该死的联队 (2006)

《该死的联队》（英语：The Damned Utd） 是英国作家大卫·皮尔斯的一本长篇小说，内容以布莱恩·克拉夫在1974年短暂执教利兹联的情况为背景来改编而成的。

情节

小说以布莱恩·克拉夫的角度出发，描述他意识上尝试将自己的信念强加在昔日的竞争对手利兹联的球员身上，但由于球员依然效忠前领队唐·里维而未能如愿。其中，小说穿插他担任德比郡领队时的光辉岁月，作者形容这是基于事实的想像。小说包含了想像、传闻和基于文件事实的推测，作者通过小说将布莱恩·克拉夫描绘成一位有很大缺点的英雄，而且是满口胡言、复仇心重、受到自己的心魔困扰并且酗酒的人。

反应

2006年8月，小说由费伯和费伯出版，深获好评而且销量平稳，年末时小说甚至已经变得口口相传。对于小说的评价普遍都是正面的，《泰晤士报》形容这很可能是最佳的有关体育的小说，《卫报》则赞扬作者对布莱恩·克拉夫心声的想像，主角的缺点和所有东西都描述得绘声绘色。然而，一些对角色的描述引起了争议，小说受到哥洛夫家族的批评，认为他后期的领队生涯被描述得过于负面。约翰·伊莱斯投诉书中形容他的情节的方式，并声称他已经被造谣中伤。他写道：“皮尔斯在书本内讲述的很多事情都从未发生，因此我认为有必要在法庭上证明这是基于事实的想像，仅此而已。”费伯和费伯不同意，并反击他的控诉。最终，约翰·伊莱斯在官司中取胜，出版商承诺在小说再版时会删除一些激怒约翰·伊莱斯的来源。

电影

2009年，小说改编成电影，由麦克尔·辛饰演布莱恩·克拉夫，电影上映替补受好评

The Damned Utd is a biographical novel by British author David Peace, published in 2006. Depicting events in the life of English football personality Brian Clough, it is set during Clough's brief and unsuccessful 44-day spell as manager of Leeds United during 1974, with frequent flashbacks to his earlier period as manager of Derby County. Despite critical acclaim, the novel was also the subject of controversy for its perceived negative portrayal of Clough and some historical inaccuracies. It was adapted into a film called The Damned United, released in 2009.

Plot

Told from Clough's point of view, the novel is written as his stream of consciousness as he tries and fails to impose his will on a team he inherited from his bitter rival, Don Revie, and whose players are still loyal to their old manager. Interspersed are flashbacks to his more successful days as manager of Derby County. Described by its author as "a fiction based on a fact", the novel mixes fiction, rumour and speculation with documented facts to depict Clough as a deeply flawed hero; foul mouthed, vengeful and beset with inner demons and alcoholism.

Reception

The Damned Utd was published by Faber and Faber in August 2006 to great critical acclaim and sold steadily – by the end of the year it had also become a word of mouth hit. The critical reaction to the book was generally positive. It was described by Rick Broadbent of The Times as "probably the best novel ever written about sport", while Chris Petit of The Guardian praised its imaginative use of Clough's inner voice, and the "warts and all" portrait of its protagonist. However, the portrayal of some of the characters has attracted controversy, and the book has been criticised by members of Clough's family as presenting an overly negative view of the late manager.

Leeds player Johnny Giles complained about the way he was portrayed in the book and claimed he had been libelled. Giles wrote, "Many of the things Peace talks about in the book never happened and for that reason, I felt it necessary to go to the Courts to establish that this was fiction based on fact and nothing more." Faber disagreed, and applied to strike out his claim. In an out-of-court settlement, Giles received a substantial sum to cover damages and costs, and got an apology from both publisher and author. Faber also made changes to the text.

Adaptations

A screen adaptation of the novel starring Michael Sheen as Brian Clough was released in 2009 to critical acclaim.

The book was adapted for the stage by Red Ladder Theatre Company in 2016 and played at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2018.