It’s a ridiculous thing to try and assess. The Leeds team would be blowing out of their arses after twenty minutes - apart from the one or two that would already have been sent off. If they played the game in the current times and standards. By the same token - If the current city team went back in time to that era they’d run off crying after two minutes. Neither would compete with the other at the game they played. Whilst both are called football, there are more differences than similarities. How would Gary Sprake deal with passbacks and playing with his feet? How would ederson cope with routinely having rotund centre forwards chucking elbows in his ribs unchecked? Might as well compare a cricket team to a rugby team.
No way. You're saying one of the best sides ever to not get promoted to the top flight would be beaten by this seasons tippy tappy messing around at the back, can't pass to a team mate side.
From the disparaging comments on here , I guess most are by the younger end never saw that Leeds side at the time. Now its too hard to compare 70's football with todays game, too many changes, tackling for one thing! You could do it then , now not so much, the players of today couldn't cope with it, Grealish for instance would spend most of the game on his arse! But as somebody who lived through that era , I agree with AC, that Leeds side could cope with the present day Man City no probs.
No chance. Even ignoring the tactical and technical advances, the physical side of things is in a different league. They'd be chasing shadows.
I think he always came across that way. Came in our club for presentation night back in the day. Eric Winstanley was great but Clarke looked like he’d seen his own arse.
I detested that Leeds team. Celebrated like we'd won the Cup ourselves when Sunderland veat them. They were dirty and pushed rules to the limit and beyond. They weren't the only ones who did that at the time though. The thing is I have far more respect for them than the achievements of Man City, Chelsea etc who have bought their success. I understand that part of that is an age prejudice thing but that's far from all of the reason. I'd struggle to name more than three or four of the current City side as I never have the slightest interest in watching a financially doped team hoover up trophies. They're the football equivalent of East German athletics.
One point he made which was 100% correct. It was more of a level playing field in the 70s compared to today.
Theoretical though this is, think some may see it differently e.g. Macca and Ian Evans could probably play Devante in their slippers, whilst Big Trev and Derrick Parker would love the number of chances they’d get every few minutes playing against Mael and crew. And that’s before we think about what Ronnie would do.
Leeds players would have been handsomely paid back then in comparison to other teams around them. Extremely difficult to assess, I think Clarke thinks his team would just be allowed to kick city off the pitch without 2024 rules, silly statement really.
In 13 years at Leeds, Revie won: 2 league titles 1 FA Cup 1 League Cup 2 UEFAs Cups You can't compare the two sides really. The frightening thing is, we will be saying the same thing regarding another team compared to this Man City team in 30 years time
Definitely. There will always be big teams who do well on a consistent basis but there was always the cyclical element too where a smaller team, every now and then in their history drop on the right group of players and manager. Teams like Forest, Derby, Villa, Everton, Ipswich etc could flourish for a while. Now that has been almost removed. No matter how good a group any club drops on it is simply outspent by the big clubs. Leicester apart it's become a closed shop.
He's talking nonsense. Its all about touch and control? has he watched a City game in the last 10 years? The City team are all internationals as well.