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Footy book recommendations


Guest YANKEEBLEEDSMAGPIE

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Guest YANKEEBLEEDSMAGPIE

Looked around and to my surprise, couldn't find a thread with book recommendations.  Got a Kindle coming in the mail ( :cheesy: ) and was hoping to be able to pre-load it with some good stuff.  Anyway, here's what I've read that's worth mentioning.

 

Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football by David Winner [glow=red,2,300]Recommended[/glow] - Classic, very fun read about the history of voetball

 

The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro by Joe McGinness [glow=red,2,300]Recommended[/glow] - Really fantastic book by an American author spending a year with a team from a tiny town in Italy during a year in Serie B.  Edit: Holy Crap, it's the Joe McGinness who wrote the book about Sarah Palin.  Who knew?

 

How Football Explains the World by Franklin Foer - Sort of pop science-y and not really as deep as the title would have you believe, but there are some really cool stories in here, particularly the ones about Red Star Belgrade.

 

Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski - Thought this was mostly BS, but some parts were pretty enjoyable, particularly the transfer policy of Lyon, which would be of particular interest to those wanting to know more about what might be happening at SJP these days.

 

What have y'all got?

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

OCK, What are the top books you recommend? I've got a bit of money to spend in the bank :)

 

Could you do it in the order you think is best as well? Just i'm pretty skint, so won't be able to purchase all at once

 

:laugh:

 

What kind of book you looking for? Coaching or general football ones? Suppose I could do both!

 

--

 

#1 Inverting the Pyramid - (Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inverting-Pyramid-History-Football-Tactics/dp/0752889958/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282070394&sr=8-1) (Play: http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/8292680/Inverting-The-Pyramid/Product.html).

 

Fantastic look at the history and development of tactics and the roles of players from the beginning of football to the modern era. Well worth the read, a good starting insight into the whole 'Zonalmarking.net' tactics truck craze.

 

#2 How To Coach A Soccer Team - (Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Coach-Soccer-Team-Professional/dp/0600610799/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282070474&sr=1-1) (Play: http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/657539/How-to-Coach-a-Soccer-Team/Product.html)

 

Not very insightful in regards to coaching methods, but a fantastic starting resource for coaching ideas and plans. I use it a fair bit for ideas, so while it might not expand your knowledge of 'why', it'll add a lot more training ideas to your program and 'how'.

Bought a few books:

 

FA Learning: Psychology for Footballhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Guide-Psychology-Football-Association/dp/0340816015 - decent introduction to coaching youngsters, and how best to challenge them mentally.

 

How to Coach a Soccer Team: Professional Advice on Building a Winning Team  http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Coach-Soccer-Team-Professional/dp/0600610799/ref=pd_sim_b_1 - great book full of coaching drills, with progressions. Perhaps a little too complex for U11s, but a good source for ideas and a starting point.

 

Those Feet http://www.amazon.co.uk/Those-Feet-Sensual-History-Football/dp/0747579148/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279863150&sr=1-2 - not a coaching book, but a book similar to Calcio/Brilliant Orjange, only it looks into the history and development of football in England. Does a decent job of explaining why we play the style we do (direct kick and chase). A good book to read beside this would be Inverting the Pyramid, which covers the developing of tactics as a whole.

Bought a few books:

 

FA Learning: Psychology for Footballhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Guide-Psychology-Football-Association/dp/0340816015 - decent introduction to coaching youngsters, and how best to challenge them mentally.

 

How to Coach a Soccer Team: Professional Advice on Building a Winning Team  http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Coach-Soccer-Team-Professional/dp/0600610799/ref=pd_sim_b_1 - great book full of coaching drills, with progressions. Perhaps a little too complex for U11s, but a good source for ideas and a starting point.

 

Those Feet http://www.amazon.co.uk/Those-Feet-Sensual-History-Football/dp/0747579148/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279863150&sr=1-2 - not a coaching book, but a book similar to Calcio/Brilliant Orjange, only it looks into the history and development of football in England. Does a decent job of explaining why we play the style we do (direct kick and chase). A good book to read beside this would be Inverting the Pyramid, which covers the developing of tactics as a whole.

Tell me if you recommend any after reading them Chris if that's okay? :)

 

Been using the How to Coach a Soccer Team: Professional Advice on Building a Winning Team over the last few weeks with my team. Not entirely just ripping the idea from the page, but looking at it and thinking how I could use it/change it to benefit the team. There's around 100+ coaching sessions in there, all of which if you have the time you can modify/link up with each other to last a very long time.

 

It doesn't go into the detail behind the coaching too much, which is a shame, though I personally like it as it challenges me as a coach to think 'How will this benefit/teach the team', 'What am I looking for to get out of this?'. If I can work that out by myself, I'm more likely to remember it and get the point across to the team. (Mini Rant ahead): The one thing I've noticed between when I was playing and coaching, is that when I was a playing my coaching was 15 minutes running, then 45 minutes on a game. My coach's coaching style was 'GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT!', not once did he ever explain the theory behind it. So, I'm personally trying to make sure I do that whenever I think its possible without strangling the natural development from making mistakes.

 

1st mistake - let it go

2nd mistake - looks like an issue

3rd mistake repeated - stop the game and coach

 

FA Learning: Psychology for Football

I've enjoyed it. Its very light and won't hold the attention of anyone who did Sports Pyschology, or even Psychology, but for a reminder/pointer in the right direction its a good start. Helped me set up my coaching book.

 

Will you be purchasing this, Chris?

 

Just put my order down, I'll let you know when I get it.

 

Also where can I get one of those wipe boards? :aww:

 

http://www.1st4sport.com/p-794-1st4sportcom-perspex-coaching-board.aspx

 

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Anyone used this: http://www.gameplanner.co.uk/products.asp?productid=1 seems expensive for what it does.

 

Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski - Thought this was mostly BS, but some parts were pretty enjoyable, particularly the transfer policy of Lyon, which would be of particular interest to those wanting to know more about what might be happening at SJP these days.

 

Pretty sure that's called 'Why England Always Lose' over here. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-England-Lose-phenomena-explained/dp/0007301111/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318517028&sr=8-1

 

Currently reading:

 

The Ball is Round.

 

Should probably have read that first, as its THE football book.

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Jonathan Wilson - Inverting the Pyramid

 

Shortlisted for the 2008 William Hill Sports Book of the Year award, Wilson documents the evolution of football tactics and formations from the sport's foundations to the modern 4-5-1 formation and its variants. Along the way Wilson explains the evolution and rationale behind the Italian Catenaccio style, Dutch Total football, the individual skills of South American football players, and the tactical innovations within the Soviet Union. Wilson repeatedly suggests that the failure to innovate tactically has played a role in the under-achievement of recent English international teams, who have struggled in recent competitions despite the presence of numerous exceptionally talented players.
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Guest Haris Vuckic

Inverting The Pyramid -

(Jonathan Wilson)

 

Brilliant Orange – The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football

(David Winner)

 

Calcio: A History of Italian Football

(John Foot)

 

Provided you don't kiss me

(Duncan Hamilton)

 

 

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Aye I got 'The Ball is Round' a few years ago and I've really tried - but theres a lot there. I kinda just stopped reading. When it gets past WW2 it might get more interesting.

 

'Why England Lose' is a fun read though. Agree about the Lyon section....basically saying that using 'the wisdom of crowds' to sign players has done wonders.

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Brilliant Orange is fantastic, As well as How Football Explains the World. I've had The Ball is Round on my shelf for a while now, I need to start that. Bloody Confused by Chuck Culpepper is pretty interesting, but mainly for American readers (I think it has a different name in the UK), and I'll always love The Damned Utd.

 

Foul! by Andrew Jennings is a must, although slightly outdated as this point. And there's a Robert Enke book out I'd like to check out.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

'Why England Lose' is a fun read though. Agree about the Lyon section....basically saying that using 'the wisdom of crowds' to sign players has done wonders.

 

How much of that section mirrors what Newcastle are doing now...

 

Calcio: A History of Italian Football

(John Foot)

 

Possibly best Football book I've read so far.

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I did History as an undergraduate and nineteenth century social history was one of the modules. It is a serious text but James Walvin's 'the people's game' is possibly the most interesting book I have ever read.

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'Why England Lose' is a fun read though. Agree about the Lyon section....basically saying that using 'the wisdom of crowds' to sign players has done wonders.

 

Can you still buy that in the shops or is it an online job?

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'Why England Lose' is a fun read though. Agree about the Lyon section....basically saying that using 'the wisdom of crowds' to sign players has done wonders.

 

Can you still buy that in the shops or is it an online job?

 

Not sure because I bought it online. I'm sure it'll be in a shop somewhere, though.

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The Glory Game (well I would say that, wouldn't I?).

 

Anyone on here over, say, 35, who hasn't read The Damned United needs to buy it now. Scintillating.

 

I rather liked Garrincha too. Football Against the Enemy is a little dated now, but still excellent.

 

There's a little-known book called Fever Pitch that you might want to check out too. Despite the annoying fact that it's about the Arse.

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Kevin Keegan by Ian Ridley  :azn:

 

I end up disappointed by most football books, but exceptions are -

 

The Glory Game - Hunter Davies

Fever Pitch - Nick Hornby

Only A Game - Eamon Dunphy

The Football Man - Arthur Hopcraft

 

Hopcraft's book was written in the mid-60s, and I dare say is very difficult to get hold of now. A lot has changed, but he writes so well about the personalities and the issues around the game that it's still of interest. It was hailed at the time as the best book on football ever written and arguably still is.

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