Book Review: Saint v Devil

It’s quite conceivable that an all time Premier League XI may have Gary Neville and Matt Le Tissier as candidates for starting spots.

 

Both were honest and hard working one-club professionals – with Manchester United and Southampton respectively – who acquired over 800 senior appearances at the elite level, and have also gone on to work for Sky Sports in punditry capacities.

How they come across on the small screen may also translate to their respective autobiographies. Neville, whose analysis is cutting, bordering on ruthless, delivers a book that is regularly on the front foot. 

Even as age sets in, there is little room for grey areas.

Le Tissier’s recollections of a career in which he scored 161 goals for the Saints appear tinged with misty eyes and a jokey take on ‘the good old days’ where a balanced diet was a pint in each hand. 

Throughout, he also maintains a firm view that he has no regrets about rebuffing chances to switch to Chelsea or Tottenham, which borders on scarcely believable.

His book naturally, yet unfortunately, seems geared towards those who turned up to watch him in action at The Dell where he scored some spectacular goals, as well as 47 out of 48 penalties and the last ever goal before the Saints’ switched to St. Mary’s Stadium.

Whether he ever got the chances he deserved for the national side is a topic that is also fleetingly mentioned, but never entirely addressed, despite it being a bugbear for many England fans of the mid-nineties who craved a ball player to rival Paul Gascoigne.

Neville, cut from different cloth entirely though, was the epitome of many England sides in the aforementioned time period; steady and unspectacular.

Driven by a knowledge that to match his peers in Giggs, Beckham and Scholes, Neville had to be the consummate professional and as such, never performed worse than 6/10 or better than 8/10. 

However, his medal haul is first class including eight titles, two Champions Leagues, three FA Cups and a pair of league cups.

Whereas Le Tissier’s effort would probably be a bit more appealing had he included some scandal or gossip – he divorced his childhood sweetheart in 1997 – he is not willing to air his dirty laundry and, while gaining respect, loses the readers interest amid tales of saving his beloved Saints from yet another possible relegation.

The spats in which ‘Taking Le Tiss’ does divulge include former Saints chairman Rupert Lowe and ex-England manager Glenn Hoddle.

This is where Neville’s stories of “and so United won another trophy” don’t get boring but show how winning sides that will live long in the memory shape their legacy.

Throw in his 85 England caps and experience of six international tournaments and weight is given to his scathing attacks on the Football Association. 

Ironic it may be that the self proclaimed Liverpool hater poured scorn on his future employers, but credit must be given to England’s latest coach for taking the plunge in a bid to make the “waste of time” that was wearing the three lions shirt, a thing of the past.

RED: 7/10 – rather predictable yet determined showing for a man who has made his name despite his more illustrious teammates.

TAKING LE TISS 4/10 – outshone most, if not all, Saints during his playing career yet his book fails to live up to his legendary status.