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Diego....

Discussion in 'Watford' started by yorkshirehornet, Nov 25, 2020.

  1. yorkshirehornet

    yorkshirehornet Well-Known Member

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  2. F1Hornet

    F1Hornet Well-Known Member

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    Sadly I'm too young to have seen him at his peak (although I caught the end of his career). One of the greatest certainly. They don't make them like that anymore. As football fans we all have our heroes, and I'm jealous of Argentina and Napoli fans that he was one of theirs. I can't even begin to think what a significant figure he must have been to Argentines in the 80s, especially given the political background after the Falklands War.
     
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  3. Markthehorn

    Markthehorn Well-Known Member

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    Obviously not popular here but without doubt one of the best ever in his peak.
     
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  4. Flittonhorn

    Flittonhorn Well-Known Member

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    It's 15 years to the day since George Best died, I would have so loved to have seen him play.
     
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  5. Hornet-Fez

    Hornet-Fez Well-Known Member

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    A tragic figure. That's about the nicest thing I can think of saying about him. The Argentine Gazza / Best but with a sense of humour bypass. Sorry, boys and girls. As talented as you like with a football, no mistake, without a football however...
     
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  6. yorkshirehornet

    yorkshirehornet Well-Known Member

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    Sadly his demise was so connected with his lifestyle.. So many of the very greatest.. Best, Gazza etc... Could not live with themselves..
     
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  7. NZHorn

    NZHorn Well-Known Member

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    I don't know. I thought "The hand of God" was rather a good line.
     
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  8. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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  9. Mexican Hornet

    Mexican Hornet Well-Known Member

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    It is such a shame.

    I have read his autobiography and it is a good read.

    His goal against England was painfully brilliant as it was a up yours to the medellings in Argentina. It must have made a lot of Argentinians feel so good. I know he was a bit mental, but, what talents aren't and he was one of the world's best. "He let the tortoise get away," sometimes to quote one of his phrases in his book.

    QEPD
     
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  10. Bolton's Boots

    Bolton's Boots Well-Known Member

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    He wasn't as good as Luke O'Nien at keepie-uppie but, sadly for Luke, was a far better player.
     
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  11. Scullion

    Scullion Well-Known Member

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    I agree, a great footballer, but a cheat and an appalling lifestyle.
    3 days mourning in Argentina, we gave Nobby & Jack a 1 minute clap!
     
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  12. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    In order to get 3 days of national mourning in Argentina you need to be more than just a great footballer Scully - you need to come over as 'a man of the people' and also have a controversial lifestyle. Lionel Messi should take note of this ! You need to score against England shortly after the Falklands war, and it helps to also have tattoos of Fidel Castro and Che Guevarra and express support for Chavez - it all helps to bring you over as a kind of rebel, who, if not playing football, would be leading a revolution somewhere. Also, having people identifying with your 30 year long struggle with drugs helps - as does having thousands of women claiming that you sired their children - it all adds to your iconic status. Lionel Messi has none of that - he just plays football at a higher level than Maradona did, and that will not be enough to get 3 days of mourning. Nobby and Jack were not 'controversial' enough.
     
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  13. duggie2000

    duggie2000 Well-Known Member

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    They won the World Cup, more than any other British team has come close to in the past 54 years
    How controversial do you have to be
     
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  14. andytoprankin

    andytoprankin Well-Known Member

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    Diego won the WC practically on his own. Lionel hasn’t.
     
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  15. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    One World Cup doesn't make a legend Andy - Paolo Rossi did the same for Italy in the 82' World Cup. Messi has been performing at the same level continuously for about 15 years - the fact that he has been surrounded by bad Argentinian national teams is not his fault. A few mazy runs against England doesn't place a player in the same category as Johann Cruyff or Pele. Based purely on what he contributed to football Maradona does not live up to the hype which has been created around him.
     
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  16. Bolton's Boots

    Bolton's Boots Well-Known Member

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    On a lighter note -

    6733186d-09ee-47b5-9eed-403bfdc19b7b.JPG
     
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  17. andytoprankin

    andytoprankin Well-Known Member

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    I think Tardelli might have something to say about that! We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. I think he was a genius. Hate what he did to England, particularly Shilton, in ‘86, but a genius none the less.
     
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  18. J T Bodbo

    J T Bodbo Well-Known Member

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    Fortunately I did. And to me he was the best player who ever lived , because, unlike Pele, Maradona Messi, etc, he could play ANYWHERE on the pitch. I saw him in central defensive midfield (under O'Farrell at Man U)), tackling beautifully, spraying 40/50 yard passes out the the wings. I don't think the others, geniuses without a doubt, could do that - or at least I never saw it. Whatever, I count myself lucky to have seen George Best. In those days you could go to a game just to see one player, or a good team ,not be part of some tribal ritual. For example, I went to Goodison one night just to see Bertie Vogts - as sublime a display at fullback as I have ever seen - although Jimmy Armfield came close!
    Anyway, Maradona certainly could lift the spirits and I for one admire his talent ,appreciate his struggles , and have got over his cheating!
     
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  19. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    Johann Cruyff was another player who could play anywhere Bodbo - in fact it was part of his footballing philosophy, both as a player and a manager, to do just that. He started a whole footballing academy at Barcelona based on his ideals - and Lionel Messi was a product of that, together with many other footballing greats. So, for me, there is no doubt about who was the all time number one. Unfortunately many people judge players by their performances at World Cups and George Best represented the wrong country in that respect. Both Hendrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were footballing geniuses but played internationally for the wrong countries to ever be recognized as such. Like him or not Ibrahimovic is still improving at 39 years of age. With Maradona, his 'struggles' are part of his appeal - I don't know why that is the case because 60 year old junkies, or ex junkies, die every day never having known any recognition in their lives, though they must have been experts at something in their time. Maradona also scored two goals against England shortly after the Falklands war - which lifted a nation, and helped to secure him 'legend' status. But, for me, entering the elite group of players such as Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Messi etc. needs more than just one World Cup.
     
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  20. J T Bodbo

    J T Bodbo Well-Known Member

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    Yes - good thought that re Cruyff. I did think that Cruyff - when I watched him (TV only ) had terrific players around him , which made it easier. GB stood out playing for a demotivated team, with an out of his depth manager , in an era when there was precious little protection for gifted players. Still, it is the variety of these geniuses which is fascinating.
     
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