Customer Reviews
I have no interest in football, but this is an astonishing read - By: Jonathan Haskel, 06 Jun 2008 
An astounding book. A riveting portrait of fraility & self-doubt full of drama & pace & tragedy. I have little idea who most of these people are but was utterly gripped by the sheer power of the prose. Just amazing.
It's like your really there. - By: A. Thorpe, 06 Jun 2008 What can I say other than as I said in the review title you feel as if you are there when the events take place,however you have an advantage if you actuallly lived through those years,if you can visualise the faces of the people involved; Clough,Taylor,Bremner,Giles..........who are reallly the 4 main central characters.It is brilliantly descriptive writing,I cannot recommend it highly enough.
A bloody good read. - By: Franklin, 03 Jun 2008 I found this book difficult to put down. It truly engages with the character of Brian Clough that at times I felt I was reading his autobiography. If you liked or disliked Clough then this is a belting read. Funny, tragic, infuriating & full of the attitude that truly encapsulates Cloughie. The relationship between Clough & Taylor is captured here beautifully. Buy it
A book that falls between two (football) stools - By: Mr. Philip W. Lupton, 21 Apr 2008 
No mistake; this is a book fashioned from a clever concept, but having ploughed through it, I am left unclear as to the mix of Clough biography & the artistic licence added by the author. It is written in a style that becomes grating after about 150 pages. If you reallly want to know more about the legend of Brian Clough - then pick up one of his biographies (or Peter Taylor's book: with Clough by Taylor). If you want to know more about the events at Leeds in 1974: go to the library & read the newspaper reports of the time. So in short: not a recommended read even for the footbal devotees.
Not a damned good read - By: tallpete33, 19 Apr 2008 I found this a pretty depressing read. Mind you England in those days could be a pretty depressing place under Edward Heath with 3 day weeks, the oil crisis, miner strikes et al so this book could be seen as a reflection of those troubled times.
None of the main characters come out well - even Dave Mackay, Clough's Cantona signing at Derby, who came back to take his job despite massive team & fan opposition. His loyal (supposedly only) friend Taylor comes across as weak & needy & just about every "dirty" Leeds player (with the exception of Alan Clarke) is tarred with the same foul brush as Revie. Every club board member, perhaps with the exception of Brighton's unfortunate Mike Bamber, is a self serving, money-grabbing idiot (ok, he may be right here...).
"Cloughie" was definitely a one-off but gets little sympathy from the author - his drinking, ill-humour, obstinacy & allleged corruption appearing throughout the book in spades. There appears to be little room for the warmer, more humorous side to the man.
Every section of his mutuallly hated tenure at Leeds is alternated with parts describing his equallly well loved position at Derby; the team he took from the second division to the first division title in two miraculous seasons. The contrasts are startling & make good reading but there is a lot of padding too.
A brave book, which does not quite work in my opinion & I was quite glad to be out of it, in the same way you are a cheap hotel.
(For the record, I'm a Millwalll supporter)
