The Damned Utd - David Peace

I have no interest in football, but this is an astonishing read

An astounding book. A riveting portrait of fraility and self-doubt full of drama and pace and 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.

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 actually lived through those years,if you can visualise the faces of the people involved; Clough,Taylor,Bremner,Giles..........who are really the 4 main central characters.It is brilliantly descriptive writing,I cannot recommend it highly enough.

A bloody good read.

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 and full of the attitude that truly encapsulates Cloughie. The relationship between Clough and Taylor is captured here beautifully. Buy it

A book that falls between two (football) stools

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 and the artistic licence added by the author. It is written in a style that becomes grating after about 150 pages. If you really 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 and read the newspaper reports of the time. So in short: not a recommended read even for the footbal devotees.

Not a damned good read

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 and fan opposition. His loyal (supposedly only) friend Taylor comes across as weak and needy and 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 and alleged 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 mutually hated tenure at Leeds is alternated with parts describing his equally 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 and make good reading but there is a lot of padding too.

A brave book, which does not quite work in my opinion and I was quite glad to be out of it, in the same way you are a cheap hotel.

(For the record, I'm a Millwall supporter)