Great Footballing Teams and Club Sides

61

It was more physical and dirty because lads weren’t fit enough to get around the pitch

62

Well if the game was as slow as you are saying there didn’t have to be fast to get around to follow play .

I used to go to WHL a bit in early 90s and I couldn’t be liege the pace of the game when seen in the flesh . Bryan Robson was unreal . Also the structure of the teams has changed

63

Fake news. It was established that the Juventus fans died when their own fans ran into a concrete well and a wall collapsed.

Italians have a history of running away. It was a tragedy but the Juventus fans died because they started a fight and then ran away. It had parallels to the 1930s in many ways and their invasion of Belgium held Abyssinia.

64

Wow.

Liverpool fans defending murder now.

Scum.

1 Like
65

I think we’ve probably had enough on Heysel by now.

3 Likes
66

One of the reasons I always love watching the Xavi and Iniesta duo is because they were able to do their stuff in spite of the speed at which opposition players pressed them. Iniesta, in particular, seemed to have lightning quick feet.

No wonder they dominated club and international football for 5 years.

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67

You need to come down on these fellas like a ton of bricks Rocko

68

Is it still ok to use the phrase ‘murdering scouse bastards’?

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69

No doubt the Liverpools Fans WiFi will be down en masse on the 29th of may AGAIN this year.

70

Without wanting to get into a whole modern football is crap thing, the difference in the quality of those great midfields to today is so stark:

Busqets - Xavi - Iniesta

Pirlo - Gattuso - Seedorf - Kaka/Rui Costa

Makelele - Solari - Figo - Zidane

Compared to…

Fabinho - Henderson - Wijnaldum

It’s all about running in a system in Klopp’s team.

9 Likes
71

No it would be very close.

I’d forgotten about Stefano Fiore though. A lovely piece of stuff who never quite fulfilled his potential.

72

They should probably have dominated for longer. Xavi and Iniesta were both on the bench in the 2006 final despite playing a lot of league games. The likes of Giuly and Van Bommel were considered more reliable than a 26 year old Xavi or a 22 year old Iniesta.

I have no time for Guardiola but he gets credit from me (which he will appreciate) for trusting a “lightweight” midfield and deciding a Motta/Van Bommel/Edmilson type wasn’t needed and Iniesta didn’t need to be a winger. Helped by the emergence of Busquets obviously but still completely changed how a midfield could operate.

3 Likes
73

It’s become true of all invasion/ball sports.

The physical side hides players technical deficiencies but equally a technically proficient player may struggle with the physical demands.

Very hard to make it in the game today without pace and the athletic ability to run with the intensity demanded by that pressing system.

Would be interesting to see how efficient modern teams are in terms of chances to goals versus previous generation.

74

Thankfully, that’s the joy of sports, and particularly field sports. There’s umpteen ways to win …

75

Would they all have got more time on ball back then to show their ability?.. Teams used to let each other play more, have a kick about. Now they strangle each other and try to outrun each other…
I suppose every sport has gone that way to soem degree… Sports science and S&C just make lads into perfect athletes that can run longer and harder …

76

There was plenty of running back then too.

The difference was they could play. Not it’s about sprinting.

77

This was shaping up to be a lovely discussion until the EPL heads who only starting watching football in the 00s got involved.

1 Like
78

I don’t think the game has changed all that much since Barcelona were dominating possession with that midfield. And I don’t think Liverpool’s energy and organisation would have come close to matching Barcelona at their peak.

Their final last year was against Harry Winks. I don’t care how fit Harry Winks is - he has no business in a Champions League final. Liverpool were better and have been better than a lot of very ordinary teams, and it’s a weakening Atletico team that knocked them out this year.

2 Likes
79

Theres a Cillian O Connor freetaking debate elsewhere if you want. But you’re only allowed include pre 2017 data and you’re not allowed count misses after 65 mins in an All Ireland final.

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80

I know there was plenty of running but not everyone was a supreme athlete first and foremost which they are now…