Crazy Diamond Posted 14 June, 2011 Share Posted 14 June, 2011 I'm trying to brush up on my football knowledge as I'm about to finally be paid for writing and talking about the game. It occurs to me I can't really write anything too in-depth until I know for certain what I'm talking about, so I'm trying to expand my football knowledge by doing some reading. Today I bought 'Inverting the Pyramid' by Jonathan Wilson, a book about the history of tactics around the world and 'Brilliant Orange' by David Winner, a book all about the Dutch football philosophy. So does anyone have any recommendations for books that I can use to further my understanding of everything football? I don't care if it's something as abstract as the Soviet league or a complete history of football in Montserrat, as long as its good and I can learn from it I'm interested. Also while I'm at it, any documentaries or television serials I ought to have a look at? There's a good film called 'The Referees' coming out soon, so anything to watch and learn from would be good. Oh and any decent blogs that people swear by? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpb Posted 14 June, 2011 Share Posted 14 June, 2011 I hate to admit it but this is quite a good read... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Up-Pompey-Clueless-American-Sportswriter/dp/0753824124/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308081546&sr=1-7 An American sports writer follows Portsmouth for a year - it's a good comparison between being a follower of American sports and football English style. It's just a pity that he chose Pompey but you could always cover the book in brown wrapping paper or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 14 June, 2011 Share Posted 14 June, 2011 I hate to admit it but this is quite a good read... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Up-Pompey-Clueless-American-Sportswriter/dp/0753824124/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308081546&sr=1-7 An American sports writer follows Portsmouth for a year - it's a good comparison between being a follower of American sports and football English style. It's just a pity that he chose Pompey but you could always cover the book in brown wrapping paper or something. I saw that book in my local library, was quite curious to have a read but just couldn't bring myself to be seen in public with it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 14 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 14 June, 2011 I saw that book in my local library, was quite curious to have a read but just couldn't bring myself to be seen in public with it... Ha, yes, have to admit I'm dubious. But I do like the concept, so it's going on the wish list. Cheers rpb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 14 June, 2011 Share Posted 14 June, 2011 The Miracle Of Castel Di Sangro, Pointless and A Season With Verona! For a more in-depth look at how Pompey get away with murder and operate insolvently, try Broken Dreams. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 14 June, 2011 Share Posted 14 June, 2011 A Season With Verona is a very enjoyable read. As an aside, Verona is a lovely city and well worth a visit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_saints Posted 14 June, 2011 Share Posted 14 June, 2011 Football is a pretty basic sport. There's not much learning to be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 14 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 14 June, 2011 The Miracle Of Castel Di Sangro, Pointless and A Season With Verona! For a more in-depth look at how Pompey get away with murder and operate insolvently, try Broken Dreams. Enjoy! A Season With Verona is a very enjoyable read. As an aside, Verona is a lovely city and well worth a visit! Yeah I've come across that book a lot actually. Sounds like it needs to be on my list. I've managed to pick up 'One Night in Turin' and 'Once in a Lifetime' (the story of the New York Cosmos) for less than ten quid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 14 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 14 June, 2011 Football is a pretty basic sport. There's not much learning to be done. Well, you say that, but reading just the prologue of 'Inverting the Pyramid' has taught me one or two things already. I take the view that there's just far too many people out there starting blogs and stuff with articles along the lines of 'I like football, my team isn't very good, this is why, what do you think' and it's just not any good. I'd quite like to know a bit more. Knowledge is power after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Shearer Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 And with great power comes great responsibility. Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothersaintinsouthsea Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 Raphael Honigstein "Englisher Fussball" - he writes for the Guardian about German football. This is his take on the English game. There were a couple of bits I didn't quite agree with overall very good insights and very enjoyable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Mikey Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 Today I bought 'Inverting the Pyramid' by Jonathan Wilson, a book about the history of tactics around the world and 'Brilliant Orange' by David Winner, a book all about the Dutch football philosophy. I've read both these. Brilliant Orange is a cracking read. Jonathon Wilson's books have a very academic feel, but they are rigorously researched. If you enjoy that one, get Behind the Iron Curtain (some quite simply unbelievable allegations and revelations about what some teams get up to in Eastern Europe - make Pompey look like amateur cheats!). Also, The Anatomy of England, which details why we are so gash at the National game in 10 featured matches. I would also say that Steaming In by Colin Ward is an absolute must read. A real insight into the behaviour and psyche of the fan in the 70's/80's. Spawned a load of 'yob' books like Hoolifan, but isn't like the rest. Doesn't go on about how 'hard' he is and is more a 'bystander'. By far the best footy book I've read and I've read a few! If you want a real insight into a normal Pro footballer's life, then Left Foot Foward by Garry Nelson is also a very very good read. Is playing for Charlton at the time and towards the end of his career. Gives you a different opinion on pros (well some anyway!). Want to mix it up? Then definitely read the Damned Utd by David Peace, about 1,000 times better than the film. Which, I thought was well acted, but insipid and toothless compared to the book, which is frankly, dynamite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 I would without hesitation recommend 'Family: Life Death and Football' by Michael Calvin. Michael Calvin is a childhood friend of Kenny Jackett and got access to all levels of Millwall F.C. during their promotion season from League 1 in 2009/10. It keeps an eye on how life is for a team where many of the players have to fight for their very livelihoods, one bad tackle or missed opportunity could see them struggling to make ends meat. It's a really eye opening insight into how football works at a mid-sized pro club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 Broken Dreams by Tom Bower, and Foul! by Andrew Jennings. Both about the shadier goings-on in football, the latter concentrating on FIFA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 Highly recommend Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathon Wilson. He also writes for the guardian football blog and has some interesting articles there. It goes through the history of tactics by formation. Easier read than one would think on a big book of tactics, also Saints get a mention too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintscottofthenortham Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 'I am the Gloryhunter' by Spencer Austin is a great read. He gave up his season ticket at White Hart Lane ad picked a football league side out of the hat. He moves to that town/city and becomes a passionate fan of said club... Until they lose. He then switches his allegiance to the victorious team and does the same thing again. He goes into detail about each club and you get a real feel for various clubs throughout our country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuz Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 Why England Lose - Simon Kupar All Played Out - Pete Davies : best book about foorball I have read Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 15 June, 2011 Author Share Posted 15 June, 2011 Some good stuff there guys, thanks. Keep them coming! Have added all of them to a wish list on Amazon. I've read both these. Brilliant Orange is a cracking read. Jonathon Wilson's books have a very academic feel, but they are rigorously researched. If you enjoy that one, get Behind the Iron Curtain (some quite simply unbelievable allegations and revelations about what some teams get up to in Eastern Europe - make Pompey look like amateur cheats!). Also, The Anatomy of England, which details why we are so gash at the National game in 10 featured matches. I would also say that Steaming In by Colin Ward is an absolute must read. A real insight into the behaviour and psyche of the fan in the 70's/80's. Spawned a load of 'yob' books like Hoolifan, but isn't like the rest. Doesn't go on about how 'hard' he is and is more a 'bystander'. By far the best footy book I've read and I've read a few! If you want a real insight into a normal Pro footballer's life, then Left Foot Foward by Garry Nelson is also a very very good read. Is playing for Charlton at the time and towards the end of his career. Gives you a different opinion on pros (well some anyway!). Want to mix it up? Then definitely read the Damned Utd by David Peace, about 1,000 times better than the film. Which, I thought was well acted, but insipid and toothless compared to the book, which is frankly, dynamite! Highly recommend Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathon Wilson. He also writes for the guardian football blog and has some interesting articles there. It goes through the history of tactics by formation. Easier read than one would think on a big book of tactics, also Saints get a mention too! Yes I've been aware of Jonathan Wilson for a while now, and quite agree from the first chapter and prologue alone that it does come across as academic, I'm also struggling with his writing style at times. It's interesting though, and I was amazed to learn that football tactics began partly in Winchester! I'm really interested in 'Behind the Iron Curtain', I've always wondered about stuff like the Soviet League and communism's effect on football. 'I am the Gloryhunter' by Spencer Austin is a great read. He gave up his season ticket at White Hart Lane ad picked a football league side out of the hat. He moves to that town/city and becomes a passionate fan of said club... Until they lose. He then switches his allegiance to the victorious team and does the same thing again. He goes into detail about each club and you get a real feel for various clubs throughout our country. That's incredible! Sounds like a must read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig Posted 15 June, 2011 Share Posted 15 June, 2011 Subscribe to The Blizzard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 16 June, 2011 Share Posted 16 June, 2011 I've read both these. Brilliant Orange is a cracking read. Jonathon Wilson's books have a very academic feel, but they are rigorously researched. If you enjoy that one, get Behind the Iron Curtain (some quite simply unbelievable allegations and revelations about what some teams get up to in Eastern Europe - make Pompey look like amateur cheats!). Also, The Anatomy of England, which details why we are so gash at the National game in 10 featured matches. I would also say that Steaming In by Colin Ward is an absolute must read. A real insight into the behaviour and psyche of the fan in the 70's/80's. Spawned a load of 'yob' books like Hoolifan, but isn't like the rest. Doesn't go on about how 'hard' he is and is more a 'bystander'. By far the best footy book I've read and I've read a few! If you want a real insight into a normal Pro footballer's life, then Left Foot Foward by Garry Nelson is also a very very good read. Is playing for Charlton at the time and towards the end of his career. Gives you a different opinion on pros (well some anyway!). Want to mix it up? Then definitely read the Damned Utd by David Peace, about 1,000 times better than the film. Which, I thought was well acted, but insipid and toothless compared to the book, which is frankly, dynamite! I've read all of those books and would agree, all quality reads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
so22saint Posted 16 June, 2011 Share Posted 16 June, 2011 I've just started reading "How Football Explains the World" - chapter 1 was excellent, and chilling (it's about Red Star Belgrade). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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