Le Tissier. Genius.....
Discussion
He was perceived as an indulgent luxury player by many. He played for an unglamorous club and refused to move, even when bigger clubs came knocking. He often carried a bit of weight and never really got on with Glenn Hoddle. I recall Hoddle refused to pick him for the England 1998 World Cup full squad, insisting that he play in the B team in order to prove his talent. Le Tissier promptly scored a hat trick in the next game aghainst Russia but still didn't get picked.
England should have built their team around him. Instead Hoddle took Darren Anderton. Great.
England should have built their team around him. Instead Hoddle took Darren Anderton. Great.
The jiffle king said:
Saints and Le-tisser fan here.
Likewise 
.He was an absolute genius - and with both feet. On his day, watching him alone was worth the entrance fee..
It was a travesty the way Hoddle treated him. 'Go play yourself into the 'A' team' he told Matt before an England 'B' international against Russia.
Matt scored a hat-trick and was man of the match by a country mile. He then finds out (on Teletext) that Hoddle had instead selected an unfit Paul Gascoigne for the 1998 World Cup..
Hoddle didn't even have the courtesy to stay in the stadium until the end of that Russia game..
Le Tissier was gutted and I'm not convinced he ever really recovered from that..
SS2. said:
The jiffle king said:
Saints and Le-tisser fan here.
Likewise .Watching him at the Dell was unbelievable. He would appear to do nothing all through the match, then light up the place with a superb goal to earn the three points for the saints.
I fear we may not see the same from the red and whites for a few years yet i'm afraid.
I spent half a day with Matt at the Saints training ground back in about 1995 shooting some pics for an ad campaign (a company I was running at the time made his boots). He was a really nice guy, totally down to earth and happy to do the numerous takes the photographer wanted without any complaint.
We put together a video of his goals which we played on a continuous loop on a big tv on the outside of our stand at the big sports trade fair in Munich. It made many many people stop and watch and you could hear the gasps of admiration. He was a great talent and should have got more international recognition. Didn't Alan Ball say when he was manager of the saints that he had "10 good players and a genius"?
We put together a video of his goals which we played on a continuous loop on a big tv on the outside of our stand at the big sports trade fair in Munich. It made many many people stop and watch and you could hear the gasps of admiration. He was a great talent and should have got more international recognition. Didn't Alan Ball say when he was manager of the saints that he had "10 good players and a genius"?
unrepentant said:
I spent half a day with Matt at the Saints training ground back in about 1995 shooting some pics for an ad campaign (a company I was running at the time made his boots). He was a really nice guy, totally down to earth and happy to do the numerous takes the photographer wanted without any complaint.
We put together a video of his goals which we played on a continuous loop on a big tv on the outside of our stand at the big sports trade fair in Munich. It made many many people stop and watch and you could hear the gasps of admiration. He was a great talent and should have got more international recognition. Didn't Alan Ball say when he was manager of the saints that he had "10 good players and a genius"?
Were'nt his boots called quazer or something like that?! We put together a video of his goals which we played on a continuous loop on a big tv on the outside of our stand at the big sports trade fair in Munich. It made many many people stop and watch and you could hear the gasps of admiration. He was a great talent and should have got more international recognition. Didn't Alan Ball say when he was manager of the saints that he had "10 good players and a genius"?
Watched him many years back at an evening K.O at Old Trafford.
Came out before kick off on his own and practised crossing the ball into the penalty area. Ball landed in exactly the same spot every time but the most amazing thing was the lack of backlift in his leg before kicking the ball.
A brilliant player to watch when he could be bothered. Can't fault him for that.
Came out before kick off on his own and practised crossing the ball into the penalty area. Ball landed in exactly the same spot every time but the most amazing thing was the lack of backlift in his leg before kicking the ball.
A brilliant player to watch when he could be bothered. Can't fault him for that.
You could be forgiven for thinking that was George Best or Maradona (apart from the obvious height difference) in that video. I guess you could describe him as a 'rough diamond' as he was probably one of the most gifted English born players I have seen - however, as someone pointed out earlier, there appeared to be something lacking in his ambition and drive to make the most of that.
He should have been first choice in the England team for many a year. Shame.
He should have been first choice in the England team for many a year. Shame.
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