Liverpool vs Arsenal 11.05.2025 - KO 16:30 GMT

[Mac76]

True. It's funny though - I feel more connected to our current lot than I have in many years, and its not really to do with performances. I think they are just generally quite likeable, and (contrary to NQ's original point) - really care about playing for our club and give their all for the manager. more than can be said for certain others over the past 20 years or so.

I agree, old-style players could be real morons, these days they are more health conscious and some of them at least are generally better role models (not everyone obvs).

There are players at other clubs who remind me of old-style players - like Grealish and Maddison, a couple of jack-the-lad ****s

I too think most of our players are really into it and yes they earn silly money but it's just the market - they also put themselves through a lot (especially under Arteta) and someone likes Saka goes out there knowing he's going to get kicked every week.

The modern players I don't respect so much are those going to take the blood money in the Saudi League, especially those still young enough to play proper football, all this BS about 'they need to think of their families', seriously how much effing money do they need?

[HCZ_Reborn]

I agree, old-style players could be real morons, these days they are more health conscious and some of them at least are generally better role models (not everyone obvs).

There are players at other clubs who remind me of old-style players - like Grealish and Maddison, a couple of jack-the-lad ****s

I too think most of our players are really into it and yes they earn silly money but it's just the market - they also put themselves through a lot (especially under Arteta) and someone likes Saka goes out there knowing he's going to get kicked every week.

The modern players I don't respect so much are those going to take the blood money in the Saudi League, especially those still young enough to play proper football, all this BS about 'they need to think of their families', seriously how much effing money do they need?

The life of the modern footballer (or in fact the sportsman in general) is pretty laborious it seems, constant training, constant monitoring of vital signs, nutritional intake etc. It has very little to do with personality, those who lack the discipline to maintain this regimen generally don’t make it full stop.

It’s essentially about a cultural shift, the players from back in the 1980s might get pissed the night before and try and sweat the alcohol out of their system by wearing two jumpers when doing cross country runs, but it wasn’t that dissimilar in much of Europe up until the 90s.

If someone like Declan Rice was playing for us way back then he’d probably be having beans on toast as a pre match meal, just like Paul Merson would be on a high protein, low carb diet now.

I think certain players still get up to mischief outside, but because of social media and the fact that anyone with a phone can be a “citizen journalist” it tends to be more seldom.

The difference is the existence of the modern footballer seems to me to be more curated (and that’s because of the way they are remunerated for their skill and because of the money in the game itself)