Independent Leyton Orient Forum

Got me thinking. Snooker is one sport where fitness is just about irrelevant and the old boys have it wrapped up. Ronnie is mid 40’s and was scathing of the younger players recently. So, is the argument that sport generally, more especially football, have better players now that at any point in the past, right or wrong? I was watching a couple of the Champions league games recently, the defences were shocking, only a handful of times in 90 mins did someone beat a man however it was incredibly fast paced and the passing was a blur. I am wondering if I am looking at the best ever in terms of humans ability to play the game of football or just incredibly fit people who run around a lot. In the last 30 years participation in football as an example has fallen off a cliff with so many different alternatives. If the talent pool has declined that suggests there are less good players around now. I guess you could argue it depends on the sport. Tennis is clearly in a golden age. Most current boxers would be clobbered by the champions of 20-30 years ago if they were as fit.

FYI, sport is when you need to get changed to participate. Snooker is a pastime or hobby much in the same was as playing cards or knitting.

The Mindsweep wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:35 am FYI, sport is when you need to get changed to participate. Snooker is a pastime or hobby much in the same was as playing cards or knitting.

Funny you should say that, but Robertson spilt coffee all over himself in one of the early rounds of the snooker and had to go and change his trousers and his shoes.

Interesting point about more options.

Without having anything to back this up, i get the feeling that there's less kids playing sport. With more options inside the house like gaming, I literally cant remember the last time I saw kids kicking a ball about an estate, or over a field. Feel like the current youngsters coming through are the last generation where that was the norm. Will be interesting to see if that affects quality of players coming through from the next gen.

Yep. I guess the fall in participation in Europe has been somewhat offset by the increase in participation in Africa and less developed countries. Interesting though as so difficult to make comparisons in Sport as so much of what you see In terms of games appearing to be faster and better quality is down to advances in nutrition, sports science, never mind the quality of the pitches. In Snooker, where that side is mostly irrelevant, the old players are far better than the kids 25 years younger. Why would that potentially be any different in other sports.

Apple Wumble wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:48 am

The Mindsweep wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:35 am FYI, sport is when you need to get changed to participate. Snooker is a pastime or hobby much in the same was as playing cards or knitting.

Funny you should say that, but Robertson spilt coffee all over himself in one of the early rounds of the snooker and had to go and change his trousers and his shoes.

I’ve used that excuse before now as well.