SCOUTED

"In the world we're working in now," a Head of Recruitment at a European club told us this summer, "you need to take decisions based on gut feeling." This is our first instalment of notes on how to scout a football player - and develop your own gut feeling. (Free): scoutedftbl.com/how-to-scout...

The Jude doubters been real quiet recently. Jake Entwistle's been using the silence to quantify what makes Bellingham so unbelievably brilliant, so we might use that knowledge to find others with similar gamebreaking qualities. The Conversation, w/ @tomoc.bsky.social:

Thanks so much for the amazing response to Cata's debut! For those who aren't aware - we've not done a great job introducing ourselves on Bluesky - SCOUTED is an indie and reader-funded magazine on the players, people and ideas changing football's future.

C A V A N

Cata is always must-read, but this is especially stellar work – not only on what makes Cavan Sullivan special, but dissecting the many factors which make it increasingly tricky to manage expectations around a top American soccer prospect. The definitive piece on the topic. An instant Cata classic.

Genuinely, best thing I’ve read in ages. No surprise given it’s @catabush.com for @scoutedftbl.com but it does make you realise what’s achievable and makes a lot of (£) subscription-based material look like lazy shit

Whether you care about Sullivan or not, THIS is what football writing should be

This is terrific.

If you like long-form pieces that cover that best and brightest players in this sport, SCOUTED is the place to look. You can use my code to get your first month for £1:

The story of Cavan Sullivan is a story about American soccer idols, and by extension, a story about American soccer itself, both the good and the bad. 20 years after Freddy Adu, American soccer has its prodigy. For @scoutedftbl.com, the tales we weave about Cavan and all that came before (🎁 link):

ALWAYS READ CAT BUSH, THIS TIME IN SCOUTED!

Two decades after Freddy Adu, America finally has the superstar it craves: Cavan Sullivan. But to understand what he means to the country, writes @catabush.com, you must understand all that's come before - and the crushing weight of being an American icon.

05/10

It goes under the radar just how young the current Northern Ireland team is: only two starters over the age of 23 years old, yet they combine for 220 caps in total and most of this line-up are regulars in the Premier League or Championship. The future is promising.

In the spring of 2019, a young man named Khvicha Kvaratskhelia lived alone at Lokomotiv Moscow’s training ground. All these years later, Khvicha's hustle has paved a new path for a faded icon: the Eastern European creator. The long read: bit.ly/dribbling-in...

I always wanted to be a writer growing up. Of course, I do write for a living, but working on pieces like this really emphasises the fact that I'm living the dream. Feature on Christ Inao Oulaï for @scoutedftbl.com: scoutedftbl.com/christ-inao-...

Super interesting stuff from @jakeentwistle.bsky.social on @scoutedftbl.com, not only on the PSL but also the Physicality Matrix in general: scoutedftbl.com/the-world-is...

If Givairo Read hadn't missed five months of football through injury last season, he would've been one of the most sought-after young players in the transfer market this summer. He has almost everything coaches and clubs want from a full-back in the modern game.

If you’re not into SCOUTED yet, we can’t be friends. Read this fantastic essay on Valentin Barco.

Ezri Konsa: the Charlton Athletic days.

"Furthermore, his sale would be recorded as pure profit in financial calculations, as academy players have a book value of zero" may well be the single most depressing sentence in football.

That was exceptional by Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Pablo Barrios deserves more recognition. Ice and fire, fire and ice: Diego Simeone’s best players and teams run on the little space between. In Barrios, he’s nurtured a midfielder capable of holding the balance, of managing chaos while maintaining the bite. Read more in Volume II: bit.ly/4gcwhAd

The J.LEAGUE, Belgian Pro League, Eredivisie, 2. Bundesliga, Ligue 2 and National Leagues all kick off their new seasons this weekend. What a time to be alive.

19-year-old Eden Hazard at LOSC Lille.

Bring back centre-forwards that trap long balls with their chest. Bring back those glory days.