Was it generally better in days past?

I find that so may keepers nowadays aren't trying to hold the ball, but instead punch or tip it out. Sometimes even parring it back right into oncoming traffic.

I seem to recall that goalies used to pull off acrobatic saves and come up with ball in hand.

Is it that today's strikers are putting more spin on their kicks that make it harder to hold on to? Or something else?

@Da-Vincy

Biggest difference I see is less "tipping" high shots over the bar for a corner. They do push/punch balls back into play more now.