The Athletic FC Podcast: "Why the Premier League has Gone Back to Basics"

Date: October 7, 2025
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Mark Carey, Oli Kay, Thomas Grønnemark

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s tactical analyst Mark Carey, senior writer Oli Kay, and guest throw-in coach Thomas Grønnemark. They explore why the Premier League appears to be reverting to more traditional, “old school” tactics—such as long throws, rugby-style kick-offs, and physically dominant strikers—and what impact these trends are having on the style, spectacle, and effectiveness of top-flight English football. The discussion dives into the resurgence of set pieces, evolving trends with number nines, the snobbery (or not) surrounding so-called “basic” football, and the science and innovation behind throw-ins.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who’s Impressing in the Premier League?

(03:49–07:00)

• Oli Kay and Mark Carey highlight Crystal Palace and Bournemouth as standout, over-performing teams this season, primarily due to their organization, energy, and adaptability despite losing key players.
  • “Crystal Palace and Bournemouth... are really impressing with the organization of their game, the energy, their success in transitions. They just look like really clever teams.” – Oli Kay (04:15)
• By contrast, big clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Man City are not as cohesive as expected despite their talent and spending.
• Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are identified as under-performers due to recruitment/losses and off-field instability, respectively.

2. The Long Throw Revolution

(07:00–26:43)

Thomas Grønnemark Interview (Throw-in Coach, ex-Liverpool)

• Background & Niche Expertise:
  • Grønnemark held the world record for the longest throw-in (51.33m with a flip technique) and became football’s first full-time throw-in coach after seeing most teams lose possession from “throw-ins under pressure.”
  • “Most teams... lost the ball in more than 50% of the occasions when there was a throw-in under pressure.” – Thomas Grønnemark (09:26)
• Jurgen Klopp’s Call:
  • Klopp recruited Grønnemark after reading about him: “I thought it was some guy from England selling pencils... Then I listened to the voicemail; it was Jurgen Klopp.” – Grønnemark (10:43)
  • His coaching contributed to Liverpool jumping from 18th to 1st in the league for possession after throw-ins under pressure (from 45.4% to 68.4%). (16:45)
• Throw-ins as Advantage, Not Gimmick:
  • Argues throw-in coaching shouldn't be niche—there are 40–60 per match, taking up to 20 minutes.
  • “Throw-in coaching should be mainstream because... you lose the ball after a throw-in, the opponents can score. If you keep it, you can keep control, create a chance to score a goal. It’s quite simple.” (12:48)
• Long Throws or Fast Restarts?:
  • At Liverpool, focus was on quick, clever throw-ins rather than just launching long throws, to fit their high-energy playing style.
  • “Klopp felt a fixation on long throws would stop Liverpool’s fast, fluid game.” (15:35)
• Metrics & Defensive Importance:
  • Success is measured via possession retained, chance creation, and defending opponents’ throws.
  • “Liverpool... were masters in taking the ball from the opponents [on throw-ins]... Not only about keeping possession... but also pressing and regaining.” (18:10)
• Rugby-style Kick-offs & Defending Long Throws:
  • Some teams are deliberately kicking the ball out for throw-ins high up the field—a tactic Grønnemark sees as only “half-good," arguing teams could achieve more by combining possession sequences with pressure.
  • Defending long throws is tough because even duels won by defenders can create chaos: “If you have players inside the penalty area who are like wild animals to get that second, third, or fourth ball—you have a big advantage.” (22:45)
• The Value of Specialist Coaching:
  • Coaching expertise, he argues, is a great value for clubs compared to expensive transfer gambles.
  • Grønnemark works with clubs worldwide but often keeps clients secret.

3. Is This New 'Old School' Style Good for the Game?

(30:38–40:26)

• Debate on Aesthetics and Efficacy:
  • Oli Kay remains skeptical, noting an increase in stoppages and a decline in open-play excitement:
    • “You look at this season’s football, I feel like I’m seeing less entertaining football, less technical football and a lot of stop starts and balls hurled into the penalty area... making the spectacle worse.” (37:00)
  • Mark Carey provides data: This season, 27% of final-third throw-ins go into the box—more than double compared to the previous few seasons (13%/11%/10%). (31:36)
    • This isn’t just a few clubs—only 3 haven’t generated a shot from these throws.
    • The trend is about creating chaos, not only “launching it for a flick-on.”
  • Mixed listener responses: Some hate it, some see it as winning within the rules; some say “if you want long throws and choreographed set pieces, watch rugby!”
  • The efficacy is also questioned: goal rates are down (2.6 per game versus previous years) despite more balls being thrown into dangerous areas.

4. Set Pieces & Tactical Evolution

(42:08–48:00)

• Set pieces (corners, free kicks, throw-ins, penalties) now account for 35% of all Premier League goals—an increase from ~27% in prior years.

  • “35% of a much smaller number of goals... shows a lot fewer goals are being scored from open play.” – Oli Kay (44:19)

• The rise of set piece specialists (“you know their names now”) shows clubs' desire to exploit every marginal advantage—“clubs are becoming smarter... if we can improve our goals or results by 2–3%, these things are worth doing.” – Mark Carey (34:37; 35:50)

• Why are big teams like Arsenal/City going old school?

  • For Arsenal, a focus on set pieces and attritional, territory-based football has replaced some of their previous attacking flair (e.g., after falling short last year).
  • “Are you taking something away from your general play by training set pieces so much?... There’s a balancing act.” – Oli Kay (38:28)

5. Return of the Big Number Nine

(48:00–53:54)

• Haaland is the top scorer; other clubs are recruiting big, traditional centre-forwards (Jocores, Sheko, Mateta).

  • Mark notes it’s less “agricultural” than old long-ball tactics, and more about having a focal point to sustain possession and attacks higher up the pitch.
  • “It’s not outrageous that we’re seeing more of the traditional number nines now. It’s much more measured and sophisticated.” – Mark Carey (50:05)

• Oli Kay observes that academies seem to be producing Haaland-like strikers (strong, fast, technically good)—a switch from when Wenger lamented the "death” of the traditional nine.

  • “Everyone wants this big, powerful, strong, incredibly quick centre-forward... [Haaland] has crept back into fashion.” (51:18)

• Haaland’s scoring record and impact are widely praised, even if the aesthetics divide opinion:

  • “He’s not a particularly appealing player to watch, but he’s incredibly effective and incredibly good. The best goalscorer we’ve seen in the Premier League.” – Oli Kay (53:13)

Notable Quotes

• On throw-ins as mainstream, not niche:
  “You’re spending around 20 minutes in a match on throw-ins and throwing related situations... You should have thousands of throw-in coaches.”
  —Thomas Grønnemark (12:35)

• On why Klopp focused on fast throws:
  “Klopp felt that building their game around long throws would take away some of their attacking impetus and the energy.”
  —Oli Kay, summarizing Grønnemark (15:35)

• On effectiveness of 'basic' tactics:
  “If you can use these sequences to maximize control, it can only be a good thing... If it can improve our chance of scoring and our results by 2–3%, these are worth doing.”
  —Mark Carey (34:53)

• On the current football spectacle:
  “I feel like I’m seeing less entertaining, less technical football, and a lot of stop starts and balls hurled into the penalty area.”
  —Oli Kay (37:00)

• On Haaland’s goal threat:
  “You cannot take your eyes off him for a minute... He just buries them time and time again.”
  —Oli Kay (53:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:49: Early season standouts & underperformers
• 07:00: Introduction of Thomas Grønnemark; the throw-in revolution
• 09:04: Grønnemark’s story—becoming a throw-in coach
• 10:43: Klopp’s call & Liverpool’s throw-in improvement
• 13:38–16:20: Long throws vs quick restarts; Liverpool’s approach
• 16:45: Measuring throw-in success
• 19:09: Rugby-style kick-offs & pressure tactics
• 20:53: Defending long throws—the chaos factor
• 22:45: The advantage of specialized throw-in coaching
• 30:38: Discussion on aesthetics of set-piece-heavy football
• 31:36: Data: Doubling of long throws into the box
• 42:08: Rise in set piece goals (35% of all goals now)
• 48:00: The return of the big number nine
• 53:00: Haaland’s clinical edge; is he the best scorer in PL history?

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is lively, critical, and inquisitive. The hosts and guests approach the topic with a mixture of tactical enthusiasm and skepticism about its effect on entertainment value. They blend statistical insights, tactical understanding, and a consideration of broader trends—while giving due credit to innovative specialists like Thomas Grønnemark. Ultimately, the revival of “back to basics” methods is seen partly as tactical evolution, partly as a necessary leveller for less glamorous teams, and partly as a potential sapper of the game’s spectacle if overdone.

Recommended for listeners interested in:
Modern football tactics, the evolution of set pieces, data-driven strategies, and the changing character of the Premier League on and off the pitch.