Daily Archives: April 9, 2023

‘I can’t live without it’: grassroots referees on passion in face of abuse

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“Let’s be honest, Paolo Di Canio pushing over Paul Alcock; Manchester United players hunting a backpedalling Andy D’Urso; Aleksandar Mitrovic’s tantrum at Old Trafford, punished by an eight-game ban: not the least hilarious things we have seen. And why shouldn’t we laugh? … Greg Cruttwell’s new film, In the Middle, introduces us to a diverse range of officials at a variety of levels, all of whom know two things: player behaviour in the Premier League inspires player behaviour through the pyramid, and grassroots referees are absolutely not safe. …”
Guardian

Marshall Islands revisited: The Englishmen taking football to the last country on Earth without a team

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“Last December, the citizens of the Marshall Islands woke to an unexpected sight. Mornings typically dawn with the horns of freighters pulling into the harbour, or with blinds pierced by the low glint of the sun that adorns the tiny Pacific nation’s flag. On this day, events were different. As they ate breakfast, the inhabitants of Majuro, the Marshallese capital, were greeted by a parade of Argentine flags. Lionel Messi had delivered the South American nation its third World Cup trophy and the expatriate community, working in the Marshall Islands’ fisheries, had decided to celebrate. …”
The Athletic (Video)

Why do Bayern Munich sell the most football shirts?

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“The club that sells the most football shirts in the world may surprise you. Despite clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona having established fans across the globe and a history of mega-stars in their ranks – it isn’t them. Bayern Munich come in at number 1 in the shirt selling rankings, with a whopping 3.4 million shirts sold in 2021. But how does a club in the Bundesliga attract so much popularity? Seb Stafford-Bloor writes as Craig Silcock illustrates just why the Bavarian club have became so popular in recent years. ”
YouTube

Frank Lampard Returning to Chelsea Epitomizes the Chaos of the Club’s Season

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“When Chelsea square off against Wolves on Saturday, the fourth manager of the current Premier League campaign will lead the team out of the tunnel, though it won’t exactly be an unfamiliar face. Last seen in January after dragging Everton into the relegation zone, Frank Lampard has been appointed as Chelsea’s caretaker manager for the remainder of the season, just over two years after he was sacked by the club. Chelsea bringing Lampard back is the cherry on top of the schadenfreude sundae—the team sits in 11th place and is struggling to score goals, but at least it’s the breakaway leader in xB (expected banter). …”
The Ringer

Game of Numbers #14 – Ilkay Gündoğan’s Movement Masterclass

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“It’s spectacular to think that even within a midfield of Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri, that İlkay Gündoğan remains one of City’s most important players when it matters most. He’s guaranteed a selection for 20-30 games in any given season, despite all the magnificent options operating around him. In fact, when fit, he’s often the team captain – even when more vocal players like Dias or De Bruyne remain available. This is all down to the German’s intelligence and magnificence when it comes to off-the-ball movement. …”
The Mastermindsite (Video)