Playing in today's PL Dunk is up against the best players in the world and you think he couldn't handle 1980's Brighton? I'm sorry but you're being silly. He's stronger and fitter than they were, they would be the ones crumbling.
I don't think my athletics comparison was great because athletes of 1980 trained hard, not that dissimilar to athletes of today. They wouldn't have been drinking and smoking after a run like a lot of the footballers.