Just wanted to draw attention to a new(ish) publication called The Blizzard that's been set up by a bunch of writers, led by Jonathan Wilson, who wanted the space to write more in-depth and varied articles than the SEO-driven mainstream media allows for.
http://www.theblizzard.co.uk/
It's a quarterly mag and takes an interesting approach to making money - basically you pay what you want, along the Radiohead In Rainbows model. For as little as a penny you get around 200 pages (PDF, epub or mobi) of writing from some of the football's best journalists, including Wilson, Simon Kuper, Philippe Auclair, Gabriele Marcotti, Sid Lowe and Tim Vickery.
I've bought both issues (paying the 'recommended' £3 each time) and have been really impressed. I wrote an article on the old 606 about the first one but it proved spectacularly unpopular. Never one to take a hint though, I thought I'd have another crack at drumming up interest. You can read my original piece still and look at the comments for very brief thoughts on all the articles if that helps you make up your mind on whether it's worth downloading: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A83777980
I've not read the whole of the second issue (actually called issue 1) and not all the articles are great but there's some good stuff in there.
I've posted this to the Arsenal board because one of the highlights is an interview with Dennis Bergkamp that's pretty unusual - it's all about how he plays, talking in depth about some of his greatest goals (Leicester, Newcastle etc) to try and understand how he did it. An unusual insight into a footballer's mind.
United fans might be interested in a mammoth, 16 page analysis of our 2-3 game with Real Madrid in 2000, although I haven't got this far yet so don't vouch for its quality. It's actually written by a certain Rob Smyth, United fan and author of that infamous 2006 Fergie-bashing tirade many of us fondly remember: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/jul/31/sport.comment
I recommend downloading the Blizzard - what have you got to lose? You can give them 10p if you want, and if you like it and want to support the writers and make sure they can keep this thing running, you can pay more for the next one.
Quality football journalism
posted on 22/7/11
i actually threw up in my mouth a little when you described a badly written, pretentious article as 'my original piece'
posted on 22/7/11
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posted on 22/7/11
Interesting. I quite like the work of some of the writers mentioned. Will have to check it out.
posted on 22/7/11
@ BaaderMeinMesrine
Fair enough, reading back, 'original piece' does come across as painfully pretentious but that wasn't the intention. Glad you at least read it, and I'll take the criticism of a self-described "literary wunderkid" onboard.
posted on 22/7/11
Op, I've had dealing with Baader on the SPL boards, and I can confirm he doesn't understand the meaning of the word "pretentious".
posted on 22/7/11
giggsnscholes
I don't think BaaderMeinMesrine's rude response warrants an apology. First of all, what's wrong with 'my original piece'? 'Original' is just the natural word to use when you refer to something you are now basically repeating, and 'piece' is a synonym for 'article' that we see every day and doesn't exactly carry grandiose connotations. You'd have to be a Daily Star reader to think the author of those words was up himself.
Secondly, I've just had read of the said 'original piece' and found it clearly written and interesting.
I can see only two possibilities. Either BaaderMeinMesrine is the finest prose stylist since Vladimir Nabokov or BaaderMeinMesrine has an inflated opinion of himself and doesn't know how to behave around adults.
What I really wanted to type after reading your 'piece', before seeing that annoying response, was a thank you for the tip. It sounds well worth a read.