- Nov 15, 2006
- 5,571
As an aside we beat possibly the worst Ajax team in living memory. It was brilliant but not THAT big an achievement. They were shit
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[Football] De Zerbi offers to resign as Marseilles coach
- Thread starter Lady Whistledown
- Start date
- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,179
Finishing top the group was pretty special. Remarkable achievement for a first ever go.
- Nov 15, 2006
- 5,571
Of course it was, the whole adventure was one of the biggest highlights in Albion’s history, but Ajax were a shadow of the teams that made them a BIG club but we did top the group of death
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
You can only beat what is in front of you. I thought the AEK weren’t exactly great and they beat us at home.Of course it was, the whole adventure was one of the biggest highlights in Albion’s history, but Ajax were a shadow of the teams that made them a BIG club but we did top the group of death
- Nov 15, 2006
- 5,571
Yeah that was a rude awakening to Europe. We were mugged on the night
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
Yep and got absolutely soaked to the skin. Had to drive home in my boxers
Have to disagree, I think for us, that was a must win game, I would also add that an away victory in Europe in your first season in the competition is actually quite significant an achievement.
I agree they are not the Cryff and Neeskins fueled team of the past but they were still good enough to qualify for Europe and also well versed in Europe football. They were still a daunting task for a club making its first steps on the continent.
It was a big achievement.
aolstudios
Well-known member
Yep and got absolutely soaked to the skin. Had to drive home in my boxers
Attachments
Absolutely this. We, little old Brighton and Hove Albion, not only competed in a European competition with AEK Athens, Marseilles and Ajax Amsterdam .... but we finished top of that group. Even five years prior to that it would have seemed unbelievable, let alone at any other time in our past. Why do people want to belittle it? Very British thing to do I guess.
TWOCHOICEStom
Well-known member
Totally agree. I was not at AEK but was at all the other away games. The atmosphere in the Marseille was intimidating for me, a grizzled old supporter*, so I can only imagine what it must have been like for the lesser experienced players on the pitch. That draw was a huge achievment, as were the wins in Athens and Amsterdam.
* whilst the stadium was intimidating I obviously felt more than comfortable with the French and thier continental attitude to manbags and man-purses.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
…..
As can Billy Lane!Both achieved our highest ever finish didnt they? Just as Alan Mullery and Mike Bailey can also lay claim to that feat.
Edit: beaten to it!
No.
If a Premier League team doesn't win its Europa League group, its a failure.
We were 2nd favorites to win the Europa League when the cup began. The only way "winning the group" is an achivement is if you have low ambitions.
- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,179
RDZ is the only manager to ever take us into Europe. He took us to a record high league finish, FA Cup Semi Final (one penalty kick from the final), and won his European group.
Potter took us to 15th, 16th and 9th, and took us to Round 5 once in the cup.
Under RDZ last season in his second, “bad” season when the consensus is he had given up, he finished 11th, two places behind Potter’s best finish, he won his European group and matched Potter’s best cup finish.
The facts don’t lie.
Potter took us to 15th, 16th and 9th, and took us to Round 5 once in the cup.
Under RDZ last season in his second, “bad” season when the consensus is he had given up, he finished 11th, two places behind Potter’s best finish, he won his European group and matched Potter’s best cup finish.
The facts don’t lie.
- Nov 15, 2006
- 5,571
Shame we will never find out how RDZ would have done with the squad Potter inherited. I know who got the best deal!
I don’t know why I still reply to the RDZ Lovers and Potter haters
I liked them both until one f***ed off early season and the other turned into a spoilt brat. Both did great things and both left a bad taste on departure for me. I guess I’m a bit needy
- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,179
Potter could’ve stayed and found out, but he left the second he started having a success with us after three very mediocre seasons, two of them firmly rooted 3-4 places off the relegation spots.
- Nov 15, 2006
- 5,571
But never in them….
He left because he was given life changing money and a promise of time. Still a twat for doing it imo, but I do understand how hard it would have been to turn down. Did RDZ have to have a sulky strop when he didn’t get his own way on player signings? Seems people like you forgave him everything, your choice.
darkwolf666
Well-known member
Me too... not in your boxers, obviously, that would just be weird!Yep and got absolutely soaked to the skin. Had to drive home in my boxers