The Guardian recommends the top 100 football Blogs to follow in 2011:
Essential reading about the business of football, with a depth of knowledge that makes it stand well out from the crowd.
twitter.com/swissrambleAn outstanding variety of football stories from around the world and through the ages are told here by an ever-growing collective, among them a personal favourite
this recent piece on Justin Fashanu's spell at Torquay.
twitter.com/inbedwimaradonaMichael Cox launched the tactics-porn site last January and says "it was inspired by [Jonathan Wilson's] Inverting The Pyramid and the standard of punditry on British television, in very different ways". Disclaimer: the good man himself writes
a chalkboards column for this parish every Monday.
twitter.com/Zonal_MarkingAFP sports journalist Tom Williams blogs on all things French football, and also provides some rather handsome tactics pieces.
twitter.com/tomwfootballA vast array of maps, locating the teams that took part in everything from
last season's Blue Square Premier promotion and play-offs map to the
2010 Copa Libertadores last-16 map. Packed full of hidden treasures.
(Dr) John Beech "offers commentary on current (and, to a much lesser extent, historic) issues in the management of English clubs and, as appropriate, the governance of the clubs and leagues". It's well worth digging into.
twitter.com/johnbeechThe breadth of coverage again impresses here as English football (and its
clubs in crisis) get a thorough analysing.
twitter.com/twohtOne of the best designed blogs on the list, this is "a blog about the wonder and terror of soccer". That tells you where the blog is based, but it covers far more than just MLS.
Here are just
two examples why you should read it.
twitter.com/runofplayTrips abroad, trips around the non-league and just flat-out good writing. Enjoy.
twitter.com/theballisroundAn excellent compendium for the Football League fan, David Bevan helms this collection of writing on the lower divisions. (Disclaimer:
you may have read David's guest articles on our
Football League blog.)
twitter.com/the72footballIf you can look beyond the big plug from the Guardian on its homepage standfirst, you'll find the thoroughly enjoyable writing of Danny Last and friends as they make their way around the continent, from FC United to FC Copenhagen.
twitter.com/dannylastJust two of the stand-out features on this blog:
20 greatest managers and
my favourite footballer.
twitter.com/equaliserblogTracking and interviewing much-travelled English footballers as they build their careers - and lives - around the world. Fascinating.
twitter.com/lesrosbifsDamn. Fine. Writing. A special tip of the cap for the
Woodlands and
Heidenheim Chronicles.
twitter.com/iainmacintoshAn interesting perspective on a range of football from the Premier League to the A-League, especially good on its
'ones 2 watch' feature.
twitter.com/bpfootballBeyond their excellent
podcast lies a collection of writing from some brilliant writers.
twitter.com/footballrambleAnother blog with a fine
podcast, "the opinions here range from the extremely cynical to the gloriously bright-eyed, from Premier League title race excitement to bitter non-league conversion".
twitter.com/twofootedtackleAndrew Gibney covers a range of European football topics (with a special love for Ligue 1) as well as producing a weekly podcast. As the man himself says: "Gibfootballshow is my mistress and she speaks French."
twitter.com/gibfootballshow'Literally corner' is enough to make you want to read Adam Bushby and Rob MacDonald's blog.
twitter.com/magicspongersA tidy range of articles and podcasting opinions on French, German, US football and more.
twitter.com/FutblFairgroundA thoroughly entertaining range of views and features, a favourite being
The Mark Burke Story.
twitter.com/ghostgoal.Like Italian football? Like an enjoyable read? Here you go.
twitter.com/ginkersDisillisioned and think modern football is rubbish? Then get your mojo back in the lower reaches of English football.
twitter.com/therealfacupDoes what it says on the tin. And does it well.
twitter.com/ScotFootBlogLuckily, it's got nothing to do with the Saturday morning programme, focusing on a range of topics in the Football League and below.
twitter.com/soccerammwOne of the points of a blog is to have a good old rant, something this blog does admirably.
twitter.com/1FITGMore fine Football League views and analysis.
twitter.com/twounfortunatesAn impressive volume and standard of writing from around the globe on this blog, where you'll struggle not to find an interesting read.
twitter.com/afootballreportStraight outta Denmark, "aiming to strengthen the basic ethical values of sport and encourage democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in world sport." What's not to like?
twitter.com/playthegame_orgA light touch and good use of embedded videos makes this one easy on the eye and mind.
twitter.com/In_The_Stands"The alternative female voice for Latin American, Spanish and Italian football online," and well worth a gander.
twitter.com/futbolitaKeep on top of the latest updates in kit news/designs around the world, from online club polls to commemorative editions.
twitter.com/footballshirtToday we spell irreverence, P-I-E-S.
twitter.com/ollieirishIn the Argentinian football corner, writing out of Buenos Aires, by way of North Somerset, Sam Kelly blogs on "more fútbol argentino than you can shake a mullet at".
twitter.com/HEGS_comAn intriguing and rewarding blog that deals with "football's oddities". Which I guess is right if it's
a site that reviews the 1986 ZX Spectrum release, 'Peter Shilton's Handball Maradona!'.
twitter.com/mirkobolesanThere's plenty of good perusing to be had around Rob Marrs's blog.
twitter.com/MarrsioFootballA quick glance at the tag cloud on this blog front page gives you a fair clue as to what to predominantly expect here: tactics, Serie A, Premier League and South American analysis.
twitter.com/rcammisolaVideos, lists and maps (
this naturalised Qatar players one is good) make this an arresting read.
twitter.com/thebestelevenCelebrating defenders and defending (you'll be surprised to learn), the kind of blog that Ossie Ardiles has nightmares about.
Football gets the female touch for "all things fun, fluffy and footie-related". You're intrigued, aren't you?
twitter.com/kicketteNot the most regularly updated blog, but when you see how detailed the tactical treatises are, you'll understand.
twitter.com/santapelotaTim Hill's 'Dissection of' pieces are just one reason to delve into this excellent blog.
twitter.com/timhiGoals, misses, ludicrous footballer adverts and much, much more make this required watching and reading.
twitter.com/101greatgoalsThe breadth of coverage is what stands out here, from Barnet to the Apertura.
twitter.com/justfootballAgain, the wide variety of subjects covered stands out.
twitter.com/threeandin'The Big Picture' archive is just one of the reasons this US-based, but global-themed blog warrants your attention.
twitter.com/pitchinvasionBruce McGuire's bitesize-structured daily wraps on MLS and beyond make for a different style of blogging.
twitter.com/dunordCompiling more than 300 individual team blogs from around the globe into a busy, hectic-looking site, this remains an excellent place from which to delve into a huge archive.
twitter.com/theoffsideEnglish-language Slovakian football blogs might not face the hottest competition, but that doesn't lessen the quality of this one.
twitter.com/britskibelasi"Beer is the medium. Soccer is the message," is this blog's mantra as it downs one blog on US football before swiftly moving on to another.
twitter.com/freebeermovemntA ground-hopping tour of the non-league, with recent trips ranging from
Newquay to
Bacup Borough, via the £12 admission of
Harrogate Town.
Comprising a beautiful array of drawings and illustrations. A delight.
twitter.com/matthewcrPortuguese football blogging at its best.
twitter.com/cahiersdufootJack Lang's blog on all things Brazilian football, in case the name hadn't given it away. Really rather good.
twitter.com/snap_kaka_popDavid Dickson actually talks sense.
twitter.com/dkdicksonMemories of every single date since this blog began almost two years ago, handily illustrated with accompanying videos more often than not.
twitter.com/BrianSeal"Where sport meets porn," claims this blog, selling it somewhat short. But I bet you want to click on it now.
twitter.com/thespoilerukVideos, blogs and a podcast complement this blog dedicated to celebrating the offbeat nature of the game.
twitter.com/offthepostYou may have already come across Richard Whittall at
Pitch Invasion (including his fascinating 'football, blogs and newspapers unite?' series), but here he focuses predominantly on MLS, as well as other subjects.
twitter.com/RWhittall'The Footy Blog' section of the Canadian site may include contributions from our own
Paolo Bandini, but don't hold it against them.
http://twitter.com/theScoreA site that "says 'no' to big soccer and yes to soccer as a game for women and the marginalized, as a place of resistance". Full of truly fascinating articles.
twitter.com/TheGlobalGameWell-established it may be, but this remains one of the most consistent out there, along with
its host of sister sites.
twitter.com/epltalkBecause they can co-exist, despite what Kevin Keegan might have you think.
twitter.com/FootieAndMusic. It's probably also worth mentioning
Obscure Music And Football while we're here too.
With a heavy lean towards the Bundesliga, Martyn Fisher provides tactical match report breakdowns from around Europe.
twitter.com/bundesliga_wrapThe Blog Italia section remains packed full of pieces from some of the best writers on their subject around.
twitter.com/footballitaliaJoshua Askew and guests add interesting tactical dissections to other features.
twitter.com/LeJaskA good variety of content from Chris Mayer, a fine purveyor of Belgian footballing information among other things.
twitter.com/chrismayerv1For lovers of Dutch football tactical analysis, this should be right up your street.
twitter.com/11tegen11Welsh football, get your Welsh football here.
twitter.com/ffwtbolThe accompanying blog to Chris Toy's entertaining online comic.
twitter.com/christoyAn excellent source for anyone wanting to acquaint themselves with Argentinian football.
twitter.com/@ArgentinaFWOpinionated, attention-grabbing and featuring a wide variety of content.
twitter.com/bagsynotinA new arrival on the scene, but the early signs are good.
twitter.com/alansmithysNot solely a football blog, but it is the predominant content,
as Dominic Pollard recently discussed.
twitter.com/DominicPollardJames Appell's blog and podcast succeeds in tackling topics beyond the obvious.
twitter.com/jamesappellSome lovely YouTube finds on top of non-league and upwards updates.
twitter.com/coldtuesdayevesYou had me at
Isaac.
twitter.com/SurrealFootballStatistics, trivia, history and analysis that will make you lose hours as if they were minutes.
twitter.com/myfootballfactsWhen you first log on to a blog and see a review of the 1988 Reusch Toni goalkeeping glove, you know it's one to bookmark.
Like
Deadspin? Then there's a fair chance you'll like this.
twitter.com/avoidingthedropThe regular football pundits/commentators quotes collection and videos makes this a humorous must for the list.
twitter.com/dangerhereThere's nowhere better to polish up on your Polish football.
twitter.com/polishscoutMore travels around Britain's league and non-league grounds, and further afield.
twitter.com/HuddoHudsonKeeping its eye on the ball to spot the best football videos and photographs you might have missed.
twitter.com/BeatTheFirstManPredominantly Premier League-themed, but worth it for Dan Mobbs's
'Guess the star of English football from their classic football sticker' quiz alone.
twitter.com/ThreeMatchBanSpecialising in the Finnish and Norwegian game, with added coverage from the rest of the Nordic nations.
facebook.com/pages/Nordic-Football-NewsSet up by Ahmed Bilal in 2006, this remains one of the best-known blogs on the scene.
twitter.com/soccerlensInteresting pieces focused on Spanish football.
twitter.com/LaLigathemidsAnother blog favouring the bitesize entry round-ups and one to keep an eye on.
twitter.com/false10Short, sharp and to the point.
twitter.com/FoulThrowBlogAny blog and podcast named in honour of the Celtic shambles is good by us. But it gets in on its content too.
twitter.com/ScheidtcastGlobal coverage with a particular strength in Asian football.
twitter.com/StopTimeBlog"Two football-loving university graduates, sick of dire journalism and average football blogs online, team up to bring a fresh look at the world of football." It's what they'd want written here.
twitter.com/upper90magazineWeekly musings on a range of subjects.
twitter.com/gregtheoharis... but it's still well worth reading about on this blog.
Token references of one of the Guardian's favourite TV programmes may seem why this makes the cut, but
the graphics, such as this, help to make it stand out.
An excellent resource as well as a good read.
Predominantly focused on the MLS and US national teams, with added Premier League coverage and more thrown in.
twitter.com/shinguardianPrimarily focused on breaking down the Glazers' work at Old Trafford, this just makes the list due to interesting pieces on other clubs' debts and finances, among them
Spurs and
Barcelona.
twitter.com/andersredA guilty pleasure, but anything that digs out
this interactive scoreboard can never be a bad thing. I should also really make mention of
Peter Upton's Subbuteo Tribute site too.
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