Cultured Football #85
How to hire a manager, Bielsa's disciples and more
Statistics have become entrenched in modern football. Yet not all statistics are useful. I, for one, cannot understand what the use of the ‘win probability’ ratios that appear in international streams Premier League games is. How is it decided? And is there any real reason anyone would want to see that? Does it add anything to the match viewing experience? Of course not. Anyway, here are this week’s articles to read.
Tougher than a transfer window: How clubs hire a new head coach
By Tor-Kristian Karlsen for ESPN // 1,994 words
It seems like a straightforward enough process; get rid of a manager who isn’t performing and bring in someone who will get more out of the current bunch of players. Yet that, which admittedly is often how fans view things, is a simplistic belief of what has to be done. Reality is rather more complex.
Marseille’s Summer of Change Continues to Pay Dividends
By Sam McGuire for The Analyst // 1,450 words
The predictability of Paris St Germain’s domestic success has rather killed off neutral interest in French football. Which is a shame because Marseille are enjoying a great start despite losing their manager and a host of key players over the summer. Their results so far are the just rewards for an adventurous recruitment policy.
The amazing true(ish) story of the ‘Honduran Maradona’
By Kieran Morris for The Guardian //
This story is too weird to truly describe; you’ll simply have to read it.
'Even Maradona would be proud of us' - How Napoli became Europe's most electrifying team
By Mark Doyle for Goal // 1,260 words
There are few more entertaining teams to watch in Europe at the moment than Napoli. They have shredded their Champions League group and are setting the pace at the Serie A. With money increasingly determining the outcome of trophies, their story is heartening.
Bielsa's Influence And The Curious Case of Javier Torrente
By Alex Stewart for Analytics FC // 1,284 words
Few managers in an football era have been as influential as Marcelo Bielsa has, with a legion of coaches who interpret the game based on his teachings. Not all of them follow the same path, however.
Something Else We Loved This Week
Futbolista is back and it is a delight to see this project continue growing. The latest issue contains the usual mix of well-written stories alongside exceptional graphics and visuals with a focus on Australian football. We strongly encourge you to get a copy.
Last Week’s Most Read: Brexitball - The Summer 2022 Transfer Window
By Andy Watson for Analytics FC // 2,776 words
Perhaps it is because I am a special kind of football nerd but I gobbled up this analysis on the impact Brexit had on the last transfer window. Detailed, un-biased, entertaining and geeky.