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Sam Tighe

@stighefootball.bsky.social

7.1K followers 640 following 2K posts

⚽️ writing & broadcasting with ESPN. Also host of *The Truth* podcast 🎙️with Dougie Critchley, on the Ranks FC feed. Search for it!

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · Aug 4

A fun announcement! I've joined @espn.com!

To mark it, here's a big feature on players increasingly utilising data in their contract negotiations, with the help of consultancies like @analyticsfc.bsky.social

I spoke to a lot of people in the game in order to bring this one together 🙏

How players are using data to show their worth in contract negotiations

Kevin De Bruyne, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White are among the top players using a data company to give them an edge in contract negotiations. But how does it work?

www.espn.co.uk

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 1h

“It was a difficult start to the season for Aston Villa…”

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 2h

Reposted by Sam Tighe

Iain Macintosh @iainmacintosh.bsky.social · 1d

As staff begin to leave, is there an end to Sheffield Wednesday's misery? We're speaking to bsky.app/profile/yesw... from The Sheffield Star, we've also got @stighefootball.bsky.social on Villa's revival. And some gorgeous stats too.

WATCH: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK1I...
LISTEN: pod.fo/e/33986e

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 1d

Would have left the last one out 😉

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 2d

This is superb

Ryan O'Hanlon @rwohan.bsky.social · 2d

I wrote about Liverpool's biggest problem so far this season: the guy who led the Premier League in goals and assists last season. www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Is it time to worry about Mohamed Salah at Liverpool?

There is a lot of uncertainty around this new-look Liverpool side right now, but one thing we know for sure: if Salah doesn't play like himself soon, nothing else matters.

www.espn.com

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

(Opponent) passes (allowed) per defensive action. Higher the number, the more passive you likely are when it comes to disrupting opponents' sequences/moves.

For context, Arsenal (8.48) and Bournemouth (8.97) are most active; West Ham (16.59) are least.

*It is not a measure of a press' quality

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

He's already worth double.

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Possession down, PPDA up.

Ball-playing GK gone, huge Italian who saves shots but can't pass brought in.

What is Pep Guardiola telling us? 🤔

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Who knows on Hemmings. Only realistic chance for him looks like Go Ahead Eagles-type games.

Elliott is a matter of time. Emery typically slow with new signings (Guessand a forced outlier? But defensive work rate helps)

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Yeah of course. But this wasn't Bogarde's debut or anything. He's got >1k mins for the senior team and has played well in tougher games - notably at the Emirates last season.

He's just steadily, visibly taking on elements of his teammates' games, it's cool to watch

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Yesterday, Bogarde played the exact role Kamara played ~2 years ago: CM in a pair, dropping into RCB in buildup.

He can play CM, CB and RB, like Kamara

He's also taken on some minor traits from Konsa and McGinn, I think

A genuine testament to development, surroundings and coaching

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 4d

It’s so funny how Villa have basically accidentally raised another Boubacar Kamara in Lamare Bogarde

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Ghost of Yōtei arrives for the international break 👌

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Speaking of time and space: Rogers’ form may be poor, but seriously how can you leave him THAT alone? 😂

(27, next to the ref)

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Look like you’ve located @acosta32jp.bsky.social’s personal brand

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Interesting to watch Villa with 2 strikers today. Emery kept saying he wanted to do it with Watkins and Durán but it never really transpired.

John Townley @johntownley.bsky.social · 3d

#AVFC boss Unai Emery was thrilled to unlock Donyell Malen's best qualities against Burnley, saying that the forward felt more comfortable in his central role.

"We are trying to give them positions on the field where they are really feeling better to exploit their qualities."

Unai Emery lifts lid on Donyell Malen change and makes 'commitment' point

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery hailed Donyell Malen after the 2-1 win over Burnley in the Premier League

www.birminghammail.co.uk

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Haaland 😂 just bullying defenders, incredible. He’s an animal.

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Hugely helpful to have McGinn and Rogers take the Burnley WBs with this shape, letting the back four stay narrow. Attacking game doesn’t need to be complicated; so far its only taken one pass to open Burnley up

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 4d

Bruno's ability to skirt the line is incredible. There are many games I've come out of where I've wondered how he avoided a yellow for so long, which in turn helps him push the boundaries on a red. Fernandinho levels I think. It's a skill.