Cultured Football #173
Cultured Football #173
Irishman from Lyon. Belfast Celtic. United's Transfer Strategy. Pompeii Football. Wrexham Effect.
Jake O'Brien joins Everton: Before Lyon he was bloodied in Belgium and starred for Swindon - he is ready for the next step
By Adam Bate for Sky Sports
You don’t often hear of young Irishmen who had to go to France to kick-start their career. Yet that is the path (via stops at Cork, Swindon and Belgium) taken by Jack O’Brien who never really got a look-in at Crystal Palace before heading out to Lyon. Now he is back in England with Everton, the subject of one of the most intriguing transfers of the summer and looking to show his value on a stage that seemed out of reach twelve months back.
Belfast Celtic
By Philip O’Rourke for Forgotten Football
With 14 League titles and 8 Irish Cups, Belfast Celtic were one of the most decorated sides of Northern Irish football. Then, almost overnight, they were disbanded and withdrew from the league.
How Man United improved their still-flawed transfer strategy
By Ryan O'Hanlon for ESPN
With the arrival of Joshua Zirkzee and Lenny Yoro, it would seem that Manchester United are finally learning from past mistakes. Yet, whilst those two signal a new strategy, other names being linked to the club hint that maybe the gremlins of old are still lurking around.
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Pompeii: Shoots Spring Lonely
By Imma Rhamely Borrelli for Terrace Edition
Pompeii is famous around the world for the archaeological site that provides a remarkably well-preserved snapshot of ancient Roman life, having been buried under volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Yet, for some years, it also hosted a football team - Virtus Pompei - in the Italian leagues. Now, the stadium that used to host their games lies abandoned and, for football fans, is as evocative a site as the more famous one that stands metres away.
Is the ‘Wrexham Effect’ actually hurting lower league finances?
By for City A.M. /
The spotlight trained all the way from Hollywood on Wrexham has undoubtedly elevated interest in England's lower leagues. Yet there is now evidence that their presence and dramatic rise is causing issues for those trying to keep up.
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Every Saturday, Cultured Football brings you five great football articles you will enjoy reading.
Last Week’s Most Read: The remarkable story of how a taxi driver in Mexico with €50 to his name became captain of ‘world's best pub team’ in Gibraltar
By Jack Kenmare for Sport Bible
Occasionally, I come across an article that is almost impossible to describe and simply has to be read to be believed. This is one of them.
Great reads this week!