The Twelfth Man Academy: Recent Episodes
The Twelfth Man Academy
We talk about football, about the whys, the what and the hows with fans and professionals who, above anything else, want to dig deep into football knowledge, express their views and understand, in football as in life happens for a reason…
In our first season, we talk with a manager, Gus Poyet to explore the ins and outs of being a football manager, what’s important, what they see and how this affects the teams.
In this episode, we delve into the psychology of football derbies from three perspectives: a player, a coach, and a fan. How do all three deal with the emotional intensity, pressure and expectations, motivation and mindset, and the emotions of playing against your biggest rival?
Whether you're on the pitch, in the dugout, or the stands, derbies are more than just games; they are cultural events that ignite passion, shape identities, and create lasting memories. We examine how players stay focused under pressure, how coaches develop strategies amidst chaos, and how fans' intense loyalty elevates the game's atmosphere.
These elements contribute to making derbies profoundly impactful experiences for everyone involved.
In this eye-opening episode, Gus Poyet guides us into the pressures and challenges faced by football managers, a side of the sport rarely seen by fans. We discuss the emotional contrast between fan experiences and the intense stress and expectations placed on managers. They share insights into the physical and mental toll of managing a team, the necessity of support from organizations like the League Manager Association, and the crucial need for rest and a work-life balance.
In this episode, you will also gain a unique perspective on how external factors, including media scrutiny from “so-called” pundits and the complex dynamics between managers and club owners, affect the world of football management. Through personal stories and candid discussions, this episode illuminates the often invisible struggles of football managers, offering fans a deeper understanding of the beautiful game's behind-the-scenes realities.
In this episode, Gus, Steven, and Mariano focus on fans - their interests and passions. They explore the different types of football fans today, their preferences, and idiosyncrasies. Do they follow one club for life, or are they more interested in stats and tactics? Or do they follow their favorite footballer? Are they always loyal and supportive, or negative in their views of the club?
They also talk about fans in different countries and the unavoidable problem of when passion turns to violence. We invite you to contact us and send your views and opinions to our social media channels. How do you feel about the game? Do you have any questions or themes you want us to discuss?
In our new episode, Kristopher O'Hare, our first guest in the podcast, alongside Gus Poyet, Steven and Mariano, explores the intricate blend of sports psychology and coaching for youth football development. This in-depth discussion illuminates how a coach's adeptness in fusing psychological acumen with training methodologies can significantly enhance both individual player progression and overall team synergy from U16 u18 to first-team football
The episode unpacks pivotal topics like the importance of cultivating players' mental resolve, balancing technical skill enhancement with fostering individual flair, and the nuanced role of mentorship in youth football. Our dialogue aims to offer listeners—be they passionate fans or discerning coaches—a deeper comprehension of the essential role that psychological insight plays in shaping young athletes, contributing to team triumphs, and influencing the beautiful game as we experience it.
In this insightful episode, we will be exploring the complex dynamics that exist between football managers and referees. We will delve deep into the multifaceted challenges that referees face, the intricate perspectives of various stakeholders on the rules of football, the transition of refereeing into a professional realm, the influence of the relatively new and ever-evolving technology of VAR (the Video Assistant Referee), and the nuanced relationship that managers maintain with referees.
In this episode of Players' Responsibilities, we explore the vital obligations that football players undertake. From their unwavering dedication to training, where they push their boundaries to give their maximum, to their crucial role in defending their team's colours on the pitch, we dive deep into the world of players' responsibilities. We also discuss the significance of individual accountability and how players can make a game-changing impact in every match. Join us as we uncover the intricate details of what it means to be a football player, examining their commitment to training, defensive prowess, and their ability to leave a lasting mark on the game. This episode sheds light on players' indispensable role in shaping their team's success.
After three games of the 2023/2024 Premier League season, Gus Steven and Mariano explore the importance of the number 6 position in the Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United teams. We delve into its tactical significance and the individual characteristics each player brings to the identity of their team.
Recorded on August 28th, 2023.
Player Discipline is not far from a fan’s lips, but what do they really know about what goes on behind closed doors at a club? Gus gives us the inside track of how a new manager introduces discipline and rules when they arrive at a club. We learn how a manager deals with this with their players and how they deal with the media.
In this episode, we reference player disciplinary issues at Man City made public in December 2021.
Free kicks win matches, how does a manager work on the training ground to utilise the opportunity a dead ball gives a team. We discover the ABCs of the perfect crossed free kick, the work taken on the training ground. From delivery of the ball into the box and the importance of the timing from the targets in the box, we understand the work the set piece coaches are now doing on the training ground working with their squads and player characteristics.
It’s an important part of football and something that is being trained more than ever at clubs, the Set-piece. Historically through football history the training of set pieces has evolves so much that clubs are now employing specialist coaches. Fundamentally, we learn that the responsibility of set pieces lies massively with the players, from understanding them positionally to executing them perfectly on the pitch. We learn of Steven’s dislike of short corners, with Gus explaining to him the option of having this in a team’s arsenal is important.
Following a topsy-turvy week for managers this week, we spoke about the Antonio Conte, Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter's latest sackings and discussed the importance of a clear message from the hierarchy to the manager and how this impacts results, and most importantly, the fans and the club.
We’ve learnt that player characteristics play an important role in create a team’s identity, but what are these characteristics, what is needed from players to help a team to create and work within their identity? Understanding the different playing field between clubs from those with big budgets to those with small and whether a manager adapts his team identity to the players he has or, players needing to adapt their game to a teams’ identity.
In this episode, we reference the change of Captain at Arsenal due to disciplinary issues in December 2021.
In this episode, we learn that fans should not discuss systems anymore. Gus explains it is about how a team plays the game within various formations and with different ideas before and during games. What is the best formation to play in English football today and its link to various team identities and player characteristics.
There is a lot of talk in modern football about a team’s identity, but what exactly is it. Gus takes us on the journey of creating a team’s identity, from what is needed in the characteristics of club and players. We learn how long it can take to create and the important factors of time and money to create a winning formula in football today.
What is the difference between the team identities of Manchester City and Liverpool. In this episode we learn what these are and how it they were achieved. For one team, it takes time, a lot of money and specific player characteristics to create the identity to allow them to play in a certain way. For the other club it is the understanding of the system and having the right players to allow them to play in a certain way.
Each coach has an identity and needs to imprint this on their teams. Gus explains, how important it is to each team to have a team identity and how coaches use this identity to win football matches. We learn the differences in creating identity between club football and international football. We also ask whether Pep, Simeone, Conte and Gus as players have the right characteristics to fit into their own teams and under their coaching identity.
In this episode, we reference Gus becoming the Greece National Coach in February 2022.
How important are Captains in the Modern Game? In this episode, we look at the ins and outs of captaincy and the importance of the role for the fans, the manager, and the club. We learn how a manager picks his captains and what it is to be the captain on the pitch. In this episode, we reference the change of Captain at Arsenal due to disciplinary issues in December 2021.
Does your Club Manager have a plan B? When are things not happening for your team on the pitch do you tear up everything you worked on in training when things are not going your way in the match? In this Episode, Gus gives us an insight into planning the tactical ins and outs of a game. While explaining the true meaning of Plan A and Plan B in the modern game. We look at the differences between a manager’s team identities and how player characteristics influence games and a manager’s decisions on a match day.
It was a question that needed two episodes, Are you a Coach or a Manager? In this second part we look at two of the most successful managers in the game, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger and their roles as managers at their clubs and the role of a modern coach and their relationship with the Director of Football.
In this Episode, Steven asks Gus Poyet the big question, “Are you a Coach or a Manager?” With the introduction of more football directors in the British game, Gus explains the difference and gives personal insights from his career where at different times he was either seen as a Manager or a Coach, giving an insight into the time he was close to signing Liverpool Captain Virgil Van Dijk for Brighton Hove Albion.
In this episode, we reference the 2022 January transfer, with the press reporting tension between Antonio Conte and Spurs about signings. Rafa Benitez (who looks like Mariano) was promoted from coach to manager, only to be sacked later in the same season. While Marcelo Bielsa was happy with his squad and asked Leeds not to sell his players.
We talk football, with the emphasis on teaching. In this episode we look to close the gap between football fans and the football manager, by answering the questions the fans would like to know. We look at different situations a manager finds themselves in and how Fans and Football Professionals view the game through a different lens.
In this episode we reference the 3-2 Hotspur victory against Leicester City in January 2022, with Steven Bergwijn score two late goals in injury time.