I've approved this post because it's something a bit different.. But football was definitely slower back then!
You only have to watch clips of the Prem from the early 90s to see that football was slower 30 years ago than it is now! Let alone going back 60+ years..
Tbf it wasn't really until the Man U-Arsenal games of the early to mid 00's that you could start to see modern day athleticism or speed in the Prem.
Even then, its not on the level of the current game but those teams were fit as a fiddle and played hard for the full 90. Plus they kicked the crap out of each other so even your Dad and Grandad could enjoy.
Great video... but Gary says he wants the same DNA football we had 30y ago mate... what ArRReeE WeEE GgOoInNggG tO DOOo if we cant please Gary?
- yeah mate some people just dont know how to compare different ERAS, see them from what they where... cherrish them and move on... some just dont understand how things have changed for PL and football around the world in 30y
Have you ever seen the professionals play? My local 7 a side league is as fast as the guys in the video.
Football was slower whether you like it or not. Better conditioning and nutrition have made it so that athletes nowadays are miles ahead of where they were back then. We know how to take care of the bodies more.
I think the reality is that the players seen here, including Best and Charlton, would probably end up losing by a cricket score if they played against the current United 1st team.
They honestly look like a fairly average 7 aside team at Hackney power league. I'm surprised they don't look technically better and it's no where near the speed of a prem training session.
The lack of technique and the poor reactionary shooting and booting of the ball got me the most haha. Best showed some technique in this clip, but nothing you wouldn't see in a Sunday league match
All true but does not change the fact they would likely be nowhere near as good as their legacy suggests, same with all sports and is in no way disrespectful.
They're the top 0.0001% of their generation, both ballondor winners. Of course what you say is disrespectful. You can easily flip it and say our best players now couldn't cope with the conditions back then
Back then, they had to earn their legend status. Now, just playing for Manchester United means you've made it. I think that explains the difference in drive.
If mordern footballers practiced in This they'd complain about how it looked like a pigsty compared to our mordern facilities. This was probably quite normal back then.
I play on a shitty, bumpy pitch that runs slightly downhill / uphill. There's no way you can run at full pelt and keep close control of a football on pre-modern pitches.
How anyone thinks different is mad though they are still human beings, I think what’s changed with football is all the science behind it more than anything.
Players are probably fitter and more muscular these days. But there's no opponents trying to snap some tricky winger in half with a reducer in the first 5 minutes either. Injury time would be 30+ minutes long if today's players had to contend with the brutal challenges of yesteryear.
My dad had one. Every morning, he'd be in the mirror, dragging it over from left to right, singing - 🎶 "Comb over to my place ... hey you!.. we're having a party...."
(It's by the Drifters, btw)
A lot of people do imply the former. The OP is wrong though players ran a lot less, I think I saw a study saying distance travelled during a game has risen by like triple in the last 40 years. Back then things happened at a slower pace typically. The game however was far better to watch imo as it was played in a much more direct manner, nowadays a lot of games are arduous as despite being fast there’s minimal attacking intent. So the actual speed things are happening at hasn’t got much to do with the quality really.
Football had a normal pace. Today too many fast passes makes it look like it's quicker, but it's not. Also, boots, balls, pitch.. back then and today.. Imagine Best on perfect pitch with today's boots and balls. Back then you had to be skilled, today strength is just enough.
Lots of comments on here saying how they look no better than Sunday league.
Go watch actual games with these guys playing where Best glides through people attempting to snap him in half.
Watch Charlton score bangers from 40 yards with both feet.
All on shockingly bad pitches, with a stupidly heavy football, and bricks for football boots.
Of course training sessions don't look great. Have you seen United train? They look wank, the only difference is the facility is modern and they do constant fitness drills etc but practice games, it's not even close to the level of quality shown on match day, just the same as you see in this old video.
Sir Bobby was fast as fuck!
That left foot nut Meg he did was just class. J
I've approved this post because it's something a bit different.. But football was definitely slower back then!
You only have to watch clips of the Prem from the early 90s to see that football was slower 30 years ago than it is now! Let alone going back 60+ years..
People also forget that back then even in the top leagues while players were fit they were not exactly top of fitness and physical metrics.
They would routinely smoke at halftime
Tbf it wasn't really until the Man U-Arsenal games of the early to mid 00's that you could start to see modern day athleticism or speed in the Prem.
Even then, its not on the level of the current game but those teams were fit as a fiddle and played hard for the full 90. Plus they kicked the crap out of each other so even your Dad and Grandad could enjoy.
quicker doesn't necessarily mean better/more entertaining.
Great video... but Gary says he wants the same DNA football we had 30y ago mate... what ArRReeE WeEE GgOoInNggG tO DOOo if we cant please Gary?
- yeah mate some people just dont know how to compare different ERAS, see them from what they where... cherrish them and move on... some just dont understand how things have changed for PL and football around the world in 30y
Have you ever seen the professionals play? My local 7 a side league is as fast as the guys in the video.
Football was slower whether you like it or not. Better conditioning and nutrition have made it so that athletes nowadays are miles ahead of where they were back then. We know how to take care of the bodies more.
Loved seeing this. Thanks for sharing.
I think the reality is that the players seen here, including Best and Charlton, would probably end up losing by a cricket score if they played against the current United 1st team.
Well, most of them are dead now.
How's this been up voted so much...
[deleted]
The gap in professionalism, athleticism, and tactical evolution is simply too large to overcome.
Have you seen the clip of the England team doing a 6v2 rondo?
I don’t think the old team would touch the ball..
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CeVNkGNlMhk/?igsh=MXZmcTU5N3ExNWh3dA==
This is not even difficult though. I've seen amateur teams do this exact thing, to this exact level.
They honestly look like a fairly average 7 aside team at Hackney power league. I'm surprised they don't look technically better and it's no where near the speed of a prem training session.
The lack of technique and the poor reactionary shooting and booting of the ball got me the most haha. Best showed some technique in this clip, but nothing you wouldn't see in a Sunday league match
They also look bang average
Different game really, completely different pitches and balls
All true but does not change the fact they would likely be nowhere near as good as their legacy suggests, same with all sports and is in no way disrespectful.
They're the top 0.0001% of their generation, both ballondor winners. Of course what you say is disrespectful. You can easily flip it and say our best players now couldn't cope with the conditions back then
Facts aren’t disrespectful, evolution is the way of life, it’s normal.
Again, what you said might be true but they would still technically/physically be superior and most likely adapt to the environment.
what a hilariously ignorant thing to say
Pretty obvious you are the one being ignorant.
Hide their faces and show anyone this footage and ask them to guess the quality level, seen better down my 7 a side games
They're in a barn, this is awesome
No bulky muscles, no state of the art facilities, just simple old lads enjoying a game of football.
Cool asf
Back then, they had to earn their legend status. Now, just playing for Manchester United means you've made it. I think that explains the difference in drive.
Football looks much slower on TV as well.
This is fascinating thank you for sharing it :):)
It looks like they were having fun! This is what football was supposed to be, players having fun on the ground. Sadly, I barely see that in our team.
If mordern footballers practiced in This they'd complain about how it looked like a pigsty compared to our mordern facilities. This was probably quite normal back then.
If they could just show that much passion and hard work today.
They're dead, mate.
I play on a shitty, bumpy pitch that runs slightly downhill / uphill. There's no way you can run at full pelt and keep close control of a football on pre-modern pitches.
There’s no way that YOU can run full pelt and keep close control of the ball.
just missing the fags and pints, innit….
How anyone thinks different is mad though they are still human beings, I think what’s changed with football is all the science behind it more than anything.
Players are probably fitter and more muscular these days. But there's no opponents trying to snap some tricky winger in half with a reducer in the first 5 minutes either. Injury time would be 30+ minutes long if today's players had to contend with the brutal challenges of yesteryear.
Those shorts tho...
Not much going on here in terms of technique and control lol. Greta vintage video though!
Did Gary Neville post this?
Sir Bobby Charlton running around.
Great ass on Bestie.
Love it.
SBC always looks older, must be the comb over!
My dad had one. Every morning, he'd be in the mirror, dragging it over from left to right, singing - 🎶 "Comb over to my place ... hey you!.. we're having a party...." (It's by the Drifters, btw)
They are legendary!
Don’t see them enough these days.
Lol nice
Looks like my mates and I playing around
I don’t think anyone wants to imply that humans didn’t know how to run fast back in the day when they say “football was slower”.
It’s just that the game in general was played slower; things like passing, pressing and so on, not running.
A lot of people do imply the former. The OP is wrong though players ran a lot less, I think I saw a study saying distance travelled during a game has risen by like triple in the last 40 years. Back then things happened at a slower pace typically. The game however was far better to watch imo as it was played in a much more direct manner, nowadays a lot of games are arduous as despite being fast there’s minimal attacking intent. So the actual speed things are happening at hasn’t got much to do with the quality really.
Football had a normal pace. Today too many fast passes makes it look like it's quicker, but it's not. Also, boots, balls, pitch.. back then and today.. Imagine Best on perfect pitch with today's boots and balls. Back then you had to be skilled, today strength is just enough.
Looks like anthony gordon's pressing
Really great to those exceptional players
Uhh that is pretty slow.
Recordings were slowed down?
What utter nonsense.
Glorious footage. We need more , please .
All the fags and pints would have made it a bit slower I’m sure
Camera man is going crazy, we need this view in today’s game lol
this is what lunch football looked like when i was 11
Looks like a school PE lesson in terms of set up, it's crazy how football has evolved
This is so cool thanks for sharing, Best touch is very nice and cool seeing them training
I mean this is pretty slow stuff
Lots of comments on here saying how they look no better than Sunday league.
Go watch actual games with these guys playing where Best glides through people attempting to snap him in half. Watch Charlton score bangers from 40 yards with both feet.
All on shockingly bad pitches, with a stupidly heavy football, and bricks for football boots.
Of course training sessions don't look great. Have you seen United train? They look wank, the only difference is the facility is modern and they do constant fitness drills etc but practice games, it's not even close to the level of quality shown on match day, just the same as you see in this old video.
Where is the overlapping wingback?
Put boots on them today and they'd be 3-0 up against our current defense in now time - impressive considering half of them have passed.
Sir bobby passed away in 2023.
Point still stands
He still dances around Dalot tomorrow
There’s a ymca near me where kids play and run faster than this brother.