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Football books

D

Decentric

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Joined
Oct 17, 2024
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1,276
Thought I'd start this one - specifically about football books, which is different to books in general.

I have spent months undertaking coach education. However, some football books have greatly augmented my knowledge. These are:

Inverting the Pyramid - Jonathon Wilson.

Soccernomics - Johnathon Kuper/Stephan Syzmanski.

The Football Men - Jonathan Kuper.

Brilliant Orange - David Winner.

Zonal Marking - Michael Cox.

Das Reboot - Ralph Honigsten.

I also read one on Johann Cruyff and another on Louis Van Gaal, that describe their influence on Dutch football and Spanish/Barcelona FC football - hence world football. They were rivals. Van Gaal had more success coaching. I can't remember the names of the books?
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Probably the best football bio I've read was Craig Johnston's Walk Alone - superb.

Some on here know I'm an author and my two football books are Mr Cleansheets (novel) and Political Football: Lawrie McKinna's Dangerous Truth (biography). Both are available here.
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LEGEND - I'm still hurt how dis respected he has been treated here.
 
LFC said:
LEGEND - I'm still hurt how dis respected he has been treated here.
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I think all Aussies admired him and followed his career with interest, but he paid a price for refusing to play for the Socceroos.

He's since said he regretted that but haven't we all regretted stuff we once said?

As for his book - highly recommended to all fans. I'd be interested to know whether it had much visibility in Liverpool.
 
sure he was stupid quoting playing for the Roos was like surfing for England but it was about right back in the day as much as it hurts, I was embarrassed recalling that interview.
Those days OS Clubs played much harder ball not to release players and then there was issues with the ol SAF over monies/flights
treated and he also made the error if reports are true wanting match/week payments equal to his LFC salary ????
At the time he was the biggest name in Oz playing for a top flight winning side (what a side) and being absent he would have lost his place for sometime for thats how it was back then.
There we're times HK/Dukes didn't make themselves available due to their commitments and the long travels.

Yes we all have regrets that he would, the Kop loved Roo so I expect the book was well recieved, be interesting to know.

NO aussie player will get this much on their mantle piece or man cave playing top flight football
 
Read Craig Johnstone’s Never Walk Alone. Found it a very interesting autobiography. He presented well.

Later, publicly he has presented as arrogant - which former posters closer to New Jets support base confirmed is the general perception of CJ.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Probably the best football bio I've read was Craig Johnston's Walk Alone - superb.

Some on here know I'm an author and my two football books are Mr Cleansheets (novel) and Political Football: Lawrie McKinna's Dangerous Truth (biography). Both are available here.
Click to expand...
Yes Craig Johnstone's bio was a terrific read.His early struggles at Middlesborough and his determination to succeed was inspiring.
 
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I also loved The Secret Footballer books - absolutely brilliant insight into professional football in England.
 
Clearly The World Game people know their football books...

www.sbs.com.au

Recommended football books from the TWG audience

On our social media pages, we asked our audience what was their favourite football book as so many people around the world stay home and help fight the spread of coronavirus. Here is a full list of their recommendations.
www.sbs.com.au www.sbs.com.au
 
I know this is a sacred cow but
...
Is jonny Warren's Sheila's wogs and p&@ftas book really poorly written? It is a bit of a slog to be honest

I like the content of course....thought am a bit bored in the new York cosmos chapter (who cares, though I suppose it was an interesting biographical note that johnny warren was origin of what became the a league all stars concept)
 
grazorblade said:
I know this is a sacred cow but
...
Is jonny Warren's Sheila's wogs and p&@ftas book really poorly written? It is a bit of a slog to be honest

I like the content of course....thought am a bit bored in the new York cosmos chapter (who cares, though I suppose it was an interesting biographical note that johnny warren was origin of what became the a league all stars concept)
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Haven't read it for over 20 years!
I liked the early part, but got boring after the 74 world cup, especially the faffing over Brazil.
 
LFC said:
sure he was stupid quoting playing for the Roos was like surfing for England but it was about right back in the day as much as it hurts, I was embarrassed recalling that interview.
Those days OS Clubs played much harder ball not to release players and then there was issues with the ol SAF over monies/flights
treated and he also made the error if reports are true wanting match/week payments equal to his LFC salary ????
At the time he was the biggest name in Oz playing for a top flight winning side (what a side) and being absent he would have lost his place for sometime for thats how it was back then.
There we're times HK/Dukes didn't make themselves available due to their commitments and the long travels.

Yes we all have regrets that he would, the Kop loved Roo so I expect the book was well recieved, be interesting to know.

NO aussie player will get this much on their mantle piece or man cave playing top flight football
Click to expand...
Looking at that, Kewell came maybe the closest? (sans the League wins)
  • FA Cup (1): 2005-06
  • League Cup runner-up: 2004-05
  • FIFA Club World Cup runner-up: 2005
  • Champions League (1): 2004-05; runner-up: 2006-07
  • Turkish Super Cup (1): 2008
 
grazorblade said:
I know this is a sacred cow but
...
Is jonny Warren's Sheila's wogs and p&@ftas book really poorly written? It is a bit of a slog to be honest

I like the content of course....thought am a bit bored in the new York cosmos chapter (who cares, though I suppose it was an interesting biographical note that johnny warren was origin of what became the a league all stars concept)
Click to expand...
I also thought it was pretty boring - which is no reflection on the man, of course.
 
In contrast, my Lawrie McKinna book is probably the only football bio with a sex scene.

I remember Lawrie's wife reading that chapter and saying: "Oh no... I can't let my father read this."
 
grazorblade said:
I know this is a sacred cow but
...
Is jonny Warren's Sheila's wogs and p&@ftas book really poorly written? It is a bit of a slog to be honest

I like the content of course....thought am a bit bored in the new York cosmos chapter (who cares, though I suppose it was an interesting biographical note that johnny warren was origin of what became the a league all stars concept)
Click to expand...
ashtongate said:
Haven't read it for over 20 years!
I liked the early part, but got boring after the 74 world cup, especially the faffing over Brazil.
Click to expand...

LOOOOONG time since I read it, but you're probably right. I think while we were waiting for the salacious details of his failed marriage instead we got way too much about stuff we simply did not care about.
 
I've gone through my collection and picked out 3 of the older ones. Not read them in ages, in fact probably not prior to publication of sheilas, wogs... The Wade and Arok books in particular (from memory) have (as you'd hope) some good stories about the difficulties we faced qualifying for the world cup. I have tickets to the Japan game later in the year and I think I'll have a reread of these leading up to it.


aaa.jpg
 
RoyalDave said:
I've gone through my collection and picked out 3 of the older ones. Not read them in ages, in fact probably not prior to publication of sheilas, wogs... The Wade and Arok books in particular (from memory) have (as you'd hope) some good stories about the difficulties we faced qualifying for the world cup. I have tickets to the Japan game later in the year and I think I'll have a reread of these leading up to it.


View attachment 1601
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those look amazing finds

the middle one in particular I'm curious about. Good read?
 
RoyalDave said:
In all honesty i don't remember - i'll let you know in June :)
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grazorblade said:
those look amazing finds

the middle one in particular I'm curious about. Good read?
Click to expand...
what i will say though is that this book is a combo of 'soccer' drills/tactics (the 'australian' way?) as well as history. probably hasn't dated well but will be interesting nonetheless....
 
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