Josh
@jbralston.bsky.social
Reader in Christian-Muslim Relations at University of Edinburgh. Write on theology, politics, and inter-cultural (mis)understandings.
Sport used to be an escape from academia, but now major sports are shaped by the regions and religions that I study. COYS
Sport used to be an escape from academia, but now major sports are shaped by the regions and religions that I study. COYS
1994 World Cup got me interested in football casually but only every 4 years. After 2006 World Cup, I wanted a team and was looking around. My paternal grandmother was born in California but was proudly Welsh bc of her parents from Cardiff so...
a soccer player with the name bale on the back of his shirt
ALT: a soccer player with the name bale on the back of his shirt
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
1994 World Cup got me interested in football casually but only every 4 years. After 2006 World Cup, I wanted a team and was looking around. My paternal grandmother was born in California but was proudly Welsh bc of her parents from Cardiff so...
Warriors my whole life, in fact my parents first date in the 1970s was a Warriors game. All my teams are San Francisco so I hate the Lakers and LA. My childhood was us being horrible and then last decade has been unreal.
November 9, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Warriors my whole life, in fact my parents first date in the 1970s was a Warriors game. All my teams are San Francisco so I hate the Lakers and LA. My childhood was us being horrible and then last decade has been unreal.
But if you told my 16 year old self that I would be deeply in love with Tottenham Hotspur FC and it was them that I was passing down to my kids and not the SF Giants or Golden State Warriors...I would hate my future self.
November 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM
But if you told my 16 year old self that I would be deeply in love with Tottenham Hotspur FC and it was them that I was passing down to my kids and not the SF Giants or Golden State Warriors...I would hate my future self.
As a basketball and broadly American sports guy, I was taught football was boring and foreign. I even had a school debate about why basketball was superior to "soccer." And here I am, 3 decades later living in UK and living and dying with football. Although I still love and always will, basketball
November 9, 2025 at 7:45 PM
As a basketball and broadly American sports guy, I was taught football was boring and foreign. I even had a school debate about why basketball was superior to "soccer." And here I am, 3 decades later living in UK and living and dying with football. Although I still love and always will, basketball
need to show this to my colleague who teaches, writes, and lives Islamic Liberation Theology and the Islamic Left
November 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM
need to show this to my colleague who teaches, writes, and lives Islamic Liberation Theology and the Islamic Left
We can dream of Xavi tucked in on left with Odobert and Deki tucked in right with Kudus or even Johnson.
November 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
We can dream of Xavi tucked in on left with Odobert and Deki tucked in right with Kudus or even Johnson.
Injuries beget injuries, especially with so many matches domestically and in Europe--as well as international tournaments. I'm more worried about how the medical and physio staff bring people back from injuries than I am with them getting injured.
November 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Injuries beget injuries, especially with so many matches domestically and in Europe--as well as international tournaments. I'm more worried about how the medical and physio staff bring people back from injuries than I am with them getting injured.
doubtful as he hasn't been on grass yet. Maybe late December.
November 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
doubtful as he hasn't been on grass yet. Maybe late December.
contact injury and broken jaw has nothing to do with medical staff to be fair.
November 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
contact injury and broken jaw has nothing to do with medical staff to be fair.
Especially in the evening.
November 8, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Especially in the evening.
Yep. My brother lived in Munich for a while and is a long time supporter because of that, so I keep a close eye and hear a supporters view.
November 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Yep. My brother lived in Munich for a while and is a long time supporter because of that, so I keep a close eye and hear a supporters view.
Letting him go on a free would have been a bigger mistake.
November 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Letting him go on a free would have been a bigger mistake.
They are one of the best teams, if not the very best, in Europe this year. And without Musaila as well.
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
They are one of the best teams, if not the very best, in Europe this year. And without Musaila as well.
For Arsenal and PSG or even later against Fulham and Brentford?
November 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
For Arsenal and PSG or even later against Fulham and Brentford?
they are both only 20 and haven't had the easiest progress either because of getting blocked at Bayern and injury last year for Wilson. They are going to be very good.
November 8, 2025 at 5:25 PM
they are both only 20 and haven't had the easiest progress either because of getting blocked at Bayern and injury last year for Wilson. They are going to be very good.
he was initially recruited/bought for Tuechel and never really fit in style of play for Kompany.
November 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
he was initially recruited/bought for Tuechel and never really fit in style of play for Kompany.
I don't dislike him in certain matches or as rotation, but we are relying far too heavily on him and the cost outweigh the benefits often. Although I do think if he was still on, we don't concede...but I don't know if we score twice if he had stayed on as Bentancur helped push us forward.
November 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I don't dislike him in certain matches or as rotation, but we are relying far too heavily on him and the cost outweigh the benefits often. Although I do think if he was still on, we don't concede...but I don't know if we score twice if he had stayed on as Bentancur helped push us forward.
more consistent than Romero or VdV?
November 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
more consistent than Romero or VdV?
the touch was fantastic
November 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
the touch was fantastic
honestly have more hope for that than I ever do when we play Chelsea.
November 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
honestly have more hope for that than I ever do when we play Chelsea.