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Umir Irfan

@umirf1 • 96,147 subscribers

@BBCSport Football Tactics Correspondent. Previous: club football analyst & consultant. Locum A&E Doctor (MBChB). DM for email.

Shorts

Messi is not real. He’s an alien because after decades, he’s still doing things that make me wonder how. That first pass? How has he seen and played that? Alien.

Messi is not real. He’s an alien because after decades, he’s still doing things that make me wonder how. That first pass? How has he seen and played that? Alien.

11,859,284 Aufrufe

Life is funny.

Life is funny.

3,937,250 Aufrufe

Project is done and live. A blog-archive-portfolio that I’ll publish thoughts to ranging from quick observations to frameworks I use to full essays and analysis. The search function is detailed so people can search ideas, sort by format, coaches, or teams over hopefully years.

Project is done and live. A blog-archive-portfolio that I’ll publish thoughts to ranging from quick observations to frameworks I use to full essays and analysis. The search function is detailed so people can search ideas, sort by format, coaches, or teams over hopefully years.

22,655 Aufrufe

Working on building a second brain for football. Aim is to have all my football thoughts in one place with in-linking to other pages within specific entries like a personal Wikipedia. Placeholder content for now.

Working on building a second brain for football. Aim is to have all my football thoughts in one place with in-linking to other pages within specific entries like a personal Wikipedia. Placeholder content for now.

19,975 Aufrufe

Explained my tactics to my son. Not sure he approves.

Explained my tactics to my son. Not sure he approves.

37,020 Aufrufe

Videos

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We've got this incredible feature on the BBC through the World Cup. For games the BBC cover, you can watch the games live (or back) in this 3D space, freely controlling the camera angle or viewing it in first person from any players' POV. Top for tactical insight. See here:

We've got this incredible feature on the BBC through the World Cup. For games the BBC cover, you can watch the games live (or back) in this 3D space, freely controlling the camera angle or viewing it in first person from any players' POV. Top for tactical insight. See here:

1,062,302 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

Kompany on the defending debate in the game against PSG – echoing what I've said in the tweet (and thread) below.

Kompany on the defending debate in the game against PSG – echoing what I've said in the tweet (and thread) below.

1,308,406 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

I’m seeing criticism around Bruno Fernandes’ World Cup but quality is emergent, it depends on the conditions a player finds themselves in. Bruno is as good as is for United but I explain why Martinez’s game model didn’t suit or allow him to play his natural attacking game.

I’m seeing criticism around Bruno Fernandes’ World Cup but quality is emergent, it depends on the conditions a player finds themselves in. Bruno is as good as is for United but I explain why Martinez’s game model didn’t suit or allow him to play his natural attacking game.

92,154 Aufrufe • vor 17 Tagen

Saint Maximin ➡️ Mahrez ➡️ Firmino. Yeah, ridiculous. And unfair. Lovely goal.

Saint Maximin ➡️ Mahrez ➡️ Firmino. Yeah, ridiculous. And unfair. Lovely goal.

4,435,246 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

Man City, Anderson, Bouaddi and qualitative depth™

Man City, Anderson, Bouaddi and qualitative depth™

38,316 Aufrufe • vor 12 Tagen

Heroes & Villains 🔵

Heroes & Villains 🔵

2,496,339 Aufrufe • vor 3 Jahren

I have an announcement. I have a new job.

I have an announcement. I have a new job.

670,862 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten

Hugely inspirational.

Hugely inspirational.

125,336 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

Created a private AI chatbot that goes through all of my previous thoughts and football work to provide answers on tactical questions I ask it. The aim is to have an AI-powered version of my football brain that has better memory than I do, cross-referencing works over years.

Created a private AI chatbot that goes through all of my previous thoughts and football work to provide answers on tactical questions I ask it. The aim is to have an AI-powered version of my football brain that has better memory than I do, cross-referencing works over years.

187,141 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

My analysis for DAZN Football on how this brilliant in-game tweak from Xabi Alonso vs Juventus completely changed the game. about: Tchouameni’s position change, Xabi Alonso’s hybrid back 4 and back 5, and man-marking Yildiz out of the game. (with James Allcott)

My analysis for DAZN Football on how this brilliant in-game tweak from Xabi Alonso vs Juventus completely changed the game. about: Tchouameni’s position change, Xabi Alonso’s hybrid back 4 and back 5, and man-marking Yildiz out of the game. (with James Allcott)

494,258 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Let’s talk about recruitment (ft Kobbie Mainoo)

Let’s talk about recruitment (ft Kobbie Mainoo)

89,123 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

A brief analysis of Lammens for BBC Sport. Touched upon his top shot-stopping numbers, situations in which these hold up & in which they may slightly deceive, before summarising his skillset. Left out many details given time so will elaborate in an article soon. Stay tuned.

A brief analysis of Lammens for BBC Sport. Touched upon his top shot-stopping numbers, situations in which these hold up & in which they may slightly deceive, before summarising his skillset. Left out many details given time so will elaborate in an article soon. Stay tuned.

243,860 Aufrufe • vor 10 Monaten

You don’t know how good Hugo Ekitike is.

You don’t know how good Hugo Ekitike is.

260,217 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

about me (Umir) and my 2024.

about me (Umir) and my 2024.

379,866 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

I analysed Quansah’s red card to show you just how many factors go into an ‘individual error’.

I analysed Quansah’s red card to show you just how many factors go into an ‘individual error’.

16,612 Aufrufe • vor 18 Tagen

People use the word formation and system interchangeably in media but today although Amorim played the same formation on paper (3-4-2-1) his system looked different and helped them win vs Liverpool. My immediate post match thoughts:

People use the word formation and system interchangeably in media but today although Amorim played the same formation on paper (3-4-2-1) his system looked different and helped them win vs Liverpool. My immediate post match thoughts:

175,689 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

Big changes are coming.

Big changes are coming.

148,171 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Are Man United losing what makes them ‘Man United’?

Are Man United losing what makes them ‘Man United’?

148,986 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

My proposal for principle-based positional play as the basis of future high-possession game models. Attempted to speak through my many thoughts on positional and relational play before landing on a newer framework. Will flesh it out in a written piece in a clearer and less stream of consciousness manner but hope this sparks ideas and conversation. My DMs are always open. TIMELINE: [00:00]: What do high possession sides need to win? [00:47]: The difference in qualitative vs numerical superiority [01:41]: How do teams gain qualitative superiority? [01:58]: Quality is emergent (why bad players can suddenly become good) [03:30]: Why positional play has worked so well (especially in the Premier League) [05:55]: Why positional play helped Guardiola adapt to injuries and find his best sides by the run-in best [06:50]: Why positional play (as we know it) could be improved on and my solution [07:44]: The pros and cons of relational play [08:25]: My proposal of principle-based positional play for the future of football

My proposal for principle-based positional play as the basis of future high-possession game models. Attempted to speak through my many thoughts on positional and relational play before landing on a newer framework. Will flesh it out in a written piece in a clearer and less stream of consciousness manner but hope this sparks ideas and conversation. My DMs are always open. TIMELINE: [00:00]: What do high possession sides need to win? [00:47]: The difference in qualitative vs numerical superiority [01:41]: How do teams gain qualitative superiority? [01:58]: Quality is emergent (why bad players can suddenly become good) [03:30]: Why positional play has worked so well (especially in the Premier League) [05:55]: Why positional play helped Guardiola adapt to injuries and find his best sides by the run-in best [06:50]: Why positional play (as we know it) could be improved on and my solution [07:44]: The pros and cons of relational play [08:25]: My proposal of principle-based positional play for the future of football

37,237 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

Here’s how Mazraoui’s passing helped exploit a weakness in Brazil’s defensive shape.

Here’s how Mazraoui’s passing helped exploit a weakness in Brazil’s defensive shape.

20,811 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat