Cultured Football #226
ITKs. Best Worst Transfers. Serie A Return. Eva Longoria. Werder Troubles
The myth and mystery of Indy Kaila: the X account that ‘won’ the transfer window
By Rory Smith for the Observer
If you don’t know who Indy Kaila is, then I invite you to move to the next article. If you do, I think you’ll find this a fascinating read.
The best worst transfers that should've worked: From Sancho to Werner
By Ryan O’Hanlon for ESPN
Hindsight often colours how we view transfers. Yet, most of those which are now widely considered as terrible transfer decisions made sense at the time. And, arguably, they should have worked. Meaning that, often, it isn’t the players themselves who are to blame even if they end up being the ones who suffer for it.
Serie A 2025/26 Season Preview
By Chris McMenamy for Tiro
The Serie A might not be at the level it was back in the 1980s and 1990s, when it was undoubtedly the best league of the world, but it can still offer plenty of talent, excitement and tactical intrigue. Plus, it is also pretty unpredictable which is much more than you can say for other big leagues around Europe.
Bonus Read: Promotion Picks and Relegation Candidates: Serie B Predictions 2025-26
[Destination Calcio]
If the Serie A isn’t to your liking, why not try the Serie B, the most competitive league around?
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Eva Longoria follows ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ script as she tries to boost Liga MX’s Necaxa
By Jad El Reda for the Los Angeles Times
Who would have predicted this even 10 years ago? For most of my lifetime, football / soccer was an alien sport to most Americans. Now we have some of the biggest names in Hollywood using their reputation to boost football clubs they own (and make money off of it). I wonder though: how long before the formula goes stale?
Werder Bremen, this season's Bundesliga crisis club
By for
Werder Bremen were once a club that regularly challenged at the very top of German football. Not any more.
Bonus Read: What next for Eintracht Frankfurt?
[Mohamed Mohamed x Analytics FC]
Eintracht Frankfurt have made an absolute fortune from transfers in recent years. But that means they’re constantly rebuilding. What will the new season bring for them?
Bonus Read: Bundesliga Preview: Can Anyone Stop Bayern Munich This Season?
[Manuel Veth x Forbes]
Still want a season preview after Bayern trashed ‘rivals’ RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga’s opening game? In that case, try this one.
Every Saturday, Cultured Football brings you five great football articles you will enjoy reading. And you get a free copy of the book Master of the Azzurri when you join.
In Case You Missed It Here’s Last Week’s Most Read: The Premier League 2025/26 Sense Check
By Kevin Coleman for Game Over, Ball Burst
There are many (MANY) Premier League previews out there so I ultimately plumped for this one because it is different from all the rest. How? Rather than simply stating an opinion, this looks at why the 2025/26 might be good AND bad for each team. I like articles which have a little bit of light to them.