<![CDATA[EBL: World Football]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/s/europehttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3z09!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4cd66440-5107-495a-b948-9561550db468_1280x1280.pngEBL: World Footballhttps://www.ebl2017.com/s/europeSubstackSat, 11 Apr 2026 07:30:57 GMT<![CDATA[Álvaro Arbeloa and the Return of Ancelotti-Era Madrid]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/alvaro-arbeloa-and-the-return-ofhttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/alvaro-arbeloa-and-the-return-ofTue, 20 Jan 2026 08:29:00 GMT🚨 Álvaro Arbeloa is taking Real Madrid in a very different direction to Xabi Alonso.

Alonso was a tactician.

Arbeloa is closer to Zidane & Ancelotti.

Can that philosophy still win the Champions League?

Full assessment 👇

Read more

]]><![CDATA[⚽️ The Rise of Man-to-Man Football]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/the-rise-of-man-to-man-footballhttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/the-rise-of-man-to-man-footballTue, 11 Nov 2025 08:47:01 GMT⚽️ The modern game is man-to-man.

From Vincent Kompany’s Bayern to Luis Enrique’s PSG, teams are locking on everywhere.

In this breakdown, I reveal how elite sides exploit man-to-man defending in open play.

THREAD! 🚨

Read more

]]><![CDATA[🇩🇪 Tuchel’s England: The Bayern Blueprint Comes to the Three Lions]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/tuchels-england-the-bayern-blueprinthttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/tuchels-england-the-bayern-blueprintFri, 10 Oct 2025 07:30:49 GMT🇩🇪 Thomas Tuchel’s 4-3-3,

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The #6, #8, #10 midfield dynamic,

🔴⚪️ Similarities to Tuchel’s Bayern,

🦁🦁🦁 England’s chances of winning the World Cup.

Broken down in full.

THREAD! 🚨

Read more

]]><![CDATA[⚪️ The Unthinkable: Should Xabi Alonso & Real Madrid Cash In on Vinicius Jr?]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/the-unthinkable-should-xabi-alonsohttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/the-unthinkable-should-xabi-alonsoTue, 30 Sep 2025 07:49:28 GMT⚪️ The Unthinkable: Should Xabi Alonso & Real Madrid Cash In on Vinicius Jr?

It sounds insane… until you see the tactical evidence.

THREAD! 🚨

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Xabi Alonso - You Rocked My World]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/xabi-alonso-you-rocked-my-worldhttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/xabi-alonso-you-rocked-my-worldThu, 19 Jun 2025 07:59:20 GMTXabi Alonso showed a new tactical identity at Madrid — that same identity highlights how his potential is otherworldly 💯

The performance may not have been amazing, but the tactical intent was ELITE!

THREAD! 🚨

Subscribe now

Xabi Alonso implemented a picture perfect 3-4-3 at Bayer Leverkusen.

Tactically, it was complete.

It elevated the level of the club to the point where they won their first ever Bundesliga title, and they did it unbeaten.

It was reminiscent of Tuchel's Chelsea tactically.

-

So, when he was appointed by Real Madrid, the question on everyone's mind was 'what system will he play?'

Well, we have our answer, and it's not a back 3.

In fact, it was a back 4 that showed tactical potential that aligns with the elites.

To be honest, I was blown away.

-

The performance itself may not have been incredible, but we have to factor in crucial contextual factors.

The game was played in Miami in scorching heat with water breaks necessary throughout the game.

The competition will also only pick up competitively in the knockouts.

-

Because of those factors, Madrid were quite passive as a whole and Al Hilal were arguably the better team on the day.

However, as an analyst, I like to assess tactical intent because that is what determines the likelihood of long-term success.

Alonso's intent was utterly elite.

-

Now, unlike 99.9% of analysts, I am not going to start this analysis by analysing Real Madrid with the ball.

I say this because defence is everything in this game.

You can have the best offensive idea in the world but it does not matter if you are not compact to win the ball.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Perception - The Gareth Southgate Case Study]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/perception-the-gareth-southgate-casehttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/perception-the-gareth-southgate-caseSat, 14 Jun 2025 14:09:20 GMTThe notion that Gareth Southgate is a clueless tactician as absolutely untrue.

Take the Switzerland game, for example. England quite literally utilised the common tactical staples that we see in the elite club teams.

They built in a 4-2-4 with players in close proximity across the park.

They also often used Pickford as a situational centre back which pushe…

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Gareth Southgate's England - A Tactical Analysis]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/gareth-southgates-englandhttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/gareth-southgates-englandSat, 14 Jun 2025 13:28:44 GMTSouthgate set England up in a 4-2-4 in the initial phase of the build-up against Iceland.

However, due to the sheer fact that Iceland didn't press, England primarily operated within a 3-2-5 with Trippier tucked into the back three at left-centre back and Walker holding the width on the right wing with Palmer tucked inside.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[NICO WILLIAMS IS THE NEXT BIG THING!]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/nico-williams-is-the-next-big-thinghttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/nico-williams-is-the-next-big-thingSat, 14 Jun 2025 13:06:22 GMTNico Williams then, eh?

Every elite club in the sport has been linked with the 21 year-old Spaniard, so it's time to assess what the fuss is about.

Let's take a look at his career so far number-wise.

-

At 19, in his breakout year into top flight football, Nico Williams appeared in 34 games for Athletic Bilbao, but he only averaged 38 minutes per game. He fa…

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Kylian Mbappé and 'Superstars' who don't press...]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/kylian-mbappe-and-superstars-whohttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/kylian-mbappe-and-superstars-whoSat, 14 Jun 2025 11:23:18 GMTFootball has largely become a sport that consists of exerting control, and that can be achieved in a variety of ways. The very best teams in the world account for each phase of play tactically, and that doesn't just include the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, for example.

We have to take a look at the likes of Newcastle, Brentford, and even Luton t…

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Nico Barella... or should I say Luka Modrić?!]]>https://www.ebl2017.com/p/nico-barella-or-should-i-say-lukahttps://www.ebl2017.com/p/nico-barella-or-should-i-say-lukaSat, 14 Jun 2025 01:11:25 GMTLet's cut to the chase - Nico Barella is a superstar talent.

However, despite that fact, I was initially doubtful of his profile because of his perceived lack of physicality. As an outside #8 for a Conte or an Inzaghi 3-5-2, athleticism is a prerequisite to succeed, and Barella doesn't initially come across as a big physical presence.

That in tandem with …

Read more

]]>