The Athletic “gutting” British newspapers

[Gio]

This is a really good article. I'd subscribe if this is what you can expect everything they come out with something.

Haven't seen that one yet, but read a well-researched piece from another writer at the Athletic on Matias Almeyda's man-marking tactics a few weeks ago. Solid piece of work.

Was tempting and will probably go for the free trial, but a quick look at the Scottish stuff and just Old Firm. Not very appealing.

They lost me with the patronising guff "we'll cover little Burnley (with their £150m turnover in the richest league in the world) just as much as the PL giants".

 

[Lash]

Saw a lot of linked tweets with these lot and thought they were some shithouse aggregator. Travelling up and down to Edinburgh on Thursday, so will give this a go for the flights!

 

[Tom Van Persie]

This is hilarious only because Neil Custis is very very upset on Twitter that he wasn't handpicked from the rag that he writes for and is handling it all in the most mature manner possible.

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[podurban2]

Neil Custis

 

[Nick7]

I've read about 4 or 5 articles now and really enjoyed them.

There's a really good one on the changes Ole is making/working on behind the scenes.

 

[Chairman Steve]

Neil Custardis going Alan Partridge bitter level is great

 

[Bastian]

I've subscribed to it. Nice change to read longer pieces on football without ads. A nice addition to the daily internet routines.

 

[Kostur]

This is hilarious only because Neil Custis is very very upset on Twitter that he wasn't handpicked from the rag that he writes for and is handling it all in the most mature manner possible.

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Fat stupid cnut

 

[red thru&thru]

I've read about 4 or 5 articles now and really enjoyed them.

There's a really good one on the changes Ole is making/working on behind the scenes.

The one about the changes Ole is making, behind the scenes will be interesting to read

 

[Rish Sawhney]

Yeah apparently some really basic stuff was off.

Take, for instance, the canteen at Carrington. When Solskjaer was appointed, the buffet service fed both players and staff, some 160 people. It provided a community feel, but had priorities skewed. Food would be ready and available for staff from midday but the footballers might not show up until 2pm after training. Essential fuel post-workout could be left under a lamp.

“The most important employees who need feeding are the athletes,” a source told The Athletic. “If you take it to the nth degree stuff such as spinach can lose nutrients over time. Without meaning to sound harsh, the accountant could bring in sandwiches.”

Solskjaer raised the matter, spoke with head chef Mike Donnelly and together they arranged for the introduction of a new fresh pasta station. It was opened this summer after the squad returned from the Far East tour, and means players can now order their chicken and tagliatelle as soon as they show up so they get the right food at the right time.

This is just one example.

PS: I'm not sure to what extent we're fine quoting the article. I think we should be good as long as I'm not writing out the entire article but just quoting sections.

 

[Rish Sawhney]

But basically this is the key point of it all: Mourinho didn't pay attention to these sorts of details because he didn't care about the long term health of the club.

These may feel like minor gripes – salmon eaten slightly off ideal temperature was not why the team finished sixth – but stitched together with other concerns it formed a United tapestry in need of renovation. And it was long apparent Mourinho did not wish to perform the overhaul. Solskjaer, by contrast, could not want the job more, and it is this care and devotion that should imbue the coming campaign with hope, for all the justifiable reservation.

 

[Rish Sawhney]

Also I found this bit interesting:

Sources say Solskjaer knew the drastically raised output could not be sustained without triggering injuries but he persisted to chase Champions League qualification and the chance to land the job full-time. He is said to have told friends of this desire for the permanent position after three matches.

I'm going to be optimistic that he's right here and we can sustain something like that for longer this season.

 

[Bullhitter]

Also I found this bit interesting:

Sources say Solskjaer knew the drastically raised output could not be sustained without triggering injuries but he persisted to chase Champions League qualification and the chance to land the job full-time. He is said to have told friends of this desire for the permanent position after three matches.

I'm going to be optimistic that he's right here and we can sustain something like that for longer this season.

Neil Custis article tomorrow :

Self serving, egotistical Solskjaer put players careers at risk to enhance his own chances of landing the United job, a position he originally never even wanted on a permanent basis and only changed his mind after winning his first three games in charge.

 

[Bastian]

Reading an article about the ins and outs of transfers and an unnamed sports director says a Spanish club approached an English club for a Scandinavian player only to be told by various people from the same country as the player that he'd be terrible in the dressing room.

Could that be Eriksen? This could of course be between smaller clubs, but I just wondered.
edit: comments speculate it might be Pontus Jansson. Such is my ivory tower I fail to see the football populace.

 

[JonDahl]

The bitterness of Custis

 

[astracrazy]

Going to give this a go.

You guys likely know but if you plan on having the app on your iphone make sure you still buy the subscription on there website. Apple store wants yearly payments only and its more expensive.

 

[JJ12]

As I've said before I've been subscribed for over 12 months now for their NFL, NHL, CFB, Etc. I find it superb coverage of that.

Absolute bonus that they are expanding to British sports. And also expanding on Golf and other sports.

I've read a few of the football pieces already and they have been fantastic - I'd recommend to anyone who can part with a few quid.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

The good thing about the Maguire article was that the United, City and Leicester journalists all pooled their knowledge of the deal to create it. They took questions on it yesterday too.

One irate City fan still wasn't having it that City were really interested because they reckon Maguire isn't a good passer of the ball.

 

[SirAF]

The good thing about the Maguire article was that the United, City and Leicester journalists all pooled their knowledge of the deal to create it. They took questions on it yesterday too.

One irate City fan still wasn't having it that City were really interested because they reckon Maguire isn't a good passer of the ball.

Guardiola even admitted it

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Guardiola even admitted it

Sam Lee is the City journalist and he told him that Maguire was 100% their number 1 CB target this summer.

 

[R'hllor]

CAFs best friend among jurnos mr Custis is proper grade A cnut

 

[Buchan]

This is hilarious only because Neil Custis is very very upset on Twitter that he wasn't handpicked from the rag that he writes for and is handling it all in the most mature manner possible.

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What a bellend.

 

[JPRouve]

@Pogue Mahone, well done. Your product placement abilities are exceptional.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

@Pogue Mahone, well done. Your product placement abilities are exceptional.

Middle class forum dwellers are literally their target demographic.

 

[Dan_F]

Going to give this a go.

You guys likely know but if you plan on having the app on your iphone make sure you still buy the subscription on there website. Apple store wants yearly payments only and its more expensive.

I did this for like a year with Spotify, paying £12.99 a month instead of £9.99. Obviously it’s not a life changing amount, but still felt completely cheated that they can do that kind of stuff.

 

[JPRouve]

Middle class forum dwellers are literally their target demographic.

Which is why Pogue did a great job with this thread, he sent them dozens of new clients.

 

[Player Red]

I'd pay for genuinely insightful analysis but I've genuinely never found any reporter in a newspaper to have a decent grasp on the tactical aspect of the game. There's a huge niche market there for someone to write excellent articles about how teams actually play and the small changes they make for each game.

Not sure if anyone addressed this in the thread but they have got Michael Cox (Zonal Marking) on board - so there should be a shift towards analysis on this.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

@Pogue Mahone, well done. Your product placement abilities are exceptional.

I'd like to take some credit for my marketing genius but we'd have been all over this regardless, due to all the journos we follow on twitter promoting it like crazy. I've been studiously unfollowing every journalist that links to the website, as I refuse to spend any more money on my football obsession.

 

[SilentWitness]

The main Everton guy has joined this. Annoying.

 

[Guy Incognito]

Agreed. Although you should check out Ken Early. He’s on a par with those two IMO.

Yes, forgot him! Smith at NYT is another one I like.

Wonder who this refers to?

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[Wumminator]

I'd like to take some credit for my marketing genius but we'd have been all over this regardless, due to all the journos we follow on twitter promoting it like crazy. I've been studiously unfollowing every journalist that links to the website, as I refuse to spend any more money on my football obsession.

Go on! Give it a go! Otherwise you’re gonna have to unfollow some ex footballers soon.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Yes, forgot him! Smith at NYT is another one I like.

Wonder who this refers to?

https://www.twitter.com/KCsixtyseven/status/1158668571255463937

Probably Ronay.

 

[Wicked_Badger]

Downloaded it last night. Will do the 30 day trial but cancel/subscribe to the half price deal before the end of August if I use it.

Some decent articles on there, better than some of the drivel/clickbait on other websites. Decent app too.

 

[rotherham_red]

They need to do cricket as well, the nature of that game is the perfect fit for the long-form analysis that these guys like to provide.

 

[rotherham_red]

Downloaded it last night. Will do the 30 day trial but cancel/subscribe to the half price deal before the end of August if I use it.

Some decent articles on there, better than some of the drivel/clickbait on other websites. Decent app too.

I subscribed and still got the 30 day trial with half price subscription so don't worry about missing out on that tbh.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Instead of a load of lying cnuts spread out across various papers, they are now all concentrated in one place.

They will still be writing a load of made up bollocks, most of the time.

The papers will find a load of other liars to write their stuff instead.

 

[astracrazy]

I did this for like a year with Spotify, paying £12.99 a month instead of £9.99. Obviously it’s not a life changing amount, but still felt completely cheated that they can do that kind of stuff.

When there website is 50% off for a year it makes quiet a difference

 

[Dan_F]

When there website is 50% off for a year it makes quiet a difference

Yeah 100%. I wonder how many people won’t realise.

 

[yumtum]

The main Everton guy has joined this. Annoying.

Surely football clubs would get other "mouth pieces" rather than feeding their info to the guys that only write stuff that is behind a paywall?

They're in that position because clubs want to get info out without doing it themselves, it's why I can't see them keeping their unofficial positions at their respective clubs for long.

 

[lifted]

Surely football clubs would get other "mouth pieces" rather than feeding their info to the guys that only write stuff that is behind a paywall?

They're in that position because clubs want to get info out without doing it themselves, it's why I can't see them keeping their unofficial positions at their respective clubs for long.

The Times and the Telegraph are mainly behind paywalls and people like James Ducker are still considered 'mouth pieces' by some. I'm not sure how much it matters who you work for - probably more about trust and mutual understanding.