Young players

[stainrodisalegend]

Apologies as I know the young v old player issue has been done to death - so here I am adding to it.

But if anything came out of the England v Italy match it was clear just what a young person's game it has become. OK so the heat makes it even more important but while you used to think of a player reaching their peak at about 27 it is now more around 23 I wd say. Someone like Rooney now looks about as agile as the late Lord Longford, while someone like Sterling looks as if he has come into his own.

Translating that to Rangers, it makes you wonder whether there is any point persisting with these kind of strollers like Krancjar (I like the player so not singling him out). Think we can still get away with two maybe three really good older players but its very clear that full backs and midfielders need to be able to run up and down the pitch for 90 minutes.

[Mattyqpr]

Comparing Rooney to Sterling is pure stupidity anyway! How can you compare them? Might as well compare Charlie to Dunne!

Not sure how you come to your conclusion either, seeing as the majority of the Italy team were all aged 27+ so 4 years above their peak? Nah.

I agree full backs and wingers need to be of good age and some legs in midfield is important, however, having an experienced spine of the team is essential for us next season.

[DeepcutHoop]

I'd agree to an extent, but Pirlo showed that a decent mature player can make the game look easy

[acricketer]

Pirlo looked good.

[Busheyboy]

if you are a class player, age doesn't come into it, as Pirlo showed (AGAIN)

[stainrodisalegend]

Accept that, but how many of our players have his technique? We like to think of people like Gerrard as being in their class, but when it comes to the really big international matches our "big" players can suddenly be made to look fairly average. Given that we seem to have inferior technique, we need to make up for it with energy/ fitness.

[DeepcutHoop]

Accept that, but how many of our players have his technique? We like to think of people like Gerrard as being in their class, but when it comes to the really big international matches our "big" players can suddenly be made to look fairly average. Given that we seem to have inferior technique, we need to make up for it with energy/ fitness.

That's more an issue of quality, not whether it's a young man's game or not. Certainly a problem for England either way.

Agree that as that is the case, it's probably worth focussing on giving the young players some experience and giving them a chance to prove themselves.

[Nick]

if you are a class player, age doesn't come into it, as Pirlo showed (AGAIN)

Agree 100% the same that can be said for Beckham and Giggs..... all are 'class player's' who have played at the highest level throughout their career, but what makes a class player (of a certain age) is not only playing because they want to (not because of money) but actually physically being able to. The pirlo's and Beckham's have constantly been pushed their whole career, so therefore are physically in great shape even towards the end of their career.

As for Rangers what are the chances of us actually signing one of these 'class players'?... very very slim. Rios a great professional and a good footballer but that's all. If we're to sign older players its got to be in the right positions- mainly in the middle (up front, CM or CD) but with us already having Hill and Dunne at CD that IMO rules Rio out.

[stainrodisalegend]

That's more an issue of quality, not whether it's a young man's game or not. Certainly a problem for England either way.

Agree that as that is the case, it's probably worth focussing on giving the young players some experience and giving them a chance to prove themselves.

Well there does seem to be an issue with the English game. Harry was quoted as saying that there isn't anything that young Brazilians can do that Ravel Morrisson can't, yet for some reason he has not developed into a young, fully-fledged international (or even a first team regular at club level). This world cup has been encouraging for us in that youngsters like Sterling have stepped up, but all too often our most naturally gifted youngsters fall by the way-side and we are left with solid old pros who are simply not good enough at the very highest level.

[QPRDave]

Derby County had a young side against what alot of fans label as old has beens.....Italy have 9 players in their squad 29 and over...age is far less important than tactics or team spirit

[maidstone_hoop]

if you are a class player, age doesn't come into it, as Pirlo showed (AGAIN)

spot on mate agree completely

[simonQPR]

Pirlo, age 35, best player on the pitch = enough said.

[stainrodisalegend]

Think some fans are living in the past. In the 1970s when I fist started watching football you cd get away with being slower than an Austin Allegro driven by Miss Marple as long as you had a bit of skill and swagger - now look at most top players, they are incredible athletes. I read today that Ronaldo lifts the equivalent weight of 70 cars - per day. The inches top players cover on a pitch now is incredible. Yep Pirlo was very good the other night because at his peak he was a fantastic player and you don't lose all of that - but he was better a few years ago. I simply ask how well will he still be playing by the end of a punishing, full on tournament? I will be crucified for saying this on here but if Stan Bowles were around today with the same fitness levels and body strength he had at his peak, he wouldn't be regarded as half the player we remember him as being. In tennis players like Connors and Nastase with the same body strength and fitness wd struggle to get in to today's top 100 I expect. Which is why a player like Rooney looks finished at top international level already, and someone like Bentley or Cole look finished even at league level. Athleticism is almost more important now than skill imho.