Another footie thread

[Hobbit]

Following from the debate about golfers from yesteryear being competitive, and not wanting to derail the other footie thread with reams of hypothetical musings…

Could Roy Keane survive in the current Prem? Patrick Viera? Going back further would Stanley Matthews have competed favourably with Giggs or Grealish? Is Van Dijk better than Tony Adams? Best ‘v’ Messi?

We know the training and conditioning regimes nowadays are better, but doesn’t the same apply in golf? Did those who had that something special have what it takes to shine in any era?

 

[Swinglowandslow]

Playing on the modern pitches and with better officials, then yes, they would be better, IMO.

 

[Neilds]

The prima donnas of today would never be able to kick the old leather balls without breaking their ankles

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Yes.

I think the more exposed ones would be some of the defenders who made a living by kicking players but overall, the best would simply adapt.

 

[Hobbit]

Yes.

I think the more exposed ones would be some of the defenders who made a living by kicking players but overall, the best would simply adapt.

I agree that some of the cloggers, with a turning circle of a supertanker, would have struggled. But then we saw the likes of Terry Cooper, Kevin Beattie, Palister & Hansen.

 

[irip]

I agree that some of the cloggers, with a turning circle of a supertanker, would have struggled. But then we saw the likes of Terry Cooper, Kevin Beattie, Palister & Hansen.

Would the cloggers though with today’s coaches etc of been fitter and thus quicker.
I think the players with football brains would have been fine in any era.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I think the more technical players of yesteryear would absolutely thrive in this modern pretty much non contact sport we now call football

Maradona, Cruyff, Best would absolutely rip teams apart. Hoddle would absolutely be in the England midfield and dominate now there’s a player that was in the wrong Era. Imagine in this era a midfield 3 of Robson, Hoddle and Maradona

I think some keepers would struggle purely because of the passing game they now play but would still be incredible shot stoppers. Defenders like Moore, Ledley King, Maldini and Hansen would be superb.

Keane and Viera for as much as their combatant style of play were both still very good technically so would still be at top teams imo.

 

[irip]

I do wonder if you put the players from now back to the 70s what the players then would think of all the diving and play acting that goes on.

Imagine Neymar playing against Graham Souness etc.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I do wonder if you put the players from now back to the 70s what the players then would think of all the diving and play acting that goes on.

Imagine Neymar playing against Graham Souness etc.

Imagine Neymar actually playing football!! One of the biggest waste of talents and overhyped players in the modern era! At least he always manages to find a way to get time off for his sisters birthday

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Following from the debate about golfers from yesteryear being competitive, and not wanting to derail the other footie thread with reams of hypothetical musings…

Could Roy Keane survive in the current Prem? Patrick Viera? Going back further would Stanley Matthews have competed favourably with Giggs or Grealish? Is Van Dijk better than Tony Adams? Best ‘v’ Messi?

We know the training and conditioning regimes nowadays are better, but doesn’t the same apply in golf? Did those who had that something special have what it takes to shine in any era?

Always tough when looking through eras


But I think over the decades there are always some players that will always stand out and would have been as good in any period

Matthews , Finney , Bremner , Keegan , Best , Moore , Hansen , Dalglish , Rush , Barnes , Beardsley , Linekar , Robson , Souness

Then into the Prem era - Keane , Viera , Bergkamp , Henry , Scholes , Gerrard , Giggs

 

[IanM]

Players would always be Players.

My biggest thought about modern football is, if I was an 8 year old now, I probably wouldn't bother with it.

 

[PaulMdj]

Not sure it would work in either direction, lifestyles, social pressures etc would be massively different and as much as some may flourish, others may of imploded.

Old enough to of seen George Best play and he was, imo, one of the greatest ever, but god knows if he’d of survived modern wages and media intrusion.

Imagine todays players holding down a 9-5 job then getting the local bus to the home match on a saturday.

Some of the best from the bygone era’s were products of the upbringing in a far greater way.

 

[BrianM]

I agree with what Paul has said, could players from past eras deal with the social media pressure, these boys played a game then were out on the magic sauce, they worked hard but also played hard, life’s would be destroyed with how social media is.
Take that away though and the players with football intelligence would 100% be able to play in this day and age.

 

[Firestormgjc]

Jimmy Greaves would be amazing in the modern game.

Plus his career would have been extended with the greater off pitch support to help him keep him off the booze.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Maybe a bit left field, but in my opinion, Johnny Giles of Leeds would be my stand out player from the past that would hit the big time today

 

[Don Barzini]

I've pondered the same thing about managers - whether successful managers of old would thrive in today's football world.

For example, as a Forest fan I'll wax lyrical about how Brian Clough was the best manager ever. But would his management style bring success nowadays? Not so sure.

A big part of his success was his right hand man Peter Taylor being able to spot and bring in talent from elsewhere. And the "us against the world" mentality. But their attitude, methods etc. Not sure it'd get them very far today!

(Sorry if this is off topic and you want to keep it purely about players)

 

[Hobbit]

I've pondered the same thing about managers - whether successful managers of old would thrive in today's football world.

For example, as a Forest fan I'll wax lyrical about how Brian Clough was the best manager ever. But would his management style bring success nowadays? Not so sure.

A big part of his success was his right hand man Peter Taylor being able to spot and bring in talent from elsewhere. And the "us against the world" mentality. But their attitude, methods etc. Not sure it'd get them very far today!

(Sorry if this is off topic and you want to keep it purely about players)

I think you make a very valid point. It’s not just about players.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I've pondered the same thing about managers - whether successful managers of old would thrive in today's football world.

For example, as a Forest fan I'll wax lyrical about how Brian Clough was the best manager ever. But would his management style bring success nowadays? Not so sure.

A big part of his success was his right hand man Peter Taylor being able to spot and bring in talent from elsewhere. And the "us against the world" mentality. But their attitude, methods etc. Not sure it'd get them very far today!

(Sorry if this is off topic and you want to keep it purely about players)

I think all of those 'personality' managers would have to adapt. They couldn't bully players now in the way they used to. I'm sure they would still have some success, possibly not as much though.

 

[PaulMdj]

I've pondered the same thing about managers - whether successful managers of old would thrive in today's football world.

For example, as a Forest fan I'll wax lyrical about how Brian Clough was the best manager ever. But would his management style bring success nowadays? Not so sure.

A big part of his success was his right hand man Peter Taylor being able to spot and bring in talent from elsewhere. And the "us against the world" mentality. But their attitude, methods etc. Not sure it'd get them very far today!

(Sorry if this is off topic and you want to keep it purely about players)

Tbh, I think this is the problem with all these comparison type questions, as much as I enjoy them and get sucked in to them, the world, society, culture etc has changed so much that’s better just to accept they were great at their given moment and leave it at that.

Player A may of been the greatest in his day, but how much was shaped by the time and date of his birth, his parents, location, etc etc.

 

[Hobbit]

Tbh, I think this is the problem with all these comparison type questions, as much as I enjoy them and get sucked in to them, the world, society, culture etc has changed so much that’s better just to accept they were great at their given moment and leave it at that.

Player A may of been the greatest in his day, but how much was shaped by the time and date of his birth, his parents, location, etc etc.

There are current players who don’t look great when a new manager comes in with a style that doesn’t suit their strengths. Equally, imagine if Best had the protection from referees afforded to players nowadays…