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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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Reposted by Sam Tighe

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 1d

Up on @espn.com this morning is a piece I'm very proud of!

The rise of Estêvão, with help from the youth coach who developed him from the age of 14.

How 'Little Messi' Estêvão rose from Palmeiras to Chelsea

ESPN spoke to one of Estêvão's youth coaches at Palmeiras, Rogério Ferreira, to hear the story of how tough love and hard work saw the winger reach the top.

www.espn.com

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 1d

As you approach / leave at night, it looks like a space ship had landed on the outskirts of Milan. An incredible sight when lit up.

When I got to the press box and looked out over the rail from high up, I gasped so loud the steward ran over to check I wasn’t about to fall / keel over 😂

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 1d

Up on @espn.com this morning is a piece I'm very proud of!

The rise of Estêvão, with help from the youth coach who developed him from the age of 14.

How 'Little Messi' Estêvão rose from Palmeiras to Chelsea

ESPN spoke to one of Estêvão's youth coaches at Palmeiras, Rogério Ferreira, to hear the story of how tough love and hard work saw the winger reach the top.

www.espn.com

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 2d

Wonderful storytelling

It’s Joncacaf @jonarnoldfc.bsky.social · 2d

🇸🇷 Suriname had a rich soccer history cut short by tragedy & turmoil.

Now, Dutch-Surinamese players are looking to carry on the legacy of the players that came before them - becoming local heroes in the process.

My piece from Paramaribo for @espn.com: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Dutch-born players are making Suriname's World Cup dreams a reality

Thanks to a recent change in FIFA rules, Suriname is drawing on its Dutch lineage to fuel a fight for a place in the 2026 World Cup.

www.espn.com

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Appreciate coaches don’t always end up as replicas of those they study under, but isn’t it a bit weird to watch a Dan Campbell disciple manage games like this?

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

These two

a group of cartoon soccer players are playing a game on a field

ALT: a group of cartoon soccer players are playing a game on a field

media.tenor.com

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 3d

Jets??? Anything at all???

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 4d

Uhhhh

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 4d

Good job I brought this waterproof jacket out with me to help with the …. blazing sun

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 4d

A wonderful entry to the “spotting footballers in mundane places” for me today:

Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez at Peppa Pig World

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Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 5d

52-48 next week 😂

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 6d

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

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 6d

Reposted by Sam Tighe

Iain Macintosh @iainmacintosh.bsky.social · 7d

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 · 8d

Would have left the last one out 😉

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 8d

This is superb

Ryan O'Hanlon @rwohan.bsky.social · 8d

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 · 9d

(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 · 9d

He's already worth double.

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 9d

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 · 9d

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 · 9d

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 · 9d

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 · 10d

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 · 9d

Ghost of Yōtei arrives for the international break 👌

Sam Tighe @stighefootball.bsky.social · 10d

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 · 10d

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

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