Neil Lennon

Best story I’ve ever heard with them two is when MON got dropped to the reserves, he chapped Cloughies door, demanded why he was he in the 2nd team.

Clough replied ‘you’re too good for the 3rd’

 

Its widely known that Clough didnt see eye to eye with MON, one documented exchange went as follows : MON ..well I may as well just go back to Uni after an exchange of words with Clough...Clough thats great Ill pay yer air fare !!!

 

Read that one lol lol lol

 

Oooft that's brutal ffs poor MON, bet he's not been clamped much in his time

Now I sound totally self righteous sorry Whoflungdung I know you were being light hearted

 

O’Neill was constantly challenged or put down and struggled with confidence as a result. Clough merely wanted to show his player who was boss, taking pride in dismantling the ego of an educated, intelligent and opinionated man.

“Martin was an intense guy and valued his own opinion and Clough obviously found that to be antagonising”

 

Must've been a love hate relationship cause MON was a huge part of Forest's supernatural success in the 70s, was quite incredible what Clough did there but he would've paid the pilot to take off and land in Nottingham

Edit: Clough was a * to everyone though, anytime I've seen footage of him he's getting stroppy with some poor *

 

Clough merely wanted to show his player who was boss, taking pride in dismantling the ego of an educated, intelligent and opinionated man. Heres a good insight on MON and Clough and Forest in general https://www.the42.ie/martin-oneill-brian-clough-nottingham-forest-daniel-taylor-2466693-Dec2015/

 

On the Clough subject I hope this link works. Dean Saunders tells the story of when Cloughie tried to sign him for Forest.

 

Heard that before but hilarious even hearing it again

 

Not heard that before, that was class!

A tad off topic but here's another fun football radio clip

 

That is genius, what a storyteller Saunders is. Cloughie, the patron Saint of Celtic Da's

 

Never heard that before , laughing my head off , cheers

 

Pretty sure Saunders' Clough story got outed as being a load of * that he used at his after dinners speeches.

 

Aw no don't say that, I was totally rofl when I watched that. Least I've not forwarded it yet, that's a bummer but cheers. If he made it up he should've said Cloughie said "You need to get rid of that fat * Coltrane he'll mess with your mind." before crawling on the floor barking like a dog.

Interesting article @Whoflungdung Can see why Clough would want to bring MON down as most footballers aren't very well educated having left school at 15 and even then mostly too busy thinking about football to learn anything in those years.

I think it's slightly over exaggerated saying MON's confidence was badly affected and he was very stressed out cause you don't win runner up to POTY 4 years running for a miracle team winning two European Cups and setting all sorts of records.

Did not know Forest also held the record of most unbeaten games before Arsenal, that's just amazing on top of everything else, what an incredible manager.

Good to hear they get on well afterwards, it is interesting they more alike than they might have first though cause both of them obviously very deep thinkers yet liked to express ideas in simple language which is very difficult.

 

There's only one Neil Clough

 

My Da used to tell a variation of that story back in the 60/70's:
"Why am I playing with the 2nds., Gaffer?"
"We don't have a third team, son."

 

Love the man. Always have mind but can’t remember Rodgers ever interchanging wingers during a game Sinclair would always stay left. Forrest and Morgan could change another 2 or so times in this game without upsetting play. He’s had time with the team now and has put his stamp on it. Liking the look of how we are playing and that’s still with a couple injuries and no right back