Barcelona- Dream team vs modern greats

Today Pep Guardiola stated that the Barcelona side he was part of that won the European cup in 1992 were better than the modern side. If they were better than todays team they must have been exceptional.

I was to young to really appreciate this team so I'm interested in the views of the older posters who were around at the time.

Stats don't tell the whole story so I haven't bothered looking them up but on a purely footballing basis is this true?

prettyboykev wrote:Today Pep Guardiola stated that the Barcelona side he was part of that won the European cup in 1992 were better than the modern side. If they were better than todays team they must have been exceptional.

I was to young to really appreciate this team so I'm interested in the views of the older posters who were around at the time.

Stats don't tell the whole story so I haven't bothered looking them up but on a purely footballing basis is this true?

No some great players but not as good as the current side

Koeman, Top class defender, great passer dead ball specialist.
Bakero, little midfielder, great short passer, nippy and break from midfield and get on the scoresheet.
Stoichkov, First rate stiker/left forward use to finish emphaticaly, would score half chances.
Laudrup, Maybe the Messi of that side, extremely creative, briliant passer, made the game look easy.
Guardiola, Great long passer, defensive midfielder, good positioning and a good leader.

This is the Barcelona 'Dream Team' that won the European cup in 1992 they don't look better on paper anyway.
Zubizarreta
Koeman
Nadal
Ferrer
Bakero
Amor
Guardiola
Laudrup
Begiristain
Stoichkov
Goikoetxea

This Barca team is now legendary!!!! wow, they win big and with style. of football

On a simple head to head basis, I reckon that only 3, perhaps 4, of the '92 side would get a game ahead of their modern counterparts -

Laudrup was exceptional and would walk into almost any team. I'd have him ahead of Pedro while Stoichkov just about ousts Villa.

You're then getting into arguments as to whether Guardiola displaces Busquets (damn close in my opinion) and Koeman earns a place ahead of first choice centre halves, Picque and Puyol (I don't think he does because of a serious lack of pace).

Looking beyond the individual head to head contest, you have to look at the style of play and tactical ability and there's no contest. The current side play a brand of football that takes what the '92 side did to a different level. Xavi, Iniesta and Messi orchestrate play to a level that I doubt even Cruyff envisaged possible. Koeman and Nadal would have struggled bady against such quick interplay.

I think this current crop are faster with movement and such accurate passers make this team exceptional.

However, Laudrup would easily get in this side.

But it all came down from one person's vision who created this beautiful football concept - Johan Cryuff