I'll Tell You What...

by Robbie Savage

Robbie Savage is one of Britain's most recognisable football pundits. Incisive, forthright and bold, Savage never holds back where the beautiful game is concerned.
No Premier League footballer has ever divided opinion quite like Robbie Savage. Mr Marmite, as he was often known (among other things), rampaged his way through almost 350 games in the Premier League and along the way picked up more yellow cards than Gary Lineker has crisps and more enemies than Joey Barton and Neil Warnock put together.
In his explosive new book, I'll Tell You What..., Savage lifts the lid on all aspects of the modern game. Managers, players, the Premiership, the European game, the FA Cup, kids' football, and pushy football parents are just a few of the topics that Savage takes on in his inimitable provocative style.
Robbie tells us
Ã? Alex Ferguson is not Britain's best ever manager
Ã? The Messi v Ronaldo debate will go on forever, but I know who's best
Ã? The Class of '92 could do a job for England
Ã? On paper I was probably one of the world's most versatile footballers
Ã? You simply can't knock on Mark Hughes's door and invite him for a game of golf - even if he invites you
Ã? Drinking wine does not win you football matches
Ã? I could never become a manager. Or could I?
Ã? Referees are human after all
Ã? Zico is not as good as Ronaldo - despite what Brazilian waiters say
Ã? Good manners should come before diamond earrings
Ã? Roberto Mancini has a great singing voice
Robbie Savage's straight-talking common sense is only the start of it. I'll Tell You Wha t is a modern-day guide to life, and should be read by anyone who has an interest in anything at all, especially football. Few may actually agree with him, but everyone listens.

Genres: Football

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2015

Reviews

[Bookfiend7121]

I really enjoyed this book.. I don't watch Fletch & Sav or listen to 606. But I've heard about his reputation.. I did get a chance to see him in an interview on BBC morning program and he seemed so different than what I heard and imagined him to be.. His book reaffirms this and I couldn't put it down. He also brings up some valid points about the game that I agree with. It was also interesting to see the game from the perspective of a former player.

[Louise Armstrong]

I got bored after a while - he had nothing much to say about Strictly, which is the only reason I know who he is. I picked it up because why should I expect a sports player to have nothing to say? But, er, one for football fans, I'd say.

[Samuel Tyler]

Any regular reader of books by footballers are pretty much aware that what they are about read is not going to be full of great prose. More likely they are going to be regaled with stories about Dazza, Razza and Nazza, as they all bought the same Lamborghini. Most footballers do their talking with their feet and after listening to some of them, this is probably for the best. Robbie Savage never spoke that brilliantly with his boots, but he has always had the gift for the gab. ‘I’ll Tell You What’ is a follow up from his autobiography and is a mixture of more tales from his career, with the fortunes of modern football.

The beautiful game moves quickly and although out in 2015, the reissued paperback already seems quaint. No mention of Leicester’s surprise Premiership win. The book is split into a series of mini essays that cover different aspects of the game; things like money or respect. Repeatedly Savage suggests that with so much money in the game now, no one will ever break into the oligarchy at the top – oops, say hello to the Foxes.

As well as feeling a little out of date there are also too many lists sections; best ever Welsh Team, English Team, Premiership Team, and Greatest Left backs with Side Partings etc. Savage seems to repeat his opinions several times as if the book is made up of essays written elsewhere first. He is also prone to being a little pleased with the grubby commercial side of the business. Footballers are all about how if the money is there, take it, but for many of us we are looking forward to the day this bloated balloon bursts.

Despite the problems in the book, it is still entertaining. Savage’s voice is apparent throughout and it is nice to actually read someone who has opinions on things. The best paragraphs are the ones that read like his autobiography and give you amusing stories about his antics. There are enough of these to make this an enjoyable book, wrapped up in some flimflam.

[James]

A pleasant enough read but this was Robbie Savage I expected something more revealing or contentious I was disappointed.

[Martin]

Couldnt get into this book at all. Gave up in the end