Protected from injuries, certainly. But also protected from tackles, which makes it much easier to beat defenders. Defenders are much more tentative about sliding into difficult tackles now then even 10 years ago, let alone 15-20 years ago, as cards are produced for far less than at that time. I watched football all through the 90s. I won't say red card tackles today wouldn't even be fouls then, but the refs were an order of magnitude more lenient on defenders. Defenders still got reds, because the leniency was still pushed, as is always the case with rules. If refs allow more aggressive tackles, defenders push at that boundary to gain more of an advantage. Just like today, some defenders walk a fine line, bordering on what are now considered illegal tackles. But as I said, sliding tackles were much more a part of the game back then, and this certainly helped defenders stop the more athletic forwards and wing players.
I think you underestimate the number of yellows shown for dangerous tackles today, where defenders clearly win the ball, but take out the player in the process, or with the follow through. Refs are taught to favour the player being tackled, they're taught to call anything questionable, or that looks slightly dangerous. The letter of the law with regards to winning the ball first was very well applied back then, and pretty much anything went, as long as you made that play on the ball first. Now, you have to make the play on the ball, but also be very cautious about contact with the player as that happens, or in the follow through. Aside from this, tackles where you missed the ball were far less frequently carded.
We disagree. That's alright. I think, in part, the advances in sport science do benefit attackers, as that is where athleticism, agility, acceleration, etc are most effective, but I disagree on the extent of that benefit, and by no means consider it the reason for the current domination of attacking play. Is it a part of the reason, probably yes, but a small part in my opinion.
As an aside. I mentioned above that 11 of Messi's 40 league goals came in situations of 3+ goal leads. For comparison. Ronaldo's 1997 Barcelona campaign with 34 goals in 37 appearances... 4 of those goals came in 3+ goal lead situations. Stat-padding of that sort happened to a far lesser degree back then. I don't like it. Messi is a brilliant player, one of the best of all-time. C. Ronaldo is up there too. They don't need to be pressing for such meaningless stat-padding goals to cement their places in history. It doesn't add anything. I know that Messi scores goals 3 minutes into stoppage time in 6-0 blowouts. I know C. Ronaldo does the same. The stats look quite a bit closer when you adjust for those type of goals when teams have given up. Then you take into account the extent to which certain super-teams are created today and just how stacked they are, and it certainly helps Messi and C. Ronaldo too. This isn't to say that their weren't super teams in the 80s and 90s, there were, just not quite to the extent of today, football was much more competitive at the top, second-tier teams had a much easier time retaining star players.
I grew up watching Italian football in the 90s, so I favour physical and somewhat defensive-oriented football, with a high priority placed on tactics, and clinical finishing.
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Anyways. I was in a pissy mood last night. I apologize to you, Fred, and Osman. I disagree with your opinions, but that doesn't excuse me being an asshole about it. Sorry.
I think you underestimate the number of yellows shown for dangerous tackles today, where defenders clearly win the ball, but take out the player in the process, or with the follow through. Refs are taught to favour the player being tackled, they're taught to call anything questionable, or that looks slightly dangerous. The letter of the law with regards to winning the ball first was very well applied back then, and pretty much anything went, as long as you made that play on the ball first. Now, you have to make the play on the ball, but also be very cautious about contact with the player as that happens, or in the follow through. Aside from this, tackles where you missed the ball were far less frequently carded.
We disagree. That's alright. I think, in part, the advances in sport science do benefit attackers, as that is where athleticism, agility, acceleration, etc are most effective, but I disagree on the extent of that benefit, and by no means consider it the reason for the current domination of attacking play. Is it a part of the reason, probably yes, but a small part in my opinion.
As an aside. I mentioned above that 11 of Messi's 40 league goals came in situations of 3+ goal leads. For comparison. Ronaldo's 1997 Barcelona campaign with 34 goals in 37 appearances... 4 of those goals came in 3+ goal lead situations. Stat-padding of that sort happened to a far lesser degree back then. I don't like it. Messi is a brilliant player, one of the best of all-time. C. Ronaldo is up there too. They don't need to be pressing for such meaningless stat-padding goals to cement their places in history. It doesn't add anything. I know that Messi scores goals 3 minutes into stoppage time in 6-0 blowouts. I know C. Ronaldo does the same. The stats look quite a bit closer when you adjust for those type of goals when teams have given up. Then you take into account the extent to which certain super-teams are created today and just how stacked they are, and it certainly helps Messi and C. Ronaldo too. This isn't to say that their weren't super teams in the 80s and 90s, there were, just not quite to the extent of today, football was much more competitive at the top, second-tier teams had a much easier time retaining star players.
I grew up watching Italian football in the 90s, so I favour physical and somewhat defensive-oriented football, with a high priority placed on tactics, and clinical finishing.
- - - Updated - - -
Anyways. I was in a pissy mood last night. I apologize to you, Fred, and Osman. I disagree with your opinions, but that doesn't excuse me being an asshole about it. Sorry.
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