Your top 3 most over rated players in the world?

But Puskas scored in the top european league(s), and more than a goal-a-game in internationals against the best defenders in the world at the time.

Some would argue its easier to score now, because of new techniques to beat defenders and offside traps, bigger pitches allowing more space, MASSIVELY easier balls to kick, less hacking challenges from defenders etc.

 

I'd have to think those "some" would almost certainly be wrong though.

Those things you suggest are all valid points but the overall level of football has moved on. Back when Puskas and Pele were around, the game was a lot less professional. The overall level of footballers was lower meaning great players stood out that bit more and found it that bit easier. As I say it is a lot to do with fitness but also improvements in facitlites and training methods.

You only have to look at Maradona. He moreorless won a world cup on his own. Not enitrely but pretty much. That couldn't happen now.

Another big point is changes in the rules and the physical capabitlity to even compete have meant that simply hanging around the goal area poaching is a rare sight these days. Lineker would probably have looked half the player now and scored no where near as many goals. Inzaghi is pretty much the last I can think of that breed, and even then he was not in the Lineker/Cottee type mould.

Its one of the reasons I always say it is impossible to say who is the greatest player of all time. Not least because of the bias towards attacking talent. My favourite all time player and a guy I'd have in any top 5 of the greatest players ever is a defender. Yet you get these polls and you're lucky if there is a defender or goalie in the top 10!

It is simply impossible to compare eras because it was a different game in many ways. All you can say is that Messi/Ronaldo were the greatest goalscorers in their era and Puskas/Pele in theirs in my humble opinion.

 

I'd agree with that.

So who is this defender you'd have in the top 5? Backenbauer?

 

Franco Baresi. I was brought up watching a lot of the AC Milan teams. I've never seen anyone marshall a defence like that fella. Don't get me wrong he was surrounded by great players like Maldini, Tassotti etc but he was by far the best. They just did what he told them. He was only 5ft 10 but barely lost a ball in the air such was his ability to read a game. That Milan defence was as beautiful as any attack I've seen in terms of how it operated.

But I'd probably put Beckenbauer in and around it too though. I then look at the likes of Zoff and Schmeichel and think they get a bit of a raw deal given the influence they could have on a game. Don't get me wrong I understand it, people are just more excited by the end result.

 

Backenbauer would be in there simply becuase he invented a new way to play the game, with the sweeper idea. The same reason Johan Cruyff would be in most top 5s.

 

GCT

I don't debate the fact that there's players who have ridiculous scoring records that better Messi and Ronaldo's but I firmly believed the game has evolved. Evolution of man hasn't stopped, it's evidential by the amount of world records that are broken in every athletics major tournament, I don't think there's a single track and field record that pre-dates 1980, and for that same reason I think the whole of sport is constantly evolving.

I do accept there might be exceptions to the rule, but I refuse to acknowledge Pele as a genuine candidate for greatest of all time, due to his reluctance to play in more competitive leagues.

It's all opinion based, of course so I won't deny you of yours if you think Puskas and co could still score at that rate today.

 

Dont post a lot but in europe:

Di Maria
Ribery
Ibrahimovic

In the premier league:

Bale
Parker
Mikel

 

A bit surprised there's no mention of John Charles.