10 - Lionel Messi - v1

[Catalonian Devil]

Like I said before I'm afraid Argentina are slowly becoming a 'France'

 

[Poor_Sunyol]

Like I said before I'm afraid Argentina are slowly becoming a 'France'

What? Full of Nazi's?

 

[Chainsaw]

Like I said before I'm afraid Argentina are slowly becoming a 'France'

On which aspect? France won a world cup, an europian cup and reached another WC final in the last 13 years. I will gladly accept that aspect of turning into france!

 

[BarcaGirl]

Maradona speaks up for Messi

Argentina fans, fed up with their team's lacklustre showing at the Copa America, need to give much-criticised Lionel Messi a break, says Diego Maradona.

Messi has long been touted as 1986 world champion Maradona's successor in the national side.

But whereas at club level Messi has managed to outshine his illustrious compatriot by winning a sackful of top honours with Barcelona, it has been a different story at international level.

With Argentina struggling to impress on home soil, Maradona told sports daily Ole it was time someone spoke up for Messi, who has been caught up in the national team's general malaise.

Maradona says the critics have got it all wrong.

"I want to defend Messi. He always plays, he loves the Argentine shirt - I can't believe all these idiots who take to the airwaves to do him down. I talked with him this week and told him to take things calmly.

"Let's not blame Leo. We have the best in the world, an exceptional boy."

Maradona is only too well aware of the pressure Messi is under having himself spent his career in the goldfish bowl -- though he could point to his 1986 World Cup-winning performances to deflect later criticism.

Last summer, he experienced the pressure on Messi at close hand as the former Barcelona and Napoli star took charge of the two-times world champions at the World Cup in South Africa, where Messi once again came under a critical microscope, not least in a quarter-final thumping by Germany.

Maradona said slating one player was illogical.

"It just can't be the case that if you win the Champions League you are the greatest of all time and then if Argentina don't win two games it's all your fault.

"The team didn't attack (in drawing with Bolivia and Colombia) and then they blame him. We are being very unfair on Messi."
Maradona said he himself had turned in poor showings.

"Before the 1986 World Cup I turned in some bad games, I was a disaster and 80 percent of journalists turned on me," he recalled.

Coach Sergio Batista is set to ring the changes for Monday's must-win game against Costa Rica by dropping Carlos Tevez for Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi for Sergio Aguero, Ever Banega for Fernando Gago and Esteban Cambiasso for Angel Di Maria.

That would leave Messi free to roam off the main strikers and delegate classic number nine responsibilities, a role he has looked uncomfortable with.

Maradona, who insisted he wanted to "protect" Messi, says the player must "speak directly to the coach and say, 'listen, put someone next to me who can get stuck in and hurt our opponents,'" while freeing him to weave his magic as he does for Barcelona.

Maradona also slammed Batista for not bringing in highly-rated Javier Pastore of Palermo.

"I'm not going to pick Batista's team for him, but it seems Pastore would be a great foil for Leo," he told Ole, while adding it was "impossible" for Argentina to be a carbon copy of Barcelona.

"Let's play as Argentina and leave Pep Guardiola to get on with Barcelona," said Maradona.

http://news.ph.msn.com/sports/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5030970

 

[La LL]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/933458/diego-maradona-defends-lionel-messi-over-copa-america-showings?cc=5739

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has defended under-fire forward Lionel Messi after criticism of his below-par performances at the Copa America.

Messi has struggled to match his Barcelona form at international level in disappointing draws against Bolivia and Colombia, but Maradona says the whole Argentina team has been poor.

"I want to defend Messi," he told Ole. "The national team didn't attack at all [in the 0-0 draw with Colombia] and we blame him. We are being very unfair to Messi when I hear all those idiots slamming him."

Maradona revealed he had spoken to the 24-year-old and also compared the situation to his own problems prior to the 1986 World Cup.

"I spoke to him during the week and I told him to remain calm," he said. "Before the 1986 World Cup, I was a disaster and I was criticised by 80% of the journalists [in Argentina]. Later, there wasn't one who didn't ask me for a story, so I can understand what's going on."

Maradona also took the opportunity to send a message of support to Argentina's players, but not to the team's coaching staff or officials.

"I wish the best in the world to all of the boys who were with me at the World Cup and all of the other players," he said, "but not to the others."

El Diego speaks and I agree.

And that whole article about Messi being frozen out really annoys me. Messi should almost apply for citizenship in Spain and play for La Roja.

EDIT: Damnit BarcaGirl. You beat me to it!

 

[Clockwise]

Maradona speaks up for Messi

Argentina fans, fed up with their team's lacklustre showing at the Copa America, need to give much-criticised Lionel Messi a break, says Diego Maradona.

Messi has long been touted as 1986 world champion Maradona's successor in the national side.

But whereas at club level Messi has managed to outshine his illustrious compatriot by winning a sackful of top honours with Barcelona, it has been a different story at international level.

With Argentina struggling to impress on home soil, Maradona told sports daily Ole it was time someone spoke up for Messi, who has been caught up in the national team's general malaise.

Maradona says the critics have got it all wrong.

"I want to defend Messi. He always plays, he loves the Argentine shirt - I can't believe all these idiots who take to the airwaves to do him down. I talked with him this week and told him to take things calmly.

"Let's not blame Leo. We have the best in the world, an exceptional boy."

Maradona is only too well aware of the pressure Messi is under having himself spent his career in the goldfish bowl -- though he could point to his 1986 World Cup-winning performances to deflect later criticism.

Last summer, he experienced the pressure on Messi at close hand as the former Barcelona and Napoli star took charge of the two-times world champions at the World Cup in South Africa, where Messi once again came under a critical microscope, not least in a quarter-final thumping by Germany.

Maradona said slating one player was illogical.

"It just can't be the case that if you win the Champions League you are the greatest of all time and then if Argentina don't win two games it's all your fault.

"The team didn't attack (in drawing with Bolivia and Colombia) and then they blame him. We are being very unfair on Messi."
Maradona said he himself had turned in poor showings.

"Before the 1986 World Cup I turned in some bad games, I was a disaster and 80 percent of journalists turned on me," he recalled.

Coach Sergio Batista is set to ring the changes for Monday's must-win game against Costa Rica by dropping Carlos Tevez for Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi for Sergio Aguero, Ever Banega for Fernando Gago and Esteban Cambiasso for Angel Di Maria.

That would leave Messi free to roam off the main strikers and delegate classic number nine responsibilities, a role he has looked uncomfortable with.

Maradona, who insisted he wanted to "protect" Messi, says the player must "speak directly to the coach and say, 'listen, put someone next to me who can get stuck in and hurt our opponents,'" while freeing him to weave his magic as he does for Barcelona.

Maradona also slammed Batista for not bringing in highly-rated Javier Pastore of Palermo.

"I'm not going to pick Batista's team for him, but it seems Pastore would be a great foil for Leo," he told Ole, while adding it was "impossible" for Argentina to be a carbon copy of Barcelona.

"Let's play as Argentina and leave Pep Guardiola to get on with Barcelona," said Maradona.

http://news.ph.msn.com/sports/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5030970

A hug to El Diego

 

[Yugi]

yeah, Maradona is the guy, unlike Pele who speaks shit all the time....

 

[estranged]

"I want to defend Messi. He always plays, he loves the Argentine shirt - I can't believe all these idiots who take to the airwaves to do him down. I talked with him this week and told him to take things calmly.

Legend.

 

[Barcafan 2304]

yeah, Maradona is the guy, unlike Pele who speaks shit all the time....

True, very true

 

[Catalonian Devil]

Diego

Even Maradona knows Pastore should play...

 

[Ode to Django]

Maradona speaks the truth! maybe he isn't as mad as i thought he was

 

[mitkoa7x]

Finaly some1 stands up for him.

 

[Ventus]

Pele can suck it, long live Diego!

 

[gingerless]

Maradona speaks up for Messi

Argentina fans, fed up with their team's lacklustre showing at the Copa America, need to give much-criticised Lionel Messi a break, says Diego Maradona.

Messi has long been touted as 1986 world champion Maradona's successor in the national side.

But whereas at club level Messi has managed to outshine his illustrious compatriot by winning a sackful of top honours with Barcelona, it has been a different story at international level.

With Argentina struggling to impress on home soil, Maradona told sports daily Ole it was time someone spoke up for Messi, who has been caught up in the national team's general malaise.

Maradona says the critics have got it all wrong.

"I want to defend Messi. He always plays, he loves the Argentine shirt - I can't believe all these idiots who take to the airwaves to do him down. I talked with him this week and told him to take things calmly.

"Let's not blame Leo. We have the best in the world, an exceptional boy."

Maradona is only too well aware of the pressure Messi is under having himself spent his career in the goldfish bowl -- though he could point to his 1986 World Cup-winning performances to deflect later criticism.

Last summer, he experienced the pressure on Messi at close hand as the former Barcelona and Napoli star took charge of the two-times world champions at the World Cup in South Africa, where Messi once again came under a critical microscope, not least in a quarter-final thumping by Germany.

Maradona said slating one player was illogical.

"It just can't be the case that if you win the Champions League you are the greatest of all time and then if Argentina don't win two games it's all your fault.

"The team didn't attack (in drawing with Bolivia and Colombia) and then they blame him. We are being very unfair on Messi."
Maradona said he himself had turned in poor showings.

"Before the 1986 World Cup I turned in some bad games, I was a disaster and 80 percent of journalists turned on me," he recalled.

Coach Sergio Batista is set to ring the changes for Monday's must-win game against Costa Rica by dropping Carlos Tevez for Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi for Sergio Aguero, Ever Banega for Fernando Gago and Esteban Cambiasso for Angel Di Maria.

That would leave Messi free to roam off the main strikers and delegate classic number nine responsibilities, a role he has looked uncomfortable with.

Maradona, who insisted he wanted to "protect" Messi, says the player must "speak directly to the coach and say, 'listen, put someone next to me who can get stuck in and hurt our opponents,'" while freeing him to weave his magic as he does for Barcelona.

Maradona also slammed Batista for not bringing in highly-rated Javier Pastore of Palermo.

"I'm not going to pick Batista's team for him, but it seems Pastore would be a great foil for Leo," he told Ole, while adding it was "impossible" for Argentina to be a carbon copy of Barcelona.

"Let's play as Argentina and leave Pep Guardiola to get on with Barcelona," said Maradona.

http://news.ph.msn.com/sports/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5030970

Asolute fucking legend

 

[Chainsaw]

Diego says alot of shit but when he make sense he make sense BIG TIME!