
“Johan Cruyff believed soccer was too obsessed by obvious mistakes, by what looked embarrassing. What did it matter, he asked, if his goalkeeper was caught out of position a couple of times a season if the risk of playing a long way from goal contributed to a better structure overall? It was a line he used repeatedly to defend Stanley Menzo, his goalkeeper when he was Ajax manager in the late 80s, at a time when sweeper-keepers were still rare. …”
Guardian – Jonathan Wilson
Daily Archives: October 18, 2023
France: 2023-24 Ligue 1 – Location-map with 3 Charts

“… The map shows the 18 clubs in the current season of the French Ligue 1 [2022-23]. Note: for 2023-24, Ligue 1 has contracted to 18 teams. In June 2021, the LFP voted to contract Ligue 1 back to 18 clubs, for the 2023–24 season, by relegating 4 and promoting 2 from Ligue 2. The reason for this was two-fold…fewer matches, and more money to go round (from television deals) {see this}. The lighter domestic schedule is hoped to help French teams to be better rested, and thus compete better in UEFA competitions, especially as the Champions League Group Stage will be expanded from 6 to 8 games in 2024. …”
billsportsmaps
W – 2023–24 Ligue 1
Explained: The tensions surrounding Tottenham regarding the Israel-Gaza war

“English football’s response to the Israel-Gaza war has been divisive. And for Tottenham Hotspur, with its strong Jewish heritage and the only Israeli player in the Premier League, these divisions have been especially acute. The Athletic spoke to dozens of fans, representing as wide a range of views as possible, to try to understand and explain the depth of feeling involved. Some fans expressed their feeling that Spurs’ response to the conflict has been a ‘betrayal’ and said there are fans in Israel who won’t renew their memberships. Others praised the club for its response. …”
The Athletic
