Utter bullshit. I've seen Maradona play, likewise Pele, likewise Cruyff and Messi many times - Leo Messi is from another world and people slag him off just because he hasn't won a WC.
He was at Barcelona when we played them in the Super Cup, but didnt appear in either match. Think he was out injured at the time
Not sure you can lump Gazza in with Maradona when it comes to obnoxious bastards Deano.I'm not a huge fan of Gazza, another flawed human being who wasted his talent but when he passes I'll pop into his rip thread and say something nice.
You forgot Jay Rodrigues mate.Well, old Diago wasn't alone when it came to handball cheating as you can see in these 2 videos.
The Henry one was blatant and shocking the ref didn't see it and the Joe Jordon one was another sly one like Maradona's but the commentary from the Scottish commentator is so one-eyed in favour of a Welsh handball it's ridiculously funny!
It would appear unfortunately that some cheats do prosper but that's life I'm afraid and whilst I won't forget Maradona and Henry cheating my 2 countries (Ireland & England) personally I have zero respect for all of them nevertheless, I recognise how good both Maradona and Henry were as players.
You forgot Jay Rodrigues mate.
Apparently he was consistently coked off his tits during his Napoli days. Coke is emphatically not a performance enhancer so makes his achievements even greater IMO lol.Is scoring with your hand any worse than diving to win a penalty? That happens almost every week and they are both forms of cheating.
The drug thing, yes its not great but he isn't taking them to cheat and improve his performance on the pitch and some would argue its no worse than excessive alcohol. Coke is everywhere you go now, most just dont notice it. I've even seen it going on in the Holte End - no idea why you would want to take it there.
Adultery - well there are a huge number of footballers who are guilty of this, many of them who have never been caught out.
If that handball had been against anyone but England, I dont think we woud be even having this debate over him.
Not that black or white though. And I don't think anyone suggests that spotless sainthood is achievable. It wasnt just one or two things with Maradona it was many things.
I'd love to see the reaction nowadays if he was playing and despite his brilliance Maradona was cheating, taking drugs, kicking other players in the head, committing adultery and having allegations of mafia corruption thrown at him.
I'm not sure so many would be so forgiving of those aspects as they seem to be now he has passed. Doesn't take alot for footballers nowadays to be hammered for lesser indiscretions.
Up to individuals opinions of course but I just can't separate his brilliance from the person he appears to have been. Comes in one for me. I don't expect sainthood but there was far to much for him.
The hand of god is pretty much the basis for the Neanderthal level of hatred I'm seeing on Facebook/ Twitter etc.I don't know why people still bang on about 86 and the handball either as it goes. It's one of them things, seen worse at a world cup (Bilic v Blanc). England are serial losers and love a poor us excuse.
Its the other stuff as I have listed that bugs me.
The common theme in all of this is that the players cheated and got away with it which is what annoys most people.
It was down to the referees and linesmen to see each incident and punish each player respectively but they didn't and they got away with it.
Unfortunately, we see now cheating in every area of the pitch and that pisses me off more than anything.
Bamford anyone? If I found myself in the same room somewhere with that cretin then I would make a quick exit for both his and my safety and fear of getting arrested.
Football is now sadly full of his kind and it's not helped by lots of managers turning a blind eye to it either.
Ha ha, I would never have guessed from that post.Now as that was against the Villa for me it's a shooting offence. Dirty cheating Stripy Filth player who I really don't like!
Peter Reid has made a career out of the story of trying to catch him lol.
Legend for the wrong reasons.lot of fuss for outpacing Peter Reid innit -
and Villa legend Stevie Hodge has the Maradona shirt from that game apparently.