Football coaching, tactics & updates
Tactical breakdowns, coaching decision analysis, formation guides, and product news from the Gaffer team.
GAFFER vs Fantasy Premier League: Two Very Different Football Games
FPL and GAFFER are both football games — but they test completely different skills. Here's what sets them apart and why you should probably play both.
Read article →The Hardest Call in Football: Doing Nothing
Every football fan screams for changes. Sometimes the hardest, most courageous decision a manager can make is to leave things exactly as they are.
Read →Every Decision a Football Manager Makes During a Match
From kick-off to the final whistle, a football manager makes hundreds of micro-decisions. Most fans only see the five substitutions. Here's everything else.
Read →What Does 'Gaffer' Mean in Football?
Gaffer is the word every footballer uses for their manager — but where does it come from? The etymology, the culture, and why it became the heart of this app.
Read →How Gaffer Points Work — The Complete Breakdown
Alignment, timing, urgency multipliers, and impact bonuses. Everything you need to know about how every coaching decision in GAFFER is scored.
Read →Why Set Pieces Win Trophies (And How to Coach Them)
Roughly 30% of goals in top European leagues come from set pieces. Yet most fans ignore them. Here's why the smartest coaches obsess over dead-ball situations.
Read →What Happens in the Dressing Room at Half Time
Half-time is the most underrated tactical window in football. Top managers identify the problem, fix the shape, and reset the mindset — all in 15 minutes.
Read →The High Press Explained: How Klopp, Guardiola, and Arteta Do It Differently
Pressing is not about running more — it's about pressing smarter. Three of football's greatest tactical minds use the high press in three very different ways.
Read →4-3-3 vs 4-2-3-1: Which Formation Wins in 2026?
The two most dominant formations in European football compared head-to-head. Which wins the tactical chess match — and when does each one break down?
Read →The Science of the Perfect Substitution: When, Why, and Who
Elite managers don't react to substitutions — they plan them before kick-off. Here's the data behind substitution timing and why the 60th minute is the most valuable window.
Read →Articles drop every week
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