This can also be explained by stronger depth of the field. Either way, we don't know.
Federer was much above Djokovic and Nadal in that period (in terms of performance against the field). He didn't lose to Rafa (off clay) nor Djokovic at a major until 2008, after his prime. Also, as I said, after Djokovic's win at the AO, Federer didn't lose to Djokovic until well after his prime (USO 2010 - aged 29).
I was saying peak Federer vs peak Nadal/Djok not pre prime. What is more logical that the 2nd tier 04-07 was all much stronger, the depth beyond that was all much stronger and that peak Fed was way above peak Nadal/Nole or that simply peak Fed was a little above peak Nadal/Nole and the over-all competition was weaker?
Actually, Fed was 29 at USO 2010, which is three years after his prime (I consider his prime to be 22-26, like most other all time greats). Djokovic at 29 (2 years time), I will also consider well past his prime (think about it - it would be 5 years after his 2011 season).
No, Federer won the AO and WTF despite being out of his prime. Being out of his prime has nothing to do with winning or losing against Djokovic, but rather age.
You seem to be under the impression that being out of your prime means your levels are markedly diminished consistently. This is not the case, it simply means you are not able to reach your top levels at the same amount of consistency. 2010-2012 Federer was reaching the same levels at his best on hard courts as 07-09 Fed was, he simply was not doing it at the same consistency. However, at majors on hard courts in the big matches he was usually able to bring out those levels on hard courts (and to a lesser degree occasionally on clay or grass).
This is just false. From 04-07 he won 7 HC majors and 3 WTF, whereas from 08-12 he won 2 HC majors and 2 WTF. I would consider Federer losing to Djokovic at a major/WTF in Federer's prime (when AO was Rebound Ace) just as much an upset as Federer losing to Safin or Nalbandian.
I said BESIDES Djokovic and Nadal his results were similar:
AO:
08-Djok
09-Nadal
10-Win
11-Djok
12-Nadal
USO:
08-win
09-Del Po
10-Djok
11-Djok
in 04-07 he took one 1 loss to a GOATing opponent (Safin) just as he did in 08-12 (Del Po). Besides that he beat inferior guys in 04-07 and lost to Nadal/Djok in 08-12 consistently. No other lower tier guys managed to upset him until Berdych got him in USO 12 (when his true decline began).
Why does Fed have a 5-year long prime post-peak? That's ridiculous.
The fact that you think Fed in '07 is at the same level as Fed in '11 says it all.
Fed isn't immune to aging, although I know you'd like to think that.
He isn't immune to aging but his levels did not drop off markedly until 2013. Fed's level throughout 07 were not equal to 11, but his level in the matches vs Nole in both years at USO was pretty similar.
In reality, given Djokovic's struggles against an old Federer (and thrashings by younger Federer) at majors, I don't see him beating Federer in his prime ('04-'07, AO on Rebound Ace, except perhaps '04 FO), so Federer "weak era" arguments are moot to me.
lol so 19 year old Djokovic losing to absolute peak Federer at AO 07 indicates how a peak vs peak (which Nole was 4 years away from) match would have gone.
Also since Agassi at 34 took Federer to 5 sets at USO 04 that must mean peak Agassi would destroy Fed at USO right? If you don't believe that why does Fed at 30 taking peak Djok to 5 sets mean peak Fed would destroy peak Nole?
You keep acting like just because Fed's over-all levels were lower in 08-12, that must mean his level in each isolated match HAS to be lower than it was in the 04-07 window.
I would say Fed over-all on clay in 06>>Fed on clay in 11, but his RG matches vs Nadal and Nole in 2011 was probably better than any individual RG he ever played in 04-07 and only his Rome 06 match vs Nadal was he playing better.
Similarly his levels at USO 11 vs Nole were fairly similar to his levels against Nole at 07. Young pre prime Djokovic held set points vs that Fed, the difference in 2011 was he was able to mentally tough it out and he was also able to endure more punishing rallies, there is not some vast difference like you want to make it out to be.
Peak for Peak I think their clay levels are equal and Djokovic is about as far above Fed on slow hards as Fed is on fast hards.
2011-2014 Djokovic vs 04-07 Fed:
Australian Open:
11 Djok vs 04 Fed - 11 Djok
12 Djok vs 05 Fed - 12 Djok
13 Djok vs 06 Fed - 13 Djok
14 Djok vs 07 Fed - 07 Fed
Djok: 3-1
French Open:
They would split 2-2 I think, 11 Djok beats 04 Fed and Fed probably wins 2 of the other 3.
Tied: 2-2
USO:
Remains to be seen what form 2014 Djok is in, but with the mental focus if hes playing at a high level he could possibly beat 07 Fed. 11 Djok probably beats 04 Fed. Fed 05/06 wins
Either: Fed 3-1 or tied 2-2
Wimbledon:
Fed likely wins at least 3 times. 11 Djok vs 04 Fed and 14 Djok vs 07 Fed would be the only close matches and possibly Djok could eek one out.
Either: Fed 4-0 or 3-1