sometimes you come across a question asking if you think some player playing today would have been as good as someone like pele or george best (to name the most popular players of all time).
is this question a flawed one as football today is much different from the football played back then.
what do we all think?
what are the difference in football being played now and the football that was played in the past?
2007-06-22 02:30:19 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Football ➔ English Football
It is pretty much flawed to compare players from different era's, and sometimes to compare them from the same era.
Football when it first started had lots of results like double figures and as time moved on the gap in class between nations and players got smaller and smaller.
So for example when African nations first played in the World Cup you would get a 9-0 drubbing but now they compete on a better level and are not getting thrashed and are progressing in the World Cup.
You used to have the odd superstar in the past head and shoulders above anyone else, now you dont. Thats not that there are no superstars like a Pele, Cruyff, Maradona but that there are so many players of the same top quality ability.
Todays players are far fitter and healthier and stronger than players from the past (although they fall over at the dlightest touch) but if you bought a player from the past like Bobby Charlton and gave him the same upbringing as todays players he would still be a great.
Was the Real Madrid side that won 5 European cups better than the current Real side? No, the old side had less competition and less games etc so you cant compare.
Its is pointless to compare, but better to just marvel at the greats from whatever era.
2007-06-22 14:24:55 · answer #1 · answered by Hobsch 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its very difficult to compare players from different generations and both sets of players have pro & cons in their favour.
The likes of George Best played in an era when a players fitness came second to his touch and skill. Thereby allowing them more time on the ball to express themselves. However, boots, balls and pitches where nowhere near the standard they are today. Plus physio treatment consisted of a sponge. So you could say they had it tougher to be able to produce.
A present day counterpart of Best would have to be Christiano Ronaldo. He now plays in the media cauldron that is world football, where if you have skill you can rise above the rest, who all have good strength, speed and fitness. They have better facilities to recover from injuries, and better conditions to play in. However, with all the circus and pay that goes with football today there are lots of distractions and pressure on a player. Plus due to agents a player never really gets the chance to settle.
2007-06-22 02:42:58 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree...I would love to see todays players play with the same rules as 30 years ago when you virtually had to commit murder to get a yellow card!! Lets see how good C Ronaldo etc would be with chopper Harris trying to break his legs!!! To me that just shows how good the likes of Pele and Eusebio really were when they never had the protection of the officials.
2007-06-22 03:19:37 · answer #3 · answered by Chelsea Shrimper 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its as much about personality. pele was so good because he wanted to be the best and trained harder than anyone else. if he was playing today that would still be the case. And best might have been even better if he had the nutritionists and stuff that todays player have!
2007-06-22 06:41:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The problem is today it is a different ball game now.
2007-06-22 03:45:04 · answer #5 · answered by Brockley 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
remember football when defenders were allowed to tackle!! from the side, behind any which way
I love football but it is fast becoming a non contact sport.
2007-06-22 02:34:16 · answer #6 · answered by dave_uk06 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not fair or even really possible. But it is fun!
2007-06-22 02:34:19 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i bet those who ask such questions are under the age of 20.
2007-06-22 02:39:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No because everything has changed.
2007-06-22 04:34:27 · answer #9 · answered by sweetpanther08 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋