Blair Newman

Blair Newman

@secondball.bsky.social

✍️ NWSL, USWNT, WoSo for The Equalizer. Guardian Top 100 panelist 🕵️ Scouted for professional clubs. PFSA Level 2 Talent ID & Technical Scouting 💭 Random football musings: https://secondball.medium.com/

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Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

My analysis of Boston Legacy, through the lens of their opening 23 minutes versus the Portland Thorns ❓ Filipa Patao's formation changes 🦢 How the Swans attack 📈📉 Why sometimes it looks great, sometimes not ⚡ What's so special about *that* defensive style secondball.medium.com/on-boston-an...

secondball.medium.comOn Boston, and buying inLove them or hate them, win or lose, the Boston Legacy have been one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the NWSL this year.

Blair Newman reposted

Las Futbolistas
@lasfutbolistas.bsky.social

🏆 ¡Charlyn Corral, máxima goleadora del año en el Balón de Oro 2026! 🇲🇽 La delantera mexicana del Pachuca recibe el Trofeo Gerd Müller, decidido por el número de goles oficiales. 👇🏼

f.mtr.coolCharlyn Corral gana el Trofeo Gerd Müller 2026 como máxima goleadora del año | Las FutbolistasCharlyn Corral ha ganado el reconocimiento femenino del Trofeo Gerd Müller 2026 como máxima goleadora del año, un premio decidido por el total de goles oficiales con club y selección.
Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

If Washington are going to keep attempting play through central midfield it needs to be another planet to that first half. Kansas City probably the last team you want to give the ball away to in that area

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

I know on paper the Spirit have a 3-v-2 in central midfield but it's not chess. In reality, KC trap teams in these areas, their players doubling up on you and two lines of defence working together. Vlatko's influence still there

Blair Newman reposted

The Equalizer
@equalizersoccer.bsky.social

In a year that saw two expansion sides, @secondball.bsky.social takes a look at the Boston Legacy and Denver Summit, breaking down their season (so far) based on results, entertainment value and potential heading in 2027. 🔐 Subscribe to EQZ Extra to read! equalizersoccer.com/2026/10/21/b...

equalizersoccer.comBoston versus Denver: How do the expansion teams compare?Which of the National Women’s Soccer League 2026 expansion teams will be happier with their first year in competition? As the campaign reaches its closing stages, it becomes easier to compare the fort...
Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

You know a manager can't handle the way an opponent plays because they all but say "we can't handle that" Spanish teams are masters of it. Anyone who beats them "didn't play football". Heard that countless times over the years. Hermoso on Brazil at the Olympics one example

Jackie Contreras@jackiedigital.bsky.social

👀

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

That's why Boston Legacy have a lot to be happy about. So many opponents, players, managers, fans noised up in year one. Because they don't roll over and submit to their opponent's way of playing

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Angel City players and fans, I *think*, are enjoying playing and watching a team play to its strengths and winning as a consequence. Not indulging some manager's personal beliefs while they miss the playoffs chucking away leads like confetti at a wedding

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Lesley cutting through the noise like a hot knife through butter! 💯 👇

Lesley Ryder@lesleyryder.bsky.social

We gotta tap the brakes on the Trinity Rodman USWNT discourse, and call out some questionable takes from McCall Zerboni on Attacking Third. Special thanks to Bridie O’Toole, and @secondball.bsky.social for their analysis!

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Curious thing is... 1) You can intensely scrutinise a player's expressions & project. Or 2) You can focus that same exact same attention on the player's actual performance & technical tactical actions & how they tangibly impacted the game for good Why did Zerboni choose option 1 with Rodman?

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Well, that was overall a pretty good half for Boston. First 15-20 mins or so I thought they moved the ball as well as I've seen them do. Lots to be positive about but really want to turn performances like these into points

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Video analysis: Trinity Rodman defensive performance Short video highlighting Rodman's key defensive work for the USWNT against Spain. Long defensive recoveries, vital positioning & tracking of runs

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Going to write something on my analysis of USWNT Spain 2. If anyone on here has questions or thoughts you'd like me to answer or consider, let me know ❓📝

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Given recent crossover competitions and events I can already smell a USL team winning this, and days later Berman announces the NWSL is expanding to 86 teams, 64 making the playoffs, further expansion to follow

The Women's Game@womensgamemib.bsky.social

US Soccer & the NWSL are launching a new competition with every professional women’s team across the US in both the NWSL & the Gainbridge Super League. The Crest Cup will be a single-elimination knockout tournament with a winning prize of $1.1M & a path to qualify for the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

I love the NWSL and will watch the Crest Cup but until the salary cap thing is sorted, the HIP thing is set on fire, owners generally up their game, players like Girma/Coffey start flowing back in this direction, or at least their European equivalents, things like this just feel like window dressing

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

"You're never going to have your best players available" Hayes at Chelsea was renowned for managing her squad over a campaign. They won 34 of 38 WSL games between March-May in her final five full seasons, 104 of 114 points Reasons to believe she'll get USWNT peaking for World Cup, not before

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Point being not that she had them peaking randomly for the end of the season, but Hayes was able to obtain a level of consistency throughout and yes, sometimes have Chelsea powering through the closing months while others had their injury crises or some other fatigue

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

USWNT 🥇 OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (🥇) (Possibly could've) WON THE EUROS (if eligible) 🥇* NOW (drew with the) WORLD CUP WINNERS And they say the rest of the world is catching up lol

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Just so we're clear, Spain don't have Coll, Leon, Bonmati, Pina or Caldentey. And they're resting Batlle and Corrales here as well. And they're the team that's travelled. This just looks like an absolutely horrible styles match-up

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Spain doing what they usually do, overload midfield, get extra numbers around ball. USWNT not matching up, get outnumbered, moved around and played through. Then they can't get back into a compact block. So far same theme as first game, for me

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

USWNT front two and midfield opened up far too easily again. Caught between pressing and being compact and doing neither. And Spain end up with a 4v3 overload on the US back line on the low cross

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

What teams like PSG, Man City and, to be honest, Chelsea before them have done to the football transfer market is why things like Super League get proposed. I can't wait for it all to be over and we can stop talking about things like "oh Enrique, what a great tactician"

Richard Jolly@richjolly.bsky.social

Luis Enrique sticks up for Man City over the 114 guilty verdicts, says he hopes it ends well for them and that they shouldn't be stripped of their titles: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

independent.co.ukLuis Enrique hopes Man City ‘can avoid the sanction’ for breaching financial rulesThe PSG boss defended City ahead of their Champions League meeting saying they deserved to win the trophies they have after being ‘incredible’ on the pitch
Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

And just for the record, no, Luis Enrique did not create the kick off out of play tactic Neil Lennon did it for Celtic against Rangers in 2019 for crying out loud. Nobody is paying for his coaching masterclass seminar

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Overview of how Spain pressed vs. the USWNT (Gotham style) 4-1-3-2 with the '3' shifting to get pressure on ball PLUS mark up deepest US midfielders. (Far-side winger narrows & centre mid pushes up) Other centre mid supports striker pressing US CBs. Holding mid sweeps or marks US attacking mid

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

"Gotham style" because Juan Carlos Amoros brought this pressing approach to Gotham It's something I also saw Barcelona employ a lot over the years I associate it with Spanish football because I don't really see it being used anywhere else

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Interesting to hear what a Spanish player has to say going into game two. There may be a change in approach but I also think there needs to be higher quality of execution

Jeff Kassouf@jeffkassouf.bsky.social

Spain's Oihane Hernández on what she expects from the #USWNT in Tuesday's rematch: "I honestly expect like a really more physical game. I think they're gonna be more aggressive." (I would expect the same.)

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Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

I think this is the hardest to execute against Spain. It requires top reading of play, decision-making and concentration. Miscalculate your press and end up being moved around, opened up, reacting. Higher physical demands than low block, higher mental demands than player-to-player pressing

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

There's no right or wrong way. I just think it's tougher to do against Spain, particularly in a friendly without much time to perfect your defensive organisation. It's complex and US had a lot of "unseasoned" partnerships through the spine of the team the other day

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Interesting to hear what a Spanish player has to say going into game two. There may be a change in approach but I also think there needs to be higher quality of execution

Jeff Kassouf@jeffkassouf.bsky.social

Spain's Oihane Hernández on what she expects from the #USWNT in Tuesday's rematch: "I honestly expect like a really more physical game. I think they're gonna be more aggressive." (I would expect the same.)

View full thread
Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Press player for player (proactive, hard for Spain to overload, can win ball closer to goal, but susceptible off a failed 1v1). Brazil at Olympics Sit off in a block (proactive, turtle shell to protect most important area, defensive overload, but further away from goal). England at Euros

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

USWNT took halfway approach Defend in a block but look to press early, using triggers, traps. (Reactive, try to win ball early whilst also maintaining some shape, not be off balance)

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Interesting to hear what a Spanish player has to say going into game two. There may be a change in approach but I also think there needs to be higher quality of execution

Jeff Kassouf@jeffkassouf.bsky.social

Spain's Oihane Hernández on what she expects from the #USWNT in Tuesday's rematch: "I honestly expect like a really more physical game. I think they're gonna be more aggressive." (I would expect the same.)

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Spain like to outnumber around the ball. They are comfortable receiving short passes, playing one- and two-touch, and it's a way for them to find a free player, control possession and take it from there. I think it's really difficult to defend Spain the way USWNT tried on Saturday

Blair Newman
@secondball.bsky.social

Rewind! My analysis of how USWNT won the 2024 Olympic Gold. A full breakdown of how they played in attack and defence. Some may not have read it. Hopefully still of interest, particularly to see what people think has changed, or not, in 2 years since! secondball.medium.com/retro-how-th...

secondball.medium.comRetro: How the USWNT won the OlympicsThe U.S. women’s national team, managed by Emma Hayes, returned to the top of the world game at the 2024 Olympics, winning Gold. Along the…