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Liked It “Not what I was expecting, really cracking read that interweaves a retrospective of Clough's whole career as thrown into relief by the Leeds spell. Amazing scenes of how football used to be. One can almost smell the team coach with the fug of chain smoking by all and sundry.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Not what I was expecting, really cracking read that interweaves a retrospective of Clough's whole career as thrown into relief by the Leeds spell. Amazing scenes of how football used to be. One can almost smell the team coach with the fug of chain smoking by all and sundry.”
Roger N wrote this review Sunday, October 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I wouldn't say that this is the best book I'm reading right now, but it's definitely in the top one.”
David Marsden wrote this review Sunday, September 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It is proving to be difficult book to read as I am not used to the style of writing, but it is providing an insight to the thoughts of Brian Clough who briefly managed Leeds United after Don Revie became England manager.”
Dawud M wrote this review Wednesday, August 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Unusual and interesting book. Seems to me a kind of British version of a form you usually only see in America: the Literary Sport Novel, where sport is supposed to say profound things about the human condition. I have British writers have generally either been unimpressed by the flanneled fools and muddied oafs; or so overwhelmed with nostalgia and adoration that the result is rather bland.
TheophileEscargot wrote this review Tuesday, July 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The Damned United is told in the present tense, almost as a stream of consciousness, from the point of view of Brian Clough taking over management of Leeds United in 1974. Clough lasted only 44 days before being ousted in the face of overwhelming hostility from all sides.
The story's intertwined with italicised sections telling the parallel story of how Clough took Derby County to success in a previous job. As well as providing a lighter counterpoint, that thread gradually explains why Clough is in the mess he's in.
Overall, a good book, an intense read, and you don't need to be a football fan to appreciate it. Worth a look.”“Very well written and researched book”
Nick G wrote this review Sunday, April 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Couldn't put this down. I really hope they do a good job with the film.”
Sharmila S wrote this review Thursday, November 6 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“As a Leeds fan it's hard for me to be objective about this novel but what I can say is that this is one of the only books on football I've ever read. The dross it usually inspires is skillfully avoided here. Definitely worth picking up if you're into the sport.”
Richard H wrote this review Thursday, November 6 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“To write a book about English football could be problematic in terms of readership as most countries which play soccer are not of English mother tongue. The USA doesn’t have a rich heritage of soccer, something which Robbie Williams found to his dismay when he tried to become successful in the USA with a picture of him in a soccer kit on the cover of the Sing When You’re Winning CD. This is not a real shame in Robbie William’s case but it is a shame for David Peace’s The Damned Utd. Though a prior knowledge of the game isn’t so essential, the fact that it is a soccer novel will put many off. This is more a tale of Brian Clough, a proper English eccentric. It is about his time working as manager for the football team the hated, Leeds Utd. In football now, you can watch the managers speak after the game using clichés given to them through PR training, post match interviews are nothing but platitudes and are not worth hearing anymore. Brian Clough’s post match interviews were footage of a funny, straight talking, eloquent man often losing his temper. My Dad told me that he loved watching him on TV, he said it was hilarious. In this fictionalised account of those months at Leeds Utd, this humour comes across as well as the tragedy that comes from being one as passionate about his job as Clough was. I’m glad this book was written, I feel I missed out on a lot of this character’s appearances in the public eye and its enjoyable to has some kind of facsimilie of him through The Damned Utd.”
Bimbo wrote this review Sunday, July 1 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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