Diego Maradona - 1960-2020

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by Ghost of Barry Endean, Nov 25, 2020.

  1. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    I think it would be perfectly acceptable to be annoyed at him during the game, maybe for a few days after that. Beyond that it would be totally irrational. If you still hate him now for what was split second decision of probably purely instinctive cheating, against the backdrop of a career of absolute other worldly footballing skill, well you’re an incredibly sad individual.

    It’s only a game after all, bad Watford results annoy me for the rest of the day, then I forget about it.

    Maybe it’s not just England fans, but some of them are definitely an odd bunch. Remember the vilification both Beckham and the ref who sent him off got for months after the game.
     
  2. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Douglas Jardine is still a hate figure in Australia for the Bodyline series in 1932-33. Is that irrational? That wasn't even cheating.

    (I don't hate Maradona, it's just an observation).
     
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  3. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    I don’t know the incident, will have to look it up. I just think it’s irrational because it wouldn’t have been premeditated as such, the way the move worked out it couldn’t have been. It would’ve been a split second decision at that moment, almost instinct. The officials are there to keep order so it’s their fault they missed it.

    Now on the other hand, something like the Suarez handball in the World Cup, then the way he celebrated in the tunnel when the penalty was saved, that is something far more pre-mediated and worthy of a more serious grudge.
     
  4. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    It actually soured diplomatic relations between the UK and Australia for some time. Here's a brief Beeb summary:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-21013615.

    You could argue that the distinction between the two situations is premeditation, yes. Bodyline was planned well in advance (but was within the laws at the time).

    It's also important to remember that the Falklands War was only 4 years earlier when considering the response to the Hand of God. That would be one reason why the focus was on Maradona rather than the referee.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2020
  5. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    I’m not sure about that situation, basically it seems it was within the rules but unsportsmanlike. Not much difference to when we played Burnley and they rough us up, slow the game down, draw niggly fouls, waste time. Annoying, but perfectly legal and effective.

    The Falklands war thing is interesting, because you could also view it the other way. Ok, he was wrong to hand ball it, but you can argue it was an instinctive thing. He could have of course owned up, but how would doing so have been received back home in Argentina? Instead of being a villain in the U.K. he might have become a villain in his own country instead.
     
  6. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Well, that was kind of my point about Bodyline. It was within the rules and yet still generated hatred (and is still talked about nearly a century later).

    I am sure you are right that there is no way that Maradona could have owned up for precisely that reason. But equally I think it explains why the instinciveness of the action, or the negligence of the referee, were largely ignored over here and Maradona became a hate figure. I'm not sure it was irrational at the time, even if it might be now.

    My basic point is that the reaction has to be understood in the political context of the time (as does Bodyline, for that matter).
     
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  7. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    It's interesting to speciulate whether Maradona would have 'owned up' if that game had been against anyone other then England. Not sure whether he ever said anything about that?
     
  8. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    As much as I think Suarez is a nasty piece of work, I've always been surprised at the animosity shown towards him for that particular incident. It was a desperate attempt to keep his team in the tournament in the last minute, knowing that he would be sent off and still expecting they would lose with something like an 80% probability of the penalty being scored. I would certainly expect a player on my team to do the same. Yes it's a transgression of the rules but at least an open one. To me, a snide dive for a penalty or feigning injury to get an opponent sent off is far worse. I suspect it was the celebration of the penalty save that people really didn't like, but what would you expect him, or anyone, to do in those circumstances?
     
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  9. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    Exactly. I would expect any watford player to do whatever it takes to win at all costs. I celebrate fraudulent goals with more glee than a 30 yard blammo, because it has the added bonus of upsetting the opposition fans even more.
     
  10. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    Let’s not remember the Hand of Doucoure goal. Abdelaye and the lads celebrated that one like bandits!
     
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  11. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    For me it’s his celebrating down the tunnel, a bit of humility wouldn’t have gone amiss given the circumstances.

    He denied a certain goal by cheating and replaced a certain goal with a penalty, they still had a chance to score of course, but if he hadn’t cheated they would’ve scored.

    To celebrate them missing the penalty In the way he did was bad form in my opinion, there was absolutely no need.
     
  12. Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett Reservist

    I let it go many years ago and everyone else should too.
    There has been much worse cheating than Maradona or Suarez
    over time .
    Argentina 6-0 Peru '78
    Spain 12-1 Malta '83
     
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  13. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

  14. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    @Clive_ofthe_Kremlin some of the songs inspired by Maradona both from the past and current in the wake of his passing:



     
  15. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    From El Grafico:

    The abilities that defined Maradona were so highly valued at such a young age that by 1983 when Diego was only 22 years old El Gráfico summarized all of his qualities that combined the skillsets of many talents of contemporary and previous eras.

    He was the most explosive appearance of the past years. At the age of 16 he made his international debut. Already at the age of 17 he was a prodigy of skill and ingenuity. At the age of 18 his game continued to inspire with potency. At the age of 19 a Youth World champion in Japan that amazed. At the age of 21, the exclusive reason for the championship of Boca Juniors. At the age of 22, the world transfer record to Barcelona. His skill is so huge, his talent so exceptional, that Diego combined the skill of all of the greats, of the past 40 years, exhibiting the best virtues of all of them.

    He had the short game and electrical play of Walter Gómez. He had the long sprint of Norberto Mendez. He had the fascinating change of rhythm and shift of movement with unpredictability of Angel Rojas. He had the vision and eyes behind his head of Ricardo Bochini. He had the subtlety in touch of Rinaldo Martino. He had the unstoppable gambeta (crossover dribble) of Enrique Sivori. He had the touch and shot of Norberto Alonso. He had the finishing of Sanfilippo.

    At Napoli, Maradona reached the peak of his professional career: he soon inherited the captain's armband from Napoli veteran defender Giuseppe Bruscolotti[47] and quickly became an adored star among the club's fans; in his time there he elevated the team to the most successful era in its history. Maradona played for Napoli at a period when north–south tensions in Italy were at a peak due to a variety of issues, notably the economic differences between the two. Led by Maradona, Napoli won their first ever Serie A Italian Championship in 1986–87. Goldblatt wrote, "The celebrations were tumultuous. A rolling series of impromptu street parties and festivities broke out contagiously across the city in a round-the-clock carnival which ran for over a week. The world was turned upside down. The Neapolitans held mock funerals for Juventus and Milan, burning their coffins, their death notices announcing 'May 1987, the other Italy has been defeated. A new empire is born.' Murals of Maradona were painted on the city's ancient buildings, and newborn children were named in his honour. The following season, the team's prolific attacking trio, formed by Maradona, Bruno Giordano and Careca, was later dubbed the "Ma-Gi-Ca" (magical) front-line.

    Jorge Valdano normally rather reserved talks about his team mate:
    https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...er-had-no-flaws-maradona-the-man-was-a-victim

    https://www.theringer.com/2020/11/25/21720683/diego-maradona-death-argentina-legend

    Podcast:
    https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ute-to-diego-maradona-football-weekly-podcast

    The film Maradona directed by Asif Kapadia for those who might not have watched it:
    https://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2020/11/25/diego-maradona-documentary/
    https://putlockers.fm/watch/VdPVYQKx-diego-maradona.html

    FIFA have once more brought the official film of the 1986 World Cup back onto their Youtube channel. Narrated by Michael Caine:

     
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  16. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Napoli fans light the streets around the soon to be renamed Stadio San Paolo before their match against Rijeka:

    [​IMG]

    Front covers from newspapers across Europe and the world:

    [​IMG]

    Internacional paid tribute by lighting up their Beira Rio stadium in the colours of the Argentine flag:

    [​IMG]

    The Mexican football federation placed a wreath in the Azteca the site of the goal of the century:

    [​IMG]
     
  17. WatfordÉire

    WatfordÉire Squad Player

    I take it people have heard about the scandal of the last few days. 3 workers at the funeral home the was preparing Diegos body opened his coffin and each took selfies which have since been spread on social media. All 3 were sacked.

    That wasn't the end of it though. 2 of the 3 workers have already been killed by Boca Juniors ultras, with the third in hospital in critical condition.

    Don't f*ck with Diego being the message it seems.
     
  18. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Good grief.
    I'd heard about the pictures but didn't know about the deaths.
    Terrible thing.
     
  19. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Unfortunately these ultras are a sickness in Argentine and South American football. They are far worse and more dangerous than those in Europe. What they (funeral home workers) did was obscene but let the authorities take charge. Makes me feel queasy to say the least.
     
  20. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

  21. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Superheroes paying homage?
     
  22. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    This is fake news by all accounts.
     
  23. Sahorn

    Sahorn Reservist

    It means Maradona was the superhero of superheroes and they are paying homage to him.
    That’s what the **** that means.
    And there’s no need to ******* swear if you don’t understand.
    Doh !!!!
     
  24. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    What did he do that was heroic? Stuffed oodles of coke up his nose? It’s just a lame internet meme that was originally a doctor/Covid thing. I know you didn’t make it so no offence intended to you.
     
  25. Sahorn

    Sahorn Reservist

    Sorry, who started the war?
    Cheap shot.
     
  26. Sahorn

    Sahorn Reservist

    I think IBB sums this up perfectly..
    He was a superhero to his football mad nation which at the time had a militaryistic fascist junta of a government suppressing any domestic opposition.
    He was a flawed character with demons.
    But his artistry as a footballer was off the scale.
    I have nothing but admiration for his incredible footballing skills and he was a joy to watch play.
    Nothing can take that away from the man, no matter much how he subsequently fooked up his life.

    And my apologies for taking offence - I admit I’ve had a few - a combination of celebration for a decent performance at last, and the tragic passing of a friend and school classmate.
     
  27. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    Superheroes are an American thing.Americans don't know or care about football. It was a terrible picture. Awful.
     
  28. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    What percentage of humans make it to be professional footballers? What percentage of those make it at the top level and win league titles and World Cups? Then what percentage of those who can/could actually do what Maradona could do with a football, do it at the level he did it?

    Obviously Superheros aren’t real and are from comics. But in the context of the actual real world we live in, for somebody with the talent of 1 in about 8 billion, then it’s not the most absurd description.
     
  29. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    I remember one the Spurs' FA Cup Finals ('81 or '82?) when Ozzie Adilles and Riki Villa "couldn't" play but came out onto the pitch with the squad (were they besuited and on the bench?) to a standing ovation of support from a Wembley crowd.
     
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  30. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Any one with spare couple of hours? As C4's catch-up thingy is showing this.

    EDIT: also The Upshot (sorry for the basic link - a c&p of my original as too much ID data attached to it) has a 'tribute' the great man.
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2020
  31. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    It was the '82.
     
  32. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member



    As Moose has pointed out the valuation of objects has gone mad. This piece of sporting memorabilia held by Steve Hodge in a security deposit box somewhere was valued at £400000 recently before the passing of Maradona.



    @luke_golden may enjoy this if he has not seen it before:

     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2020
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  33. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    I Blame Pozzo likes this.
  34. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member





    The greatest freestyler of them all as well.​
     
  35. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Extraordinary player.
     

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