Were the 70s and 80s a golden era of football?

[Methuselah]

The problem with the modern game is the cheating. The way some players react to being tripped up would have had the St John's Ambulance men running on with a stretcher in the 1950's. Tackling was legalised GBH in the 1950's but it was accepted and was the same for everyone. Ref's were more lenient too. In 12 years of playing in the semi-pro Yorkshire League, I only played in one game where a player was sent off and there were some hard teams in that league. Grimethorpe Miners Welfare 'away' could be tasty.

 

[GOSBTS]

I know most of you will be watching the Everton game, but if any of you aren't/can't and want something football related to listen to, our next talk on 70s/80s football is on in five mins, link here: https://essex-university.zoom.us/j/91758479512

 

[Pilks]

The '70s were the true Golden Age. The '80s, less so. We ourselves may have been good, but overall flair and individualism was already being stifled

Look at the players gracing the First Division in the '70s - Best, Bowles, Marsh, Currie, McKenzie, Ball, Hudson, George, Worthington, Osgood, to name a few

Compare with some of the generally acknowledged 'great players' of the '80s - Robson, Dalglish, Lineker, Adams, Pearce, Reid, Beardsley - good players for sure, but did they really give you a shiver of anticipation of something brilliant? After Waddle and Gazza, and maybe Hoddle (though I was never that convinced) it becomes a bit thin

 

[GOSBTS]

Hi all,

If anybody missed the talk but would like to watch back, it has now been uploaded on the History Indoors YouTube channel:

 

[rochdaleblue]

Forest, Derby, Leeds (allthough a massive club back then) won the title in the 70s. In the early 80s the likes of Watford and Southampton finished runners up in the league. The talent distribution was more evenly spread back then. Squads weren’t nowhere as big, so they didn’t stockpile players. Where loans even around in this period?
The Everton team of the mid 70s was good enough to challenge for the title if they had had a top keeper. Thomas, Latchford, Dobson, King it was a pleasure to watch them. Football was affordable to watch. Give me that football anyday, over the overhyped, overpaid prima donnas of today.