Daydreamer
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I highly doubt he’ll respond.I am keen to see the response to this. Don't ever underestimate the power of that poster though, he WILL have a spin on it.
I highly doubt he’ll respond.I am keen to see the response to this. Don't ever underestimate the power of that poster though, he WILL have a spin on it.
Yeah, i think people need to realize how far Argentina has fallen as a country since the 80s so they ended up looking for a national hero for decades, and found that hero in Diego Maradona.I wrote this in response to a post (Pre semi final I think) asking would Messi be recognized as Maradonas equal (or higher) if he were to win the world cup but I think it applies here.
I think he will be a lot closer (especially with the younger generations who are more critical of Maradonas flaws) but ultimately most will favor Diego due to reasons that are hard for non Argentines to understand.
I wasn't born in Argentina, I just reside here (for my sins) so it took me awhile to appreciate what Maradona means to the Argentine people.
I'd frequently get into "debates" with friends and family who would ignore pretty much any stat I could give that would show Messi's superiority over Maradona etc but year on year I grew to appreciate the fact that while you can attempt to quantify their rationale (The world cup) the love/ appreciation they have for Diego Maradona is unquantifiable.
It's emotional and spiritual and although he was one of the finest footballers In the history of world football it's nearly secondary to the feelings of hope that he gave an entire nation in bleak times.
Had Maradona died when I first arrived I wouldn't have understood the significance of the event, after some years here I could empathise with my friends and family members who wept tears of sadness that he was finally gone while crying tears of joy when talking about the impact he had on their lives.
Messi can't do that.
He can't recreate the feeling around Argentina around the fall of the Military Junta and the Malvinas (Falklands) War.
Diego fought for them at their lowest point and won.
Argentina is a beautiful country with a proud people but in many ways the beauty is only skin deep and superficial while the pride is rooted in events that move further away as time passes.
Spend enough time here and you feel the profound sadness, the country feels like an ageing supermodel/movie star desperately clinging onto their youth when they were the best thing around and are now struggling to come to terms with their wrinkles and weight gain.
They long for years gone by.
You see the collapse of a great nation in its older buildings, built to the highest standards years ago during prosperous times but falling into disrepair nowadays alongside signs on stores (abandoned now) when the dollar and peso had parity (it's around 300/1 now).
This country is in desperate need of a hero and I really hope that Messi can do it for all of us here.
If he does he will be second only to Diego IMO but he won't replace him as God around these parts (but to be honest no body could).
You have to compare to what it was available back then.Exactly. Until yesterday, people might have argued that Pele/Maradona were greater players than Messi, despite Messi being way better than them (for example, I think that he is better than Maradona ever was at practically everything and better than Pele at everything except heading).
A bit like how Sir Isaac Newton being the greatest physicist of all time, despite that any modern physicist is way better at physics than him. Or how pretty much any modern general knows more about the warfare than Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Napoleon put together. It is the natural way of thinks, but somehow there are people (who usually have never seen Pele and co play) who claim that they were better than the modern robots.
Or take the ‘greatest dribbler of all time’ Garrincha, and check his videos. There is nothing great on those videos if you compare with modern footballers. Most of them are running straight with defenders being 5m away, followed by some crosses in keeper’s hand or Row Z. The likes of Nani or Robben, let alone Messi, dribbled better than him. Or go and check the decision making of the past greats. Massive disappointment.
This is a great post, especially last paragraph. In 60's Pele was GOAT and will be forever best player of that era. And Garrincha was the best dribbler at that time. But comparing them to current era is just not fair. Tactics changed, medicine advancements, nutrition, cryotherapy and so on. Compare ball of 50's and now. Compare boots players have now to 50's. Quality of pitch and so on.Exactly. Until yesterday, people might have argued that Pele/Maradona were greater players than Messi, despite Messi being way better than them (for example, I think that he is better than Maradona ever was at practically everything and better than Pele at everything except heading).
A bit like how Sir Isaac Newton being the greatest physicist of all time, despite that any modern physicist is way better at physics than him. Or how pretty much any modern general knows more about the warfare than Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Napoleon put together. It is the natural way of thinks, but somehow there are people (who usually have never seen Pele and co play) who claim that they were better than the modern robots.
Or take the ‘greatest dribbler of all time’ Garrincha, and check his videos. There is nothing great on those videos if you compare with modern footballers. Most of them are running straight with defenders being 5m away, followed by some crosses in keeper’s hand or Row Z. The likes of Nani or Robben, let alone Messi, dribbled better than him. Or go and check the decision making of the past greats. Massive disappointment.
Whether it’s crap pitches or medicine or what else, the truth is that’s how things are. It’s not a question of who had it easier, it’s a question of who’s the better player.You have to compare to what it was available back then.
Ronaldo and Messi should be sent to past to play in crap pitches, with referees allowing anything, without modern nutrition, and without modern PEDs and sports science.
Messi in the past probably wouldn't be a footballer, cause his HGH treatment wasn't available yet in Pele times.
There is no point comparing old players with modern players, while forgetting all the tools modern players have in their favor that were not available 50 years ago.
I can't say i'm stronger than Achilles just because i can shot him with a modern shotgun that wasn't available in his times.
Messi has definitely a better fitness than Pele/Maradona. At Messi’s age, Pele was playing in the US (where the league was even worse), and Maradona was retired.You have to compare to what it was available back then.
Ronaldo and Messi should be sent to past to play in crap pitches, with referees allowing anything, without modern nutrition, and without modern PEDs and sports science.
Messi in the past probably wouldn't be a footballer, cause his HGH treatment wasn't available yet in Pele times.
There is no point comparing old players with modern players, while forgetting all the tools modern players have in their favor that were not available 50 years ago.
I can't say i'm stronger than Achilles just because i can shot him with a modern shotgun that wasn't available in his times.
And still you can't take out the context of modern medicine, modern nutrition, PEDS, perfect pitches, and referees that give everything to talented players to run the show for spectacle.Whether it’s crap pitches or medicine or what else, the truth is that’s how things are. It’s not a question of who had it easier, it’s a question of who’s the better player.
If we compare who is better, than no, there is no need for context. Whoever is better, is better. If we compare who is greater, then sure, it is quite likely that Pele in modern era would have been better than Ronaldo, and Maradona in modern era would have been (near) as good as Messi.And still you can't take out the context of modern medicine, modern nutrition, PEDS, perfect pitches, and referees that give everything to talented players to run the show for spectacle.
Sorry, but you just can forget that as if it doesn't mean much.
Messi probably wouldn't be a footballer in Pele era cause HGH treatment was still undeveloped.Messi has definitely a better fitness than Pele/Maradona. At Messi’s age, Pele was playing in the US (where the league was even worse), and Maradona was retired.
He is fitter than they ever were, has a faster acceleration, is better technically, is better tactically. If we compare players of different eras, the modern ones are so much better it is not even funny.
I don’t disagree with any of this. I disagree with people saying that Pele was better than Messi. It is a total nonsense to say so.Messi probably wouldn't be a footballer in Pele era cause HGH treatment was still undeveloped.
Pele with modern nutrition, modern medicine could both easily play until their mid 30s.
We've spoken about this many times!A bit like how Sir Isaac Newton being the greatest physicist of all time
And it's a definite that this culture of lists and metrics was an import from your cousins across the pond...First Take is a good example — every time I catch some of it, they’re just comparing and critiquing each others’ lists!
Imagine how good Maradona could have been if he was pumped full of growth hormones at an early age.If you don't think that Messi is the GOAT, then I will only accept the explanation if you subscribe to the idea that you can't compare players across eras and that Maradona and Pele very well could have been as good if they were born later. But in this case you kind of agree that Messi is the GOAT. It's just that he has to share the spotlight with some other players, which is fair enough.
Any other explanation will just be wrong. Whether you focus on hard data or skill Messi comes out on top.
Yeah he'd struggle to break the likes of QPR, let alone play in the PL.Or take the ‘greatest dribbler of all time’ Garrincha, and check his videos. There is nothing great on those videos if you compare with modern footballers. Most of them are running straight with defenders being 5m away, followed by some crosses in keeper’s hand or Row Z. The likes of Nani or Robben, let alone Messi, dribbled better than him. Or go and check the decision making of the past greats. Massive disappointment.
Nope. As you said, Messi is better. He is better because he was born in 1987. In 30 years time the best player in the world of 2052 is virtually guaranteed to be better than Messi, for the same reasons Messi is better than Pelé and MaradonaIf we compare who is better, than no, there is no need for context. Whoever is better, is better. If we compare who is greater, then sure, it is quite likely that Pele in modern era would have been better than Ronaldo, and Maradona in modern era would have been (near) as good as Messi.
I do not see how a player can be better than Messi until humans get genetically modified.
got beat by Saudi Arabia. Name me the players you would want in our United starting line upStill Maradona for me. This Argentina team is actually really good.
I thought it was pretty obvious that both Pele and Maradona were more athletic than Messi. Maradona had more natural power in his quads and posterior chain, while Pele was a supreme all-round athlete where any of the measures - his top speed, his acceleration, his leap, his agility - would stand out even today.Messi has definitely a better fitness than Pele/Maradona. At Messi’s age, Pele was playing in the US (where the league was even worse), and Maradona was retired.
He is fitter than they ever were, has a faster acceleration, is better technically, is better tactically. If we compare players of different eras, the modern ones are so much better it is not even funny.
“Your” cousins? You don’t actually know where I’m from, budAnd it's a definite that this culture of lists and metrics was an import from your cousins across the pond...
no chanceNope. As you said, Messi is better. He is better because he was born in 1987. In 30 years time the best player in the world of 2052 is virtually guaranteed to be better than Messi, for the same reasons Messi is better than Pelé and Maradona
Wouldn't mind the entire team bar Otamendi and the fullbacksgot beat by Saudi Arabia. Name me the players you would want in our United starting line up
Including DiMaria?Wouldn't mind the entire team bar Otamendi and the fullbacks
I'm sure you have relations across a pond somewhere“Your” cousins? You don’t actually know where I’m from, bud
It’s none of your business where I have relations you pervert!I'm sure you have relations across a pond somewhere
Why not? It's practically guaranteed in sports that someone will come later who will either match or exceed those who have come before. It always happens.no chance
I think the improvement in quality gets lower with any generation. There are physical limits after all.Nope. As you said, Messi is better. He is better because he was born in 1987. In 30 years time the best player in the world of 2052 is virtually guaranteed to be better than Messi, for the same reasons Messi is better than Pelé and Maradona
I don't think this is a good comparison at all. The gap between training, nutrition, and medicine in the NBA from the 1990s to the 2010s is much smaller than the gap between the 1960s and the 2010s in football. The basketball and court are the same from the 90s to 2010s unlike the advances in the ball and boots and field conditions in football from the 60s to today. And the NBA league structure with drafts is exactly the same which is very different from the league structure in the 80s when Maradona played to today post-Bosman and with the Champions league and clubs with excessive amounts of money to build superteams. Rules in the NBA from 90s to 10s are also basically the same unlike the major changes in physical challenges allowed in football from Pelé -Maradona eras to today.Just because we are always under the notion that as time progresses everything improves, doesn't mean that it is correct.
Is Messi better than Maradona was from 35 years ago, yes in my opinion, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is true just because it was over 30 years ago and football has improved.
Is Michael Jordan greater than LeBron James, the answer is yes. Was Michael Jordan better than LeBron James, the answer is also yes even though Jordan's peak ended in 1998 and LeBron is still playing 25 years later.
Time doesn't always equal improvement and therefore players of today are always better than the past. It doesn't work like that.
Really good post.I don't think this is a good comparison at all. The gap between training, nutrition, and medicine in the NBA from the 1990s to the 2010s is much smaller than the gap between the 1960s and the 2010s in football. The basketball and court are the same from the 90s to 2010s unlike the advances in the ball and boots and field conditions in football from the 60s to today. And the NBA league structure with drafts is exactly the same which is very different from the league structure in the 80s when Maradona played to today post-Bosman and with the Champions league and clubs with excessive amounts of money to build superteams. Rules in the NBA from 90s to 10s are also basically the same unlike the major changes in physical challenges allowed in football from Pele-Maradona eras to today.
So this comparison isn't accurate at all. A more accurate comparison would be to look at the structural advantages that Tom Brady has compared to NFL quarterbacks of the 1960s-70s where you also have major training, nutrition and medical advances from the 60s to 10s, the helmet, field, and ball have greatly improved, the rules have changed to protect quarterbacks much more in Brady's era than in the 60s. Tom Brady never would have come close to playing into his 40s had he played in the 1960s and it's very likely the best 1960s quarterbacks would have drastically improved careers statistics and longevity-wise had they played in the 2010s.
ALvarez is a City benchwarmer. Looked super slow when he came on. MacAliister has been in England for ages. Which of their players would come in and replace which United players from their positions? I'm asking because we are barely a top 4 side ourselvesWouldn't mind the entire team bar Otamendi and the fullbacks
Well, isn't that what reasonable people are doing?It's just that he has to share the spotlight with some other players, which is fair enough.
That sounds reasonable enough to me.And that opinion is indeed based on the fact that comparing directly across the eras is very difficult (not least if people start to bring sheer numbers into it - which is absurd to begin with).
You're confusing achievements with greatness - and you can't achieve what's not available on your era. For example Pele didn't get to play in the Champions League (or European Cup) because the Brazilian government passed legislation to stop him moving abroad. Maradona played in an era when you had to win the league to be in it, not just finish in the top four. Also neither player benefited from playing in super clubs - (the Madrid or Barcelona or PSG) where their teams have 40 - 50x the budget of their competitors. Maradona was playing for a relatively average Napoli side competing against the rich teams in the north like Inter, Juve and Milan who were stacked with talent. Ronaldo had a 15 year career playing for a $1Bn squad where he'd realistically compete against Barcelona for the title and maybe 3-4 other teams in Europe for the CL. Or played in Serie A with no domestic competition and could save himself for 3-4 meaningful knockout games in the CL.Club football is a much better delegation of quality then a international tournament.
Pele played in regional leagues.
All 4 reached international success with their country. Thinking only a World Cup defines a player better then another is like saying you eat soup with a fork.
Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed that.I wrote this in response to a post (Pre semi final I think) asking would Messi be recognized as Maradonas equal (or higher) if he were to win the world cup but I think it applies here.
I think he will be a lot closer (especially with the younger generations who are more critical of Maradonas flaws) but ultimately most will favor Diego due to reasons that are hard for non Argentines to understand.
I wasn't born in Argentina, I just reside here (for my sins) so it took me awhile to appreciate what Maradona means to the Argentine people.
I'd frequently get into "debates" with friends and family who would ignore pretty much any stat I could give that would show Messi's superiority over Maradona etc but year on year I grew to appreciate the fact that while you can attempt to quantify their rationale (The world cup) the love/ appreciation they have for Diego Maradona is unquantifiable.
It's emotional and spiritual and although he was one of the finest footballers In the history of world football it's nearly secondary to the feelings of hope that he gave an entire nation in bleak times.
Had Maradona died when I first arrived I wouldn't have understood the significance of the event, after some years here I could empathise with my friends and family members who wept tears of sadness that he was finally gone while crying tears of joy when talking about the impact he had on their lives.
Messi can't do that.
He can't recreate the feeling around Argentina around the fall of the Military Junta and the Malvinas (Falklands) War.
Diego fought for them at their lowest point and won.
Argentina is a beautiful country with a proud people but in many ways the beauty is only skin deep and superficial while the pride is rooted in events that move further away as time passes.
Spend enough time here and you feel the profound sadness, the country feels like an ageing supermodel/movie star desperately clinging onto their youth when they were the best thing around and are now struggling to come to terms with their wrinkles and weight gain.
They long for years gone by.
You see the collapse of a great nation in its older buildings, built to the highest standards years ago during prosperous times but falling into disrepair nowadays alongside signs on stores (abandoned now) when the dollar and peso had parity (it's around 300/1 now).
This country is in desperate need of a hero and I really hope that Messi can do it for all of us here.
If he does he will be second only to Diego IMO but he won't replace him as God around these parts (but to be honest no body could).
See aboveOnly if WC is the only criteria to access greatness. Otherwise George Best or Di Stefano would be worse player than Depay or Giroud under your criteria.
However there are also football outside of 1 months every 4 years.
Even though Maradona was the best player of the 80s, he has only managed to win 2 league titles in top flight, and 1 second rated European trophy during his career. His late career during his 30s was quite a mess too.
I think comparing across eras is extremely but if one had to do it, given people can't stop themselves, you have to compare keeping the context of the times in mind. If Messi/ next Messi is better merely because of better sports science, superclubs, sports psychology, tactics, favorable refs etc then that has no actual merit. If you're bothering to compare then it has to he done relative to the era the respective players existed in.Nope. As you said, Messi is better. He is better because he was born in 1987. In 30 years time the best player in the world of 2052 is virtually guaranteed to be better than Messi, for the same reasons Messi is better than Pelé and Maradona
They're not. The hand-check rule is one of the catalyst for the league being dominated by guards and small forwards today, as opposed to traditional big men. One of the main talking points in that comparison is how Jordan would have averaged 50 ppg with no hand-checks.Rules in the NBA from 90s to 10s are also basically the same