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Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:28 pm
by ClaretTony
To undergo surgery within hours for a subdural hematoma.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:28 pm
by yTib
still the best of all time for me.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:30 pm
by bobinho
In the top 5 no doubt...

Good luck to him.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:46 pm
by FactualFrank
Never good when it comes to the brain, so hope all goes well.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:03 pm
by Tribesmen
yTib wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:28 pm
still the best of all time for me.
Seen him play twice , the best player i have ever seen and for me the best of all time .

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:05 pm
by Silkyskills1
Superb footballer, superb captain when he literally dragged an average national team over the line to win the World Cup in 1986.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:08 pm
by joey13
Silkyskills1 wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:05 pm
Superb footballer, superb captain when he literally dragged an average national team over the line to win the World Cup in 1986.
[/quote

Cheats never prosper, oh hang on a minute

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:10 pm
by ClaretTony
I remember us having a Pele v Maradona discussion one Saturday morning at Gawthorpe. I was very much in the Pele camp whilst Vince Overson, who would have been too young to appreciate Pele, was in the Maradona camp.

It was Jeff Taylor who worked in the youth department at the time who nailed it when he said Maradona had done something that Pele hadn’t as mentioned in the list above. He’d taken a very average Argentina team to a World Cup win and a very average Napoli team to a Serie A title.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:17 pm
by cricketfieldclarets
How strange. Just been watching YouTube clips of him and reading about him. And wondering how despite all his issues he’s reached 60.

Great player. And despite off field problems and his infamous in field. Read lots about him which makes you realise he is a good person.

Hope he recovers. Mercurial talent.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:18 pm
by cricketfieldclarets
ClaretTony wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:10 pm

It was Jeff Taylor who worked in the youth department at the time who nailed it when he said Maradona had done something that Pele hadn’t as mentioned in the list above. He’d taken a very average Argentina team to a World Cup win
To be fair. As great as he was. Even Pele would have struggled to win the World Cup for Argentina.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:22 pm
by Silkyskills1
ClaretTony wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:10 pm
I remember us having a Pele v Maradona discussion one Saturday morning at Gawthorpe. I was very much in the Pele camp whilst Vince Overson, who would have been too young to appreciate Pele, was in the Maradona camp.

It was Jeff Taylor who worked in the youth department at the time who nailed it when he said Maradona had done something that Pele hadn’t as mentioned in the list above. He’d taken a very average Argentina team to a World Cup win and a very average Napoli team to a Serie A title.
Quite right,CT. The World Cup victory can easily overshadow his incredible effect on Napoli. He led from the front and delivered both domestically and on the international scene with players on both occasions who, with the odd exceptions, could justifiably be termed as average. His and Argentina's second goal in the semi v Belgium was simply breathtaking.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:33 pm
by yTib
i remember gary lineker talking about him at barcelona. he basically kicked the ball as far up in the air as he could and then when it came down volleyed it straight back up just as high and kept doing it. all watching were astonished.

also heard an account of him giving a lecture at a college and for the duration was doing kick-ups with a golf ball.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:50 pm
by conyoviejo
Silkyskills1 wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:22 pm
Quite right,CT. The World Cup victory can easily overshadow his incredible effect on Napoli. He led from the front and delivered both domestically and on the international scene with players on both occasions who, with the odd exceptions, could justifiably be termed as average. His and Argentina's second goal in the semi v Belgium was simply breathtaking.
One of the greatest footballers ever seen,like you say he carried Napoli all on his own and lead them to the title. Wish him a speedy recovery.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 9:04 pm
by Boss Hogg
Should he have come clean to the ref about the handball though ?

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 9:07 pm
by ClaretEngineer
Boss Hogg wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 9:04 pm
Should he have come clean to the ref about the handball though ?
VAR still wouldn’t have given it if it was against us.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:19 pm
by TVC15
Best player ever for me.
Serie A was the best league in the world at the time and he led them to the title....they would have been nowhere near to even challenging without him.
Argentina were bang average too - the way he played in that World Cup was as good as anyone in terms of one player carrying a team to a World Cup victory.

Pele was incredible but he did play in a number of fantastic Brazil teams and we never saw him play in Europe to see how good he was.
Messi has been brilliant but again played in an unbelievable Barca team. The thing that lets him down is that he has also played in some very good Argentina teams and never carried them to a World Cup or major title.
Ronaldo - he has carried his club sides and Portugal to major trophies. But compared to Maradona the sides Ronaldo played for were stronger.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:22 pm
by Wile E Coyote
best player i have ever seen. never thought anyone could come close , but messi arrived in the footballing world. incredible talents, but Diego for me.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:46 pm
by Dyched
Not having a go at anyone here as I have know idea how old anyone is. But the greatest ever is Cristiano Ronaldo. Only because I’m not old enough to have seen Pele or Maradona. I can’t stand it when ex pros/fans get asked and they say someone they never saw live or even on tv live. It’s nonsense.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:52 pm
by FactualFrank
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:46 pm
Not having a go at anyone here as I have know idea how old anyone is. But the greatest ever is Cristiano Ronaldo. Only because I’m not old enough to have seen Pele or Maradona. I can’t stand it when ex pros/fans get asked and they say someone they never saw live or even on tv live. It’s nonsense.
Messi is part of the same era and a clear mile better. I don't think in 2020 it's who is the best, it's clearly Messi. It's more a question of rewinding and picking Messi and Maradona/Pele. That's the major choice.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:53 pm
by cricketfieldclarets
Boss Hogg wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 9:04 pm
Should he have come clean to the ref about the handball though ?
No. The only thing that should have been cleaned is him by Shilton who is about a foot taller than him!

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:56 pm
by cricketfieldclarets
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:46 pm
Not having a go at anyone here as I have know idea how old anyone is. But the greatest ever is Cristiano Ronaldo. Only because I’m not old enough to have seen Pele or Maradona. I can’t stand it when ex pros/fans get asked and they say someone they never saw live or even on tv live. It’s nonsense.
Ronaldo definitely the best of the modern generation. By some distance for me.

But some of the stuff Maradonna did was incredible. On some of the footage I watched earlier there is a clip of him vs inter at the san siro on a pitch that wouldnt have looked out of place up trawden rec. And he just bamboozled players on there.

I cant ever argue against people saying Ronaldo is the best. But Maradonna is absolutely up there. He did it on bad pitches, overweight while off his head!

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:01 pm
by FactualFrank
cricketfieldclarets wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:56 pm
Ronaldo definitely the best of the modern generation. By some distance for me.

But some of the stuff Maradonna did was incredible. On some of the footage I watched earlier there is a clip of him vs inter at the san siro on a pitch that wouldnt have looked out of place up trawden rec. And he just bamboozled players on there.

I cant ever argue against people saying Ronaldo is the best. But Maradonna is absolutely up there. He did it on bad pitches, overweight while off his head!
C. Ronaldo (THE Ronaldo was better) had too many bad spells. His form was always all over the place. Messi dominated the opposition on a bad day, nevermind a good day.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:01 pm
by Zlatan
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:46 pm
Not having a go at anyone here as I have know idea how old anyone is. But the greatest ever is Cristiano Ronaldo. Only because I’m not old enough to have seen Pele or Maradona. I can’t stand it when ex pros/fans get asked and they say someone they never saw live or even on tv live. It’s nonsense.
You mean you never saw Dean Marney play?

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:04 pm
by Dyched
FactualFrank wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:52 pm
Messi is part of the same era and a clear mile better. I don't think in 2020 it's who is the best, it's clearly Messi. It's more a question of rewinding and picking Messi and Maradona/Pele. That's the major choice.
It’s personal preference either or. I’ve seen far more of Ronaldo so will go with him. When he first signed I was in my last year at high school. There was a big Man Utd “fan”. I told him he will be the greatest ever. No ********. You could tell. He’s immense an absolute machine. Messi is brilliant too, in different ways, the way he seems to just jog around players with the ball glued to foot is incredible. They’re both great. Their goals alone show it. There’s forwards remembered for being great, these 2 have reinvented the rules on how many goals need to be scored for being great. Players like Raul, Ronaldo, Inzaghi, Shevchenko etc would be forgotten about had they come after Messi and Ronaldo, no doubt. You see it now with Saurez and Lewandowski. Those 2 are streets ahead on the few I’ve mentioned, but will never get the praise due to Messi and Ronaldo.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:07 pm
by Damo
Spend an hour on twitter after a Barca win and you would believe Messi is the greatest player of all time
In reality, he's not even the greatest Argentinian player of all time

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:09 pm
by DCWat
cricketfieldclarets wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:56 pm
Ronaldo definitely the best of the modern generation. By some distance for me.

But some of the stuff Maradonna did was incredible. On some of the footage I watched earlier there is a clip of him vs inter at the san siro on a pitch that wouldnt have looked out of place up trawden rec. And he just bamboozled players on there.

I cant ever argue against people saying Ronaldo is the best. But Maradonna is absolutely up there. He did it on bad pitches, overweight while off his head!
Messi, Messi, Messi.

Ronaldo is a great, great player. I think he’s become so great because of an unbelievably dedicated and focussed mindset.

Now I’m sure that Messi has also worked his arse off but he was born with a supreme talent, far more so than Ronaldo.

Similar figures on goals per game. Messi way ahead on assists and for me, the wow moments come far more regularly when watching Messi.

Messi is the one I’d be paying to watch, if I had to choose. One thing in Ronaldo’s favour is that he’s done it different leagues and bloody good leagues too.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:09 pm
by FactualFrank
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:04 pm
It’s personal preference either or. I’ve seen far more of Ronaldo so will go with him. When he first signed I was in my last year at high school. There was a big Man Utd “fan”. I told him he will be the greatest ever. No ********. You could tell. He’s immense an absolute machine. Messi is brilliant too, in different ways, the way he seems to just jog around players with the ball glued to foot is incredible. They’re both great. Their goals alone show it. There’s forwards remembered for being great, these 2 have reinvented the rules on how many goals need to be scored by being great. Players like Raul, Ronaldo, Inzaghi, Shevchenko etc would be forgotten about had they come after Messi and Ronaldo, no doubt. You see it now with Saurez and Lewandowski. Those 2 are streets ahead on the few I’ve mentioned, but will never get the praise due to Messi and Ronaldo.
I think if you've seen a lot of Ronaldo, it's understandable. I remember him at Man U and thought he was tricky, but he lacked a bit. Messi has been the greatest for a lot longer at Barca. I just think Messi has done it longer. And... and this is a big thing.. he's not a ****. He gets on with his job and does it.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:13 pm
by cricketfieldclarets
FactualFrank wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:01 pm
C. Ronaldo (THE Ronaldo was better) had too many bad spells. His form was always all over the place. Messi dominated the opposition on a bad day, nevermind a good day.
C Ronaldo. Yes.

Original Ronaldo is my favourite forward of all time. And should have been the best. But injuries and fitness meant he is remembered as an incredible player but not the best.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:14 pm
by cricketfieldclarets
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:04 pm
It’s personal preference either or. I’ve seen far more of Ronaldo so will go with him. When he first signed I was in my last year at high school. There was a big Man Utd “fan”. I told him he will be the greatest ever. No ********. You could tell. He’s immense an absolute machine. Messi is brilliant too, in different ways, the way he seems to just jog around players with the ball glued to foot is incredible. They’re both great. Their goals alone show it. There’s forwards remembered for being great, these 2 have reinvented the rules on how many goals need to be scored for being great. Players like Raul, Ronaldo, Inzaghi, Shevchenko etc would be forgotten about had they come after Messi and Ronaldo, no doubt. You see it now with Saurez and Lewandowski. Those 2 are streets ahead on the few I’ve mentioned, but will never get the praise due to Messi and Ronaldo.
Spot on.

I hate the ronaldo or messi thing too. appreciate them both while we can.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:15 pm
by Dyched
FactualFrank wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:01 pm
C. Ronaldo (THE Ronaldo was better) had too many bad spells. His form was always all over the place. Messi dominated the opposition on a bad day, nevermind a good day.
Bad spells? Cristiano Ronaldo. He has over 700 goals. Over 36 per season on average since he first played at 16. He averaged 17 per season before he went to Real Madrid. He’s average over 30 since he turned 30.

Brazilian Ronaldos best season at Real Madrid he got 31. 2 less than Cristiano's worst.

I’m all for debating who’s best. But it’s quite clear Cristiano is street ahead of the fat one. “But he got injured” Yes but if Ashley Barnes was Pele he’d be good.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:17 pm
by FactualFrank
cricketfieldclarets wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:13 pm
C Ronaldo. Yes.

Original Ronaldo is my favourite forward of all time. And should have been the best. But injuries and fitness meant he is remembered as an incredible player but not the best.
Opinions I guess. The Ronaldo was in my mind the best footballer of all time. We're going back to when the champions were the champions. Every time he attacked Man United it looks like he was going to rip them a new one. That was football - that was how football was.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:18 pm
by FactualFrank
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:15 pm
Bad spells? Cristiano Ronaldo. He has over 700 goals. Over 36 per season on average since he first played at 16. He averaged 17 per season before he went to Real Madrid. He’s average over 30 since he turned 30.

Brazilian Ronaldos best season at Real Madrid he got 31. 2 less than Cristiano's worst.

I’m all for debating who’s best. But it’s quite clear Cristiano is street ahead of the fat one. “But he got injured” Yes but if Ashley Barnes was Pele he’d be good.
I'm 40 and watched football when it really mattered. You don't have a clue about football when the champions involved the champions league.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:21 pm
by tiger76
Just seen this news, Diego had his flaws most certainly, and this was no better exemplified than in the England game in 86, he blatantly cheated for the 1st goal, even in the pre-VAR era the officials should have spotted this, but just minutes later he scored arguably the greatest WC goal ever, those few minutes sum up his career from the worst to the best.

I also saw the other day he just celebrated his 60th, and this was only about a week after Pele passed 80. And sadly both are not in the best of health, hopefully both will be around for some years yet, but alas the omens aren't promising for either.

Amongst all the greats being mentioned on those thread I'd like to add Cruyff and Eusebio.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:25 pm
by Dyched
FactualFrank wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:18 pm
I'm 40 and watched football when it really mattered. You don't have a clue about football when the champions involved the champions league.
Non champions have been in the UCL longer than you could have possibly have been watching proper football. You’ve probably only been watching it 5 years more over me.

I remember that game Ronaldo vs Man Utd, standing ovation etc. I’m not doubting his quality. C Ronaldo won it 4 times at Real Madrid. He’s won it more times than Ronaldo had great performances in the competition.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:25 pm
by Quickenthetempo
The thing that sticks out with Maradona was how many players tried to take him down on every run he did. His strength, balance, speed, toughness hasn't been matched since.

As good as Messi and Ronaldo are they have an easy ride from the opposition.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:26 pm
by Wile E Coyote
pele scored 1000 plus goals, but it was against accy stanley quality teams. He played in an era when the south americans were unknown and mysterious. ronaldo, messi, maradona are light years ahead of him. same thing with banks the england keeper. he played for stoke. yes he won a world cup, and the press went nuts over his save from pele in 1970, but it wasn't that special. modern prem goalies do similar week in, week out. A lot of the themes for world class are pure hype.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:26 pm
by Browntuba
I hope Diego makes a full recovery. Was a phenomenal player, in my opinion the best.

I never tire watching the video of his warm up before a European semi final to “live is life” all the while with his boots unlaced. I think it was said some of the opposition players just stood and watched.
(It’s on YouTube not sure how to post a link)

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:28 pm
by FactualFrank
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:25 pm
Non champions have been in the UCL longer than you could have possibly have been watching proper football. You’ve probably only been watching it 5 years more over me.

I remember that game Ronaldo vs Man Utd, standing ovation etc. I’m not doubting his quality. C Ronaldo won it 4 times at Real Madrid. He’s won it more times than Ronaldo had great performances in the competition.
This is my point - or pint. The Champions League should be champions. Not a champion of your country? Don't qualify.

I want the very best teams to qualify - the best.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:31 pm
by Dyched
FactualFrank wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:28 pm
This is my point - or pint. The Champions League should be champions. Not a champion of your country? Don't qualify.

I want the very best teams to qualify - the best.
I agree. There’s there’s only 5 league Champions that could possibly make it interesting though. I’m sure it must of been top 2 when I first started watching it. That’d be a fair balance to make a really elite competition.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:32 pm
by TVC15
Browntuba wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:26 pm
I hope Diego makes a full recovery. Was a phenomenal player, in my opinion the best.

I never tire watching the video of his warm up before a European semi final to “live is life” all the while with his boots unlaced. I think it was said some of the opposition players just stood and watched.
(It’s on YouTube not sure how to post a link)
https://youtu.be/4vashrNoXTE

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:32 pm
by DCWat

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:34 pm
by FactualFrank
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:31 pm
I agree. There’s there’s only 5 league Champions that could possibly make it interesting though. I’m sure it must of been top 2 when I first started watching it. That’d be a fair balance to make a really elite competition.
When I first was into it, it was top 1. I remember me and my dad watching Man United vs Glasgow Rangers. They walked out to to the crowd and the music and I'd get the feeling down my spine... like... "Here we go". I miss those days.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 12:22 am
by cricketfieldclarets
Dyched wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:15 pm
Bad spells?
That did make me laugh too.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 12:40 am
by tim_noone
Wile E Coyote wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:26 pm
pele scored 1000 plus goals, but it was against accy stanley quality teams. He played in an era when the south americans were unknown and mysterious. ronaldo, messi, maradona are light years ahead of him. same thing with banks the england keeper. he played for stoke. yes he won a world cup, and the press went nuts over his save from pele in 1970, but it wasn't that special. modern prem goalies do similar week in, week out. A lot of the themes for world class are pure hype.
No.. that save was pretty special Wile.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:24 am
by hoskinsgoalatswansea
yTib wrote:
Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:33 pm
i remember gary lineker talking about him at barcelona. he basically kicked the ball as far up in the air as he could and then when it came down volleyed it straight back up just as high and kept doing it. all watching were astonished.

also heard an account of him giving a lecture at a college and for the duration was doing kick-ups with a golf ball.
I’m not sure how. Maradona had long left Barcelona when Lineker arrived.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:40 am
by jrgbfc
When Maradona was playing he had to cope with defenders kicking lumps out of him as well. Players get so much more protection these days, if someone so much as breathes on Messi refs seem to give him a free kick.

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 7:17 am
by JohnDearyMe
The film about his time at Napoli that came out a few years ago is well worth a watch

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 11:42 am
by JTClaret
I'd possibly still have him as the greatest.
I watched this a couple of weeks ago, and it shows he had the ability of Messi at a time when you could get away with being hacked down, he was an absolute beast of a player:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCbUiiJ ... verified=1

The game has changed a lot, but I genuinely think from that video you can see how he would do in the modern game, as well as what would happen if Messi played in the 80s

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 10:54 pm
by tim_noone
Saw him in the Miners once......... p!ssed!!

Re: Diego Maradona

Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2020 10:54 am
by claptrappers_union
Not sure if it been mentioned in the thread, but there's a great documentary, we'll worth a watch - makes you appreciate how he fell into the troubles the way he did, a lot of it was beyond his control.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmm7r4ynyIQ

If you could transport Maradonna the footballer into today's game with the all the sports science, training, diet plans, fitness routines etc, he'd be easily up there with the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. As Tony said, he carried average teams to the very, very top both domestically and internationally.

I once saw him in a hotel in France and I shook his hand.