Cultured Football #155
FC Augsburg. Image in Women's Football. Norwegian Feelgood Story. Reality of Data Analytics. Goals Galore in EPL.
FC Augsburg: The Bundesliga's Unfancied Over-Achievers
By for
I’m increasingly finding myself drawn to German football partly because of the fan culture but largely because money seem to have a lot less sway over there (Bayern Munich excluded, of course). As a result you find more clubs who punch above their weight through a mix of good recruitment, young players and interesting managers. Bayer Leverkusen and, to a lesser extent, Stuttgart have been the break-out stars of this season overshadowing the excellent performances of a third minnow: Augsburg.
Football’s Shuffle Between Skin and Silhouette
By Juliet Nottingham for Football Paradise
Football players such as Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo are becoming more involved in creating personal and relatable content on social media. This has helped them increase their popularity and connections with fans. However, this trend also raises questions about boundaries and the potentially unhealthy expectations, as seen in the music industry. Will women’s football keep this in mind amidst the pressure to grow the game further?
Bonus Pick: Despite sitting bottom spot in WSL, Bristol City Women boast one of the highest average attendances in Europe this season thanks to their drive to cultivate a loyal women's fanbase.
‘Everything is possible’: YMCA football team’s rise to Norwegian top flight
By Daniel Harris for The Guardian
KFUM-Kameratene Oslo, a small YMCA community club in Norway, will make their top-flight debut thanks to their smart and planned growth. They have a unique philosophy and focus on creating a positive and respectful environment for their players. Despite their limited budget, they believe their technical skills give them an advantage over their opponents. Their story of success is already a triumph, regardless of what happens next. If the phrase “their ground holds only 3,000 and is accessed via a zebra crossing” doesn’t make you feel all warm inside towards KFUM (or, at least, eager to read this piece), I don’t know what will…
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What we talk about when we talk about 'analytics'
By Mark Thompson for Get Goalside
If you want evidence that we have entered a new phase in how football is viewed, just take a look at fans’ reaction to the news that Manchester United are about to employ Dan Ashworth or the Liverpool fanbase when it was announced that Michael Edwards was returning to the club. That the celebration at the employment of executives has come to resemble that when an important player is signed is tribute to how impactful those who have embraced data to guide their decisions have been; people seem to celebrate that their math geek is better than yours. Which is a big flaw because at the core of analytics there isn’t the numbers but the ability to interpret them.
Bonus Pick: If you want to try your hands at some analytics, see what you make of this interactive data set showing the average age at which clubs recruit and how it has changed.
The Numbers Behind the Premier League Goal Explosion
By David Segar for The Analyst
English football has always had a reputation for seeing more goals scored than anywhere else. In the past however, this was down to tactical naivety and poor defensive organisation. Or, at least, that’s how it was viewed by the rest of Europe. Those accusation can no longer be levelled to the league which hosts the best managers and most expensive defenders in the world. Still, the goals keep flowing in at an increasing rate. Why is that?
Every Saturday, Cultured Football brings you five great football articles you will enjoy reading.
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Last Week’s Most Read: NXGN 2024: The 50 best wonderkids in football
By Tom Maston and Simone Gambino for Goal
This is always a popular read (and one that I look forward to). Each year Goal picks the best young players on the planet which this time round features players who are due to turn 19 at some point during the year. Interestingly, four of the top ten have already been subject to multi-million pound transfers.
Bonus Pick: Here’s a similar list but featuring the most promising players in the women’s game.