Cards on table, I was a striker, a sniffer, ugly goals, always top scorer but I'd score the knock down goals, deflections, even the charge on the keeper dropsies. Never top drawer and I had a dirty side too, I'd struggle now for sure, I could kick anyone, even the big centre halves but I'd get booked too often now with more cards on offer. Could a modern player play in my era?? Probably not, players were targeted for sure, slow the good one down and you've won the game by defualt.
I was talking to a Derby fan today who's best Derby player was Ted McMinn, he was out for a year with a cruciate and his first game back was at Bramall Lane, Vincent Jones stuck one on him after 10 seconds and 3000 Derby fans wanted to riot.. It happened, Maradona, Pele, Keegan, Dalglish, all knew what was coming and weren't bleating like babies every tackle. It was an expected part of the game. Were they athletes? No, we they excellent footballers, yes, a good footballer with a good brain is worth millions these days!!