Having read about Nyetimber's decision to totally scarp this year's harvest (truly excellent drop although for the price you can get great Champagne) and coupled with many thinking this is the finest array of individuals ever assembled at Loftus Road it got me thinking - Who would you take from this year's crop to replace from the 76 vintage? 1976 We virtually played 4 3 3 with side being mostly (old style numbering) 1.Parkes 2.Clement 3.Gillard 4.Francis 5.McLintock 6.Webb 7.Masson/Mick 8.Hollins 9.Givens 10.Bowles 11.Dave After trying hard I can't honestly say I'd take anyone from 2012 - Is there anyone on a like for like basis?
Im sure most of the team would get in, you are comparing the 76 team against other 76 teams, the game has moved on so much that average players today are better than the very good players of that time. That was a time when players were fed on pie and chips, theyd get destroyed by todays athletes.
Fair point although a tad pedantic - So diet and fitness levels being equal whom from 2012 is superior to the class of 76?
I wouldnt take anyone from the 76 side, even Bowles because he wouldnt have made it with his behaviour today. I dont think many, if any of the 80s side would even make it. Youd have to get to the 90s with the likes Bardsley, Sir Les, Sinclair etc to find a team Id want to swap with todays side.
Lokking through those names, that was a hell of a team. Cesar, Taarabt and Granero are the best of our current crop.
I've probably just got the rose tinted glasses on - I was only 10 didn't have much of a clue (not much better now!) - But just seemed to be so entertaining - Different life and different expectations I suppose.
Id pick a lot of the 76 team if you compare them to their opponents at the time. But I think the 76 teams would be relegated in todays game and our current team would win the league in 76. The game moves on so much. It wasnt too long before that that Stanley Matthews was playing top level football in his 50s.
Can you imagine him trying to control a ball on one of those pitches? He cant even do it on a perfect carpet.
There were some great players in the 76 team and there are some great players in the 2012 team. As Flyer says you are not really comparing like with like. The difference at the moment is that the team of 76 had been moulded over a period of time. Gerry Francis had come through the ranks. Clement and Gillard had been with the club since the late 60s. Phil Parkes had been with the club for six years. Stan Bowles, Don Givens and Dave Thomas had been at the club for 4 years each, Frank McClintock 3 years and Masson and Webb 2 years. Only John Hollins of the entire list joined the club the year that they came second to Liverpool in the old 1st division. That should tell you a lot.
McLintock, Webb and Hollins were approaching the end of their careers so could be replaced like for like. Other than I would think twice before suggesting any of the 76 team could be improved on. Phil Parkes in particular was probably the greatest keeper ever seen at LR (Seaman a close 2nd) so even the major international talent of Cesar could not oust him IMO. And if we have better than Masson, Thomas or Bowles in our current squad then can someone please find them for me as they are badly needed.
Flyer and Eamon are right. But sharing the same rose tints Danish, and somehow eliminating the speed and fitness levels that have changed so much since that time, I think Cesar, Granero, Adel and Cisse would have had big shouts for inclusion in that 76 team. Other way round I'm sure Parks, the whole back 4, Francis, Masson, Bowles, Givens and Dave Thomas would have been in with a good shout to get in todays team. The back 4 and Dave Thomas would walk into the 2012 team half crocked, looking at what the competition is in there positions today!)
That's a bit harsh. I saw a couple of games of that '76 side (was not living in UK at the time) and in the context of their time and relative fitness levels they were in a different class from what we have today, especially as a team. As someone mentioned a few were getting on a bit as in David Webb, Hollins and McLintock and Webb in my opinion was never all that but as a whole that team was a class act and the weaker elements in it were certainly no worse than who is playing in their roles today
