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Le Tiss' autobiography


Danny

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Wow. Just out of interest, what are you reading at the moment 19C? If it isn't Don Quixote or Ulysses I'd be very surprised.

 

Neither but recently read Paradise Lost. Anyway that is not the point I was trying to make the point that to make an autobiography to be worthwhile to those with a vested interest and those without it should not pull any punches and be enlightening especially when the memories of the buying audience are likely still be vivid.

 

By his own admission MLT says he doesn't have any axe to grind with the likes of Lowe - do you believe that? I'm not sure I do and therefore can we be sure MLT has told us at it really was or chosen, as is his right to concentrate on the football side of his story.

 

The best autobiographies are those where the publishers take 12 months to get it through legal and not 12 hours. My personal preference is that people should publish their life story in the autumn/winter of their days as a lasting legacy and memory not mid career change. Not exactly in the Ustinov and Niven class is it but to be fair not many sporting or entertainment autobiograhies are although a recent charity event yielded Bob Monkhouse's story for a few pennies and that certainly and surprisingly ticked all the boxes.

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Neither but recently read Paradise Lost. Anyway that is not the point I was trying to make the point that to make an autobiography to be worthwhile to those with a vested interest and those without it should not pull any punches and be enlightening especially when the memories of the buying audience are likely still be vivid.

 

By his own admission MLT says he doesn't have any axe to grind with the likes of Lowe - do you believe that? I'm not sure I do and therefore can we be sure MLT has told us at it really was or chosen, as is his right to concentrate on the football side of his story.

 

The best autobiographies are those where the publishers take 12 months to get it through legal and not 12 hours. My personal preference is that people should publish their life story in the autumn/winter of their days as a lasting legacy and memory not mid career change. Not exactly in the Ustinov and Niven class is it but to be fair not many sporting or entertainment autobiograhies are although a recent charity event yielded Bob Monkhouse's story for a few pennies and that certainly and surprisingly ticked all the boxes.

 

Everything you have written here is totally worthless because you haven't even read the thing! It seems that your main complaint is that the book is not what you want to read. Fair enough, but that doesn't mean you have to belittle other people for reading what you consider to be a worthless piece of literature (that you haven't even read).

 

Oh, and if Matt Le Tiss can't write a book about his playing career several years after he has retired, when can he write it?

 

You may be well read but you are seriously out of touch with the common public. I read a lot, and realise that books have to be taken in context. I read Stephen Fry's autobiography last summer, and whilst it is certainly not one of our nation's masterworks, it is an enjoyable read. Most saints fans will enjoy reading about our club's favourite son's career; you, however, have shown me no sign that you are in fact a fan of any sort, all you ever do is ***** and complain in an attempt to elevate yourself above other posters on these forums.

 

You don't want to read the book. Fine, but that means that you have no right to pass judgment on it, nor anyone who reads it. I think from now on I will just read your posts and chuckle to myself rather than waste my time venting my spleen. I'll leave that to others.

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Guys, there is an ignore function on this forum. If you want 19 out of your forum 'experience' it is more then possible. Once he realises no-one is seeing what he types he is bound go away.

 

As for the book, got it today in the post. Can't wait to get stuck into it this evening.

 

I have both put him on ignore and bought the book....

Bliss!

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just under £4k...

he thanks rupert especially for it...

 

£4k!!! but I'm sure Matty will also say there's more to life than money.

 

I imagine he probably got close to double that over the length of the contract with appearance monies, bonuses and signing on and other contract payments, but still chicken feed compared to the salaries some are earning now (and were probably earning back then as well).

 

No wonder he said he didn't have the cash to bail us out in the summer!!!!

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i dread to think what mark hughes and stuart ripley were on..

 

that figure is utterly insulting so much so...I would have hated rupert back then before he had a chance to go wrong...

 

Just got to the chapter where he reveals how much he earned here.

What a ****ing insult to one of the greatest players to ever pull on a Saints shirt. I bet that useless twot Ripley was on a lot more than that.

 

That would have been Askham firstly then Lowe then.....usual suspects......disgusting.

Just shows how much Matt loved this club to stay here tho.......

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Extracts from Friday's Echo - Matt on Rupert, Harry and Clive for those who missed it on another thread. He also talks about Lowe offering him a coaching job at SMS bit the money on offer was a pittance.

 

"The next twist left me gobsmacked. Even allowing for the fact that Saints had turned into a soap opera no one could see this coming. A scriptwriter would have rejected it as totally implausible. Rupert, in all his wisdom, appointed as Technical Director Sir Clive Woodward. That's right, the man who led England to World Cup glory - at rugby. A man with a wealth of experience and knowledge....none of it in football. But look at the context. Relegation had cost the club £50m so it just didn't have the money to make quirky appointments. All the available cash should have been directed at getting us back into the Premier league. Then you bring in extra back room staff and improve the gym. Instead Rupert was star-struck by Sir Clive and by the idea of revolutionising the game. All the values that had served this club so well for so many years were dismissed out of hand as "old football" and he (Lowe) opted instead for Sir Clive and the likes of Simon Clifford who was so far up his own backside that he needed a glass belly button to see out. He came from mighty Gosforth Town, a non-league club that he's pledged to take to the prem within 10 years.....

Bringing in Simon Clifford was one of Clive's biggest mistakes. He came in with a big ego and inflated ideas of his own importance , all through making his name from Soccertotts coaching courses. Dealing with hardened experienced pros was totally different. He had no real experience of the game at the top level but talked like he was God's gift.

So, you had Sir Clive woodward with all his forward thinking emphasis on sports science sharing an office with Harry Redknapp, a traditional old-fashioned football man. I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall in that office when they were together".

 

MLT on Harry and Rupert

 

"Rupert is like a city toff full of himself to the point of arrogance while Harry is what Rupert would call "old football". He is down to earth, a man of the people, a bit of a wide boy and a wheeler dealer who knows the game, and I thought it was a very good appointment. We were third from bottom but I was confident he's sort it out. Rupert and Harry were like chalk and cheese and they were never going to hit it off. THE THING ABOUT HARRY IS YOU HAVE TO LET HIM DO THINGS HIS WAY (my capitals).

Harry is a law unto himself - but he gets the job done. If he had been allowed to do that, I think he would have kept Saints up. But it was clear that he hated the environment and having to work for Rupert".

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i dread to think what mark hughes and stuart ripley were on..

 

that figure is utterly insulting so much so...I would have hated rupert back then before he had a chance to go wrong...

 

And maybe David Howells as well!!!!!!!

 

And when Tiss was at the end of his career I'm sure his wages were eclipsed by Beattie, Bridge, Davies etc.

 

Then again I'm sure some of those who played for us in the top flight before the Premiership was established would have been even worse off (at one point Rod Wallace and others were on YTS money!!!!!).

 

Le Tiss not being motivated by money made me think if that great Danny Kelly tribute when Matty finally hung up his boots.

 

http://henotbusybeingbornisbusydying.blogspot.com/2007/10/in-broken-french.html

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i dread to think what mark hughes and stuart ripley were on..

 

that figure is utterly insulting so much so...I would have hated rupert back then before he had a chance to go wrong...

 

I seem to recall Hassan Kachloul being insulted by Lowe, by being informed that what he would be paid by us was a fortune compared with what he would earn in Morocco. Many of the footballers here would have quite envied being paid what Lowe got at the club.

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and the likes of Simon Clifford who was so far up his own backside that he needed a glass belly button to see out.

 

Brilliant! I've not heard that one before. I like the writing style, whether it accurately paraphrases MLT or not, it is very readable stuff.

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I seem to recall Hassan Kachloul being insulted by Lowe, by being informed that what he would be paid by us was a fortune compared with what he would earn in Morocco.

 

I think the quote was alledged to have been something like "you could live like a king back home on what we're paying you".

 

And then of course when Matty was still playing Hassan got his mega wonga move after playing off Ipswich and Villa.

 

I'm sure the figure quoted was £30k a week at Villa on a three year deal!!!!!!!!!! Something like a £5m+ contract all in.

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And maybe David Howells as well!!!!!!!

 

And when Tiss was at the end of his career I'm sure his wages were eclipsed by Beattie, Bridge, Davies etc.

 

Then again I'm sure some of those who played for us in the top flight before the Premiership was established would have been even worse off (at one point Rod Wallace and others were on YTS money!!!!!).

 

Le Tiss not being motivated by money made me think if that great Danny Kelly tribute when Matty finally hung up his boots.

 

http://henotbusybeingbornisbusydying.blogspot.com/2007/10/in-broken-french.html

 

what a fantastic read that piece by Danny Kelly is

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I think certain people who've been slagging off Le Tiss would do well to red this extract from Kelly's piece...

 

"There are those too who criticise Le Tiss for not leaving Southampton and trying his luck at a bigger club. Again, Horne has been enlightening. In the early Nineties, Le Tissier had indeed agreed to join one of the capital’s giants. At the last minute he went to that club’s manager and asked to be released from his obligation, saying he couldn’t bear to leave either Southampton the football club or Southampton the city.

 

Of course he can be accused, in the modern parlance, of “lacking ambition”, but, ultimately, he followed his heart (exactly as he did when playing the game) and which of us can say that that is ever a bad thing? In sticking by the team he loved, he probably sacrificed a wheelbarrow full of cash. To some that might make him a fool. To me, and millions of other football fans, it assures his status as a hero."

 

The man is quite simply a hero... enough said...

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agreed daren...im at the bit of the book where Case is taking him under his wing (off the pitch)...

 

brilliant read so far...

 

one thing this book does confirm really..is the arguement of todays players v those of yesteryear....

 

they sure knew how to have fun back then which probably sacrificed a bit of their game..lol

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Interesting bit where he says that Souness was supposed to have a group of wealthy Israeli backers to invest in the club. However our wonderful chairman, Mr Askham and his chums decided to go with Rupert. Nothing to do with the money they would make from their shares of course.

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Interesting bit where he says that Souness was supposed to have a group of wealthy Israeli backers to invest in the club. However our wonderful chairman, Mr Askham and his chums decided to go with Rupert. Nothing to do with the money they would make from their shares of course.

 

Does he mention that Matthew Harding was also interested at the time???

 

Think I will have to pop out to Waterstones tomorrow.

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Does he mention that Matthew Harding was also interested at the time???

 

Think I will have to pop out to Waterstones tomorrow.

 

Yes he does mention the Matthew Harding thing in the book.

 

I really enjoyed the book from start to finish on the day I got it, it accompanies my "Unbelievable" DVD quite nicely!!

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Bought it yesterday, finished it today. First autobiography I've read in a long time. I'm not going to compare it to others as by MLT's own admission it's not a kiss'n'tell, but I did feel the comedy and bite that was evident in the first half of the book was lost in the second, perhaps could have done with being a chapter or two shorter. That said, still thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend any saints fan

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I think certain people who've been slagging off Le Tiss would do well to red this extract from Kelly's piece...

 

"There are those too who criticise Le Tiss for not leaving Southampton and trying his luck at a bigger club. Again, Horne has been enlightening. In the early Nineties, Le Tissier had indeed agreed to join one of the capital’s giants. At the last minute he went to that club’s manager and asked to be released from his obligation, saying he couldn’t bear to leave either Southampton the football club or Southampton the city.

 

Of course he can be accused, in the modern parlance, of “lacking ambition”, but, ultimately, he followed his heart (exactly as he did when playing the game) and which of us can say that that is ever a bad thing? In sticking by the team he loved, he probably sacrificed a wheelbarrow full of cash. To some that might make him a fool. To me, and millions of other football fans, it assures his status as a hero."

 

The man is quite simply a hero... enough said...

 

So Le Tiss only got paid £4k a week so what? In his prime £200k pa would have been a nice salary and to earn that money in the real world would require some major blood sweat and tears even today. Like real life if MLT wanted to bump up his salary like most careers the best way to have done that would have been to move and I'm sure he could have easily trebled his salary. He chose not and that's fair enough so why mention it, he made his bed - his decision and he certainly doesn't need our sympathy because he could have easily done something about it and come back later if he loved us that much. Naive again IMO.

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So Le Tiss only got paid £4k a week so what? In his prime £200k pa would have been a nice salary and to earn that money in the real world would require some major blood sweat and tears even today. Like real life if MLT wanted to bump up his salary like most careers the best way to have done that would have been to move and I'm sure he could have easily trebled his salary. He chose not and that's fair enough so why mention it, he made his bed - his decision and he certainly doesn't need our sympathy because he could have easily done something about it and come back later if he loved us that much. Naive again IMO.

 

The point that you've missed by a country mile, was loyalty. If you're going to attempt to tarnish the guy's reputation by denigrating the fact that in your opinion he was naive not to want to be greedy, because he was happy down here on less money, then you serve to achieve just the opposite.

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The point that you've missed by a country mile, was loyalty. If you're going to attempt to tarnish the guy's reputation by denigrating the fact that in your opinion he was naive not to want to be greedy, because he was happy down here on less money, then you serve to achieve just the opposite.

 

Wes... Please don't quote the troll. I have him on ignore and thus far it has been bliss!

 

But judging on your quote, the troll believes Matt was naive for not being greedy. You can't suddenly implement real world pay rates and say he was reletively well paid! As Delldays has so eloquently put it, when you consider what other, lesser, player were being paid it's remarkable that Matt stayed loyal.

 

Only in the twisted, mad, demented world of the TSW troll could loyalty and dedication be viewed as a weakness...

 

Put him on ignore people, it's ferking great...

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So Le Tiss only got paid £4k a week so what? In his prime £200k pa would have been a nice salary and to earn that money in the real world would require some major blood sweat and tears even today. Like real life if MLT wanted to bump up his salary like most careers the best way to have done that would have been to move and I'm sure he could have easily trebled his salary. He chose not and that's fair enough so why mention it, he made his bed - his decision and he certainly doesn't need our sympathy because he could have easily done something about it and come back later if he loved us that much. Naive again IMO.

 

Who is after sympathy? He decided to stay and no go after the megabucks, but he isn't after tears of sympathy. However, if he felt that way about the club/city/fans, why shouldn't he be able to say so?

 

Le Tiss is a bloke who is able to say something good. Pity you can't do the same, rather than parade your superior literary choice, which in fact just happens to be some 17th century religious crackpot - ah, now I can see who you've been modelling yourself on.

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Who is after sympathy? He decided to stay and no go after the megabucks, but he isn't after tears of sympathy. However, if he felt that way about the club/city/fans, why shouldn't he be able to say so?

 

Le Tiss is a bloke who is able to say something good. Pity you can't do the same, rather than parade your superior literary choice, which in fact just happens to be some 17th century religious crackpot - ah, now I can see who you've been modelling yourself on.

 

And another thing, this thread has produced a direct comparison between Numpteen Beast and Lowe. Lowe is quoted in the book as telling Hassan Kachoul that his wage would be a fortune in Morrocco and here is Numpteen telling us that £200,000 a year is a good wage in the Uk...

 

Hmmmmm.... Coincidence? lol

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Le Tiss not being motivated by money made me think if that great Danny Kelly tribute when Matty finally hung up his boots.

 

http://henotbusybeingbornisbusydying.blogspot.com/2007/10/in-broken-french.html

 

Cheers for that , I've never read that before...... Very easy to drift back to being in the archers when Le Tiss hit the winner in the last game at the same time a fly must have got in my eye and made it water;)

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Just finished reading it..

 

Great book...nice snippets at the end of what people thought about him..

whilst reading it, I could not help but think back to those special moments when "I was there" as a teenager..

 

Those goals against newcastle....

That free kick against wimbledon

the partnership with ekelund.

That chip against schmeichael

etc etc

 

I guess I was just lucky enough to be old enough (just) being 29 to remember his whole career and really remember his great days..

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Everything you have written here is totally worthless because you haven't even read the thing! It seems that your main complaint is that the book is not what you want to read. Fair enough, but that doesn't mean you have to belittle other people for reading what you consider to be a worthless piece of literature (that you haven't even read).

 

Oh, and if Matt Le Tiss can't write a book about his playing career several years after he has retired, when can he write it?

 

You may be well read but you are seriously out of touch with the common public. I read a lot, and realise that books have to be taken in context. I read Stephen Fry's autobiography last summer, and whilst it is certainly not one of our nation's masterworks, it is an enjoyable read. Most saints fans will enjoy reading about our club's favourite son's career; you, however, have shown me no sign that you are in fact a fan of any sort, all you ever do is ***** and complain in an attempt to elevate yourself above other posters on these forums.

 

You don't want to read the book. Fine, but that means that you have no right to pass judgment on it, nor anyone who reads it. I think from now on I will just read your posts and chuckle to myself rather than waste my time venting my spleen. I'll leave that to others.

 

 

Wow! I wish I had written that!

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Hi,

 

I went to the book signing in Winchester today - just to say that he is doing a serious of radio interviews tomorrow .... one of them being TalkSport at 15:30.

 

Mark

 

Matt is on the Simon Mayo show on Radio 5 Live just after 2pm today to talk about his book - can't listen myself so would appreciate any posts on the content.

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Wes... Please don't quote the troll. I have him on ignore and thus far it has been bliss!

 

But judging on your quote, the troll believes Matt was naive for not being greedy. You can't suddenly implement real world pay rates and say he was reletively well paid! As Delldays has so eloquently put it, when you consider what other, lesser, player were being paid it's remarkable that Matt stayed loyal.

 

Only in the twisted, mad, demented world of the TSW troll could loyalty and dedication be viewed as a weakness...

 

Put him on ignore people, it's ferking great...

 

I actually view it as a strength but we shouldn't be concerned therefore that MLT did not maximse his earning potential as in life to do that you have to move around for those golden handshakes. Loyalty = comfort = quality of life = less pay as a general rule. Can also lead to complacency but we won't go there.

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Just finished reading it..

 

Great book...nice snippets at the end of what people thought about him..

whilst reading it, I could not help but think back to those special moments when "I was there" as a teenager..

 

Those goals against newcastle....

That free kick against wimbledon

the partnership with ekelund.

That chip against schmeichael

etc etc

 

I guess I was just lucky enough to be old enough (just) being 29 to remember his whole career and really remember his great days..

 

Nice snippets - I think it's called padding.

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And another thing, this thread has produced a direct comparison between Numpteen Beast and Lowe. Lowe is quoted in the book as telling Hassan Kachoul that his wage would be a fortune in Morrocco and here is Numpteen telling us that £200,000 a year is a good wage in the Uk...

 

Hmmmmm.... Coincidence? lol

 

Coincidence that Numpteen thinks £200,000 is in fact a very good wage in the UK and especially when MLT was strolling around in his pomp considering he was trading loyalty off against the potential for financial security.

 

Is there not a reasonable person on the planet who does not think £200k is a reasonable salary. I am not alone in thinking football is in danger of eating itself to the point of implosion. Can't predict when the bubble will burst but it will and the football structure in this country will one day resemble the NFL and £200m will look a reasonable salary but at what cost? A very small number of super teams and no promotion or relegation and some poor second rate , amatuer clubs trying to keep teh leagues going. What's that got to do with MLT, absolutely nothing except he should have taken advantage like everyone else.

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Matt is on the Simon Mayo show on Radio 5 Live just after 2pm today to talk about his book - can't listen myself so would appreciate any posts on the content.

 

Wonderful interview with MLT with some heart warming comments & contributions from fans up and down the country who obviously appreciated his contribution to the game.

 

Simon Mayo was particularly gushing and as usual Matty comes acoss as a real gentlemen and a great ambassador for our Club.

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He was on Hawksbee & Jacobs on talksport this afternoon; even the 2 Pompey fans in my office who listened were laughing along with his interview.

 

I'm halfway through the book and enjoying it very much; a well written and funny read, and great to read a refreshingly honest account from him rather than the usual gumph from the modern-day footballer.

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Adrian Reynolds.

 

 

I've read just over half now, really enjoying it. I haven't read many football autobiographies to compare it, but it's better than I thought so far. Obviously I knew I'd love it as a Saints fan, but I think neutral football fans would enjoy it too.

 

You knew you'd love it but it's better than you thought? Just how good is it exactly?

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