10 - Lionel Messi - v2

[Kerrybai]

We are toothless without good forwards. Messi is Messi, give him space and good playing partners and he will do his thing. Villa is an option but the management don't trust him. Pedro has faded and faded .... Sanchez doesn't fit our system.

If we want to solve our attacking problems we have to look at Argentina as some of you have already pointed out. Messi needs an aguero or a Di Maria. It appears we are going to attempt to solve our problems with Neymar. I hope he is up to the task.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Love to see him play on the wing next game

Messi villa tello

Pedro would be more productive again once Messi is on the right and not a static stump in the middle of the field. PVM, with Alves overlapping on the wing to provide the width as Messi cuts in on his runs. Tello or Adriano on the left wing are alternates. Alexis alternate for Villa as well (provides the movement, though sadly not the finishing at the present time). Pedro can also play in the middle, very good at providing a short or over the top target in the middle.

Left side attack: Pedro Iniesta Alba
Right side attack: Messi Xavi Alves
Middle attack: Xavi Iniesta Messi Villa

The problem is when Messi plays false nine, there is no one to occupy the centerbacks. He drops level with the midfielders to get the ball, tries to run up the middle himself or playing wall passes with one other Barça player, but he's basically running at four players who have nothing else to do but stop him. Put Villa up front, and the centerbacks can't come forward to stop Messi's runs, and he has the space he needs.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

It seems people don't understand the concept of man-marking. He "disappears" because he's being man-marked ffs.

Of course dropping deep to influence play is not "adapting" to them either.

Honestly, he's not marked closely most games when he's up front. Opposing managers aren't stupid, they see it's unnecessary to mark him closely when he's static up front. He's simply closed down as false nine when he tries to run up the middle into the space he left vacant inside two banks of eight. If he wants to make those runs, then a true forward needs to be started up top to pin the centerbacks.

 

[Karnivore]

He's never marked, the opposition have worked out to cut out the space getting the ball to him, and it's not helped by the fact he just walks around the pitch. Massive difference compared to Ronaldo who looked to run behind the Barcelona defence EVERY time Real were in possession.

Unfortunately as the hype and critical acclaim has come his way, he's gotten more and more relaxed. It was understandable at first he was conserving his energy for when it matters and to help with the muscle injuries he used to get, but now it's borderling unnacceptable.

 

[Flavia]

Unless the fever he got today was psychological, he probably wasn't that good yesterday.

 

[Garrus]

Probably psychological, I heard messi is always the one who take the defeat the hardest, And ends up crying in the dressing room.

 

[Indignado]

He's never marked, the opposition have worked out to cut out the space getting the ball to him, and it's not helped by the fact he just walks around the pitch. Massive difference compared to Ronaldo who looked to run behind the Barcelona defence EVERY time Real were in possession.

Unfortunately as the hype and critical acclaim has come his way, he's gotten more and more relaxed. It was understandable at first he was conserving his energy for when it matters and to help with the muscle injuries he used to get, but now it's borderling unnacceptable.

True. Just walking around the pitch in such an important game while the others work their asses off is just disgraceful. Pedro was walking out of the offside slowly when Xavi had the ball and people complain about him not giving his all, but nobody complains about Messi who walks almost all the time when not on the ball. That's probably due to the fact that he plays all the time anyway, whether he's out of form or not, so he's not forced to play well to earn a starting spot. It's the same with several other players of our team. Once Pep is gone and no one is here to kick their butts, they do whatever they want.

 

[beautifulgame]

He's never marked, the opposition have worked out to cut out the space getting the ball to him, and it's not helped by the fact he just walks around the pitch. Massive difference compared to Ronaldo who looked to run behind the Barcelona defence EVERY time Real were in possession.

Unfortunately as the hype and critical acclaim has come his way, he's gotten more and more relaxed. It was understandable at first he was conserving his energy for when it matters and to help with the muscle injuries he used to get, but now it's borderling unnacceptable.

Lol so its the same when your 1v1 (ronaldo) and 1v6 (messi)?

yeah, if messi had only one, two or even only three defenders and open field then i'm sure his runs would look different too.

 

[Garrus]

He's never marked, the opposition have worked out to cut out the space getting the ball to him, and it's not helped by the fact he just walks around the pitch. Massive difference compared to Ronaldo who looked to run behind the Barcelona defence EVERY time Real were in possession.

Unfortunately as the hype and critical acclaim has come his way, he's gotten more and more relaxed. It was understandable at first he was conserving his energy for when it matters and to help with the muscle injuries he used to get, but now it's borderling unnacceptable.

His work rate hasn't changed in the last few years, It's been the same 7 km every game(You can check this yourself), He's not walking any more than he used to, Which i found odd that poeple are pointing this out 'now' all of a sudden, Maybe when the team is playing ok, They don't have to nitpick everything to find a suitable excuse, But when shit hits the fan, Well...
Messi and ronaldo have nothing in common, They're like night and day, Ronaldo is a machine, Messi isn't, Ronaldo has a completely different job than messi, Tactically speaking, Just because football magazines and fans compare them all time, Doesn't change the fact that they have nothing in common.

 

[beautifulgame]

Honestly, he's not marked closely most games when he's up front. Opposing managers aren't stupid, they see it's unnecessary to mark him closely when he's static up front. He's simply closed down as false nine when he tries to run up the middle into the space he left vacant inside two banks of eight. If he wants to make those runs, then a true forward needs to be started up top to pin the centerbacks.

this.

bring villa in and let messi thread to him.

 

[beautifulgame]

his work rate hasn't changed in the last few years, it's been the same 7 km every game(you can check this yourself), he's not walking any more than he used to, which i found odd that poeple are pointing this out 'now' all of a sudden, maybe when the team is playing ok, they don't have to nitpick everything to find a suitable excuse, but when shit hits the fan, well...
Messi and ronaldo have nothing in common, they're like night and day, ronaldo is a machine, messi isn't, ronaldo has a completely different job than messi, tactically speaking, just because football magazines and fans compare them all time, doesn't change the fact that they have nothing in common.

nice post!

 

[ricknattery]

The problem is not Messi having a bad form, the problem is the rest of the team who despite Messi being marked by 4 players, they cannot take advantage of that situation, something really bad has to happen in order to not exploit that situation and that's why besides Messi almost nobody scores or even assists. Messi needs a team behind him, like everybody. He cannot do things by himself all the time

 

[Jill]

His work rate hasn't changed in the last few years, It's been the same 7 km every game(You can check this yourself), He's not walking any more than he used to, Which i found odd that poeple are pointing this out 'now' all of a sudden, Maybe when the team is playing ok, They don't have to nitpick everything to find a suitable excuse, But when shit hits the fan, Well...
Messi and ronaldo have nothing in common, They're like night and day, Ronaldo is a machine, Messi isn't, Ronaldo has a completely different job than messi, Tactically speaking, Just because football magazines and fans compare them all time, Doesn't change the fact that they have nothing in common.

+100!

 

[Clockwise]

His work rate hasn't changed in the last few years, It's been the same 7 km every game(You can check this yourself), He's not walking any more than he used to, Which i found odd that poeple are pointing this out 'now' all of a sudden, Maybe when the team is playing ok, They don't have to nitpick everything to find a suitable excuse, But when shit hits the fan, Well...
Messi and ronaldo have nothing in common, They're like night and day, Ronaldo is a machine, Messi isn't, Ronaldo has a completely different job than messi, Tactically speaking, Just because football magazines and fans compare them all time, Doesn't change the fact that they have nothing in common.

100 up

 

[CatalinR10]