Cultured Football #56
Sportswashing. MLS & Liga MX. Specialised Pundits. Bailly vs Matip. Athletic Bilbao.
Sadly we have been reminded once more of the irrelevance of football by the tragedy that is unfolding in Ukraine. So, whilst I hope that this week’s chosen football articles bring you some respite from real life news, we join ourselves with those clamouring for the end of this stupid war.
Something To Please The Eyes Before We Start…
Dan Leydon is designing a series of digital wallpapers and, if this one of Son Heung-Min is anything to go by, then it will be well worth keeping an eye out for.
Uefa and Fifa are too late: Russia’s sportswashing has served its purpose
By Barney Ronay for The Guardian
Football is often too beholden to power and money to look at the motives of those looking to associate themselves with the game. None more so than the ruling bodies who often facilitate life for those looking to cleanse their reputation.
Reading Time: 7 minutes
How to Strengthen Cross-Border Ties Between U.S. and Mexican Pro Soccer
By Leander Schaerlaeckens for The Ringer
For outsiders like myself, bringing together the MLS and Liga MX sounds like an obvious idea that would benefit everyone. And, it would seem, there has often been talk of making that idea happen. Whether those with more knowledge of those two leagues actually think that it is a good idea is open for debate.
Reading Time: 9 minutes
Football punditry is more detailed than ever but it still fails goalkeepers
By Cameron Ponsonby for The Blizzard
Whilst football punditry has evolved and (largely) improved as more of the game has been televised, there is one area where commentary is often lacking: goalkeepers. That is hardly surprising, given that very few pundits happen to be former goalkeepers but it doesn’t mean that it should be that way.
Reading Time: 8 minutes
FM22 simulates what would happen if 11 Eric Baillys played 11 Joel Matips
By Patrick Ryan for Planet Football
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a team of Eric Baillys were to face one made exclusively of Joel Matip? Really, you have? Well, there’s no need to wonder any more.
Reading Time: 6 minutes
The Cubs Becoming Lions: Europe’s Most Vital Academy Introduces a Golden Class
By Jamie Kemp for The Analyst
Athletic Club Bilbao are a unique club in world football. Their policy of using only Basque players has often been a limit to their ambitions especially when their best talents are attracted by better prospects elsewhere. The current side, with four impressive talents breaking through at the same time, could however break the mould. It would be surprising if these four don’t become top stars over the coming years.
Reading Time: 9 minutes
Last Week’s Most Read
ven before he joined Liverpool, Naby Keita has had staunch supporter among the football-data community. Yet evidence from his time in England has failed to impress on a consistent basis. It is fair to ask, then, whether analytics read him wrong.
Reading Time: 8 minutes