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| Is It The Biggest Football Achievement Ever? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 4 May 2016, 02:16 PM (224 Views) | |
| Darlington | 4 May 2016, 02:16 PM Post #1 |
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Right don't get me wrong it is a fantastic achievement that Leicester City have managed by winning the premiership title. However there are loads of pundits and celebrities ranting on about how it is the best football achievement ever. Well I'm sorry but i don't see it myself. It is up there of that there is no doubt but the biggest ever? Is it bigger than Celtc say in 1967 where all but 1 of the 15 man squad was born, yes born, within 10 miles of Celtic's ground. The other by the way was Bobbie Lennox who was born 30 miles away. That surely in this current day of multi national teams will never be achieved again and was a phenominal achievement. Can you see a Barcelona or man United etc achieving that today? Or what about Clough's Forest who were languishing just above relegation in the then second division (championship now) when he took them over. 3 seasons later they were promoted to the top division and in the first season in that division they won the title. The following season they won the European Cup and retained it the season after. Or what about last season when Hartlepool United were sat last in the football league in October and still there at Christmas, still there in Feb and 9 points from safety. They looked dead and buried and down but yet they stayed up. What an achievement (and I hate the monkey hangers but you have to admire that achievement) What about League Two side Bradford City getting to the League Cup final beating arsenal and Villa on the way. I could keep going on and listing loads as I'm an old fart who has seen loads like this. Football never ceases to amaze in the achievements of the under dog but to say Leicester is the biggest is a bit rich for me. What do you think. Edited by Darlington, 4 May 2016, 02:17 PM.
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| SuffolkRoyal | 4 May 2016, 02:55 PM Post #2 |
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I've been a football fan for over 50 years, and, for me, its the greatest achievement I can remember. All those you mention were great in their own way, and in their time. Forests achievements under Brian Clough were remarkable, but football was on more of a level playing field in those days. Sure, you had the elite clubs, like Man Utd, Liverpool, Leeds and Arsenal, but, by comparison, there wasn't the vast difference in finances between the clubs that there is today. What Leicester have achieved this season has been done on a relatively tight budget, with very unfashionable players. |
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| Darlington | 4 May 2016, 03:37 PM Post #3 |
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I do accept your view my friend and there are many like your self who see it that way but let me ask you this, though I suspect it won't change your mind. If you went to the bookies before the start of next season in mid may say after this one has finished and asked for the odds for 4th bottom this season to win the title next season you will expect around 5000/1 as they were on Leicester this season. Now look at Forest who aren't far off from where they were when Clough took over. Now you go to the bookies and ask for the odds for them to go up to the Premiership within 3 seasons, followed by winning the league the season after then the Champions league the season after that and the Champions League retention in the season after. What odds do you think they will give you. I bet it's a lot more than 5,000/1. Does that not mean the bookies would think it a more spectacular achievement then? I know you will say back then was a more level playing field but just look back at Forest, Larry Lloyd and Viv Anderson & Tony Woodcock & Gary Mills were in the youth ranks and cost nothing, given their chance by Clough. Gary Birtle was snapped up from non league footy for £2,000. Frank Clark & John Robertson were already at Forest so cost Clough nothing. The rest cost around £3-4m between them and Trevor Francis on his own was £1m so in relative terms not a lot really. He didn't buy big name players he shaped players to do a job and I'll tell you something else they didn't have 23 man squads either they had a lot less. I know you can't ever compare today to nearly 40 years ago but if you like he took a Leicester City of their day and did far more with them. Whether it was a leveller playing field or not he achieved so much more with them. |
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| Zip | 4 May 2016, 03:43 PM Post #4 |
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It's up there. No doubt about it. However what Clough achieved with Forest was in my view even greater. To win the European Cup in successive seasons is for me the greatest achievement by an English club. |
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| Royal Crisp | 4 May 2016, 03:56 PM Post #5 |
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In club football it surely has to be given the financial chasm between Leicester and the other big clubs. Amazing achievement. |
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"On the pitch I hate all opponents. I don't give a damn about anyone. People say I'm mad, a lunatic. I am a winner." Robin Friday Twitter : https://twitter.com/RoyalCrisp | |
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| SuffolkRoyal | 4 May 2016, 04:04 PM Post #6 |
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I can't disagree with anything you say mate. I remember the Clough years well, also his time at Derby where he worked his first miracle. The only point I would take issue on is when you say "Trevor Francis on his own was £1m so in relative terms not a lot really" Francis was the first player sold for £1 million, so, relatively, that puts him up there with the Lionel Messi's and Cristiano Ronaldo's of the modern era in terms of value. |
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| daib0 | 4 May 2016, 04:18 PM Post #7 |
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Inter-Forum Gamemaster!
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good thread Darlo! |
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Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC fan forum Cello man... VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVmGOEMJLE&t=12s Please share ! | |
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| Zip | 4 May 2016, 05:36 PM Post #8 |
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I would add that Peter Taylor with his brilliant scouting played a huge part in what was achieved at both Derby and Forest. |
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| daib0 | 4 May 2016, 05:51 PM Post #9 |
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Inter-Forum Gamemaster!
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What about Reading 2005-06 - who expected that?! The then grumpies said "It couldn't be done, how could tin-pot Reading FC arrive at the Premier League"
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Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC fan forum Cello man... VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVmGOEMJLE&t=12s Please share ! | |
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