Yeah, sometimes. Perhaps not when the great sides from Ajax and Bayern Munich were winning their league every season. Or a few years earlier when Celtic's great team were doing the same. But there would have been other seasons when the best teams in other countries hadn't actually won their leagues during the previous seasons, making the UEFA Cup a really tough competition.When I first got into footy my dad would say that the UEFA Cup was sometimes harder to win than the European Cup
Ha, yep.English clubs were re-admitted in 1990/91 with the exception of Liverpool who had to serve an additional season and therefore Arsenal in 1991/92 were the first club back into the European Cup.
Before 59 it hadn't been done in the 20th century at all, had it? Spuds (boo, hiss, etc.) famously did it in 60/61 and then the Arse in 70/71; before that only Preston North End and the Villa had done it, both in the 1800s.In 18 seasons between 1959 and 1976, eleven different clubs won the English league title, with none successfully defending it. Fourteen different teams lifted the FA Cup, which many players and managers regarded as more important than either the league or the European Cup.
The "impossible" double of league and FA Cup had at that time been achieved only once during the twentieth century.
Ha, this is a bit of a meme among my Ipswich supporting mates who're still bitter they didn't win the title in 81, but did secure the Wafer Cup.When I first got into footy my dad would say that the UEFA Cup was sometimes harder to win than the European Cup
Yes that's right. Even Chapman's Arsenal didn't manage it.Before 59 it hadn't been done in the 20th century at all, had it? Spuds (boo, hiss, etc.) famously did it in 60/61 and then the Arse in 70/71; before that only Preston North End and the Villa had done it, both in the 1800s.
I think you're right: Forest, Liverpool, Villa, Man Utd and Chelsea. Out of interest, who was the Englishman who played a big part in one of the German sides winning?By my reckoning, City will become the 6th different English Club to win the European Cup/Champions League since 1980 should they win it. Two others (from N London) have made finals too. The best any other country can do is Germany and Italy's 3 (and one of the German ones was very much thanks to an Englishman).
I wouldn't put it past a 7th English club doing it in the next 5 years either if the money continues to roll in.
Keegan?I think you're right: Forest, Liverpool, Villa, Man Utd and Chelsea. Out of interest, who was the Englishman who played a big part in one of the German sides winning?
Yer Dirties got to the 75 final too.By my reckoning, City will become the 6th different English Club to win the European Cup/Champions League since 1980 should they win it. Two others (from N London) have made finals too. The best any other country can do is Germany and Italy's 3 (and one of the German ones was very much thanks to an Englishman).
I wouldn't put it past a 7th English club doing it in the next 5 years either if the money continues to roll in.
I don't think so. He'd left Hamburg three years before they won the European Cup in 1983Keegan?
Yeah, you're right. Funny how your mind confuses things over the years....he'd already joined and left the filth down the road from me by then.I don't think so. He'd left Hamburg three years before they won the European Cup in 1983
It's hardly the first time that he's been subjected to racist abuse. As always, there are a lot of people putting their heads in the sand about the matter over there. If it helps, we'll take him at Palace if Wilf does go elsewhere.In other news…
Ugly scenes in general from the fans and Ancelotti has called it out explicitly which is good to see. A strange thing to witness in 2023 in such a widely watched league but there you go.
Even without the provocation from the supporters though this is very strange usage of VAR. When you see the full context it seems a ridiculous red to me.
Valencia fans were finally getting some sympathy for their owner problems and they have blown it all away by acting like this, pathetic club that deserves to go down and get nukedKeegan?
In other news…
Ugly scenes in general from the fans and Ancelotti has called it out explicitly which is good to see. A strange thing to witness in 2023 in such a widely watched league but there you go.
Even without the provocation from the supporters though this is very strange usage of VAR. When you see the full context it seems a ridiculous red to me.
I'd forgotten about the ban, but it was probably academic given their subsequent decline. It's perhaps worth saying that they were robbed blind in the 1975 final.Yer Dirties got to the 75 final too.
And, true to form, got themselves banned from Europe for two years for taking the defeat with typical Yorkshire grace.
Owen Hargreaves for Bayern in 2001. English father, Welsh mother, born in Canada.Out of interest, who was the Englishman who played a big part in one of the German sides winning?
I've seen this has actually caused something of a diplomatic incident wrt Brazil now tooKeegan?
In other news…
Ugly scenes in general from the fans and Ancelotti has called it out explicitly which is good to see. A strange thing to witness in 2023 in such a widely watched league but there you go.
Even without the provocation from the supporters though this is very strange usage of VAR. When you see the full context it seems a ridiculous red to me.
100%. The UEFA Cup was the barometer of a league's strength in depth; look at how many Italian winners and finalists there are between 1989 and 1999.When I first got into footy my dad would say that the UEFA Cup was sometimes harder to win than the European Cup
All 3 of the big Dutch clubs have also won the European Cup.By my reckoning, City will become the 6th different English Club to win the European Cup/Champions League since 1980 should they win it. Two others (from N London) have made finals too. The best any other country can do is Germany and Italy's 3 (and one of the German ones was very much thanks to an Englishman).
I wouldn't put it past a 7th English club doing it in the next 5 years either if the money continues to roll in.
Only 2 since 1980, none for 30 years and frankly, no sign of it happening for another 30 either.All 3 of the big Dutch clubs have also won the European Cup.