Review of “Arsènal: The Making of a Modern Superclub” by Alex Fynn and Kevin Whitcher
In a balanced analysis of on- and off-the-field developments at Arsenal Football Club, the book tells the story how the ground for the appointment of Arsène Wenger was prepared and, subsequently, the Project Wenger of steering the club through troubled waters was implemented. It is written by two club insiders who collate Arsenal’s footballing performance with the power struggle in the boardroom during the transition period of moving to a new ground and setting the club’s new philosophy of the game.
Wróciłem przed momentem z przedmeczowych konferencji prasowych na Stamford Bridge. Zazwyczaj podczas tak zwanego MD-1 (czyli Matchday Minus 1) szkoleniowiec gospodarzy spotyka się z mediami po porannej sesji treningowej w ośrodku treningowym, natomiast pod wieczór na główną płytę stadionu wybiega drużyna gości, aby zapoznać się z polem nadchodzącej bitwy. Tym razem jednak ktoś w Chelsea zdecydował się przenieść sesję medialną gospodarzy z Cobham na Stamford Bridge, z poranka na wieczór. Dlaczego? Nie wiem.
In response to the BBC’s Dan Roan’s TV material “The challenges of Euro 2012 for Poland & Ukraine”
Over the last few days, England has been shocked by emerging videos that show first-hand experience of deeply-rooted racism in the English society. “A lot of black people and a lot of f--- Polish”, said 34-year-old Emma West as she started her rant in a Youtube video known as “My Tram Experience”. Suddenly, in a matter of hours, more videos of similar content have been published online. It all comes on the top of other major controversies as England captain’s racist remarks have now been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, to name just the most pressing one.
With less than 20 hours to my term papers deadlines, I didn’t look for any distractions, but somehow they found me anyway. After my comment regarding the 2018 & 2022 World Cup bids had been first published in the Evening Standard (its Polish-language version can be found here) few months ago, I was approached once again by the London paper. This time, however, the issue was rather different and closer to my academic interests, related to my Masters degree. 
On the losing side at the end of the Cold War, Russia had to redefine its place on a geostrategic map and its objectives within its own sphere of influence. Christian Thorun undertook the challenging task of systematising this process as Russia was seeking its new 21st century identity. In a changing political and economic climate, re-establishing national security’s principles was not an immediate process and, as the title may suggest, different ideas played their role in shaping Russia’s foreign policy thinking.
