Author Topic: It's holiday season, so what football books should I be reading? (Read 4560 times)

Twiggthemanc · « **on:** May 20, 2011, 01:56:37 PM »

At the moment, I've got Jonny Giles autobiography, the Reade book about the American owners, and Bobby Charlton's ready to read.

What are widely regarded as the best books?

JimmyGrunt · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:00:05 PM »

Kenny's book.

CHOPPER · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:04:05 PM »

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro

Raoul Duke · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:07:05 PM »

Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey - and Even Iraq - Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport. By Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski.

Lots of deep statistical analysis on loads of different issues in football, such as operating in the transfer market, why international teams do as well as they do at tournaments, penalty shootouts, etc. Extremely interesting for any fan of football.

BMW · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:17:20 PM »

Yeah Soccernomic's is a very interesting read... I'm 3/4 through it ATM.

The China Fox · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:29:26 PM »

Tomaldinho · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:31:45 PM »

"Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics" by Johnathan Wilson.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inverting-Pyramid-History-Football-Tactics/dp/0752889958

Some chapters get a bit heavy but still essential reading for anyone who calls themself a fan of the game.

Crosby Nick · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:32:58 PM »

'Take Me Home' - The Howard Webb Story
Manchester United Ruined My Life - Colin Shindler
Barca: A People's Passion - Jimmy Burns

Actually, I once read a great biography of Maradona by Jimmy Burns which is worth a read if you're interested in Diego.

And plenty of good Liverpool books if you're interested.

rafathegaffa83 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:33:21 PM »

Inventing the Pyramid
Pay as you Play
Brilliant Orange
The Fix

lamonti · « **Reply #9 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:46:03 PM »

Tor! by Uli Hesse. There's a raft of books each focusing on the football of one particualr nation, such as Futebol by Alex Bellos and David Winner's Brilliant Orange but Tor! (on German football) is by far and away the best. Brilliant insider knowledge from a passionate German journo, alternating between club history and national team history upto 2002 World Cup.

Its begging for an update actually to keep up with the resurgence from the German league and the national team but its a whopping read nonetheless.

tomred · « **Reply #10 on:** May 20, 2011, 03:22:32 PM »

Dunphy's account of a season at Millwall in the seventies is well regarded. Think it's called Only a Game.

tomred · « **Reply #11 on:** May 20, 2011, 03:24:45 PM »

Quote from: Tomaldinho on May 20, 2011, 02:31:45 PM

"Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics" by Johnathan Wilson.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inverting-Pyramid-History-Football-Tactics/dp/0752889958

Some chapters get a bit heavy but still essential reading for anyone who calls themself a fan of the game.

It is hard work. I battled through it ans somewhere along the line realized that football just isn't that important in my life anymore.

lankyguy007 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2011, 03:47:10 PM »

Quote from: Tomaldinho on May 20, 2011, 02:31:45 PM

"Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics" by Johnathan Wilson.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inverting-Pyramid-History-Football-Tactics/dp/0752889958

Some chapters get a bit heavy but still essential reading for anyone who calls themself a fan of the game.

Definately recommend this, very very good book. Haven't finished it yet but very interesting and well written. I'd also recommend Pay As You Play and Soccernomics, also very good books.

Anyone know any really good tactical books that haven't been mentioned? I'm looking for something I can read when I've finished my GCSEs.

Tomaldinho · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2011, 03:48:23 PM »

Quote from: tomred on May 20, 2011, 03:24:45 PM

It is hard work. I battled through it ans somewhere along the line realized that football just isn't that important in my life anymore.

I think the most interesting chapters are the ones that you knew something about already. I'm still reading it, and I found, for example, the chapters on Rinus Michels and total football, and the Brazil 1970 side very entertaining, but some of the others, as you said, hard work.

Terry_Tibbs · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2011, 03:54:37 PM »

Foul! by Andrew Jennings - it's about the corruption inside Fifa
Broken Dreams by Tom Bower - covers the 'dealings' of the likes of 'Arry Redknapp, Terry Venables, Ken Bates. It won the William Hill sports book of the year in 2003.
The Football Business by David Conn
Here we go gathering cups in May

stevienash · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:00:02 PM »

Quote from: The China Fox on May 20, 2011, 02:29:26 PM

Going to get this weekend!

tomred · « **Reply #16 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:12:52 PM »

Quote from: Tomaldinho on May 20, 2011, 03:48:23 PM

I think the most interesting chapters are the ones that you knew something about already.

Very true. The little bit of stuff on Liverpool in the bootroom era was interesting too, as was the stuff about England under Ramsay. It is one hell of an undertaking. His grasp of football's development as shown in that book made me realize how little I know about the game. Its huge scope makes it inevitable that some parts would be less interesting for people less fanatic than Wilson, i.e. just about everybody. I got the impression that he very much enjoyed writing some of the more obscure parts. Hats off to him-magnificent achievement and must be one of the best football books.

Would be interesting to know what percentage of people finish reading it.

Twiggthemanc · « **Reply #17 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:15:02 PM »

I like the sound of that book, but I'm looking for something perhaps more on the biographical side, rather than really heavy reading. That German book sounds boss.

Upanishad · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:21:00 PM »

"Yernited, my passion" by Howard Webb

The China Fox · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:33:52 PM »

Quote from: lankyguy007 on May 20, 2011, 03:47:10 PM

Anyone know any really good tactical books that haven't been mentioned? I'm looking for something I can read when I've finished my GCSEs.

Quote from: The China Fox on January 3, 2011, 08:37:36 AM

First read Inverting the Pyramid if you haven't already.

Then start here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Coach-Soccer-Team-Professional/dp/0600610799/ref=pd_ts_b_24?ie=UTF8&s=books

Then learn Italian and get the original copy of this (the quality of English translation here is amusingly bad. The content is superb though):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soccer-Modern-Tactics-Formations-Situations/dp/1591640253/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a

Defensive phases:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Defensive-Soccer-Tactics-Jens-Bangsbo/dp/073603272X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294043371&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coaching-4-4-2-Zone-Floriano-Marziali/dp/0965102084/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294043436&sr=1-1

The latter book is specifically about the 4-4-2 and is quite old but as it deals with a zonal marking flat four defense there is still much to make use of.

Then get the Lucchesi books:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Attacking-Soccer-Tactical-Massimo-Lucchesi/dp/1890946710/ref=pd_sim_b_4
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pressing-Massimo-Lucchesi/dp/1591640520/ref=pd_sim_b_2

And of course Rinus Michels:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teambuilding-Road-Success-Rinus-Michels/dp/1890946737/ref=pd_ts_b_27?ie=UTF8&s=books

Plenty to chew over there, lots of books out there though if you need more. Of course the most important thing is just to watch plenty of football in as non-emotional a manner as possible and try to pick up on patterns, exploitable weaknesses, and player tendencies.

Some football games to download here, courtesy of RAWK: http://rawk.impulsed.net/

Quote from: royhendo on January 3, 2011, 07:03:35 PM

There's a reading list at the start of the level 3 thread Rob, but get yer Tort studied up first ya radge.

Quote from: royhendo on January 3, 2011, 07:06:22 PM

And by the way - you'd be amazed what you can find here: http://books.google.co.uk/bkshp?hl=en&tab=wp

corkboy · « **Reply #20 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:38:07 PM »

The Giles book is decent.

bryanod · « **Reply #21 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:42:02 PM »

Futbol-Soccer the Brazilian way

and

Barca-A people's passion

Are both on the lighter-side compared to the above tacticual nuances and pretty interesting to boot.

Sir Afghan · « **Reply #22 on:** May 20, 2011, 04:46:59 PM »

Paul McGraths book was fascinating. Not exactly light hearted but interesting none the less. I mentioned it in the alcohol issues thread, certainly has some issues old Paul.

Agger · « **Reply #23 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:08:20 PM »

Anything by Jonathan Wilson.

The beautiful game? By David Conn.

lankyguy007 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:40:57 PM »

Quote from: The China Fox on May 20, 2011, 04:33:52 PM

Thank you.

UntouchableLuis · « **Reply #25 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:18:51 PM »

Tim Parks - A Season With Verona. Great read.

vicgill · « **Reply #26 on:** May 20, 2011, 09:03:37 PM »

The real Bill Shankly

tea · « **Reply #27 on:** May 20, 2011, 09:46:14 PM »

Quote from: Raoul Duke on May 20, 2011, 02:07:05 PM

Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey - and Even Iraq - Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport. By Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski.

Lots of deep statistical analysis on loads of different issues in football, such as operating in the transfer market, why international teams do as well as they do at tournaments, penalty shootouts, etc. Extremely interesting for any fan of football.

I've got that book but under a slightly different title, it's pretty amazing. You need a breather after some of the epic stats pages, but on the whole it's really good read, really liked how they tie stories around stats. The piece on Game theory and the case study on the Man U v Chelsea penalty shoot out in the Champions League final was amazing. I've borrowed Re-inverting The Pyramid from my brother, should really get round to reading it.

dotmotion · « **Reply #28 on:** May 20, 2011, 09:48:47 PM »

Soccernomics and Inventing the Pyramid are both great reads.

I plan on getting the Epic Swindle. Hope it pops up in a Chapters. Still haven't seen it yet.

Midget · « **Reply #29 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:01:53 PM »

Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson is probably the place to start if you want to learn about football tactics and the evolution of the game. It covers all the basics nicely.

downtown · « **Reply #30 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:46:56 PM »

SalisburyRed · « **Reply #31 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:50:01 PM »

Quote from: CHOPPER on May 20, 2011, 02:04:05 PM

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro

I've had that book for a while now but not had time to read it. Definitely on my post-exams reading list.

Plenty of good stuff mentioned on this thread: Inverting The Pyramid, Barca: A People's Passion and Brilliant Orange especially recommended.

SMD · « **Reply #32 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:51:53 PM »

Quote from: Twiggthemanc on May 20, 2011, 01:56:37 PM

At the moment, I've got Jonny Giles autobiography, the Reade book about the American owners, and Bobby Charlton's ready to read.

What are widely regarded as the best books?

Not being funny but Cantona's autobiography was alright. A Season On the Brink is somewhat interesting but dunno how you'd appreciate it

Twiggthemanc · « **Reply #33 on:** May 20, 2011, 11:27:09 PM »

Thanks for all the suggestions, at the moment I have Cantona's autobiography, the German book and The Miracle.

Have taken on board all the recommendations, a few more will be added.

BMW · « **Reply #34 on:** May 21, 2011, 03:15:27 AM »

Quote from: Tomaldinho on May 20, 2011, 03:48:23 PM

I think the most interesting chapters are the ones that you knew something about already. I'm still reading it, and I found, for example, the chapters on Rinus Michels and total football, and the Brazil 1970 side very entertaining, but some of the others, as you said, hard work.

My favorite chapter is on Sacchi, I think it's called - 'A jockey doesn't have to have been born a horse.'

kavah · « **Reply #35 on:** May 21, 2011, 03:37:57 AM »

Quote from: Twiggthemanc on May 20, 2011, 11:27:09 PM

I have Cantona's autobiography

what's that like? I gave up on footballers books a while ago, they are invariably fucking shite but you'd think his might have more to it?

LF · « **Reply #36 on:** May 21, 2011, 03:40:50 AM »

The Italian Job - Vialli and Marcotti. Absolutely brillaint. Conspiracy theory wannabes should take a shot at this.

Calcio - John Foot Nice witty and detailed but not too overwhelming history of Italian football

The ball is round - David Goldblatt - Absolute must. Absolutely. I mean absolutely.

bravoco · « **Reply #37 on:** May 21, 2011, 04:26:16 AM »

Quote from: UntouchableLuis on May 20, 2011, 06:18:51 PM

Tim Parks - A Season With Verona. Great read.

Seconded. Darkly funny and really interesting insights into the Italian game.

Pheeny · « **Reply #38 on:** May 21, 2011, 09:57:18 AM »

Tony Adams book is a good read.

also - The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: The Robin Friday Story

tomred · « **Reply #39 on:** May 21, 2011, 10:08:35 AM »

Cascarino's book was good too.