The Anatomy of England: A History in Ten Matches by Jonathan Wilson


The Anatomy of England: A History in Ten Matches
Title : The Anatomy of England: A History in Ten Matches
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1409113639
ISBN-10 : 9781409113638
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 396
Publication : First published May 20, 2010

Having invented the game, everything that has followed for England and its national football team has been something of an anticlimax. There was, of course, the golden summer of 1966, and the great period of English dominance on the world stage, which fell roughly between 1886 and 1900, when England won 35 of their 40 internationals ... But before long foreign teams, with their insistence on progressive 'tactics', began to pose a few questions. And much of what followed for England constituted a series of false dawns.

In The Anatomy of England, Jonathan Wilson seeks to place the bright spots in context. Time and again, progressive coaches have been spurned by England - technique being all very well, but what really matters is pluck and 'organised muscularity', or, to quote Jimmy Hogan's chairman at Aston Villa in 1936: 'I've no time for these theories about football. Just get the ball in the bloody net.'

Wilson takes ten key England fixtures and explores how what actually happened on the pitch shaped the future of the English game. Bursting with insight and critical detail, yet imbued with a wry affection, this is a history of England like none before.

The Anatomy of England: A History in Ten Matches Reviews

  • Simon

    We've waited a long time, but there are now such a lot of good books about football. In Jonathan Wilson we already have a very good writer on the sport. I think he is going to become one of the great football writers.

  • Mahlon

    It's obvious that Johnathan Wilson's Anatomy of England is a unique and magisterial work. but in my opinion it contains a couple of annoying flaws. Wilson's stated objective is to concentrate on the lesser known matches that shaped England's football evolution but how can you write a book on the history of without including 1966 or 1970? Wilson's objectivity begins to feel like negativity rather quickly, I like my football authors to be a little more positive about their subjects. These minor flaws in no way detract from a book that should be one of the cornerstones of any football fan's library. This book should be required reading for all current and future England fans, players, and especially Manager's.

  • Mark

    Jonathan Wilson is definitely one of the best football writers out there. His historical analysis of England's development in the football field, throughout the decades, is particularly interesting. He doesn't choose their ten best games (with the exception of England vs Holland at Euro 96), but different phases of a century of highs and lows. And then dissects them into a psychological, tactical observation of the English game.

  • Thomas Smith

    I feel like you have to be a bit of an England obsessive to enjoy this book, and luckily I am! For a casual fan this book would probably be too methodical and in-depth but for me I enjoyed it pretty much the whole way through. Very well researched, with a love for the game bursting from every page and often very sarcastically humourous. Would highly recommend!

  • Davina Lescott

    I found this a superb read - For any one that's a real England fan and historian it's a must. It has been thoroughly researched and the writing by Jonathan is very absorbing and holds your attention.
    There are a few surprises in there when he talks about the earlier years of England matches, which I found very interesting.

  • Greg D'Avis

    Anyone who wants to write about sports should read Wilson's oeuvre. He does it better than anyone.