Originally Posted by
brine3
You could say he's gotten worse, as he's still the same player tactics and skill wise as when he was 21, just slower. The mark of a truly great player is one that continues to play well when the pace goes, because they've developed the rest of their game. Roy Keane or Paul McGrath could hardly walk near the end of their careers but were two yards ahead of other players in their head. See also Ryan Giggs, Zidane, Laudrup, Hagi and nearly all other true greats. Giggs reinvented himself as a player to stay at the top level. The Duffer seems to be the current Irish player who is continuing to develop himself as a player despite his increasing age. Good on him.
Robbie has been pretty much happy to take his pay check and not improve himself as a footballer, yeah. Like I said, gave up after six months at Inter and six months at Liverpool when the going got tough for him. I'm not angry or begrudging him (as others accuse me), let the man enjoy himself in LA. Who wouldn't mind thousands of quid a week in California. I just don't worship him as some kind of "legend" as some others here obviously do. Because he's no legend.