Product Description: The Netherlands has one of the World's most distinctive and sophisticated football cultures. From the birth of Total Football in the sixties, through two decades of World Cup near misses to the exiles who remade clubs like AC Milan, Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea in their own image, the Dutch have often been dazzlingly original and influential. The elements of their style (exquisite skills, adventurous attacking tactics, a unique blend of individual creativity and teamwork, weird patterns of self-destruction) reflect and embody the country's culture and history.
Absoloutely Magnificent Simply the best book i have read about football. This gives massive insight into the culture of the dutch people and of their football. The connections are simple and intriguing. This book does not warrant a long review. In simple terms... Buy it, if you don't you are missing out.
Like a Cruyff feint--brilliance! Not only does this book take you in to the mind of Dutch soccer geniuses like Cruyff, Michels, etc. it gets into the mindset of the Dutch themselves. I also loved the stuff on the 1978 World Cup Dutch team which is probably my fave, even more than 1974., for making it to the Final without Cruyff, Krol and other top stars who boycotted the tourny.
For anyone who wants to understand what makes the Dutch tick on and off the soccer field.
The Dutch are deep A great book on so many levels. More than just a book about soccer, but the whole philosophy behind the culture around it in the Netherlands. Could be interesting to those not so passionate about soccer, but without my interest in the game I would never have looked into it. A super book for any fan. I read Hornby's Fever Pitch immediately after Brilliant Orange. Talk about different philosophies! Highly recommended.
the simplist pass is the hardest to make this was the best book i have read about soccer. the only books i can usually find about soccer have to do with coaching and drills. if you are interested in soccer beyond this level, this is the book for you. i have always compared playing soccer to "playing" life. and this book connects the too. but in a brilliant dutch way. as a young soccer coach, this book gave me ideas about how to teach my players and make them understand the beauty of soccer. i have travelled to the netherlands and even have a dutch girlfriend. this book explains there behavior just the way they explain it to the rest of the world. and when i am there i can see how they value space and take advantage of all that they have in an organized and effecient manner. this is then translated to the soccer field in a totalfootball explosion.
excellent Bought this book expecting a simple linear explanation of how Dutch soccer went from "there" to "here" and was blown away by how much more the book contains. First, it is anything but linear with even the chapter designations bearing no resemblance to chronology. Further, it often times reminds you of a James Burke "Connections" episode as the author ties in aspects of the social upheaval, changes in the artistic and architectural expression going on in mid-century Holland to how their approach to soccer developed.
It is a fascinating book even for those who may not be that interested in soccer.
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