His management techniques were really odd ball….it was as though he was mad but it kept everyone on their toes.
He had such charisma he could say anything to anyone…..and get away with it.
I remember Forest buying Gary Megson and after a fortnight of signing him.
Clough told the media something like “can’t believe how poor he is…..he couldn’t trap a bag of cement”
and he never played a single match for Nottingham Forest. Obviously Megson and Clough must have had a fall out and Clough taught him a lesson.
Also I remember an interview on Radio Sheffield with ex Rotherham manager John McGovern.
They asked him what made Clough such a great manager and asked if he was a tactical genius.
McGovern said Clough never really covered tactics….that was down to his assistant Peter Taylor who did most of the training ground stuff.
He said Cloughs main job was his pre match speech and half time speech and he’d say things like
‘Cologne are German champions but I’ve watched them and they are not that good. We play our normal game we’ll definitely beat them”.
There’s a story he agreed to pay £1 for Trevor Francis making him the 1st million pound player
But Clough insisted the contract said £999,999 because he didn’t want the million pound tag to go to his head.
In those days Clough had so much power….he was more powerful than any player or any owner. He was an expert in mind games.
Players had heard of his reputation and seemed intimidated by him….he wouldn’t last a week in today’s football.
He also hated agents and would sometimes simply refuse to talk to them.
Clough was a totally unique character…..they’ll never be another.
