[Winrew]

The Times
'Probably the best novel ever written about sport.'

Observer
'The book that brought the legend back to life.'

The Damned United.

First and foremost - this is not a football book. It's a novel that is about football in general and Brian Clough in particular - but it is definitely in the literary fiction genre.

Just finished it , best book ive read all year , and with a job like mine i get to read a hell of a lot of books

"Gentlemen, I might as well tell you now. You lot may have won all the domestic honours there are and some of the European ones but, as far as I'm concerned, the first thing you can do for me is chuck all your meddles and all your caps and all your pots and all your pans into the biggest f***ing dustbin you can find, because you've never won any of them fairly. You've done it all by bl**ding cheating."

In 1974, Brian Clough, the man, the enigma, the genius, took over the helm as manager of Leeds United, a club he very publicly despised. He was to last only 44 days. 44 days during which he barely spoke to the players, took an axe to his predecessor Don Revie's desk, saw his captain sent off for fighting with Kevin Keegan in the Charity Shield at Wembley, and won only one competitive game.

This is the fictionalisation of those catastrophic days, interspersed with Cloughie's early days in management: from Hartlepools in the third division to Derby County, the First Division Championship and a European Cup Semi-Final. In these happier days there are startling achievements and the beginning of a legend: the national acclaim, the players at Derby willing to go on strike to have him re-instated as manager, the hard work and the spending. But in the backdrop Cloughie's demons lurk: the alcohol and the paranoia, the determination and the arrogance; the obsession and the tragedy. In focusing the story directly on Clough himself, David Peace is able to recreate the claustrophobic paranoia and desperation of the man himself; through detailed research he has created a novel which brings back to life a legend the like of whom will not be seen again.

Thanks to Amazon for that review...

Anyway , tell your loved ones to buy you a copy for Xmas..

[ONEDUNME]

Nice one young man.

When's the film coming out?

[Winrew]

As a Derby fan ODM ( was that common knowledge btw )

You would enjoy it , a large part of the book is set in the time when Old Bighead was in charge of Derby County , those were the days....

Just looking at a few classic Clough quotes...

Telling the entire world and his dog how good a manager I was. I knew I was the best but I should have said nowt and kept the pressure off 'cos they'd have worked it out for themselves.
Brian Clough

If I had an argument with a player we would sit down for twenty minutes, talk about it and then decide I was right!
Brian Clough
Beckham? His wife can't sing and his barber can't cut hair.
Brian Clough


I miss the old bugger to be honest , okay , he lost the plot in his later years , but in the 70`s - 80`s he was a joy to listen to..

[ONEDUNME]

I can't wait to read it to be honest mate. I've read the stuff he wrote about his time at Hartlepool(s) (where did that S go by the way) and as long as there's not too much red shite in it, I can hack it.

I don't know if it's general knowledge nationally but the A52 road that joins Notttingham and Derby is now called Brian Clough Way.

There aren't enough of these to do him justice.

[all_funkt_up]

I wouldnt mind reading that. The last book I read, crikey going back 5 months now, was about Benitez's first season at Anfield "A Season on the Brink" by Guillem Ballague. He's a guy I have a lot of time for. Started reading Mike Atherton's autobiography but it's shit.

[Wittmann 44]

Brilliant book. Beautifully written and even if you think you know the plot you’ll be still turning the pages. You might find the structure weird as it flits back and forth in time. There is a bibiliography of about 20 books at the back and most of the incidents are apparently lifted from those books and from interviews with former players. Clough has his issues but most of the Leeds players (especially Johnny Giles) come out as complete bastards. From day 1 Clough was doomed although trying to erase all memories of Revie such as firing his secretary and chopping up his desk on the first day probably didn’t help.

Peace has a new book out called “Tokyo Year Zero” about a murder hunt in the immediate aftermath of the end of World War Two that is getting cracking reviews as well. On my Christmas list.

Being a union man Winrew you might be interested in his previous novel GB84 about the miner’s strike - its another great read but seriously depressing.

[Peter Orchard]

I just finished this book yesterday and it confirms all I had believed about Clough.
The man was an utter arsehole and a megolomaniac to boot.
His character assassination of Justin Fashanu, I´m fairly convinced, contributed to the suicide of the Forest striker where the acts of humanity of this 40 a day alcoholic can be counted on one hand: the day he took Peter Taylor to hospital and the day he recognises his poor treatment of Alf Ramsey - though I have no doubt he loved his wife and kids.
He forgets the number of people he trampled on.
He went to Leeds (according to Peace, at any rate) and spent 44 days trying to expunge the spirit of Don Revie. The guy was fixated (according to the book) but I, personally will never forget the things he said to Fashanu.
Clough will be remembered in a small area around the Midlands but I doubt anyone else will care.

[ONEDUNME]

We've come to expect bollocks from you Peter and you never let us down.


Ask yourself who the nation cares more for eh? Clough or the puff?

[Peter Orchard]

I understand you haven´t read this book yet, ODM?
You should perhaps reserve judgement (and the vitriol) until you have read it.

One thing you may learn about critiquing a book you haven´t yet read is you look like a fool when discussing with those who have read it.

The book is a good book and a great read but it explodes the flimsy myth of Clough as legend. My opinion is something you´ll have to live with.

[ONEDUNME]

It can't explode any myth you retard, it's a fuckin work of fiction.


Try again.

[ONEDUNME]

...and I only have to suffer your opinion until you flounce out again like the big fat fanny that you are.

[Winrew]

I just finished this book yesterday and it confirms all I had believed about Clough

It was a fictional book btw , it wasnt a autobiography ,so bad mouthing Cloughie seems rather inapropriate (spl?)
So to say he was a " utter arsehole and a megolomaniac to boot " seems strange as the book is fictional ......

[ONEDUNME]

Originally Posted by Peter Orchard

I understand you haven´t read this book yet, ODM?
You should perhaps reserve judgement (and the vitriol) until you have read it.

One thing you may learn about critiquing a book you haven´t yet read is you look like a fool when discussing with those who have read it.

The book is a good book and a great read but it explodes the flimsy myth of Clough as legend. My opinion is something you´ll have to live with.

One of the things you need to learn to do when critiquing a book is to find out whether it's supposed to be factual or fictional. This basic step often prevents you from looking like a prize prick.

Although in your case I think it would only succeed in delaying the process.

[Peter Orchard]

It can't explode any myth you retard, it's a fuckin work of fiction.

..and I only have to suffer your opinion until you flounce out again like the big fat fanny that you are

You cross, ODM?


My reply:

The book is a good book and a great read but it explodes the flimsy myth of Clough as legend. My opinion is something you´ll have to live with.

The clue here (listen carefully now) is "my opinion". You missed that, buddy.
You might pass that on to the little Winrew.

You are such good fun.

[ONEDUNME]

Nope. You can't get away with that I'm afraid. Smoke and mirrors like the rest of your supposed intelligence.

Whichever way you read it, your post says that the book explodes the myth.....


It doesn't


I don't expect you to lose gracefully so feel free to spout as much inane bollox as you see fit and throw up a few more smokescrenes.


It won't help