Cultured Football #152
Football Psychology. The African Club You Should Know About. Chelsea Gamble. Shame on Spurs Fans for Getting Old. Klopp vs Pep.
'The mental part is the greatest challenge': Deco on why psychology is paramount to player recruitment
By for
It is hardly surprising to see Deco, a player who hit the peaks of his career under Jose Mourinho, speak of the importance of psychology in football given his former manager’s famous ability to find ways of getting a mental edge. What is surprising, however, is how despite the talk clubs still don’t really do enough; that whilst data seems to dominate other factors are pushed to the side. An interesting analysis on how clubs are incorporating - or failing to - softer skills in their analysis of players. Is there a risk that if a quality can’t be measured and converted to numbers, it gets ignored?
Inside Athletico d'Abidjan: Côte d'Ivoire's trailblazing women's football club
By
for
Like me, you’ve probably never heard of Athletico d'Abidjan. But you definitely should. In a game where money so often rules, this is a story of a club and individuals that are truly inspirational.
Assets: The Gamble at Chelsea
By for Game Theory
There has been a lot said and written about Chelsea in the Todd Boehly era but none have been as good as this in-depth, extremely well-written combination of data with analysis. Take this quote as an example: “the result is a London-based rendition of Lord of the Flies, with youth attempting to govern themselves but ultimately bringing out the worst in each other.” Even if you don’t support Chelsea, this is well-wroth a read.
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Sorry we’re not dead yet
By for
This is a story that’s easy to miss because it hasn’t been given a lot of attention by the wider media (at least, not yet) but a section of fans at Tottenham are dismayed at the club deciding to end concessions for their older fans. The reason, as brilliantly put in this piece, is that not enough Tottenham fans are dying and being replaced by younger ones who can spend more. Pretty sure that plenty of other clubs will be watching how this evolves in the hope that this is something that they can replicate as well.
How Klopp, Guardiola improved the Premier League, and each other
By Ryan O'Hanlon for ESPN
There is little doubt of the greatness of both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. A sporting rivalry that is coming to an end but, whatever happens throughout this season, it is clear that both have benefitted from having the other around to push them on and improve. As has English football.
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Last Week’s Most Read: Premier League, NFL prove it's not megastars who make a league successful
By Gabriele Marcotti for ESPN
In the world of sports, star power is often seen as essential for success. However, in both the NFL and the Premier League, it is clear that a strong and competitive product on the field is more important for long-term success. Ultimately, it is a combination of factors such as history, recognizable teams, and strategic marketing that contribute to a league's popularity, not just individual star players.
Thanks for sharing!