Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

Good, but not great

Customer Rating:

Football Dynamo gives Russia the treatment that various writers have given various countries, from David Winner's journey through Dutch football (Brilliant Orange) to Alex Belios's Futebol on Brazil. Writer Bennett holds his own in such exhalted company, but only just. There is obviously many a fascinating story to tell, but the overall effect isn't quite as entertaining as some of its predecessors, particularly Brilliant Orange. This may be because Bennett falls into the trap of being too close to his subject. His love of all things Russian means that even when he's being critical of the corrupt, turbulent way football is run in his adopted country, it can often be like a father scalding a child rather than a juicy exposé of the more seemly members of Russia's football hierarchy. That said, there is still more than enough in here to keep the average football fan engaged. Russian football is on the up, and anyone wishing to know their Spartaks from their Dynamos could do worse to start with this book. While you don't come away feeling that you understand the ins and outs of one of the most complicated countries in the world, you're bound to know a damn sight more than when you started, and Bennett's style of writing means that the book crackles along at a decent pace. There are probably bigger and better stories lurking behind the Iron Curtain, but for now Dynamo Football will so nicely.

has the lot...

Customer Rating:

Not only does the book cover the basics of Russia's new found status as a world force, it explains the political and social contexts of Russian football. The author uses his 10+ years of knowledge in the country to give a run down of all the leading clubs, memorable events and corruption. There are basic histories concerning all the major clubs in Moscow etc and the accusations thrown about of match fixing, corruption, racism and hooliganism. Along with "Behind the iron curtain..." this book is essential reading for those wanting to know more about Russian football.

All you need to know about Russian football

Customer Rating:

Football in Russia is on the up. Oil money is flooding into club football meaning that the top teams can now compete on almost level terms with the Liverpools, Milans and Barcelona's of European football. The national team is thriving too. Under the shrewd guidance of Guus Hiddink Russia had an excellent European Championships despite surrendering weakly to the eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals. But, like many aspects of Russian life, to many people Russian football is a bit of a mystery. Most football watchers will have heard of CSKA Moscow and Moscow Dynamo and they will have been impressed by the skills of the youthful Andrei Arshevin. If they are old enough, they will remember the great Lev Yashin and maybe Oleg Blokhin in the eighties but apart from that will probably know very little. Not all aspects of Russian football are positive though. As well as the problems which are out of their control, for example, the harsh climate and the sheer vastness of the country makes attending an away match an ordeal, there are other 'man made' problems - accusations of match fixing are commonplace, racism is rife and hooliganism is widespread - that may eventuallly hold back the growth of the game in Russia. In this book Marc Bennetts attempts to fill in the gaps in our knowledge and he succeeds. Although never an engrossing read it is quite entertaining as well as being highly informative. This is an good introduction to Russian football.

Otlichno! (Excellent)

Customer Rating:

I'd been looking forward to this book for a while after reading about it on the Virgin website, and it was worth the wait. With Chelsea and Man Utd about to battle it out in Moscow, and Zenit to take on Rangers in Manchester in the UEFA Cup final, the book couldn't have come at a better time. Aside from being extremely topical, it is also very well written , and Bennetts gets right to the heart of not only the Russian game, but Russia itself. Including excellent accounts of Terek Grozny's (from Chechnya) victory in the Russian FA Cup to England's defeat in Moscow last year to Guus Hiddink's transformation of Russian national football, the book, via politics, literature, and a host of fascinating interviews with oligarchs, hooligans and players and more, really does "decode Russia through football." Great Simon Kuper (Football against the Enemy)foreword as as well, and he even mentions my all-time favourite Russian writer by way of describing Dynamo Moscow's misfortunes! (see nickname) Recommended for anyone interested in Russia (even if you are not a big football fan)