1.) 25 Apr 2020
25 Apr 2020 18:37:32
Great read as always Tris.
Which side of the Messing/ Ronaldo debate are you on? I think someone without direct connection to the player can be more balanced and neutral in their opinion.

{Ed001's Note - I think it depends on which point of their career you are talking about. Overall I don't think there is a lot of difference, they are just different types of players so what type you prefer is better to you. When Messi pressed, I preferred him, now he doesn't I prefer Ronaldo.}


2.) 25 Apr 2020
25 Apr 2020 20:37:56
Do you think in today's era, Maradona would match Messi's stats, with iniesta and xavi behind him for most of his career?

{Ed001's Note - yes, I think in a lot of respects he would better them. He would have the advantage of modern fitness training on better pitches with defenders unable to cut him half. Him and Best would run riot in today's game!}


3.) 25 Apr 2020
25 Apr 2020 21:10:53
It seems you rate Best really highly ed1. Most people only mention Pele and Maradona when debating greatest players.
I personally believe Ronaldo (Brazilian) would have been considered the greatest if not for his injuries myself. Also I am of the opinion that CR7's personality rubs people the wrong way and so he gets more detractors, especially in the mainstream media.

{Ed001's Note - could you imagine how many goals the real Ronaldo would score if he had a proper fitness regime??
Best was a wonderful player mate, it is only because he played for himself too much that he is not as good as Pele and Maradona.
As for Cristiano, I agree. It is the strutting and the preening that annoys people.}


4.) 25 Apr 2020
25 Apr 2020 21:59:45
Best in his pomp was up there with any of them. He also was prepared to do some defensive work too.


5.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 06:16:12
This is something I never understand, every argument about how good some or the other past player would be today always included fitness and other improvements to that side of the game and the fact about how attacking players are protected in today's game, but no one ever considers the negative, especially when considering when likes of Best and Maradona.

They couldn't handle the fame and glitz well when it wasn't as intrusive as it is today.

There is an equal chance they turn into a ravel morrison as they are to be like messi or ronaldo, I would say even if they are successful they will be more closer to neymar than to messi or ronaldo.


6.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 09:02:06
Fergie would probably have protected Best whilst giving him some latitude like he did with Eric. Today's players get taught much more about handling the medis spotlight.

{Ed001's Note - and did Best not play supremely well when struggling to cope with the pressure anyway? Best's issue was he was left to his own devices, with no one to help him see the right path, not pressure. That would be highly unlikely to happen in today's game.

Ravel was just a wannabe gangsta who couldn't move on and stop playing the big man. It was nothing to do with fame or anything like that. It was just a stupid little boy without the brains to grow up and move on from a life he never needed to live.}


7.) 26 Apr 2020
26 Apr 2020 19:08:12
Agreed ed002.