com
Is Manchester United’s lack of running an issue?
At a time when everyone else is playing ultra-energetic football, Carrick's approach can make his team look passive
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Happy new season! One very basic but crucial thing Premier League sides have realised over the last couple of years is that you need a goalkeeper who can...actually save shots. This is obviously very important for those at the bottom of the league. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...
nytimes.com
Premier League sides have finally realised goalkeepers need to save shots (Gift Article)
Shot-stoppers are back in fashion and it's particularly important for teams lower down the table, as Michael Cox explains
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
When does a “fast-growing” sport become an established mainstream sport? I went to the first London edition of the Premier Padel tour to see whether huge participation figures have translated into serious UK interest in the professional game. www.nytimes.com/athletic/749...
nytimes.com
Padel is booming in the UK, but will its recreational players become professional fans?
Over a million people played in the UK this past year. Getting them to pay to watch the pros is the next challenge
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Tuchel is right about England's DNA. If anything things are worse in that respect than five years ago, due to English football's huge shift towards intensity & set-pieces. Controlling a PL game has become impossible, so don't expect control from England. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
nytimes.com
Thomas Tuchel was right – England’s DNA doesn’t allow them to control matches
Head coach's comments may have provoked a spiky reaction, but recent Premier League trends suggest he was correct
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The best thing about the hosting of World Cup 2026 was the climate - too hot for the pressing-above-everything approach that is the scourge of club football. The beneficiaries were the star attackers, the ball-playing midfielders, and in turn the viewers. www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
nytimes.com
High temperatures at the 2026 World Cup meant less pressing – and better matches
In an era when physical football is dominating the club game, a decent fix is playing matches where relentless sprinting isn’t possible
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
For all the moans that modern football has become homogenous, Spain v Argentina in the World Cup final represents two entirely contrasting approaches to building a team. One is very much system-first, the other is based entirely around Messi. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...
nytimes.com
Why the World Cup final is a battle between individualism (Lionel Messi) and teamwork (Spain)
Teamwork often seems a more successful and sustainable approach in modern football. But when the individual is Messi, anything could happen
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Same old England. On first viewing I thought Tuchel’s subs were disastrous. On second viewing, the retreat happened beforehand, a consequence of Argentina pushing on & England being exhausted. The three defensive subs did make sense. Analysis here…⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...
nytimes.com
England’s problem at major tournaments? They’re still just too English
Thomas Tuchel ended up adjusting to the tendencies of his players rather than changing their playing identity
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Morocco didn't put up much of a fight but France played the game perfectly - maintained four attacking players, let Hakimi wander forward and then attacked into his space. Also some good counter-pressing which has been a feature of this World Cup. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...
nytimes.com
How France are playing four proper attackers and not conceding chances at this World Cup
France are playing an unusually attacking team with four proper attackers but still not conceding chances. This is how
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Another World Cup, another round of “the European dominance is collapsing!” after a couple of results...then another last eight dominated by Europe. The emergence of serious challengers from around the world, anticipated for decades, still hasn’t happened. www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...
nytimes.com
Europe is dominating another World Cup. That does not look like changing anytime soon
With six of the eight quarter-finalists coming from Europe, the continent's grip on the world game has tightened
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
A battling performance from England but they also adjusted well tactically - to the challenge of altitude and then to going down to ten men ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...
nytimes.com
How England coach Thomas Tuchel adjusted to the problem of altitude – and going down to 10 men
England had significant setbacks at the Azteca but adapted - and Thomas Tuchel's tactics secured an iconic World Cup victory
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Argentina lost the lead four times on their way to success in 2022. They lost the lead twice against Cape Verde tonight. Do they switch off too much when ahead? Report from a sensational game in Miami. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...
nytimes.com
Argentina keep winning World Cup games but why do they make it such a struggle?
The world champions have made a costly habit of switching off just when they look in control
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
A fairly common theme of World Cup-winning sides over the past 40 years: they start the tournament with four attackers, but drop one to bring in an extra central midfielder early in the knockout stage. Will Didier Deschamps do the same? www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...
nytimes.com
France have Mbappe, Dembele, Olise and Doue. Will Deschamps dare to keep playing them all?
World Cup history, and the coach's recent past, suggest that one of their fabulous front four will be sacrificed for safety (and success)
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
An article on Japan, how they constantly find a wing-back free at the far post with a late diagonal ball, and how this is essentially the same strategy those three Japan players used in that game against 100 school kids. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...
nytimes.com
How Japan’s strategy for overcoming 100 schoolkids might help to eliminate Brazil
Hotaru Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Kiyotake and Yosuke Ideguchi taking on 100 schoolchildren on a full-sized football pitch may be in evidence today
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
A big win, a heavy loss and then a creditable draw. Sweden are a bit confusing - even to Anthony Elanga who didn’t realise that a draw took them through to the knockouts www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...
nytimes.com
Sweden are the most confusing side at World Cup 2026. Just ask Anthony Elanga
Sweden are, put bluntly, really confusing
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Austria's (often effective) counter-pressing broken by Argentina's ability to work the ball up to Messi and switch play to the opposite side. Oh, and he scored two goals too and became the outright top goalscorer in World Cup history. www.nytimes.com/athletic/738...
nytimes.com
This version of Argentina is built for Lionel Messi. But can that plan win this World Cup?
The tournament's top scorer does almost no defending these days and his team rely on him for goals. For now, suits Argentina just fine
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden was the most tactically interesting game of the World Cup so far. Formation changes led to massive swings in momentum. Analysis ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/737...
nytimes.com
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden: How the most tactically interesting game of the World Cup unfolded
Graham Potter and Ronald Koeman both made several system changes during a complex game in Houston
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Two own goals in two games for the United States. A little lucky, sure, but the focus on attacking quickly down the flanks and hitting low crosses / cut-backs across the six-yard box means there are more own goals in football these days. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/737...
nytimes.com
Why World Cup own goals are on the rise
In the age of expected goals, perhaps the next step is calculating expected own goals — as cut-backs make them more increasingly likely
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Bellingham is a strange player. He’s a “No 10” who never really thrives between the lines and is more effective either higher or deeper. On the evidence of the Croatia game Tuchel might have worked out how to use him best. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/737...
nytimes.com
Jude Bellingham is everything Thomas Tuchel wants in his England No 10
With Jude Bellingham, England play a certain way. He might have the number 10 on his back but he is rarely in classic No 10 positions
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Possibly no-one else apart from me cares about this but: these days, FIFA lists the USA as finishing 3rd at World Cup 1930. There was no third-place play-off. For years, they & Yugoslavia were listed as joint-third. So why the revisionism? And DID they finish third? ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...
nytimes.com
FIFA says the USA finished third at World Cup 1930… but did they?
Records often show the USA as having come third at the first ever World Cup, but clarifying this is more complex than you might expect...
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
There’s an unusual number of top managers at this World Cup, compared to previous editions when it felt like it was full of managers 15 years past their peak years. Amid the intensity of 2026 club football, is international management now more rewarding? www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...
nytimes.com
There are more elite managers than usual at this World Cup. Why?
Managers such as Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti could be coaching in the Champions League rather than the World Cup
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
32 teams to 48 teams fundamentally changes the World Cup. Here are the probable ramifications: more rotation, more defensive play in the first two games, Africa the major beneficiary. And other things. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...
nytimes.com
The World Cup has expanded from 32 to 48 teams. This is what that will mean
The number of matches at the summer's tournament will increase from 64 to 104 with a new round of 32, and will impact results and approaches
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
A summary of the 2025-26 Premier League season through 10 matches, taking in all 20 teams. Not a vintage season, but one with very clear themes. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...
nytimes.com
Decoding the 2025-26 Premier League season in 10 matches
Michael Cox picks 10 games that sum up the campaign for the 20 sides who competed in the Premier League
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Antoine Semenyo is a great FA Cup final winning goalscorer: someone who made his FA Cup debut as a sub away at (now) tenth-tier Met Police, who was part of a proper giantkilling when Newport beat Leicester, and is now the hero at Wembley. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...
nytimes.com
Antoine Semenyo’s journey from Met Police FC to Wembley and a fitting FA Cup final winner
Semenyo's backheeled finish against Chelsea capped an unlikely rise from his FA Cup debut seven and a half years ago
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
I have finally achieved my dream of writing about snooker - I was at the longest frame in Crucible history yesterday, and here's why the crowd were right to get stuck into the referee a bit and force the issue www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
An attempt to explain PSG 5-4 Bayern, probably the most entertaining game I’ve ever been at. “It is a moment to congratulate the players, the two sides, and all of those present here,” said Luis Enrique. I will take it. www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...
nytimes.com
Extreme pressing, relentless dribbling and deep runs: PSG-Bayern was a higher form of football
This Champions League semi-final's first leg was crazy but played just how both managers wanted: relentlessly end to end and high-tempo
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Nico O'Reilly was key to Man City's gameplan yesterday. His unpredictable positioning caused Arsenal's press problems, and his runs inside Doku into the channel led to good chances. The two factors came together for the winning goal. (free to read) ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...
nytimes.com
How Nico O’Reilly helped break Arsenal’s press – and their hearts (Gift Article)
After scoring the goals that won City the Carabao Cup against Arsenal, this was an even more significant performance from O'Reilly
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
There might not be many shots to save at the Etihad tomorrow. But the key to the game might be testing the goalkeepers, Donnarumma and Raya, in terms of aerial ability and distribution respectively. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...
nytimes.com
Premier League title showdown will test Raya and Donnarumma’s ability – and bottle
For all the talk of 'bottle' around Sunday's Premier League showdown, it is the two goalkeepers who have faced the biggest mental challenges
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Women's World Cup qualifying: Spain have only lost 3* times in their last 24 - all against England. They play into England's hands when they use a proper No9. Surely they need to be a bit cleverer. *one was a draw and a shootout defeat www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...
nytimes.com
Spain need to be more Spanish to beat England
To beat England, Spain must play less like their opponent and embrace their true style once again
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Everyone used to despair at short corners - but in the context of this Premier League season of they now feel quite refreshing. Here’s how Man City used them to cause Chelsea problems. www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...
nytimes.com
How Manchester City’s renewed love of short corners helped unlock Chelsea’s defence
Teams have become so accustomed to defending inswinging corners that they are possibly leaving themselves exposed when they are taken short
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Arsenal into the Women’s Champions League semis again - but should probably consider a more cautious system when they get there. www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...
nytimes.com
Why Arsenal may need to show a bit more caution in the Champions League semi-finals
Chelsea may be out but they revealed some defensive weaknesses in the Arsenal team that future opponents may be able to exploit
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
A mad way to qualify for a World Cup: 0 wins from 6 qualification group games…but a Nations League C victory in 2024 got them into the playoffs. Throw in an “away” semi at a neutral venue and a scrappy win tonight. But Sweden have done it, and maybe they’ll be good! www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...
nytimes.com
Sweden are among the least deserving World Cup qualifiers this century — but they could still be a force
The most important goal of Sweden's bizarre World Cup qualifying campaign was arguably scored in UEFA's Nations League in November 2024
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Man City's two goals at Wembley stemmed from their plan to overload the right flank - Silva/Cherki theoretically playing centrally but often overlapping Semenyo. Quite funny to see them almost fighting each other to reach a Rodri crossfield ball. www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...
nytimes.com
Surprise rotations and clever passes: How Pep Guardiola got the better of Mikel Arteta at Wembley
At times in recent seasons it feels like Guardiola has strayed from his principles but this match showed what his sides are all about
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
10 seasons at Man City for Guardiola. 5 times they've started the Champions League as favourites. Only 3 times they've reached the semis. 1 European Cup. Considering City's domestic performance during the last decade, it's reasonable to have expected more. www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...
nytimes.com
Ten seasons, one Champions League. Should Pep Guardiola have done better in Europe with Man City?
They have been England's premier side domestically for a decade but, as Michael Cox explains, something has been lacking in Europe
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham. Exactly what we expected from Sean Dyche in his first game as Tottenham manager. 4-4-2, long balls, two strikers working well together. A good point. Obviously, Tottenham haven't actually appointed Sean Dyche, but it could have fooled me. www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...
nytimes.com
Tottenham went back to basics at Liverpool – and it could be what keeps them up
There has been speculation Spurs could replace Tudor with a Premier League specialist. At Anfield, they played like it had happened already
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Chelsea had quite a good gameplan to get Palmer in space. Arsenal adjusted quite well. The goals all came from set-pieces, but I enjoyed all this anyway. www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
nytimes.com
How Rosenior rotated Chelsea’s midfield to cause Arsenal problems – and how Arteta adapted
Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez initially had Martin Zubimendi chasing shadows but couldn't capitalise on Arsenal's confusion
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
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...
nytimes.com
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
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Arsenal seemed better prepared for what Tudor wanted from Tottenham than Tottenham did themselves. Little pressure on the full-backs meant Arsenal could easily advance down the flanks, and their out-of-form attackers suddenly looked like world beaters. www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...
nytimes.com
How Arsenal adapted to Igor Tudor’s tactical system much more effectively than Spurs did
It was an impressive performance from the league leaders – but no other Premier League opponent will afford them this much space
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
An article on the strange convergence of officiating and broadcasting. RefCam. Refs announcing decisions in increasingly dramatic ways. Commentators revealing what decisions are about to be made. What's the next step? www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...
nytimes.com
Are referees and broadcasters converging in a strange, new way?
Referees have taken on three new roles over the past year or so, making them a more prominent part of broadcasts than ever before
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Thomas Frank at Tottenham: another manager who has previously done well with direct football struggling to adjust to the demands of a bigger club. It basically never works, and clubs should probably stop trying it. www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
nytimes.com
Thomas Frank’s dreadful Spurs spell is latest example that managers simply can’t change style
Tottenham's decision to sack Thomas Frank isn't just bad news for Thomas Frank, it's bad news for managers like him too...
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
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...
nytimes.com
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
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
The old Champions League group stage was a bit dull. The new one is too mad to understand what's happening. How about a compromise? www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
nytimes.com
The Champions League group phase has merits but it’s bloated. This is how to fix it
The 'Swiss-style' format produced last-day drama but still feels bloated - a compromise is needed
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Great article, this. Sorry but this bit really made me laugh
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Football is more of a squad game than ever, and there’s no particular need for one prolific goalscorer, but it’s tough to think of a Premier League title winner who didn’t have an attacking player in top form at some point. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
nytimes.com
Can Arsenal win the Premier League without an outstanding attacker?
It feels like Arteta’s side will require a burst of brilliance from an attacking player if they are to fend off their title rivals
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Chelsea v Arsenal often feels like the biggest match of the WSL season. Not this time around. But it had the biggest away following of the season, and it felt right that Beth Mead was the one to score the crucial opener. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
nytimes.com
Beth Mead still has huge value to Arsenal, despite questions over her future
Mead scored her first WSL goal of the season, as Arsenal won at Chelsea for the first time since 2018...
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Arteta v Carrick tomorrow. There's a pattern to the type of players who become managers: their game was not about speed. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
nytimes.com
The key to being a top-level manager? Being slow as a player
The fact that Mikel Arteta and Michael Carrick are facing each other as managers on Sunday makes stylistic sense
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Sorry to have to say this about one of the greats, but the more Arsene Wenger talks about potential law changes, the more you have to question whether he actually *gets* football. www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
nytimes.com
Does Arsene Wenger really get football?
Wenger's offside proposals reinforce the fear that as FIFA's chief of global football development he might be doing more harm than good
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Michael Cox @zonal-marking.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Tough to prove this with numbers, but I'm convinced this season's Premier League ball moves more dramatically than the old Nike ball. In particular it seems to dip more than I (and more significantly, goalkeepers) anticipate. www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
nytimes.com
Is this season’s Premier League ball enabling more spectacular goals?
The new Puma ball seems to be encouraging precise, well-judged finishes that reward technique and invention
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