Cultured Football #39

He can't control his feet!

Whilst Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both still phenomenal players, both are also well in their thirties and age will catch up with them sooner rather than later.   Waiting to take their place there’s a whole host of young attackers who are quickly showing what they can do at the highest level despite their young age.  Ansu Fati and Emile Smith Rowe, who both feature in this issue of Cultured Football, both fall into this category.  The future is theirs.

Barcelona need Ansu Fati and he couldn't be happier

Their past mismanagement has left them with a mountain of debt that, somehow, needs to be paid off but for Barcelona there has been some good news in the form of the emergence of a number of incredibly talented young players around whom they can build for the future.  The star of these is arguably Ansu Fati, who this week signed a new long-term contract with the club and who is ready to fill the hole left by Messi up-front.

#Player Focus

Reading Time: 8 Minutes

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Emile Smith Rowe is obsessed with football

Arsenal is a club that, somewhat like Barcelona, is in a period of transition but which is also getting a lot of joy from its young players.  Among their main stars there is Emile Smith Rowe.  Having been with the club since he was ten years old and grown up locally, he is a young player that the fans can easily relate to and take joy has he continues to develop.

#Interview

Reading Time: 7 minutes

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The great betrayal

After 32 years of establishment lies, media smears, inquests, trials and retrials, the families of the Hillsborough dead have yet to see anyone held accountable.  A sad and disheartening, but vital long read.

#Justice

Reading Time: 20 minutes

Why Are Dortmund Struggling In Defense?

Borussia Dortmund are a wonderful team to watch.  Especially if you aren’t a fan of theirs.  Their games are always likely to be exciting and filled with goals thanks to the phenomenal quality they have upfront and, also, their inability to defend.  Players missing because of injury have contributed to the latter but there are also tactical issues that are leading to their problems at the back.

#Tactical Analysis

Reading Time: 11 minutes

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Djimi Traoré: ‘I’m not ashamed of my own goal – it is part of my story

Mention the name of Djimi Traore to any (rational) Liverpool fan and you will likely see a smile spread on their faces.  He was not the greatest of players and many remember him for a calamitous own goal scored at Burnley in the FA Cup.  Yet he also won the Champions League with them and the passion with which he played means that today there is genuine affection for him.  Traore went on to have a good career with them and is now making his first steps into management, using his career to teach younger players whom he tells “you can score an own goal and then a few months later win the Champions League.”

#Interview

Reading Time: 10 minutes

Last week’s most read

It is difficult to align the picture built of Craig Bellamy during his playing career – opinionated, determined and verging on the obnoxious – with the one that emerges during this powerful and emotionally charged interview.  Yet that is precisely what makes it such an important read.  For it shows that anyone can struggle with mental problems no matter how tough they look and there is no shame in asking for help.

#Interview

Reading Time: 10 minutes