Rosy retrospection (1 Viewer)

[Briles]

Rosy retrospection refers to the psychological phenomenon of people sometimes judging the past disproportionately more positively than they judge the present.

I am starting to see this more and more in online forums and social media. In the respect that retired players seem to be given far more credence and respect than those currently playing.

For example, I would rate Kevin Debruyne far more highly than Paul Scholes. However many (through Rosy retrospection) would find this laughable. I would rate Hazard over Ryan Giggs, and Luis Suarez over Shearer. But you put these thoughts into the ether and bam! You are shot down for daring suggest that the golden players of that persons generation are not as good.

Has anybody else witnessed this?

 

[lord_garrincha]

Yes... I think the best defender we have ever had is Michael Rose, and the best midfielder is Andy R... aaah, I'll just get my coat!

 

[rob9872]

I'm a bit like that with Pele. The amount that say he was great can't all be wrong and his record is immense. But was the opposition always the best? Tbh the 2 things I ever see from him are the Banks save and the audacious effort from half way.... that missed! Rooney, Beckham even Doyle scored from range. Happy to be shot down, but not seen anything to convince me. Maradona on the other hand (cheating git) was simply amazing imo.

 

[Sbarcher]

She went to our school.

 

[ajsccfc]

Tbh the 2 things I ever see from him are the Banks save and the audacious effort from half way.... that missed!

There's the one where he sells the keeper a dummy and then puts it wide too



Get your fundamentals right, show off!

 

[shepardo01]

Yes (tin hat on...!) Highfield Road and the West Terrace!!

 

[shepardo01]

I'm a bit like that with Pele. The amount that say he was great can't all be wrong and his record is immense. But was the opposition always the best? Tbh the 2 things I ever see from him are the Banks save and the audacious effort from half way.... that missed! Rooney, Beckham even Doyle scored from range. Happy to be shot down, but not seen anything to convince me. Maradona on the other hand (cheating git) was simply amazing imo.

Remember Fantasy Football League with Skinner and Baddiel!?... they did a load of bits titled "Pele was shite!"

 

[Gazolba]

You can't really argue with statistics regarding players like Pele, Alan Shearer, Jimmy Greaves, or even our own George Hudson.
Their goal-scoring rate was phenomenal.
All you can do is to say players then weren't as fit as they are today or overall standards have risen over the years (both definitely true).
But they could only perform based on the standards back then when the ball was a lot heavier, pitches sometimes virtually un-playable, crunching tackles quite normal and they were paid a pittance compared to today's star players.

 

[skybluesam66]

When the great tommy hutch in his 50s played in a testimonial. He was still by far the best player

I would argue that many of today’s players wouldn’t be able to play the 1970s game

Remember the Baseball ground! Versus how upset we get if the Ricoh is a bit bobbly

Fitness diet kit pitches training money etc make today’s players better. But if the older generation had the benefit there would be little difference

 

[Otis]

The Baseball Ground was shocking. I even thought so at the time.

 

[bringbackrattles]

My late father would go on about players from his day, Lofthouse, Matthews, Finney etc. He would say they were proper footballers, and were far better than today's lot. But I also said the same to my son's going on about the likes of Best, Charlie Cooke, Bobby Charlton, Greaves.
Each generation often say and think there's was the best, whether or not they are correct is open to debate.

 

[Macca]

Depends what you mean by better I guess. Different eras different challenges. I’ve personally found era comparisons pointless