Jack Lacey-Hatton
Jack has worked as a sports reporter full-time since 2021. He previously worked as the Chief Women’s Football Writer at the Mirror, covering the England Women’s national team and the Women’s Super League. Jack has covered a number of major sporting events in recent years including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the ground in Australia.
Latest articles by Jack Lacey-Hatton
![Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring against Manchester United](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WaLME5hbukd8n6Wqvt7vdQ-320-80.jpg)
Pinning: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What exactly is pinning? Here's our tactical explainer
![Marcelo Bielsa](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/byBQPrYgyT4HRQmHWvozMJ-320-80.jpg)
Spacing: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What exactly is spacing and why is it so important? Here's our tactical explainer
![Gareth Southgate on the touchline as England face Malta](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6qMBn6zrQzzLduXBd95tJH-320-80.jpg)
Staggering: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is staggering? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Pep Guardiola gesturing on the touchline against Brentford](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DJCZHV9Hhb2xGZF83rLfrh-320-80.jpg)
The high press: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What exactly is the high press? Here's our tactical explainer
![Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta embraces Martin Odegaard after a game against Everton in September 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GmHuAQYAN8sKe9KDT6Jp4Y-320-80.jpg)
Horseshoe: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
What actually is the horseshoe? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![David Silva](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ytmdCzAKJGzHdwPiyEvRfM-320-80.jpg)
Half-space: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is the half-space? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Gian Piero Gasperini](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PMZcMLtZRJo3wc6Q6dL2YR-320-80.jpg)
Spare man: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What is the spare man? Here's our tactical explainer
![Declan Rice](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XZEcd5sAPkSDRqyy3adAhf-320-80.jpg)
Cover shadow: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is the cover shadow? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Best Premier League managers ever](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ydVDbUzCc49Fdx4Jze3LU3-320-80.jpg)
The low block: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS So, what is a low block? Here's your tactical explainer on an important defensive strategy
![Carlos Tevez in action for Manchester City against former club Manchester United in 2013.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cstXpQJSkQpHzYUFR7Swkk-320-80.jpg)
False nine: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is the false nine? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Pep Guardiola](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kS3dMPcZ7EbwT8mnqk4LSH-320-80.jpg)
Numerical superiority: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is numerical superiority? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Midfielder Andrea Pirlo #21 of New York City FC kicks the ball forward during the match vs Vancouver Whitecaps at Yankee Stadium on April 30, 2016 in New York City. New York city FC won 3-2.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrMbST78nJBUoC7pKkstiG-320-80.jpg)
The Regista: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS Here's your tactical explainer on the regista, and what it means in the world of football
![Kaka](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9RkKtUtK9eCAsYYSAZwe5R-320-80.jpg)
The Trequartista: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is a Trequartista? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Dwight Yorke in action for Manchester United against Leeds United in 1998.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G2YVehKd4t7wp8SA84dASY-320-80.jpg)
The channel: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is the channel? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Pep Guardiola gesturing on the touchline against Brentford](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DJCZHV9Hhb2xGZF83rLfrh-320-80.jpg)
Shape: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is shape? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Craig Bellamy, Newcastle United](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vdezQZWY9xNqCBn6fHigGg-320-80.jpg)
Blindside: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS So what exactly is the blindside in football? Here's your tactical explainer
![Simeone](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhYWy82dPyuurwcJiJnS3m-320-80.jpg)
Compact: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually does it mean for a team to be 'compact' - here's your handy tactical explainer
![Zinedine Zidane](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nnz94p6SWbyW8iejvXY5oc-320-80.jpg)
The Playmaker: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is a playmaker? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Steven Gerrard screaming in celebration](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3KhuVKJxLbxWwbhGfRTVRa-320-80.jpg)
Box to box midfielders: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS Here's your tactical explainer on the midfield generals that can win a game
![Luka Modric Real Osasuna](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZyAkJWhPYbxeqimDaX5K5C-320-80.jpg)
The No.8 role: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS So what is a No.8? Here's your tactical explainer on one of the most important roles in the game
![Andy Robertson's attacking overlaps have proved a staple of Liverpool's style in recent years](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZGSEQNuKRWXDFxYo6VePWe-320-80.jpg)
The overlap: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS An overlap has defined the career of many a full-back, but what is actually is it? Here's your tactical explainer
![Brighton often look to find players between the lines](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v4nQvhYLVyoCCTVC9pzcxS-320-80.jpg)
Between the lines: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What actually is between the lines? Here's your handy tactical explainer
![Declan Rice looking to force an overload](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/urJUGYRrM3JcF43NcRwDoF-320-80.jpg)
The overload: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton published
TACTICS What is an overload? Here's your handy tactical explainer