A Tad Simplistic, However....

I think much of todays malaise within the game centres around the fact that players are so focused on being super athletes, that they forget that they are actually footballers!

You get the odd maverick-Lee Trundle is a good example at the moment-he's a bit overweight, a bit slow, people make fun of him, but he's as skilful a footballer as many of the "athletes" currently playing and getting recognition in the Prem and CCC.

Le Tissier was another. Maradona was hardly a Greek God, Ferenc Puskas, by all acounts, was laughed at by the England team before a game against Hungary, "look at the little fat bloke" they smirked-he then destroyed them as Hungary won 6-3.

Platini and Cruff were both chain smokers. As was Junior and many of the 1970 Brazil WC Winning team.

The England players seem to glorify in ripping off their shirts and showing us all what strapping physical specimens they are, all well and good, but this is football, not body building! Of coruse, fitness is required, but doesn't skill with a football come first? It should.

I think people used to turn prospective footballers into good footballers. Now they turn prospective footballers into professional athletes and they can run and pump iron all day, but, with few exceptions, where are the people that get you excited today, does ANYONE in the England team do that for anyone in a football sense (!)

Rooney is another example. Superfit no doubt now, but wheres his spark, that touch of maverick that we saw when he started out? Coached out of him by OT Sports Scientists?

Posted By: Martin Peters on March 29th 2007 at 13:21:14

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