by Arthur Crabtree » Sun Oct 22, 2023 10:29 am
Always felt if S&G were British, instead of Joe DiMaggio in Mrs. Robinson, they would have used Bobby Charlton to represent a vague sense of lost national well being.
I only caught the end of his career, so he felt like an old man improbably still playing sport. I knew him best from reruns of the triumph of '66 and and the tragedy of '70. And he seemed ahead of his time, mainly because of how mobile he was. And having the anticipation find the right spaces. Though players were not closed down that quickly back then.
He's called an attacking midfielder, but that doesn't really capture his lungbusting fitness and willingness to pick up the ball from anywhere, on either wing. The player that most reminded me of him was David Platt, though the comparison also serves to demonstrate how good Charlton was.
And of course, he had his a special weapon, his long range shooting. And I'm sure the ball was heavier back then...
He was always unfailingly polite and seemed unaware of his greatness. A dignified spokesman for the Busby Babes. His modesty and humility may be among his most significant achievements. Even though this was a player who did that most sacred thing in the consciousness of popular English patriotism- he won a World Cup medal.
I always say that everybody's right.