Replying To royal11: "Modern preparation as mentioned above is exactly why the quality of football is higher now. The skill levels, strength, fitness, decision making and tactical knowledge of players have all increased in comparison to 20-30 years ago. It will be the same again in 20-30 years time. Players today have benefitted from watching the likes of Darren Fay, Trevor Giles etc. and have learned from them. It's evolution seen in every sport, all sports now have athletes performing at a higher level than 30 years ago, it's why world records are broken. To say players are less skilled today is nonsense. I accept some people prefer to see more contests for possession and lumping the ball up the pitch but like soccer and rugby and hockey the game has evolved. Handpassing has been around for years, look up the 1980 All Ireland final on YouTube and watch the first attack of the game, the Roscommon number 10 catches a handpass unopposed and then hand passes the ball into the net for a goal."
Agree with ye, skill levels have increased, BUT, it is rare that the skill levels are allowed to be showcased in the modern game. One can argue matches from the past with "let it go" comments all the time could be boring? But you often had skills levels in the foot pass-could be good or bad-and you would have back vs forward contesting the ball. Now we can have 8-9-10 short handpasses (many illegal as per the rules) and a possibility of an exciting foot pass where back v forward contest the ball.