Mid-Week Reading

I’ve decided to continue my semi-break from the Fan-atic page for a few days longer. One reason is that these Euro qualifiers just don’t interest me at all; I CAN”T WAIT to get back to league football this weekend. Also, frankly, I am little busy in my “real life” job (I am a writer and editor in that life as well, but in that life I get paid to do stuff, so that comes first) so I’ve put football writing on the back-burner until I watch some meaningful games this weekend.

I did, however, want to draw your attention to two very fine articles on ESPN.com. The first is Roberto Gotta’s analysis of the Italian National Team head coaching job, and more specifically, an examination of the culture of Italian football and how difficult it is to make a success of oneself there. If you are like me (Series A is probably my favorite league at this point) this is a solid read.

The second article is a piece by the much-linked-to Phil Ball, who writes about his son’s U-12 league and uses this to explain the Spanish National Team. I stand by my often-made claim that Ball is one of the best writers in the business.

One final point: one of my good friends have suggested that I link to ESPN too much, and probably at the expense of other really good stuff out there. Perhaps he is right; it is true that I don’t often link to sites that I actually like very much, including sites based in England and Italy. I don’t link to ESPN as much as I do because I have the typical American worship of all things ESPN (in fact, I hardly watch the channel excepting Champions League matches) but because they are able to recruit and keep an extraordinary group of international writers. Their coverage of Spain and Italy, most obviously, is quite good, especially as we are an English speaking readership. Their English League coverage is weaker (I tend to go to the English newspapers for that) and, strangely enough, I thing CNNSI.com’s coverage of U.S. soccer knocks ESPN’s out of the park.

Anyway, I link to ESPN’s stuff often because I think it is good. You be the judge:

Phil Ball:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=472599&root=euro2008&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos3

Roberto Gotta:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=472655&root=euro2008&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2

Rumors: Spain and England

As readers know, I provide a link to Phil Ball’s column nearly every week, because he is both very good and also because he provides a very useful window into la Liga, a great football league that tends to get overlooked here in the States because of the focus on the Premier League.

Two or three times a year, however, Ball’s columns are transcendent, and move from being “really good” to “almost beautiful.” This week’s column is an example of the later. Not only is it a summary of the weekend that was in Spain, but it is also a charming meditation of how football is integrated into everyone’s life in that nation; how they live and breath football just as they do their food, friends, and family. It’s a must-read.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=466209&root=europe&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

On a more pedestrian note, Ball thinks that Ronaldinho is gone after the telling events of this week. (Reports are that the smiling Brazilian was clubbing and boozing 48 hours before his latest game.) Ball thinks Barca was the source that ratted Ronnie out to the press, a sign that he will be sold either during the winter or next summer. Interesting. Ball certainly knows what he’s talking about, but we will see what become of Ronnie’s performance over the next few weeks.

In England, rumors are circulating as well; this one has it that Martin Jol has already been fired from Spurs. Spurs and Jol are denying, but separation can’t be far off if the draws and losses mount.

One hope by Spurs fans does need to be quashed: they won’t get Mourinho. Apparently there is a clause in Jose’s contract that states he can’t be hired by an English club for a specified period of time. I don’t know if that’s true, but it makes sense. Would Ramos from Sevilla come over to coach Spurs? Probably not mid-season. The question remains, then, of who would guide Tottenham to their traditional 5-th place finish. Although the way this season is going, it might be a more un-traditional 18^th place finish…

News from the Front: Spain

Last season I almost always linked to the columns of Phil Ball, a writer for ESPN.com as well as a gifted chronicler of the history of Spanish Football. His weekly review of the action in Spain was always essential reading because he is the most literary football writer I have found on the Internet.

This season, however, Ball's work is more necessary than ever to American readers, as Real Madrid and Barcelona games are STILL not being shown on GolTV. Even though I am huge Real Madrid fan (and I desperately want to see how Henry is fitting in at Barca) my first chance to see them will be this week when the Champions League starts.

I don't know what the specifics of the problem are, GolTV, but you better get your act together soon. People here in the states are finding less and less reasons to watch your channel. In the meantime, readers, below please find a link to the latest Phil Ball round-up of action in Spain to keep your interest whetted.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=463801&root=europe&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2

La Liga Roundup

Apologies to the readers this weekend. In the US we celebrate Labor Day today, so I spent the weekend avoiding, well, labor, while relaxing up in the mountains. I will have a more thoughtful post tomorrow, but in the meantime I can link you to Phil Ball's always excellent round-up of action in Spain.

This coming week will be a little slow with the international break, but we will have plenty to talk about, including fun in England, Italy, and elsewhere, as well as a rather quiet close so the transfer season. More soon.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=459955&root=europe&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

One Last Dance with Phil Ball

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Phil Ball is one of the best writers in the world writing about football in the English language. His coverage of la Liga is superb. Frankly, I like his stuff so much I would read his column if it was about fly-fishing in Montana.

These last two columns are a wrap-up of the Spanish season and an “all-star” team of la Liga players. Both are a lot of fun. Have a good summer, Mr. Ball. We’ll see you in September.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=439750&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1&cc=5901

and

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=439749&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos3&cc=5901

La Liga

My personal life has dictated that I have more important things to do lately than keep up my soccer blog, but I did want to post to thank you all for your patience. The football writing is important to me and I do plan to get back to work with real stuff in a few weeks. In the meantime, I wanted to pass along another great Phil Ball column, where he ruminates on great goals and reminds us that the best race in the next few weeks will probably be found in Spain.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=424412&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1&cc=5901

Links

Here are a few football-related columns to get you through a dreary hump-day. All of the columns are courtesy of ESPN.com, which is not the best place to go for breaking soccer news, but does employ very fine columnists.

Start with Phil Ball’s excellent article on this past weekend’s ‘superclassico’ between Real Madrid and Barca, which was a fantastic game.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=414076&root=europe&cc=5901

Then try Jon Carter’s look at the respective chances of Chelsea and man United to win the Treble. Sensible and even-handed.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=414265&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1&cc=5901

Finally, check out Phil Holland on the less-than-estimable Frank Lampard. I’m not real crazy about Frank, but Holland is right: he should get paid while he can.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=414460&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1&cc=5901

Back with more tomorrow. Also, thanks to the reader who wrote in suggesting other good soccer shops in the U.S.. Later this year I will post a follow-up column on the best brick-and-mortar soccer stores in America.

Link of the Day

Just a quick link today (real life sometimes gets in the way of blogging) but a good link: here is Phil Ball's latest column on La Liga, Death, Dying, and Relegation. I think Ball might be the best writer on football right now easily availiabe to American readers (he has a weekly column on ESPN.com) and I will keep pitching his great stuff until I am convinced that everyone is reading him regardless.

His latest peice can be found here: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=405471&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos3&cc=5901