Bence Vályi
@valyibencez.bsky.social
Journalist and Premier League broadcaster in Hungary. Wrote a book. Analytics enthusiast. Maniac of reasoning. The centre of my universe is a ⚽️
Milos Kerkez showcased everything that makes him a special talent with this assist: an intercepted pass, a 30-meter sprint with the ball, and a perfect cross to the far side. Lovely player.
March 9, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Milos Kerkez showcased everything that makes him a special talent with this assist: an intercepted pass, a 30-meter sprint with the ball, and a perfect cross to the far side. Lovely player.
I think the three most well-coached and well-drilled out-of-possession sides in world football right now are Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, and Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
February 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I think the three most well-coached and well-drilled out-of-possession sides in world football right now are Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, and Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
If both Marmoush and Haaland plays, I'd advise against going man-to-man vs Manchester City. But if you go man-to-man against Manchester City, you HAVE TO press Ederson, too. If you don't, he'll wait until Haaland/Marmoush drags their man, then launch a perfect ball into space.
February 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
If both Marmoush and Haaland plays, I'd advise against going man-to-man vs Manchester City. But if you go man-to-man against Manchester City, you HAVE TO press Ederson, too. If you don't, he'll wait until Haaland/Marmoush drags their man, then launch a perfect ball into space.
Newcastle have been going man-to-man since the 1st minute and Manchester City prepared expecting exactly that. They’ve been going long from the beginning.
He had several problems this season, but Ederson’s long balls are killers against m2m opposition.
He had several problems this season, but Ederson’s long balls are killers against m2m opposition.
February 15, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Newcastle have been going man-to-man since the 1st minute and Manchester City prepared expecting exactly that. They’ve been going long from the beginning.
He had several problems this season, but Ederson’s long balls are killers against m2m opposition.
He had several problems this season, but Ederson’s long balls are killers against m2m opposition.
Madueke regularly dropped into the backline if Gvardiol went high. Before his goal, Gvardiol had a chance after a run in-behind. Madueke didn't track, then talked to James with grand gestures.
Less than 2 minutes later, he loses Gvardiol again, who scores. Maresca calls him off to speak right away.
Less than 2 minutes later, he loses Gvardiol again, who scores. Maresca calls him off to speak right away.
January 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Madueke regularly dropped into the backline if Gvardiol went high. Before his goal, Gvardiol had a chance after a run in-behind. Madueke didn't track, then talked to James with grand gestures.
Less than 2 minutes later, he loses Gvardiol again, who scores. Maresca calls him off to speak right away.
Less than 2 minutes later, he loses Gvardiol again, who scores. Maresca calls him off to speak right away.
The same people who think out of the box tactical changes are “for the sake of the manager to demonstrate how smart they are” are the same people who think managers should simply “coach better” or “coach themself out of a situation” if a squad is in an injury crisis/getting old.
January 11, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The same people who think out of the box tactical changes are “for the sake of the manager to demonstrate how smart they are” are the same people who think managers should simply “coach better” or “coach themself out of a situation” if a squad is in an injury crisis/getting old.
Lucas Bergvall’s dynamism and ball-carrying ability is incredible, but it’s not an accident Postecoglou was cautious with his minutes in the first half of the season. He’s still raw, sometimes keeps the ball when it should have been realeased, and vice versa. But huge potential.
January 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Lucas Bergvall’s dynamism and ball-carrying ability is incredible, but it’s not an accident Postecoglou was cautious with his minutes in the first half of the season. He’s still raw, sometimes keeps the ball when it should have been realeased, and vice versa. But huge potential.
I fckn love Liam Delap, what a player! Great technical and outstanding carrying ability, while being a strong and tall guy. Can create shots for himself in so many different ways. On top of everything, he has an incredibly cocky personality which very much suits him as a no. 9.
December 30, 2024 at 8:10 PM
I fckn love Liam Delap, what a player! Great technical and outstanding carrying ability, while being a strong and tall guy. Can create shots for himself in so many different ways. On top of everything, he has an incredibly cocky personality which very much suits him as a no. 9.
Chelsea have already had tactical advantages in the 1st half that they're unable to exploit due to personnel. When Spurs jumped m-2-m, either Enzo or Palmer was free in the half-spaces, but w/ only left-footed players on the right, they lost the ball before they could have baited Spurs.
December 8, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Chelsea have already had tactical advantages in the 1st half that they're unable to exploit due to personnel. When Spurs jumped m-2-m, either Enzo or Palmer was free in the half-spaces, but w/ only left-footed players on the right, they lost the ball before they could have baited Spurs.
I understand Maresca thinks Badiashile is their 3rd best CB, but Chelsea have only left-footed players on the right side (Badiashile-Palmer-Neto) and it hurts their ability to build from the back. There were already multiple interceptions because of bad passing angles.
December 8, 2024 at 5:07 PM
I understand Maresca thinks Badiashile is their 3rd best CB, but Chelsea have only left-footed players on the right side (Badiashile-Palmer-Neto) and it hurts their ability to build from the back. There were already multiple interceptions because of bad passing angles.
Kind of stating the obvious, but Brentford are the Premier League’s most entertaining side. If you want to watch end-to-end matches with lots of goals, choose Brentford, whoever they’re up against.
This season they’re going full Matthew Benham: always attack, under all circumstances.
This season they’re going full Matthew Benham: always attack, under all circumstances.
December 7, 2024 at 3:45 PM
Kind of stating the obvious, but Brentford are the Premier League’s most entertaining side. If you want to watch end-to-end matches with lots of goals, choose Brentford, whoever they’re up against.
This season they’re going full Matthew Benham: always attack, under all circumstances.
This season they’re going full Matthew Benham: always attack, under all circumstances.
Been waiting to happen for months now. When Chelsea have the ball, Caicedo inverts to the double pivot, Enzo left #10, Palmer right #10. In the context of Maresca’s system, it brings the most out of Lavia, Caicedo and Enzo.
We’ll see if it stays regularly after Gusto is a 100% healthy.
We’ll see if it stays regularly after Gusto is a 100% healthy.
December 1, 2024 at 1:39 PM
Been waiting to happen for months now. When Chelsea have the ball, Caicedo inverts to the double pivot, Enzo left #10, Palmer right #10. In the context of Maresca’s system, it brings the most out of Lavia, Caicedo and Enzo.
We’ll see if it stays regularly after Gusto is a 100% healthy.
We’ll see if it stays regularly after Gusto is a 100% healthy.
Gotta be rational and stay on the ground, but that Rashford goal had Rúben Amorim written all over. A CB stepping up to the pivot during goal-kicks, forming a 4-2 in the build-up. A winger converted “wrong-footed” wingback. Verticality from deep build-up.
This was already Amorim.
This was already Amorim.
November 24, 2024 at 4:42 PM
Gotta be rational and stay on the ground, but that Rashford goal had Rúben Amorim written all over. A CB stepping up to the pivot during goal-kicks, forming a 4-2 in the build-up. A winger converted “wrong-footed” wingback. Verticality from deep build-up.
This was already Amorim.
This was already Amorim.
The sequence before Szoboszlai’s goal is just ridiculous. No situational awareness from Southampton. It has absolutely nothing to do with positional play as a game model and everything to do with Russel Martin. This is not floor-raising with a system, this is blind stubbornness.
2 minutes passed and Southampton are already losing possession in their own third, while Liverpool are pressing high and aggressively. This match will play out very similarly to Arsenal-Southampton.
Slot's interview pre-game. He gives more away than most managers.
Their focus has been on the high press against Southampton, who will play out from the back. Intensity has been mentioned a lot.
We know what is coming from both teams.
Their focus has been on the high press against Southampton, who will play out from the back. Intensity has been mentioned a lot.
We know what is coming from both teams.
November 24, 2024 at 2:36 PM
The sequence before Szoboszlai’s goal is just ridiculous. No situational awareness from Southampton. It has absolutely nothing to do with positional play as a game model and everything to do with Russel Martin. This is not floor-raising with a system, this is blind stubbornness.
2 minutes passed and Southampton are already losing possession in their own third, while Liverpool are pressing high and aggressively. This match will play out very similarly to Arsenal-Southampton.
Slot's interview pre-game. He gives more away than most managers.
Their focus has been on the high press against Southampton, who will play out from the back. Intensity has been mentioned a lot.
We know what is coming from both teams.
Their focus has been on the high press against Southampton, who will play out from the back. Intensity has been mentioned a lot.
We know what is coming from both teams.
November 24, 2024 at 2:05 PM
2 minutes passed and Southampton are already losing possession in their own third, while Liverpool are pressing high and aggressively. This match will play out very similarly to Arsenal-Southampton.
Reposted by Bence Vályi
"Why do we like Brennan Johnson"
"He gets shots at the back post"
"He gets shots at the back post"
November 23, 2024 at 7:27 PM
"Why do we like Brennan Johnson"
"He gets shots at the back post"
"He gets shots at the back post"
RE: Guardiola’s OOP plan today. If you jump man-to-man, you *may* need a bit more physical presence at the back to win the duels if the opponent played through the first line of your press. Just maybe.
November 23, 2024 at 6:15 PM
RE: Guardiola’s OOP plan today. If you jump man-to-man, you *may* need a bit more physical presence at the back to win the duels if the opponent played through the first line of your press. Just maybe.
The way Arsenal is playing today against Forest is exactly how I suppose Arteta imagined this team before the season. Very fluid positional rotations on both sides between the fullbacks, no. 8s and wingers. Unpredictability in the box at the end of cutbacks.
They just needed certain players back.
They just needed certain players back.
November 23, 2024 at 4:28 PM
The way Arsenal is playing today against Forest is exactly how I suppose Arteta imagined this team before the season. Very fluid positional rotations on both sides between the fullbacks, no. 8s and wingers. Unpredictability in the box at the end of cutbacks.
They just needed certain players back.
They just needed certain players back.
Nicolas Jackson, my god. That’s some proper striker goal. Harassing a badly positioned CB, wrestling for an opportunity to shoot. Nice.
November 23, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Nicolas Jackson, my god. That’s some proper striker goal. Harassing a badly positioned CB, wrestling for an opportunity to shoot. Nice.
I successfully screenshotted an incredibly lame face of mine and didn’t have the time to make another, but this was a very, very fun conversation with Robbie Fowler.
November 22, 2024 at 1:32 PM
I successfully screenshotted an incredibly lame face of mine and didn’t have the time to make another, but this was a very, very fun conversation with Robbie Fowler.
A few weeks ago, @falsepivot.bsky.social started a trend on the platform we escaped from: “describe your football philosophy in 4 coaches.”
Thought reposting my answer would be a fun way of starting posting here.
Thought reposting my answer would be a fun way of starting posting here.
November 21, 2024 at 9:07 PM
A few weeks ago, @falsepivot.bsky.social started a trend on the platform we escaped from: “describe your football philosophy in 4 coaches.”
Thought reposting my answer would be a fun way of starting posting here.
Thought reposting my answer would be a fun way of starting posting here.