"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.

Football And War, 09 Dec 2008
Football and War. I dont think it can get more interesting than that! The authors give such an insight into the battlefield/battlespace, I was amazed. The attention to the small details, giving life once again to the names of brave men on stone memorials or in the faded matchday programmes of forgotten football clubs, is outstanding. Smoothly written, deeply informative, moving, sensitive and very respectful.

The personal letters and photographs contain such poignant insights that, they alone, justify the intense research so clearly undertaken. The battlefield photo's are equally well chosen and the maps easy to read. This book will also be fascinating to those interested in both the British 6th Brigade and 2nd Division during World War One. It has given me a new awareness, for example, of the conditions and locations within which 17th Middlesex, 13th Essex, the King's (Liverpool Regt) and 2nd South Staffs fought and died.

I wasn't able to put it down until it was finished.


A superbly well told story., 04 Dec 2008
Guild member Andrew Riddoch, in cooperation with John Kemp, has produced a spectacular book on the 17th (Service) Battalion (1st Football) The Middlesex Regiment. This battalion was composed of professional and amateur footballers and supporters and was raised in consequence of the perceived selfishness and failure of professional football to put its lucrative business to one side at a time when other less privileged young men were dying for their country. Perhaps a theme that has some currency today and this book is absolutely relevant to, and part of, the history of football in England.
The author has to my knowledge spent thousands of hours preparing the research and it has provided the foundation for a brilliant narrative of not only what happened to the battalion, but also to the individuals who served in it. We are taken through the experiences of Walter Tull, a professional footballer for Northampton Town, who overcame the prejudice of the football field to gain the trust and support of his soldiers. Many other professionals gave up lucrative employment to serve in the battalion and in doing so set a remarkable example. This tells their story. In many ways the real tragedy was the men who were wounded and faced the realisation that their career was over. One wonders if in similar circumstances their example would be so readily repeated today.
Many personal accounts have been woven into the narrative which explains the events with the absolute clarity that only comes from an author who really knows the battlefield and can therefore give meaning to what happened. This really is the ideal book for both the serious reader of Great War history and anybody who is fascinated by the history of football.
Absolutely recommended.

By Mike McCarthy
Editor 'The Battle Guide'
Guild of Battlefield Guides

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.

Football And War, 09 Dec 2008
Football and War. I dont think it can get more interesting than that! The authors give such an insight into the battlefield/battlespace, I was amazed. The attention to the small details, giving life once again to the names of brave men on stone memorials or in the faded matchday programmes of forgotten football clubs, is outstanding. Smoothly written, deeply informative, moving, sensitive and very respectful.

The personal letters and photographs contain such poignant insights that, they alone, justify the intense research so clearly undertaken. The battlefield photo's are equally well chosen and the maps easy to read. This book will also be fascinating to those interested in both the British 6th Brigade and 2nd Division during World War One. It has given me a new awareness, for example, of the conditions and locations within which 17th Middlesex, 13th Essex, the King's (Liverpool Regt) and 2nd South Staffs fought and died.

I wasn't able to put it down until it was finished.


A superbly well told story., 04 Dec 2008
Guild member Andrew Riddoch, in cooperation with John Kemp, has produced a spectacular book on the 17th (Service) Battalion (1st Football) The Middlesex Regiment. This battalion was composed of professional and amateur footballers and supporters and was raised in consequence of the perceived selfishness and failure of professional football to put its lucrative business to one side at a time when other less privileged young men were dying for their country. Perhaps a theme that has some currency today and this book is absolutely relevant to, and part of, the history of football in England.
The author has to my knowledge spent thousands of hours preparing the research and it has provided the foundation for a brilliant narrative of not only what happened to the battalion, but also to the individuals who served in it. We are taken through the experiences of Walter Tull, a professional footballer for Northampton Town, who overcame the prejudice of the football field to gain the trust and support of his soldiers. Many other professionals gave up lucrative employment to serve in the battalion and in doing so set a remarkable example. This tells their story. In many ways the real tragedy was the men who were wounded and faced the realisation that their career was over. One wonders if in similar circumstances their example would be so readily repeated today.
Many personal accounts have been woven into the narrative which explains the events with the absolute clarity that only comes from an author who really knows the battlefield and can therefore give meaning to what happened. This really is the ideal book for both the serious reader of Great War history and anybody who is fascinated by the history of football.
Absolutely recommended.

By Mike McCarthy
Editor 'The Battle Guide'
Guild of Battlefield Guides


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.

Football And War, 09 Dec 2008
Football and War. I dont think it can get more interesting than that! The authors give such an insight into the battlefield/battlespace, I was amazed. The attention to the small details, giving life once again to the names of brave men on stone memorials or in the faded matchday programmes of forgotten football clubs, is outstanding. Smoothly written, deeply informative, moving, sensitive and very respectful.

The personal letters and photographs contain such poignant insights that, they alone, justify the intense research so clearly undertaken. The battlefield photo's are equally well chosen and the maps easy to read. This book will also be fascinating to those interested in both the British 6th Brigade and 2nd Division during World War One. It has given me a new awareness, for example, of the conditions and locations within which 17th Middlesex, 13th Essex, the King's (Liverpool Regt) and 2nd South Staffs fought and died.

I wasn't able to put it down until it was finished.


A superbly well told story., 04 Dec 2008
Guild member Andrew Riddoch, in cooperation with John Kemp, has produced a spectacular book on the 17th (Service) Battalion (1st Football) The Middlesex Regiment. This battalion was composed of professional and amateur footballers and supporters and was raised in consequence of the perceived selfishness and failure of professional football to put its lucrative business to one side at a time when other less privileged young men were dying for their country. Perhaps a theme that has some currency today and this book is absolutely relevant to, and part of, the history of football in England.
The author has to my knowledge spent thousands of hours preparing the research and it has provided the foundation for a brilliant narrative of not only what happened to the battalion, but also to the individuals who served in it. We are taken through the experiences of Walter Tull, a professional footballer for Northampton Town, who overcame the prejudice of the football field to gain the trust and support of his soldiers. Many other professionals gave up lucrative employment to serve in the battalion and in doing so set a remarkable example. This tells their story. In many ways the real tragedy was the men who were wounded and faced the realisation that their career was over. One wonders if in similar circumstances their example would be so readily repeated today.
Many personal accounts have been woven into the narrative which explains the events with the absolute clarity that only comes from an author who really knows the battlefield and can therefore give meaning to what happened. This really is the ideal book for both the serious reader of Great War history and anybody who is fascinated by the history of football.
Absolutely recommended.

By Mike McCarthy
Editor 'The Battle Guide'
Guild of Battlefield Guides


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.

Football And War, 09 Dec 2008
Football and War. I dont think it can get more interesting than that! The authors give such an insight into the battlefield/battlespace, I was amazed. The attention to the small details, giving life once again to the names of brave men on stone memorials or in the faded matchday programmes of forgotten football clubs, is outstanding. Smoothly written, deeply informative, moving, sensitive and very respectful.

The personal letters and photographs contain such poignant insights that, they alone, justify the intense research so clearly undertaken. The battlefield photo's are equally well chosen and the maps easy to read. This book will also be fascinating to those interested in both the British 6th Brigade and 2nd Division during World War One. It has given me a new awareness, for example, of the conditions and locations within which 17th Middlesex, 13th Essex, the King's (Liverpool Regt) and 2nd South Staffs fought and died.

I wasn't able to put it down until it was finished.


A superbly well told story., 04 Dec 2008
Guild member Andrew Riddoch, in cooperation with John Kemp, has produced a spectacular book on the 17th (Service) Battalion (1st Football) The Middlesex Regiment. This battalion was composed of professional and amateur footballers and supporters and was raised in consequence of the perceived selfishness and failure of professional football to put its lucrative business to one side at a time when other less privileged young men were dying for their country. Perhaps a theme that has some currency today and this book is absolutely relevant to, and part of, the history of football in England.
The author has to my knowledge spent thousands of hours preparing the research and it has provided the foundation for a brilliant narrative of not only what happened to the battalion, but also to the individuals who served in it. We are taken through the experiences of Walter Tull, a professional footballer for Northampton Town, who overcame the prejudice of the football field to gain the trust and support of his soldiers. Many other professionals gave up lucrative employment to serve in the battalion and in doing so set a remarkable example. This tells their story. In many ways the real tragedy was the men who were wounded and faced the realisation that their career was over. One wonders if in similar circumstances their example would be so readily repeated today.
Many personal accounts have been woven into the narrative which explains the events with the absolute clarity that only comes from an author who really knows the battlefield and can therefore give meaning to what happened. This really is the ideal book for both the serious reader of Great War history and anybody who is fascinated by the history of football.
Absolutely recommended.

By Mike McCarthy
Editor 'The Battle Guide'
Guild of Battlefield Guides


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.

Facts wrong, Dates Wrong. A Mess. , 07 Jan 2009
This book is so dull that it would actually be more interesting to watch it being pulped than to read it. Worse than that, it is wrong on several counts. Foot gets his dates wrong, claiming that Fabio Capello moves from Roma to Juventus "in the 2003-4 close season." He is a year early. Historians getting dates wrong are like bakers who can't make bread, though I might have forgiven him that if there hadn't been so much else wrong with the book.
More disturbingly, his treatment of important events such as the Heysel disaster is highly unsatisfactory. He fails to highlight the missed warnings - Brussels newspaper Le Soir warned of an "apocalypse" on the morning of the match. He fails to point out that Brussels Fire Chief Alain Gibson had warned that the chicken-wire fence between Liverpool and Juventus fans was too flimsy, but was excluded from key pre-match security meetings. Then Foot reports almost as heresay: "Some argue that the collapse of the wall actually saved lives." A serious writer would have backed this up properly. Brussels fire chief Gibson states categorially that more lives would have been lost if the wall had not collapsed. He is the main authority on this subject.
Most absurd of all, Foot writes: "Hundreds of police and gendarmes entered the stadium in a ridiculous and tardy show of force."
Had he bothered to do his research properly, Foot might have talked to Roland Vanreusel, one of the police chiefs in charge on the night, who rightly points out that Italians seeking revenge were preparing to charge the Liverpool fans from the other end, and 15 mounted police contained them and prevented further bloodshed. To quote Vanreusel: "If that hadn't happened,I believe 200 people would have died, not 39." Hardly ridiculous, to save 161 lives, whatever the dreadful errors of judgement that had taken place earlier.
On what should have been a more cheerful note, Foot fails utterly to convey the sheer joy, surprise and magic of Italy's 3-2 1982 World Cup win over Brazil, fails to deal properly with Italia 90, and doesn't even seem to mention Coverciano, the Centre of Football Excellence near Florence that has been the intellectual engine room for all Italian football sucess in the last quarter of a century.
I cannot speak for others but purely based on what I read in 'Calcio', I would not want my son taught Modern Italian History by this man at UCL because I don't believe he is a very good historian or researcher.

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.

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.

Football And War, 09 Dec 2008
Football and War. I dont think it can get more interesting than that! The authors give such an insight into the battlefield/battlespace, I was amazed. The attention to the small details, giving life once again to the names of brave men on stone memorials or in the faded matchday programmes of forgotten football clubs, is outstanding. Smoothly written, deeply informative, moving, sensitive and very respectful.

The personal letters and photographs contain such poignant insights that, they alone, justify the intense research so clearly undertaken. The battlefield photo's are equally well chosen and the maps easy to read. This book will also be fascinating to those interested in both the British 6th Brigade and 2nd Division during World War One. It has given me a new awareness, for example, of the conditions and locations within which 17th Middlesex, 13th Essex, the King's (Liverpool Regt) and 2nd South Staffs fought and died.

I wasn't able to put it down until it was finished.


A superbly well told story., 04 Dec 2008
Guild member Andrew Riddoch, in cooperation with John Kemp, has produced a spectacular book on the 17th (Service) Battalion (1st Football) The Middlesex Regiment. This battalion was composed of professional and amateur footballers and supporters and was raised in consequence of the perceived selfishness and failure of professional football to put its lucrative business to one side at a time when other less privileged young men were dying for their country. Perhaps a theme that has some currency today and this book is absolutely relevant to, and part of, the history of football in England.
The author has to my knowledge spent thousands of hours preparing the research and it has provided the foundation for a brilliant narrative of not only what happened to the battalion, but also to the individuals who served in it. We are taken through the experiences of Walter Tull, a professional footballer for Northampton Town, who overcame the prejudice of the football field to gain the trust and support of his soldiers. Many other professionals gave up lucrative employment to serve in the battalion and in doing so set a remarkable example. This tells their story. In many ways the real tragedy was the men who were wounded and faced the realisation that their career was over. One wonders if in similar circumstances their example would be so readily repeated today.
Many personal accounts have been woven into the narrative which explains the events with the absolute clarity that only comes from an author who really knows the battlefield and can therefore give meaning to what happened. This really is the ideal book for both the serious reader of Great War history and anybody who is fascinated by the history of football.
Absolutely recommended.

By Mike McCarthy
Editor 'The Battle Guide'
Guild of Battlefield Guides


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.

Facts wrong, Dates Wrong. A Mess. , 07 Jan 2009
This book is so dull that it would actually be more interesting to watch it being pulped than to read it. Worse than that, it is wrong on several counts