Coaching

Carefully controlling how much a player plays to prevent injuries. Involves resting players who've played too many minutes, monitoring training loads, and sometimes sitting out less important games. Modern sports science tracks everything. Fans complain when their best players get rested, but the alternative is burning them out. The fixture congestion in modern football makes it more important than ever.

The cue that tells a team to start pressing. Common triggers: a back pass, a pass to their weakest player on the ball, the ball going into a certain zone, or a poor touch. Everyone recognizes the trigger and presses together instead of one player chasing alone. Without clear triggers, pressing falls apart and teams just pass around you.

The moment a team wins the ball and can attack before the opposition reorganizes. Fast attacking transitions catch teams with players out of position. Some teams build their entire game around winning the ball and attacking quickly before defenses can set. Leicester's 2015-16 title was built on quick attacking transitions with Vardy sprinting into space.

British slang for the manager or head coach. The term comes from old English workplace hierarchy, where the "gaffer" was the foreman or boss. In football, it carries a bit of respect and affection - you're not just calling someone "the manager," you're acknowledging they run the show. Players and fans use it, pundits too. Sir Alex Ferguson was often called "the gaffer" at Manchester United.

How good the backup players are when starters get injured or rested. Deep squads can rotate without losing quality. Shallow squads fall apart when key players are missing. Manchester City's depth means their B-team could challenge for titles; smaller clubs rely on 11 players and pray they stay fit. Modern football's congested schedule makes depth more valuable than ever.