Cultured Football #70
Invincible Who Never Was. Brexitball. Zlatan Against The Odds. Gavi. A Strange Purchase.
I don’t know about you but I haven’t seen a minute of the endless Nations Cup or international friendlies that have been going on these days. To tell you everything, I’m more looking forward to the fixtures for next season that start coming out over the next few days!
Jamie Brooks: the Invincible who never was
By Robin Mumford for Football Bloody Hell
Some players are destined for greatness. For others, fate has a completely different plan.
8 minute read
Brexitball: Exporting Young Talent
By Andy Watson for Analytics FC
The success of the English academy system has seen an increasing number of young English players moving abroad in search of confirmation. Or, at least, that was the case till last year. Has Brexit had an impact since then?
11 minute read
Zlatan: Against all Odds, God Wins.
By Charlie Freeman for Football Paradise
There are many excellent stories in AC Milan’s scudetto win but Zlatan Ibrahimovic return to help guide a team filled with young players perhaps trumps them all.
8 minute read
Gavi stars for Spain as Barcelona count the soaring cost of his new contract
By Graham Hunter for ESPN
Barcelona’s financial problems have been well documented but as has often happened in the past their youth system has come to their rescue. Ironically, however, their need to rely on younger players has seen some do so well that Barcelona’s issues mean they risk losing them. Gavi is a case in point; someone who has done so well that they could end up not affording him.
7 minute read
I bought a York City turnstile at auction. It’s the best £300 I’ve spent.
By Daniel Gray for Nutmeg Magazine / The Guardian
Daniel Gray is on of my favourite football writers (and, in my opinion, one of the most under-rated). This piece explains perfectly why I feel that way: his ability to pick on something seemingly minor and imbue it with emotion.
6 minutes read
Something Else We Loved This Week
This dreamy football pitch in Wakhan Valley, Dzhiland, Tajikistan. Photo by the brilliant Philippe Tournut.
Last Week’s Most Read: The Italian globetrotter who’s on a quest in Africa
By Paul Grech (i.e. me) for Football Paradise
“It was a beautiful experience. To this day, I am still in touch with a lot of people from my time in Palestine. And that’s great. Sport isn’t only about winning but about building new relationships and, also, so that when you leave the country, you feel that you’ve managed to leave something behind.” For most of his adult life, Stefano Cusin has been coaching in places many others wouldn’t go, driven by his desire to coach the game rather than the need for fame. His is a wonderful story well worth reading.