John Walker
@johnwalker_1986 • 96,085 subscribers
UEFA A Licence Football Coach & Analyst
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Mexico v South Africa: Pre-Match Analysis Here is your guide to the Opening Match of the 2026 World Cup. Mexico will be in a 4-3-3: > Lots of Central Combinations > Wingers Moving Inside > Fullbacks Overlapping > Crosses in for Jimenez > Real Threat from Corners South Africa will be in a 4-2-3-1: > Brave in Building Out > Risks & Quick Play in Front-Line > Wingers 1v1 and Crosses Absolutely buzzing for this 👇
John Walker5,202,031 views • 4 months ago
Celtic: Progressive Play Problems Rangers change in formation & man for man press can account for a slow start to the game but after half-time, the lack of change would have been a slight concern. Slight tweaks were available: > Inverting Fullbacks like Postecoglou > Allowing Wingers 1v1 > Getting Players Around McGregor > Getting Baur and Nygren Closer to Hogh Plenty of examples where Celtic's movements, when inverting or overlapping, looked off the cuff: > No Clear Trigger > No Movements at Speed > Often 3 Players on Same Line (LB, LCAM and LW) Instead Celtic started to play into the exact game McInnes' would have envisioned and trying to go quite direct. I would be very surprised if we didn't learn Tierney was still struggling with a knock & this Sunday coming, I would expect a different Celtic with more intent in movements and ball speed to disrupt Rangers structure. Think this could be a really good tactical battle this weekend
John Walker289,762 views • 1 month ago
Rangers Midfield: Progressing Play Disclaimer in the video, I am not "picking on" the players involved, I am giving my Analysis of, in my opinion, what I expect of Midfielders. In most of these clips, it is alarming how often: > Forward Pass is Missed > No Scanning to Approach the Play > Poor Body Shape & Distancing to Play Forward Then the end clip in the 50th minute, around Rest-Defence, is just another red flag of lack of discipline either in the structure or players. I watch Manny Fernandez closely, shouting at people to "not go" and leave Rangers in 3v2 counter attacks without a midfield in front of them. You can't be refusing forward passes, lack structure & be successful in the long run.
John Walker300,146 views • 2 months ago
Fernandez - Don't Drop Him, Develop Him 📈 I see a lot of comments around Fernandez, lazy ones, "he's lazy", "head turned" & "disinterested" but he consistently covers top distances, ridiculous high-speed sprint numbers for a CB & has also jumped National League to European Football in 2.5yrs. The penalty yesterday, in my opinion, comes from a clear man for man philosophy when defending: > Dealing with a 3v2 > Doesn't Address Ball-Side Danger (Stays with Phillips) > Sterling Does the Same > Narrows and Engages Too Late Exact same error Sterling made for me v Dundee Utd or McCrorie makes v Jagiellonia & it has to be the approach to follow man instead of space. That is totally fine, but what is meant to happen when a player is breached, when do players adjust & what is expected then?! Manny Fernandez has the potential to be a goldmine record-sale for Rangers but it needs to be intense development and coaching to ensure he doesn't drop levels and keeps the confidence up.
John Walker237,210 views • 2 months ago
St.Mirren: Style of Play Manager of the Month, Craig McLeish, showed exactly why he was worthy of that in large spells yesterday. Fraser Taylor & Ryan Carr were an absolute joy to watch at times in midfield and they contribute so much to their style: > Build Out with Risk > Use 3rd Man Vertical Play to Break Through > Runners Beyond/Behind (Denied a Clear Pen) > Numbers to Join Attack to Counter-Press > Recycled Attack after Attack Between 55-80. That control they gained from about the 25th minute onwards was huge, they restricted Rangers to 0 Shots on Target between 22nd Minute and the Goal in injury time. Rangers had a ridiculous spell of pressure between 6th and 22nd minute where they could have been out of sight. Key to note that St.Mirren were also without 3 massive players in Nsio, Phillips & Ramos who have contributed 14 goals this season already. The club is very clearly aligned from Keith Lasley (CEO) to Gavin Miller (Head of Recruitment) to Craig McLeish (Head Coach) on how their Style of Play is Sustainable and will bring performances short-term but longer-term financial stability from player trading An exciting time in Paisley
John Walker146,332 views • 1 month ago
McInnes Masterclass: Use of James Penrice Derek McInnes needs to be given all the credit and praise for the Game-Plan in Rangers 3-0 win over Celtic. The change in formation to 3-5-2ish (3-3-4 at times) and use of James Penrice was a masterstroke with and without the ball: > Man for Man on Nygren in CM > Bravery at the Back Man for Man > Penrice in Transition Goes Wide from CM > Penrice & Gassama Movements in Possession It stopped Celtic being able to build effectively through lines and eventually started playing into the hands: > Fernandez Won Everything Against Hogh > Makhanya Got Better of Duran > Similar problems to LASK in Players on Edge of Box Dan Neil rightly MOTM but Derek McInnes deserves every bit of respect for this performance Next Sunday could be a very interesting tactical watch as Celtic will have an adjustment to counter that press.
John Walker86,319 views • 1 month ago
Elliot Watt: Finally a "Number 6" Are Rangers finally about to replace the most important position they've had to address since losing Steven Davis?! Elliot Watt represents all of those attributes you'd want in a Modern No.6: > Exceptional Variety of Passes > Goals from Range > Bravery on the Ball > Plays Under Pressure > Duel & 2nd Ball Positional Awareness Anything under £3m & it would represent and unbelievable start to the window adding to Lawrence Shankland. Definitely a "Scottish" led recruitment model
John Walker299,236 views • 4 months ago
Group C: Scotland v Brazil - Decider Potentially the biggest game in Scotlands Footballing History but especially for this generation with a point required to guarantee progression. Scotland Potential Success: > Switching to a Back-5 to Protect Space > Counter-Attacking Down Left or Doak > Crosses into the Box & Players on the Edge Brazil Potential Success: > 1v1 Wingers & Freedom to Create > Runners Behind the Line of Defence > Protecting Against Counters If Brazil get their set-up right, I fear it can only go one way but we have seen with Cape Verde, DR Congo and Curacao that teams can defend out for the point they require. Come on Scotland 🏴
John Walker166,272 views • 4 months ago
🇪🇸 Spain v Argentina 🇦🇷 - Analysis 🏆 This is your most complete & in-depth pre-match analysis for the World Cup Final 👇 Spain Play > 1v1 Wing-Play > Overlapping & Underlapping Fullbacks > Combinations Centrally to Create > Exceptional Rest-Defence and Waves of Attack Potential Success: > Exploiting Argentina's Fullback Areas Argentina Play > Vertical Play & Crosses into the Box > Messi Creating Overloads Anywhere > Transition Attacks > Set-Plays Potential Success: > Set-Plays or a bit of Messi Magic might be the only way this side can unlock this ridiculous Spanish defence. Will Yamal stamp his name on the Biggest Stage or will Messi leave on the highest of highs?!
John Walker132,224 views • 3 months ago
Bookies Show Wrong Booking??? A couple of pals have asked because they were all waiting on Dundee Utd #5 Sevelj to recieve a card for a few pennies. I think the bookies have got this completely wrong, Sky & Opta included: - Diomande clearly given a 🟥 - Walsh then walks away from Holt - Shows a 🟨to #5 Sevelj If anyone else is waiting on this bet, you need OptaJoe Opta Analyst to correct it on their site or alternatively Scottish FA reports end up available. Kevin Holt is literally in the opposite direction 🤣🤣🤣
John Walker724,013 views • 1 year ago
Scotland: What Are We Coached? I am sorry for the negativity but we are: > 3rd Lowest Scorers > 8th Lowest Shots on Target > 27th Best Accurate Passers > 2nd Highest xG Against So we are a team that can't create chances, can't control games & then can't defend when we turnover the ball. We switched to this Back-4 & it was obvious, with all the Qualification evidence that it was a huge mistake and it's been proven. Belarus, Greece and Denmark were all able to play through our press and it hasn't changed an ounce since those games: > Huge Distances Between Lines > Standing Off or Man for Man Clarity > High-Line or Block Low The fact the same errors happening between games that were 5 days apart is the biggest concern for me. We have been at a camp for 4-weeks now and looked genuinely, so poorly instructed/coached. A mentality swing is required, Clarke was the man to move us forward in 2018 but he isn't the man to take us forward in 2026.
John Walker152,016 views • 3 months ago
Pocognoli's Positive Play & Philosophy In the 2nd Half v Slovenia, we seen exactly what Pocognoli's wants: > Quick Play Forward (Over or Through) > Combinations Through or Wide for Crosses > Team Positioning High & Central > Rest-Defence Pressure to Recycle Attacks > High-Press to Force Long-Play to Win I think all of this is what we want to see as Scotland fans too, front-foot and be aggressive. Outside of the Coaching Chances, Billy Gilmour, Oli McBurnie & Lewis Ferguson were absolutely brilliant playing forward and linking together. The more we have Top-5 League players in our team, the more we will get to tournaments. Positive first viewing of Pocognoli's Philosophy
John Walker34,758 views • 24 days ago
Scotland - Building out from the Back I feel like there is a huge lack of clarity in the way we play & that responsibility sits with coaches as much as the players: > Are Defenders to Play? > Are the "CDM's" to Show & Build? > Fullbacks Allowed to Find Space? I have watched McKenna & Hendry play out successfully in Belgium and Croatia with possession based teams and be good at it. I have watched Ferguson & McLean play in Top-5 Leagues and show for the ball and dictate play. Is this a lack of clarity, lack of coached "Style" or individual errors or a mixture of both?!
John Walker144,583 views • 3 months ago
QF3: 🇳🇴 Norway v England 🏴 10pm (UK) Live on ITV Will the Vikings Row to Victory or Will England Excel to the Semi's? Norway Potential Success: > Wide 1v1 Play & Crosses into Haaland > Low-Block & Counter at Speed (Old Haaland) > Set-Plays Key Concern: > Underlapping 8 Runs from Bellingham and Rice to help Gordon and Saka either cut inside or play through. England Potential Success: > Crosses into the Box > Direct Play & Quick Transition into Attack > Set-Plays Key Concern: > Losing the ball with fullbacks and wingers high in attack and allowing transitions against with Odegaard, Haaland & Bobb breaking at speed. Key Battles: > Haaland v Konsa/Guehi; He dominated Gabriel when it mattered, can he do the same to other EPL players?! > Kane v Ajer; Ajer will get physical but can he cope with Kane's movements into all areas of the pitch or will he stay and allow the overloads > Gordon v Ryerson; Norway could be missing their RB or at best, he has a hamstring strain restricting sprints then its Aursnes, a CM, coming in. Final Thoughts: I expect a very tight game, both teams dropping into a block instead of pressing & whoever defends transitions and set-plays best will progress.
John Walker118,464 views • 3 months ago
Manny & Makhanya: Brave Building Out Yesterday, I felt both CB's were really brave in building out from the back and most of the attacks were as a result of their play. Manny Fernandez with the ball is exceptional: > Delays to Provoke Pressure > Brave Breaking Lines under Pressure > Takes Responsibility at All Times > Created 2 of the Best Chances in the Game Also thought Makhanya grew into a decent performance. We can argue defensively on Manny, I think he can definitely develop and improve but I also believe he wants to & understand's why he delays play. As for the laziness recovery stuff, he covers ridiculous High-Sprint Distances for a CB per 90, especially for a Rangers defender. More players with his Game-Understanding and Midfielders to demand the ball off of him then Rangers will be in a much better place.
John Walker81,922 views • 2 months ago
Rangers: Man for Man Pressing Rangers were outplayed, outcoached & as a result, out of Europe & McInnes "Man for Man" press seems to be a huge mitigating factor for the players. Look back at Hearts v Motherwell last season, where Motherwell took a 3-0 lead & it was all down to "man for man" pressure with a smart coach with a style exploiting it. (Hearts recovered a draw) Same as last night, Jabonlec far superior in their "Style" and "Rotations" which all comes from good coaching and identifying weaknesses in your opponent. My main issues with Man for Man Pressing: > Individuals Focus on Themselves > CB Drives Out Beyond CF > Who Corrects the "Next" Player > Do CM's Drop or Jump onto that > How High Do CB's Go I felt sorry for Dan Neil, I do not think yesterday merited a HT sub, I felt it was structural & he wasn't alone, it was 7-8 players uncertain. If 7-8 players are waving arms about due to uncertainty and frustration then this isn't being addressed in training and/or in analysis meetings to ensure clarity In defence of McInnes, switching to 3-5-2 and adding a 3rd CM did address a lot of these gaps from first half but it still didn't have any impact on Rangers creating chances.
John Walker63,569 views • 1 month ago
Algeria: WC Record Passing Goal In a moment of the match with nothing to play for with both teams qualifying in injury time: > Algeria take a throw-in > 100+ Passes > 5min 32secs of Uninterrupted Possession > Mahrez Finishing the Move Safe to say, a record that will not be broken & only disappointment is conceding immediately after for the game to finish 3-3.
John Walker113,980 views • 3 months ago