Author | Lightnews

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Sep 16

Next Young Stars is a new series looking at players under the age of 23 from around the world, highlighting those making an impact and showing signs of real development.

First up: Kenan Yıldız, Juventus’ number 10.

📖 Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/coachahd...

#Juventus #KenanYildiz

Next Young Stars series: Kenan Yıldız

Kenan Yıldız looked more and more like Juventus’ game changer, even as the match threatened to slip away.

open.substack.com

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Sep 16

Arsenal didn’t need to change shape.
They just needed different weapons.

Here’s my full tactical breakdown from Bilbao

#Arsenal #ArsenalFC #FootballTactics #TacticalAnalysis #FootballAnalysis
#MatchAnalysis #GameModel #CoachingInsights #FootballWriters open.substack.com/pub/coachahd...

Athletic Club vs Arsenal (16.09.25) – Tactical Analysis

For over an hour in Bilbao, Arsenal dominated territory but looked blunt in the final third.

open.substack.com

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Jun 3

Owen, Silva and Deeney say modern football is all physical now.

PSG’s Champions League win shows the opposite. Elite technique, intensity and work rate.

The best still have both.

#ChampionsLeague #Football #PlayerDevelopment

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · May 26

The football news keeps coming. After winning the national title with the U14s, I’m proud to say I’ve completed my FAW/UEFA A Licence & Elite Youth A Licence.

Big thanks to everyone who supported me throughout the journey.

#UEFAA #EliteYouthA #FootballCoach

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · May 20

🏆⚽️ U14 FAW National Champions 24/25 ⚽️🏆

You can’t coach grit or desire. But this group showed both.

Finished 2nd in the league. Beat Pontypridd 1–0 in the semi. Equalised late vs TNS. Won 12–11 on pens.

Best day of my coaching career. Privileged to be part of it.

#Mentality #Grit

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Apr 14

Rory McIlroy’s 2025 Masters win was a lesson in mindset. After setbacks, he came back with resilience and resolve.

This weekend, my team beat the league leaders 4-0. All down to our mentality being right!

Take pride, take initiative, take it personally.

#MentalStrength #Coaching #FootballMindset

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Apr 9

“We make them understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process. We needed to plant the seeds that would bear fruit later on.” Aurelio Pereira

His legacy reminds us that talent isn’t just discovered, it’s developed and all part of the process.

#RIP #AurelioPereira

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Apr 8

Intensity isn’t optional. It’s neurological, physiological, and cultural.

Low focus = slow reactions, poor decisions.
If you train half-paced, the CNS doesn’t switch on.

Warm-ups. Rondos. Walk-throughs. Gym.
Set the standard early or it’ll catch up with you.

#TrainWithPurpose

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Apr 7

Coaching youth players isn’t just about drills and tactics.
It’s about psychology.
Confidence is fragile.
Feedback has to guide, not crush.
Trust comes first - then they’ll play free.
Connection > correction.
Still learning. Still growing.

#FootballCoach #YouthDevelopment

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Dec 14

The Wood goal for Forest is just an example of why the offside rule needs changing for me. Nobody wants to see goals ruled out for that sort of thing

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Dec 11

There’s something quite reassuring seeing a Thuram in black and white #Juv

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Dec 6

🚀 Recently ran a session on breaking lines to play forward ⚽️.

Focused on the 3 methods: through, around, and over. Watch the highlights here:

youtube.com/shorts/c-CKM...

Love helping players bring these principles to life! #FootballCoaching #BreakingLines
#FootballDevelopment
#Training

UEFA A licence. General principle based session - breaking lines

YouTube video by Andrew Hopper-Davies

youtube.com

2 2

Reposted by Andrew Hopper-Davies

Nicky Bandini @nickybandini.bsky.social · Dec 1

Sky Sport in Italy reporting that Bove was breathing under his own power in the ambulance

6 25 81

Reposted by Andrew Hopper-Davies

Richard Jolly @richjolly.bsky.social · Dec 1

Three people have managed Manchester United in matches since Manchester City last won a game.

310 1.6K

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Dec 1

I’m a coach and a Liverpool fan. But this sort of football pettiness is what I love most about the game

1

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Nov 27

@jonmackenzie.bsky.social did anyone actually request the old format of Tifo back? Much preferred what you did with it. As a football coach I even reached out to one of the coaches you had on there to share our thoughts together. The old (new) format just feels like an immature version of other pods

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Nov 27

#LIVRMA #LIVREAL #LIVREA Mbappe has an incredible talent to make the impossible look easy. But my god when he’s out of form he makes the simple look hard!

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Nov 27

#LIVRMA #LIVREA #LIVREAL

Is this team going to be like the 2000’s Galácticos? Because everything inside me still says that somehow in April and May they will still do 2010’s Galáctico things and somehow work it out. 🤔

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Nov 25

Literally says it in the bio

1 1

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Nov 25

Seriously think the media have got Stockholm Syndrome with Man U. Commentator with stuff like “that will be the expectation from the new boss” when a player does anything! MOTD with a montage welcoming him after their montage for RVN. All for a team 12th that haven’t won the league for 12 years.

1

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Nov 25

“Counting Wales in the midlands” you’ll do nothing of the sort 😂

Reposted by Andrew Hopper-Davies

Suzy Wrack @suzywrack.bsky.social · Nov 24

Remember when Katherine Ryan, without naming names for fear of legal repercussions, would talk about a comedian being widely known for being a predator and a sleaze within the industry? And, that women comedians would warn younger women coming into the industry about them? 👋 football journalism.

7 39 200

Reposted by Andrew Hopper-Davies

Matt Davies Adams @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social · Nov 24

natch Redknapp and Sheeran are pals

BeardedGenius @beardedgenius.bsky.social · Nov 24

Amorim looking suitably unimpressed with Ed Sheeran turning up for no reason

1 6

Reposted by Andrew Hopper-Davies

Sam Dalling @samdalling.bsky.social · Nov 24

Can't wait for what the "more to follow" will be on what might win the award for the day's best non-story click-bait...

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...

Roy Keane furiously confronts fan who was abusing him at Portman Road

Roy Keane bit back at an Ipswich fan who was abusing him moments before he went back on air in the wake of Manchester United's 1-1 draw at Portman Road.

www.dailymail.co.uk

1 2

Andrew Hopper-Davies @coachahd.bsky.social · Nov 21

For now 🤞🏻