[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Obviously changes with the ball play a part in "average" players being able to do wonderstrikes nowadays, but generally, most things that were revolutionary in football yesterday naturally become commonplace by tomorrow. Look at the Cruyff turn: these days it gets taught to seven-year-olds alongside passing with your instep and shooting with your laces; it's one of the most basic skills in football to a modern kid. Conversely, if you invented time travel and took Jerome Thomas back to the Seventies or Eighties, he'd be a world star with all of his step-overs.

It does hammer home how timelessly great Bomber was in the first video when they reveal his goal ratio was greater than Lampard's or Gerrard's though.

[talkSAFT]

Absolutely spot-on, Drewks and Ska'd.
I still can't resist kicking a ball that comes in my direction when I'm over the park, and it's quite true - today's ball does allow you to stroke with your instep - I don't remember it being that easy 'back in the day'.
Similarly I can't get my breath these days when goalies automatically go for a punch instead of a catch. Whatever are they giving the ball away for? How difficult is it with today's ball to catch it?
Are there any goalies out there who can answer that? Are there any of the right age who have experienced the old ball and the new ball?

[WBA-Josh]

Absolutely spot-on, Drewks and Ska'd.
I still can't resist kicking a ball that comes in my direction when I'm over the park, and it's quite true - today's ball does allow you to stroke with your instep - I don't remember it being that easy 'back in the day'.
Similarly I can't get my breath these days when goalies automatically go for a punch instead of a catch. Whatever are they giving the ball away for? How difficult is it with today's ball to catch it?
Are there any goalies out there who can answer that? Are there any of the right age who have experienced the old ball and the new ball?

I spent most of my childhood , teenage years and a little of my early adulthood playing as a goalkeeper and the current balls are easy to catch when it is a simple catch. However, due to how modern day footballs are, they swerve a lot when hit with plenty of power from range. That does makes it harder for keepers to catch it.

I also get angry when keepers decide to punch rather than catch especially when it is a straight forward catch such as from a cross or set piece. I understand if it is a Ronaldo thunderbolt from 30 yards but simple shots straight at the body should be caught. I was coached by a guy called Pete Wilson when I was a kid/teenager and he always hated punching. He always preached to us to catch as much as we could and only punch when we had to. He was the Leicester City goalkeeping coach at the time when he coached me for about 8 years and he was a great guy. He unfortunately died shortly after I gave up football the first time.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Saw some video footage of the unveiling and it wor half wobbling about in the wind!

[Luke_East_Baggie]

Statue looks cracking to be honest

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Seems a nice occasion, the likes of Big Dave, Asa Hartford, Len Cantello and even Denis Law there.

---

They should have left it like this! Bomber the superhero!

[4evaabaggie]

Superman has nothing on Bomber ............. a true hero, a true legend

he will always be my number one Albion player ..... as a kid I would pretend to be the bomber and even now he takes my breath away, and I remember his goals and his play with great affection.

There's a brown shot in the net tra la la la la, there's a brown shot in the net tra la la la la la la

Can not wait to get to the shrine to see the statue and get a photo in front of it ...........

[meandbrenarebaggies]

Absolutely chuffed to Naffi breaks with the statue. Have just watched all four parts of the Tony Brown story on Youtube. He is my football history... simple as that. Laconic, understated brilliance. This is what real football is about not all this money-centric *****cks that surrounds us today. COYB.

[wba_1996]

Looks quality, a really classy statue that actually looks like the player it is representing - unlike some of the tacky ones you see. When coupled with the Astle Gates the East stand car park is a really great tribute to probably the two all-time Albion greats.

Whack a second tier on top of the Halfords and The Hawthorns will be complete, Jeremy

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

It's no Michael Jackson, though