Players nowadays are naturally more talented.
Even natural lung capacity gets measured and plays a factor in how successful you'll be.
Players nowadays are naturally more talented.
Even natural lung capacity gets measured and plays a factor in how successful you'll be.
Not at all...
Einstein wasn't more talented than Aristotle, John Lennon wasn't more talented than Bach, the Indian priests knew the Mahabharata by heart 4000 years ago (2800 pages), Napoleon wasn't a better general than the Romans, etc. It is a modern misconception only...
Our age is capable to bring out these natural talents more and to do it systematically from a very tender age.
As Einstein often said: a genius comprises 10% of talent and 90% of diligence or zealous hard work...
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Sorry to say, but they are. Because of more scrutinous selection programs. Advancements in technology made that happen.
Players nowadays are rated on a bigger number of qualities than back in them days.
Edit: I understand the misunderstanding. I am not saying people altogether have gotten naturally more talented through the years. I am saying modern day football is occupied by players that are naturally more talented than back in the days.
For example: they might not have measured lung capacity back in the days but now it plays a role because...well the competition does it.
And max lung capacity potential is a form of natural talent as well. You can train it, but your limit will always be determined largely by birth.
What I am saying is that a lot of players that made it as professional football players back then would not even make it passed current evaluations.
A lot of people always argue that you can't compare past players with current players because of better training facilities and in those circumstances past players would also better if they played in our time. I would go as far as to say he threshold for needed talent might have been lower and past players wouldn't even be scouted by modern-day teams even before they get a chance to get into fancy excercise programs.
So, yes, I believe the gap is huge and, yes, it's not unlikely to assume that Messi is the most talented.
Last edited by Origami; 12th January 2017 at 01:03 AM.
If I am not mistaken, games back then were much slower but also much more physical. Players, especially forwards and attacking players had much less protection against opposing team players (mostly defenders) from the referee. A lot of fouls that are called today, even some of the yellow or red-card warranted offenses were considered the norm. Also, modern technologies and medicine have strengthened/enhanced/prolonged the physique/abilities/career etc of contemporary players. Their jerseys are lighter, their cleats are better and their match balls are better and more nimble.
Therefore it is hard to rate players from different generations in my opinion. I for one think players like Pele, Garrincha and Maradona would have equally excelled in today's game, if not more.
I didn't really watch Pele play as he was way before my time (the first time I saw Pele play was in the movie "Escape to Victory"), but I did watch some of Maradona's games. To me he was extremely skillful, certainly not less than Messi. I abhor him as a person but I have to say footballing-wise, he was toppppp notch.
Last edited by Luftstalag14; 12th January 2017 at 02:44 AM.
Sóc Culer.
Messi's freekicks have been unpredictable now. His last two freekicks have been targeted on the Gk's near post. He usually shoots on the far side of the keeper that it became predictable. I'm happy to see that he's still working on his freekicks.
I heard people to say that Garrincha was technically maybe even better than Pele, but Pele was the golden boy so he got all the glory. Probably because he was so good at everything, so people considered him the best.
Interesting stuff. I myself train a lot and read a lot about training and human physiology etc. so it`s an interesting subject to me.Training is on a higher level for sure, but the most important things simply cannot be taught. Outstanding skill can't be taught, those can be practiced and practiced to be used in conjunction with less obvious skills. In my time we were running a lot in training but running with the ball? Way less compared to the today's standards.
Training was very different back then...
- no training the forthcoming day following a game... - only some swimming or sauna (!)
- no gym exercises for the upper body
- very few flexibility exercises for the joints, so folks often got injured when trying to handle a high ball with their feet
- running too often 100m or 60m - full speed - but much less medium-speed runs
- too much 10km runs in slow speed
- half of the players still used to smoke...
I can go on for three pages more...
Well, I have to say that you are the first that I know of, that said something like this. As I said earlier, many people have their favourite amongst the top 5, that is based on subjective criteria. But I never heard or read that anyone said that Messi is a much better footballer than Maradona. I mean, sometimes when I see what Messi does on the pitch I yell something like "he`s unbeliveable, he`s the best ever, I love him", but when emotions cool off and you look at it as objectively as one could try to be, he simply isn`t that much better. And when I say that I definitely don`t diminish Messi`s capabilities, because in my personal opinion Maradona was the most naturally talented footballer that ever played the game, before Messi came. Now, I would say that they are about the same level, which is ridiculuosly high.We disagree here, sorry. Maradona was great but Messi is much better, and better being half as aggressive.
I didn`t watch Beckenbauer live, so can`t say much about him. I saw some clips, but nothing special, so I can`t really say anything more than that I agree with you on that part. Zico too, he was a fantastic footballer, but a level beneath the best.Influencing the game back then - to me subjectively - is something that Beckenbauer or Zico did more. But talking about influence, how about Iniesta?
About Iniesta, first I have to say that I really like that guy. He is a magician, one of the most clutch players I have seen in my life. I think he will be remembered in history as a footballer of a level slightly beneath the best, up there with Puskas, Zico, Platini etc. But he had the luxury to be inconsistent at times, because he had a master controller of the game by his side - Xavi. If we talk about influencing the game, I would say that Xavi is a level above Iniesta in that regard. Probably the best central midfielder of all time.
I agree with everything. Well said.
Last edited by kilian; 12th January 2017 at 09:11 AM.
I don't think that Armin Hary, who run 100m for the first time in 10 sec in 1960 would have been a less talented runner than Usain Bolt. He was shorter and probably had half the muscles altogether, but definitely not less talent. Back then athletes were not "cultivated" as much as they are now and they did not sacrifice their own bodies to be potential "supermans". This is a different world in sports, where he/she earns millions but at the same time also sacrifices more than ever.
I think you are talking about how the game became much more scientific in selections, physical states, etc. That's a fact, no doubt about that.
I strongly feel talents are always there, although there's also a kind of sinus-curve, when talents appear in a particular period and later there is a drought for some time...
I strongly feel the opposite is true. In my time players were definitely LESS physical, the entire game was way less violent, etc.
30-40 years ago, with a few exceptions, the defenders were not like gladiators who'd rush against you, as if their lives depended on it, and the entire game was less harsh and violent. A mediocre yellow card for an awful foul nowadays would have meant a red one back then.
Modern technology, medicine most definitely changed this game, but changed it to be much more physical.
Yes, most probably yes, but we don't know that, because an overall faster game, smaller places, less time, etc. can change everything. When I say that I think Messi is unique, I try to judge it by what I see today, which might be misleading. So you are right and perhaps the best is not to compare geniuses belonging to very different generations...Therefore it is hard to rate players from different generations in my opinion. I for one think players like Pele, Garrincha and Maradona would have equally excelled in today's game, if not more.
I was taking into account Oscar Grau's recent words, about the club needing to have "common sense" when renewing Messi. That pissed off the dressing room, and even LE said some words about it. It's worrying when a club CEO spews bullshit to the press. It surely pissed off Leo and his entourage.
Messi won't leave. 100% sure. He has fans for teammates ffs.
I'm glad we have someone like Potroh on here. Always good to have the perspective of someone who can say GOAT and actually mean it!
The more we see Messi bail us out with his divine presence, the worse I feel about how the board treats him, how we have a clueless coach, how he is still compared to frauds like Ronaldo, how he still gets attacked for the silliest of things...Jeez...
I don't think people understand what other teams would do for a Lionel Messi. This corrupt band of rascals we have on the board have taken D10S for granted. Common sense it seems...GTFO
f. Signatures must not slow down the forum (no gifs, maximum size 30kb and 700 wide x 200 tall pixels for images OR 5 lines of text (in english/catalan/castellano)
It's a disgrace really. I'm not sure if it is a coincidence or whether they just suck at presenting themselves in public.
When they were asked about Neymar, Suarez and recently Rakitic's renewals, it was all about making it happen ASAP. When asked about Messi's, they have to act with common sense and look at the budget.
It might not mean anything in particular, but comments like that might unsettle players and make them think twice.
Sorry, but Messi renewing beyond 2018 > all those three players renewals. It's not even comparable.
Budget not allowing it? Delay Espai Barca for another year.
Last edited by DonAK; 12th January 2017 at 03:37 PM.