Like I say, I understand both sides of the arguments. Like you mention though, how can it be easier to win if it's harder to qualify. When this argument comes up, people always mention the opposition and, as its often not Real, Barca, Juve then it's assumed the others are rubbish. Fact is those sides weren't the best about back then, the english teams were. It's a very modern day view of the game clouding peoples judgement in my opinion.
Because the also rans in the big leagues now get a slice of the huge financial action swilling around in the biggest European club football competition they can now cherry pick the best players from Sweden, Austria and Switzerland and weaken the top teams in Sweden,Austria and Switzerland thus increasing their own chances of going deeper into the biggest European club football competition thus earning more prize money, TV money, gate money, sponsorship money, club shop money and corporate hospitality money etc.
Duncan Hamilton, had to google his name.
Missed Blackpool out there riffraff, Alan Ball was a Blackpool player when England won the world cup.
When you look at ot through the eyes of a supporter in 2020, that first 16 looks very weak. But I reckon a Forest or Liverpool fan in 1980 would have quite fancied that second set.of 16. Spurs were a nothing mid-table side that had won promotion a couple of years earlier, Chelsea were in the 2nd Division, Man City were on a slump that would lead to their relegation in 82/3, Napoli were half decent without ever threatening to win anything, Atalanta were in Serie B, Valencia had just won the Spanish Cup but had done very little else since the war, PSG had never won a thing, Lyon a couple of French Cups but that's it, RB Leipzig didnt exist and Dortmund had been struggling for years etc.
Correct. Well spotted. Just testing to see if anyone’s out there. Well done. Carry on.
Top top post.
Hhhmmmmmmm. Not so sure.
Pretty much the point I was trying to make but emphasised much better than I managed!
Correct. Well spotted. Just testing to see if anyone’s out there. Well done. Carry on.
Top top post.
Hhhmmmmmmm. Not so sure.
Collymore left Southend to go to Forest. He’d already ripped the piss out of safc at Roker long before he went to Forest.They had Liverpool over for a couple of years and managed to sustain themselves as a top side for many years to come. It was a breath of fresh air at the time and they became everyones favourite second team. Clough was an anti establishment maverick and probably frightened off perceived bigger clubs as well as England through the FA.
Robertson had lost his way career wise, but Clough changed that. He had a great body swerve and needed only half a yard to whip a ball near or far post. Francis came in as a young superstar, but was also quite injury prone. Tony Woodcock was outstanding and could play up top or off the front too. He made a very successful career moving to Germany later on. Not many British players could hack that scenario back then.
Unsung heros were the likes of Colin Barret at full back, David Needham and Kenny Burns at centre halves, whilst Viv Anderson gained a lot of acclaim as an attacking full back that earned him an England call up. McGovern, O'Neil and Bowyer were workman like in midfield. Incredible achievement when you look back.
Shilton, along with Francis, were more like icing on the cake players with cheap signings like Birtles, showing that the scouting network, ie Peter Taylor were incredibly astute. Imagine making your debut up in the European Cup first leg against Liverpool and scoring two goals in a 2-0 win, after playing non league the week before. Years later they unearthed Stan Collymore from Stafford Rangers, who left for Liverpool for a massive profit. His dirty agent returned to Forest to try and claim 10% of the 8m transfer fee. Clough and co told him to sling it.
Stafford to Crystal Palace to Southend, but he was always behind Wright and Bright in the pecking order at Palace
This. Whatever the format to go from the second division to achieve this in the time they did is phenomenal
