14-02-2019, 17:00
The players are much fitter now. When you used to get a fully-fit ripped individual in the lower leagues he absolutely stood out. Albert Holmes for us used to look almost like an alien invader; he had muscles where his mates had flesh.
They play the ball quicker these days, they attuned to one touch and there sadly just aren't the dribblers holding on to the ball. Players stats are all known and collated these days too. It would be simply amazing if on better pitches with better training and better, more responsive equipment the game wasn't quicker. And old pros all seem to think it is quicker than in their day.
Add to that keepers being unable to pick the ball up from a back pass. You couldn't half give your team some breathing space by first rolling it out to your full back, getting it back, giving the whole pitch a lengthy perusal before getting rid. Taking the wind out of an attacking team's sails was much easier.
They play the ball quicker these days, they attuned to one touch and there sadly just aren't the dribblers holding on to the ball. Players stats are all known and collated these days too. It would be simply amazing if on better pitches with better training and better, more responsive equipment the game wasn't quicker. And old pros all seem to think it is quicker than in their day.
Add to that keepers being unable to pick the ball up from a back pass. You couldn't half give your team some breathing space by first rolling it out to your full back, getting it back, giving the whole pitch a lengthy perusal before getting rid. Taking the wind out of an attacking team's sails was much easier.