Quote Originally Posted by nw6pie View Post
That’s a crazy stat - I remember reading that Bernardo Silva runs about 11 kilometers per game. Nowadays it’s all about athleticism, especially the higher up the leagues you go.
No doubt that fitness levels now are way above those required in the 70s, but much of the reduced mileage was about tactics. In those days, defenders defended and attackers attacked. Unless it was a corner, seeing any of the back four in the opposing half rarely happened, same as seeing attacking players in your own half. All sports have made massive advances, not just football.

Natural ability is still priceless, and for what it's worth I'm convinced that if Don Masson had been born 50 years later he would still have starred at the very top level.