In the movie, when Derby beats Leeds 2-1, Clough doesn't follow the team out in the field. This is never explained. Was he banned? Was it a plan? Artistic licence? He wasn't even listening the match on the radio. Anybody have a clue?
shareI wondered about this myself. I think it was to show that for all his brashness, he cared enough to be nervous about key events. He knew that by now his team had a genuine chance to beat Leeds his greatest rival, but was too keyed up to actually watch it.
I do however think this is poetic license since no manager would willingly not watch the game, indeed nowadays the FA hand our touchline bans as punishment.
As a Leeds fan, I thought the film was excellent and captured the mood of the period brilliantly. I especially liked the little touches of seventies football and showing how the game has changed. Cups of tea in the changing room and players smoking on the training pitch.
Michael Sheen stays on top form and the interplay with Timothy Spall works very well. I also liked the clever recreation of Leeds ground, Elland Road to accurately show how the ground looked in the seventies, as the training pitch as shown is now a car park.
I agree with ian-hookham.He was just too nervous to watch the game.But honestly I don't think any manager would stay inside and wait for others to tell him what the result is.So it seems more like some kind of dramatic exaggeration to me.But anyway,I enjoyed the whole film.It's so far the best sports film I've ever seen.
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Jessie
I thought it was strange myself and came to this forum expecting to find the answer. I think maybe it's to show how much of a team Clough and Taylor were as Taylor comes in at the end with the good news and it's probably their most together scene until the very end of the film.
Great film anyway. Thought maybe a bit TV movieish at times, but maybe that's a bit harsh as it was very enjoyable all the way through.
I remember when it came out Clough's family didn't like the way he was portrayed, but I think he comes over as a very likeable person in general. Pity they showed the Forest clips at the end though - Could have been a great sequel!
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Well my friends, I have an answer for that. You'll see, I own the Blu Ray of this fantastic fantastic movie, and the other day I was watching the (awesome) deleted scenes, and there's a scene where Brian goes to Derby's dressing room after the first half of the game. They where loosing 1-0 to Leeds, and mr. Clough just start screaming madly to the players. He then makes them drink a whole bottle of scotch (actually, I dont remember very well what licor was) and says that he wont let them out until they finished it. Then, for the second half, he stays in that office... and for his surprise Derby won 2-1. He then tells Peter Taylor that he gave the licor to the players 'couse they where too nervous and needed it to relax. The End.
I watched the deleted scenes too, and just for the record, it was brandy (not a big deal, just a detail).
My question, I read up a bit on Leeds history (I too am mostly an English football neophyte); and wondered if this was supposed to be the well-known Derby-Leeds Easter game. But historically, that game's score was 2-0 for Leeds; but the timing and circumstances (first home game for Derby as a top division team against Leeds) suggest it was meant to be that game.
Whatever the reason was, it's made up. Clough didn't spend his time inside his office during that match when it was played.
I just assumed he was too nervous to watch it, sort of like when some coaches turn around or just leave the field when it's time for a penalty shoot-out.
The worst show of confidence in his side from a manager that is possible if this is based on fact! Surely it was dramatic licence?
shareIts because this film is full of sh**t (obviously)
share"Its because this film is full of sh**t (obviously)"
Completely agree.
What part of serious history will the author dramatise (aka fictionalise) next? Hitler light heartedly discussing the extermination of the Jews at the Wannsee Conference with his buddies?
Tosser.
"It's because of movies like this that illegal downloading exists and you can be bored for free..."
Seemed to me there was a strong element of superstition or sports psychology to explain his self imposed sequestration: he may have felt his presence at the pitch had jinxed his team when they played (and lost) to Leeds previously.
I've no idea how close to real events this was but I certainly got the impression from the movie that his methods leaned to inspiring his squad and then leaving them to play in their own way laissez faire style.
Didn't know any of the history but enjoyed the film immensely nevertheless.
The scene was added to add a bit of drama, screenwriter admitted he had to jazz the story up from the book a little to make it watchable in places
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