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La Masia: The Maintenance and Revitalisation of Barça’s Youth
Youth production from FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy is renowned across the world. An intense level of pride is associated with the system that focuses on developing players into well-rounded human beings, instead of solely footballing machines. There have been amazing players to come through the system, from Pep Guardiola to Lionel Messi, and Andrés…
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Raheem Sterling Is Right, So Listen To Him
Let’s talk about Raheem Sterling. The 24-year old is coming off his best ever season and is showing no signs of slowing down. If he’s not there yet, he’s agonizingly close to being labelled world class, and he will be a superstar in football for years to come. He is a man doing his job…
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Rescuing Southampton’s Identity: How Saints Can be Saved
Southampton were once the envy of the Football League. How else could you perceive the club that rose from England’s third division, empowered a generation of young talent, appointed the right managers, scouts, and personnel, and ultimately, ended up at the pinnacle of the “non-top six clubs” in the Premier League? They were the club…
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Klopp’s Stubbornness Is Holding Liverpool Back From Its True Potential
It’s been three years since Jürgen Klopp was appointed Liverpool manager. October 8, 2015 was the start of a revolution that has led the club back to where it’s supposed to be, fighting for titles both domestically and internationally. But while Klopp has turned the club into challengers, is he holding them back from becoming…
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Top 10 Serie A Summer Signings
1. Cristiano Ronaldo Not exactly a hipster choice. Few football fans, this writer included, believed Cristiano would actually leave Real Madrid. Like previous transfer sagas with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, it looked more like a negotiation technique for him to get an improved deal at Los Galácticos, especially when, after the Champions League final,…
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Why USA’S Youth Development Continues To Stagnate
Cast your mind back to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Placed into the proverbial “Group of Death,” the United States Men’s National Team faced three difficult opponents: Germany, Portugal, and old foes Ghana. While many expected them to crash out at the group stage, the Stars and Stripes beat Ghana, tied Portugal, and lost…
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Community, Catalonia and Children; C.F. Martorell and Spain’s Sixth Tier
When one thinks of Catalonia, several prominent entities spring to mind. Independence, FC Barcelona and the imposing majesty of Montserrat. Living in the shadows of all three is C.F. Martorell. Based in the town of Martorell, around 22 kilometres northwest of Barcelona as the crow flies, the club finds itself in the sixth tier of…
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Barça Is Human, Which Is Beautiful
Reliable greatness can be a bit predictable and frankly, kinda dull, which is why this year’s version of FC Barcelona is one of the most interesting teams we have had to watch in some time. At its apogee, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona was reliably excellent, and great fun from a fan’s perspective. But the matches weren’t…
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Why More English Footballers Should Follow in Jadon Sancho’s Footsteps
Within the cutthroat realm of the Premier League, money reigns supreme, and survival can hinge on a single stretch of results. There’s a pantheon of elite teams, four of which can obtain that coveted Champions League football each season, all of whom feel they are a “right” season away from challenging for a title. Below them,…
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Newcastle United’s Dire Straits Stem From Mike Ashley
Several elements are needed in the quest for success in football, and the overall efficiency of a club in conducting their business (on and off the pitch) is a critical component. Ownership must have a clear plan and vision for what is ahead, but unfortunately, this has not taken place for Newcastle United during recent…
