This episode is Part Two of our in-depth conversation with Paul Brand, continuing our performance analysis series on Strain on the Game.

After breaking down the role of a performance analyst in Part One, Paul returns to take us inside his current role at UEFA as Football Intelligence Lead — analysing Champions League and European competition matches, supporting elite technical observers, and shaping coach education across Europe.

In this episode, we explore:

• What Paul’s role at UEFA really involves on a matchday

• How analysts support live decisions like Player of the Match

• The behind-the-scenes process of producing UEFA tactical articles

• How elite insights are translated for coaches at every level

• Tactical trends emerging in the Champions League

• The fine margins behind half-time tactical interventions

• Life after the Premier League and adapting to a new football environment

Whether you’re a coach, analyst, player, or fan fascinated by the tactical and analytical side of football, this episode offers a rare look into how the modern game is analysed, interpreted, and taught at the highest level.

Everyone talks about “data” in football — but very few people really know how it’s used inside a club. In this episode of Strain on the Game, Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb pull back the curtain on one of the Premier League’s most influential (and misunderstood) roles: the performance analyst.

They’re joined by Paul Brand, who Stephen and Adrian worked with at Blackburn, before Paul spent 12 years at Manchester United and has now moved into a new role with UEFA. Paul breaks down the different types of analysis (video vs data), what “actionable insights” actually means, and why context matters more than raw numbers.

You’ll hear what a typical week looks like at an elite club — from post-match reviews and opposition reports to live matchday support — plus how analysts work with managers, coaches, sports science and recruitment. The conversation also dives into player communication: how much info is too much, how analysts tailor feedback, how clips are shared with players, and why getting player buy-in is everything.

Finally, Paul tackles the big debate: is football losing its intuition in the data era — or are coaches simply trying to control every micro-detail? And he doesn’t hold back on the most “pointless” stats we see thrown around after matches.

2026 has barely begun, and football is already deep into what can only be described as a managerial bloodbath. In this episode of Strain on the Game, Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb dissect a brutal start to the year that has seen multiple high-profile managers sacked within weeks — some despite recent success.

Is this really about results… or something much bigger?

From Chelsea and Manchester United to Celtic, Aberdeen and beyond, the conversation explores the evolving power dynamics inside modern football clubs. Who really holds the control now — the manager, the sporting director, the medical department, or the ownership group?

Stephen and Adrian go deep into:

• Why press conferences, politics, and “fit” now matter as much as form

• The growing influence of medical and performance teams on team selection

• Player load management, injury risk, and why 60 minutes can sometimes be a “full match”

• How tactical changes mid-season increase injury risk — and how clubs try to manage it

• Why some managerial changes lead to injury spikes, while others don’t

• The realities of working through a managerial change as staff — and the human cost behind it

Drawing on real-world experiences from Premier League dressing rooms and elite performance departments, this episode pulls back the curtain on how football really works when pressure, politics, and performance collide.