Nah I'm watching La Liga. Barca against Michu's old team against Rayo Vallecano. When's the FA Cup draw, anyone?
The commentator on the Barca game is a mentalist he's having an orgasm whenever Barca get on the ball and reaches climax whenever his boy 'Leo' is on it.
Oh don't start on Barcelona. My boy is watching it on his tablet, can't shut him up, and when Messi gets the ball it's Meesi this Messi that.
"Ageism"??? What has "ageism" got to do with it? How many goals has he scored with a REAL football? If you are unable to enter the debate,just say so.
It was tongue in cheek after our recent discussion. Sorry you did not notice. Anyhow, seeing as you couldn't tell it was tongue in cheek, ageism has pretty much a bit to do with it, as its not Messi's fault he is of the young generation where the so called REAL football, is not used any more, but then who decides which is the REAL football, some claim the older ball was harder to hit due to its weight especially when wet, however some claim the new balls are harder to hit due to how light they are. So which is the REAL ball?
I did notice,but since you hadn't addressed my tongue in cheek question,I continued in the same vein. As to "which is the REAL ball",well,I have no doubts in my mind,so I think we will probably agree to differ. Modern day players would break their toes,ankles, insteps,etc., kicking the old type of ball,particularly when you see the type of boots they wear nowadays. Only my opinion,of course,not written in stone. Messi's goalscoring is quite prolific,but his figures are not unique. Brian Clough 251 goals in 274 app's. Jimmy Greaves 410 goals in 585 app's. And with REAL balls!!!
I replied as I thought your was tongue in cheek, otherwise I would have gone on about the whole new ball being tougher, but I didn't. I guess we could just chalk this up to a miscommunication of sorts. However, I prefer the new ball being the REAL ball, as yes, your right, modern players may break their toes hitting the older ball, but older players would be better off playing rugby and going for conversions with the new ball. So I personally see it as that a player needs to know how to control a ball, rather than the olden days of just belt it. As you surely couldn't control the ball as much as you can today, which takes a lot of skill IMO. Clough scored most of his goals at the second tier of football, so not exactly comparing apples and oranges, but fair point none the less and a good strike rate. But what would someone like Messi be like if he was playing in a lower level against lesser defences, yes there is the argument of lesser team mates too, but lets be fair, Messi doesn't always need his team mates, he can dribble past top defenders like they were not there, so would most likely annihilate second tier defences. As for Greaves, a very good record indeed, but that was a 23 year career, I suppose if we look at his first 14 years, 17-31, it would be 528 appearances, and scored 366 goals. Which is 1 goal every 1.44 games. Or 0.69 goals per game. Which is very impressive. But Messi at the same start as Greaves (17), has 285 games, and 234 goals. Which is 1.22 games per goal, or 0.82 goals per game, which is a fair difference to Greaves. The guy is also only 26 and is only getting better With REAL balls that are harder to control when hit We will of course never agree as we are both from different era's of football.
I love Messi but the others got their goals in an era when defenders tackled for real and took no prisoners - very physical and Messi might have struggled with his style of dribbling past people. A very tempting target. As for the lighter ball, players today wear boots designed to cope with it - high technology stuff to give greater control in bending shots etc. I think ex Liverpool player Craig Johnson was one of the first to design such a boot. PS: I think Messi wouldn't much have liked playing on the mud baths of yesteryear either.
All players adapt to their situation. Messi would have been great in the 60's... Pele would have been great in the 2010's. Form is temporary but class is in the DNA. Messi would have scored 1,000 playing against the teams Pele did, and Pele would have scored 330+ in 400 games in La Liga today where defenders are much faster, stronger and fitter.
