2% Villa - the 50 Greatest European Club Sides

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

At Number 44 -  Aston Villa 1893-1900.

http://footballpantheon.com/2011/05/the-50-greatest-european-club-sides/2/

[Kevin Dawson]

Very complimentary about the Villa, but should Nottingham Forest be in there?

[darren woolley]

I like the bit about we where like the Real Madrid of our day.

[The Left Side]

What about the team of the early 80's?

[Holtenderinthesky]

What about the team of the early 80's?

If every team to win 1 league title and 1 European cup were in there.............  I think we needed to do a bit more than that to get into the list.

[dave.woodhall]

That Forest team don't half get over-rated.

[kipeye]

That Forest team don't half get over-rated.

They did win in back to back though.

[Exeter 77]

I was surprised by the order of the top two.

[dave.woodhall]

That Forest team don't half get over-rated.

They did win in back to back though.

But better than the Rush/Barnes/Aldridge/Beardsley Liverpool team or Manchester United in 1968? I think not. 

[cdbearsfan]

That Forest team don't half get over-rated.

They did win in back to back though.

But better than the Rush/Barnes/Aldridge/Beardsley Liverpool team or Manchester United in 1968? I think not. 

The list is based on points allocated for winning leagues, cups, European trophies and multiples of said trophies in a given period of time. So, it's not a question of them being 'over-rated' in this case, as it is based on a stats-fest rather than the author's opinions. VillaDawg would approve.

[cdbearsfan]

Full list, for people too lazy to read the article...

The full list
Rank Team Points Country
1 Ajax 1965-73 1575 Netherlands
2 Real Madrid 1953-60 1470 Spain
3 Liverpool 1977-84 1300 England
4 Barcelona 2008-11 1275 Spain
5 Bayern Munich 1971-76 1260 Germany
6 Benfica 1959-68 1165 Portugal
7 Inter Milan 1962-67 1145 Italy
8 Celtic 1966-75 1140 Scotland
9 AC Milan 1991-95 1135 Italy
10 Torino 1945-49 1110 Italy
11 Manchester United 2006-09 1095 England
12 Barcelona 1988-94 1085 Spain
13 Juventus 1976-86 1070 Italy
14 Ajax 1993-96 1065 Netherlands
15 Bayern Munich 1998-2003 1055 Germany
16 AC Milan 1987-90 1050 Italy
17 Juventus 1994-98 1045 Italy
18 Hamburg 1978-83 1030 Germany
19 Marseille 1988-93 1020 France
20 Manchester United 1998-2001 1015 England
21 Inter 2008-10 1010 Italy
22 Real Madrid 1964-69 1005 Spain
23 Real Madrid 1985-90 1000 Spain
24 Red Star Belgrade 1987-92 995 Serbia
25 Barcelona 2004-06 985 Spain
26 Barcelona 1958-61 980 Spain
27 Juventus 1930-35 970 Italy
28 Nottingham Forest 1977-80 965 England
29 Steaua Bucharest 1985-89 960 Romania
30 FC Porto 2002-04 955 Portugal
31 Feyenoord 1968-74 945 Netherlands
32 PSV Eindhoven 1985-89 930 Netherlands
33 Real Madrid 1960-64 925 Spain
34 Borussia Monchengladbach 1969-78 915 Germany
35 Real Madrid 1996-2003 905 Spain
36 St Etienne 1973-76 890 France
37 Barcelona 1950-54 880 Spain
38 Chelsea 2004-07 860 England
39 Liverpool 1985-90 845 England
40 Bayern Munich 1984-90 840 Germany
41 Manchester United 1964-68 835 England
42 Real Madrid 1977-81 830 Spain
43 Milan 2002-07 825 Italy
44 Aston Villa 1893-1900 820 England
45 FC Porto 1984-87 810 Portugal
46 Preston 1888-92 805 England
47 Arsenal 2001-05 780 England
48 Stade Reims 1952-59 770 France
49 Tottenham 1960-63 765 England
50 Milan 1954-59 755 Italy

[Mister E]

should Nottingham Forest be in there?

They are, at 28; behind Liverpool and at least 2 MU teams.

[Mister E]

That Forest team don't half get over-rated.

They did win in back to back though.

But better than the Rush/Barnes/Aldridge/Beardsley Liverpool team

Presumably that team suffered from the post-Heysel ban.

[Exeter 77]

Forest did get favourable draws in the 1978-79 European Cup. After knocking out Liverpool in the first round they played AEK Athens and Grasshopper Zurich (who admittedly had beaten Real Madrid on away goals) before the fairly tough semi with Cologne. Even their opponents in the final, Malmo, were (then) part-timers.

[rob_bridge]

Very thought provoking article - good debate to be had. Only with people who can see past the hype and shite that Sky spout.
Pity out lot from early 80's isn't included but the rise was gradual and the decline all too quick. Shameful!
Too young to remember some of them but they conveniently put Paisley and Fagan's team combined (don't get me wrong they deserve a very high ranking) as one and diluted the Saachi/Capello Milan ones. I'd give it to them (Milan 88-95) because the Italian League was miles ahead of other leagues from the Heysel ban until mid/late 90s.
The Forest side was class too - a proper football side and get this NO arguing with the ref. I met John McGovern a few years ago. A total gent - he said 'Hello I'm John McGovern pleased to meet you' I just said 'I know Mr McGovern I saw you play at Villa Park a long time ago' He had a lot of respect for Villa and very funny stories about Cloughie and Taylor.