Decent players from former times who would have been great in modern teams

[elmo]

I wonder if Giovinco would have had a better career if he was born ten years later. Very talented but so small, I do imagine he was probably overlooked at times because of his stature. Possibly less important these days than it was then

if anything, he’ll struggle even more now as teams are running and pressing more.

 

[didz]

A young Aaron Lennon would make for a pretty good wing back at a top side. Theo Walcott probably has a better career if he appears on the scene a little later.

 

[Demyanenko_square_jaw]

if anything, he’ll struggle even more now as teams are running and pressing more.

I think that's actually better for small and not particularly strong players, as long as they have a very good engine and are willing to work off the ball. Structured games with strict reffing where a lot of the intensity is in keeping the right positioning on the move and organised pressing is easier for that athletic type than the more unpredictable, individualistic positioning and far great amount of duels/brutal physicality we saw quite often in pre-mid 00s football.

That said, Giovinco played when the physical side of the game was already being phased out, i can't see him being much different today.

 

[Nico87]

Pep would probably have made someone like Leon Britton look world class in his system

 

[weetee]

From the German league and from a lazy „of a top of my head“:

Ze Roberto
Bernd Schneider
Lothar Matthäus
Deisler (<3)

 

[giorno]

Honestly it would have to be the guys who struggled with serious injuries, lacked professionalism, or struggled with a poor metabolysm

Basically players who'd benefit from moderm sports science

 

[Loon]

Gordon Hill was probably more than decent, but he'd be great to watch now (as he was then).

 

[B20]

Honestly it would have to be the guys who struggled with serious injuries, lacked professionalism, or struggled with a poor metabolysm

Basically players who'd benefit from moderm sports science

Yeah, so less about those guys and more about the guys who'd benefit from change in tactics and different appreciation of what they bring to the table.

 

[giorno]

I wonder if Giovinco would have had a better career if he was born ten years later. Very talented but so small, I do imagine he was probably overlooked at times because of his stature. Possibly less important these days than it was then

He's Messi's age. He's a contemporary of David Silva, Hazard, Sterling, Iniesta, Xavi, Insigne, etc, etc

His stature was never the problem. His lack of elite speed was. If anything he's the opposite of what this thread is asking for

 

[padr81]

McGrath, Matthaeus, Beckham, Irwin only decent. The feck are you guys smoking...

Ill go for Eyal Berkovic. Distin was a great shout, Phillipe Albert and Le Saux.

 

[MarkCanuck]

Steve coppell a brilliant winger who always tracked back to help the defence very rare in the 70s

Great shout. Gordon Hill and Martin Buchanan from that team too I think.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

Apex David Luiz walked so modern CBs could run (with the ball)