[Albion] Would this team beat our current best eleven?

[Triggaaar]

In other news, questions have been asked whether if my old mum had had a cock and balls, would she of been my dad?

Er, no, obviously not.

 

[Doonhamer7]

Our current team would beat the combined best of the Brighton and Forest teams, put in context our current team would easily beat the 1980 champions - Liverpool which includes Dalglish, Souness and Hansen

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

You think Dunk would crumble? Don't be daft.

This.
Dunk is probably the nearest player we have to a 70s/80s style player, the difference being he is as comfortable on the ball as Lawrenson and Hansen, he just isn’t as quick. (But quicker than Fozzie)

It’s always an interesting question and an impossible comparison, as training, endurance and diet have improved so much. The pace today is also a lot quicker and every player is an athlete.

My question would be whether the technically gifted players of today are able to play on uneven surfaces.

In my mind there is no doubt that the Hoddle’s, Bowles, Currie’s would have been fine surface wise, but how many could do it the other way.

Conor Gallagher would of course benefit as his touch is crap, and he’d get booked less as he’d be diving in like everyone else….

 

[Flounce]

You think Dunk would crumble? Don't be daft.

Mitrovic and Lukaku

Not that WE had forwards like that in the 80s though

Not sure Dunk would have had too much trouble with Robinson though, both run/ran like they have lead in their boots comparitively.

 

[heathgate]

You think Dunk would crumble? Don't be daft.

The current version of Dunk yes, he has lost a lot of his mobility and awareness in my view.

 

[Triggaaar]

The current version of Dunk yes, he has lost a lot of his mobility and awareness in my view.

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.

 

[aolstudios]

Dirty Leeds

Tbf, they were as bad as each other

 

[aolstudios]

….but that ‘only’ difference is huge.

Of course it is.
But players can only be among the very best of *their* time, with *their* training methods etc
Lawro was

 

[Blue3]

our current team would thrash them they must all be in their 60’s

 

[dazzer6666]

Of course it is.
But players can only be among the very best of *their* time, with *their* training methods etc
Lawro was

Which is nothing to do with the question posed
Today’s squad would rip the old one to pieces. Too fast, too strong, too technical.

 

[Seagull on the Hill]

........would she of been my dad?

. Naughty boy HWT.

 

[studio150]

Given Shilton couldn't keep out Gary Williams piledriver from the edge of the box, Verbruggen isn't going to stop it either.

But unlike Clough I would expect FH to praise the quality of the shot, as opposed to saying it was a fluke

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Most people here are dismissing the 1979-83 team on the basis of their diet and fitness. But what if the same players had had present-day levels of coaching and fitness? I think things would be far closer in that case. Brian Horton today would be the number six we are crying out for. Peter Ward converting some of those chances we regularly miss? Yes please. John Gregory or Gary Stevens at right back, and Mark Lawrenson to add technique and a bit of pace to the back four? Every day and twice on Saturdays.

Verbruggen
Gregory Stevens Lawrenson Estupinan
March Horton Baleba Mitoma
Ward Pedro

 

[nickjhs]

Not a chance. Loved this old team, saw them play many times but they are not a scratch on what we have now. I doubt many old first division sides would be competitive in today's game

 

[Flounce]

Given Shilton couldn't keep out Gary Williams piledriver from the edge of the box, Verbruggen isn't going to stop it either.

But unlike Clough I would expect FH to praise the quality of the shot, as opposed to saying it was a fluke

I was there for that goal! That’s all

 

[Flounce]

Ignore, I am being an idiot

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Mitrovic and Lukaku

Not that WE had forwards like that in the 80s though

Not sure Dunk would have had too much trouble with Robinson though, both run/ran like they have lead in their boots comparitively.

Not many 80s forwards had mobility and physicality though…. So not really the same IMO.
the Jordan’s, Latchford’s, etc., wanted a delivery to attack, whereas Lukaku (who until Roma away had got nothing from Dunk), moves across the line during the game.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I was there for that goal! That’s all

Me too, behind it, as the club had moved some of the north season ticket holders to the South

 

[heathgate]

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.

A defence is not one player, my view was based on the current best Vs the best then.

 

[Beanstalk]

On a modern pitch with modern balls and kit not a chance.
Never really understood this argument. Even if it was in 80s conditions I still don't think it would be close.
Footballers are basically as physically fit as it is humanly possible to be now. You have central defenders who are as fast as some of the fastest people on the planet. Whilst also being 6ft4.
After 60 minutes the 80s teams would be on the floor.
These were people who's training mostly consisted of crosscountry running and who spent the evening after a match drinking and even smoking. Totally unrealistic to think they'd compete.

100% this.

The issue with arguing that any team from a previous era would beat any team (of similar standard) today is completely based in nostalgia rather than reality. I was watching an 04/05 Premier League years and the standard of football then was atrocious compared to today.

The question should always be "was the team in 1980 more enjoyable to watch than the team today?" otherwise it's just a silly comparison.