Yesterday, with very little else to do, I’ll readily admit I overdosed on the live football coverage on offer.
Lounging in my comfy chair, I watched:
• Norwich City v Sunderland (Championship)
• Fulham v Arsenal (Premier League)
• Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League)
But it seems like I wasn’t the only one to do so.
Lurking in our comment facility was a posting from Chris Winter who had also watched all three games.
But while I was content to just watch the action unfolding in front of me, Chris was deep in thought.
Chris was reflecting on a bygone era and pondering how the likes of Pele, Maradona, George Best and Eusebio have coped in the modern game, a game that is far less physical and played on pitches that are like billiard tables compared to the rutted mud-heaps of a bygone era.
Would the quartet mentioned have been just as successful, more successful, or would the evolvement of defensive tactics have nullified their skills slightly?
Similarly, continuing on a defensive theme, would the likes of Nobby Stiles, Norman Hunter, Ron Harris, Larry Lloyd and Jack Charlton have been so revered if their tough tackling were, in the modern game, to be deemed as, basically, outlawed?
Lastly, with it looking very much like Arsenal will be crowned Premier League Champions this season, barring a Devon Loch style collapse, how would you rate their current side, compared to the side that had greats such as Frank McLintock, Charlie George and Bob Wilson, to name but a few. Would they match the current side, be better than them, or be poorer than them?
Who’ll be the first to start what, I hope, will become a healthy debate?
COYH’s
Luton Town v Bristol City?
Luton Town to Win!
Bristol City to Win!
A Draw!
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Luton – Championship Weekend Prediction Round-Up
Mh, I was thinking how would modern players have done against those defenders an those rules balls an pitches . A two legged game in each era 😁😁
I wonder how they’d cope with having to wear the flimsy boots the players of today wear.
i already posted that yesteryears defenders would stop todays players in there tracks. the strikers are once in a lifetime, if todays players had to wear the old boots, play on a ploughed field, and have a quick fag before the game, they would’nt know what hit them. were they really good old days. COYH.
Hard to compare but you’d assume that players of yesteryear would only struggle with the professionalism and athleticism of opponents… Whilst the current crop would be playing a near alien game to them whilst getting hoofed by burly CB’s carefully balancing a pint and a fag lol
I have to disagree Steve they would be in heaven.they played week in an out with 1sub almost as many games as today’s players so fitness doesn’t count quite as much. For me over 2 legs I think modern players would struggle with the old ball an physical nature of the old game an keepers especially aren’t good enough.
True CW, but still the old training habits compared to today’s alarms for regimented diets to the minute, sports science, modern training and coaching etc… I think would be more than telling over 90mins…
Still believe oldies would do much better over 2 legs as none of current players would be willing to go back on pitch after getting a fair 2 footed tackle, both feet off of the ground and from behind in the away match 😂
My oldies team for the home leg banks, chopper Harris Larry Lloyd, Cohen, maldini, Jimmy Jonstone hunter Giles George best Pele eusabio in a 4-4-2.for the away leg banks beckenbaur Bobby Moore platini Cohen Pele best eusabio maradonna Giles Jonstone in a 3-4-3 😁😁😁