Insights from a master

The first 1/3 of the book is more of an autography, almost as if he has to justify why he's entitled to give his opinion throughout the rest of it. And he doesn't hold back on that. For example, he loves Dutch football, but gets frustrated by it, rues the dying art of the old fashioned centre back, thinks more technology involvement to support referees isn't a good thing. I don't agree with everything he says, but his experience and talent makes it difficult to argue with him. He also analyses the pros and cons of different formations, managers, clubs, and nations. It's a fascinating insight into the mind of one football's all time greats and, agree with him or not, it's worth a listen.

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3 people found this helpful

Wrong title!

Good insight but more of a memoir from Ruud. Didn't get out of it what i assumed from the title!

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Disappointing

This audiobook is badly titled as it's mostly a collection of observations of how the author himself played and managed. It's structure is really random and there is a lot of repetition.

The narrator makes a real mouthful of the pronunciations, and I found this book quite a slog in the end.

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2 people found this helpful

A must read for those interested in football

A real insight into football management, tactics, mentality etc educational as well as entertaining. Definitely recommend for those more interested in the sport of football, rather than the silly romanticisims that can surround it.

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1 person found this helpful

A worthy enough trip down memory lane...

I'm not sure if this provides any extensive tactical insight beyond Ruud Gullits career, it's a workmanlike and brief look into his favourite moments and is a great place to start if you want to know more of an overview of the game. An easy read.

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2 people found this helpful

More like how to watch and how I played!

Parts were very informative, of tactics, other parts seemed very informative about his career, not what I was after.

Sections of the book often seemed very random, going from video refs>boots>gravy, I thought I had the playback on shuffle!

Overall as semi biography it was ok, but as a reference as to what to look for I don't think it will be useful, it's not a tactical guide or manual.

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2 people found this helpful

Misleading Title

The title suggests this book will teach you how to watch football. There are a few useful nuggets of advice but Ruud spends most of the book A) Writing/bragging about his own skill as a footballer and manager B) Talking about Dutch footballers/teams C) Talking about European football. As a British fan I wasn't familiar with many of the players he mentions.

Adam James read the book. The performance felt rushed, like James wanted to finish as quickly as possible. His gravelly voice was irritating. At points James tried to add gravitas but his voice just became even more irritating.

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1 person found this helpful

Very good listen

Very good listen and some wonderful insight into the game really enjoyed it. It gives you a little but of a look behind the curtains of whats really going on out on the field. Ruud should have been a much better manager than he has been.

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Dull!

What would have made How to Watch Football better?

Only managed 90mins - was very dull I thought, and quite scattered with content.
Ruud , or the narrator telling us how playing a ball to the near post is a different tactic to the far post?!! As a football coach I was hoping for more tactical insights, but after 90mins I'd had enough!

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Interesting but rudimentary

The title would have you believe that this book contains valuable insights into the game. However the author rarely moves beyond the anecdotal, offering mainly rudimentary facts- such as ‘if you want to beat the European elite you need the best players’.

I regret buying

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