Could past footballing legends make a mark in todays game?

[McDonna29]

Just a thought i had...

Could players that are remembered as being absolutely footballing Gods in their own time make an impression in todays game?

If they could be transported in time at the peak of their careers and dropped into a premiership side of today, would they actually be any good?

[phily bon bon]

Just a thought i had...

Could players that are remembered as being absolutely footballing Gods in their own time make an impression in todays game?

If they could be transported in time at the peak of their careers and dropped into a premiership side of today, would they actually be any good?

good question.Honest answer is I dont think so.The gáme is so fast today and most players even at their peak fron twenty years ago would find it difficult to keep up with the slower players of now.The players of now would chop or push a wizard of yesteryear off the ball with ease I say.The top top greats maradona,pele, best etc would be at the standard of good WBA players or Middelsbro´players but I dont think they´d make it in the chelski,arsenal,or man u´s of today.

[nieros]

erm how can you compare the likes of Pele and Best to a WBA player..... *boggle*

Just wrong

These guys oozzed class and skill and could find the back of the net from the most bizzare of places.
Love to see a WBA player taking a leaf out of Bests book on his practicing skills, before he would come in after a practice would hit the crossbar 10 times in a row.
Not pun intended about Best hitting the bar btw.

Only thing they prolly would lack would be fitness levels of todays game. Easily resolved though

Having said that it depends how long ago we talking.
The likes of Cantana was a God in his time. Obviously could handle the premiership with ease.
I assume you mean tho people from the 70's / early 80's tho.

[TractorRob]

No doubt that the top players would make it today. You only need to see what Maradona, Best and Pele did to say that they would be up there today. Maradona was unbelievable, especially at Napoli where he was bein kicked half the time so i doubt that he would be bothered by the more physical side of football today. They may even be better now as they would have far more protection from the referees. A gem is a gem.

However I think that players such as Tom Finney, Malcolm McDonald and Peter Osgood would probably not have been as prolific as they were in there day.

No doubt the overall standard of football has gone up but I'm sure that the all time greats would thrive today. Although they may not stand out quite as much. I reckon that if say Zidane played in there era he would be down as an alltime hero however now he is just another great player.

[toby]

Not sure, but there was a study done a few years back comparing the amount of time players had on the ball during the 1970 and 1998 World Cups.

In 1970 Pele had, on average, 7 seconds before he was closed down (admitted this tournament was played at altitude and in the heat of Mexico) where as in 1998 Zidane got about 1.5 seconds before being closed down.

I still think though that the best players from the past would be able to adapt and play to the highest standard today.

[The Gaffer]

good question.

honestly i think yes, as im quite young i have only seen the present day of the footballing generation as in the 90s and 00s but when ive watched some of the old footage, some of the players look class.

even from a ipswich old video, some of the players, we had in our team was awsome, the two dutch players, whos names im not even going to try and spell, looked class from what i have seen as well as Mariner and Brazil, all looked class and i reckon could hack it at todays level.

[truefan2005]

they could definately hack it. pele the best player ever no questions asked, the likes of maradonna, cryuff and best were also awesome, bobby charlon is an all time great as well and has (had i should say lol) the best shot i have ever seen!

[Aza-itfc]

It is a difficult comparison to make, but initially I would say a definite yes, especially when you look at the skills so many of the greats had, they are still untouchable to many.

However, that was in their time, and the problem is, the game has moved on a great deal, better in some ways, but clearly worse in others. The fact they all stayed o their feet and didn't role around for half an hour, would be an inspiration and breath of fresh air to many players of the modern game.

[truefan2005]

youv'e got to remember that the boots and the balls they used in the older game were abbsoulute crap to the ones they use today!

[phily bon bon]

Not sure, but there was a study done a few years back comparing the amount of time players had on the ball during the 1970 and 1998 World Cups.

In 1970 Pele had, on average, 7 seconds before he was closed down (admitted this tournament was played at altitude and in the heat of Mexico) where as in 1998 Zidane got about 1.5 seconds before being closed down.
I still think though that the best players from the past would be able to adapt and play to the highest standard today.

my piont exactly.I was trying to say that the west brom and boro players are ok players and set them back in the seventies they would with the fitness levls and regular playing in the hussel and bussel of the prem and they to would look like greats.............maybe.

[Ojc]

You only have to look at John Wark as an example of players from back then performing in the Premiership, he managed to do it even at his grand old age. I can't see a problem TBH.