- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Sphere (27 Aug 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1847442501
- ISBN-13: 978-1847442505
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 16.3 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 402,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Manager
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Ever since the dawn of the professional era, the beautiful game's most intriguing individual has been inching his way from the boot room towards the back pages. Along the way he has shared in the preoccupations of the nation ? from conflicts and economic crises, to a fascination with fashion and a wholly unhealthy interest in celebrity. This book traces the remarkable journey of the football gaffer, from his humble beginnings as club secretary, to his modern incarnation ? the man we all recognise, venting his spleen at the ref, or having a huff at a post-match press conference. THE MANAGER takes the reader beyond the well-worn anecdotes, deeper into the stories of football's top men and the world they inhabit. Barney Ronay asks the important questions about these compelling characters ? Where did they come from? Why are they so miserable? Where do they get their suits? Hilarious and absorbing, this book contains enough revelations to provide the most avid fan with a library of fresh tales. You'll never look at the man on the touchline in the same way again.
About the Author
Barney Ronay regularly writes for The Guardian's Saturday sport section, G2, FourFourTwo magazine, the Observer Sports Monthly and When Saturday Comes magazine, as well as making appearances on national radio and on television. He is 34 years old and lives in London.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had a bad feeling about this book from the early pages. Quite simply, it was full of fluff and hyperbole which basically add up to padding. And, for the most part, that's how the book continued through to its end. I can only assume this diasppointing outcome is because although the manager is an interesting character in the evolution of professional soccer, there really isn't that much 'story' to tell. It also makes me think that (a) the publisher pressed author Ronay to fill 283 pages to make the book seem more substantial than it is, and/or (b) the author is simply in love with the 'sound' of his own words :O He never opts to give one description to make a point when he can give three in rapid succession - which he does time and time again. If the book's content were truly substantial, he wouldn't need to do that. He would get to the point, make it and move on. And, beyond the literary crimes just described, Ronay commits the cardinal sins of providing background information that is completely wrong! Just two examples: He states that Alec Stock used to manage Arsenal. He never did! He also claims that after being sacked by Derby, manager Brian Clough bought a ticket to attend the next home game at ... the City Ground! That stadium, of course, belongs to Nottingham Forest. Clough bought a ticket to enter the Baseball ground! Dear, oh dear!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
Fluff and hyperbole no substitute for substance
27 Nov 2010
Format:Paperback
I had a bad feeling about this book from the early pages. Quite simply, it was full of fluff and hyperbole which basically add up to padding. And, for the most part, that's how the book continued through to its end. I can only assume this diasppointing outcome is because although the manager is an interesting character in the evolution of professional soccer, there really isn't that much 'story' to tell. It also makes me think that (a) the publisher pressed author Ronay to fill 283 pages to make the book seem more substantial than it is, and/or (b) the author is simply in love with the 'sound' of his own words :O He never opts to give one description to make a point when he can give three in rapid succession - which he does time and time again. If the book's content were truly substantial, he wouldn't need to do that. He would get to the point, make it and move on. And, beyond the literary crimes just described, Ronay commits the cardinal sins of providing background information that is completely wrong! Just two examples: He states that Alec Stock used to manage Arsenal. He never did! He also claims that after being sacked by Derby, manager Brian Clough bought a ticket to attend the next home game at ... the City Ground! That stadium, of course, belongs to Nottingham Forest. Clough bought a ticket to enter the Baseball ground! Dear, oh dear!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
witty and absorbing
5 Dec 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ronay is a funny guy and this book is a great read. Tongue firmly in cheek, the descriptions of the foibles and self-adulation of a generation of football managers make for fascinating reading.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
