Couldn't really stand him to start with, but he's definitely growing on me. He's showing real leadership skills and the team building lot loved him last night. Go Neil.

He's definitely my favourite candidate by far. I think he overdid it with the cockiness in the first few weeks, but I think that was just for TV. Unlike the other candidates, he actually has the results to back up what he says.

I like his "straight to the point, no billy bull shit" attitude, he's just got to avoid being too arrogant

Yes, he was great last night. But he has much to prove as far as I am concerned, I know it's all done to the editing but arrogance such as his cannot be masked. Also think he may be copying a style that has been successful in the past, by starting off by being a know-it-all cocky ** and then portraying yourself as the opposite.

But his motivational speech was no doubt fantastic .. apart from saving the team £600 .....

Oh my god - his motivational speech totally made him a stand out candidate. Not to mention Myles.

They're both great.

I want Leah to stand out more....where has she gone now?

He seriously needs to stop talking to the cameras lol because that's where most of the arrogance is portrayed.
Whenever he bigs himself up to such a degree it only causes the viewers to go into pantomime mode - 'Oh no you're not.'

I think his comments to the other candidates at the end of an episode when they're back at the house can be dismissed as joking, but it's his confessionals that make people root against him.

Good candidate, but the whole "Neil Clough" will save the day speech is sooooo annoying. Where was this "Neil Clough" when he lost the foodie task and when he went to Dubai?

He might have impressed this time but let's not forget his cock ups!

He is a good bloke.

He's the uncle of a girl at a school I volunteer at!

I really like him now, thought he was an arrogant prat at the start but in the current episode he's come across well and a candidate with real potential.

He is cold and ruthless and arrogance is his starting point.
Loathsome creep.

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Last edited by Avidian : 08-06-2013 at 12:30

I wondered with the football connection if he was in any way related to Brian and Nigel Clough. Anyone say for definite yes or no?

Yeah Neil really went up in my estimations this week. Neil and Myles seemed to really get what this task was about and his motivational speech showed a much softer side of him. He was very humble in the board room when Karren told him the company really liked him.

I think it will really test him if he's brought back into the board room in the bottom 3 - he needs to make sure he isn't too big headed again like he was the first few weeks.

I dont like him a bit, imagine working for him and his ego, if he does progress I will be watching to see Margaret and Co take him down a peg or two.

What really annoys me is that Alan Sugar for all his customer is right ethos, will agree that an untrained gob like Neil is better than a professional trained motivator because he cost them an extra £600. He cannot have it both ways, what about making sure the customer gets value for their money, Alan Sugar has shown that every week, the bottom line is only money and not the best product for their customers.

I do wish he could stop trying to take over tasks and undermine people.

Me too, it is getting very boring.

I don't like him but he's a good candidate, better than the rest of the shower.

If he was not arrogant, I would be his #1 fan. I just can't get over how he thinks he is the best thing. If he genuinely was, he would have won the foodie task. Was "Neil Clough" not there to save the day on that occasion?

I would like to see him in the Top 5, but not win. Think Sugar Monster would struggle to rein him in!

Neil denied it when Lord Sugar asked that question.

Me too.

Thanks. I missed whatever week that was in.

Agree that. A bloke telling you that losing a relative is a good way to get motivation, and that goals are good things to have is pretty ridiculous. Even more so when the people he is speaking to have achieved far more than he has. They seem to be hyping Neil , but if you don't just believe what you are told and ask how inspiring was what we heard , its not that credible.

I think the save money line is familiar. The anyone can do anything regardless of training, education, expertise or ability line is also familiar.

Not sure though how good a motivational speakeryou could get for £600. A captain of industry, public service, or a military leader or a major sports personality would surely cost more. Some people do get Apprentice graduates to do it - not sure what they would charge or how nany have any achievements to talk about. . £600 is less than a Big Brother contestant used to cost for a session. I suppose its possible that there are people in middle management who could do it - a regimental sergeant major might be good on teamwork, but he probably wouldn't be that good at teaching people about communicating to the public.

Oh my goodness...you're telling me that it's worth getting a motivational speaker for £600 when someone else can do it. It was a good move in my opinion. Companies are all about cost cutting in case you didn't know! No matter what people say, Companies (unless charitable) are all about profit (thus raising rev and cutting costs are two essentials which companies always try to maximise). Yes, you do have to keep in mind that you're training up experienced clients but as long as you're getting value for the money you spend.

So please. Anyone can do a motivational speech, all it takes is a gripping personal anecdote. Why again does it have to be someone famous? Are famous people the only people who have lived life? Are famous people the only ones who can have sad events in their lives? Can only famous people relate to the common people? Please, anyone can motivate. It depends usually on how much confidence a person has. Not to be all wishy washy about this. But it's true. You don't even have to have had experience in life. Personal anecdotes go the extra mile.

Especially Neil's! Poor guy, lost his father and then you say stuff like that. It's quite sad actually. He's being edited in good light but overhyped! No way! He made some really good points, he was believable and he was emotive.

It's a tricky one.

On the one hand, Neil's performance was definitely praised by one of the clients and Karren also stated that they were very impressed by him.

Many people on here also seem to have been impressed and the "You're Fired" panel, Dara and Rebecca all appeared to be queueing up to lavish praise on him during said programme.

On the other hand, what we actually saw wasn't overly impressive so either all the above are far too easily pleased or there was a lot more to Neil's speech that we didn't see.
And if there was, why didn't we see it?

I'm not sure what to think on this one. Part of me thinks too many people are going too overboard for it to be all smoke and mirrors but another part thinks - is what we saw all there was? Because if so, it wasn't all that but if it wasn't why didn't the viewers see something a little more inspiring? I can only admit that what we did see didn't particularly inspire me.