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Is modern football more boring than e.g. 90’s football

Do you find modern football more boring than the 90’s football ?

  • Yes - the super tactical pepified football is more boring

    Votes: 47 82.5%
  • No - the 90’s was messy I prefer the modern stuff

    Votes: 10 17.5%

  • Total voters
    57

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
23,281
58,705
I’ve watched some big football matches recently especially PL and frankly I just don’t find them as interesting to watch anymore on the whole and this has been happening more over the last 5-10yrs. Ange and Spurs are great as we are so attacking and open our games are mad but I’m talking generally on the whole the PL and modern football in general just doesn’t seem as fun to watch as it used to be.

I believe it is due to a few factors:

1) Most teams try to play a Pep style and it leads to a ton of short at times pointless passing

2) Modern football and life is very technical and tactical and imo overanalysed and overcomplicated, teams playing about 6 different formations during different phases of the matches, matches become like a game of chess rather than a battle of passion and an expression of freedom.

3) The level has improved but as a result there are far less mistakes be it technically or tactically so less space, less bloopers, less screamers, matches feel more sanitised and predictable like a game of FIFA. You don’t tend to get Gazza’s or even Rooney’s in the PL anymore as players are imo over coached so that playground style freedom of play is seen less and less

4) Lack of characters and personalities. Social media and cameras everywhere mean players and managers etc have to be really careful what they say and how they behave, add in VAR and there are far less big tackles and passionate scuffles which has imo taken the edge and spice out of some matches. Peak 90’s you had Roy Keane and Vieria going toe to toe, nothing comes close to than anymore.

5) Formations, every man and their dog plays 4-3-3 or some variant of it so you don’t get those epic strike partnerships and just generally there is a real lack of quality strikers and goalsscorers these days. Compare the likes of N.Jackson, C.Wood to the 90’s : Shearer, Sheringham, Cole, Yorke, Owen, Fowler etc etc

It could be that I’m just becoming a grumpy old man 😅 and yearning for nostalgia but I’ve spoken to a lot of other football fans about this and it seems quite a few do agree.

Keen to know what SC members think about this?
 
Last edited:

0-Tibsy-0

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2012
12,602
49,826
Agree entirely. I'm mid 30's, so it's a bit early to purely put it down to being a grumpy old man....though I am a grumpy old man in spirit to be fair...

Football generally was more fun. Everything has become so sanitised.

There was no VAR, there were big crunching tackles, more personalities pre social media and media training, crowds/fans had more humour and more spontaneity etc, football is now less tribal, football is often less chaotic because managers look for 'perfection' in a system, less room for mercurial talents (in PL era see Ginola or even players like a Dalmat or Mido for eg), clubs are seen as commercial vehicles, constant engagement because of the internet (rather than Saturday afternoons for games, transfer rumours in the paper/teletext and a chat at the pub or with family), money, removal of football from 'the people' etc etc etc
 
Last edited:

Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
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I was thinking the same after reading the chat about goalies in the Premier League thread. Martinez being seen as the best in the world.. hmm. But the same applies to most positions. It feels like the true stars are aging out of the game and the ones coming up are not quite up to the same level - but there are more in that upper-middle area. Tactics and systems, and coaching from a young age has changed the type of player and definitely changed the game. That plus the multi-club ownership and some big clubs hoovering up talent for the youth team. Or maybe from a player perspective, the money involved and security of being on a long deal at a good club? not sure, really.

I also think the wall to wall coverage of every minute detail is incredibly boring. Not everything needs to be BREAKING NEWS. An overload of stats in some areas, too. Useful, but not necessarily for the viewing audience. Plus VAR and the tiring analysis/mental gymnastics to prove one way or another.

The kick off times give more options to watch the games but kills the excitement of loads of games at the same time. The relegation of cup competitions to a mid-season hassle is a shame, too, not helped by rounds being played from Thursday to Monday.

There is a lot to it, but I generally found the league from about 1997-2002 to be much more exciting. Even though, probably, the standard of play, fitness, etc, and tactical understanding overall is a lot higher now.
 

daveduvet

Well-Known Member
Oct 6, 2008
6,307
16,776
What I’d love to see one weekend is the introduction of the type of ball & boots that were used in the 80/90’s… .. have them used in all games to see just how good modern footballers are compared to yesteryear..
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
42,876
72,924
There is a lot to it, but I generally found the league from about 1997-2002 to be much more exciting. Even though, probably, the standard of play, fitness, etc, and tactical understanding overall is a lot higher now.
Interesting that you put in that specific time period because two years after that Mourinho and Benitez came in, Fergie adapted his tactics and nearly every big game for the next near decade was a boring slogfest. Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool felt like it happened five times every season and other big games weren't much better.

I think football is a lot better to watch now than it was say 2005-10 which was the age of peak tactical slogfest. But the chaos of the 90s has it's own charm for very different reasons.

And everything pre 1992 you can just discard thanks to the back pass ruining so many big games. That rule change in 1992 has been a bigger factor than anything for why football exploded the way it has.
 

Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
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Interesting that you put in that specific time period because two years after that Mourinho and Benitez came in, Fergie adapted his tactics and nearly every big game for the next near decade was a boring slogfest. Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool felt like it happened five times every season and other big games weren't much better.

I think football is a lot better to watch now than it was say 2005-10 which was the age of peak tactical slogfest. But the chaos of the 90s has it's own charm for very different reasons.

And everything pre 1992 you can just discard thanks to the back pass ruining so many big games.
I chose that time period because I have been listening to the It Was What It Was podcast and they had a series on Liverpool vs Newcastle games from 1996/1997, Man Utd's treble, Wenger coming along, and the impact of Euro 96. Plus, for me, it was a time when I watched a lot more and could watch a lot more.

There is also an episode on the Abramovich takeover and the huge spending that followed quickly. That feels like the point it all changed.
 

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
23,281
58,705
Interesting that you put in that specific time period because two years after that Mourinho and Benitez came in, Fergie adapted his tactics and nearly every big game for the next near decade was a boring slogfest. Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool felt like it happened five times every season and other big games weren't much better.

I think football is a lot better to watch now than it was say 2005-10 which was the age of peak tactical slogfest. But the chaos of the 90s has it's own charm for very different reasons.

And everything pre 1992 you can just discard thanks to the back pass ruining so many big games. That rule change in 1992 has been a bigger factor than anything for why football exploded the way it has.
Great point about the back pass rule !
 

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
23,281
58,705
S
I was thinking the same after reading the chat about goalies in the Premier League thread. Martinez being seen as the best in the world.. hmm. But the same applies to most positions. It feels like the true stars are aging out of the game and the ones coming up are not quite up to the same level - but there are more in that upper-middle area. Tactics and systems, and coaching from a young age has changed the type of player and definitely changed the game. That plus the multi-club ownership and some big clubs hoovering up talent for the youth team. Or maybe from a player perspective, the money involved and security of being on a long deal at a good club? not sure, really.

I also think the wall to wall coverage of every minute detail is incredibly boring. Not everything needs to be BREAKING NEWS. An overload of stats in some areas, too. Useful, but not necessarily for the viewing audience. Plus VAR and the tiring analysis/mental gymnastics to prove one way or another.

The kick off times give more options to watch the games but kills the excitement of loads of games at the same time. The relegation of cup competitions to a mid-season hassle is a shame, too, not helped by rounds being played from Thursday to Monday.

There is a lot to it, but I generally found the league from about 1997-2002 to be much more exciting. Even though, probably, the standard of play, fitness, etc, and tactical understanding overall is a lot higher now.
So so true mate , a lot of mid-upper level players but aside from a handful, most of the top top players are nowhere near some from yesteryear
 

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
23,281
58,705
Agree entirely. I'm mid 30's, so it's a bit early to purely put it down to being a grumpy old man....though I am a grumpy old man in spirit to be fair...

Football generally was more fun. Everything has become so sanitised.

There was no VAR, there were big crunching tackles, more personalities pre social media and media training, crowds/fans had more humour and more spontaneity etc, football is now less tribal, football is often less chaotic because managers look for 'perfection' in a system, less room for mercurial talents (in PL era see Ginola or even players like a Dalmat or Mido for eg), clubs are seen as commercial vehicles, constant engagement because of the internet (rather than Saturday afternoons for games, transfer rumours in the paper/teletext and a chat at the pub or with family), money, removal of football from 'the people' etc etc etc
Fantastic post, glad it’s not just me 😅 I’m similar age and was nodding at all of your points.

Especially about stats, so OTT and overdone.

The crowds, the banter, the mercurial talents, you just don’t see any of that anymore unfortunately.

As you say it’s very sanitised unfortunately. Of course there are some positives, the stadiums are safer…. Other than that im struggling to fine many other positives 😅
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
34,858
162,515
I think I like it better now. But the 90s was 30 years ago, we probably all remember the classic games like Liverpool 4 - 3 Newcastle. But we don’t remember the 0-0s, the unplayable pitches, or Wimbledon kicking lumps out of everyone trying to steal another draw.

I don’t think things are all that different either. My old man was moaning about Henry and Kanu wearing gloves, or Beckham having a weird haircut back in the early 00s. People moaning about coloured boots sound the same…old.

I don’t think the oodles of money has made things that much different than in the 90s either, people were already moaning about it then, players were always getting lambasted for being playboys like Best, now it’s Rashford going to the US on his week off.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

The game is undoubtedly of a higher technical standard now too.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
42,876
72,924
Great point about the back pass rule !
Mate, if you want something to fall asleep to one evening dig out the Euro 92 final. It's mental how unwatchable it is and how Denmark abused the back pass. The last ever professional game before the rule was introduced IIRC and a perfect demonstration of why it was needed.
 

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
23,281
58,705
I think I like it better now. But the 90s was 30 years ago, we probably all remember the classic games like Liverpool 4 - 3 Newcastle. But we don’t remember the 0-0s, the unplayable pitches, or Wimbledon kicking lumps out of everyone trying to steal another draw.

I don’t think things are all that different either. My old man was moaning about Henry and Kanu wearing gloves, or Beckham having a weird haircut back in the early 00s. People moaning about coloured boots sound the same…old.

I don’t think the oodles of money has made things that much different than in the 90s either, people were already moaning about it then, players were always getting lambasted for being playboys like Best, now it’s Rashford going to the US on his week off.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

The game is undoubtedly of a higher technical standard now too.
Fair points mate, although I don’t think we’ll ever get a proper end to end ding dong 4-3 like that Liverpool vs Newcastle game anymore, the flow and openness and chaos of the game just doesn’t happen now.

Sure we had a 3-4 recently vs Chelsea but it was quite a different type of match, 2 penalties and also it’s a bit of an outlier as Ange’s much more open and a bit less organised tactics are extremely rare.

You are right though there are some similarities and there are pros and cons to both times but for me the feeling of football in the 90’s was a lot more free and fun, I suppose life generally was a lot more like that back then, less technology, no social media, no smart phones, no VAR, no constant updates, no huge amounts of data and tactics and video analysis, it was a simpler calmer more fun and free time imo and for me football very much reflected that.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
13,157
16,468
Some great points in here.

Add to those the fact that there didn’t used to be any substitutes, then for years it was 1 sub. Now you can bring on 27?

Fitness is a massive factor and the general lack of space on a pitch these days

Football is an industry now, whether it be coaching badges or Statisticians

Spontaneity has gone as well as players with their shirts not tucked in! They were always the best ones
 

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
23,281
58,705
I think of some of the best and most exciting players too and compared to now they are just much better and/or more exciting players and characters:

“They don’t make em like they used to”

Schmichel
Seaman
G.Nev
Adams
King
Bruce
Mabbutt
S.Pearce
Irwin
Keane
Vieria
Scholes
Mcmannaman
Giggs
Ginola
Beckham
Le Tissier
Cantona
Owen
Fowler
Asprilla
Zola
Bergkamp
Shearer
Sheringham
Yorke
Cole
 

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
23,281
58,705
Some great points in here.

Add to those the fact that there didn’t used to be any substitutes, then for years it was 1 sub. Now you can bring on 27?

Fitness is a massive factor and the general lack of space on a pitch these days

Football is an industry now, whether it be coaching badges or Statisticians

Spontaneity has gone as well as players with their shirts not tucked in! They were always the best ones
That’s is such a brilliant point!! Hadn’t thought about that! Less subs = tired legs = more mistakes and more flow less stop start, now as you say teams can make what is it 5 changes across 3 sub windows so a possible of 6 sub stoppages during the match if both teams use those and so much change.

As you say the spontaneity is gone.

I don’t think if Beckham emerged now that he’d have been able to score that iconic half way line goal, nor would Rooney have had the space as a 16yr old to cut inside and bend that goal off the bar past seaman as there would be a super organised spaced out block of 11 men in the way and no space and if he did try and shoot he’d probably get told off for giving the ball away and effecting the posession stats
 

Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
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Mate, if you want something to fall asleep to one evening dig out the Euro 92 final. It's mental how unwatchable it is and how Denmark abused the back pass. The last ever professional game before the rule was introduced IIRC and a perfect demonstration of why it was needed.
I watched the official film of Euro 1992 today as it goes.



That tournament completely passed me by at the time. Not sure why exactly. England's group with Denmark, Sweden and France was so dull (Eng and Fra especially!) they struggled to find highlights of the first two rounds of games. 5 of the 12 group games were 0-0 or 1-1.
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
34,858
162,515
Fair points mate, although I don’t think we’ll ever get a proper end to end ding dong 4-3 like that Liverpool vs Newcastle game anymore, the flow and openness and chaos of the game just doesn’t happen now.

Sure we had a 3-4 recently vs Chelsea but it was quite a different type of match, 2 penalties and also it’s a bit of an outlier as Ange’s much more open and a bit less organised tactics are extremely rare.

You are right though there are some similarities and there are pros and cons to both times but for me the feeling of football in the 90’s was a lot more free and fun, I suppose life generally was a lot more like that back then, less technology, no social media, no smart phones, no VAR, no constant updates, no huge amounts of data and tactics and video analysis, it was a simpler calmer more fun and free time imo and for me football very much reflected that.
I just think all of those things you’re yearning for come from a desire to be young again. It’s not really any different for youngster nowadays. They love football and footballers as much as we all did in the 90s and they’ll be yearning for this time again when they’re 30-50.

Like the list of players you gave underneath this post. All great players, but there are great players now too. We’re just too old to idolise and revere them the same way we did when we were kids trying to copy them in the playground.

I went to fetch my nephew from the park the other day where he’d been playing footy with his mates, they were still playing when I got there, even though it was pretty much dark. They were all doing things trying to copy their heroes, one kid doing the annoying Cole Palmer celebration nearly made me fetch up my lunch, but that’s kids. They’ve all got that same shitty Phil Foden/Henry the 5th haircut too. In my day kids were getting their hair done like Ravanelli, and celebrating like Klinsmann or Cantona with their collar up.

It’s just the way of the world. Sun rises, sun sets.
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
33,117
25,779
I'm in the camp that I'd say overall its a lot better.

The players of today wouldn't be able to play that old way, kicking lumps out of one another, but then those players wouldn't be able to keep up with the intensity of todays game either.

However, and this is where I contradict myself slightly, I prefer watching non-league football live over prem or professional football, as it has that old school feel about it!
 
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