Matt Le Tissier - The Player

[Johnny Bognor]

These people that are re-writing history are annoying. I have been watching Saints for over 50 years. MLT is quite simply the best player ever to play for the team in that time. He was loyal and loved the club and had skill beyond belief.. He still lives the club. I have lost count of the times that I went home after a game with a smile on my face because of him. I am very sorry, and I can`t say this about many players, but when it comes to MLT and Southampton Football Club, the man is beyond criticism. People trying to find fault are just looking to be controversial. He is not a God, but as a servant to SFC, he comes pretty close. 19c, you can try to denigrate the man but all that you are doing is to confirm to everyone on here what a waste of space you are.

 

Indeed, and ironically, if it hadn't been for MLT, we would have gone down under Lowe far sooner. I am sure even 19C's 'lord' and master is a fan.

[yorkiesaint]

The only person to have a special match of the day goal of the season montage made entirely on one player's goals..

[NSS]

Aftenoon my Stripey friends. Apologies for dropping this into the thread but I can't start my own. Of course, if anyone would care to create a new thread for it then I'd be most grateful.

 

I have some places left for our charity golf day if anyone is interested, or if you know anyone who plays then please forward info below. Cheers!

 

Ryder Cup-style Charity Golf Day

In aid of the Smile4Rich Appeal for the Wessex Neurological Centre

Quindell Club - Wednesday 9th September 2009

 

Teams captained by Saints and Pompey Legends - Matt Le Tissier & Guy Whittingham

 

Based on Ryder Cup golf, but played over 27 holes in a single day, comprising 9 holes of 4-balls and 18 holes of singles, this format has been hugely popular with those who’ve played in previous years, and has produced nail-biting finishes, last year requiring a sudden-death play-off to split the teams (which saw MLT slicing his tee-shot into the car park, resulting in a Pompey win ). Aside from the honour for the winning team of lifting the ‘Smile4Rich Trophy’, there’ll be a medal for every participant, plus trophies and some great prizes to be won in our ‘Longest Drive’ and ‘Nearest-the-Pin’ competitions, and a brand new car worth £10,000 for a hole-in-one!

 

This is a really enjoyable format (not your average charity golf day), and at a cost of just £100 per pair of players (including coffee/tea & bacon roll on arrival, and a ‘Brunch’ breakfast after the first 9 holes) it represents fantastic value too. For full details and an entry form, please email info@smile4rich.co.uk or click the following link http://www.smile4rich.co.uk/fundraising/event-detail-28 but you'll have to be quick as places are limited and entries must be submitted by the end of August.

 

There are also some great sponsorship opportunities available from just £75!

[Daren W]

Works both ways Daren but I'll forgive you due to your 'special' circumstances.

 

Now how about commenting on whether MLT is a true sporting legend as I mentioned in my post. Someone who has happy to confine themselves to the Dell and a relatively small club when he was easily good enough to grace a bigger stage has undoubtedly limited ambition and as a result limited his post playing options and no doubt book sales. If he sells 50,000 he'll be doing well but if he had played for a bigger club and secured a succesful international career that was easily within his grasp he could have sold 10 times as many. Where does Lowe fit into all that?

 

The issue that many of you cannot grasp is no one is disputing his status as a legend at SFC but a legend in his sport - sorry international honours and club medals are testament to that. As for his role in Pinnacle I defer to Fitzhugh Fella who is in a far better position than I am to comment and I agree 100% with his conclusion so feel free to pick yourself a tougher target, oh and try and respond to the post.

 

And what pray tell, are my "special circumstances"?

 

Sorry but Duncan's wrong for asking why Matt didn't delve deeper into Pinnacle. None of us did, we were just concerned to get someone, anyone, to save the club. It was that dire. So he didn't look deep enough? What is he? Some sort of forensic accountant?

 

With your reply, if that's the case please tell me why you alledgely support Saints? They won't win anything but according to you "international honours and club medals" are what it's all about. Why should any of us bother supporting Saints?

 

I follow Saints are they're my home town team and I'll follow them no matter what, I don't go to watch them pursue trophies, I'll leave that to the plastic post Euro 96 newbies and their Sky Sports subscriptions. I'll not trade my club for one that might win trophies. Matt did the same, he loved Saints and saw no reason to leave somewhere where he was happy. He's just like all of us...

 

Where does Lowe fit into any of this? He criticised Lowe and that's the real reason you're on Matt's case, nothing to do with percieved lack of analysis on Pinnacles bid, just a cheap excuse to have a go at yet another Lowe critic. Just file it under Crouch and McMenemy...

 

Poor reposte, poorly thought out with no real direction... No change there then...

[Katalinic]

OK I assume you are saying (by not giving a toss) that MLT is not a sporting legend but a legend for SFC. Thanks and I agree with you but do you accept he had the talent to be far bigger than he was and apart from our own preferences he ultimately failed to achieve everything he could have done had he the courage or conviction to move on.

 

Try and think outside your parochial little world - who will by his book beyond the fans of Saints and who would have bought it had he maximised his ambition to his gift. He took le tiss out of himself in the end IMO.

 

 

It depends on how you measure "far bigger" and "failed to achieve" - I would say that is subjective - MLT has said that he achieved everything he wanted to so who are you exactly to make that call?

 

I would imagine there will be many non-Saints fans who will buy the book - I have read plenty of autobiographies of other players. That having been said, it's difficult to find good reading in Parochial Little World, is it easier in Multi Personality Town?

 

I note you still haven't answered my question about asking him direct, you know where he will be, you have the opportunity to put your money where your mouth is so maybe you could have the "courage" or "conviction" to do so?

[Griffo]

Aftenoon my Stripey friends. Apologies for dropping this into the thread but I can't start my own. Of course, if anyone would care to create a new thread for it then I'd be most grateful.

 

I have some places left for our charity golf day if anyone is interested, or if you know anyone who plays then please forward info below. Cheers!

 

Ryder Cup-style Charity Golf Day

In aid of the Smile4Rich Appeal for the Wessex Neurological Centre

Quindell Club - Wednesday 9th September 2009

 

Teams captained by Saints and Pompey Legends - Matt Le Tissier & Guy Whittingham

 

Based on Ryder Cup golf, but played over 27 holes in a single day, comprising 9 holes of 4-balls and 18 holes of singles, this format has been hugely popular with those who’ve played in previous years, and has produced nail-biting finishes, last year requiring a sudden-death play-off to split the teams (which saw MLT slicing his tee-shot into the car park, resulting in a Pompey win ). Aside from the honour for the winning team of lifting the ‘Smile4Rich Trophy’, there’ll be a medal for every participant, plus trophies and some great prizes to be won in our ‘Longest Drive’ and ‘Nearest-the-Pin’ competitions, and a brand new car worth £10,000 for a hole-in-one!

 

This is a really enjoyable format (not your average charity golf day), and at a cost of just £100 per pair of players (including coffee/tea & bacon roll on arrival, and a ‘Brunch’ breakfast after the first 9 holes) it represents fantastic value too. For full details and an entry form, please email info@smile4rich.co.uk or click the following link http://www.smile4rich.co.uk/fundraising/event-detail-28 but you'll have to be quick as places are limited and entries must be submitted by the end of August.

 

There are also some great sponsorship opportunities available from just £75!

 

Thread started for you.

[Daren W]

It depends on how you measure "far bigger" and "failed to achieve" - I would say that is subjective - MLT has said that he achieved everything he wanted to so who are you exactly to make that call?

 

I would imagine there will be many non-Saints fans who will buy the book - I have read plenty of autobiographies of other players. That having been said, it's difficult to find good reading in Parochial Little World, is it easier in Multi Personality Town?

 

I note you still haven't answered my question about asking him direct, you know where he will be, you have the opportunity to put your money where your mouth is so maybe you could have the "courage" or "conviction" to do so?

 

I wouldn't hold your breath mate, he's a coward who only possesses testicles when sat behind a computer screen....

[Katalinic]

I wouldn't hold your breath mate, he's a coward who only possesses testicles when sat behind a computer screen....

 

I am not sure MLT would really care what the forum oddball thinks anyway.

[Thedelldays]

I will look farward to reading 19C postings after he has asked MLT these questions..

 

should be interesting

[Daren W]

I am not sure MLT would really care what the forum oddball thinks anyway.

 

The forum oddball? That's actually quite complimentary....

[INFLUENCED.COM]

What is he? Some sort of forensic accountant?..

 

He is not but the man who entered into exclusivity with Pinnacle would have had one at his disposal.

 

IMO Pinnacle have been somewhat let off due to ML remaining interested in SFC, Fry has been somewhat let off due to ML remaining interested in SFC, SFC was in the top flight for many more years than it maybe would have due to MLT remaining interested, so will let him off his poor judgement in a field of which he is not a professional, will instead continue to remember and be grateful for the contribution he made to the field he was a professional in.

[Daren W]

He is not but the man who entered into exclusivity with Pinnacle would have had one at his disposal.

 

IMO Pinnacle have been somewhat let off due to ML remaining interested in SFC, Fry has been somewhat let off due to ML remaining interested in SFC, SFC was in the top flight for many more years than it maybe would have due to MLT remaining interested, so will let him off his poor judgement in a field of which he is not a professional, will instead continue to remember and be grateful for the contribution he made to the field he was a professional in.

 

Poor judgement yes, but deserving of 19c's of witch hunt? Not in a million years.

 

The current situation at Pompey shows you just how easy it is bamboozle people and make it appear you have something you may well haven't. Matt got taken in, Crouch did with Wilde, Souness did with Ali Dia...

 

Sh1t happens...

[Weston Saint]

Matt LeTissier - flawed football genius.

 

I am sure he had ambition but lacked the will to realise that ambition - for that Saints supporters have to be grateful.

 

Lazy and his 90 minute contribution to team play was lacking but when he got the ball (he never semed to chase for it) his pinpoint pass or his goals more than made up for it for Saints supporters.

 

A delight on the eye when he had the ball but he never put in enough team effort to get a regular run out for England more is the pity and a loss to the wider supporter base in this county.

 

His loyalty to Saints should never be forgotten.

 

His debacle with Pinnicle nearly damaged his reputation and left some of us wondering about his judgement but he can be forgiven now an owner has been found. But it could have been tears all round.

 

His career is not in the first league of sporting greats but he is certainly in the top half of the second league in my opinion.

[Thedelldays]

.

 

His career is not in the first league of sporting greats but he is certainly in the top half of the second league in my opinion.

what for saints..?

[Weston Saint]

what for saints..?

No football in general and in the wider sporting world.

 

Hopefully my comments in my previous post will be agreeable to DarenW and Nineteen Canteen.

[Daren W]

No football in general and in the wider sporting world.

 

Hopefully my comments in my previous post will be agreeable to DarenW and Nineteen Canteen.

 

Why should it matter if it were agreeble to me? This is a forum, in forum there is debate. You are entitled to your opinion and put it across well. What's the point?

 

19C is engaged in a witch hunt, his comments about Le Tissier are fuelled by some bizarre agenda against someone he now views as being anti Lowe. He joins the likes of Leon Crouch and Lawrie McMenemy as ticks on his hit list.

 

Le Tissier is an enigma, capable of laziness yes, but also capable of moments of absolute genius. A liability and must have all rolled up into one. A player born in the wrong era. A man in the right place at the right time in the wrong era.

 

I think you're wrong to place him in the second tier of sporting greats. View any Sky/BBC/ITV greatest Premiership Players programmes and I'd guarantee he'd be on it. Greatest goals and it's a nailed on cert. The man was world class and as far as I'm concerned that's not up for debate.

 

He's a footballer, not business analysist or accountant. He simply wanted to do the right thing for the club he loves and came up short. He was lied to, simple as that. It doesn't merit the witchunt that freakboy has instigated on here.

 

This is a Le Tissier tribute thread, it deserves to be treated like that...

[View From The Top]

I named my son after him!

 

The man is a legend and you'd have to have mental health issues to think otherwise, which would explain a lot.

[Griffo]

There was a man in the Kingsland North corner for Millwall at home, who had a tattoo of Matt all the way across his back.

[Nineteen Canteen]

Matt LeTissier - flawed football genius.

 

I am sure he had ambition but lacked the will to realise that ambition - for that Saints supporters have to be grateful.

 

Lazy and his 90 minute contribution to team play was lacking but when he got the ball (he never semed to chase for it) his pinpoint pass or his goals more than made up for it for Saints supporters.

 

A delight on the eye when he had the ball but he never put in enough team effort to get a regular run out for England more is the pity and a loss to the wider supporter base in this county.

 

His loyalty to Saints should never be forgotten.

 

His debacle with Pinnicle nearly damaged his reputation and left some of us wondering about his judgement but he can be forgiven now an owner has been found. But it could have been tears all round.

 

His career is not in the first league of sporting greats but he is certainly in the top half of the second league in my opinion.

 

Brilliant post and at last a voice of reason and someone who understands what I have been saying all along if not as eloquently as you have put it.

 

I will add that I still beileve MLT would have been better off lying low for a few games so our new owner could enjoy his moment. No doubt had MLT not been involved in Pinnacle none of this debate would have surfaced but sometimes sh1t happens (Daren) and it makes you re-evaluate your thoughts about people and situations.

[Nineteen Canteen]

Why should it matter if it were agreeble to me? This is a forum, in forum there is debate. You are entitled to your opinion and put it across well. What's the point?

 

19C is engaged in a witch hunt, his comments about Le Tissier are fuelled by some bizarre agenda against someone he now views as being anti Lowe. He joins the likes of Leon Crouch and Lawrie McMenemy as ticks on his hit list.

 

Le Tissier is an enigma, capable of laziness yes, but also capable of moments of absolute genius. A liability and must have all rolled up into one. A player born in the wrong era. A man in the right place at the right time in the wrong era.

 

I think you're wrong to place him in the second tier of sporting greats. View any Sky/BBC/ITV greatest Premiership Players programmes and I'd guarantee he'd be on it. Greatest goals and it's a nailed on cert. The man was world class and as far as I'm concerned that's not up for debate.

 

He's a footballer, not business analysist or accountant. He simply wanted to do the right thing for the club he loves and came up short. He was lied to, simple as that. It doesn't merit the witchunt that freakboy has instigated on here.

 

This is a Le Tissier tribute thread, it deserves to be treated like that...

 

Daren you think I'm involved in a witch hunt just because I have a differing opinion to you but unable to phrase it as well as Ron. Mind you I think if I had you would still have ridiculed and try to rubbish my view and persisted with the name calling and insinuations of which you know absolutely nothing of course. In fact very very few do and that's the way it will stay.

 

As for Lowe I merely thought he was the best person to take us forward instead of Crouch or Wilde and in the absence of anyone else and therefore deserved my full support as someone committed to the club's future and remaining in charge of it's own destiny. Looking forward I am very pleased with the new set up and grateful they had the good grace not to walk away.

 

As for your personal situation you will always have my empathy as I know how distressing it can be tending a fading parent but i will always remain confident in my opinion that the club took the right action in not making a special exception for your Mum because of the inevitable slew of requests that it would have led to. The club is in an invidious situation and that is why like most other institutions they choose to support charities at a group level rather than an individual level to be equitable to all.

 

Hope you understand and appreciate my opinions even if you don't agree with them.

[Deppo]

I understand and appreciate your opinions, Nineteen.

[Nineteen Canteen]

I understand and appreciate your opinions, Nineteen.

 

Thank you Deppo but just in case I'll run that post under the ultra violet scanner.

[Deppo]

I think you're very much maligned and misunderstood.

[eurosaint]

Football today is full of mercenaries, divers, cheats, scumbag agents and players who value a quick buck over anything and everything. They kiss the badge one week and move on the next, the fans are treated as mugs !

Contrast this with the remarkable exploits of Matt Le Tiss in a Southampton shirt which should be treasured like the Egyptians revered their Pharaohs because we will probably never see his like again !

All this bullsh#t about lack of ambition because he never moved to Spurs, Man U etc.. only serves to elevate his legendary status for me and many other real Saints supporters !

Listen to Daren W who speaks from the heart, do not listen to 19C who talks out of his arse !!

[Nineteen Canteen]

I think you're very much maligned and misunderstood.

 

That's what I keep telling myself. Now excuse me I just need to check these posts with my manager....

[Nineteen Canteen]

Football today is full of mercenaries, divers, cheats, scumbag agents and players who value a quick buck over anything and everything. They kiss the badge one week and move on the next, the fans are treated as mugs !

Contrast this with the remarkable exploits of Matt Le Tiss in a Southampton shirt which should be treasured like the Egyptians revered their Pharaohs because we will probably never see his like again !

All this bullsh#t about lack of ambition because he never moved to Spurs, Man U etc.. only serves to elevate his legendary status for me and many other real Saints supporters !

Listen to Daren W who speaks from the heart, do not listen to 19C who talks out of his arse !!

 

What about Weston's assessment - seemed very fair to me?

[Deppo]

Harumph.

[eurosaint]

What about Weston's assessment - seemed very fair to me?

 

I disagree with much of what he said but at least it was stated in a rational manner rather than the spiteful bile which you seem to spout most of the time !!

[BadgerBadger]

Part of MLT greatness was his laid back style IMO, some people who try too hard invariably get it all wrong plus some perform much better as a big fish in a little pond rather than..............

[bolo]

MLT is for me the reason i got into football. Yes Southampton are my home town club but football had never appealed to me until i watched him play. Yes who could be lazy, but boy he to things with the ball that 99% on the current day footballers just cannot do. People bleat on about his fitness issues and all that but who's to say that were he to train harder he would lose that split second of timing to to hit the ball the way he did. The double standards where people go on about C Ronaldo showing no loyalty etc just p i s s es me off when we have people citing a lack of ambition in MLT. By staying at Saints he was playing AGAINST the best players (in the prem) week in week out. It was his way of saying screw you guys i am better than you! Hell he even made Iain Dowie a half decent Striker.

Nowadays its all about fitness and power, where any players with a shred of creativity have it "coached" out of them. Look at Joe Cole for instance. The spectacular goals these days amounts to hit and hope rockets.

 

People say that he doesn't work for the full 90 minutes but not that many players do! does the keeper for example? Carlton Palmer ran around a lot (usually chasing a ball from his own loose touch!) but it doesn't make he great.

 

Yes i am slightly disillusioned with modern day football!!! hahaha

 

MLT has also put Saints on the map. On my travels its the first thing people say when i say i am from southampton. Not Rupert Lowe!

Edited 18 August, 2009 by bolo

[bolo]

Matt LeTissier - flawed football genius.

 

I am sure he had ambition but lacked the will to realise that ambition - for that Saints supporters have to be grateful.

 

Lazy and his 90 minute contribution to team play was lacking but when he got the ball (he never semed to chase for it) his pinpoint pass or his goals more than made up for it for Saints supporters.

 

A delight on the eye when he had the ball but he never put in enough team effort to get a regular run out for England more is the pity and a loss to the wider supporter base in this county.

 

His loyalty to Saints should never be forgotten.

 

His debacle with Pinnicle nearly damaged his reputation and left some of us wondering about his judgement but he can be forgiven now an owner has been found. But it could have been tears all round.

 

His career is not in the first league of sporting greats but he is certainly in the top half of the second league in my opinion.

 

Weston, Do you believe the other midfielders that Matt was up against in the early 90s for the england berth were better? What else could he have done, run around more to find himself in the wrong areas of the pitch to do any damage? Matts failure of an England career rests on the shoulders of the spiteful England managers who thought workhorses could score enough goals. IMO of course!

[Weston Saint]

Weston, Do you believe the other midfielders that Matt was up against in the early 90s for the england berth were better? What else could he have done, run around more to find himself in the wrong areas of the pitch to do any damage? Matts failure of an England career rests on the shoulders of the spiteful England managers who thought workhorses could score enough goals. IMO of course!

Personally, I thought at the time he was hard done by with England and should have been an automatic choice. However I have read and heard of reasons why he was not picked and can understand the thought process. Do I still think he has hard done by now over his lack of England exposure? Most certainly.

 

I made the post as DarenW and Nineteen Canteen were again at odds. Daren has said MLT was as enigma and seems to be agreeing with most of what I said. Nineteen Canteen agrees with most as well.

 

The point? They both have fairly similar views of MLT with obvious minor differences. Just do not read the rants. Look at the substance, ignore their prejudices and they have a lot of common views as Saints Supporters.

[Daren W]

Personally, I thought at the time he was hard done by with England and should have been an automatic choice. However I have read and heard of reasons why he was not picked and can understand the thought process. Do I still think he has hard done by now over his lack of England exposure? Most certainly.

 

I made the post as DarenW and Nineteen Canteen were again at odds. Daren has said MLT was as enigma and seems to be agreeing with most of what I said. Nineteen Canteen agrees with most as well.

 

The point? They both have fairly similar views of MLT with obvious minor differences. Just do not read the rants. Look at the substance, ignore their prejudices and they have a lot of common views as Saints Supporters.

 

Excuse me? Perhaps you could explain just where I have been ranting??

 

I'm not the one accusing one of this club's greatest ever players of almost wantonly wading into the politics of the club, fronting a bid with no regard of the consequence. That would be 19C

 

The fact that you managed to sit on the fence and do it more eloquently than him doesn't make you or him right or me "ranting." Le Tiss had his faults but they pale into insignificance compered to what he gave this club and what he hoped Pinnacle could do. They couldn't, it appears they never could but the fact that, unlike all of the other legends, he did at least try should never be forgotten, certainly not ridiculed or mocked or insulted.

 

I have my heroes, I have people who I respect and admire. That respect doesn't waiver or falter unless in the face of gross betrayal. The fact that Le Tissier made a minor error of judgement doesn't affect that admiration and it certainly doesn't merit the minor witch hunt we've seen on here.

 

Or am I "ranting" again here?

[eurosaint]

Excuse me? Perhaps you could explain just where I have been ranting??

 

I'm not the one accusing one of this club's greatest ever players of almost wantonly wading into the politics of the club, fronting a bid with no regard of the consequence. That would be 19C

 

The fact that you managed to sit on the fence and do it more eloquently than him doesn't make you or him right or me "ranting." Le Tiss had his faults but they pale into insignificance compered to what he gave this club and what he hoped Pinnacle could do. They couldn't, it appears they never could but the fact that, unlike all of the other legends, he did at least try should never be forgotten, certainly not ridiculed or mocked or insulted.

 

I have my heroes, I have people who I respect and admire. That respect doesn't waiver or falter unless in the face of gross betrayal. The fact that Le Tissier made a minor error of judgement doesn't affect that admiration and it certainly doesn't merit the minor witch hunt we've seen on here.

Or am I "ranting" again here?

 

Hear, Hear !