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SKY SPORTS
Matt Le Tissier webchat
12-08-05
  
JJ414: Was there any point last season when you knew that Southampton were going to go down (excluding after Survival Sunday ended)?
mattletissier: I always kind of believed that things would be okay. I actually thought we could beat Manchester United - it was only when they went 2-1 up that I realised it was over.
jamesthegeordie: Where do you think Owen will end up?
mattletissier: I think he will end up at Newcastle. Because the top boys don't seem to be showing any interest and he needs to get back playing regularly. I think he deserves to be at a bigger club than Newcastle though.
NHG: With Edgar Davids signing for Spurs how do you think Spurs will get on this season?
mattletissier: I don't think they will break into the top four or five, they will be just below that again. Davids is a good player but they are a fair distance behind the top clubs.
Miklos: Putting aside Sam Allardyce's failure to bring in his preferred summer transfers, how do you think they will fare in the UEFA Cup competition this season? Do you think he has the squad to do well?
mattletissier: They may get through one or two rounds, but I don't think they will get as far as the quarter-finals - that would be a massive achievement. In the league, I don't think they have added enough to their squad to improve on last season.
SFCWhitcher: Who do you think Southampton should buy? Where do you think Saints will end up in the league?
mattletissier: Ronaldo would be a good start!!! Nobody springs to mind, but we need to strengthen in the full-back positions. The good news is that Michael Svensson will be back soon and he will be a bigger bonus than any other signing!
bevan011: I am a huge Liverpool supporter and would like to know if you think we can take on the top three this season with the current squad we have got. Do you think Rafa would really consider resigning Owen? And finally who was our best summer signing so far?
mattletissier: I don't think Rafa will consider it - he has made his decision and will stick to it. They may get a little closer to the top three. Crouch is a good acquisition and he might give them something a bit different, but I still think they are weaker than the top three.
BarryConnolly: What is your view on the current state of the game in terms of player power and loyalty? With Essien apparently going on strike just to get a move away I think the loyalty that you showed towards Southampton is nowhere to be seen in this day and age! Was there any reason why in particular that you decided to stay with the Saints?
mattletissier: Loyalty is gone from the game for a while. Things are weighted towards the player a bit too much. Player power is all about money and the Bosman ruling. The worst thing is, you cannot see that changing. It can only continue - just look at Ashley Cole's appeal against the tapping up charge.
angelinajolly: What do you make of the whole Woodward situation? Does he really have anything to offer a professional football club and won't he just get on Harry's nerves?
mattletissier: No, it is not a problem, all parties have agreed to what is going on. Clive has certain strengths which I think he can offer a football club. There are things we can learn from what he did with the rugby team
As far as I know, Harry has no objections and he knew Clive was coming in there.
Nathan: Matt why did you retire ??
mattletissier: I just spent too long fighting injuries. The last season I had so many calf strains that the muscles gave up on me. I don't regret it, though. I knew how my body felt and it was the right thing to do.
martins a legend: How do you think Arsenal are going to cope this year without the services of Patrick Vieira?
mattletissier: I don't think they will be too different. They have got some good young players. Fabregas will play a key role and Flamini is coming through. It does put a big pressure on Gilberto's shoulders but he is a good player who is more than capable of dealing with that.
Matt_belfield: What is your view on the Malcolm Glazier takeover at Manchester United and do you think the hardcore fans are taking it too far?
mattletissier: You have to leave the financial running of the club to the board and trust they are doing the right thing. You go along to support your team but you have to trust that they are doing the right thing.
enty2983: Is there anyone on the Sky Sports Soccer Saturday panel that you don't get on with?
mattletissier: No, there isn't. I was one of the few people that actually got on with Rodney Marsh too!!
daftorbital: Away from football, with so many stars playing poker these days, do you see yourself taking the game up?
mattletissier: I have only ever played it once. I quite enjoyed it but I don't have the time or enough mates who play it! I enjoy watching Poker Million on the television and it was good to see Helen Chamberlain get through to the final last night.
Pedders: What would you say if Harry Redknapp got sacked and you were offered the job?
mattletissier: Ha! Ha! Ha! I don't have the right qualifications. You have to have all sorts of badges now and I don't have any. If I did have the right qualifications and was offered it, I would say yes! I keep thinking about doing the badges and as I get older I think about it more and more. It is definitely something I will do in the near future.
hespy9: Who is your player to watch out for this season in the Premiership?
mattletissier: I know he played quite a bit last season, but I really think we will see the best of Cesc Fabregas. He is a young kid, but with an old head on his shoulders he has a real opportunity to become a key member at Arsenal this season.
MikeLFC: Do you think a club like Chelsea are sending football in the wrong direction?
mattletissier: The financial situation worries me a little because of the situation in Italy a few years ago when lots of teams paid ridiculous salaries and then went to the wall. I've enjoyed watching Chelsea play and it is good that someone other than Arsenal and Manchester United are winning things, but the wages are a worry...
gab: Do you think the future looks bright for the England football team?
mattletissier: I think it is. The squad that will go into the World Cup - if they are all fit - is about as strong as any we have had. I think we have a decent chance of doing well. By well I mean getting to the final and winning it! When you get to the semis you need a little bit of luck. We haven't had that in the past, but maybe this will be our time.
Ger Keating: You were probably (and unfairly) penalised at international level for being a "luxury" player and did not earn as many caps as you deserved. Do you think you would get into the current England eleven or do you think the conservative mindset still exists with the current management?
mattletissier: I don't think that mindset still exists. Sven picks on merit and I think I would have had a chance. I don't want to sound arrogant, but at the peak of my form I would have got into most teams.
seandno7: How do you feel about allowing the Old Firm to join the Premier League?
mattletissier: Not really that keen, you have to stick to your own country. We have our league and they have theirs. It might be better for them to get a few more teams to challenge them rather than it being a two horse race every season.
chelseasteve: Do you think Chelsea should buy Essien at any price? Is he is that good?
mattletissier: To be honest, I haven't seen a great deal of him. The one thing I do know, once Chelsea become interested they always have to pay over the odds.
wayne smith: How do you think Stuart Pearce will do this season?
mattletissier: I hope he does well. He had a rough time at Forest when he was manager there. He is a proper football man and I hope he does well. Losing Shaun Wright-Phillips was a big loss, but I am sure they are concentrating on consolidating this season.
enty2983: I think your game would surely have suited the Spanish or Italian leagues. Did you ever want to play abroad or did you ever get any offers to go?
mattletissier: I had a couple of offers from French clubs, but it didn't interest me at all. The Premiership was where I wanted to be - it is the most passionate league.
emre5: Do you think Graeme Souness can lead Newcastle to some silverware for Alan Shearer's last year??
mattletissier: I would love Newcastle to win something for Alan Shearer's sake. He is such a fantastic player and I would love for him to go out on a high. Whether or not Graeme is the man to do that, I don't know.
wayneselby4: Is it true that you could have played for France?
mattletissier: No, that's not true. Newspapers getting their facts wrong again!
stone-coldspringbok: What do you do with your spare time? Are you still involved with the Saints at some level?
mattletissier: Not at the moment, no. I do the work for Sky on Soccer Saturday, play lots of golf and that's about it really. A great life! I occasionally go down to Southampton, catch up with my old mates and sometimes join in training to keep myself in a bit of shape.
liamg1: What three teams do you expect to go down this year?
mattletissier: Good question! West Ham may go straight back down. I think West Brom will be hovering around. Sunderland don't have that strong a squad and they will struggle for goals and may go straight back down. Wigan are there for the first time and that momentum might be enough to keep them up.
fishers: Do you think that diving is now such an accepted part of the game now that we shouldn't think of it as cheating any more, but just good tactics?
mattletissier: Ha! Ha! I think it is still cheating. The referees should be wise enough to it by now. If they are still stupid enough to fall for it it is partly their fault.
IrishGunner: What player do you most admire in the Premiership?
mattletissier: Probably Thierry Henry for his ability and his pace. It would have been lovely to have been blessed with pace like that. But I admire John Terry too for the way he has led Chelsea this last couple of years. And Alan Sherer who has been a wonderful servant to football.
DownhillsParkFC: Who do you think will be top goalscorer in the Premiership this season?
mattletissier: We might see Ruud Van Nistelrooy hit top form again. He is a fantastic finisher - better than Henry even. If he plays the whole season, he won't be far off.
scotlad24: Who would you have as manager of Southampton if you had the choice of any manager and why?
mattletissier: Jose Mourinho. He is charismatic, arrogant, positive and he gets his players to play for him. I think any team would choose him at the moment.
matty71: Who's better - Gerrard or Lampard?
mattletissier: Another good one, in terms of their contributions last season Lampard was exceptional and Gerrard carried the team on his own. To do that and to take them to the Champions League final is incredible. In terms of ability Gerrard, but in terms of consistency Lampard. There's no reason why they should play together though.
brendy10: Can you pick a relatively unknown player for my fantasy league team, who could be the surprise snip of the season?
mattletissier: No!
JEGBIE: Do you think it's time to bring in technology to assist referees, or do we just accept the poor standard of decisions that seems to increase season upon season?
mattletissier: I have been saying for years that we need to bring in technology. The referees are not the most fantastic in the world and they do miss obvious things. For penalties and did the ball cross the line? the technology can definitely help them out.
Dinkys: Do you think the level the Championship is now at, it is challenging the Premiership for quality?
mattletissier: No, I don't think it will ever have the same quality because the twenty best teams are in the Premiership. It might have more excitement though, because of the play-offs and the teams around it, we remain interested until the end of the season. After the Premiership, La Liga and Serie A it is the best supported league in Europe.
ggoessen: Do you think that Peter Crouch will be a good signing for Liverpool?
mattletissier: Yes, I think he will be. He is something a little bit different. For Southampton £7m was a very good price for someone we paid £2m for not long before.
aberlin: Have you been watching the Ashes series, and if so, do you think England can do it?
mattletissier: I have watched quite a lot of the Ashes. I am a big cricket fan and I absolutely think we can do it! The second Test was the best I have ever watched and the injuries to McGrath and Lee might be just the boost we need.
brianhora: Who do you think will be the first Premership managerial casualty this season?
mattletissier: It may well be Alan Pardew. He was under quite a bit of pressure last season and if they have a poor start to this season, I think the fans might get on their back.
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