- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan (1 Sep 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1405088915
- ISBN-13: 978-1405088916
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 715,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Independent - Book of the Week
'Holt's desire to tell the truth as he sees it make for a riveting
read.'
read.'
Product Description
A fascinating dual biography of the two most influential football managers of recent times
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As I write this Manchester United are on the brink of reaching the final of the European Champions League AND their second successive Premiership win. This doesn't suggest to me that Manchester United are on the decline but anyone reading this book, published less than two years ago, would assume that by now Manchester United would be floundering mid table, at best. Indeed at one stage Oliver Holt states that the transfer of David Beckham to Real Madrid was 'the beginning of the end'. The other 91 league clubs are still waiting...
The author, sportswriter Oliver Holt, obviously has a deep dislike of Alex Ferguson which he allows to completely spoil this book. Perhaps a clue as to why he dislikes Fergie so much is given in the final chapter, in which Holt writes about Fergusons lack of respect for football journalists, and his view that they do not have a clue about football.
In complete contrast it is clear that Holt regards the other subject of this joint biography, Bill Shankly, to be almost a saint and the chapters about him are very entertaining, although Shankly was such a character that it would be difficult to write anything about him that wasn't. Holt spoils these chapters too though by his odd chronology. Rather than start at the beginning of Shanklys football career and end with his premature retirement Holt chooses to do this in reverse - very strange.
Maybe the most damning sentence in this book appears near the end though -
'Cristiano Ronaldo was overpriced when Ferguson paid £12.6 million for him from Sporting Lisbon'.
Maybe Fergie as a point about football journalists.
The author, sportswriter Oliver Holt, obviously has a deep dislike of Alex Ferguson which he allows to completely spoil this book. Perhaps a clue as to why he dislikes Fergie so much is given in the final chapter, in which Holt writes about Fergusons lack of respect for football journalists, and his view that they do not have a clue about football.
In complete contrast it is clear that Holt regards the other subject of this joint biography, Bill Shankly, to be almost a saint and the chapters about him are very entertaining, although Shankly was such a character that it would be difficult to write anything about him that wasn't. Holt spoils these chapters too though by his odd chronology. Rather than start at the beginning of Shanklys football career and end with his premature retirement Holt chooses to do this in reverse - very strange.
Maybe the most damning sentence in this book appears near the end though -
'Cristiano Ronaldo was overpriced when Ferguson paid £12.6 million for him from Sporting Lisbon'.
Maybe Fergie as a point about football journalists.
Format:Hardcover
Ah - where can you begin with this book. The idea of this book appealed to me - you contrast two managers who were larger than life and had seismic impacts on their clubs.
If only Mr Holt could have applied some semblance of balance with the chapters dealing with Ferguson. Instead this meanders into a love letter to Shankly and a bitter twisted ignorant diatribe against SAF, which is surprising from the main football writer for one of england's newspapers.
There have been books that show SAF darkside but which also give him the kudos he is undoubtedly due - such as Football Bloody Hell. Even the best ever book about United "Strange Kind of Glory" while praising Sir Matt Busby also holds up a mirror to his faults. It is this balance which Holts book lacks. It is infantile at best. If you want a good football read then go for "Inverting the Pyramid" by Jonathan Wilson, "Calcio" by John Foot, or "Futebol"by Alex Bellos - all well researched tomes to the beautiful game - I tip my cap to these writers and would never risk investing in one of Mr Holts literary works again. Fool me once....
If only Mr Holt could have applied some semblance of balance with the chapters dealing with Ferguson. Instead this meanders into a love letter to Shankly and a bitter twisted ignorant diatribe against SAF, which is surprising from the main football writer for one of england's newspapers.
There have been books that show SAF darkside but which also give him the kudos he is undoubtedly due - such as Football Bloody Hell. Even the best ever book about United "Strange Kind of Glory" while praising Sir Matt Busby also holds up a mirror to his faults. It is this balance which Holts book lacks. It is infantile at best. If you want a good football read then go for "Inverting the Pyramid" by Jonathan Wilson, "Calcio" by John Foot, or "Futebol"by Alex Bellos - all well researched tomes to the beautiful game - I tip my cap to these writers and would never risk investing in one of Mr Holts literary works again. Fool me once....
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