Tom Curren
@tomoc.bsky.social
I write. Creative Editor @scoutedftbl.com. Redstory: tales from the Arsenal.
Pinned
Tom Curren
@tomoc.bsky.social
· Sep 15
No indecision
You always, always come home.
open.substack.com
An ode to Noni Madueke, and the story we didn't care to tell
The latest chapter in one man's ongoing meltdown as he attempts to come to terms with what sportswashing is doing to his brain
November 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
The latest chapter in one man's ongoing meltdown as he attempts to come to terms with what sportswashing is doing to his brain
Reposted by Tom Curren
A story of monsters, Dan Ballard, and the evil in Manchester City
Flying too close to the sun
On monsters, Dan Ballard, and Manchester City
redstory.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
A story of monsters, Dan Ballard, and the evil in Manchester City
A story of monsters, Dan Ballard, and the evil in Manchester City
Flying too close to the sun
On monsters, Dan Ballard, and Manchester City
redstory.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
A story of monsters, Dan Ballard, and the evil in Manchester City
Reposted by Tom Curren
Beyond Man City, other clubs which profit directly from emirati patronage should ask themselves some inconvenient questions; and if they do not of their own accord, we fans should be pressuring them into doing so. These other clubs very much include Arsenal FC.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Silence over Sudan: why do Manchester City’s owners get away with so much?
Two midweek matches in England had a backdrop of war and geopolitics, but only one drew large protests
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Beyond Man City, other clubs which profit directly from emirati patronage should ask themselves some inconvenient questions; and if they do not of their own accord, we fans should be pressuring them into doing so. These other clubs very much include Arsenal FC.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
if it had to be someone I'm really glad it was Dan Ballard
November 8, 2025 at 11:14 PM
if it had to be someone I'm really glad it was Dan Ballard
Reposted by Tom Curren
Here's my Arsenal long-read, just for you.
Attacking back-fives, analytics, tactics, a deeper look at what has (and hasn't) changed, and a whole lot more.
Attacking back-fives, analytics, tactics, a deeper look at what has (and hasn't) changed, and a whole lot more.
Adventures
Breaking back-fives, what numbers have changed (and what haven't), how Eze differs from Ødegaard, Saliba in midfield, scattered notes on Rice and Gyökeres, and more
billycarpenter.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Here's my Arsenal long-read, just for you.
Attacking back-fives, analytics, tactics, a deeper look at what has (and hasn't) changed, and a whole lot more.
Attacking back-fives, analytics, tactics, a deeper look at what has (and hasn't) changed, and a whole lot more.
I didn't make a fuss sharing Redstory this week because I was really nervous to be apparently the only football writer in the world talking about this, so it's nice to see others take a swing
November 8, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I didn't make a fuss sharing Redstory this week because I was really nervous to be apparently the only football writer in the world talking about this, so it's nice to see others take a swing
Reposted by Tom Curren
Finally, I’ve put everything together to provide a primer on the @scoutedftbl.com Archetypes project so far. It’s not finished, it’s constantly evolving. But now there is a reference point for the Archetypes themselves and the methodology. Here you go:
A guide to Archetypes
A comprehensive primer for SCOUTED's player profiling project
scoutedftbl.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Finally, I’ve put everything together to provide a primer on the @scoutedftbl.com Archetypes project so far. It’s not finished, it’s constantly evolving. But now there is a reference point for the Archetypes themselves and the methodology. Here you go:
Reposted by Tom Curren
Once you start thinking of AI as a war on humanity, on human thought, on human inquiry, on human labor, on nuance and critical thinking, it slots in pretty seamlessly with the right wing ideological project, oligarchical political projects, big tech's political projects, etc
November 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Once you start thinking of AI as a war on humanity, on human thought, on human inquiry, on human labor, on nuance and critical thinking, it slots in pretty seamlessly with the right wing ideological project, oligarchical political projects, big tech's political projects, etc
for the ~three Redstory readers invested in the winter arc, here's where I'm at: closing in on a stone down since I began on September 1, and two-ish from my heaviest point last year
November 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
for the ~three Redstory readers invested in the winter arc, here's where I'm at: closing in on a stone down since I began on September 1, and two-ish from my heaviest point last year
i'm not crying you're crying
November 5, 2025 at 9:05 AM
i'm not crying you're crying
Reposted by Tom Curren
A big Redstory about the thing none of us are looking at while we argue about set pieces
Blood and gold
On set-pieces, television, and the stories we're not telling
redstory.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:38 PM
A big Redstory about the thing none of us are looking at while we argue about set pieces
don't usually go in for the fanbaiting drama stuff but I find the way Trent has been treated by Liverpool fans just so unbelievably cringe and embarrassing
November 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
don't usually go in for the fanbaiting drama stuff but I find the way Trent has been treated by Liverpool fans just so unbelievably cringe and embarrassing
A big Redstory about the thing none of us are looking at while we argue about set pieces
Blood and gold
On set-pieces, television, and the stories we're not telling
redstory.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:38 PM
A big Redstory about the thing none of us are looking at while we argue about set pieces
And the salve: “Some moments teach one the price of human connection: if one can live with one’s own pain, then one respects the pain of others, and so, briefly, but transcendentally, we can release each other’s pain.”
"I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain." This James Baldwin quote is hitting harder than ever.
November 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
And the salve: “Some moments teach one the price of human connection: if one can live with one’s own pain, then one respects the pain of others, and so, briefly, but transcendentally, we can release each other’s pain.”
Reposted by Tom Curren
Did not expect one of the best paragraphs I’d read about baseball would come from an Irish newspaper
www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...
www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...
November 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Did not expect one of the best paragraphs I’d read about baseball would come from an Irish newspaper
www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...
www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...
Reposted by Tom Curren
If a player gets the @llewdavies.bsky.social ‘Introducing’ treatment, take note.
Llew flagged Said El Mala during the U-19 EURO and I’ve piggy-backed off that ever since. This is one of the most destructive dribblers in Europe. It’s his first-ever top-flight season.
Llew flagged Said El Mala during the U-19 EURO and I’ve piggy-backed off that ever since. This is one of the most destructive dribblers in Europe. It’s his first-ever top-flight season.
Introducing Said El Mala
A 317-minute breakdown of the German winger hell-bent on destruction
scoutedftbl.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:25 PM
If a player gets the @llewdavies.bsky.social ‘Introducing’ treatment, take note.
Llew flagged Said El Mala during the U-19 EURO and I’ve piggy-backed off that ever since. This is one of the most destructive dribblers in Europe. It’s his first-ever top-flight season.
Llew flagged Said El Mala during the U-19 EURO and I’ve piggy-backed off that ever since. This is one of the most destructive dribblers in Europe. It’s his first-ever top-flight season.
Reposted by Tom Curren
New Redstory: on writer's block, hitting the wall, and the quiet power of being really fucking boring
Boring
On Atleti, Crystal Palace, and writer's block
redstory.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:50 PM
New Redstory: on writer's block, hitting the wall, and the quiet power of being really fucking boring
mikel merino when it's time to do some weird touch that has 1/100000 chance of coming off
October 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
mikel merino when it's time to do some weird touch that has 1/100000 chance of coming off
Reposted by Tom Curren
i think it's really important we don't forget Ethan Nwaneri a) is 18 and b) has truly disgusting levels of sauce
October 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
i think it's really important we don't forget Ethan Nwaneri a) is 18 and b) has truly disgusting levels of sauce
i think it's really important we don't forget Ethan Nwaneri a) is 18 and b) has truly disgusting levels of sauce
October 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
i think it's really important we don't forget Ethan Nwaneri a) is 18 and b) has truly disgusting levels of sauce
New Redstory: on writer's block, hitting the wall, and the quiet power of being really fucking boring
Boring
On Atleti, Crystal Palace, and writer's block
redstory.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:50 PM
New Redstory: on writer's block, hitting the wall, and the quiet power of being really fucking boring