Maradona

[chris lee]

Different eras, Maradona played without protection, and the odds were stacked in favour of the defenders who were also quite brutal. Ronaldo and Messi wouldn't have had it so easy back then

yes but defenders were also, poorly trained, tactically inept and enjoyed a culture of drinking and smoking all day every day, hardly like playing the professional athletes they are today.

[Joe Gillis]

Rubbish

[Eric the Half a Bee]

yes but defenders were also, poorly trained, tactically inept and enjoyed a culture of drinking and smoking all day every day, hardly like playing the professional athletes they are today.

Oh, yes. Defensive organisation is far better than it has ever been.

[Wales-Bales]

yes but defenders were also, poorly trained, tactically inept and enjoyed a culture of drinking and smoking all day every day, hardly like playing the professional athletes they are today.

Serie A wasn't an easy ride back then, it was by far the best league in the world, and it was a tough league with lots of good teams.

[the other bob wilson]

yes but defenders were also, poorly trained, tactically inept and enjoyed a culture of drinking and smoking all day every day, hardly like playing the professional athletes they are today.

Yeah, back then sides would defend well for about seventy five minutes, but then their desperation for a fag and/or a pint would take over and they'd have to go for a quick slurp and/or puff when they thought no one was looking. Scores like 14-14 were commonplace as opponents cashed in while defenders were indulging themselves on the touchline - change "tactically inept" to "tactically naive" and you've come up with a full house of internet cliches there.

Granted, they are both exceptional players, but I think it could be convincingly argued that Messi and Ronaldo's goalscoring records over a period of seasons offer proof that the standard of defending at the top level is not as good as it once was. Furthermore, I'd say that the modern day liking for defenders who can play out from the back has led to a decrease in what I would call out and out defenders.

At City, we all look at Lee Peltier and list the things he doesn't do as a modern day full back with all of the aspects besides defending that job entails, but I would argue strongly that Peltier is the best out and out defender at the club. Players like Peltier aren't fashionable these days, so there aren't as many of them around whereas back in the times you are rubbishing they were the norm - in my view, the quest for more athleticism, which I agree with in so many ways, can lead to a decline in specialism.