1 comments about A Will to Win: The Manager's Diary.

1. This is a great read. The caveat - and full disclosure: I spent a good part of my childhood in the olde country (Scotland) - is at least a working knowledge of the arcane culture of British soccer, in particular the various competitions that are held concurrently, is perhaps a necessity. This is written as a day to day diary and so if you don't already know the difference between the Champions League, the Coca-Cola Cup, the FA Cup, the Charity Shield, the Premiership and the old Championship, you probably won't really be enlightened along the way, especially as there are no footnotes whatsoever added by the publisher.
   
   There is just no US equivalent of Alex Ferguson. I have tried to think of one - perhaps in college sports, or way back, but come up blank. He has been the most successful manager ever of the biggest and richest soccer club in Britain, perhaps the world, and he has done this for over twenty years. Kind of like managing the Yankees for twenty plus years. Joe Torre would have needed ten more years and at least five more championships to come close. Ferguson has built three completely separate winning teams - his first championship side 1991-1993, then the young side, including Beckham, that won the treble in 1999, and his latest side with Ronaldo that won back to back titles and the Champions League in 2008. The periods inbetween have not exactly been that of transition - he has always won trophies, almost every year since the early 90s. This is one of the keys to his longevity. He has managed to tinker and alter his playing staff while continually winning most of the games. This is some achievement, particulary as most other teams approach a game against Man U as a cup final (similar to teams playing harder against the Yankees sometimes). This diary is of the 96/97 season, when Fergie was making his first serious bid for European glory, whilst still trying to win a domestic trophy or two. As you might expect, whilst still fascinating, this, like the man himself, is a professional job. It was written at the heights of his success after ten years in a job he expected to continue in, and so absolutely no bridges are burnt here. There are almost no personal revelations - just some Scottish style banter about "the wife" etc - about himself or his players. This is a man's book about tactics, preparing for games, who to play and who not to etc. As bare as skin and bones, but riveting nonetheless. Will the key players recover from injury in time? How much time does he have left to move his pieces around?

5 comments about The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro (Bookcassette(r) Edition).

1. It's fitting that even after hearing about this book because of soccer, I ended up stumbing across it in the travel section. Soccer may be the glue of the book, but it's a travelogue at heart. McGinness starts with his newfound madness for soccer bringing him to Italy, yet quickly lets the game recede into the muddle of everyday life. The writing quickly becomes part Simon Kuper and part Bruce Chatwin. The book thankfully takes in as much lush description and hilarious anecdotes as it does tactical decisions and game descriptions. Instead of just an Italian version of a John Feinstein book, we get a truly unique story that evokes real and lasting emotion rather than the passing interest of locker room voyuerism.
   
   Much of criticism here seems to miss the point. It's true that McGinniss makes himself the main character, but it's not a weakness (some arrogance, maybe, but not mere narcissism). The book, after all, is mainly about the shock of the outsider looking in: on soccer, on the village, on Italian society as a whole, and especially the repulsive compromises between love of the game and its seedier elements. If McGinniss doesn't quite succeed at making some grand assessment of Italy or a master's analysis of soccer, who cares? The story he tells is fascinating, emotive, and tragic nontheless. It reaches far beyond the world of the game and its fans, and should be a must-read for anyone.



2. Even though it is written for the football novice and can be facile at times - A WONDERFUL BOOK!



3. I enjoyed this book. McGinnis was honest about his experiences and even about his own shortcomings. Just like there are no true fairy tales, there are no people without shortcomings. McGinnis portrayed himself and others in this manner.
   
   I applaud him and his book as a man who had the guts to experience something few would do and the skill to write it up artfully and truthfully.



4. This book really grasped my attention. The story throughtout the chapters captured my imagination.
   The book gave a realistic impression of an amazing country. "Joe" really explored the life of the team and the "Calcio" and every action was convincing in an unpredictable manor.
   The style of sentences and the chosen words really made up the base of an absoloutely fantastic book!!!delightful and inspiring journey through the football season.
   This is an exciting new addition to anyone's library.



5. I must admit, this is one of my all-time favorite books. I have read this close to a dozen times, and I try to re-read it once a year generally. Call me biased, being a lover of both soccer and my own Italian heritage, but this book is masterful.
   
   The thing is that this is not so much a story of soccer, though it turns around the fortunes of this soccer team. This is much more a socio-cultural look at life in this small Italian town, and to an extent to life in Italy in general. It is the story of "Western European" (I'm fitting American's in this mould) encounter with a very different mediterranean/Italian culture which views life and many things very differently.
   
   The love/hate/love relationship Joe develops with the town, players, and others is mesmerizing. Yes at times Joe is an idiot. Yes he sticks his nose at times where it doesn't belong. And absolutely some of his observations show how complete his ignorance of the inner workings of the game is. He may have come to love it, but clearly he does not have so great an understanding of it.
   
   Nonetheless this book is charming, at times funny, engaging and at time tear-jerking (for me at least). What a masterful book.

No comments about Ooh Ah Stantona: The Autobiography of the SAS Hero Who Became a Football Legend.

No comments about Ossie: King of Stamford Bridge (Mainstream Sport).

5 comments about Captain for Life: And Other Temporary Assignments.

1. This is a good book. Altough at times it is misleading when John is speaking of his trials and tribulations of his soccer career. I'm not a person that reads a lot of books but this one I enjoyed. But this book is not for everyone. To really enjoy and understand this book you will have had to played soccer at a high level, not at the National Team level but for a club team or and ODP team. If you are the captain of your team you should read this book.This book is good for all ages of kids and i would reccomend this book to young players with dreams of making it in the MLS or for a club team in Europe. This is a good book.



2. John Harkes - a great player, a great guy and now a great author. John made a great impact upon the british game, and is remembered with great affection among Sheffield Wednesday fans for he reminds us of the great times we had whilst John was with us. The book is a great insight into John's career, from his teenage days in Kearny to his time in England and as a founder player of the relatively recent MLS league. I found it an enthralling read and was loathed to put it down!! I particularly enjoyed reading John's explanation for his leaving the Owls, as we all felt John Had been unfairly treated. If you enjoy soccer, you'll love this book. It highlights the highs and low's of John's career, and provides personal insights into John Harkes the man. John you're gone (from England) but not forgotten.



3. "Captain for Life" is the greatest book ever to be publisheds. It gives the most interesting, deep insight of one of the greatest Americans÷ to ever play the game of soccert. Everywhere John Harkes goes, the most fanatics from the best soccer countries adores and loves the Harskey. "Captain for Life" is definitely the top autiobiography out right now. Once you start reading this book, you will not be able to put it down. Take my advice. This is coming from a person that doesn't read often.



4. "Captain for Life" is the greatest book ever to be publisheds. It gives the most interesting, deep insight of one of the greatest Americans to ever play the game of soccer. Everywhere John Harkes goes, the most fanatics from the best soccer countries adores and loves the Harskey. "Captain for Life" is definitely the top autiobiography out right now. Once you start reading this book, you will not be able to put it down. Take my advice. This is coming from a person that doesn't read often.



5. A fresh look into the purposeful misleading and lies of Steve Sampson and his mishandling of the US Men's National Team at France '98. For me, the background was good, but the reading on the France '98 team is essential to anybody who cares about US Soccer. John Harkes is owed an apology by Steve Sampson and the powers that be at US Soccer for the way he was treated after giving it all up for the glory of the game in the USA. Sampson may dispute the facts put down by Harkes, but the book got published, Harkes never got sued, Harkes is still playing and Sampson is coaching kids soccer (right where he belongs.) Attitude? Dang right. Too many people, like John Harkes, Marcelo Balboa, Alexi Lalas et.al. poured their lives in elevating the game to an unheard of level in the states, only to be lied to, whispered about, and then ultimately begged by the boss, himself, Judas Sampson, to "take it easy on him, he's only a human being." Calling himself a human being is a slap in the face to the genus as a whole.

1 comments about Alive and Kicking: A Story of Crime, Addiction and Redemption in Glasgow's Gangland.

1. Interesting read about a man who started out in a life of crime, alcohol and drugs and turned around and helped many in his old neighborhood who suffered from the same problems. He did it all with soccer (or football in Scotland). His team only includes former drug addicts. A great story.

No comments about Jack Charlton-The Autobiography-P.

No comments about Soccer: From Beckham to Zidane.

1 comments about Mia Hamm.

1. I love Mia Hamm and this was a great biography of her. It tells you a lot of interesting things about Mia and doesn't drag on and on. It was a great book but I was very surprised when I got it and it was tiny.

2 comments about Being Gazza.

1. Being Gazza is an honest look back at his life by Gascoigne. Before this book I was just familiar with the media image of him as, basically, a clown who threw away his talent by too much partying. Now I understand the medical problems underlying his behavior. The book reveals just how much suffering he has gone through and demonstrates how celebrity helps worsen serious medical problems. Takes a lot of courage to be this frank and the book is an easy read for anyone interested in the person rather than just his football career.



2. I don't know anything about soccer players, but wanted to read about bipolar disorder. I love his conversational writing style and all his English-isms throughout the book. I was saddened at how much Paul Gascoigne had to deal with...besides bipolar disorder, as if that's not enough. Yet, it's really heart-warming to see how much he accomplished and continues to accomplish...a great deal more than many who don't have his afflictions.
   I don't think anyone would be disappointed reading this book.