Good morning tactics fans and welcome to the #TacticalThursday newsletter – full of analysis, scouting and tactics. Fill up on your football knowledge – follow the Total Football Analysis page and be part of the squad that want more than just a match report.

Westerlo are proving to be one of the smartest clubs in Belgium when it comes to recruitment and they have impressed again with their latest signing – Brandon Liss looks closely at Josimar Alcócer, the 19 y/o Costa Rican winger.

Vitoria SC have been weakened this window, losing Ibrahima Bamba and Andre Amaro. Rui Martins explains what this means for the team heading into the new season.

Julen Lopetegui out, Gary O’Neil in at Wolves as the West Midlands club have experienced a massive shakeup on the week of their 2023/24 Premier League season starting. O’Neil achieved success with Bournemouth in England’s top flight last season, and their ‘all or nothing’ set pieces played a crucial role in that success. Read about their set play tactics.

Reece James has been named the new Chelsea captain. Our 2019 scout report of the then-Wigan Athletic loan star pinpointed some key qualities that would help the full-back to make it at the very top of the game.

ICYMI yesterday, Japan’s leading scorer in the World Cup is Hinata Miyazawa and David Astill believes she is ready for a big European move – he looked at some potential destinations based on her style of play.

Malmo are doing interesting things from corners this season and Marcel Seifeddine took a closer look at their “train” routine to see where they can improve it.

At PSG, plenty of names are linked with the exit door at present, including that of 21-year-old Hugo Ekitike whose transfer from Reims only officially became permanent this summer. His PSG move may have come a bit too soon, but the forward demonstrated elite potential back in his breakthrough 2021/22 campaign.

The Premier League is back tomorrow and you need to download our tactical guide – get your copy as part of your membership.

Then today’s TFA Scouted uncovered these reports;

Marc Pubill has moved down the Spanish coast to join Almeria for €5m – we scouted the 19-year-old right back in May of this year and felt he was ready for a bigger challenge at Tier 1.

Juan Cruz Esquivel has made the move to Mexico joining Tigres – we scouted the winger last month and felt he was a player at a Tier 4 level, so just below Mexico in Tier 3. Have we got this one right or wrong? Time will tell!

Keito Nakamura is one of the hottest properties in the Austrian Bundesliga and he is rumoured to be joining Stade Reims this window – we profiled the Japanese winger in March and felt he could have a big impact in Tier 1.

Adrian Kapralik is rumoured to be leaving MSK Zilina and moving to Heerenveen of the Eredivisie this window – we scouted him and felt the winger was ready for a move to a Tier 3 club, one below the Eredivisie.

Darío Osorio is one the hottest properties in Chile and is being heavily linked to a big move to Europe this window – we scouted him back in April of this year and felt the 19-year-old winger was 100% ready for a step to Tier 1.

That’s it for this today – we are back at the same time tomorrow. Spread the word!

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