Cultured Football #123

Premier League Preview. Brighton's Secrets. City Boycott. Eredivisie Talents. Women's World Cup Failing

Aug 13, 2023

This is Cultured Football, where the best football writing of the past seven days is carefully selected, just for you.

Return of the Premier League

By
Ian King
for
Unexpected Delirium

“It’s back. The Biggest League in the World returns at the weekend and if you let it, it will drive you completely round the twist. This bubble filled with noise, exuberance, abuse and hubris just keeps on expanding, but if years of experience of having to observe all of this playing out, I’ve found that if you treat it primarily as weird intersection of reality television and soap opera, it starts to become something approaching sense, with the only significant difference being that the good guys seldom win.”

Brilliant Brighton: The Seagulls' Recruitment Strategy Explained

By Ninad Barbadikar for Analytics FC

Some clubs seem to spot talent much better than others. Few, however, are doing as well as Brighton. And, as key elements of the brilliant team that got them into Europe get sold, others slot into their place. Thanks to a well planned recruitment pathway.

How Manchester City fans boycotted the Community Shield and funded a food bank for the summer

By Nick Clarke for The Big Issue

It is easy to dismiss all Manchester City fans for supporting a team with super-rich owners. Easier still to forget that a section of their support is being priced out of the game they love. So the recent initiative to boycott the Community Shield bears highlighting.

The Eredivisie 2023/24 Talents to Watch

By Michael Bell for Football Oranje

The Eredivisie always seems to offer up interesting players. So, with that in mind, here are the best players aged 21 or under who will shine in coming months.

Women’s World Cup 2023 accused of ‘leaving nothing behind’ for Aboriginal and Maori peoples

By Katherine Lucas for iNews

The Women’s World Cup has been a fantastic spectacle. Yet the impact and legacy for the indigenous peoples of the two host nations will, sadly, be minimal.

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By Adam Bate, Nick Wright and Tim Thornton for SkySports

Fourteen coaches of different levels of experience and success talk about how they see football tactics evolving. A rare, insightful look at the game by those deeply involved in it.