Brian Clough

Today saw the passing of one of the greatest football managers to ever be. It's fairly easy to take a big side, spend lots of money and be successful. It's the mark of a great manager to take a ragbag of provincial non-descript footballers and mould them into one of the greatest club sides this country has ever seen. That take talent. Nottingham Forest are a worldwide name because of what Brian Clough and Peter Taylor did for that team.

Fergie has a 'Sir', but Cloughie puts him in the shade. Let's face it Forest of the late 70's early 80's were a great team.

Saying that sticks in the throat a bit, as a Mansfield fan Forest are one of the teams we are born to hate. That's more to do with the fans than anything. But it says so much about the man that the only words about Cloughie are of sorrow and rememberance.

Cloughie would never allow any of the shenanigans that have blighted the game over the last few years, he wouldn't have any time for todays prima-donnas. People respected Cloughie and he gave them loyalty back.

He was also a great footballer whose career was cut short by injury, scoring almost a goal a game. Another great record.

I was listening to his last ever interview tonight with Pat Murray on 5live, recorded only weeks ago and he sounded on great form, lyricising in that Cloughie way about Arsenal and Wenger, the normally terrible reception I get from 5live even had the respect to become crystal clear.

Take Care Cloughie.

Here's some Cloughie quotes to remember:

"]"If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there." On the importance of passing to feet.

"Manchester United in Brazil? I hope they all get bloody diarrhea." On Man Utd opting-out of the FA Cup to play in the World Club Championship.

"I can't even spell spaghetti never mind talk Italian. How could I tell an Italian to get the ball - he might grab mine." On the influx of foreign players.

"I bet their dressing room will smell of garlic rather than liniment over the next few months." On the number of French players at Arsenal.

"Who the hell wants fourteen pairs of shoes when you go on holiday? I haven't had fourteen pairs in my life." On the contents of Posh Spice's missing luggage.

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one." Looking back at his success.

"On occasions I have been big headed. I think most people are when they get in the limelight. I call myself Big Head just to remind myself not to be." Old Big 'Ead explains his nickname.

"At last England have appointed a manager who speaks English better than the players." On the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson as England manager.

"If he'd been English or Swedish, he'd have walked the England job." On Martin O'Neill.

"Anybody who can do anything in Leicester but make a jumper has got to be a genius." A tribute to Martin O'Neill.

"The ugliest player I ever signed was Kenny Burns." A Clough compliment for a talented player.

"Stand up straight, get your shoulders back and get your hair cut." Advice for John McGovern at Hartlepool.

"Take your hands out of your pockets." More advice, this time for a young Trevor Francis as he receives an award from the Master Manager.

"The Derby players have seen more of his balls than the one they're meant to be playing with." On the streaker who appeared during Derby's game against Manchester United.

"I only ever hit Roy the once. He got up so I couldn't have hit him very hard." On dealing with Roy Keane.

"Walk on water? I know most people out there will be saying that instead of walking on it, I should have taken more of it with my drinks. They are absolutely right." Reflecting on his drink problem.

"I'm dealing with my drinking problem and I have a reputation for getting things done." A comment which speaks for itself.

"Don't send me flowers when I'm dead. If you like me, send them while I'm alive." After the operation which saved his life.

"Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes." Reflecting on England's exit from Euro 2000.

"We talk about it for twenty minutes and then we decide I was right." On dealing with a player who disagrees.

"I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing. I contributed - I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me," On how he would like to be remembered.

"It was a crooked match and he was a crooked referee. That was a tournament we could and should have won." On the 1984 UEFA Cup semi-final Forest lost to Anderlecht.

"I'm sure the England selectors thought if they took me on and gave me the job, I'd want to run the show. They were shrewd, because that's exactly what I would have done." On not getting the England manager's job.

"You don't want roast beef and Yorkshire every night and twice on Sunday." On too much football on television.

"If a chairman sacks the manager he initially appointed, he should go as well." On too many managers getting the boot.

"I thought it was my next door neighbour, because I think she felt that if I got something like that, I'd have to move." Guessing who nominated him for a knighthood.

"For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, he hasn't got two of what I've got. And I don't mean balls!" Referring to Sir Alex Ferguson's failure to win two successive European Cups.

"I like my women to be feminine, not sliding into tackles and covered in mud." On women's football.

''That Seaman is a handsome young man but he spends too much time looking in his mirror, rather than at the ball. You can't keep goal with hair like that." On England goalkeeper David Seaman.

"I've missed him. He used to make me laugh. He was the best diffuser of a situation I have ever known. I hope he's alright." On the late Peter Taylor.

"He's learned more about football management than he ever imagined. Some people think you can take football boots off and put a suit on. You can't do that." On David Platt's first season as Forest manager.

"He should guide Posh in the direction of a singing coach because she's nowhere near as good at her job as her husband." Advice for David Beckham.

"Barbara's supervising the move. She's having more extensions built than Heathrow Airport." On moving house in Derbyshire

Annoying Tit

If we didn't think Craig Bellamy was annoying enough as it is, he goes and grows long hair, Robbie Savage-esque to convince the waverers.

Who do they think they are?

I really dont know who the England football team think they are. Tonight after the game against Poland they decided that they arent speaking to the media as they were unhappy with the way they were treated after Saturdays debacle against Austria by various members of it.

Now, some of this criticism was a bit over the top after the game, but if you read rubbish then you are going to see what it has to say. This new outbreak of sulkiness comes almost a year after threatening to go out on strike.

They represent this country, they represent the people of it, they are paid very well for the priviledge of doing something most men would have their Mothers sold for. Poor them if some people say some nasty words about them, I bet they dont mind if nice things are said about them so take the rough with the smooth. They, as national representatives are there to be shot at, they chose this career knowing the side effects of it.

If they think post Saturday was bad, imagine the carnage tomorrow morning when the press hounds get their teeth into them about this.

Maybe its a blessing they aren't talking, it would only be full of 'yeahs', 'y'knows', 'one game at a time' and other assorted cliches.

Or maybe the real reason for not talking is that David James was using the team brain cell and as he wasnt playing no-one in the team knew how to talk.

Stating the obvious

Before the game tonight Michael Owen was interviewed. One of his comments was:

"David James doesnt become a bad goalkeeper overnight, David Beckham doesnt become a bad player overnight and the team doesnt become a bad team overnight"

No Micheal, it takes a while to perfect.