Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Interesting insight to what happens after a player's career, 13 Nov 2005
Andy Gray’s one of those people who is probably more famous since he stopped playing than when he was as a player. Gray Matters tells his life story, his various club moves, what he thought of each manager (and there are a few where he really hasn’t held back) and a bit of insight into some of the key moments of his playing career.This in itself is quite interesting although nothing that really stands out as yet another biography by yet another player. What is more interesting though is Gray’s description of how he got involved in football commentary, and an insight to how he tries to commentate on games which are on TV. The book does sometimes border of being an advertising medium for Sky and himself which is irritating but bearable. He also tells his version of how near he got to being manager of Everton which is definitely interesting. All in all, it’s to the point and honest, and for that alone I think you’ll enjoy it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Gray is not the most exciting colour in the paint box, 2 May 2006
I bought this book for two reasons. First, I like Andy Gray's TV personality - he's intelligent, honest and witty. Second, I enjoyed his earlier book "Flat Back Four" which analyses tactics and how they have evolved in football - not many laughs, I admit, but it was one of the most intelligent football books I have ever read (although I admit there aren't too many contenders in that category).
So I was hoping for either an intelligent read along the same lines (encouraged by the title "Gray Matters", geddit?), some good anecdotes, or some of the on-screen humour. I came away with nought out of three. In terms of content it is hard to imagine this book was written by the same person as wrote "Flat Back Four" (although in retrospect that book was co-authored by Jim Drewett who has written several other books on coaching and tactics). I was hoping for some similar analysis of how the teams Gray played for (and coached) played, some depth that went beyond a litany of "It was another disappointing season for Wolves/Villa/whoever but the main reason was the manager ..." That might well be true but get out the chalkboard and explain it to us, Andy!
Humour? I'm not sure Gray's TV personality really transfers to the page. Away from the banter he comes across as having a bit of a high opinion of himself (and that's probably why he is a millionaire and married to Suzanne Dando and I'm not!) but it isn't necessarily likeable. Also be prepared for the plugs for his current employer - it would have been simpler to have just put a Sky TV logo on the top left hand corner of every screen, sorry, page.
And anecdotes? A month after putting this book down for the last time I can't remember any in particular, although you do have the feeling that when Andy "hangs up the mike" there might be an updated autobiography and he might have held back some of the best bits for that. After all, if you are a TV pundit depending on access to people in the game you don't want to tell many honest stories about them. Perhaps the most memorable bit was Andy admitting that as a Rangers fan he was angry when they signed Mo Johnston, a Catholic, and if he had a season ticket he would have considered ripping it up. That was shock to me (a bit like the time the England team on the way to the World Cup (in 1982?) posed with Margaret Thatcher <<SHUDDER>>). Gray now sees the error of his ways but mainly because it put Rangers at a disadvantage by limiting the players they could sign, not because there is anything wrong with disliking someone purely because of their religion. Top marks for candour and honesty but, like the book as a whole, disappointing.
If you are not deterred get it from the library. And if you really want to spend some money buy "Flat Back Four" instead.
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