All posts tagged Barcelona

Book Review: I am Zlatan Ibrahimović

By on October 6, 2013 in the Category Book Review with No comments
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I am Zlatan Ibrahimović by Zlatan Ibrahimović and David Lagercrantz Published by Penguin 2013, £8.99 … Former Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson was once asked how to deal with the maverick player who isn’t always perhaps the best influence on the dressing room. ‘Sell him to Manchester United for a million pounds’ was the laconic reply. Even after the fact, such self-awareness in relation to the notorious jettisoning of Eric Cantona must displays a rare spirit of mea culpa and the difficulty of dealing with a waywardly inclined star player would more usually provoke a tearing out of hair in…

Book Review: Real Madrid & Barcelona: The Making of a Rivalry

By on August 6, 2013 in the Category Book Review with 2 Comments
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Real Madrid & Barcelona: The Making of a Rivalry by Elliott Turner Published by Round Ball Media LLC May 2013, $6 (kindle) Rivalry is that most beloved topic of the footballing internet with keyboard warriors across the globe queuing up to proclaim their particular enmity as the fiercest. I’ll admit to a degree of ennui when followers of giants clubs indulge in such debates given the increasing propensity of Arsenal v Tottenham or Liverpool v Manchester United to resemble the contest between multinational firms to increase market share. No, I don’t especially care whether Apple or Google win out, so why should I…

The Ethics of Soccer Sponsorship

By on September 27, 2012 in the Category Uncategorized with 12 Comments
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Feeling queasy at the increased commercialisation of football is an experience common to us all, but a definite ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’ mood has prevailed in recent years. Indeed, sponsorship has become yet another facet of the game to get nostalgic about – a marvellous post at the Football Attic recently confirmed the fact that certain advertisers seem to ‘suit’ certain clubs. Hence, JVC will always be associated with Arsenal and a Liverpool shirt minus the legend ‘Crown Paints’ simply isn’t kosher. So we’re comfortable with an arrangement that started when Derek Dougan emblazoned Kettering Town’s shirts…