So, this time seven years ago

[johnb]

We'd just come back from 3-0...

 

Brighter days are ahead, hard as it may seem to believe now.

[23_Carra_Gold]

The sentiment is sound but you're two days early.

[TheHitman]

5 years ago today it was Athens.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

7 years on the 25th. Where the fuck has that time gone. Fucking hell.

[Brownie]

5 years ago today it was Athens.

 

I've never felt more deflated walking out of a ground, as I did that night. Milan were there for the taking and we should have battered them, it was so frustrating.

[Dan Vito Corleone]

We fucked up that night. And I truly believe that we'll be awarded that European Cup in the distant future, that was one of the most biased refereeing performances I have ever seen. He shit himself when we score, I was watching him very closely. Couldn't wait to get us off the pitch.

[El Rojo]

I've never felt more deflated walking out of a ground, as I did that night. Milan were there for the taking and we should have battered them, it was so frustrating.

 

In fairness, it probably wasn't a fraction as bad as their fans felt two years earlier!

[Brownie]

 

In fairness, it probably wasn't a fraction as bad as their fans felt two years earlier!

 

True but that's not what is going through your head when you walk out of a stadium having just wasted a glorious opportunity!

 

I know what you mean though.

[lebron]

We fucked up that night. And I truly believe that we'll be awarded that European Cup in the distant future, that was one of the most biased refereeing performances I have ever seen. He shit himself when we score, I was watching him very closely. Couldn't wait to get us off the pitch.

 

Too true. First time I've seen a ref blow the whistle half a minute before the added time was up. Sickening it was.

 

Don't really agree with the deflated part (as Brownie describes). Yes, it was a great chance to have no 6, but I was taking it for granted we'd be back next season, or at worst the season after... How times have changed:(

[Faustus]

Athens was just horrible. Absolutely horrible.

 

My arl fella was one of the ones knocked back with a genuine ticket as well. To this day, he still hasn't seen anything at all from that match. Not that I blame him like!

[Brownie]

Athens was just horrible. Absolutely horrible.

 

My arl fella was one of the ones knocked back with a genuine ticket as well. To this day, he still hasn't seen anything at all from that match. Not that I blame him like!

 

That whole situation was scandalous; our fans totally let the club down that night. I'm just glad we got over there early.

[Faustus]

That whole situation was scandalous; our fans totally let the club down that night. I'm just glad we got over there early.

 

Yeah, it was just the anti-Istanbul in every single possible way.

 

We were staying in the Greek equivalent of Blackpool about an hour away from Athens and we got bussed in there on the day of the game and even early doors, you could just sense that horrible vibe. We were all on edge all day. Didn't feel as though you could relax at all.

 

Been going the match since '96 when I was 8, and that was probably the lowest point, for me.

[Brownie]

 

Yeah, it was just the anti-Istanbul in every single possible way.

 

We were staying in the Greek equivalent of Blackpool about an hour away from Athens and we got bussed in there on the day of the game and even early doors, you could just sense that horrible vibe. We were all on edge all day. Didn't feel as though you could relax at all.

 

Been going the match since '96 when I was 8, and that was probably the lowest point, for me.

 

Yeah you could sense a bad atmosphere. Syntagma Square was a good laugh but there was a lot of absolute whoppers there as well.

[George Costanza]

fucking phillipo inzaghi, i absolutely fucking hate that raggy cunt

[El Rojo]

True but that's not what is going through your head when you walk out of a stadium having just wasted a glorious opportunity!

 

I know what you mean though.

 

No doubts that we left it behind in 2007, and I guess they exorcised their 2005 demons somewhat that night too.

 

In terms of Athens, how fucked off would you be if you couldn't get in a with a genuine ticket? Awful stuff.

 

Istanbul was the opposite - people couldn't get rid of spares on the night once they'd arrived at the Attaturk.

[George Costanza]

Athens was just horrible. Absolutely horrible.

 

My arl fella was one of the ones knocked back with a genuine ticket as well. To this day, he still hasn't seen anything at all from that match. Not that I blame him like!

 

unfortunately our success in Europe brought out large numbers of scum/scally supporters that year. We had a huge warning in Eindhoven with loads trying to sneak in without tickets &/or trying to nick them off other fans

[Pepe Reina 25]

I got battered by police in Athens trying to get in with my genuine ticket. Such a depressing trip in the end. (edit - I did finally manage to get in in the end though + a few cuts and bruises!)

Edited May 23, 2012 by Pepe Reina 25
.

[WaltonRed]

athens was the beginning of the rot under G and h

 

Still should of won though, they were two years older, us two years better

 

shit

[Guest TK-421]

Some European cup finals you win, some you lose. The important thing is being there in the first place to at least have a chance.

[BringbackBiscan]

Looking back at 2005 and 07 now, doesn't bring me the happiness it should do. Not when we're closer to division one now.

 

Must be what forest fans feel like.

[PaulMcC]

Luckily for us Rafa told us about Hicks and Gillett not really giving a fuck the day after the final.

 

''All we do is Talk, talk, talk....''

[Rorschach08]

7 years ago from now I had been in Amsterdam for a couple of hours, so probably conkers deep in a prossie. Still got 2 flights to go to get to Istanbul.

 

Feels like a million years ago.

[Dan Vito Corleone]

I got in to the stadium a matter of seconds before it kicked off with the tear gas. I also watched the person in front of me get in with a fucking cig packet. How the actual fuck?

 

And I maintain that the stadium was so overcrowded that if Liverpool would have scored first, someone would have been in serious trouble. There was so little room to move or do anything. The aisles were full, there were 3 people to one seat... Honestly, I have never been so scared at a football match.

[GJM]

On my gravestone shall be scribed: In a better place - Istanbul, 25th May, 2005. For all eternity.

[bouncebrigade]

Some European cup finals you win, some you lose. The important thing is being there in the first place to at least have a chance.

 

I would say the important thing is winning them, you don't have a shot at too many European finals.