Recommended book: The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin

[greyerfox]

If anyone else was lucky enough to receive this book as a Christmas present then they will probably be enthusing about it too. Written by sportswriter Michael Calvin it is about football scouts and player recruitment. An engrossing read, it compares how scouting has progressed in some clubs so that sophisticated software is in use to analyse a transfer target.But the book also deals with the human side of scouting and recruitment. I don't want to spoil the enjoyment but there are interesting bits about our skipper and Bob Shaw. Dean Austin figures too. But what really grabbed my attention was chapter 8 which opens with a glowing tribute to The Fish House, 150 yards from the Hall. What follows is about a match two seasons ago when we won 4-0. Yes, really! The player being scouted had a mare.

A great read for 9 quid. Enjoy.

 

[LennySUFC]

If anyone else was lucky enough to receive this book as a Christmas present then they will probably be enthusing about it too. Written by sportswriter Michael Calvin it is about football scouts and player recruitment. An engrossing read, it compares how scouting has progressed in some clubs so that sophisticated software is in use to analyse a transfer target.But the book also deals with the human side of scouting and recruitment. I don't want to spoil the enjoyment but there are interesting bits about our skipper and Bob Shaw. Dean Austin figures too. But what really grabbed my attention was chapter 8 which opens with a glowing tribute to The Fish House, 150 yards from the Hall. What follows is about a match two seasons ago when we won 4-0. Yes, really! The player being scouted had a mare.

A great read for 9 quid. Enjoy.

Must of been Cheltenham at home and the player being scouted must of been their worst player, Jack Butland, now at Stoke! He was terrible that night!

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

i got it for Christmas. I'm going to start it after I've finished Fever Pitch so no spoilers please

 

[BoyWonder2]

I got this for Christmas, and am just about to start chapter 8.

Has been a fantastic read so far.

 

[amsemp]

Cheers greyerfox - just ordered it :thumbsup:

 

[Fiftyone]

I got this book as a birthday present a couple of months ago and have nearly finished reading it.

Excellent read. If you are too tight to buy it then borrow it from your local library, I know my local library in Billericay has a copy on its shelves.

 

[greyerfox]

Without breaching Bearded Shrimper's injunction, I hope, one thing that does emerge from the book is the question why no League club has given Dean Austin a chance as a manager. He appears to have all the credentials. Justin Edinburgh has achieved it, admittedly by managing a Conference club which was promoted. Wonder if Austin was considered when Tilly was dismissed?

 

[Pubey]

Just bought it in waterstones, looking forward to getting stuck in.

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

Without breaching Bearded Shrimper's injunction, I hope, one thing that does emerge from the book is the question why no League club has given Dean Austin a chance as a manager. He appears to have all the credentials. Justin Edinburgh has achieved it, admittedly by managing a Conference club which was promoted. Wonder if Austin was considered when Tilly was dismissed?

wasn't Austin really highly regarded for a while?
who was that bloke we had from Hartlepool for a month or two then got taken back up north? West or something? wasn't he highly thought of and another who disappeared without trace?

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Downloaded this last night after reading this thread. Read the 1st chapter, seems like a good read. Saving it for my hols now.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

It is a great read.:thumbsup:

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

Thanks for the heads up, will order it now