I didn't think they did, because I remember Cloughie winning it, young side as well, but spent a million on Trevor Francis, which I believe was the biggest transfer fee at the time (all off the top of my head btw). I also remember some team cheating and bribing the ref, to deny Forest in Europe. Can't remember the team, my head says either Anderlect or Juventus, but I'm probably totally wrong, but the bribe wasn't revealed until years later, but I still remember the game in the sense I knew the match was bent as hell.
Just looked it up, it was Anderlect... https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...m-forest-anderlecht-match-fixing-scandal-1984
Think it was Anderlecht ... We were similarly subject to some dubious refereeing in the second leg of a Europa tie against Atleti in the Martin O'Neil years ... denied 3 stonewall penalties for fouls on Muzzy Izzet before the ref truly nailed his colours to the mast by giving Garry Parker a red card for taking a free kick 'too early' ... kid you not... Another one to look out for, if you can get the footage, is the second leg of our semi against Roma in the Europy Conference last season ... we had a corner in the first 10 mins .. as it comes over Chris Smalling, not once looking at the flight of the ball, wrestles Wesley Fofana to the deck ... our players went nuts at the ref and there was, supposedly, VAR in operation ... no check no nothing ... one of the commentators made a comment along the lines of "... well that's quite incredible, in fact, unbelievable, what is going on?" ... Dodgy ****ers those European teams
Everytime I watch Serie A I'm like trying to work out whose paid who on any particular game, so it don't surprise me.
Europa pisses me off, they put all the games I would watch on at exactly the same time, they did this last time West Ham were playing, surely they could split them up abit.
Big Ern wouldn't/doesn't support the Spuds in Europe I'm sure he respects me more for my choice tonight
It is a bit over the top but they’ve been incredible the last couple of months and nobody can’t deny they’re the best team in the world - cheating or otherwise. PSG spend stupid amounts of doped money as well and they’re a mess so credit where it’s due from my end. It’s not the greatest achievement though, most European clubs are struggling now, the giants like Barca, Juve and to some extent Atletico are all weak teams now in Europe. Bayern are nowhere near what they have been over the last 10-15 years, Madrid are even struggling at this point. They beat what was out in front of them, so fair play but they’ve not come up against any really incredible teams - European football looks ****ed, it’s no wonder the old giants wanted the super league so badly.
Maybe time for the old guard to move aside and let some new teams in to liven it up a bit, just a thought.
As soon as I seen Brighton were resting their key players, it was obvious this would happen. At least they played their strongest team to win City the league, though.
