10 - Lionel Messi - v3

[Kerrybai]

I actually do agree he has ran more in the past few games but my only gripe is that in his role now even more is needed defensively as the top teams will dominate in midfield if he doesnt.

There is a reason that top managers like Pep/Mourinho wont have anyone in the ten role that have poor work rate as it damages the midfield so much defensively.

We shall see but I thought against Real/PSG they were helped a lot in being able to break from deep as midfield was often a man light.

Mate lets be honest last season barca and Messi sucked... but this season you cant fault the man. I understand your point about defending from midfield but lucho is not asking messi to defend to any great degree. I dont agree that he is needed defensively.. he is only needed defensively when we are caught on the counter attack and Messi cant be expected to cover in these situations as he is usually too high up the pitch...he remains our core attacker so he should remain exempt from defending many of our failed attacks so that he can place himself smartly for any counter attack/retrieval of possession

You said he is needed more than ever to cover in midfield and this was felt against PSG and Madrid... hmmm no. The midfileders proviode more defensive cover than they ever did under Pep so there is no reason to suggest that Messi needs to defend more now than he did in the past.

 

[Kerrybai]

Messi was the most lethal finisher in the world, inside and outside the box until 2012/13. But both last year and this year, he is behind a bunch of players including Ronaldo. The fivethirtyeight article cumulatively looks at all seasons from 09/10 to 13/14, which is why Messi is so superhumanly ahead of everyone else.

While I was voting for the UEFA Team of the Year, I found this handy infographic:

Absolutely... but the sample size for this season is too small and therefore we should take it with a pinch of salt.

 

[amircule]

Messi has lost, in the last few years: Pep, Abidal, Juanjo Brau, Tito and one of his best friends, Topo Lopez.

SURELY his issue is money!

 

[messi2140]

New video from ieraHDTV

 

[Luftstalag14]

Assuming his work rate is poor - for whatever reason - where do you see him playing that allows the team to get back to the top?

Is his work rate that makes or breaks everything???

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

New discussion topic: If Messi wins a CL and plays amazingly with this whole new team; would people finally agree he's the GOAT? Even the most hardcore of haters?

 

[DonAK]

New discussion topic: If Messi wins a CL and plays amazingly with this whole new team; would people finally agree he's the GOAT? Even the most hardcore of haters?

Some say Pele is the GOAT. Some say it's Maradona. Many will say it's Messi, but as always, there will be people with other opinions.

 

[Kerrybai]

Is his work rate that makes or breaks everything???

Its not, some people just get hung up on it for some reason... very strange imo.

 

[doublehh03]

New discussion topic: If Messi wins a CL and plays amazingly with this whole new team; would people finally agree he's the GOAT? Even the most hardcore of haters?

Many already do. But more will join the camp. But he won't be unanimous like Jordan with the NBA unless he wins a World Cup. Like it or not, that's how it is. But if Messi wins a WC, his resume is pretty much perfect.

 

[Luftstalag14]

OK, this is getting pretty annoying: According to some reports, Messi is learning English and he has started looking for schools in London??

What is the source of all of this BS all of sudden? Some Argentinian TV station?

 

[doublehh03]

OK, this is getting pretty annoying: According to some reports, Messi is learning English and he has started looking for schools in London??

What is the source of all of this BS all of sudden? Some Argentinian TV station?

New rumors that ManU is going to offer 250 mil. Getting ridiculous.

 

[NotInHere]

its really hilarious, you guys panicking over this. Nothing will happen, his bond with his teammates is too strong for him to leave, you could see it in his face whenever he celebrates a goal or when a teammate scores, the board will be the only one whose capable of running him out, and they don't have the guts to do so.

 

[Flavia]

OK, this is getting pretty annoying: According to some reports, Messi is learning English and he has started looking for schools in London??

What is the source of all of this BS all of sudden? Some Argentinian TV station?

don't get worked up over this. He won't leave next summer.

 

[Luftstalag14]

don't get worked up over this. He won't leave next summer.

Weren't you saying earlier that Messi almost left at the end of 12/13 season (?), and only stayed because Tito had asked him to stay?

I would have shrugged it off if Messi had not said those deeply troubling words to Ole. But he did, and he had to mean something there, despite Jorge Messi downplaying the whole thing.

 

[Egert]

With his new boots