Topic: Team(non Liverpool) you most admire

[Barneylfc∗]

The A-Team.

All those guns, crashes, explosions and they managed to do it all without anyone dying.

[Kenny's Jacket]

Maradona's first against England was a thing of beauty, the second was just him showing off! 😉

 

[FlashGordon]

Man City. They’re just so well run. An example to club teams everywhere.

It would be a real coup to get their COO on board, fella worked miracles over there with very little backing.

[afc tukrish]

The A-Team.

All those guns, crashes, explosions and they managed to do it all without anyone dying.

Plethora of social conscience repeatedly expressed as well...

[BobPaisley3]

Neither did Van Basten. It was the beginning of the end of his career for him.

As it was for the team as a whole really. Lost in the final the following year and then gave way to the great Juventus team of the late nineties. The next elite Milan team was another exciting one to watch between 2003-07. In fact that Juve team often goes a bit under the radar, but it reached consecutive champions league finals in 96, 97 and 98 and but for that mad Yernited comeback in the semi, would have been there in 99 too.

[CraigR2323]

The A-Team.

All those guns, crashes, explosions and they managed to do it all without anyone dying.

That's not strictly true.

In 1983, no one died.
In 1984, no one died.
In 1985, no one died.
In 1986, someone died.
In 1987, no one died................. 

[jillcwhomever]

Rafa's Valencia team
Kloppo's Dormund team
Wenger's Arsenal side

[Wingman]

Brazil 1982 and Holland 1988 are the two teams that made the biggest impression on me as a lad. Imagine combining them? Zico, Eder, Socrates, Junior, Falcao, Gullit, Van Basten, Riijkard, Koeman ….

[DarkOfTheManatee]

Yup, that Milan side we beat at Istanbul was pretty easy to admire (and fear).

Just Crespo, Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Gattuso, Kaka, Shevchenko, Seedorf, Pirlo, Stam, Rui Costa, Serginho, Costacurta...

Although they didn't have Dudek, though, so never really stood a chance.

[Yosser0_0]

The A-Team.

All those guns, crashes, explosions and they managed to do it all without anyone dying.

My Grandad used to refer to them as 'That bloody A-Gang!' whilst ranting about all the noise and violence when it was on.
 

[Yorkykopite]

They say Forfar Athletic of 1982 was the best ever side for pure entertainment - and they were great (I saw them grind out a 0-0 draw with East Fife). But I'm going to go for something a bit off the beaten track. Brazil 1970 as the best. Brazil 1982 as the second best.

[End Product]

Klopps Dortmund remember a classic against Malaga , the early naughties messi barcelona sure he scored a hatrick most weeks. Athletic bilbao in the UEFA Cup in 11/12 were amazing to watch .

[Ray K]

The A-Team.

All those guns, crashes, explosions and they managed to do it all without anyone dying.

Arsenal could have learned a lot from the A Team on how to deal with Dennis Bergkamp's fear of flying. Innovators.

[boots]

The Mighty Queen of the South. Up the Doonhamers!!

[slaphead]

Stoke under Tony Pulis. I liked them. They knew they weren't the best footballers in the world but once they went behind in a game they were fun to watch. Get the ball wide to Pennant and Ethrington and get the ball in the box. And of course the Delap throws. Huth and Shawcross and Crouch and Walters. Bodies laying everywhere. When they played Wengers Arsenal it was always a laugh

[Vegeta]

My top five would be

1. Bayern Munich 12/13
2. Barcelona 10/11
3. Real Madrid 16/17
4. Atletico Madrid 13/14
5. Dortmund 11/12

[disgraced cake]

My top five would be

1. Bayern Munich 12/13
2. Barcelona 10/11
3. Real Madrid 16/17
4. Atletico Madrid 13/14
5. Dortmund 11/12

That Bayern team was so good, the way they played at times such as the Champions League semi-final when they destroyed Barca 7-0 on aggregate, they were that strong it was if they had the best player in the world for every position on the field. I just checked and they only lost three games all season in all competitions, and drew very few.

Most of the starting side will go down as legends of the period, like Neuer, Lahm, Alaba, Ribery, Robben, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Kroos etc. Multiple Champions League/World Cup winners. The 'squad' in itself was mad talented too, Javi Martinez, Shaqiri, Mandzukic, Mario Gomez, Luiz Gustavo etc. Was surprised that side didn't win it again but it was just as Madrid were coming really strong in the competition again.

[mattD]

Lisbon Lions
Ajax (Cruyff/Michels era) & Van Gaal's 94 European Cup winners
AC Milan (Sacchi era)
Wenger's Arsenal sides - not enough is made of the fact that they were operating on a miniscule budget compared to Ferguson's Man Utd, but you can't use that argument against the establishment team.... Plus they played the most attractive football ever.
Bayern Munich (Jupp Heynkes 12/13)
Borussia Dortmund (Klopp era - everyone loved them ten years back, that Champions)

The latter two in particular, Germany were pioneers ten years ago.

[Ray K]

Saw this Ajax team playing in Utrecht in 1995 while visiting a friend of mine studying there. They played football like I've never seen before - well apart from our 1988 side. The movement and control was otherworldly. Litmanen was incredible and scored twice. And I thought Finidi George was going to be the best player in the world in a a couple of years.

[Terry de Niro]

Arsenal could have learned a lot from the A Team on how to deal with Dennis Bergkamp's fear of flying. Innovators.

Watched a Sky doc on him the the other night.
Some player he was.

[slaphead]

Watched a Sky doc on him the the other night.
Some player he was.

I'd like to see that because I always thought he was over rated, but maybe I'm being unfair.
On good teams, Rafa's Valancia were an excellent team. Great to watch.

[Terry de Niro]

I'd like to see that because I always thought he was over rated, but maybe I'm being unfair.
On good teams, Rafa's Valancia were an excellent team. Great to watch.

He made the game look easy. A bit like how King Kenny did.

[slaphead]

He made the game look easy. A bit like how King Kenny did.

Aye, everyone rates him very highly. Arsenal fans have them down as one of their best ever. I'll educate myself 

[Terry de Niro]

Aye, everyone rates him very highly. Arsenal fans have them down as one of their best ever. I'll educate myself 

Do so mate. He also came across as a decent egg as well.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Man City. They’re just so well run. An example to club teams everywhere.

[slaphead]

Do so mate. He also came across as a decent egg as well.

Unlike a certain other Dutchman who played for Arsenal huh

[redan]

Saw this Ajax team playing in Utrecht in 1995 while visiting a friend of mine studying there. They played football like I've never seen before - well apart from our 1988 side. The movement and control was otherworldly. Litmanen was incredible and scored twice. And I thought Finidi George was going to be the best player in the world in a a couple of years.

I was reading every post in this thread and couldn’t believe nobody had mentioned this team before you had. I loved this team!
I had the home and away shirt from this era and became a little obsessed with them. I was gutted when the players started to be picked off after the Champions League win. First started with Seedorf leaving, then Davids and then I remember being on holiday as a kid and seeing Kluivert was leaving for Milan in same summer Overmars went to Arsenal. Then I knew it was over

[Dougle]

You guys get to get all the good ones !

I'm going for the 1993 Vitória (an heralded club from Salvador, Bahia) side. A bunch of wanna-be's, had beens and local lads played in the second division of the Brazilian league. That season the top 2 in the division got to play with the top 6 of the first division in 2 groups of 4. They played 3 games at home, against (Giants) Corinthians, Santos and Flamengo. Everything worked, they unearthed a killer dead ball striker and no matter that everyone knew what he was going to do he hit the postage stamp every time. They just attacked from everywhere constantly. It was the best fun to witness. Despite being ridiculed by the national press with 2 wins and 4 draws they won the group and got to the final. 80,000 full house for the first leg at home to Palmeiras. Banging atmosphere. Unfortunately they lost 1-0 then lost the second leg 2-0 but it was a wild ride and the players from that side are remembered to this day. (in Salvador !!).

Actually the goalie was a very young Dida who we met in 2005 somewhere in Turkey if I remember rightly.

Still follow their progress today. As a club they are constantly crashing, burning, resurrecting. Bouncing up and down the divisions. Their neighbours have just been bought by Abu Dhabi, unfortunately.

[naYoRHa2b]

I remember watching Jurgen's Dortmund side play Man City away and they were just so dynamic and entertaining.

Domestically I'd say Wenger's early arsenal teams. First 5/6 years or so.

[Lynx the saucy mynx]

Wherever Klopp goes in a few years after his break. Preferably us.