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Socrates - the coolest midfielder of all time?

Snookie

By Snookie
in General Football Discussion

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Snookie

Snookie

Posted
Posted

The Guardian posed the question whether he is the "coolest" midfielder of all time. Looking at these clips on YouTube there is definitely a case to be made for him. He always looks like he's come from a night spent pleasuring 3 supermodels before heading off to appear with Os Mutantes. Playing his part in possibly the greatest international midfield ever seemed to be just part of a normal day.

 

Actually question: Was the Brazil midfield from the 82 world cup the best International midfield ever? Claims can be made for the French one of the same period but there was an imperious joy about Zico, Socrates, Falcao and Eder that even now is still startling. I was at the game against Scotland in 82 and the goal scored by Socrates (which you can see on the clip) remains the greatest I've seen in person. If they were not the best, then definitely they were the most thrilling.

stressederic

stressederic

Posted
Posted

I love the fact that Socrates was faced with the choice of having to give up cigarettes or giving up running, and decided on the latter. Used to smoke like a chimney and walk around the pitch instead.

Snookie

Snookie

Posted
  • Author
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I love the fact that Socrates was faced with the choice of having to give up cigarettes or giving up running, and decided on the latter. Used to smoke like a chimney and walk around the pitch instead.

 

Loved that. He is both a Doctor and has a philosophy doctorate and is known as an active campaigner for social justice and human rights in Brazil. Somehow it seems quite different than the world of Beckham, Fat Frank etc.

pipnasty

pipnasty

Posted
Posted

The Guardian posed the question whether he is the "coolest" midfielder of all time. Looking at these clips on YouTube there is definitely a case to be made for him. He always looks like he's come from a night spent pleasuring 3 supermodels before heading off to appear with Os Mutantes. Playing his part in possibly the greatest international midfield ever seemed to be just part of a normal day.

 

Actually question: Was the Brazil midfield from the 82 world cup the best International midfield ever? Claims can be made for the French one of the same period but there was an imperious joy about Zico, Socrates, Falcao and Eder that even now is still startling. I was at the game against Scotland in 82 and the goal scored by Socrates (which you can see on the clip) remains the greatest I've seen in person. If they were not the best, then definitely they were the most thrilling.

 

 

Totally agree - the Brazil team of 82 was the greatest, most exciting team I have ever seen. I was 10 years old at the time and that World Cup is one of my happiest memories from my childhood.

 

Zico and Socrates are easily the equal of the likes of Platini, Cruyff and Zidane in my opinion. Just sublime.

Guest Cameron

Guest Cameron

Posted
Posted

Zidane is the 'coolest' midfielder. Sure he got wound up occasionly but even his reactions were cool. Headbutting an opposing player in a world cup final. That's cool.

Guest bumfluff mcclatchey

Guest bumfluff mcclatchey

Posted
Posted

He went to Trinity for a while didn't he?

 

Makes a great pub quiz question: Who is the only non-Irish international footballer to have won aa all-Ireland GAA medal at any level?

He won a medal when playing for University College Dublin back in the 60`s!

KBR

KBR

Posted
Posted

Totally agree - the Brazil team of 82 was the greatest, most exciting team I have ever seen. I was 10 years old at the time and that World Cup is one of my happiest memories from my childhood.

 

Zico and Socrates are easily the equal of the likes of Platini, Cruyff and Zidane in my opinion. Just sublime.

Was too young to remeber the '82 world cup, so 86 are my first WC memories. I remember feeling devastated when Joel Batts saved Socrates penalty, right up in the left hand corner. That was Socrates through & through... people cottoned on to his techinque, and how he took penalties, yet he still took them in the same 2 step way into the top left hand corner... almost like a dare to the keeper "I'm Socrates... save it if you can" absolute magic!

libero

libero

Posted
Posted

I was at the game against Scotland in 82 and the goal scored by Socrates (which you can see on the clip) remains the greatest I've seen in person. If they were not the best, then definitely they were the most thrilling.

Aye but Alan Rough was in goals so it doesnt count.... ;)

Guest bumfluff mcclatchey

Guest bumfluff mcclatchey

Posted
Posted

Was too young to remeber the '82 world cup, so 86 are my first WC memories. I remember feeling devastated when Joel Batts saved Socrates penalty, right up in the left hand corner. That was Socrates through & through... people cottoned on to his techinque, and how he took penalties, yet he still took them in the same 2 step way into the top left hand corner... almost like a dare to the keeper "I'm Socrates... save it if you can" absolute magic!

The `82 World Cup was the one I remember the best. Brazil were just about the greatest I had ever seen! But when Dino Zoff saved that header on the line from Socrates towards the end of the semi-final, I ran upstairs in tears! Love Dino Zoff too, but never forgave him for that!

Snookie

Snookie

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Totally agree - the Brazil team of 82 was the greatest, most exciting team I have ever seen. I was 10 years old at the time and that World Cup is one of my happiest memories from my childhood.

 

Zico and Socrates are easily the equal of the likes of Platini, Cruyff and Zidane in my opinion. Just sublime.

 

I was 18 and they had the exact same impact. That summer was one of the most perfect I can remember. I spent it in Spain, saw some brilliant football and fell in love with a wonderful German girl. I can still see her now; beautiful, perfectly tanned and wearing the most amazing blue bikini....god....

 

When we parted at the end of the summer I took her address but didnt give her mine. I can remember saying making a ridiculous statement about "finding her no matter where she was". I lost her address when i was out drinking with my friends later that week. Christ, what an idiot....

 

Sorry about that... What about those Brazilians eh?

 

BTW, I'm not certain that Zico and Socrates were quite in the class of Cryuff, and they had to compete with Maradona at the time for title of world's best footballer but I'd agree they were probably as good as Platini and Zidane.

Coyler

Coyler

Posted
Posted

I think he was there for a year. He was supposed to have turned out for Home Farm as well.

It was UCD I think, and he never got a game for the full team (!).

Andy Mac

Andy Mac

Posted
Posted

I thought the Argentinian team in 78 was pretty cool especially Kempes and Luque.

 

I was 11 when the World Cup was held in Argentina. I remember having to go to bed from 7-10pm then getting up to watch the games - all that ticker tape and magical Latin music. AND Liverpool were beating everyone for fun... and you tell the kids of today that and they don't believe ya... LUXURY!!

drdooom

drdooom

Posted
Posted

Totally agree - the Brazil team of 82 was the greatest, most exciting team I have ever seen. I was 10 years old at the time and that World Cup is one of my happiest memories from my childhood.

 

Zico and Socrates are easily the equal of the likes of Platini, Cruyff and Zidane in my opinion. Just sublime.

 

Agreed, though I was 8, you auld a***.

Snookie

Snookie

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I was 11 when the World Cup was held in Argentina. I remember having to go to bed from 7-10pm then getting up to watch the games - all that ticker tape and magical Latin music. AND Liverpool were beating everyone for fun... and you tell the kids of today that and they don't believe ya... LUXURY!!

 

I loved that one too. Luque looked like he should be holding up 'dirty gringos'. Kempes was stunningly good striker and Ardiles seemed to be able to run games on his own. The Scots were just the Scots. Basically promising to win the world cup, having a big send off, getting beat by Peru, drawing with Iran and then defeating Holland just seemed so well Scottish. I've got a memory in the back of my mind that some Scots fans tried to charter a submarine to go to Argentina.

 

But the outstanding memory is still the ticker tape. What a sight.

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