Understanding Soccer

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Books and References

George Vecsey's Blog:  I continually mine George's site for information and insight and some of his thoughts and comments have been integrated into Understanding Soccer. All active computer users need an occasional break. Since I'm not a game player, I relax by wandering through George's site.

George did a series of articles in the NY Times in  about the USA Women's National Team leading up the the 1999 Women's World Cup. I had intended to contact him concerning previous articles, but never did.  All this changed with the USA women's team articles and we have been communicating ever since. 

I suspect that most readers of the NY Times' sports pages are not aware that sports is only one of his many interests and talents. George's articles always emphasize the human side the story and he keeps things in perspective.  
Bloody Confused by Chuck Culpepper. A former American sports writer relocates to England and becomes a fan of the Premier League's Plymouth team. Although one gets an insight to soccer in England, Culpepper's portrayal of Plymouth's fight to avoid being regulated down alone is worth the read.

The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and How It Changed the World, 2001-- Jere Longman

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy by Joe McGinniss. As with Culpepper's Bloody Confused, McGinniss captures the feel of soccer in 
one of the  lower level leagues in Italy. However, it differs in that Castel di Sangro gets regulated up. They also regulated up in a subsequent season.

Soccer Rules Explained by Stanley Lover: A wonder book written by a world class soccer referee. There is so much information of his web site.

The Numbers Game by Chris Anderson and David Sally.  Billy Beane's Money Ball priciples applied to soccer.

The Education of An American Soccer Player  by Shep Messing:  Soccer's equivalent to Jim Bouton's "Ball Four".  Shep Messing played for the New York Cosmos between 1975-77 and was the goalie on the 1977 team that won the NASL.  It is a fun read, but gives the reader a vicarious sense of what it is like to be a goalie.  

Goalkeeping Drills by Peter Bonetti DVD Reedswain, Inc.:  Excellent training video for goalkeeper by England's goolkeeper coach and former World Cup keeper. Many training segments from the DVD are included in Understanding Soccer.

Science of Soccer Online: An excellent source for interesting, and often surprising, soccer statistics.

Soccer Training Info: Good description of crosses.
Major league soccer games. Cable or satellite TV.

Refereeing References:
Pierluigi Collina 
World Class Soccer Referee:  Stanley Lover 
USSoccerReferee web site.

World Cup-documentary about Tibetan monks trying to get TV.


Recent articles


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/sports/soccer/manchester-city-and-yankees-to-own-mls-franchise-in-new-york.html?ref=soccer A Team is Born, Not All Cheer.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/05/28/sports/soccer/28reuters-soccer-mls-beckham-miami.html?ref=soccer Beckham, Miami MLS Team.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/sports/soccer/gibraltar-moves-toward-uefa-membership-as-spain-resists.html?ref=soccer Gilbraltar

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/25/sports/soccer/uefa-makes-gibraltar-a-full-member.html?ref=soccer  Gilbraltar

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/sports/soccer/a-guide-to-attending-a-premier-league-game.html?hpw  Guide For Hunting English Premier League

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/25/sports/soccer/sheik-mansour-powerful-hand-behind-manchester-city-is-content-to-stay-in-background-in-new-york.html?ref=soccer  Power behind MC Stays in Background

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/sports/soccer/soccer-stadium-in-queens-is-no-walk-in-the-park.html?ref=soccer  Stadium in Queens:No Walk in the Park












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