Take Aston Villa's defeat against Juventus in the 1983 European Cup quarter final first leg. Thousands of home fans would have left Villa Park on that March evening disappointed to have their club's grip on the European Cup loosened. Yet there was no disgrace in losing to that Juventus team, their calibre clear for all to see in the sublime winning goal that combined grace and power.
Thursday, 21 November 2024
Golden Goals: Zbigniew Boniek (1983)
Some times you just have to hold your hands up after a defeat in sport. You recognise that maybe your loss was more down to the skills of your opponent rather than your own failings. Sport hurts, but it can ease the pain a little when true quality or a genius such as Warne or Maradona do something that mere mortals can only dream of achieving.
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
1988/89: Arsenal v Nottingham Forest
With their title credentials being questioned by many, a win against Nottingham Forest feels like a must for Arsenal after the latest unwanted international interruption. The progress made by Mikel Arteta's team over the last two years has rightly earned praise, but can the club go one step further and end their long wait for the title?
Comparisons can be made with the last time Forest won a league match away at Arsenal. Coming to Highbury in March 1989 after an international break, Brian Clough's in-form team were aiming to land another blow on an Arsenal side wobbling under the pressure. Table toppers they may have been at that time, but defeat for Arsenal would ring alarm bells.