Why stadium design is getting more outlandish

By Tom Ravenscroft for Dezeen

When I first saw images of Birmingham City’s new stadium (above) I assumed they were AI-generated concepts produced by a fan. Instead, it is the winning design. Yet Birmingham are not alone. Clubs - and countries - increasingly want to build stadiums that are instantly recognisable, which often means going for architecture that projects a distinctive visual identity.

Does Pre-Season Really Matter?

By for The Set Piece

Pre-season results are often dismissed as meaningless, but the weeks before the season begins can still tell us plenty about a football club. For, whilst the results themselves don’t carry any points, those games do reveal some truths.

What Are Transfer Fees Really Buying?

Via

“Transfer fees are not really buying trophies. They are selling hope, probability, and, most importantly, protection from being wrong.”

Bonus Read: Why ‘winning the summer transfer window’ doesn’t help Premier League clubs

[ x ESPN]

Fans might dream otherwise, but you DO NOT want to win the transfer window.

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The Meteoric Rise of Yan Diomande: From Nomadic Triallist to Bundesliga Superstar and a €140m Real Madrid Transfer

By Ryan Benson for The Analyst

Here’s what I don’t get about modern football. Despite almost endless resources, Real Madrid were not moved to sign Yan Diomande when he was playing relatively nearby at Levante two years ago. RB Leipzig were. Yet now Real are willing to spend a huge amount on his transfer (and undoubtedly his wages). Did Diomande improve that much over the twelve months he was in Germany?

Portuguese Primeira Liga - 26/27 Season Preview

By for GBE Expert Hub

There typically isn’t much doubt over who will win the Portuguese Premeira Liga; it will be one of the big three of Porto, Sporting and Benfica. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t much to look forward to as the new season kicks off.

Bonus Read: Coming up: six promoted teams to look out for in Europe this season

[Niall McVeigh x The Guardian]

Whilst things might be somewhat boring at the top of a number of leagues, it gets more interesting if you look elsewhere. Like, for instance, at some of the newly promoted sides.

Each week on Cultured Football we pick the five great football stories from the previous seven days.

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In Case You Missed It Here’s Last Week’s Most Read: The forgotten football federation that tried to dethrone FIFA

By Matt Snep for The Backpass

Current FIFA leadership seems intent on testing the limits of its power. That has prompted fresh questions about whether football could ever break away from its governing body, although the idea is far older than many realise. More than a century ago, another international federation attempted to build an alternative.

Cultured Football #272