"1974 was actually very painful to us all," says Dutch psychoanalyst Anna Enquist. "We can't admit to ourselves that something can be so important. But it matters very much. There is still a deep, unresolved trauma about 1974. It's a very living pain, like an unresolved crime."

En Vincent zag het koren
En Einstein het getal
En Zeppelin de Zeppelin
En Johan zag de bal

(And Vincent saw the corn
And Einstein the number
And Zeppelin the Zeppelin
And Johan saw the ball)
--Dutch cabaret song

The intellectualisation of football has always foundered on a simple problem--the players. Doing all your most rewarding thinking with your feet seems to dull the philosophical impulse. Unless, of course, you are Dutch. According to legend, Europeans played a moronic, muscular version of the world's game, until Holland proclaimed its vision of total football in the 1974 World Cup, and enlightenment dawned.

In Brilliant Orange--the neurotic genius of Dutch football, journalist David Winner explores his personal fascination with the land that gave the world Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Johan Cruyff--searching for reasons why such a tiny country has produced some of football's most intelligent, enigmatic and unfulfilled teams.

Winter talks with the players, past and present--including Johnny Rep and Ruud Krol from the losing World Cup Final sides of 1974 and 1978--uncovering their personal experience of the public triumphs and disasters. But it is the breadth of his enquiry into what it may mean to be Dutch--reconciling a colonial past with a multi-cultural present; living with the memories of wartime occupation and collaboration; the tensions between a fiercely individualistic, libertarian spirit and the principles of communality--that makes this such an extraordinary and wonderful book. --Alex Hankin

Much of the beginning of the book consists of why Dutch football might be the way it is. Winner tries to find parallels between Dutch society, and the way they play football. Dutch football is based around the principle of collectivism and totality; everybody is expected to perform little tasks, and if they don't then they let down the whole team. If a left-back for example decides to join the attack, a midfielder is expected to momentarily take his place in the defense. If he doesn't, he leaves the defense vulnerable to attack, hence letting down the whole team.

Winner argues that this type of collectivistic attitude in football can be traced back to when the Dutch first started reclaiming land and building dikes. These were massive ordeals that could only progress smoothly when everyone flawlessly worked together. If one person didn't carry out his/her task properly, a large part of the country would be at risk of being flooded. Hence it required intense concentration and collaboration, characteristics which can both be seen in Dutch football.

Secondly, Dutch invented 'Total Football' is also based around the concept of manipulating space to your advantage. When in possession, you want to make the spaces as big as possible by playing to your wingers and standing far apart. This makes it extra hard for the opposition to defend. When not in possession, you want to make spaces as small as possible by standing very close together making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate. Winner argues that this concept derives from the fact that the Dutch live in such a small geographical area with so many people they always had to make the most efficient use of their space.

Towards the end of the book, Winner tries to investigate why the Dutch have always been 'underperformers' in football. Judged solely on the quality of their players, Winner argues that they should have won at least four World Cups (namely in 1974,1978, 1990, and 1998). However, Winner argues that they simply don't have the 'winning' mentality and they believe that playing attacking and attractive football is actually more important than winning. The Dutch team has also often been plagued by internal conflicts. Since the Dutch team is based so much on the collectivistic nature as explained before, internal conflicts can be fatal. They are also a quite common occurrence as Dutch players (or Dutch people in general) find it very hard to take orders from an authoritarian figure (coach). These often spark conflicts and cause the Dutch team to disintegrate.

Arrogance also plays a factor in their underperformance. Winner argues that before the Dutch even start a football game, they believe that they deserve to win because their footballing style is so much superior to that of the rest of the world. When they are leading a football game, such as in the World Cup final in 1974 against Germany, they make the mistake of believing to have already won it. Instead of pressing for another goal, they started mocking the Germans by outplaying them with their superior 'technical' skills, but failed to press for another goal. This aggravated the Germans, and forced them back into the game, eventually winning with 2-1.

Futhermore the book also explains the origins of the intense rivalry between the Dutch and the Germans. It also gives a brief overview of the most important international games played by the Dutch team. It sincerely deserves 5 stars, and is a suggested read for any football fan.

Brilliant Orange - Is Brilliant, 08 Aug 2005
Brilliant Orange - The neurotic genius of dutch football.

This fascinating book goes way beyond football. The main aim seems to be to explain Holland's fantastic footballing skills and how they still fail to deliver on the big stage.

David Winner takes the reader from the first developments in dutch football through to explaining or at least trying to explain the idea of total football, the great tensions between Holland and Germany and the in fighting of most dutch teams. All this is intertwined by deep discussions relating to Holland's place in the world, its art, economy and politics.

The book does touch on complex and debatable issues but that is what makes it. This is certainly not recommended for information on tactics or statistics; it really is a book about Holland and the Dutch. Well recommended, most people I'm sure will learn a great deal from the stories told here!

Graeme Parker

Insight into the heart of all Dutch fans, 30 Jun 2005
For years my friends have wondered why I was so obsessed about the Dutch and their football (I'm a Malaysian living in England!). I struggled to make them understand but this book explains why so brilliantly. The Dutch play football so breathtakingly (when things are going well) but have so little success to show for it. Strangely, it is this frustrating underachievement that makes them so fascinating. In many ways, their well-documented self-destruction is very much a reflection of their culture (not just the footballing one). There are sections in the book where Dutch football legends would say "if only the Dutch had this , if only they had that...on top of their skill...they would be perfect footballers". But that would take away their Dutchness...

One thing's for sure though...the day they finally win the World Cup, it won't be just the Dutch fans who would be cheering....it would mark the fulfilment of one of the greatest footballing phenomenons.

Much of the beginning of the book consists of why Dutch football might be the way it is. Winner tries to find parallels between Dutch society, and the way they play football. Dutch football is based around the principle of collectivism and totality; everybody is expected to perform little tasks, and if they don't then they let down the whole team. If a left-back for example decides to join the attack, a midfielder is expected to momentarily take his place in the defense. If he doesn't, he leaves the defense vulnerable to attack, hence letting down the whole team.

Winner argues that this type of collectivistic attitude in football can be traced back to when the Dutch first started reclaiming land and building dikes. These were massive ordeals that could only progress smoothly when everyone flawlessly worked together. If one person didn't carry out his/her task properly, a large part of the country would be at risk of being flooded. Hence it required intense concentration and collaboration, characteristics which can both be seen in Dutch football.

Secondly, Dutch invented 'Total Football' is also based around the concept of manipulating space to your advantage. When in possession, you want to make the spaces as big as possible by playing to your wingers and standing far apart. This makes it extra hard for the opposition to defend. When not in possession, you want to make spaces as small as possible by standing very close together making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate. Winner argues that this concept derives from the fact that the Dutch live in such a small geographical area with so many people they always had to make the most efficient use of their space.

Towards the end of the book, Winner tries to investigate why the Dutch have always been 'underperformers' in football. Judged solely on the quality of their players, Winner argues that they should have won at least four World Cups (namely in 1974,1978, 1990, and 1998). However, Winner argues that they simply don't have the 'winning' mentality and they believe that playing attacking and attractive football is actually more important than winning. The Dutch team has also often been plagued by internal conflicts. Since the Dutch team is based so much on the collectivistic nature as explained before, internal conflicts can be fatal. They are also a quite common occurrence as Dutch players (or Dutch people in general) find it very hard to take orders from an authoritarian figure (coach). These often spark conflicts and cause the Dutch team to disintegrate.

Arrogance also plays a factor in their underperformance. Winner argues that before the Dutch even start a football game, they believe that they deserve to win because their footballing style is so much superior to that of the rest of the world. When they are leading a football game, such as in the World Cup final in 1974 against Germany, they make the mistake of believing to have already won it. Instead of pressing for another goal, they started mocking the Germans by outplaying them with their superior 'technical' skills, but failed to press for another goal. This aggravated the Germans, and forced them back into the game, eventually winning with 2-1.

Futhermore the book also explains the origins of the intense rivalry between the Dutch and the Germans. It also gives a brief overview of the most important international games played by the Dutch team. It sincerely deserves 5 stars, and is a suggested read for any football fan.

Brilliant Orange - Is Brilliant, 08 Aug 2005
Brilliant Orange - The neurotic genius of dutch football.

This fascinating book goes way beyond football. The main aim seems to be to explain Holland's fantastic footballing skills and how they still fail to deliver on the big stage.

David Winner takes the reader from the first developments in dutch football through to explaining or at least trying to explain the idea of total football, the great tensions between Holland and Germany and the in fighting of most dutch teams. All this is intertwined by deep discussions relating to Holland's place in the world, its art, economy and politics.

The book does touch on complex and debatable issues but that is what makes it. This is certainly not recommended for information on tactics or statistics; it really is a book about Holland and the Dutch. Well recommended, most people I'm sure will learn a great deal from the stories told here!

Graeme Parker

Insight into the heart of all Dutch fans, 30 Jun 2005
For years my friends have wondered why I was so obsessed about the Dutch and their football (I'm a Malaysian living in England!). I struggled to make them understand but this book explains why so brilliantly. The Dutch play football so breathtakingly (when things are going well) but have so little success to show for it. Strangely, it is this frustrating underachievement that makes them so fascinating. In many ways, their well-documented self-destruction is very much a reflection of their culture (not just the footballing one). There are sections in the book where Dutch football legends would say "if only the Dutch had this , if only they had that...on top of their skill...they would be perfect footballers". But that would take away their Dutchness...

One thing's for sure though...the day they finally win the World Cup, it won't be just the Dutch fans who would be cheering....it would mark the fulfilment of one of the greatest footballing phenomenons.

The author?, 12 Dec 2008
Quite how Andy Mitten is credited as the author is a bit of a mystery. This book is a collection of articles from 442 Magazine written by some excellent writers - the guy that wrote the Cairo derby piece stands out - yet it is packaged up as Mr Mitten's work. Anyway, it is good in parts, but if you read 442 then you will already have read them.

plenty of derbies..., 17 Sep 2008
The author (along with other contributers) covers derbies from all around the world both big and small. Whilst this is an interesting mix from all continents, each derby is covered by 11-15 pages which is also a weakness. Just as you get reeled in, the chapter is over but is entertaining none the less. The derbies are also viewed from the side the author happens to be with at time of writing thus it may come across as one sided. Some chapters are the work of other writers such as the West Ham/Millwall segment which really should have been removed from the book. I have nothing against either team just the poor lad's mag journalism used in the chapter. No information is given as to why the teams hate one another and all we are given is a scenario of fans sitting in a pub slagging each other in cockney slang.

The new millennium has seen excellent books focusing on football culture in Holland and France--namely Brilliant Orange and Le Foot. At a time when the stock of Spanish club football has perhaps not been higher since the heyday of Real Madrid in the late 50s and early 60s, Morbo, a triumph in the same vein, thankfully allows us to add Spain to the list. --Trevor Crowe

Much of the beginning of the book consists of why Dutch football might be the way it is. Winner tries to find parallels between Dutch society, and the way they play football. Dutch football is based around the principle of collectivism and totality; everybody is expected to perform little tasks, and if they don't then they let down the whole team. If a left-back for example decides to join the attack, a midfielder is expected to momentarily take his place in the defense. If he doesn't, he leaves the defense vulnerable to attack, hence letting down the whole team.

Winner argues that this type of collectivistic attitude in football can be traced back to when the Dutch first started reclaiming land and building dikes. These were massive ordeals that could only progress smoothly when everyone flawlessly worked together. If one person didn't carry out his/her task properly, a large part of the country would be at risk of being flooded. Hence it required intense concentration and collaboration, characteristics which can both be seen in Dutch football.

Secondly, Dutch invented 'Total Football' is also based around the concept of manipulating space to your advantage. When in possession, you want to make the spaces as big as possible by playing to your wingers and standing far apart. This makes it extra hard for the opposition to defend. When not in possession, you want to make spaces as small as possible by standing very close together making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate. Winner argues that this concept derives from the fact that the Dutch live in such a small geographical area with so many people they always had to make the most efficient use of their space.

Towards the end of the book, Winner tries to investigate why the Dutch have always been 'underperformers' in football. Judged solely on the quality of their players, Winner argues that they should have won at least four World Cups (namely in 1974,1978, 1990, and 1998). However, Winner argues that they simply don't have the 'winning' mentality and they believe that playing attacking and attractive football is actually more important than winning. The Dutch team has also often been plagued by internal conflicts. Since the Dutch team is based so much on the collectivistic nature as explained before, internal conflicts can be fatal. They are also a quite common occurrence as Dutch players (or Dutch people in general) find it very hard to take orders from an authoritarian figure (coach). These often spark conflicts and cause the Dutch team to disintegrate.

Arrogance also plays a factor in their underperformance. Winner argues that before the Dutch even start a football game, they believe that they deserve to win because their footballing style is so much superior to that of the rest of the world. When they are leading a football game, such as in the World Cup final in 1974 against Germany, they make the mistake of believing to have already won it. Instead of pressing for another goal, they started mocking the Germans by outplaying them with their superior 'technical' skills, but failed to press for another goal. This aggravated the Germans, and forced them back into the game, eventually winning with 2-1.

Futhermore the book also explains the origins of the intense rivalry between the Dutch and the Germans. It also gives a brief overview of the most important international games played by the Dutch team. It sincerely deserves 5 stars, and is a suggested read for any football fan.

Brilliant Orange - Is Brilliant, 08 Aug 2005
Brilliant Orange - The neurotic genius of dutch football.

This fascinating book goes way beyond football. The main aim seems to be to explain Holland's fantastic footballing skills and how they still fail to deliver on the big stage.

David Winner takes the reader from the first developments in dutch football through to explaining or at least trying to explain the idea of total football, the great tensions between Holland and Germany and the in fighting of most dutch teams. All this is intertwined by deep discussions relating to Holland's place in the world, its art, economy and politics.

The book does touch on complex and debatable issues but that is what makes it. This is certainly not recommended for information on tactics or statistics; it really is a book about Holland and the Dutch. Well recommended, most people I'm sure will learn a great deal from the stories told here!

Graeme Parker

Insight into the heart of all Dutch fans, 30 Jun 2005
For years my friends have wondered why I was so obsessed about the Dutch and their football (I'm a Malaysian living in England!). I struggled to make them understand but this book explains why so brilliantly. The Dutch play football so breathtakingly (when things are going well) but have so little success to show for it. Strangely, it is this frustrating underachievement that makes them so fascinating. In many ways, their well-documented self-destruction is very much a reflection of their culture (not just the footballing one). There are sections in the book where Dutch football legends would say "if only the Dutch had this , if only they had that...on top of their skill...they would be perfect footballers". But that would take away their Dutchness...

One thing's for sure though...the day they finally win the World Cup, it won't be just the Dutch fans who would be cheering....it would mark the fulfilment of one of the greatest footballing phenomenons.

The author?, 12 Dec 2008
Quite how Andy Mitten is credited as the author is a bit of a mystery. This book is a collection of articles from 442 Magazine written by some excellent writers - the guy that wrote the Cairo derby piece stands out - yet it is packaged up as Mr Mitten's work. Anyway, it is good in parts, but if you read 442 then you will already have read them.

plenty of derbies..., 17 Sep 2008
The author (along with other contributers) covers derbies from all around the world both big and small. Whilst this is an interesting mix from all continents, each derby is covered by 11-15 pages which is also a weakness. Just as you get reeled in, the chapter is over but is entertaining none the less. The derbies are also viewed from the side the author happens to be with at time of writing thus it may come across as one sided. Some chapters are the work of other writers such as the West Ham/Millwall segment which really should have been removed from the book. I have nothing against either team just the poor lad's mag journalism used in the chapter. No information is given as to why the teams hate one another and all we are given is a scenario of fans sitting in a pub slagging each other in cockney slang.

The Inside Story, 10 Dec 2008
Going Native in Catalonia [Catalunya]

This is without doubt the best book written in English on the subject of Spanish football. It is clear that Phil Ball knows and loves Spain just as much as he knows and loves football and consequently, he manages to appeal both to fans and historians.

Morbo recounts twentieth century Spanish history through the medium of the Beautiful Game without ever becoming turgid. A mixture of solid research and personal anecdote keeps the book alive from start to finish.

My only criticism is one of personal perspective. Phil Ball has lived in the Basque Country for the last twenty years and obviously supports Real Sociedad whereas I've lived in Catalonia for the same period and am a fervent Barcelona supporter. I felt slightly pricked when he described my club and region, but having said that he gets the facts right but just chose the wrong place to live and supports the wrong team - that's the adopted Catalan and Barça fan in me talking, by the way.

To sum up, a first class book, which I find myself referring to again and again especially before the big games!

Football & Politics, 31 Oct 2008
If you have any interest in Spanish football and the inescapable regionalism that comes with it, you must read this book.

The author gets under the skin of Spanish football and into the skin of Spanish life and history to tell an amazing story of a conundrum of a country.

Slightly off the Ball ...., 17 Jul 2008
1st off - if the stars above had decimal points I'd award `Morbo' 3.5 or possibly 3.75. The work is probably better than the 3 stars I've given it but certainly not worth 4. The reason? That simple word `morbo'. Let me explain.

Phil Ball spends 21 pages setting the scene trying to explain exactly what morbo is (mix and match any 4 of the following and you'll have some idea - aggravation, antagonism, hatred, one-upmanship, antipathy, resentment, hostility, political and regional enmity). He then goes on to say that the book will revolve around the concept of morbo and what it means to Spanish football. However, in truth, only 3 of the book's chapters really focus 100% on morbo. These chapters are those on the Basque country, Barcelona and Madrid and are easily the best sections of the book. Chapter 6, on Seville and its 2 clubs, Sevilla and Betis, has a sprinkling of morbo but it's here that the book begins to lose its focus. The chapters on Galicia, Valencia, Spanish club culture and the national side are all good but not really connected with morbo.

`Morbo' kicks off the story of Spanish football in SW Spain in Huelva and briefly traces the origin of the game - brought over from Britain by those exploiting the Rio Tinto copper mines in the late 19th century.

After this follows 3 superb chapters on the Basque country, Barcelona and Madrid, the latter 2 being especially absorbing and interesting. Ball is certainly not shy of expressing his opinions in these chapters either. He questions the myth of Barca's `Dream Team' - 3 of their 4 titles were won on the last day of the season - and also pours scorn on the notion that Barca and the Camp Nou supporters were expressing their independence and resistance to Franco's regime. In fact he goes on to claim that "Barca's so-called threat to the regime was really not very threatening at all" and that it was only ETA's appearance in the early `70s who killed off any chance of the Franco years being extended beyond his death.

The chapter on Madrid focuses on Real's ruthless pursuit of winning and explains how Franco benefited from them. The stylish swagger with which they won European Cup after European Cup was seen to reflect Spain as a whole. Whereas the reality was that the country was on its knees - left out of the Marshall Plan after WW2, the economy in ruins and the rural population living in desperate poverty.

The chapter on Sevilla and Real Betis suffers from being immediately after those on Barcelona and Madrid and Ball asks at the end of the chapter "have I been trying desperately to unearth a rich vein of morbo where maybe only a smallish one exists"? And it seems, rather disappointingly, that he has.

One good thing about the book is that any sentences or phrases in Spanish, Catalan or Basque are fully translated so there is none of this snobbery that expects the reader to be able to understand anything not written in English. However, to counterbalance this good point I'm sure I won't be the only reader to tire of Ball's continual use of the annoying journalistic phrase "of course" (take those 2 words out of any sentence and the sentence will still make sense!).

Don't get me wrong, `Morbo' is a very good book, obviously well researched and lovingly and painstakingly written with some great stories, anecdotes and colourfully described club histories. However, you can't build a book up and say it will concentrate on morbo and then only dedicate half your book to the concept. If only Ball had put less emphasis on the morbo stance then instead of describing this book as very good I would have been using adjectives such as superb, brilliant, excellent, superlative .........


Morbo!, 08 Aug 2006
There really is no shortage of excellent books on football in particular countries -- Brilliant Orange, Futebol, Tor, Calcio -- but Phil Ball's book on Spanish footballing culture is among the best.
From its star-studded league to the biggest derby in the world, Spain is not lacking in interesting stories to tell, and,thankfullly,Ball is a great storyteller who has crafted a wonderfully entertaining book. His insightful stories of, not only the Madrid-Barcelona rivalry, but also of the rivalries in Seville and the Basque country are erudite yet enjoyable to read. Brilliant, don't miss it.


Phil Ball scores with Morbo, 05 May 2006
Morbo by Phil Ball is the fascinating story of Spanish football. Erudite yet easy to read, full of the quirky characters which inhabit the Spanish game. This book highlights the contradictions and misconceptions which inhabit the heart of the Spanish game and Spanish society. Essential reading for anyone with even the most remote interest in all and any things Spanish.

Much of the beginning of the book consists of why Dutch football might be the way it is. Winner tries to find parallels between Dutch society, and the way they play football. Dutch football is based around the principle of collectivism and totality; everybody is expected to perform little tasks, and if they don't then they let down the whole team. If a left-back for example decides to join the attack, a midfielder is expected to momentarily take his place in the defense. If he doesn't, he leaves the defense vulnerable to attack, hence letting down the whole team.

Winner argues that this type of collectivistic attitude in football can be traced back to when the Dutch first started reclaiming land and building dikes. These were massive ordeals that could only progress smoothly when everyone flawlessly worked together. If one person didn't carry out his/her task properly, a large part of the country would be at risk of being flooded. Hence it required intense concentration and collaboration, characteristics which can both be seen in Dutch football.

Secondly, Dutch invented 'Total Football' is also based around the concept of manipulating space to your advantage. When in possession, you want to make the spaces as big as possible by playing to your wingers and standing far apart. This makes it extra hard for the opposition to defend. When not in possession, you want to make spaces as small as possible by standing very close together making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate. Winner argues that this concept derives from the fact that the Dutch live in such a small geographical area with so many people they always had to make the most efficient use of their space.

Towards the end of the book, Winner tries to investigate why the Dutch have always been 'underperformers' in football. Judged solely on the quality of their players, Winner argues that they should have won at least four World Cups (namely in 1974,1978, 1990, and 1998). However, Winner argues that they simply don't have the 'winning' mentality and they believe that playing attacking and attractive football is actually more important than winning. The Dutch team has also often been plagued by internal conflicts. Since the Dutch team is based so much on the collectivistic nature as explained before, internal conflicts can be fatal. They are also a quite common occurrence as Dutch players (or Dutch people in general) find it very hard to take orders from an authoritarian figure (coach). These often spark conflicts and cause the Dutch team to disintegrate.

Arrogance also plays a factor in their underperformance. Winner argues that before the Dutch even start a football game, they believe that they deserve to win because their footballing style is so much superior to that of the rest of the world. When they are leading a football game, such as in the World Cup final in 1974 against Germany, they make the mistake of believing to have already won it. Instead of pressing for another goal, they started mocking the Germans by outplaying them with their superior 'technical' skills, but failed to press for another goal. This aggravated the Germans, and forced them back into the game, eventually winning with 2-1.

Futhermore the book also explains the origins of the intense rivalry between the Dutch and the Germans. It also gives a brief overview of the most important international games played by the Dutch team. It sincerely deserves 5 stars, and is a suggested read for any football fan.

Brilliant Orange - Is Brilliant, 08 Aug 2005
Brilliant Orange - The neurotic genius of dutch football.

This fascinating book goes way beyond football. The main aim seems to be to explain Holland's fantastic footballing skills and how they still fail to deliver on the big stage.

David Winner takes the reader from the first developments in dutch football through to explaining or at least trying to explain the idea of total football, the great tensions between Holland and Germany and the in fighting of most dutch teams. All this is intertwined by deep discussions relating to Holland's place in the world, its art, economy and politics.

The book does touch on complex and debatable issues but that is what makes it. This is certainly not recommended for information on tactics or statistics; it really is a book about Holland and the Dutch. Well recommended, most people I'm sure will learn a great deal from the stories told here!

Graeme Parker

Insight into the heart of all Dutch fans, 30 Jun 2005
For years my friends have wondered why I was so obsessed about the Dutch and their football (I'm a Malaysian living in England!). I struggled to make them understand but this book explains why so brilliantly. The Dutch play football so breathtakingly (when things are going well) but have so little success to show for it. Strangely, it is this frustrating underachievement that makes them so fascinating. In many ways, their well-documented self-destruction is very much a reflection of their culture (not just the footballing one). There are sections in the book where Dutch football legends would say "if only the Dutch had this , if only they had that...on top of their skill...they would be perfect footballers". But that would take away their Dutchness...

One thing's for sure though...the day they finally win the World Cup, it won't be just the Dutch fans who would be cheering....it would mark the fulfilment of one of the greatest footballing phenomenons.

The author?, 12 Dec 2008
Quite how Andy Mitten is credited as the author is a bit of a mystery. This book is a collection of articles from 442 Magazine written by some excellent writers - the guy that wrote the Cairo derby piece stands out - yet it is packaged up as Mr Mitten's work. Anyway, it is good in parts, but if you read 442 then you will already have read them.

plenty of derbies..., 17 Sep 2008
The author (along with other contributers) covers derbies from all around the world both big and small. Whilst this is an interesting mix from all continents, each derby is covered by 11-15 pages which is also a weakness. Just as you get reeled in, the chapter is over but is entertaining none the less. The derbies are also viewed from the side the author happens to be with at time of writing thus it may come across as one sided. Some chapters are the work of other writers such as the West Ham/Millwall segment which really should have been removed from the book. I have nothing against either team just the poor lad's mag journalism used in the chapter. No information is given as to why the teams hate one another and all we are given is a scenario of fans sitting in a pub slagging each other in cockney slang.

The Inside Story, 10 Dec 2008
Going Native in Catalonia [Catalunya]

This is without doubt the best book written in English on the subject of Spanish football. It is clear that Phil Ball knows and loves Spain just as much as he knows and loves football and consequently, he manages to appeal both to fans and historians.

Morbo recounts twentieth century Spanish history through the medium of the Beautiful Game without ever becoming turgid. A mixture of solid research and personal anecdote keeps the book alive from start to finish.

My only criticism is one of personal perspective. Phil Ball has lived in the Basque Country for the last twenty years and obviously supports Real Sociedad whereas I've lived in Catalonia for the same period and am a fervent Barcelona supporter. I felt slightly pricked when he described my club and region, but having said that he gets the facts right but just chose the wrong place to live and supports the wrong team - that's the adopted Catalan and Barça fan in me talking, by the way.

To sum up, a first class book, which I find myself referring to again and again especially before the big games!

Football & Politics, 31 Oct 2008
If you have any interest in Spanish football and the inescapable regionalism that comes with it, you must read this book.

The author gets under the skin of Spanish football and into the skin of Spanish life and history to tell an amazing story of a conundrum of a country.

Slightly off the Ball ...., 17 Jul 2008
1st off - if the stars above had decimal points I'd award `Morbo' 3.5 or possibly 3.75. The work is probably better than the 3 stars I've given it but certainly not worth 4. The reason? That simple word `morbo'. Let me explain.

Phil Ball spends 21 pages setting the scene trying to explain exactly what morbo is (mix and match any 4 of the following and you'll have some idea - aggravation, antagonism, hatred, one-upmanship, antipathy, resentment, hostility, political and regional enmity). He then goes on to say that the book will revolve around the concept of morbo and what it means to Spanish football. However, in truth, only 3 of the book's chapters really focus 100% on morbo. These chapters are those on the Basque country, Barcelona and Madrid and are easily the best sections of the book. Chapter 6, on Seville and its 2 clubs, Sevilla and Betis, has a sprinkling of morbo but it's here that the book begins to lose its focus. The chapters on Galicia, Valencia, Spanish club culture and the national side are all good but not really connected with morbo.

`Morbo' kicks off the story of Spanish football in SW Spain in Huelva and briefly traces the origin of the game - brought over from Britain by those exploiting the Rio Tinto copper mines in the late 19th century.

After this follows 3 superb chapters on the Basque country, Barcelona and Madrid, the latter 2 being especially absorbing and interesting. Ball is certainly not shy of expressing his opinions in these chapters either. He questions the myth of Barca's `Dream Team' - 3 of their 4 titles were won on the last day of the season - and also pours scorn on the notion that Barca and the Camp Nou supporters were expressing their independence and resistance to Franco's regime. In fact he goes on to claim that "Barca's so-called threat to the regime was really not very threatening at all" and that it was only ETA's appearance in the early `70s who killed off any chance of the Franco years being extended beyond his death.

The chapter on Madrid focuses on Real's ruthless pursuit of winning and explains how Franco benefited from them. The stylish swagger with which they won European Cup after European Cup was seen to reflect Spain as a whole. Whereas the reality was that the country was on its knees - left out of the Marshall Plan after WW2, the economy in ruins and the rural population living in desperate poverty.

The chapter on Sevilla and Real Betis suffers from being immediately after those on Barcelona and Madrid and Ball asks at the end of the chapter "have I been trying desperately to unearth a rich vein of morbo where maybe only a smallish one exists"? And it seems, rather disappointingly, that he has.

One good thing about the book is that any sentences or phrases in Spanish, Catalan or Basque are fully translated so there is none of this snobbery that expects the reader to be able to understand anything not written in English. However, to counterbalance this good point I'm sure I won't be the only reader to tire of Ball's continual use of the annoying journalistic phrase "of course" (take those 2 words out of any sentence and the sentence will still make sense!).

Don't get me wrong, `Morbo' is a very good book, obviously well researched and lovingly and painstakingly written with some great stories, anecdotes and colourfully described club histories. However, you can't build a book up and say it will concentrate on morbo and then only dedicate half your book to the concept. If only Ball had put less emphasis on the morbo stance then instead of describing this book as very good I would have been using adjectives such as superb, brilliant, excellent, superlative .........


Morbo!, 08 Aug 2006
There really is no shortage of excellent books on football in particular countries -- Brilliant Orange, Futebol, Tor, Calcio -- but Phil Ball's book on Spanish footballing culture is among the best.
From its star-studded league to the biggest derby in the world, Spain is not lacking in interesting stories to tell, and,thankfullly,Ball is a great storyteller who has crafted a wonderfully entertaining book. His insightful stories of, not only the Madrid-Barcelona rivalry, but also of the rivalries in Seville and the Basque country are erudite yet enjoyable to read. Brilliant, don't miss it.


Phil Ball scores with Morbo, 05 May 2006
Morbo by Phil Ball is the fascinating story of Spanish football. Erudite yet easy to read, full of the quirky characters which inhabit the Spanish game. This book highlights the contradictions and misconceptions which inhabit the heart of the Spanish game and Spanish society. Essential reading for anyone with even the most remote interest in all and any things Spanish.

essential for the history of italian footy, 17 Sep 2008
Of all the books on the market about Italian football (and there are plenty) this is perhaps the best of the lot. It's a comprehensive guide not only about the football but of history and society as a whole. John Foot has gone to a lot of effort with this book and it is a worthy addition to any collection. We're treated to the usual history of scandal and match-fixing which is synonomous with the Italian game.

Entertaining and well-paced read., 13 Mar 2008
I have just finished reading this book (the updated edition with Cannavaro lifting the World Cup on the cover.) The author obviously knows his calcio. As a follower of Italian football I found this book to be a very fluid read and allowed me to discover the foundations of the game in Italy, the great teams of the past (Torino, Inter, Genoa, Juventus), the managers and players who helped make the game what is is today, wrapped in an analysis of the social and political context of the country.

I thought the author wrote very well and at a level which would be engaging for the layperson. Of course, when dealing with a history of a subject, it is difficult not to write in a style which some readers might find list-like. I didn't and I'm sure that the vast majority of readers wouldn't. The book is written with a skew towards British players (e.g the `Foreigners' chapter is Brit dominated) but the author is British and the book is aimed at a British market, so I don't think this can be a criticism.

The Heysel and Superga tragedies are mentioned very sensitively. My only criticism would be the black and white pictures which didn't do the text justice. Overall I thought the book was authoritative, comprehensive with the right level of humour interspersed. I would recommend this book to all those with an interest in the beautiful game.


Appropriate for Britons. The rest of the world, not so much., 13 Mar 2008
I'm sympathetic towards the difficulty in getting in more information and pages in a book that already spans 500+ pages. I am, truly. But I feel there's a very misguided balance between what would be important in explaining Italian football and what the author feels just 'had' to be in there (see: seemingly endless words spent re-hashing the failures and few successes of British players in Italy).
I found it great in the beginning, but my enthusiasm quickly wore down as I progressed through the chapters and timeline of calcio. As items I am myself comfortable in my knowledge of came up, numerous mistakes on behalf of the author were exposed. I believe my final count of the different years mentioned for Roma's third scudetto win came to four, only mentioning the correct (2001) once. And there are many of these seemingly minor flaws (another that has stuck is the statement that Bologna is on the stockmarket; it is in fact probably the last club that would consider it, its presidents over the years leading the charge against the very 'financial doping' so very associated with the three clubs on the Milano stock exchange).

But the lack of understanding, on the part of the author, what's important is my main beef; a revolutionary coach such as Liedholm, who held such great esteem in his adopted country and was also a fantastic player in his day, 'godfather' of many of today's great coaches is mentioned only in passing. If I believed it to be intentional and not a very unfortunate overlook and miscalculation I'd deem it an insult of the highest magnitude. (Liedholm's fellow Swede at Milan in the 50's, Nordahl has been erased from Foot's history books, his incredible goal scoring record ignored and shunned, himself not even mentioned, as far as my memory serves, and if he was, like Liedholm only in passing).

But the book can probably serve well as a superficial reading for mainly a British audience who actually cares much for what Ian Rush wrote in his journal; I, most certainly, did not whatsoever.

Pure Joy, 02 Sep 2007
This book is a wonderful read. Even my wife, who hates football, enjoyed it. I've read an awful lot of books, from Dostoevsky to detectives, and can't remember too many that gave me so much pleasure. A word of warning; don't let anyone borrow it as you'll never get it back.

More dictionary than history, 03 Apr 2007
There is some wonderful material here, but it is wasted (I assume by the editors, who had typical English football supporters in mind) by the annoying sub headings and a bizarre running order. The prose comes across as stilted, and simply does not flow (it is not allowed to flow). There is no narrative, and though billed as a history of Italian football is, alas, more a dictionary of the subject.

In some ways the book is a standard travelogue. In following his lowly Series A team in their seasonal slog around Italy, Parks gets to visit all the famous sights and cities. What makes this journey so different and so interesting is that Parks is accompanied by vividly ordinary, honestly working-class, determinedly urban Italians and gets to share their Nick Hornbyish highs and lows. This in turn provides a credible, fresh and revealing insight into the Italian character. These fans do all the normal soccer-supporter things like fight, drink, despair, exult, rant and put each other in comas; but they also do more surprising things, like sing songs in praise of the murderous Liverpool fans of Heysel and give voice to racist feelings about their southern compatriots.

This may not sound like most people's image of southern loveliness. Indeed it isn't. But it is a much needed antidote to all that saccharine-sweet Under The Tuscan Sun stuff; and it also makes this book a splendid bedside companion to the Italian campaign in the next, or indeed any, World Cup. --Sean Thomas

Much of the beginning of the book consists of why Dutch football might be the way it is. Winner tries to find parallels between Dutch society, and the way they play football. Dutch football is based around the principle of collectivism and totality; everybody is expected to perform little tasks, and if they don't then they let down the whole team. If a left-back for example decides to join the attack, a midfielder is expected to momentarily take his place in the defense. If he doesn't, he leaves the defense vulnerable to attack, hence letting down the whole team.

Winner argues that this type of collectivistic attitude in football can be traced back to when the Dutch first started reclaiming land and building dikes. These were massive ordeals that could only progress smoothly when everyone flawlessly worked together. If one person didn't carry out his/her task properly, a large part of the country would be at risk of being flooded. Hence it required intense concentration and collaboration, characteristics which can both be seen in Dutch football.

Secondly, Dutch invented 'Total Football' is also based around the concept of manipulating space to your advantage. When in possession, you want to make the spaces as big as possible by playing to your wingers and standing far apart. This makes it extra hard for the opposition to defend. When not in possession, you want to make spaces as small as possible by standing very close together making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate. Winner argues that this concept derives from the fact that the Dutch live in such a small geographical area with so many people they always had to make the most efficient use of their space.

Towards the end of the book, Winner tries to investigate why the Dutch have always been 'underperformers' in football. Judged solely on the quality of their players, Winner argues that they should have won at least four World Cups (namely in 1974,1978, 1990, and 1998). However, Winner argues that they simply don't have the 'winning' mentality and they believe that playing attacking and attractive football is actually more important than winning. The Dutch team has also often been plagued by internal conflicts. Since the Dutch team is based so much on the collectivistic nature as explained before, internal conflicts can be fatal. They are also a quite common occurrence as Dutch players (or Dutch people in general) find it very hard to take orders from an authoritarian figure (coach). These often spark conflicts and cause the Dutch team to disintegrate.

Arrogance also plays a factor in their underperformance. Winner argues that before the Dutch even start a football game, they believe that they deserve to win because their footballing style is so much superior to that of the rest of the world. When they are leading a football game, such as in the World Cup final in 1974 against Germany, they make the mistake of believing to have already won it. Instead of pressing for another goal, they started mocking the Germans by outplaying them with their superior 'technical' skills, but failed to press for another goal. This aggravated the Germans, and forced them back into the game, eventually winning with 2-1.

Futhermore the book also explains the origins of the intense rivalry between the Dutch and the Germans. It also gives a brief overview of the most important international games played by the Dutch team. It sincerely deserves 5 stars, and is a suggested read for any football fan.

Brilliant Orange - Is Brilliant, 08 Aug 2005
Brilliant Orange - The neurotic genius of dutch football.

This fascinating book goes way beyond football. The main aim seems to be to explain Holland's fantastic footballing skills and how they still fail to deliver on the big stage.

David Winner takes the reader from the first developments in dutch football through to explaining or at least trying to explain the idea of total football, the great tensions between Holland and Germany and the in fighting of most dutch teams. All this is intertwined by deep discussions relating to Holland's place in the world, its art, economy and politics.

The book does touch on complex and debatable issues but that is what makes it. This is certainly not recommended for information on tactics or statistics; it really is a book about Holland and the Dutch. Well recommended, most people I'm sure will learn a great deal from the stories told here!

Graeme Parker

Insight into the heart of all Dutch fans, 30 Jun 2005
For years my friends have wondered why I was so obsessed about the Dutch and their football (I'm a Malaysian living in England!). I struggled to make them understand but this book explains why so brilliantly. The Dutch play football so breathtakingly (when things are going well) but have so little success to show for it. Strangely, it is this frustrating underachievement that makes them so fascinating. In many ways, their well-documented self-destruction is very much a reflection of their culture (not just the footballing one). There are sections in the book where Dutch football legends would say "if only the Dutch had this , if only they had that...on top of their skill...they would be perfect footballers". But that would take away their Dutchness...

One thing's for sure though...the day they finally win the World Cup, it won't be just the Dutch fans who would be cheering....it would mark the fulfilment of one of the greatest footballing phenomenons.

The author?, 12 Dec 2008
Quite how Andy Mitten is credited as the author is a bit of a mystery. This book is a collection of articles from 442 Magazine written by some excellent writers - the guy that wrote the Cairo derby piece stands out - yet it is packaged up as Mr Mitten's work. Anyway, it is good in parts, but if you read 442 then you will already have read them.

plenty of derbies..., 17 Sep 2008
The author (along with other contributers) covers derbies from all around the world both big and small. Whilst this is an interesting mix from all continents, each derby is covered by 11-15 pages which is also a weakness. Just as you get reeled in, the chapter is over but is entertaining none the less. The derbies are also viewed from the side the author happens to be with at time of writing thus it may come across as one sided. Some chapters are the work of other writers such as the West Ham/Millwall segment which really should have been removed from the book. I have nothing against either team just the poor lad's mag journalism used in the chapter. No information is given as to why the teams hate one another and all we are given is a scenario of fans sitting in a pub slagging each other in cockney slang.

The Inside Story, 10 Dec 2008
Going Native in Catalonia [Catalunya]

This is without doubt the best book written in English on the subject of Spanish football. It is clear that Phil Ball knows and loves Spain just as much as he knows and loves football and consequently, he manages to appeal both to fans and historians.

Morbo recounts twentieth century Spanish history through the medium of the Beautiful Game without ever becoming turgid. A mixture of solid research and personal anecdote keeps the book alive from start to finish.

My only criticism is one of personal perspective. Phil Ball has lived in the Basque Country for the last twenty years and obviously supports Real Sociedad whereas I've lived in Catalonia for the same period and am a fervent Barcelona supporter. I felt slightly pricked when he described my club and region, but having said that he gets the facts right but just chose the wrong place to live and supports the wrong team - that's the adopted Catalan and Barça fan in me talking, by the way.

To sum up, a first class book, which I find myself referring to again and again especially before the big games!

Football & Politics, 31 Oct 2008
If you have any interest in Spanish football and the inescapable regionalism that comes with it, you must read this book.

The author gets under the skin of Spanish football and into the skin of Spanish life and history to tell an amazing story of a conundrum of a country.

Slightly off the Ball ...., 17 Jul 2008
1st off - if the stars above had decimal points I'd award `Morbo' 3.5 or possibly 3.75. The work is probably better than the 3 stars I've given it but certainly not worth 4. The reason? That simple word `morbo'. Let me explain.

Phil Ball spends 21 pages setting the scene trying to explain exactly what morbo is (mix and match any 4 of the following and you'll have some idea - aggravation, antagonism, hatred, one-upmanship, antipathy, resentment, hostility, political and regional enmity). He then goes on to say that the book will revolve around the concept of morbo and what it means to Spanish football. However, in truth, only 3 of the book's chapters really focus 100% on morbo. These chapters are those on the Basque country, Barcelona and Madrid and are easily the best sections of the book. Chapter 6, on Seville and its 2 clubs, Sevilla and Betis, has a sprinkling of morbo but it's here that the book begins to lose its focus. The chapters on Galicia, Valencia, Spanish club culture and the national side are all good but not really connected with morbo.

`Morbo' kicks off the story of Spanish football in SW Spain in Huelva and briefly traces the origin of the game - brought over from Britain by those exploiting the Rio Tinto copper mines in the late 19th century.

After this follows 3 superb chapters on the Basque country, Barcelona and Madrid, the latter 2 being especially absorbing and interesting. Ball is certainly not shy of expressing his opinions in these chapters either. He questions the myth of Barca's `Dream Team' - 3 of their 4 titles were won on the last day of the season - and also pours scorn on the notion that Barca and the Camp Nou supporters were expressing their independence and resistance to Franco's regime. In fact he goes on to claim that "Barca's so-called threat to the regime was really not very threatening at all" and that it was only ETA's appearance in the early `70s who killed off any chance of the Franco years being extended beyond his death.

The chapter on Madrid focuses on Real's ruthless pursuit of winning and explains how Franco benefited from them. The stylish swagger with which they won European Cup after European Cup was seen to reflect Spain as a whole. Whereas the reality was that the country was on its knees - left out of the Marshall Plan after WW2, the economy in ruins and the rural population living in desperate poverty.

The chapter on Sevilla and Real Betis suffers from being immediately after those on Barcelona and Madrid and Ball asks at the end of the chapter "have I been trying desperately to unearth a rich vein of morbo where maybe only a smallish one exists"? And it seems, rather disappointingly, that he has.

One good thing about the book is that any sentences or phrases in Spanish, Catalan or Basque are fully translated so there is none of this snobbery that expects the reader to be able to understand anything not written in English. However, to counterbalance this good point I'm sure I won't be the only reader to tire of Ball's continual use of the annoying journalistic phrase "of course" (take those 2 words out of any sentence and the sentence will still make sense!).

Don't get me wrong, `Morbo' is a very good book, obviously well researched and lovingly and painstakingly written with some great stories, anecdotes and colourfully described club histories. However, you can't build a book up and say it will concentrate on morbo and then only dedicate half your book to the concept. If only Ball had put less emphasis on the morbo stance then instead of describing this book as very good I would have been using adjectives such as superb, brilliant, excellent, superlative .........


Morbo!, 08 Aug 2006
There really is no shortage of excellent books on football in particular countries -- Brilliant Orange, Futebol, Tor, Calcio -- but Phil Ball's book on Spanish footballing culture is among the best.
From its star-studded league to the biggest derby in the world, Spain is not lacking in interesting stories to tell, and,thankfullly,Ball is a great storyteller who has crafted a wonderfully entertaining book. His insightful stories of, not only the Madrid-Barcelona rivalry, but also of the rivalries in Seville and the Basque country are erudite yet enjoyable to read. Brilliant, don't miss it.


Phil Ball scores with Morbo, 05 May 2006
Morbo by Phil Ball is the fascinating story of Spanish football. Erudite yet easy to read, full of the quirky characters which inhabit the Spanish game. This book highlights the contradictions and misconceptions which inhabit the heart of the Spanish game and Spanish society. Essential reading for anyone with even the most remote interest in all and any things Spanish.

essential for the history of italian footy, 17 Sep 2008
Of all the books on the market about Italian football (and there are plenty) this is perhaps the best of the lot. It's a comprehensive guide not only about the football but of history and society as a whole. John Foot has gone to a lot of effort with this book and it is a worthy addition to any collection. We're treated to the usual history of scandal and match-fixing which is synonomous with the Italian game.

Entertaining and well-paced read., 13 Mar 2008
I have just finished reading this book (the updated edition with Cannavaro lifting the World Cup on the cover.) The author obviously knows his calcio. As a follower of Italian football I found this book to be a very fluid read and allowed me to discover the foundations of the game in Italy, the great teams of the past (Torino, Inter, Genoa, Juventus), the managers and players who helped make the game what is is today, wrapped in an analysis of the social and political context of the country.

I thought the author wrote very well and at a level which would be engaging for the layperson. Of course, when dealing with a history of a subject, it is difficult not to write in a style which some readers might find list-like. I didn't and I'm sure that the vast majority of readers wouldn't. The book is written with a skew towards British players (e.g the `Foreigners' chapter is Brit dominated) but the author is British and the book is aimed at a British market, so I don't think this can be a criticism.

The Heysel and Superga tragedies are mentioned very sensitively. My only criticism would be the black and white pictures which didn't do the text justice. Overall I thought the book was authoritative, comprehensive with the right level of humour interspersed. I would recommend this book to all those with an interest in the beautiful game.


Appropriate for Britons. The rest of the world, not so much., 13 Mar 2008
I'm sympathetic towards the difficulty in getting in more information and pages in a book that already spans 500+ pages. I am, truly. But I feel there's a very misguided balance between what would be important in explaining Italian football and what the author feels just 'had' to be in there (see: seemingly endless words spent re-hashing the failures and few successes of British players in Italy).
I found it great in the beginning, but my enthusiasm quickly wore down as I progressed through the chapters and timeline of calcio. As items I am myself comfortable in my knowledge of came up, numerous mistakes on behalf of the author were exposed. I believe my final count of the different years mentioned for Roma's third scudetto win came to four, only mentioning the correct (2001) once. And there are many of these seemingly minor flaws (another that has stuck is the statement that Bologna is on the stockmarket; it is in fact probably the last club that would consider it, its presidents over the years leading the charge against the very 'financial doping' so very associated with the three clubs on the Milano stock exchange).

But the lack of understanding, on the part of the author, what's important is my main beef; a revolutionary coach such as Liedholm, who held such great esteem in his adopted country and was also a fantastic player in his day, 'godfather' of many of today's great coaches is mentioned only in passing. If I believed it to be intentional and not a very unfortunate overlook and miscalculation I'd deem it an insult of the highest magnitude. (Liedholm's fellow Swede at Milan in the 50's, Nordahl has been erased from Foot's history books, his incredible goal scoring record ignored and shunned, himself not even mentioned, as far as my memory serves, and if he was, like Liedholm only in passing).

But the book can probably serve well as a superficial reading for mainly a British audience who actually cares much for what Ian Rush wrote in his journal; I, most certainly, did not whatsoever.

Pure Joy, 02 Sep 2007
This book is a wonderful read. Even my wife, who hates football, enjoyed it. I've read an awful lot of books, from Dostoevsky to detectives, and can't remember too many that gave me so much pleasure. A word of warning; don't let anyone borrow it as you'll never get it back.

More dictionary than history, 03 Apr 2007
There is some wonderful material here, but it is wasted (I assume by the editors, who had typical English football supporters in mind) by the annoying sub headings and a bizarre running order. The prose comes across as stilted, and simply does not flow (it is not allowed to flow). There is no narrative, and though billed as a history of Italian football is, alas, more a dictionary of the subject.

Brilliant, 06 Jul 2008
Wow, I don't think Tim Parks could have chosen a better season to follow Verona. If he hadn't written the book, it would still be a great story to tell. I'm not going to spoil the ending for everyone, but it really is an amazing season which ends spectacularly.

I love the fact that the author actually attends the games as a true spectator instead of press or pundit. He joins in with the chants, the drinking, the travelling - all as a die hard fan and he never hides any of the gory details of Italian football.

There's a few other books like this and this one stands out a mile because you actually know the author is educated with regards to football and is a true fan, as opposed to some other authors who have a blinkered and often glamorous view of what can be an ugly game.

Excellent book and I highly recommend it.

Parks Plays A Blinder!, 23 Nov 2006
This is a must for all literary football fans, following one of Italian soccer's less fashionable, and decidedly right wing, clubs Hellas Verona during the ill-fated season when they were last in Serie A. Like his previous books, Italian Neighbours and An Italian Education, Parks really delves deep into the psyche and delivers prose with all the colour and vivaciousness of a carnival parade. The noise, the sights, even the smells and tastes of top-drawer Italian football leap from virtually every page and the real emotion which simmers eternally can be sensed as it reaches its inevitable, sometimes violent, crescendo.
The Englishman abroad style of book has often been criticized, sometimes quite rightly so, for its over prosaic, condescending treatment of the "simple, rustic locals" but, thankfully, Parks is a writer who is too close to his subject to stoop so low; he is also a writer who can express his own emotive state whenever his side loses as readily and as honestly as when he is chanting and celebrating a goal with his fellow supporters.
Great books about football are about as rare as honest politicians (or football Presidents) in Italy; this is one of those gems.

Per sempre Gialloblu!, 23 Oct 2006
I won't bore you with my loquacious opinion on this magnificent book (other people have done that probably better than I can among these readers' reviews). No, I will simply tell you the truth.

When I finished reading the book in May 2003, I booked a flight to Verona and a hotel near l'Arena, and went to the stadium for the last game of that season (Bari, 1-1, for the statiticians among you). I had to see la Curva Sud for myself. Since then, having made friends with one or two members of I Piu Mati (ciao Christian, ciao Alberto, ciao Fabio!) I've been back several times (including a memorable 5-3 win over rivals Vicenza [di merda!]) and they've even been over to see my humble bunch of sleeping giants (the West Country's top team, Bristol City. Well, excluding Yeovil). In short, the book inspired me, it coursed through my veins and I was like a junkie, needing a fix of the Brigate Gialloblu (minus the violenza!). A terrific, vibrant, inspiring read. Forza Signor Tim!

(PS If you liked the social/cultural/non-football parts to the book, make sure you read his Italian Neighbours and Italian Education books. The description of which coffee to drink when in the former book is as good as the opening chapter of A Season With Verona)

Classic Writing, 01 Sep 2006
Ask on any website message board that has anything to do with football what are the best football books and this comes up every time.

Following the unglamourous Serie A side Hellas Verona home and away through the whole Italian season, the book describes more than just the mechanics of the game, but rather the emotion and etheral stuff, the relationship between fans and team, rival fans, and indeed indiviuduals within the social group of Hellas' hardcore fans. Indeed if it is match by match 'stats' commentary you want this is nt the book, but if it is the description and analysis of the word of fotball fandom then this is it. The subtext to the football is Italy and Italian culture and this is both interesting, funny, scary and head scratching in equal measure. The author as an 'insder' in terms of his love of Hellas. whilst at the same time being an 'outsider' in regards to being an Englishman in Verona, a provincial city with an insular mindset 'us against the world' makes the writing even more interesting.

A book that is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Football, Italy, Travel or Social issues. The only criticism is on some areas the feeling is more could be said or eexplored, but thats because the writing and 'story' is so fascinating and absorbing.

Forza Verona!, 07 Aug 2006
I had read about this book when it first came out and was interested, but it took me five years to get round to buying it. What an idiot I was!

The idea is fantastic - to follow a side across the country to every league game. Parks is true to his word and makes it to every game, taking the reader from Sicily to Udine and to the Stadio Olimpico and the Delle Alpi.

The book is superbly written. The author is a real fan and the emotions and frustration that he feels are ones with which the reader can instantly empathise.

I don't want to spoil any surprises, but the first chapter is possibly the best in the book and the away trip to Napoli is also memorable (not least for Gabriella on the train - I hope she has read it!).

This is essential reading for any fan who has followed their team to somewher grim and miles away (Port Vale, Rotherham or QPR) to see them capitulate horribly and then still turned up the next week.

A great guide to Italian football and a nice introduction to Italy and Italians, too.

Very highly recommended.

Much of the beginning of the book consists of why Dutch football might be the way it is. Winner tries to find parallels between Dutch society, and the way they play football. Dutch football is based around the principle of collectivism and totality; everybody is expected to perform little tasks, and if they don't then they let down the whole team. If a left-back for example decides to join the attack, a midfielder is expected to momentarily take his place in the defense. If he doesn't, he leaves the defense vulnerable to attack, hence letting down the whole team.

Winner argues that this type of collectivistic attitude in football can be traced back to when the Dutch first started reclaiming land and building dikes. These were massive ordeals that could only progress smoothly when everyone flawlessly worked together. If one person didn't carry out his/her task properly, a large part of the country would be at risk of being flooded. Hence it required intense concentration and collaboration, characteristics which can both be seen in Dutch football.

Secondly, Dutch invented 'Total Football' is also based around the concept of manipulating space to your advantage. When in possession, you want to make the spaces as big as possible by playing to your wingers and standing far apart. This makes it extra hard for the opposition to defend. When not in possession, you want to make spaces as small as possible by standing very close together making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate. Winner argues that this concept derives from the fact that the Dutch live in such a small geographical area with so many people they always had to make the most efficient use of their space.

Towards the end of the book, Winner tries to investigate why the Dutch have always been 'underperformers' in football. Judged solely on the quality of their players, Winner argues that they should have won at least four World Cups (namely in 1974,1978, 1990, and 1998). However, Winner argues that they simply don't have the 'winning' mentality and they believe that playing attacking and attractive football is actually more important than winning. The Dutch team has also often been plagued by internal conflicts. Since the Dutch team is based so much on the collectivistic nature as explained before, internal conflicts can be fatal. They are also a quite common occurrence as Dutch players (or Dutch people in general) find it very hard to take orders from an authoritarian figure (coach). These often spark conflicts and cause the Dutch team to disintegrate.

Arrogance also plays a factor in their underperformance. Winner argues that before the Dutch even start a football game, they believe that they deserve to win because their footballing style is so much superior to that of the rest of the world. When they are leading a football game, such as in the World Cup final in 1974 against Germany, they make the mistake of believing to have already won it. Instead of pressing for another goal, they started mocking the Germans by outplaying them with their superior 'technical' skills, but failed to press for another goal. This aggravated the Germans, and forced them back into the game, eventually winning with 2-1.

Futhermore the book also explains the origins of the intense rivalry between the Dutch and the Germans. It also gives a brief overview of the most important international games played by the Dutch team. It sincerely deserves 5 stars, and is a suggested read for any football fan.

Brilliant Orange - Is Brilliant, 08 Aug 2005
Brilliant Orange - The neurotic genius of dutch football.

This fascinating book goes way beyond football. The main aim seems to be to explain Holland's fantastic footballing skills and how they still fail to deliver on the big stage.

David Winner takes the reader from the first developments in dutch football through to explaining or at least trying to explain the idea of total football, the great tensions between Holland and Germany and the in fighting of most dutch teams. All this is intertwined by deep discussions relating to Holland's place in the world, its art, economy and politics.

The book does touch on complex and debatable issues but that is what makes it. This is certainly not recommended for information on tactics or statistics; it really is a book about Holland and the Dutch. Well recommended, most people I'm sure will learn a great deal from the stories told here!

Graeme Parker

Insight into the heart of all Dutch fans, 30 Jun 2005
For years my friends have wondered why I was so obsessed about the Dutch and their football (I'm a Malaysian living in England!). I struggled to make them understand but this book explains why so brilliantly. The Dutch play football so breathtakingly (when things are going well) but have so little success to show for it. Strangely, it is this frustrating underachievement that makes them so fascinating. In many ways, their well-documented self-destruction is very much a reflection of their culture (not just the footballing one). There are sections in the book where Dutch football legends would say "if only the Dutch had this , if only they had that...on top of their skill...they would be perfect footballers". But that would take away their Dutchness...

One thing's for sure though...the day they finally win the World Cup, it won't be just the Dutch fans who would be cheering....it would mark the fulfilment of one of the greatest footballing phenomenons.

The author?, 12 Dec 2008
Quite how Andy Mitten is credited as the author is a bit of a mystery. This book is a collection of articles from 442 Magazine written by some excellent writers - the guy that wrote the Cairo derby piece stands out - yet it is packaged up as Mr Mitten's work. Anyway, it is good in parts, but if you read 442 then you will already have read them.

plenty of derbies..., 17 Sep 2008
The author (along with other contributers) covers derbies from all around the world both big and small. Whilst this is an interesting mix from all continents, each derby is covered by 11-15 pages which is also a weakness. Just as you get reeled in, the chapter is over but is entertaining none the less. The derbies are also viewed from the side the author happens to be with at time of writing thus it may come across as one sided. Some chapters are the work of other writers such as the West Ham/Millwall segment which really should have been removed from the book. I have nothing against either team just the poor lad's mag journalism used in the chapter. No information is given as to why the teams hate one another and all we are given is a scenario of fans sitting in a pub slagging each other in cockney slang.

The Inside Story, 10 Dec 2008
Going Native in Catalonia [Catalunya]

This is without doubt the best book written in English on the subject of Spanish football. It is clear that Phil Ball knows and loves Spain just as much as he knows and loves football and consequently, he manages to appeal both to fans and historians.

Morbo recounts twentieth century Spanish history through the medium of the Beautiful Game without ever becoming turgid. A mixture of solid research and personal anecdote keeps the book alive from start to finish.

My only criticism is one of personal perspective. Phil Ball has lived in the Basque Country for the last twenty years and obviously supports Real Sociedad whereas I've lived in Catalonia for the same period and am a fervent Barcelona supporter. I felt slightly pricked when he described my club and region, but having said that he gets the facts right but just chose the wrong place to live and supports the wrong team - that's the adopted Catalan and Barça fan in me talking, by the way.

To sum up, a first class book, which I find myself referring to again and again especially before the big games!

Football & Politics, 31 Oct 2008
If you have any interest in Spanish football and the inescapable regionalism that comes with it, you must read this book.

The author gets under the skin of Spanish football and into the skin of Spanish life and history to tell an amazing story of a conundrum of a country.

Slightly off the Ball ...., 17 Jul 2008
1st off - if the stars above had decimal points I'd award `Morbo' 3.5 or possibly 3.75. The work is probably better than the 3 stars I've given it but certainly not worth 4. The reason? That simple word `morbo'. Let me explain.

Phil Ball spends 21 pages setting the scene trying to explain exactly what morbo is (mix and match any 4 of the following and you'll have some idea - aggravation, antagonism, hatred, one-upmanship, antipathy, resentment, hostility, political and regional enmity). He then goes on to say that the book will revolve around the concept of morbo and what it means to Spanish football. However, in truth, only 3 of the book's chapters really focus 100% on morbo. These chapters are those on the Basque country, Barcelona and Madrid and are easily the best sections of the book. Chapter 6, on Seville and its 2 clubs, Sevilla and Betis, has a sprinkling of morbo but it's here that the book begins to lose its focus. The chapters on Galicia, Valencia, Spanish club culture and the national side are all good but not really connected with morbo.

`Morbo' kicks off the story of Spanish football in SW Spain in Huelva and briefly traces the origin of the game - brought over from Britain by those exploiting the Rio Tinto copper mines in the late 19th century.

After this follows 3 superb chapters on the Basque country, Barcelona and Madrid, the latter 2 being especially absorbing and interesting. Ball is certainly not shy of expressing his opinions in these chapters either. He ques