Request for Questions: Viv Anderson, Tuesday 28th April, Live from Redfearn’s Bar

That's some memory you've got there, Jay.

 

For a while there, I thought one of us was going mad. Then I realised that there are two Danny Wilsons, and not just one, like the song says.

 

I was watching the Reds v Newcastle game in 1981 on YouTube last night and Winston Campbell was making his home debut (and played very well). The thing that struck me most (other than confirming how great the God Glavin was) is the volume of monkey noises emanating from the Newcastle ‘supporters’ every time Winston touched the ball. We aren’t by any means perfect in this country in terms of overt displays of racism, and much still needs to be done, but a great amount of progress

 

League table after we'd beaten Sunderland 4-0 on Tuesday 29th March
https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/29-march-1994/

We were still in 18th and 10 points off the play-offs but we'd won 7 of the previous 9 with Rammell and Payton on fire.

Coming up we'd got Derby away Easter Saturday and Notts County at home Easter Monday. If we could win those...

We lost 2-0 and 3-0 and that was that.

 

My first season following the reds but cannot remember one single game so struggling on this one but will certainly look forward to the conversation

 

that’s the only question that needs asking!

 

After just watching Damned United I only have the one question ...Just what was Brian Clough like? Should take a while to answer

 

Just the entire interview!

 

I remember Peter Shilton saying, when Viv left to be no.2 to Brian Robson. He never thought Viv. Was cut out to be a manager. Given the fact he was too nice a guy. To lay into players when necessary.
I once went to see Yung uns play on a Saturday. We were on TV the next day against West brom I think. Players were in for training on the Saturday so I watched a little . And as they came off. Shez had a cast on his arm and was obviously out of contention to play.
In earshot Shez asked Viv if he needed to turn up on matchday. Viv looked at Danny and said "you tell him". Danny straight out said 'EVERYONE turn up tomorrow". Shez said ".what me n'all boss" Danny. "YES, EVERYONE"
So My question is. Do you think you weren't cut out to be a manager. I mean that in not in an offensive way but as the way Shilton gave that opinion and the way I viewed the incident.

 

I watched a clip on You Tube outlining Vivs career yesterday. In it he confirms that he was the first black player to be
capped at full international level, but as far as he was concerned, it was no big deal, as both Laurie Cunningham and
Cyrille Regis had been capped at Under 21 level before Viv got his call up in November 1978.

In the film, he recalls that he used to recieve " dogs abuse", whenever he played at St James Park against Newcastle.
On one particular visit, it was so bad, he went to the manager and said " I don't think I can play Mr Clough" whereupon
Cloughie fixed him with a steely glare, jabbed a finger at him and said " you're playing, its as simple as that."

When he came to Barnsley, both Viv and Danny both wanted to carry on playing. He says that at half time, they were both too " knackered" to give anything approaching a team talk and so they left the role to Eric Winstanley. John Dennis got wind of this arrangement and made it clear that he wanted Viv to be more hands on and so, he agreed to quit playing which enabled him to lead the team talks until he left to go to Middlesbrough at the end of season 93/94.

Until I saw the video, I never realised that as a schoolboy Viv had had trials with Manchester United, but was rejected on the grounds that he wasn't good enough. He went back to Nottingham and worked as a screen printer before being spotted playing local league soccer and being picked up by Forest.

It was ironic that in 1987, Sir Alec made Viv his first signing when he paid £250,000 to take him from Highbury to Old Trafford. He played for four years before being released on a free in 1991 to join Sheffield Wednesday.

 

As a kid I can vaguely remember a game against Birmingham (?) with Charlie Bishop at centre half. We lost 5-0, he gave away two penalties, got sent off, and won man of the match

 

Viv played under numerous managers viz: for England Ron Greenwood and Bobby Robson.
At club level Brian Clough ( Forest), George Graham (Arsenal), Sir Alex Ferguson ( Man Utd)
and Trevor Francis ( Wednesday).

Roy Keane is on record as saying the best manager he ever played for was Brian Clough.
What order would Viv place the Managers he played for in please.?

A recent documentary saw Viv recount the time he was warming up, ready to go on for Forest,
when the opposition fans started throwing bananas and other types of fruit at him and shouting
racist remarks in his direction.? Who were Forest playing on that occasion.?
He was apparently reluctant to go on. What did Brian Clough say to him, to cause him to have
a change of mind.?

 

During Vivs tenure as manager at Barnsley, was there ever a time when he thought that given the time,
he might be able to mount a serious challenge to get the club promoted to the Premiership.?

Once he left, did he ever regret his decision and given the opportunity, would he have done anything
differently.?

Why has he never gone back into coaching/ management.?