Bloody Confused!

[TheUglyOrgan]

Has anyone else picked up this book? If you're a listener of World Soccer Daily, you've most likely heard promotion for it, and rightfully so. I'm about 1/3 of the way through it, just after picking it up yesterday, and it's fantastic.

I would especially recommend it to someone who is just starting to follow soccer, as it will give you that extra push over the edge and take you from intrigued, to fanatic.

Quote:

In the throes of becoming jaded and cynical about the American sportswriting scene, Culpepper, a London-based Los Angeles Times journalist covering European sporting events, writes about the internationally known Premiership soccer league and its overzealous fans. The rough-and tumble British soccer sport quickly captivates Culpepper, who wrote on American sports for 15 years, as he learns the rivalries between the fans and teams such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Portsmouth. A humorist of sorts, he can't help making snide comparisons between the rowdy, cheering British fans and their more somber American brethren, while touting the emotional high of regional pride over big team profits. He falls under the spell of the struggling Portsmouth squad, realizing that the die-hard fans live and die with the fortunes of their players and teams, describing vivid action scenes as thrilling as any in American hockey or football. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[thegoons21]

It's my next book purchase. Good to hear it's worth the read. I was hoping to get some insight on attending some English footy games from it as well. Culpeper comes across a little less than exciting on air, but I'm sure he's not gonna detail everything when he's trying to sell the book.

And world soccer daily is great show..Especially with all the Galaxy and Beckham bashing of late.

[foreversport]

Hmmm looks pretty good. I might have to pick it up.

[TheUglyOrgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by thegoons21

It's my next book purchase. Good to hear it's worth the read. I was hoping to get some insight on attending some English footy games from it as well. Culpeper comes across a little less than exciting on air, but I'm sure he's not gonna detail everything when he's trying to sell the book. And world soccer daily is great show..Especially with all the Galaxy and Beckham bashing of late.

I did want more from him on the air, but understandable that they want the book to sell. It does give some insight into England I was not aware of, such as the buying history for buying tickets, not being able to walk up to the gate and purchase a ticket, etc. He mentions how capitalist America would take your money in a heartbeat if you offered to buy a ticket at the gate. Brilliant stuff.

As for WSD, it used to be ridiculous at the amount they would bash MLS in general, because they would then admit they don't watch the games. Now they've actually started to watch some of the games and have admitted the league is improving.

They still bash, but now they bash in an appropriate manner, such as the Galaxy and the mess that is SuperLiga.

[stagnant]

I'm about 6 or 7 chapters into the book, and so far I it's not as good as I hoped it would be. Me and this guy are on similar wave lengths... I also work in the sports media and many of the reasons I'm so into European soccer are just like his, so I'm starting to think that might be whats making the book a little tedious to me, as I keep saying to myself "how much money does he make to just fly over to England and travel like he does?"

I think the fact that it's been way overly promoted on WSD since it's release has annoyed me too while reading it... I actually started fast forwarding through Culpepper's segments last week because it felt like he was summing up the book on air.

Also, that cover sure does suck.

[RoyceBrown]

I picked it up this weekend at Borders (1st book purchased away from Amazon in years).

I am a avid WSD listener, and they certainly got me excited for this.

I'm about 5 chapters in & I am very satisfied. He is a pretty good writer, way wittier & funnier then he was on WSD.

But compared to some of the other footy books I've read, he comes nowhere near to Hornsby, but it's not really even fair to compare the two. I'd say Bloody Confused! is about as good as "How Soccer Explains the Wolrd" (also written by a yank).

I'd say this is a must read for anyone who reads books and enjoys Premiership football. Would have been better if he picked Spurs (goes without saying), but at least he went with a decent club (Pompey) instead of the tired, dry & completely played out "big 4".

Nice punch in the gut for all the so called chelskiBoughtTheirTitle, scum, manu & Substandard Liverpool supporters you find around OS.


COYS!

[TheUglyOrgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by RoyceBrown

I picked it up this weekend at Borders (1st book purchased away from Amazon in years). I am a avid WSD listener, and they certainly got me excited for this. I'm about 5 chapters in & I am very satisfied. He is a pretty good writer, way wittier & funnier then he was on WSD. But compared to some of the other footy books I've read, he comes nowhere near to Hornsby, but it's not really even fair to compare the two. I'd say Bloody Confused! is about as good as "How Soccer Explains the Wolrd" (also written by a yank). I'd say this is a must read for anyone who reads books and enjoys Premiership football. Would have been better if he picked Spurs (goes without saying), but at least he went with a decent club (Pompey) instead of the tired, dry & completely played out "big 4". Nice punch in the gut for all the so called chelskiBoughtTheirTitle, scum, manu & Substandard Liverpool supporters you find around OS. COYS!

I'm reading Fever Pitch right when I'm done with this, and it's amazing I've never read it to this point, for two reasons. I love High Fidelity and soccer, I just never got around to reading Fever Pitch.

I also think the fact he didn't pick one of the big four is a main reason I'm enjoying it. Not just due to me not liking them, it just makes for a much more interesting read.

[Acid]

I stopped listening to WSD because

A) Howard left.
B) Steven is the biggest Arsenal hater I've seen, and it's absurd. Every show (when I used to listen) he'd bash Arsenal at least twice.

[TheUglyOrgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Acid

I stopped listening to WSD because A) Howard left. B) Steven is the biggest Arsenal hater I've seen, and it's absurd. Every show (when I used to listen) he'd bash Arsenal at least twice.

Thats not the only club he bashes, though. Now, it's usually just Scientology jokes, but they do get old.

As for Howard, I wish he was back. Howard & Kenny together was the best, Steven can take a very, very long vacation and I would be just fine.

[Acid]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheUglyOrgan

As for Howard, I wish he was back. Howard & Kenny together was the best, Steven can take a very, very long vacation and I would be just fine.

I agree. I loved the Howard & Kenny shows, but Steven just goes off on stupid rants and loves to hear himself speak.

Howard was HILARIOUS but there was truth in everything he said.