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When did Football peak?


winky said:
It never peaks. I've enjoyed watching it since the 80s and accept that it evolves.
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Quite right. The game I used to watch in the early 1960's has changed significantly from the one played today.

The very technology behind it has changed hugely. By that I don't mean just stuff like VAR. I mean the nature of the ball the boots even the material used to manufacture the kit that the players wear and the condition of the pitch (these days they have grass on them).

Over a 60 year period all that has brought about big changes in how the game can be played. Modern players are expected to play more games each season because following the introduction of floodlights in the late 1950's early 60's the football season can accommodate more competitions and fixtures.

I firmly believe that a lot of the stars of the 1960's and 70's would find it very difficult to play in the game of today and vice versa. Stick a few of the very skilled lads of today on to Derby's Baseball Ground in a 1970's winter and I think they would struggle find a Club that would employ them. The Baseball Ground was notoriously awful but the majority of other grounds around the country really weren't that much better. Successful players had to be able to accommodate the mud in to their game rather than just complain about it.
 
The quality of the product on the pitch today is better than it has ever been. Been going since the 97/98 season, and some of the crowds of the past year have been the best I've ever experienced and despite all of the talk of fans being priced out, adjusted for inflation, the £1K I paid for our 3 season tickets was a lot less than it cost in that season.
 
woodlebert said:
Late 90s

Good enough quality. Players from abroad still had mystery. No oversaturation. Before money got mental

Games were special because you could only see one a week on TV and one a week live
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Late 90s/early 00s.

For those reasons.

And the style of play. Was a vid on YT Ars v Man Utd from early 00s. You forget how the game was more direct, bit of back and forth headers away, still the odd rough/naughty tackle flying in wiyhout cards coming out etc.
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Superb stuff. The linesman for Henry's goal though :lol:
 
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This should have been the end of the Premier League and the start of the Super League.

It led to a rise in global ownership for just about every club in the top two divisions, let alone just The Premier League. With the Super League clubs out of the way, England could enjoy watching local players again play for their club.

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2006-2010 ish for me. Peak Messi destroying records - that Man U front 3 of Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo. Chelsea strong with Drogba. Man City pushing. The PL was really strong in Europe. Seemed a massive pull (and still is). Barca were in a different stratosphere.

Sunderland wise the Reid years 97-00 (I was 17-20) were unbelievable and I didn’t realise how good we had it. These last 2 seasons have been just as enjoyable and on a par especially being able to share it with my lad who is footy daft.
 
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