Is Leicester the biggest success story ever? (With Poll)

[Dameerto]

The question on the poll is who is the biggest surprise success story.
I think Leicester are most definitely the biggest surprise.
I cannot see them being as big a success though as Clough's Nottingham Forest. Clough's achievement was immense.
Football was diiferent than the money spinning business it is now, so I do think what Leicester are doing is fantastic and highly unlikely in the present game so fair play to them. But who can see them sustaining it next year in the CL ?.

Back in the seventies I also think what Bobby Robson did at Ipswich is very noteworthy.
Runners up a couple of times and an FACup and UEFA Cup. Rarely out of the top 6.

Forest in '78 winning the league was surely a huge surprise at the time. The dippers were nigh on invincible and were reigning league and Euro champions at the time. Plus Forest had only just scraped promotion, it's not as if they walked division 2 the season before

Perfectly true Notts. I thing the surprise now though, is how a team can do it in the present climate. We have money and can see how exclusive a club it is to try and break into. I think they will do it but won't be allowed blind side the regulars next year. They haven't done it yet but it is looking likely.
What Forest did was remarkable and a better achievement overall. Can't see Leicester keeping it going next year, but who knows? That would be truly remarkable.

Leicester's achievement is truly remarkable. It really is. Like you say, the resources available to their competitors makes their success all the more amazing. But they were a PL team and with a huge budget in comparison to that of a promoted side back in '78.

Having one sub, a small squad, and a pool of players to recruit from which was British due to a relative lack of money in the game back then are all factors contributing to a more level playing field for clubs in the first couple of divisions - it was a surprise but it wasn't as big a surprise compared to Leiciester and their modern day circumstances (in my opinion).

[iwasthere2012]

2 things said by football fans this season

City will click into gear any minute.
The foxes will get found out sooner or later.

And I was one of them Hazy.
So what do I know.

[Tokyo Blue]

If Leicester go on to win the European Cup two years in the trot then maybe.

Forest for me. They were also entertaining. Leicester are a long-ball team that are prodigiously tedious to watch.

[harveytravis]

Back to back European cups for Forest? Not even Ferguson can come close to that.
When Leicester when the Champions league I'll have a rethink

[edge275]

The best way of comparing is if there's some way to check what the odds were for Forest's achievements at the time and what the odds were of Leicester's achievements. 5000/1 for Leicester to win the league. I have a feeling Forest's achievements wouldn't have been as far fetched as that for the time football was in. Could be wrong though.

[nottsblue]

The best way of comparing is if there's some way to check what the odds were for Forest's achievements at the time and what the odds were of Leicester's achievements. 5000/1 for Leicester to win the league. I have a feeling Forest's achievements wouldn't have been as far fetched as that for the time football was in. Could be wrong though.

The betting world is very different these days

[Cocacolajojo]

Leicester, the differences in money to splash on salaries are probably a lot larger now than when compared to then. I'm partial though, wasn't there to see it.

Wanker!

[Wonderwall]

Leicester, the differences in money to splash on salaries are probably a lot larger now than when compared to then. I'm partial though, wasn't there to see it.

Wanker!

Woohoo

[Cocacolajojo]

Leicester, the differences in money to splash on salaries are probably a lot larger now than when compared to then. I'm partial though, wasn't there to see it.

Wanker!

Woohoo

Sure is nice to be able to quote without cut and paste.

[Hazy2]

Leicester, the differences in money to splash on salaries are probably a lot larger now than when compared to then. I'm partial though, wasn't there to see it.

Wanker!

Woohoo

Sure is nice to be able to quote without cut and paste.

One out of two ain't bad. Bon voyage !

[Blue Since 76]

IF they win it, Leicester. Don't forget, Forest broke the transfer record as part of that winning run, but Leicester have a squad who cost less than the current record.

[Dimples]

Forest for me.

Had to look up their record to refresh and it is fantastic.
Six trophies in 3 seasons. Three doubles.
Every team they played in Europe was a national champion and the national leagues were a lot stronger then.
They took some big scalps - Liverpool, Ajax, Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin.

IMO Leicester need to win the PL and then sustain success to rival Forest.

[zuricity]

They are top because City fcuked up seriously and it is worrying to read comments on here that Pep will sort it. He will not, he will not get the same treatment that Bayern or Barca get. I'd go as far as to say they ( media, refs etc) are all waiting for him to come , so they can screw around with him like they did with maureen.

[RodneyRodney]

IF they win it, Leicester. Don't forget, Forest broke the transfer record as part of that winning run, but Leicester have a squad who cost less than the current record.

Cloughie bought Francis AFTER they won the league

[Moonchesteri]

They are top because City fcuked up seriously and it is worrying to read comments on here that Pep will sort it. He will not, he will not get the same treatment that Bayern or Barca get. I'd go as far as to say they ( media, refs etc) are all waiting for him to come , so they can screw around with him like they did with maureen.

That is rather pessimistic view as he will improve us just by arriving and making people fight on the field but I am afraid some people think pep is some sort of rainmaker when in reality he is just a good manager.

[iwasthere2012]

They are top because City fcuked up seriously and it is worrying to read comments on here that Pep will sort it. He will not, he will not get the same treatment that Bayern or Barca get. I'd go as far as to say they ( media, refs etc) are all waiting for him to come , so they can screw around with him like they did with maureen.

That is rather pessimistic view as he will improve us just by arriving and making people fight on the field but I am afraid some people think pep is some sort of rainmaker when in reality he is just a good manager.

Unfortunately, I can't help feeling pretty much the same. I think he will also face a media waiting for him to fail. I think certain elements will be waiting to turn the screw.

I do think he will improve things here, but his job will be a lot more difficult than anything he experienced in Germany or Spain. If we don't get CL next year he may find it more difficult again.

Those expecting instant miracles may be disappointed.

[Dameerto]

He has a track record of recognising talent when he sees it (at any age range) - so that would be a major upgrade for me.

[Green & Blue]

They haven't won anything yet and could still end up being almost dones

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Although Forest were a promoted team, they did spend during that season when they won the league, buying Shilton and Gemmill, in September I think (no transfer window in those days).

Nevertheless, their achievement would exceed Leicester's (assuming Leicester actually win the league) because not only were they a promoted team, but they completed the League and League Cup double that season, and even reached the 6th round of the FA Cup, rather than dropping out of those comps early. In the LC Final they beat the reigning League and European champions (Liverpool, hehe) with their reserve keeper, because Shilton was cup-tied. Also of course they went on to win the European Cup two years in a row afterwards. There is a way for Leicester to go yet, impressive as they are.

[Blue Since 76]

IF they win it, Leicester. Don't forget, Forest broke the transfer record as part of that winning run, but Leicester have a squad who cost less than the current record.

Cloughie bought Francis AFTER they won the league

Hence why I said as part of that run. Whilst I don't expect Leicester to win 6 trophies including back to back CL, Forest strengthened, so you can't think it was 11 promoted players who won everything. If Leicester invest to an equivalent level (transfer records) they could do what we did and hang around the top for a while.