What a joy it is to be able to see games with full stadia again! For years there have been banners and chants that ‘football without fans is nothing’ but we’ve only realised how true that was over the past 18 months. Here’s to hoping that we never have to experience that again.
‘I feel people doubt I’m good enough for this level’
The deal that took Andros Townsend to Everton is not one that earned many (any?) headlines but it is a solid move for an experienced player who has been a consistent performer at the highest level for almost a decade. Surely he deserves a bit more respect than what he often gets.
Reading Time: 6 minutes
If Football’s Future is The Socios App, Let’s Download It And See
If you haven’t heard about Socios then I’m guessing that you will soon. It is a football themed blockchain based apps that allow fans to buy tokens through which they can influence (often minor and insignificant) decisions in their club. If you want more details – and personally I found it to be fascinating – then I’d urge you to read this where a Leeds fans bought a token to see what it is all about.
Reading Time: 12 minutes
Owner Dale Vince talks Forest Green Rovers’ unique model of sustainability and its legion of global fans
There is no doubt that Forest Green Rovers do things differently. From only serving vegan food during matchdays to planning a new stadium built out of wood, they are focused on sustainability more than any other club. It is a strategy driven by owner Dale Vince that, whilst environmentally conscious, is also helping attract new supporters and boost their results on the pitch.
Reading Time: 9 minutes (full disclosur: this is an article that I wrote)
The Chelsea youth exodus
There are many reasons for Chelsea fans to be excited by the upcoming season where, having been crowned European champions they seem primed for a challenge on the Premier League especially after Romelu Lukaku’s return to Stamford Bridge. There is one grey cloud, however, and that relates to the number of young players who are looking to leave the club fearful that there isn’t any path to the first team. The big question is whether the club will come to regret any of the moves.
Reading Time: 5 minutes
League Previews: Premier League, Bundesliga & La Liga
There are a number of leagues kicking off this weekend, so here’s some detailed team-by-team previews that, as I mentioned last week, I enjoy quite a bit. There is, of course, the Premier League that has seen the highest spend on players in Europe and for that reason remains one of the more intriguing leagues. The Bundesliga seems quite a forgone conclusion but beyond the top spot it is one of the most interesting leagues out there. In Spain there is life beyond the departure of Lionel Messi from the Nou Camp even if the favourites for the title remain the usual suspects.
Reading Time: 30 minutes
Last Week’s Most Read
The desire to learn more about what is happening beyond the top league in England seems to be alive out there as the preview of the English lower leagues ended up being the most read article of last week. If you want to learn why Exeter are favourites in League Two or what to expect from Ipswich, here’s all you need to know.
Bonus link: I came across this detailed preview of the Bundesliga II which kicked of a couple of weeks back but which is still very interesting reading.