"God's Squad" focuses on 11 soccer players who have made names for themselves in the UK and worldwide, and examines the role played by their faith in Christ both personally and on the soccer pitch.Part of the book's attraction is the fact that it is a compact read, divided into 11 easily digested chapters, each devoted to one player. This is sure to entice soccer fans who are used to reading terse match reports in newspapers.
Yet this is ALSO where "God's Squad" disappoints: Because the book is short, the author tends to gloss over details that need expanding...
For instance, if one particular player suddenly felt the need to turn to God because his family life was falling apart, that's all you are going to read about it. I respect the author for not adopting a tabloid approach in dealing with the players' personal lives; we don't need intimate or irrelevant details. Yet, these tales of conversion and 'seeing the light' would make fuller sense to the reader if the author took more time - and space - to write about these pivotal moments and their full build-up and impact.
As a sports writer, the author's accent remains on detailing important games. And this is sure to please soccer-loving readers. However, I feel "God's Squad" is not fully developed either as a sport book or as a Christian one.
Yet the concept of combining the two is a great idea: Soccer players are huge role models and "God's Squad" can surely help bring God closer to avid soccer fans seeking answers to their deeper needs and life-questions.
