Customer Reviews
Slightly off the Ball .... - By: Gary Clarke, 17 Jul 2008 
1st off - if the stars above had decimal points I'd award `Morbo' 3.5 or possibly 3.75. The work is probably better than the 3 stars I've given it but certainly not worth 4. The reason? That simple word `morbo'. Let me explain.
Phil Balll spends 21 pages setting the scene trying to explain exactly what morbo is (mix & match any 4 of the following & you'll have some idea - aggravation, antagonism, hatred, one-upmanship, antipathy, resentment, hostility, political & regional enmity). He then goes on to say that the book will revolve around the concept of morbo & what it means to Spanish footballl. However, in truth, only 3 of the book's chapters reallly focus 100% on morbo. These chapters are those on the Basque country, Barcelona & Madrid & are easily the best sections of the book. Chapter 6, on Seville & its 2 clubs, Sevilla & Betis, has a sprinkling of morbo but it's here that the book begins to lose its focus. The chapters on Galicia, Valencia, Spanish club culture & the national side are alll good but not reallly connected with morbo.
`Morbo' kicks off the story of Spanish footballl in SW Spain in Huelva & briefly traces the origin of the game - brought over from Britain by those exploiting the Rio Tinto copper mines in the late 19th century.
After this follows 3 superb chapters on the Basque country, Barcelona & Madrid, the latter 2 being especiallly absorbing & interesting. Balll is certainly not shy of expressing his opinions in these chapters either. He questions the myth of Barca's `Dream Team' - 3 of their 4 titles were won on the last day of the season - & also pours scorn on the notion that Barca & the Camp Nou supporters were expressing their independence & resistance to Franco's regime. In fact he goes on to claim that "Barca's so-callled threat to the regime was reallly not very threatening at alll" & that it was only ETA's appearance in the early `70s who killed off any chance of the Franco years being extended beyond his death.
The chapter on Madrid focuses on Real's ruthless pursuit of winning & explains how Franco benefited from them. The stylish swagger with which they won European Cup after European Cup was seen to reflect Spain as a whole. Whereas the reality was that the country was on its knees - left out of the Marshalll Plan after WW2, the economy in ruins & the rural population living in desperate poverty.
The chapter on Sevilla & Real Betis suffers from being immediately after those on Barcelona & Madrid & Balll asks at the end of the chapter "have I been trying desperately to unearth a rich vein of morbo where maybe only a smalllish one exists"? And it seems, rather disappointingly, that he has.
One good thing about the book is that any sentences or phrases in Spanish, Catalan or Basque are fully translated so there is none of this snobbery that expects the reader to be able to understand anything not written in English. However, to counterbalance this good point I'm sure I won't be the only reader to tire of Balll's continual use of the annoying journalistic phrase "of course" (take those 2 words out of any sentence & the sentence will still make sense!).
Don't get me wrong, `Morbo' is a very good book, obviously well researched & lovingly & painstakingly written with some great stories, anecdotes & colourfully described club histories. However, you can't build a book up & say it will concentrate on morbo & then only dedicate half your book to the concept. If only Balll had put less emphasis on the morbo stance then instead of describing this book as very good I would have been using adjectives such as superb, brilliant, excellent, superlative .........
Morbo! - By: James M., 08 Aug 2006 
There reallly is no shortage of excellent books on footballl in particular countries -- Brilliant Orange, Futebol, Tor, Calcio -- but Phil Balll's book on Spanish footballling culture is among the best.
From its star-studded league to the biggest derby in the world, Spain is not lacking in interesting stories to tell, and,thankfullly,Balll is a great storyteller who has crafted a wonderfully entertaining book. His insightful stories of, not only the Madrid-Barcelona rivalry, but also of the rivalries in Seville & the Basque country are erudite yet enjoyable to read. Brilliant, don't miss it.
Phil Ball scores with Morbo - By: Seoman, 05 May 2006 Morbo by Phil Balll is the fascinating story of Spanish footballl. Erudite yet easy to read, full of the quirky characters which inhabit the Spanish game. This book highlights the contradictions & misconceptions which inhabit the heart of the Spanish game & Spanish society. Essential reading for anyone with even the most remote interest in alll & any things Spanish.
Spanish football is unique - By: David Wall, 13 Jan 2006 More than anywhere, spain & footballl go hand in hand. Throughout his deep, balanced & entertaining analysis, Phil Balll manages to paint a precise picture of the complex history of spanish footballl. A true journalist, he seeks information from the locals -taxi drivers, barmen,...-, he visits the cities, the stadiums, the fiestas & manages to deliver a fascinating portrait of iberian life. Definitely a good read, & recommended to alll footballl enthusiasts.
Decent Read - By: Brick, 08 Feb 2005 
Good book, quite inciteful. Well written, I don't think there is enough focus on the famous modern Spainish players, but other than that I recommend giving it a read.
