2% Villa - the 50 Greatest European Club Sides

[dave.woodhall]

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.

You could have asked him what he felt about ruining Gary Shaw's career.

[Charlie8182]

You could have asked him what he felt about ruining Gary Shaw's career.

I thought that was Ian Bowyer.

[dave.woodhall]

You could have asked him what he felt about ruining Gary Shaw's career.

I thought that was Ian Bowyer.

So it was. My mistake.

[eamonn]

Great article. I learnt (learned?) a lot from it. But they did erroneously state that Barca's 1992 European Cup win was their first in 37 years when it was in fact their first ever. Strange to think that until five years ago we had the same amount of European Cups as them.

[rob_bridge]

You could have asked him what he felt about ruining Gary Shaw's career.

I thought that was Ian Bowyer.

So it was. My mistake.

Thanks for that. As I say McGovern was and still is a Gent. He looks in good nick too compared to manyof the players of that era.
And the Forest team of that era had some thugs (Bowyer, Needham, Burns, Lloyd) as did Every Team (Ken NcNaught) but McGovern was not one of them. And sorry for stating in an earlier article Downing was a wantaway winger which was shouted down. He was and is. I get very very few real snippets from Villa but I knew that one all along. And had nothing to do with Houllier's position.

[nick harper]

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.

They did beat the holders and best team in Europe at the time in the 1st round.

[Billy Walker]

I'm wondering how they work out the time-frame that constitutes an era for each team?  Maybe a Villa 75-82 would make the cut?

[eamonn]

The spell the incumbent manager was in charge/or when the reign went south, whichever was longest, I think.

[Ray Graydon]

Great article, really good that the great Villa side of that era is remembered bit surprised Ajax were top my personal faves were  the juventus team of 83 just ahead of milan with gullitt, van basten etc but after watching Barcelona on saturday they were just brilliant and still a young side too they could go on to outshine everyone