Cultured Football #81
Cultured Football #81
Following Barca Dream; New Haaland; Afrobeats + Football & More
The craziness that is the scheduling of English football at the moment has meant that I’ve been watching a lot more German football and, I have to say, I like it. Anyway, personal viewing choices aside, here are this week’s top five articles.
Barcelona: Jordi Cruyff says summer signings joined club to 'follow their dream'
By BBC Sport // 1,228 words
For a club that was, supposedly, mired by financial difficulties Barcelona certainly didn’t act like it this summer and still signed a host of top tier talent. Jordi Cruyff, the man tasked with rebuilding the squad, is understandably happy with the work done especially as most of the players chose the club out of conviction not for money. Well, at least according to him.
Hashtag Levy Out
By Reco for The Fighting Cock // 2,919 words
Another club who was quite active in the summer were Tottenham and early indications are that finally they have added both quality and depth to the squad. Despite this summer’s spend - and other investments in infrastructure made over the years - fans are still divided between those who feel that the owners have done a good job and others of the opinion that the club deserves better owners. “Imagine if your wife was forever bitter and disappointed because you weren’t in fact George Clooney?” says the author. As a Liverpool fan, this debate seems quite familiar.
Rasmus Hojlund: Has the next Haaland just landed in Serie A?
By Tom Mason for Goal // 849 words
Atalanta’s failure to even qualify for Europe prompted doubts over whether their dream had finally run out of steam. Yet a summer of typical low key yet astute transfers seems to have revitalised the squad which is once again flying high. The one that has generated most attention is Rasmus Hojlund, a nineteen year old burdened with the ‘new Haaland’ label after a great six months in Austrian football.
Scunthorpe United are bottom of National League but they could sink even lower
By Ian King for Football 365 // 1,351 words
Just over a decade ago, Scunthorpe United were in the Championship. Now they’re bottom of the National League. And risk falling even lower.
Fernando Diniz vs The Man Machine
By Jamie Hamilton for Medium // 2,748 words
I have to admit that I’d never heard of Fernando Diniz before. Yet, having read this long and somewhat avant-garde article on him, I feel that I need to know more about the man that Wikipedia calls the Brazilian Guardiola.
Something Else We Liked This Week
Germany have launched their kits for the upcoming World Cup kits and, whilst they are not as spectacular as the ones with which they won the 1990 World Cup, they do have the bonus of being accompanies by an Afrobeats song “So wie wir” (translated: Like Us) by Ghanaian-Togolese rapper Pajel.
Last Week’s Most Read: The mystery of Robert Guérin, the man who founded FIFA
By Andy Mitchell for Scottish Sport History // 1,218 words
Was the man who founded FIFA really who he said he was? Fascinating research.