@draper-rob.bsky.social
🎙️Co-host It Was What It Was https://podfollow.com/1745066482 📰@guardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/profile/rob-draper 📕Author Dear England, The Real Story of the Three Lions Rebirth https://geni.us/DearEngland
Happy New World Cup Year!
Despite ticket price sandal, Trump hijack, simpering Gianni, there will be actual football to celebrate…
From historians to futurologists @jonawils.bsky.social + I look ahead to what will make history in 2026
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English football is rich beyond imagination
And sparks mania from Ethiopia to Ecuador
Yet its cultural foundations feel fragile + brittle
It Was What It Was with @jonawils.bsky.social
and David Goldblatt on the deep history of PL and what to do
‘Don’t get mad - get organised!’
English football is rich beyond imagination
And sparks mania from Ethiopia to Ecuador
Yet its cultural foundations feel fragile + brittle
It Was What It Was with @jonawils.bsky.social
and David Goldblatt on the deep history of PL and what to do
‘Don’t get mad - get organised!’
Imre Hirschl was the Hungarian migrant who barely played football yet arguably transformed the game in Argentina, Uruguay at #RiverPlate #Peñarol
Peñarol were so good the opposition literally took flight at half time! #ClásicoDeLaFuga
Part 2 with @jonawils.bsky.social
podfollow.com/1745066482
The scandal of Eduard Streltsov, his return from the Gulag and how football forgets the victims
@jonawils.bsky.social Part 2 on The Russian Pelé today
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My latest monthly round-up of listening and reading recommendations, taking in the Horn of Africa; Eastern Orthodoxy; the Balkans; and football, ideology, and politics. 🧵
#polisky #skystorians
The Russian Pelé, Eduard Streltsov, an extraordinary player mired in scandal.
Streltsov was cocky, charismatic, set to be the star of 1958 World Cup - but ended up in the Gulag after confessing to rape
A dark, contested story told by @jonawils.bsky.social
podfollow.com/1745066482
Imre Hirschl was the Hungarian migrant who barely played football yet arguably transformed the game in Argentina, Uruguay at #RiverPlate #Peñarol
Peñarol were so good the opposition literally took flight at half time! #ClásicoDeLaFuga
Part 2 with @jonawils.bsky.social
podfollow.com/1745066482
Imre Hirschl had no playing career, lived in poverty when he emigrated from Hungary + blagged his way to become Gimnasia La Plata coach
Yet he changed the game in South America + arguably was brains behind Uruguay 1950 World Cup win
@jonawils.bsky.social
podfollow.com/1745066482
Imre Hirschl had no playing career, lived in poverty when he emigrated from Hungary + blagged his way to become Gimnasia La Plata coach
Yet he changed the game in South America + arguably was brains behind Uruguay 1950 World Cup win
@jonawils.bsky.social
podfollow.com/1745066482
Jürgen Klopp, experience bias, Sadio Mané and how data won @LFC the Premier League
Part 2 of our mini-series on the rise of analytics looking at Ian Graham and Michael Edwards with @jonawils.bsky.social on It Was What It Was
podfollow.com/1745066482
Ha! It’s in the pipeline.
04.11.2025 17:24 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Jürgen Klopp, experience bias, Sadio Mané and how data won @LFC the Premier League
Part 2 of our mini-series on the rise of analytics looking at Ian Graham and Michael Edwards with @jonawils.bsky.social on It Was What It Was
podfollow.com/1745066482
Very enjoyable to spend time in Rotterdam with ex Arsenal + Man Utd great Robin van Persie + @JNorthcroft
Talked about Pep, Fergie, Arsene and how he ended up @Feyenoord coach - thanks to 16 year old daughter Dina…👇
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Very enjoyable to spend time in Rotterdam with ex Arsenal + Man Utd great Robin van Persie + @JNorthcroft
Talked about Pep, Fergie, Arsene and how he ended up @Feyenoord coach - thanks to 16 year old daughter Dina…👇
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
How Data Won the Premier League with the excellent @rorysmith.bsky.social
Today’s It Was What It Was @jonawils.bsky.social traces the long (longer than you think) history of data + football + the rise of Liverpool (Brentford, Brighton + Hearts!)
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How Data Won the Premier League with the excellent @rorysmith.bsky.social
Today’s It Was What It Was @jonawils.bsky.social traces the long (longer than you think) history of data + football + the rise of Liverpool (Brentford, Brighton + Hearts!)
podfollow.com/1745066482
Never forget your first Barça-Real Madrid classico….mine was watching a 19 year old Leo Messi score a hat trick + dramatic last minute equaliser
Part 2 of the extraordinary Rise of Messi with @jonawils.bsky.social
tracing the dramatic early Barça years
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The extraordinary story of a phenomenon: Leo Messi’s breakout season at Barça
And that beautiful moment Ronaldinho sets him up for his first ever goal at Camp Nou!
Today on @ItWasPod with @jonawils - the making of Messi + building of Barça Dream Team II
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The extraordinary story of a phenomenon: Leo Messi’s breakout season at Barça
And that beautiful moment Ronaldinho sets him up for his first ever goal at Camp Nou!
Today on @ItWasPod with @jonawils - the making of Messi + building of Barça Dream Team II
podfollow.com/1745066482
Excellent series on Clough at Forest, particularly with regard to football‘s wider socioeconomic place in England and the continent. 1979/80: Thatcher in No. 10, top Bundesliga sides are economically more potent than English clubs, Nottingham play BFC Dynamo and HSV in the European Cup.
02.10.2025 08:58 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Having just finished listening to the superb It Was What It Was (by @draper-rob.bsky.social and @jonawils.bsky.social) series on Forest's European Cup I had the same thoughts, that it would be great to have further exploration of Clough's career and that final season would be really interesting.
09.10.2025 12:10 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0That episode may well be coming!
10.10.2025 09:21 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0The downfall of Brian Clough is the best episode of @jonawils.bsky.social
superb 4-part series on Nottm Forest in Europe
The descent into alcoholism and complexity of his relationship + break up with Peter Taylor provides rich material
podfollow.com/1745066482
The downfall of Brian Clough is the best episode of @jonawils.bsky.social
superb 4-part series on Nottm Forest in Europe
The descent into alcoholism and complexity of his relationship + break up with Peter Taylor provides rich material
podfollow.com/1745066482
The miracle of Nottingham Forest and genius of Brian Clough…
What better way to prepare for tonight’s CL fixs than a look back at the greatest ever achievement in the competition?
@jonawils.bsky.social in masterly story telling mode….
podfollow.com/1745066482
The denouement next week is the best yet!
30.09.2025 10:37 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0The miracle of Nottingham Forest and genius of Brian Clough…
What better way to prepare for tonight’s CL fixs than a look back at the greatest ever achievement in the competition?
@jonawils.bsky.social in masterly story telling mode….
podfollow.com/1745066482
Forest back in Europe! What better time to re-visit the glory years of 78-80 with @jonawils.bsky.social
Today in part 2 of our Clough European Cup special we cover the astonishing build up to the Malmö final as Forest win their 1st European Cup
podfollow.com/1745066482
Forest back in Europe! What better time to re-visit the glory years of 78-80 with @jonawils.bsky.social
Today in part 2 of our Clough European Cup special we cover the astonishing build up to the Malmö final as Forest win their 1st European Cup
podfollow.com/1745066482
