Cultured Football #194
Operation Dunkerque. Udinese Paradox. Red Wall. Transfer Gurus. Goalkeeper Pressure.
Operation Ligue 1: USL Dunkerque's Historic Bid for Promotion
By
That of USL Dunkerque is one of the most interesting stories of this season across European football. With a former Newcastle and Chelsea striker who learned his trade under Ralf Rangnick as Sporting Director, a chief scout who is barely in his thirties, a former coach with Benfica’s youth teams managing the team and a squad made up of largely free transfers they are pushing for a historic promotion to Ligue 1. A great story.
The Udinese Paradox: Zico, Pozzos and Craving a Good Time, Not a Long Time
By Calcio England for Destination Calcio
There was a time when Udinese were considered as the paragon of a well run club, one with an unrivalled scouting network that allowed it to develop stars and challenge towards the top end of the Serie A. Then came the move into multi-club ownership, a move that seems to have diluted the attention of those running the club and resulted in mediocrity across the border
The Red Wall: Why Nottingham Forest are thriving this season with clever, defensive football
By for
Whilst the elevation of Nottingham Forest towards to top of the Premier League has surprised and delighted in equal measure, most analysis has focused on the defensive nature of their play. And, whilst it may be true that manager Nuno Espírito Santo prefers a more pragmatic approach, this should not take away from the exceptional manner in which his players are executing his game plan that is not simply ‘defend well’.
Bonus Pick: Anthony Elanga and Manchester United's new long term strategy
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One of the stars of this Forest side in Anthony Elanga who is building on the early promise he showed whilst at Manchester United and, in doing so, exposing some flaws of his previous club.
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Transfer Gurus: Brighton & Hove Albion's Edward Gallagher
By Neel Shelat for Analytics FC
Talk of Brighton being at the top of the transfer game is nothing new. But this is different. Because Brighton are sort-of replicating what they do so well in the men’s game to elevate their women’s team. It all seems rather obvious; then again brilliance always seems that way in hindsight.
Keepers, blockers and havoc-bringers
By for
As more clubs awake to the possibilites offered by set-plays, they are trying to take advantage. And most of the attention is falling on corner-kicks. Pressure (of the physical kind) on goalkeepers is increasing visibly with each match day. Will goalkeepers and defenders learn to live with this?
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Last Week’s Most Read: The Most Beautiful Football on Earth: What We Are, Why We Destroy Ourselves
By József Bozsik on Medium
The success and failures of a national football team can evoke strong emotional reactions and a sense of collective celebration or disappointment within a nation. This essay looks at the relationship between a nation's culture and the development of its football with a particular focus on Brazil. A (very) long but interesting read.