Magic Moments

They all tended to go forward. Dembele had a little bit of it when he played for us, Sonny is more kick and sprint. Very effective but as he slows so will the effectiveness. I agree Messi had a bit of it. Very few nowadays have that close control.

 

I think it maybe to do with the better pitches. They often played in ploughed fields and the ball was heavier. Now players can side step and the ball is lighter. Those two factors change the game I think.

 

I think you may be right with better pitches, the ball probable runs away quicker nowadays. But pitches were OK at the start of the season before, it was as one went into the winter the mud baths occured. I think the balls were more difficult to control then, although first touch may have been easier. The balls were deader.

 

That's right I remember how different it was playing practice games with Frido balls which were plastic and light compared to the heavy leather ball with laces especially when wet. I wonder if they take that into account when looking at footballers with dementure. The modern football must be easier on the head than the old leather one that many of the old footballers now in their 60's and 70's would have used.

 

Definitely, when you headed one of those you knew about it. They were like medicine balls when wet. Everything was different. I couldn't afford 2 sets of new boots (rugby and football) so when I was about 13 my grandfather gave me his old ones. Leather studs kept in with 3 nails. The teacher wouldn't let me play in them.

 

I'm a bit older than you so yes I used the boots with nailed on studs. That was the first thing my Dad taught me when I got boots, how to nail the studs on The boots weighed a ton as well. These are all the reasons to be even more impressed with players like Cruyff who could move so well despite of the equipment. I used to run cross country for my school, you weren't allowed spikes. Sport has changed hugely, but players like Cruyff and Best and Greaves would still be superstars if they played today. Their skills would just be adapted to the modern game. Do you remember how Best would deliberately hit the ball at an opponent to bounce it off him to pass him, amazing skill.

 

Why?

 

They were considered dangerous to the other runners as we bunched together.

 

But they weren't dangerous for football!

 

Yep or even worse Rugby

 

Goal number 2 is the one I remember

 

Back in the day my Mum worked for the head honcho of Clark's shoes, He gave me my 1st pair of Adidas football boots , I slept with them under my pillow , used to clean them with a toothbrush and polish them, I was useless as a player but those boots were the best ever
Didn't George Best have boots that laced at the side, and was it Alan Ball who's boots had a swivelling studs plate well known for twisting the ankles , weren't they also white ?

 

This is reportedly what 63% of Italian men of a certain age think of at the point of orgasm

 

I never owned a pair of Adidas but they were the first 'brand' that were cool. I think up to then Umbro were the only brand I remember and even today they don't have a cool factor for me, although I think their shorts were the thing. I think I was about 14 when rubber studs came in. just after the milkman stopped using a horse to pull his milk cart. No I didn't have a flint axe, I used a hammer, what do you think, I came from Norfolk! We even had electricity in South London.

 

Somebody at my school tried to claim they had a pair of Predators when what it really was were a pair of bog standard boots with the logo blacked out with marker, Adidas stripes painted on, and bit of replacement sole superglued onto the toe

...admit it, you couldn't help but think "Croydon" when you read that

 

How many kids ended up on their faces practising that move

 

Spurf, thanks for a superb thread. So many brilliant memories.

Tell kids today about some of those goals and they won't believe you.

Hoddle's 2 volleys from the right of the box and his turn and chip at Watford deserve special mention.