retired_jgirl87

MORE LIKE BLUFF THAN CLOUGH ACTUALLY

Being a follower of British football means that I do know of Brian Clough, but I don’t know of “the man and the legend” to perhaps the same degree as someone who is actually in Britain. Based on what I do know and what I’ve read here, I’m taking up the Brian Clough challenge and writing a story about a man who is convinced that he is the best that there is when it comes to football management. He has only to say that something is achievable and his team of (mediocre) players will of course go out and do it. Well, that is what he believes anyway.

Game info: CM01/02 3.9.68 with latest Sawczuk data update (Aug 2004) and all English leagues running.

retired_jgirl87

17th July 2001:

Brian Clough walked into Victoria Park to take up his new duties as manager of Hartlepool United. He had just finished a playing career where he had scored hundreds of goals at a phenomenal strike rate. He’d been a fantastic goalscorer and now he would be a fantastic manager.

Chairman Ken Hodcroft was the first man to greet Clough as he entered the office to begin his new job on 14th July 2001.

KH: Hello Brian, welcome to Hartlepool.
BC: Hello Ken, you lucky beggar.
KH: Why’s that, Brian?
BC: Well, now that I’m here this club can really start to go places.
KH: Eh? Oh, right!! Well I’m glad to see you’re confident about the job.
BC: Definitely Ken. I am the going to be best manager in England.
KH: Lucky us, eh?
BC: Too right, Ken. Now get me a list of the playing squad, will you?

Ken thought it was prudent to agree with Brian and went to his office to produce the list. He returned and handed it to Brian who then ran his eye over the names contained on it.

Goalkeepers:

Kevin Duncan 23 GK
Jim Provett 21 GK

Defenders:

Michael Barron 29 SW/D C
Jonathan Bass 28 D R
John Brackstone 18 D L
Andy Jordan 24 D C
Michael Nelson 21 D C
Jack Ross 28 D/DM R
Adam Van Dommele 20 D L
Chris Westwood 27 D C

Midfielders:

Darrell Clarke 26 AM/F C
Ritchie Humphreys 26 AM/F LC
Steven Istead 18 M C
Ryan McCann 23 AM L
Hugh Robertson 29 DM LC
Matty Robson 19 DM L
Paul Stephenson 36 AM RLC
Gavin Strachan 25 DM C
Anthony Sweeney 21 M C
Mark Tinkler 30 DM C
Martin Woods 18 M C (on loan from Leeds United)

Forwards:

Adam Boyd 22 S C
Joel Porter 25 S C
Eifion Williams 28 S C

Brian rubbed his chin with his right hand. He made interesting noises that seemed to indicate that he was thinking deeply about what he saw on the piece of paper. After a couple of minutes of musing, Brian spoke.

BC: Lovely Ken. It looks like that’s a promotion-winning squad to me.
KH: Promotion. You’re that confident?
BC: Oh yes. Now be a good fellow and organise me a three-game tour of Wales so that I can test the players.

Ken Hodcroft hurried off to his office. He felt strangely compelled to do whatever Brian told him. It was certainly going to be an interesting season for Hartlepool United.

shannon2007

Welcome to the club, good luck :thup:

retired_jgirl87

July 2001:

Ken was a good organiser. He lined up three games in Wales against Maestag Park, Rhayader and Ton Pentre. He also got an addition fixture against Ipswich that he hoped would please Brian.

On the day of the first game against Ipswich, Brian and Ken watched the players warm up. Ken had left control of the team to Brian and had not stuck his head in to ask how things were going. But then again, Brian hadn’t came to the Chairman and asked for anything more either.

BC: Ken, I’ll be revolutionising the tactics of this club starting with today’s match against Ipswich.
KH: How do you mean, Brian?
BC: There will be no wing play. Straight down the middle for my team and me. No full-backs, no wingers, let the opposition have the ball out there because that’s not where goals are scored.
KH: Ah, sort of Wimbledon “crazy gang era” long-ball stuff, Brian?
BC: No Ken. It will be more revolutionary than that. Just you watch and see.

Ken nodded in pretend understanding. As usual he felt strangely compelled to do whatever Brian told him.

The friendly against Ipswich started and Hartlepool scored in the 1st minute though Humphreys. In quick succession Robertson (17th), Clarke (21st), Williams (26th) and Porter (29th) all scored. It was 5-0 after half an hour and Ken was gobsmacked. This Brian Clough fellow really knew his football. Ipswich sorted themselves out and decided to defend, so that slowed down the scoring and it stayed 5-0 until the break. Brian made several changes for the second half and Ipswich got back into the game. Bowditch (54th) and Bent (81st) scored for the visitors, but Hartlepool still won 5-2.

Then it was off to Wales for the three-match tour. Maestag Park offered little resistance and were beaten 3-0 with Boyd and a double to loan signing Woods being the scorers. Rhayader were beaten 2-0 with Boyd and McCann the men on target. Finally it was Ton Pentre and another 2-0 win, this time with Porter getting two including a penalty.

Four friendlies – four wins. It was a great start for Brain Clough at Hartlepool, but then again, he always knew that he was up to the task.

enjikari

Basically what PM said.

Good luck with this :thup:

retired_embartl

Brain Clough eh? That's Big 'Ead for you

Good luck!

retired_jgirl87

Brain

Ah well, someone was always going to do it in this challenge.

Thanks to all who have wished me well. :thup:

retired_jgirl87

August 2001:

The start of the Division 2 season saw Oldham come to Victoria Park on the opening day. Bonner opened the scoring for Oldham and Ken Hodcroft thought that this is where we will see how good a manager this Brian Clough fellow is. Obviously he was a pretty good manager because Woods, Porter and Williams all replied in a devastating eight-minute spell early in the second half for Hartlepool to post a 3-1 win.

Ken thought that an away game at Bristol City would be a good test of the team and Brian’s tactics. Not much of a test as it turned out. Hartlepool controlled the match after Amankwaah put through his own goal on 12 minutes, then Strachan and Woods iced the cake with goals in the second half. It was a 3-0 win and Hartlepool were suddenly on top after two rounds.

A trip to fellow Division 2 side Tranmere for the 1st Round of the League Cup was next on the agenda. Hume fired Tranmere in front early and they held that lead until half-time. Another withering burst of attacking play and Williams, Porter, Clarke and McCann all netted to register a 4-1 win.

Chesterfield were the visitors for the first of the Bank Holiday long weekend of matches. Brian had the team performing like a well-oiled machine and Porter headed the opener. Chesterfield replied through Hudson to make it 1-1, then the machine went into overdrive. Clarke tapped in, Porter volleyed his second and Humphreys nutmegged the keeper to push it out to 4-1 at half-time. Things slowed in the second half for Hartlepool and Chesterfield scored another through Brandon, but Clough’s team still won 4-2.

However it was a tired team that backed up on the Monday to face Brentford in London. Williams strained knee ligaments and limped off. His replacement Boyd had a shocker and Ekoku and Burton each scored for Brentford to register a 2-0 win which consigned Hartlepool to their first loss of the season.

Ken was very happy with 4th place at the end of the opening month of the season. He approached Brian and asked him his opinion of how things had gone so far.

KH: So Brian, what’s your opinion of how things have gone so far?
BC: I’m happy Ken, very happy. Young Martin Woods has been an inspired loan signing from Leeds by me.
KH: I think you’ll find that he was already here when you arrived, Brian.
BC: Oh, I suppose you could argue that. My management certainly has inspired him though and he has been bossing the midfield for us.
KH: The antipodean Joel Porter has certainly been amongst the goals, hasn’t he?
BC: Ken, I think you’ll find that Porter is an Australian. But yes, his goals have been vital.
KH: And your tactics, Brian? What is that number sequence again?
BC: 2-3-3-2, Ken. Imagine the sidelines as two pieces of bread and our players as the top quality ham in the middle. Well, what I’ve done is remove those useless pieces of cheese that usually sit either side of the ham. It’s now a much better sandwich as a result.
KH: So you don’t like cheese then? Is that what you are saying?
BC: It’s a bit too much for your limited mind to take in, Ken. Just go and get me a cup of tea please, there’s a good fellow.

Ken nodded and headed off towards the kitchen. As usual he felt strangely compelled to do whatever Brian told him.

retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Friday 31st August 2001********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Barnsley 4 2 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 3 1 12 2nd Blackpool 4 2 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 4 2 10 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Doncaster 4 2 0 0 6 3 1 1 0 3 1 10 4th HARTLEPOOL 4 2 0 0 7 3 1 0 1 3 2 9 5th Stockport 4 2 0 0 8 4 0 2 0 3 3 8 6th Brentford 4 1 1 0 3 1 1 1 0 2 1 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Torquay 4 2 0 0 4 2 0 2 0 2 2 8 8th Port Vale 4 1 1 0 4 2 1 0 1 2 2 7 9th Sheff Wed 4 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 4 7 6 10th Tranmere 4 0 2 1 4 5 1 0 0 3 1 5 11th Swindon 4 1 1 0 4 3 0 1 1 4 5 5 12th Chesterfield 4 0 2 0 3 3 1 0 1 4 4 5 13th Colchester 4 1 1 0 5 2 0 1 1 1 4 5 14th Hull 4 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 2 0 3 4 15th MK Dons 4 1 1 0 4 2 0 0 2 1 4 4 16th Walsall 4 0 2 0 2 2 0 1 1 2 4 3 17th Luton 4 0 1 1 2 4 0 2 0 1 1 3 18th Bournemouth 4 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 4 3 19th Oldham 4 1 0 1 4 3 0 0 2 2 7 3 20th Wrexham 4 0 0 2 1 4 1 0 1 2 3 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st Huddersfield 4 0 1 1 2 3 0 1 1 4 6 2 22nd Bradford 4 0 1 1 1 3 0 1 1 1 2 2 23rd Peterborough 4 0 0 2 0 3 0 1 1 4 5 1 24th Bristol City 4 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 2 1 4 1 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Goals============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps Gls-------------------------------------------------------------------------6th Joel Porter Hartlepool 4 3 28th Martin Woods Hartlepool 4 2 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Assists=========================================== ================================================== ===Pos Player Club Apps Asts-------------------------------------------------------------------------6th Hugh Robertson Hartlepool 4 2 12th Joel Porter Hartlepool 4 2 18th Martin Woods Hartlepool 4 2 22nd Eifion Williams Hartlepool 4 1 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Average Rating============================================ ================================================== ==Pos Player Club Apps Av R-------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Joel Porter Hartlepool 4 8.25 15th Eifion Williams Hartlepool 4 7.75 26th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 4 7.75 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Man of Match============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps MoM-------------------------------------------------------------------------29th Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool 4 1 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * English Second Division - Sunday 30th September 2001********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Barnsley 10 4 1 0 13 4 4 0 1 11 6 25 2nd Blackpool 10 5 0 0 13 2 2 2 1 9 7 23 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Hull 10 4 1 0 15 5 2 1 2 5 5 20 4th Stockport 10 5 0 0 16 6 1 2 2 9 10 20 5th HARTLEPOOL 10 3 1 1 14 11 3 0 2 9 6 19 6th Doncaster 10 3 2 0 11 7 2 1 2 8 9 18 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7th Port Vale 10 4 1 0 10 4 1 0 4 5 10 16 8th Brentford 10 1 2 2 8 8 3 1 1 12 10 15 9th Colchester 10 3 1 1 9 5 1 2 2 3 9 15 10th Torquay 10 3 1 1 8 7 1 2 2 5 9 15 11th Bournemouth 10 2 2 1 6 5 1 2 2 4 8 13 12th Tranmere 10 0 3 2 8 11 2 3 0 9 6 12 13th Sheff Wed 10 3 1 1 10 6 0 2 3 10 15 12 14th Swindon 10 3 2 0 13 6 0 1 4 7 15 12 15th Wrexham 10 1 2 2 7 7 2 1 2 8 9 12 16th Bradford 10 1 1 3 4 8 2 2 1 6 3 12 17th Luton 10 1 2 2 7 7 1 3 1 2 2 11 18th Bristol City 10 2 2 1 5 4 0 2 3 5 9 10 19th MK Dons 10 1 3 1 6 5 0 2 3 5 9 8 20th Chesterfield 10 0 4 1 7 9 1 1 3 5 8 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21st Oldham 10 2 0 3 10 10 0 2 3 6 14 8 22nd Huddersfield 10 1 2 2 6 7 0 2 3 6 12 7 23rd Walsall 10 1 2 2 5 6 0 2 3 3 12 7 24th Peterborough 10 1 1 3 5 9 0 1 4 7 13 5 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Goals============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps Gls-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 10 10 18th Martin Woods Hartlepool 10 5 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Assists=========================================== ================================================== ===Pos Player Club Apps Asts-------------------------------------------------------------------------11th Martin Woods Hartlepool 10 4 17th Hugh Robertson Hartlepool 9 3 30th Eifion Williams Hartlepool 7 2 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Average Rating============================================ ================================================== ==Pos Player Club Apps Av R-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Joel Porter Hartlepool 10 8.50 2nd Eifion Williams Hartlepool 7 8.00 15th Martin Woods Hartlepool 10 7.80 ================================================== ============================================== 2001/2 Man of Match============================================= ================================================== =Pos Player Club Apps MoM-------------------------------------------------------------------------8th Joel Porter Hartlepool 10 3 21st Martin Woods Hartlepool 10 2 27th Eifion Williams Hartlepool 7 1 </pre>