Oh and here's another great explanation for our success in the 70s and 80s.
We only won so many titles pre PL because of the back pass rule and we only won so many European Cups because the format was easier then.
We won the title in 82, after being halfway down the table at Christmas. Was that from the back pass rule, or by winning at the likes of City and at the toilet in successive weeks?
We won the title in 86, by going unbeaten after the derby. Was that from the backpass rule, or by a revolutionary idea like Kenny putting himself back in the team to oversee on field operations?
We won the league in 88, equalling the record for longest unbeaten run since the start of the season. Was that from the back pass rule, or by crushing teams 4-0 every week?
Before 92, the European Cup was an amazing competition, where all league champions from the strongest leagues to the weakest across Europe, got to battle it out over two legs on a level playing field. There was no group phases, no playoffs, no second chances, no 4th place qualifiers, no 3rd place prizes. If you didn't win your league, you didn't play in it, that is how it should be.
There was no tv coverage, no worldwide audiences, and no annual 30 million payouts to depend on. British tv would only show the final if they were the host broadcaster or their own sides in it. It wasn't easier to win, but it was a more challenging competition. You won your knockout tie or you tried again next year.
Why our fans go over there to read enemy propaganda is a mystery to me, as you'll only wind yourself up. And as Singleton shows us, you certainly can't put "mancs fans" and "history" in the same sentence.
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