Cultured Football #79
Cultured Football #79
Sevilla's slide. The Best Penalty Takers. Judging Goalkeepers and more.
Aaaaaaand, we’re back. As I wrote briefly last week a few days’ vacation transformed into an almost month long hiatus. Perhaps I should have chosen a better Saturday to come back as most of the attention over the past seven days has been on the transfer window so I’ve cheated a bit: the articles in this issue are from across all the period during which Cultured Football wasn’t being issued. Hope you all enjoy,
The Best Penalty Takers In The Premier League
By Matt Furniss for The Analyst [1,368 words]
This is rather straightforward: who has been the best penalty takers in the history of the Premier League, statistically speaking? And who has been the worst? Often unsurprising, sometimes not.
Sevilla’s Slide Explained: Monchi's Post-Game Act Speaks Volumes About LaLiga Mess
By Phil Kitromilides for Optus Sport [1,126 words]
Sevilla have long been seen as a model club, at least for those not lucky enough to hit the rich owner jackpot. Yet, as the history of other clubs who were seen in a similar light in the past shows, it is very easy to go from model club to a horror one. It is to early to make a definite judgement about Sevilla in that respect, but their start to the season has certainly not been an encouraging one.
Andrey Santos: 'The Brazilian Busquets' Earning Transfer Interest From Barcelona
By Tauan Ambrósio for Goal [808 words]
The transfer window might have just come to a close but that is no reason not to look forward to the next one. Andrey Santos has been nicknamed ‘the Brazilian Busquets’ so, unsurprisingly, Barcelona are looking to sign him. If you want to boast that you knew all about him before they actually do sign him / claim that he should be the one your club has to target, then his profile will help you do so.
Cristiano Ronaldo's End Game: Super sub? Star of a mid-table team?
By Ryan O’Hanlon for ESPN [1,417 words]
For the first time in his career, Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to change clubs but there wasn’t anyone that interested in signing him. It is, perhaps, the most clear signal that his star is fading. Yet writing him off would be foolish: there is still some stardust left in his boots; it is just a matter of him - and us - getting used that it isn’t as much as it was in the past.
A Spectacular Art Or A Data-Driven Science: What Really Is Goalkeeping?
By Sam Hudspith for Goalkeeper.com [2,731 words]
This is one of the finest pieces we’ve come across not just over these past three weeks but also this summer (and probably this year). It is a deep dive into the art of goalkeeping and whether you can judge it by looking at the numbers or by eye. Read it.
Something Else We Loved This Week
Every issue of Nutmeg magazine is cause for celebration here at Cultured Football. Although ostensibly focused on Scottish football, the variety and quality of writing is always so good that even those with no real interest in the game north of the border will enjoy it. Issue 25 has just been published and if you want to get a taste of what is in it (including the below) there’s a content list here; if you want to buy a copy go here.
