Le Tiss' autobiography

[miserableoldgit]

It's a tenner in Tesco if anyone is still looking.

£9.49p on Amazon and if you want to wait 2 or 3 days, free postage

[paris]

I'm currently reading it and enjoying it,i especially like the behind the scenes story's..

[Cheeky Monkey]

I got the book. I Have read it.

 

To be honest, I find it quite Weak. many of the stories are told in a glib manner. Obviously as a saints fan i read teh whole thing, however if I was not a saints fan and wanted to read Le tissier autobiography I would be dissapointed.

 

I also found it interesting hat MLT did not really mention Matt oakley Much. He played loads of games with Te tissier and hardly a word said. they were good mates too. oaks did a lot of the grafting to allow MLT the ability express himself.

 

Also interesting to see MLT's best team from players he played with. jeff Kenna Included?

[Nineteen Canteen]

I got the book. I Have read it.

 

To be honest, I find it quite Weak. many of the stories are told in a glib manner. Obviously as a saints fan i read teh whole thing, however if I was not a saints fan and wanted to read Le tissier autobiography I would be dissapointed.

 

I also found it interesting hat MLT did not really mention Matt oakley Much. He played loads of games with Te tissier and hardly a word said. they were good mates too. oaks did a lot of the grafting to allow MLT the ability express himself.

 

Also interesting to see MLT's best team from players he played with. jeff Kenna Included?

 

Jeff Kenna doesn't surprise me when he gave Paul Telfer a name check on the radio as a decent player. Glib? Does that surprise you given the title of the book and his ambivalent approach to his career.

 

A half -hearted effort that from what in essence is a half-hearted player and person who by their own admission has never put the two words hard and work together. If he had he may have written a more engrossing book himself as oppose to the 'may hours' recounting his stories to Graham Hiley in order for him to do the hard work.

 

I will caveat the pharse 'half-hearted' as he was blessed with genius which made him a great player but nonetheless a half - hearted great player that you can't help thinking he knew it and as a result prevented him from being the global footballing great he could have easily been.

 

The comments from his ex-colleagues such as Shearer's actually makes you wonder how much truth lies in their jest, MLT was blessed with talent but from what I have heard recently we was quite ignorant or lazy towards coaching with more than an air of arrogance. A player who was quick to criticise others about his England career but not do anything about it himself and one who towards the end was carried more than he contributed and was fortunate in the early days to have a manager like Ball who made it easy for him. Is Beckham for instance more talented than MLT? No but talent alone doesn't win anything and in the long-run players can become an unwelcome luxury and millstone around a team's neck.

 

Thank you CM probably one of the few honest and balanced reviews of the book we will see on here which is not surprising given MLT's status but as I said before reputations have to be earned and maintained in equal measure and I think this book has short changed fans because of its title, it was written by Hiley and it seems not to tell the real story behind the player and the 40 pages of padding at the back? MLT said it was for the fans to have their say, was it? I think it's more to do with arrogant ego disguised by his benign and quite boring persona IMO. Nice bloke and all that but hardly a character of the game or someone who worked their socks off to reach their Pinnacle.

[miserableoldgit]

Jeff Kenna doesn't surprise me when he gave Paul Telfer a name check on the radio as a decent player. Glib? Does that surprise you given the title of the book and his ambivalent approach to his career.

 

A half -hearted effort that from what in essence is a half-hearted player and person who by their own admission has never put the two words hard and work together. If he had he may have written a more engrossing book himself as oppose to the 'may hours' recounting his stories to Graham Hiley in order for him to do the hard work.

 

I will caveat the pharse 'half-hearted' as he was blessed with genius which made him a great player but nonetheless a half - hearted great player that you can't help thinking he knew it and as a result prevented him from being the global footballing great he could have easily been.

 

The comments from his ex-colleagues such as Shearer's actually makes you wonder how much truth lies in their jest, MLT was blessed with talent but from what I have heard recently we was quite ignorant or lazy towards coaching with more than an air of arrogance. A player who was quick to criticise others about his England career but not do anything about it himself and one who towards the end was carried more than he contributed and was fortunate in the early days to have a manager like Ball who made it easy for him. Is Beckham for instance more talented than MLT? No but talent alone doesn't win anything and in the long-run players can become an unwelcome luxury and millstone around a team's neck.

 

Thank you CM probably one of the few honest and balanced reviews of the book we will see on here which is not surprising given MLT's status but as I said before reputations have to be earned and maintained in equal measure and I think this book has short changed fans because of its title, it was written by Hiley and it seems not to tell the real story behind the player and the 40 pages of padding at the back? MLT said it was for the fans to have their say, was it? I think it's more to do with arrogant ego disguised by his benign and quite boring persona IMO. Nice bloke and all that but hardly a character of the game or someone who worked their socks off to reach their Pinnacle.

 

:smt015 With all due respect, I think that we all now know your thoughts on MLT. We haven`t been able to look on any thread witout seeing them. Point taken. Give it a rest. Move on to your next target.

[kpturner]

.... Nice bloke and all that but hardly a character of the game or someone who worked their socks off to reach their Pinnacle.

Did you see what he did there? Too subtle for me of course :smt105

[The Kraken]

Nineteen Canteen; still trying so desperately hard to get noticed by being controversial about a book he hasn't actually read.

 

So terribly sad.

[hypochondriac]

Nineteen Canteen; still trying so desperately hard to get noticed by being controversial about a book he hasn't actually read.

 

So terribly sad.

 

I reckon one of them has read it and the other seven haven't

[Fitzhugh Fella]

19C, it would give your views more credibility if you had actually gone out, bought the book and read it and then constructively given your balanced opinion.

 

Speaking as someone who had a bit of a row with the man recently I still find it incredible that you can criticise his personality, ambition drive etc without ever meeting him. Everyone is fallible, everyone makes mistakes but everyone is not MLT. The most gifted player I set eyes on and I saw Matthews (not in his heyday accepted), Law, Charlton, Best (no not Leon), Keegan, Shearer etc.

 

He is also the most modest of men and nothing is too much trouble. Any faults you refer to are far outweighed by his many pluses and pure footballing genius.

 

Unless you are prepared to read the book I would, with respect, give it a rest.

[hypochondriac]

Well said.

[deadpanmatt]

Here, here!

[wheels]

where where?

[miserableoldgit]

where where?

There, there.

[Greenridge]

Over there.

 

 

 

Quite why people rise to SunnyD's little controversial snippets I don't know. As his sole supporter Ponty points out...'if you don't feed the troll he will go away'

[Ponty]

I'm no supporter of what he says, most of the time anyway. Let's just get that straight.

[Cheeky Monkey]

The comments from his ex-colleagues such as Shearer's actually makes you wonder how much truth lies in their jest

 

I do Agree with this.

 

Also reading the book, MLT gives his reasons why he did not move to Spurs or Liverpool. ( Family/homesick etc). I respect that. However I also have the feeling from reading the book that he knew that he could get away with things at Southampton ( as a big fish in a small pond) that quite frankly he could not get away with in a bigger club.

 

I also think that he revelled in being the star....He mentioned that when he was dropped - he did not worry as when saints lost he knew he would be brouhgt straight back in due to fan pressure etc. Had he gone to liverpool he would have just been one of the players and would lose the "star player" element. He would have to work to get back in the team, train hard and look after his diet.

 

As a saints fan I love MLT. He even once left a ticket for me at an away game as we have sold out and a friend of a friend sorted it for me. However I can see his failings and deep down I think he knows them too - which is why he chose the "easy" option of staying with saints.

 

it does not stop him being a saints hero...

 

just MHO....

[ooohTerryHurlock]

I do Agree with this.

 

Also reading the book, MLT gives his reasons why he did not move to Spurs or Liverpool. ( Family/homesick etc). I respect that. However I also have the feeling from reading the book that he knew that he could get away with things at Southampton ( as a big fish in a small pond) that quite frankly he could not get away with in a bigger club.

 

I also think that he revelled in being the star....He mentioned that when he was dropped - he did not worry as when saints lost he knew he would be brouhgt straight back in due to fan pressure etc. Had he gone to liverpool he would have just been one of the players and would lose the "star player" element. He would have to work to get back in the team, train hard and look after his diet.

 

As a saints fan I love MLT. He even once left a ticket for me at an away game as we have sold out and a friend of a friend sorted it for me. However I can see his failings and deep down I think he knows them too - which is why he chose the "easy" option of staying with saints.

 

it does not stop him being a saints hero...

 

just MHO....

 

 

..... and when he was dropped, did he ever let us down when he was brought back in??? - I'll answer it for you - A BIG FAT NO!

 

only a no brain manager would leave out the only jewel in the side anyway!!

[Channon's Sideburns]

Great read...arrived from Amazon on Saturday, I finished it on Monday.

 

No great revelations - however his max salary whilst with Saints was £3,950 pw (in the PREM!!) - shameful when you consider how much we've been paying players like BWP lately.

 

Would love to know who the teammate was who took a ladyboy back to the hotel by mistake...haha

 

You'll have to buy the book to read the rest!

[krissyboy31]

Would love to know who the teammate was who took a ladyboy back to the hotel by mistake...haha

 

You'll have to buy the book to read the rest!

 

Or ask Jimmy Case!

[Channon's Sideburns]

Or ask Jimmy Case!

 

Haha...I'm sure Jimmy would be happy to pass on the info...!! He comes across in the book as one top bloke.

[miserableoldgit]

I do Agree with this.

 

Also reading the book, MLT gives his reasons why he did not move to Spurs or Liverpool. ( Family/homesick etc). I respect that. However I also have the feeling from reading the book that he knew that he could get away with things at Southampton ( as a big fish in a small pond) that quite frankly he could not get away with in a bigger club.

 

I also think that he revelled in being the star....He mentioned that when he was dropped - he did not worry as when saints lost he knew he would be brouhgt straight back in due to fan pressure etc. Had he gone to liverpool he would have just been one of the players and would lose the "star player" element. He would have to work to get back in the team, train hard and look after his diet.

 

As a saints fan I love MLT. He even once left a ticket for me at an away game as we have sold out and a friend of a friend sorted it for me. However I can see his failings and deep down I think he knows them too - which is why he chose the "easy" option of staying with saints.

 

it does not stop him being a saints hero...

 

just MHO....

 

I think that what you say is largely true. Matt certainly had some failings ( he is human after all!!) but as I posted elsewhere, Saints fans just don`t care about them. Anyone continuosly carrying on about these "failings" like a dripping urinal, is quite simply wasting their time if they think that ANY Saints fan is going to change their opinion of him. He was not perfect - live with it. He gave us so many good times, I can forgive for him any minor defects.

[um pahars]

I think that what you say is largely true. Matt certainly had some failings ( he is human after all!!) but as I posted elsewhere, Saints fans just don`t care about them. Anyone continuosly carrying on about these "failings" like a dripping urinal, is quite simply wasting their time if they think that ANY Saints fan is going to change their opinion of him. He was not perfect - live with it. He gave us so many good times, I can forgive for him any minor defects.

 

Absolutely, and I don't think anyone has any problems when people highlight Matty's shortcomings, even if those shortcomings are more than eclipsed by the many positive attributes he has.

 

Additionally I don't think there is any problem questioning Matty's part in trying to keep the Club afloat (as Fitzhugh Fella has often probed in to).

 

But there is a world difference in doing it respectfully and in an honest manner and trolling and being antagonistic in order to satisfy your own inadequacies (than again Ponty & co. don't view it as trolling LMFAO).

 

I think there are many good points in what Cheeky Monkey has said (along with what other posters have said), whereas the local loon on here only posts for effect.

[Ponty]

Absolutely, and I don't think anyone has any problems when people highlight Matty's shortcomings, even if those shortcomings are more than eclipsed by the many positive attributes he has.

 

Additionally I don't think there is any problem questioning Matty's part in trying to keep the Club afloat (as Fitzhugh Fella has often probed in to).

 

But there is a world difference in doing it respectfully and in an honest manner and trolling and being antagonistic in order to satisfy your own inadequacies (than again Ponty & co. don't view it as trolling LMFAO).

 

I think there are many good points in what Cheeky Monkey has said (along with what other posters have said), whereas the local loon on here only posts for effect.

 

I agree with this post. Well, except the spiteful dig at me, but then it's no less than I've come to expect.

[um pahars]

I agree with this post. Well, except the spiteful dig at me, but then it's no less than I've come to expect.

 

Spiteful!!! LMFAO, for someone who is no wallflower when it comes to calling people idiots etc then I'm surprised you're so precious over someone questioning your belief that this idiot is no troll!!!

 

Then again when you're defending the indefensible, you really should expect some stick.

 

Interesting that you agree with my thoughts and yet you're also only too happy to defend some of the rubbish put up on these threads. How do you work that one out???

[Ponty]

I don't defend the rubbish, I defend the right to express it as an opinion.

[Thedelldays]

I don't defend the rubbish, I defend the right to express it as an opinion.

the seeker of truth and justice...right there

[Nineteen Canteen]

Absolutely, and I don't think anyone has any problems when people highlight Matty's shortcomings, even if those shortcomings are more than eclipsed by the many positive attributes he has.

 

Additionally I don't think there is any problem questioning Matty's part in trying to keep the Club afloat (as Fitzhugh Fella has often probed in to).

 

But there is a world difference in doing it respectfully and in an honest manner and trolling and being antagonistic in order to satisfy your own inadequacies (than again Ponty & co. don't view it as trolling LMFAO).

 

I think there are many good points in what Cheeky Monkey has said (along with what other posters have said), whereas the local loon on here only posts for effect.

 

The local loon UP has been saying pretty much what Cheeky Monkey has said but unfortunately I am not as erudite and have to deal with idiots like you and your little clique forever moaning about trolls. Are you sure it was a player MLT was alluding to in the ladyboy/hotel incident?

[Cheeky Monkey]

I think that what you say is largely true. Matt certainly had some failings ( he is human after all!!) but as I posted elsewhere, Saints fans just don`t care about them. Anyone continuosly carrying on about these "failings" like a dripping urinal, is quite simply wasting their time if they think that ANY Saints fan is going to change their opinion of him. He was not perfect - live with it. He gave us so many good times, I can forgive for him any minor defects.

 

 

This is the first time I have stated any MLT failings. So have not been continuous. I have also not tried to get people to change thier mind about him. just stated my interpretation of parts of the book etc

 

I know he is not perfect, and he is still a saints hero of mine and someone that will be forever in my memories due to my affection of saints and what he acheived for us.

 

most Genious have failings.....look at gazza, george best, maradonna etc etc. ( I like all of them too - even maradonna)

[miserableoldgit]

This is the first time I have stated any MLT failings. So have not been continuous. I have also not tried to get people to change thier mind about him. just stated my interpretation of parts of the book etc

 

I know he is not perfect, and he is still a saints hero of mine and someone that will be forever in my memories due to my affection of saints and what he acheived for us.

 

most Genious have failings.....look at gazza, george best, maradonna etc etc. ( I like all of them too - even maradonna)

Sorry you Cheeky Monkey, this wasn`t aimed at you. I was basically confirming, as you said, that of course he had failings and we are all aware of them but they do not detract from his reputation. Another poster, whose name escapes me, is continously dripping on about them.

[Verbal]

I think it's called padding.

 

Staring at the walls again?

 

The great thing about your truly asinine 'take' on MLT is that it seems only to have reinforced the admiration for him on here.

 

You're clearly a walking, talking embodiment of the law of unintended consequences.

 

Well done!

[Colinjb]

Staring at the walls again?

 

The great thing about your truly asinine 'take' on MLT is that it seems only to have reinforced the admiration for him on here.

 

You're clearly a walking, talking embodiment of the law of unintended consequences.

 

Well done!

 

Or he has called your bluff big time.

[Red]

Maybe some fair points regarding the short comings, but let's face it if MLT was a super fit athlete in addition to his skills - it's the prawn sandwich brigade that would have enjoyed him rather than us :-)

 

Personally I prefer it the way it turned out and enjoyed watching Le God at very close quarters for many years at the Dell - why would anyone want to lose that???? To me he is that much MORE of a hero for being a bit unfit / fat / etc. etc. and still making complete mugs of so called world class players !!!!

 

BTW if you thought he was not at his physical peak - you clearly missed the era of Osgood (fag and probably beer during half time), C George, Channon etc. etc.

[ooohTerryHurlock]

Maybe some fair points regarding the short comings, but let's face it if MLT was a super fit athlete in addition to his skills - it's the prawn sandwich brigade that would have enjoyed him rather than us :-)

 

Personally I prefer it the way it turned out and enjoyed watching Le God at very close quarters for many years at the Dell - why would anyone want to lose that???? To me he is that much MORE of a hero for being a bit unfit / fat / etc. etc. and still making complete mugs of so called world class players !!!!

 

BTW if you thought he was not at his physical peak - you clearly missed the era of Osgood (fag and probably beer during half time), C George, Channon etc. etc.

 

spot on!!

[krissyboy31]

Personally I prefer it the way it turned out and enjoyed watching Le God at very close quarters for many years at the Dell - why would anyone want to lose that???? To me he is that much MORE of a hero for being a bit unfit / fat / etc. etc. and still making complete mugs of so called world class players !!!!

 

Very true, but those of us who remember his very early career, playing in the Ressies and Youth team, he actually started out as a lanky skinny kid who had a bit of pace about him, which is why when he played in Chris Nicholl's team he was a winger.

 

I remember on Reserve game at the Dell v Chelsea (3 all draw IIRC) where he played and terrorised their defence. I was sat in the upper west stand with a group of Chelsea fans behind my talking about him and one piped up and told the rest of his group that Le Tissier was a Belgium youth international that Saints had just signed from Anderlecht (or some team out there).

[Eastcowzer]

Sadly some people are a bit insecure about their intelligence and need to make themselves sound superior. In reality, even though no-one is expecting a work of great literature, there is nothing wrong with thoroughly enjoying an autobiography of someone you admire. Obviously, I would quickly judge any person who read the autobiography of a vacuous celebrity bint such as Jordan, so perhaps I'm somewhat hypocritical, but then, Le Tissier is a man of clear talent and someone to be admired.

 

I'm sure like myself, many Saints fans read quite widely and enjoy more heavy works, but that doesn't mean they cannot enjoy a book like this. It's just insecure snobbery to slag off a book like this for being lightweight. It's not trying to be Dostoevsky, it's a sports autobiography and should be judged as such.

 

Who does Dostoevski play for. ?

[um pahars]

Who does Dostoevski play for. ?

 

Dnepr (can't remember how to spell their full name) from Ukraine (back then the USSR).

 

We played them in a friendly at some point in the late 80's and signed Cherednik and Gotsmanov as a result of them performing well.

 

We wanted to sign Dostoevski, but couldn't get a work permit and it fell through. He topped their scoring charts for the next 8 years and then played out his career at Lokomotiv Test Side.

[Frank's cousin]

My take on this is that the book was a bit hasty.. and it did lack depth and real insight - Whatever we think of Le Tiss its true that he was a lazy bugger - he admits that himself, so I never expected him to suddenly be pouring hours and hours into an 'autobiography' . I think its a fun read but not really anything new. I would have liked to read a bit more about teh man himself, maybe it would ahve ben better to have worked in collaboration with an experienced biographer who could delve that bit deeper.

 

Its great for Saints fans, but as pointed out, perhaps not much interest for those looking for more about the man behind the genius?

[Cheeky Monkey]

My take on this is that the book was a bit hasty.. and it did lack depth and real insight - Whatever we think of Le Tiss its true that he was a lazy bugger - he admits that himself, so I never expected him to suddenly be pouring hours and hours into an 'autobiography' . I think its a fun read but not really anything new. I would have liked to read a bit more about teh man himself, maybe it would ahve ben better to have worked in collaboration with an experienced biographer who could delve that bit deeper.

 

Its great for Saints fans, but as pointed out, perhaps not much interest for those looking for more about the man behind the genius?

 

Seconded

[MatthewStiles]

I thought it was a pretty good book and an entertaining read. It's also quite balanced in that, for example, he can see the reasoning behind Venables not fancying him for England as he had Gazza but Hoddle went to France in 98 without either Matt or Gazza. In fact, Hoddle gets a right slating for his time as Saints manager too for his lack of man-management skills.

 

Other points of interest include Matty also understands why people feel he wasn't ambitious enough but points to his Guernsey background. His brothers had opportunities to become pro-footballers but couldn't face leaving the island.

 

There are loads of funny anecdotes and Matty's laid back personality really does come through. It's quite a contrast with one of the first football auto-biogs I read "Ball of Fire" written by Alan Ball just after 1966. Bally came across as absolutely obsessed about football and about winning. Practising kicking a ball against the back wall until it was ptich black, getting upset about losing tiddley-winks etc.

 

Of course 19c doesn't like it, I guess mainly because Lord Lowe comes out very badly in the book. As for lacking depth and insight, I'm not too sure. I read the Tony Adams book which has been hailed as a great work but apart from it being very honest about his alcoholism it was quite a typical footballers book I thought.

[eurosaint]

Most footballer autobiographical books are much of a muchness (I have read dozens of them, sad barsteward that I am!) and are obviously mainly targetted at thier core supporters ! Clearly if you play for Man U you will sell a helluva lot more than Saints for example !

I enjoyed 'Taking Le Tiss' mainly because I could relate to matches, places, goals, players, characters, nicknames etc, etc...

He should sell a fair quantity not only to diehards like us but also to the many thousnads around the country (and abroad??) who revelled in his skills and his goals ! His recent success on Gillette Soccer Saturday should also enhance the sales figures and good luck to him, I say !!!!

[Thedelldays]

what was interesting (it must have been allowed) was when Matt said he and (cant remember who else) said they had large sums of money on the games they were playing in..IE the ball going out for the throw in the first 30 seconds and doing a deal with the opposition captian to ensure saints had kick off..

 

dodgy as hell really..lol