discussion Pele, the master has died

[BattleshipBob]

Know its not everybody's sport but I am holding back the tears.

The world's greatest football player and also a true legend has sadly passed.

NO modern player could put his boots on, a genius, gentleman

Just watch the 1970 world Cup final against Italy, to see football turned into art!

Rest in peace Pele

 

[Allen Dewire]

So sad and so true Bob. No one has ever done so much for soccer than he did...RIP Sir...

 

[BattleshipBob]

A while ago in college at xmas I played the 1970 final to students, they were in awe and joined the fan club for life lol

 

[adt70hk]

To young to see him play in his prime but very much aware of him as I grew up and the respect he had both in and outside of football.

RIP.

 

[The Smythe Meister]

I used to LOVE football as a little one... ALWAYS watched it...
.....until the Premier League began
.. I do still follow my beloved ARGYLE's progress,but don't even go there anymore!
A different level, obviously,BUT,he embodied ALL ,of that PROPER football spirit...
Where's THAT gone?!! ...
R.I.P. PELE ... And thank you for the memories

 

[Tim Marlow]

A while ago in college at xmas I played the 1970 final to students, they were in awe and joined the fan club for life lol

His pass for the forth goal in that game is just sublime. Pure football artistry. His name was recognised the world over, and he seemed to be a genuinely decent human being. A loss to the world.

 

[Guest]

His name was recognised the world over

You sure about that? (Play it via the link, some Italians don’t like it being embedded on a forum )

 

[Tim Marlow]

You sure about that? (Play it via the link, some Italians don’t like it being embedded on a forum :sad: )

Absolutely sure. His name transcended his sport, much in the same way that Muhammad Ali’s name transcended boxing. It doesn’t mean he was liked or disliked more than any other, but that his name was known more widely than any other……it’s an accolade that very very few individuals ever achieve.

 

[rtfoe]

RIP Pele.
I must admit in 1970 I knew very little about football except my forehead meeting with a goal post on our Primary School field...was trying to avoid a tennis ball being thrown at me, a game we played called Chopping. I only was introduced to football at boarding school in 1974 and watching the English League on telly. Then just before the World Cup there was a series on past world cups aired on telly and that's when I saw for the first time the beautiful game by the Brazilian team in Mexico and the name Pele. Then and there I wanted my first pair of Puma boots and kept my head away from the post.
Pele was a great ambassador for football and got many football pros to play in The North American league.
Because of the movie Victory, I learned that Brazil was on the allied side and made contribution with pilots and airforce.
The present Brazilian teams always have a hard time emulating that 1970 team.

Cheers,
Wabble

 

[scottie3158]

I don't like football but he was a true master of the game. I remember when he shook Gordon Bank hand after his one handed save.

 

[rtfoe]

I don't like football but he was a true master of the game. I remember when he shook Gordon Bank hand after his one handed save.

Yup...I remember that...killer of a header down onto the ground for it to bounce up to the inner side top corner of the goal post...Banks was at the other end of the post and with one split second striking leap and stretch across he tipped it over with one hand. Classic header and a classic save. Worth a handshake.

Cheers,
Wabble

 

[BattleshipBob]

Watched Pele and Gordon Banks talking together, Pele said he started to shout 'goal' until he saw put of the corner of his eye this blue shirt racing across the goal and producing the greatest save ever, Pele still could not explain how he saved it.

 

[AlanG]

Whilst i think he was a very likable gentleman and very approachable, i for one don't get this greatest of all time thing. Greatest of his time, yes. But not all time. He has done wonders to promote football in his country and ethical & diversity issues. That cannot be denied and should be warmly remembered and applauded.
But looking at today's standard of football, i don't think he'd be anything special.

Bit like racing drivers (car or motorbike). Greatest of their times. Not of all time.

Just my honest opinion. Still a great shame the world has lost such and talent and gentleman

 

[Guest]

Absolutely sure.

I think you missed the joke and/or didn’t watch the video It’s a guy watching another video, in order to learn about football. Pelé is on-screen in the video he’s watching, and the guy asks, “Who is this talking?”

 

[Tim Marlow]

Whilst i think he was a very likable gentleman and very approachable, i for one don't get this greatest of all time thing. Greatest of his time, yes. But not all time. He has done wonders to promote football in his country and ethical & diversity issues. That cannot be denied and should be warmly remembered and applauded.
But looking at today's standard of football, i don't think he'd be anything special.

Bit like racing drivers (car or motorbike). Greatest of their times. Not of all time.

Just my honest opinion. Still a great shame the world has lost such and talent and gentleman

In sport you can only beat what is in front of you at any time Alan. He was the lynchpin in a team that totally dominated world football, winning the World Cup three times in four outings. That is still unprecedented.
Unfortunately you can’t directly compare “then” and “now”, it’s like comparing apples and oranges. Talent, though, is talent. If you are outstanding in your own era, you would be outstanding in any era. With todays rules, training, and technology he would be absolutely outstanding. Not sure the current game set up would bring out his more human qualities though. Can’t imagine many modern strikers shaking hands with a goalkeeper that had just saved what they thought was a certain goal.

 

[AlanG]

That is sort of my point thought Tim. In 'his time' he was an excellent player. I am not saying he wasn't. But people call him the greatest of all time. He isn't. Simple as that. No-one is or ever will be. Skill/talent improves over time and if he come up against top notch defenders of today's standards then i don't think he'd be so potent. I have this argument with my father all the time (normally after his team matches or England), who lives in the past regarding 'old school' players.

 

[scottie3158]

Alan, although I agree to a point I often wonder if todays so called greats would be half as good as their predecessors without the manicured pitches tech boots lightweight footballs. They have never known the trauma of heading a wet leather football and getting the laces first. Plus they played for the love of the game and not six figure weekly pay cheques.

 

[Tim Marlow]

I know where you are coming from Alan, and in general I agree. However, though the average players skill level improves over time, because training methods improve, the talent pool the players are taken from remains more or less the same. Talent, ie the inbuilt ability of the individual player to take the training offered as far as it can be taken, is pretty much based on genetics. This cannot be taught, and, unless we start going in for applied genetic enhancement, cannot be created. To me, this means anyone that is the top of the gene pool in his own era would pretty much be top of the gene pool if he was born into any other era. In pure footballing terms, by the way, the GOAT is quite possibly Maradonna…..but Pele had exceptional personal qualities as well.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Alan, although I agree to a point I often wonder if todays so called greats would be half as good as their predecessors without the manicured pitches tech boots lightweight footballs. They have never known the trauma of heading a wet leather football and getting the laces first. Plus they played for the love of the game and not six figure weekly pay cheques.

Sorry mate, but I’m going to have to disagree here……
Yes they would is the short answer Scottie. They wouldn’t play in the same way, because it would be a different game, but they would still be better than the vast majority of their peers.
As to loving the game, that’s what makes them all put in the hours to get as good as they do. The money comes from being that good. They don’t become that good because they are trying to earn the money. Let’s face it, if they were motivated solely by making money from playing sport they would probably go out and learn how to play golf :tongue-out3: .

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Alan, although I agree to a point I often wonder if todays so called greats would be half as good as their predecessors without the manicured pitches tech boots lightweight footballs. They have never known the trauma of heading a wet leather football and getting the laces first. Plus they played for the love of the game and not six figure weekly pay cheques.

HA!! Was about to say EXACTLY THAT ...
Couldn't agree more
... By the time the modern day equivalent to Pele/Best... ( I.e. Ronaldo / Neymar) get anywhere NEAR the penalty area they're not even looking to score,just "win"a penalty!!
Alan,you can't even TRY to compare,we all know that,but it's not because the modern day players are better... it's because they are so protected.. and, frankly, couldn't even live with the defenders of the real game