Fuck

I've heard them, but not necessarily always in that order.

All my work lost, like posts in a page turn.

Aye, damn fine post it was too.

I mean it was 8 months ago that happened.

Well it feels like footies been gone that long anyway. Not that I think it should be back yet, yo can want something knowing it's bad, like most of my crushes

Yeah I think apart from the period readjusting from when he lost his assistant he’s been really good

hate him the blowhard cunt

I can absolutely respect him as an athlete, but his playing has never brought me any joy. Not in the same way that watching Messi, Ronaldinho, or Pugh does. I can't even blame the "wink", I want to blame the wink, but I can't because I love Diego, he's the greatest there's ever been, and he was just as much of a cheating bastard

Maradona is one of my favourite players ever. For me the greatest ever. Ronaldinho was a joy to watch, just a party box of trick and flicks. Zidane was like a ballet dancer on the pitch, so graceful with a touch that could control a feather. Brazilian ronaldo (barca/inter) was unstoppable at full flight.

Ronaldo (portugese) is just ruthlessly efficient player. He has pushed himself to greatness. His mindset and willpower are stuff of legend. Yeh hes not the enjoyable player he was to watch like he was at utd. But hes adaped his game. Like you said you can respect him as an athlete.

I think for people of a certain era, diego will remain the greatest. But then thats the same for people of different eras i.e. stanley matthews, di stefino, pukas, cryuff beckenbauer etc.

I dont disagree with you. Atheltism is a problem in football now. Barcelona have internal disagreements now about what type of player to bring through at youth level. Do you go for the small, slight build but technically skillful player. What happens if he doesnt make the breakthrough. Where is the market for such a player?

Or do you bring through what football wants now, more athletic players and if they dont breakthrough at Barcelona then there is a market for that player elsewhere?

Whens the last time a "street" player came through the ranks and made it to the top? They are seen as off the cuff, lazy (not tracking back, doing the hard yards etc) luxury players. They seem to be disappearing. Those maverick players, i like to watch but are few and far between.

Ricardo Quaresma. Portugese. Almost same age as Ronaldo. A maverick player, deffo off the cuff type. Ridiculously talented. But where has his career gone? Whereas ronaldo, not as naturally talented but has pushed himself as fits modern football i.e. athletic football.

His autobiography El Diego is amazing btw.

Dinostar77 wrote:

Whens the last time a "street" player came through the ranks and made it to the top? They are seen as off the cuff, lazy (not tracking back, doing the hard yards etc) luxury players

There was a shift toward three in midfield to allow one to play, a central winger as it were. Your Gascoignes, Baggios, and Cantonas. It's difficult to do, as a winger you know the touchline is one side so yo uonly need to be aware of one side, as a midfielder suddenly you need literally twice as much brain power. Then teams with out these super talented aware wingers were few and far between so lesser teams packed that space with extra midfielder to drown them out

You'd have though that the obvious respose would be to play your wingers again, but there's such a dearth of big ball attacking strikers these days (Ferguson, Sutton, Kermorgant) especially when they have to be able to play as well, which all of those three could, that proper wing play became less popular

I can't even begin to fathom watching Ronaldo being joyless. I know he played for my team, but even at Real and Juve, or for Portugal I find him thrilling.

I mean look at this

Yeah, i dislike the guy and i find his rapid increase in frame size, fitness and strength alongside footballs laughable drug testing a bit bothersome but he's fucking thrilling to watch, just usually for teams i despise.