Golfmmad
Tour Winner
Edit, look at goal no. 9 and tell me he wasn't quick enough.
2022 World Cup.
- Thread starter Slime
- Start date
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Deleted member 15344
Guest
I have seen the same videos from lots of players over the years - i remember watching John Barnes when he joined us and he was just breathtaking, same with players like Hansen , Kenny , Rush etc
People no doubt said the same thing about Edwards , then Zidane , Maradona etc
The one thing that has changed hugely is the pace of the game and fitness - players in the past were quick relative to the players they played against. It’s just impossible to judge if someone would be the same player in a different era
It’s better to just appreciate the players for what they did in the era they played
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Deleted member 21784
Guest
But the point remains , you can only beat what's around you
Adel Taarabt , too good for the championship, had them all on toast. Could never cut it In the premier League ..
Best could beat the players of his generation, the standards have raised so much since then, he would still be class but he is a level below Messi and Ronaldo.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Players evolve.
Think of Roger Bannister in the Olympics now think he would win ?
I think he would finish last over a mile now.
Think of Roger Bannister in the Olympics now think he would win ?
I think he would finish last over a mile now.
Golfmmad
Tour Winner
Sorry, disagree.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I'm sure Best was great but the bar has been well and truly raised by Messi and Ronaldo. These were averaging a goal a game for several seasons in a row at their peaks - completely unheard of before. And Best didn't have the same longevity either of course, looking at his career he was seemingly pretty much done at the top level by age 29-30. Messi & Ronaldo still going strong at 35+. As I say - they have well and truly raised the bar and I feel lucky to have watched them both in my lifetime.
sunshine
Well-known member
George Best played in an era when defenders were generally slow ponderous choppers, their usual choice when faced with a fleet footed forward was to try and hack them down. Someone like Best could run rings around them. Please do not confuse 60s/70s defenders with modern day defenders!
sunshine
Well-known member
Adel Taarabt, what a great comparison. Rated by many of his peers as the most skilful player they have ever seen. Some of the things he did on the pitch were incredible.
But, in the premier league, his skill wasn’t enough. The defenders were quick enough to recover.
It was Taarabt who made me realise that some of the legends like Le Tissier etc wouldn’t cut it in the prem today.
chrisd
Major Champion
If a current player couldn't hack it in the PL today then it wasn't about the defenders being quick enough to recover, it was about the player not being good enough to leave the defenders standing. What we are saying is that if Best, Maradona etc etc were coming on the scene today they would be the best players in the game as they would have all the current training, diets etc etc available and they therefore would be even better physically than back in their day.
Le Tissier was a very decent player but most definitely not a George Best and I'd like to also point out that defenders were not ALL slow choppers.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
As a neutral I really enjoyed the WC
Great to see the new powers evolve with North America, Africa and Austr/Asia teams improving considerably.
Another decade and they will be the top dogs whilst Europe are still play Chuckle Bros fitba [to me to you]
Venues were superb. so was organszation and timings and with the odd exception I thought the referees were good.
No fan aggro was a big plus, obviously due to alcohol ban.
Great to see the new powers evolve with North America, Africa and Austr/Asia teams improving considerably.
Another decade and they will be the top dogs whilst Europe are still play Chuckle Bros fitba [to me to you]
Venues were superb. so was organszation and timings and with the odd exception I thought the referees were good.
No fan aggro was a big plus, obviously due to alcohol ban.
sunshine
Well-known member
That’s making a big leap, saying that George Best would follow modern diet and training regime ?. It’s certainly possible and I agree with your line of thinking.
What I was doing was comparing players as we saw them. The Best I have seen from clips looks good against defenders from the 60s but not outstanding in the context of modern football.
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Deleted member 15344
Guest
The same thing was said in the 90’s when the likes of Cameroon came through , and then Senegal , then Ghana and South Korea etc
Having the odd good result in a tournament doesn’t mean a shift of power away from European and South American countries
And teams that play your “chuckle bro” football ( or possession based ) are the ones that win the trophies and which continent do the finalist represent - Europe and South America
The style of football you appear to prefer won’t work over a extended period of time - Greece are prob the only team in the last 30/40 years that have “booted” their way to win
Fan aggro. Not sure there has ever been much aggro in grounds at world cups, it's usually before and after games. Drink is available outside of grounds, it's only banned inside so shouldn't be too much of an influence.
Perhaps it has been policed differently, beer is too expensive or culturally there are fewer bars? I don't know but it is something that future organisers should look at as no violence is clearly a massive positive.
Perhaps it has been policed differently, beer is too expensive or culturally there are fewer bars? I don't know but it is something that future organisers should look at as no violence is clearly a massive positive.
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Deleted member 29109
Guest
One team from Africa getting to the semis does not represent a shift in power. It will take way more than a decade for a team from one of those places to be top dog.
Good teams play possession based football for good reason. Lump it forward to the big lad up front might win the the odd game, but over a series of games it’s just not as effective.
Even within the so called possession based teams there are completely different styles. France and Spain play in a completely different way.
chrisd
Major Champion
I think Best would today have had better guidance and discipline.
The condition of pitches was, in my view, the greatest issue. The mud was up to the ankles, they played in snow and fog, that was a great leveller. When the pitches were good (at the start of the season) the football was fast for sure and defenders were not all "lumpers" . Let's face it, Messi for me is the greatest footballer ever, but he's slowed down compared to 10 years ago but still can waltz round todays defenders, Best waltzed round the best defenders of his time and often went back and waltzed round them again.
Lastly, you say you're comparing players "as we saw them" but you never actually saw Best !
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
It could still come home..
Backache
Assistant Pro
I'm fortunate to have seen both Best and Messi play live . Whereas I think Messi is almost certainly the finest footballer ever there is little doubt in my mind that Best would have been a star in any era. I saw him both at his peak(admittedly I was pretty young) for Manchester Utd and later at Uni I saw him play for Hibs when even as a slow alcohol ravaged man he still did a few things that were absolutely beyond anyone else on the pitch.
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Deleted member 1740
Guest
Has anyone checked on @4LEX , he took Englands defeat pretty bad lastweek?
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Hilarious La ?
He’s been blackballed ??
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Looks like Southgate is set to stay on as England manager.
Not too disappointed if he does tbh.
Lost euros in the final on penalties,got knocked out of World Cup by the current champions.
Fine margins ?
Not too disappointed if he does tbh.
Lost euros in the final on penalties,got knocked out of World Cup by the current champions.
Fine margins ?
