An absolutely necessary book for every modern football fan, about the evolution of Premier League tactics, published to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the league.

In 1992, English football was in dark times, emerging from a five-year ban from European competitions. The game was physical, injured, and fierce, based on strength rather than speed, aggression rather than finesse. It was the era of the midfield general, hard players, tall attackers, and direct attack; 4-4-2 was the rule of the day. Few teams experimented tactically.

And then, almost overnight, everything changed. The creation of the Premier League coincided with one of the most significant rule changes in football history: the abolition of the back-pass. Suddenly, defenders had no escape route, goalkeepers had to handle and play the ball, and the pace of the game quickened dramatically. Tactics evolved rapidly, enhanced by growing foreign influence.

The Mixer is the first book to deeply explore the tactical history of the Premier League and analyze how the game has evolved over the past 25 years. From Ferguson's direct approach to Keegan's attacking Newcastle, as well as Mourinho's reactive approach with Chelsea and Ranieri's counter-attacking champion, The Mixer is one of the most entertaining, rich, and informative football books ever written.