Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social
Women's football. Write for The Equalizer. Guardian Top 100 panelist. Worked as next opponent scout for SPFL teams. PFSA Level 2 qualification: Talent ID, Technical scouting.
Bunny Shaw's first touch is as good as you'll find among centre forwards. Can make it stick in a few different ways.
November 16, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Bunny Shaw's first touch is as good as you'll find among centre forwards. Can make it stick in a few different ways.
1st time I saw Bud was on TV in 2013. Won every round vs Prescott on short notice. Year later had privilege of seeing him live, dismantling Scotland's own Ricky Burns for his first world title. Most in arena didn't know him/thought easy night Burns, I knew better 😁 V quiet crowd after a few rounds
September 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
1st time I saw Bud was on TV in 2013. Won every round vs Prescott on short notice. Year later had privilege of seeing him live, dismantling Scotland's own Ricky Burns for his first world title. Most in arena didn't know him/thought easy night Burns, I knew better 😁 V quiet crowd after a few rounds
For all the new signings, the London City player I'm most intrigued by this season is Izzy Goodwin. 22-year-old striker who scored loads in the English second tier.
September 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
For all the new signings, the London City player I'm most intrigued by this season is Izzy Goodwin. 22-year-old striker who scored loads in the English second tier.
The Shaw signing always felt a bit forced. I have a hunch it could work with 4-2-3-1 like attached, but they'd need a solid core four at the back staying behind ball/handling 1v1s, & wing-backs that have speed, stamina & quality to overlap and occupy opposing defences along with the striker...
August 23, 2025 at 4:21 AM
The Shaw signing always felt a bit forced. I have a hunch it could work with 4-2-3-1 like attached, but they'd need a solid core four at the back staying behind ball/handling 1v1s, & wing-backs that have speed, stamina & quality to overlap and occupy opposing defences along with the striker...
Gutierres makes it 4-1 just as Uruguay were coming alive again. Whoosh.
July 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Gutierres makes it 4-1 just as Uruguay were coming alive again. Whoosh.
Amanda Gutierres goal. Nice movement to stay on, stunning header.
July 30, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Amanda Gutierres goal. Nice movement to stay on, stunning header.
On Team Hampton since Birmingham. (Not everyone was, to be honest.) Her ability to spread the field as a goalkeeper always stood out. (Also thought her command of the box was good.) Today it's her shot-stopping, which feels like it's improved a lot over the years.
July 27, 2025 at 7:27 PM
On Team Hampton since Birmingham. (Not everyone was, to be honest.) Her ability to spread the field as a goalkeeper always stood out. (Also thought her command of the box was good.) Today it's her shot-stopping, which feels like it's improved a lot over the years.
Wiegman's go-to last-ditch tactic is wingers on their 'weak' side, playing in-swinging crosses while loading the box to test the keeper and centre-backs of the opponent (winning & often defending deeper). It had an effect against Spain three years ago, and against Sweden and Italy at this Euro.
July 24, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Wiegman's go-to last-ditch tactic is wingers on their 'weak' side, playing in-swinging crosses while loading the box to test the keeper and centre-backs of the opponent (winning & often defending deeper). It had an effect against Spain three years ago, and against Sweden and Italy at this Euro.
Real Madrid's Yasmim scored two identical free kicks in the first half of Brazil vs. Paraguay
July 23, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Real Madrid's Yasmim scored two identical free kicks in the first half of Brazil vs. Paraguay
Italy able to control tempo using back-pass, sideways pass via GK + 3CBs. Russo doing her best to cut lanes & rush them, wildly outnumbered. If can't stop the long ball up to Girelli, at least need to do better job on 2nd balls, see below. Change of formation for Eng or fresher legs, both?
July 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Italy able to control tempo using back-pass, sideways pass via GK + 3CBs. Russo doing her best to cut lanes & rush them, wildly outnumbered. If can't stop the long ball up to Girelli, at least need to do better job on 2nd balls, see below. Change of formation for Eng or fresher legs, both?
Short video on Camila Arrieta's performance for Paraguay v Colombia the other night.
The 23-year-old played left wing-back in a 5-3-2. Good anticipation, a number of interceptions + some skill on the ball too.
Plays club footy in Brazil for 3b da Amazonia (joined from Cruzeiro in February).
The 23-year-old played left wing-back in a 5-3-2. Good anticipation, a number of interceptions + some skill on the ball too.
Plays club footy in Brazil for 3b da Amazonia (joined from Cruzeiro in February).
July 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Short video on Camila Arrieta's performance for Paraguay v Colombia the other night.
The 23-year-old played left wing-back in a 5-3-2. Good anticipation, a number of interceptions + some skill on the ball too.
Plays club footy in Brazil for 3b da Amazonia (joined from Cruzeiro in February).
The 23-year-old played left wing-back in a 5-3-2. Good anticipation, a number of interceptions + some skill on the ball too.
Plays club footy in Brazil for 3b da Amazonia (joined from Cruzeiro in February).
Georgia Stanway & Keira Walsh: How to find space in midfield. A short but sweet video example.
❌WON'T work: standing still, pointing and shouting
✔️WILL work: change of pace, of direction, or of position
Simple but effective movement from the base midfielders to make themselves available.
❌WON'T work: standing still, pointing and shouting
✔️WILL work: change of pace, of direction, or of position
Simple but effective movement from the base midfielders to make themselves available.
July 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Georgia Stanway & Keira Walsh: How to find space in midfield. A short but sweet video example.
❌WON'T work: standing still, pointing and shouting
✔️WILL work: change of pace, of direction, or of position
Simple but effective movement from the base midfielders to make themselves available.
❌WON'T work: standing still, pointing and shouting
✔️WILL work: change of pace, of direction, or of position
Simple but effective movement from the base midfielders to make themselves available.
What makes the achievement all the more special is it comes through exceptional teambuilding. Grant Scott, probably one of the best coaches you've not heard of, and a team recruited predominantly from the domestic league. Here's the moment Linzi Taylor, signed from Partick, scores the winner.
May 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
What makes the achievement all the more special is it comes through exceptional teambuilding. Grant Scott, probably one of the best coaches you've not heard of, and a team recruited predominantly from the domestic league. Here's the moment Linzi Taylor, signed from Partick, scores the winner.
Only quibble relates to this passage. When wealthy, powerful people with influence in sport are proposing stupid changes on the basis of entertainment, it's that they want to maintain the status quo. It's wilful ignorance, not naivete.
April 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Only quibble relates to this passage. When wealthy, powerful people with influence in sport are proposing stupid changes on the basis of entertainment, it's that they want to maintain the status quo. It's wilful ignorance, not naivete.
Chicago's second goal highlights a recurring issue in Bay FC's attempt at a passing game. Becoming too expansive too early in their attack. Look where their midfield and full-backs are positioned. Leads to lots of 1v1s that, if they lose, they're in trouble. 2v2 at the back, against Ludmila 😱
April 14, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Chicago's second goal highlights a recurring issue in Bay FC's attempt at a passing game. Becoming too expansive too early in their attack. Look where their midfield and full-backs are positioned. Leads to lots of 1v1s that, if they lose, they're in trouble. 2v2 at the back, against Ludmila 😱
Here's an example from Brazil v USA. You can see combination of tight player-marking (boxes) and players getting ready to press opponent in their zone (arrows).
April 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Here's an example from Brazil v USA. You can see combination of tight player-marking (boxes) and players getting ready to press opponent in their zone (arrows).
Their defensive shape matches up, all over the field, against a 4-3-3.
⚽ Centre-backs mark forwards (3 v 3)
⚽ Centre-mids mark centre-mids (3 v 3)
⚽ Wing-backs press full-backs (2 v 2)
⚽ Strikers press centre-backs (2 v 2)
Shape + marking style = quick pressure on the ball wherever it is.
⚽ Centre-backs mark forwards (3 v 3)
⚽ Centre-mids mark centre-mids (3 v 3)
⚽ Wing-backs press full-backs (2 v 2)
⚽ Strikers press centre-backs (2 v 2)
Shape + marking style = quick pressure on the ball wherever it is.
April 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Their defensive shape matches up, all over the field, against a 4-3-3.
⚽ Centre-backs mark forwards (3 v 3)
⚽ Centre-mids mark centre-mids (3 v 3)
⚽ Wing-backs press full-backs (2 v 2)
⚽ Strikers press centre-backs (2 v 2)
Shape + marking style = quick pressure on the ball wherever it is.
⚽ Centre-backs mark forwards (3 v 3)
⚽ Centre-mids mark centre-mids (3 v 3)
⚽ Wing-backs press full-backs (2 v 2)
⚽ Strikers press centre-backs (2 v 2)
Shape + marking style = quick pressure on the ball wherever it is.
Noko Matlou retired from international football. A stalwart of South Africa's defence, with 174 caps and 66 goals. The first South African to win the CAF Women's Player of the Year. Went from striker to centre-back and was integral to their rise in recent years. Solid on and off the ball. Legend.
April 9, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Noko Matlou retired from international football. A stalwart of South Africa's defence, with 174 caps and 66 goals. The first South African to win the CAF Women's Player of the Year. Went from striker to centre-back and was integral to their rise in recent years. Solid on and off the ball. Legend.
Scotland 1-0 up away to Germany going into the second half! Who else but Caroline Weir with the goal. 6-0 Scotland in shots on target. Double pivot of Weir/Cuthbert working nicely.
April 8, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Scotland 1-0 up away to Germany going into the second half! Who else but Caroline Weir with the goal. 6-0 Scotland in shots on target. Double pivot of Weir/Cuthbert working nicely.
Sheridan makes it a 4-2-4-1. Numbers to overload early on. Technically gifted players between the lines. Pace wide and up front to stretch defence. Multiple 'launchpads' for longer balls to open the game up. Didn't see this coming from Eidevall. Stay tuned for an in-depth article!
March 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Sheridan makes it a 4-2-4-1. Numbers to overload early on. Technically gifted players between the lines. Pace wide and up front to stretch defence. Multiple 'launchpads' for longer balls to open the game up. Didn't see this coming from Eidevall. Stay tuned for an in-depth article!
Will be writing something on San Diego Wave soon. Here's a basic overview of their shape morphs in possession.
March 31, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Will be writing something on San Diego Wave soon. Here's a basic overview of their shape morphs in possession.
Shooting through defenders' legs. Defenders are there to narrow angle, goalkeeper is factoring in a block + may not see. Miedema is the expert. One of Portland's best efforts tonight. Always nice to see a toe poke shot too!
March 30, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Shooting through defenders' legs. Defenders are there to narrow angle, goalkeeper is factoring in a block + may not see. Miedema is the expert. One of Portland's best efforts tonight. Always nice to see a toe poke shot too!
Last 20 mins, North Carolina forced Seattle back and flooded their box. Got more equal numbers scenarios or in this case, outnumbered them. And again, Shaw doesn't have to be getting glancing touches at awkward angles on crosses. Can arrive around penalty spot and see the goal.
March 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Last 20 mins, North Carolina forced Seattle back and flooded their box. Got more equal numbers scenarios or in this case, outnumbered them. And again, Shaw doesn't have to be getting glancing touches at awkward angles on crosses. Can arrive around penalty spot and see the goal.
This was one of North Carolina's best chances. Cross comes in, falls to Shaw around the penalty spot. Shot blocked. But at least Shaw is in a position to see more of the goal, to pick her spot a bit.
March 28, 2025 at 10:18 PM
This was one of North Carolina's best chances. Cross comes in, falls to Shaw around the penalty spot. Shot blocked. But at least Shaw is in a position to see more of the goal, to pick her spot a bit.