Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsFriday, June 19, 2026
SBNation.com homepageSB NationSB Nation logo

Tactically Naive

Weekly column from Andi Thomas on the world of soccer.

Tactically Naive: ‘Sunshine on Leith,’ and why football crowds singTactically Naive: ‘Sunshine on Leith,’ and why football crowds sing
Tactically Naive: Is it time to give up on the European soccer season?Tactically Naive: Is it time to give up on the European soccer season?
Tactically Naive: Tottenham fans prove that public shaming worksTactically Naive: Tottenham fans prove that public shaming works
Soccer’s return date has become a guessing gameSoccer’s return date has become a guessing game
We may not have soccer, but we’ll always have Jimmy Greenhoff ruining Liverpool’s trebleWe may not have soccer, but we’ll always have Jimmy Greenhoff ruining Liverpool’s treble
Tactically Naive: The weirdness of watching sports in empty stadiumsTactically Naive: The weirdness of watching sports in empty stadiums
Liverpool can’t possibly blow a Premier League title, right?Liverpool can’t possibly blow a Premier League title, right?
Liverpool are crushingly inevitable, and so are West HamLiverpool are crushingly inevitable, and so are West Ham
The Premier League’s race for fifth place is the best thing about the Manchester City banThe Premier League’s race for fifth place is the best thing about the Manchester City ban
Tactically Naive: This own goal contained more drama than most Oscar winnersTactically Naive: This own goal contained more drama than most Oscar winners
3 modest suggestions to rebrand VAR3 modest suggestions to rebrand VAR
Soccer
By Andi Thomas
Pau López’s error against Lazio must be seen to be believedPau López’s error against Lazio must be seen to be believed
Tactically Naive: Liverpool have broken the Premier LeagueTactically Naive: Liverpool have broken the Premier League
The beauty of England’s FA CupThe beauty of England’s FA Cup
Soccer
By Andi Thomas
Tactically Naive: The Premier League’s biggest moments you may have missed over ChristmasTactically Naive: The Premier League’s biggest moments you may have missed over Christmas
Tactically Naive: Racism’s ugly head remains obnoxiously rearedTactically Naive: Racism’s ugly head remains obnoxiously reared
The best things about every Champions League matchupThe best things about every Champions League matchup
Tactically Naive: West Ham cure a crisis (but not theirs)Tactically Naive: West Ham cure a crisis (but not theirs)
Soccer awards are silly, so why not give Lionel Messi every Ballon d’Or?Soccer awards are silly, so why not give Lionel Messi every Ballon d’Or?
Tactically Naive: Jose Mourinho has banished Dele Alli’s brotherTactically Naive: Jose Mourinho has banished Dele Alli’s brother
Tactically Naive: Euro 2020 qualifying is really upping the weirdnessTactically Naive: Euro 2020 qualifying is really upping the weirdness
Tactically Naive: Trying to outclass Liverpool is exhausting and pointlessTactically Naive: Trying to outclass Liverpool is exhausting and pointless
Tactically Naive: So long Niko Kovac, you were fine and that just won’t doTactically Naive: So long Niko Kovac, you were fine and that just won’t do
Tactically Naive: Serie A is back, baby!Tactically Naive: Serie A is back, baby!
Soccer
By Andi Thomas
Tactically Naive: The Premier League is making us pay attention in August, which is rudeTactically Naive: The Premier League is making us pay attention in August, which is rude
Tactically Naive: Playoffs are the cruelest monthTactically Naive: Playoffs are the cruelest month
Tactically Naive: What Europe’s year of repeat league champions means for elite men’s soccerTactically Naive: What Europe’s year of repeat league champions means for elite men’s soccer
Everyone told Vincent Kompany ‘don’t shoot.’ Thank goodness he didn’t listenEveryone told Vincent Kompany ‘don’t shoot.’ Thank goodness he didn’t listen
Tactically Naive: The Premier League mid-table is risen!Tactically Naive: The Premier League mid-table is risen!
Tactically Naive: How to live in a world full of VARTactically Naive: How to live in a world full of VAR
PSG and Juventus failed to win league titles for another week. Let’s laughPSG and Juventus failed to win league titles for another week. Let’s laugh
Choupo-Moting had one of the worst missed goals in soccer history so that we could sinChoupo-Moting had one of the worst missed goals in soccer history so that we could sin
Liverpool are back atop the Premier League because Spurs can’t help being SpursLiverpool are back atop the Premier League because Spurs can’t help being Spurs
Netherlands-Germany gave us a decent international break, for onceNetherlands-Germany gave us a decent international break, for once
The Europa League gives us pure soccer nonsense and we should thank it for its serviceThe Europa League gives us pure soccer nonsense and we should thank it for its service
Zidane’s return to Real Madrid may be even better than his departureZidane’s return to Real Madrid may be even better than his departure
The Premier League is at war with time itself. Tottenham-Arsenal is proofThe Premier League is at war with time itself. Tottenham-Arsenal is proof
VAR can screw up soccer games almost as well as humans nowVAR can screw up soccer games almost as well as humans now
Maurizio Sarri looks like yet another doomed Chelsea managerMaurizio Sarri looks like yet another doomed Chelsea manager
Sergio Agüero is getting *better* at 30 and it’s so unfairSergio Agüero is getting *better* at 30 and it’s so unfair

Most Popular

  1. Zohran Mamdani gave a legendary sports speech at the Knicks rally
  2. World Cup 2026: Third-place standings, tiebreakers explained
  3. Caleb Wilson is chasing greatness in the NBA Draft, and he’s ready to save your franchise
  4. World Cup 2026 bracket: Who has advanced to the knockout round?
  5. World Cup 2026: What are the scenarios for Group A?