I’ve always held the view that US sports are generally based on Physique, Basketball – played by cranes, Football – played by the proverbial brick shithouse, even the Baseball guys are generally built like tanks. There are the odd exception, but not many.

Football in this country, especially in the premiership, is now absolutely dominated by Tall, strong and athletic players, their footballing ability seems to be an after thought. So many managers have their teams based around these type of players, usually Africans, a type of human wrecking ball to break up the oppositions play, I mean, a ‘Holding midfielder’ wtf? must be the easiest position in the team.

Rugby players got a lot fitter with the inception of the profesional game at club level, but even they seem to have got to American wrestler proportions.

I remember Peter Beardsley was told by Gillingham that he was too small to be a player, thank god that another club seen something more in him, but nowadays, would he even have got that second chance?.

Interesting, still think that football is more dominated by skilful players rather than big guys, players like Nasri, Nani, Wilshere are still more effective than the big guys like Samba, Shawcross etc

Do you mean that they all take performance enhancing supplements? With derisory punishment in the unlikely event of being caught out?

It’s a good question actually. I’ve seen some incredibly skilful small footy players, make even Messi look ordinary, but they’re just not big enough for the professional game. Messi himself is just 5’7″ and probably the best footballer in the World right now, but he is an exceptional talent. Footy is a game where physical strength is pretty important really. Messi is about 10 stone, and amongst the smallest players at top level. You get yer tiny Kenyans and that, 8 stone and can run marathons, but they’d simply get battered in professional footy. But Maradona is only about 5’5, and Pele 5’8…

‘British’ sports reflect the average British build really, so fairly tall and solid. S’why were not usually so good at agility sports like gymnastics. F1 drivers tend to be on the small size, as being tiny has an obvious advantage with those tiny cockpit. Was it Anthony Davidson or someone a few years ago, was simply too big for the car, and got squashed too much?

Justin Wilson, Elfin

Still becoming? Thought that happened 20 years ago!

That’s him Clubber, thanks. 🙂

Look at the behind the scenes photos of footballers in the 60s/70s, they were all smokers. And big time boozers. Same with most sports. True professional sportsmen are a new thing. They look different because of it, and with most things physical, when all else is equal the biggest fella wins.

Football – played by the proverbial brick shithouse, even the Baseball guys are generally built like tanks

You forgot about hockey, here’s Zdeno Chara. At 6’9″ in his socks he’s the tallest player in the NHL.

Carlos Tevez is a shortass ,Tim Cahill isn’t tall but can outjump anyone and there are many other smaller but very good players .Wayne Rooney for one.

Cahill and Rooney are both 5ft10, not that short, so how big are all the other players?? probably an average of about 6ft1 or more which is above the national average

british sports are dominated by triumph of brawn over brain, this is the reason why we will never win the world cup. but the supporters pay their money and expect results so the clubs are required to form a team that doesn’t lose because there is money riding on it, hence the bruisers in every team to keep up.

Don’t think of it as sport but as entertainment then it all makes sense

Rugby still has a little bit of space for the wee guys. They have to be strong and hard tho

I was at Stansted seeing off the kids on a trip to Grannys some years ago when we noticed the Arsenal squad checking in for their summer training camp flight. It was like standing in a forest and I’m 5′ 10′.

Plenty of smaller players, its a disadvantage in some positions, but there’s plenty of opportunity for smaller guys.

Roy Keane was once told he was too small to be a footballer. Evras only 5’9.

A good team has a mix of fast, agile players and strong physical ones.