Forest were 13th in English football's second tier when Clough joined. They finished that season 16th. Nevertheless, Clough did inherit some talented players, including five who would go on to win the European Cup with the club. Midfielder Ian Bowyer had won domestic and European trophies with Manchester City. John Robertson and Martin O'Neill were in the reserves after requesting transfers under Brown, but Clough brought both back into the first team. The young Tony Woodcock was at Forest but was then unrated by Clough and was to be loaned to Lincoln City. Viv Anderson had previously debuted for the first team and became a regular under Clough.