10 - Lionel Messi - v3

[Gascav]

He certainly has the WC and the injuries in the back of his mind and I believe that is a huge factor. Having said that, Messi has been playing like this (being lazy, walking around) for several years. So what we truly don't know is what prompted/caused the change, was he instructed to play like this, or something else?

I dont agree! Look at messi vs real madrid in the manita match, the guy was making runs everywhere!

 

[Luftstalag14]

Do you GUys think he has peaked due to
1.motivation(see laziness)
and
2. Injuries?

As much as we hate to admit it, Messi having peaked already is a possibility. However though, I don't think one's personal willingness/motivation would have anything to do with one's form. Injuries certainly might, both physically debilitating and mentally affecting a player (for fear of injuries). But there is also the possibility that Messi could have a peak that is much earlier in his career than players like Ronaldo, Ibra, Ribery etc. who are peaking much later, after all everyone is different and some people simply peak early and some late.

 

[Luftstalag14]

I dont agree! Look at messi vs real madrid in the manita match, the guy was making runs everywhere!

But those are rarity these days, aren't they?

 

[CatalinR10]

If he has the same attitude at the world cup , it's clear. Untill then we should stop it with these type of discussions , it's really tiring to read all the time the same thing. Even if he has passed his ,, peak " , so what ? He is still the best in the world even if he doesn't put that much effort as before.

 

[Gascav]

If he has the same attitude at the world cup , it's clear. Untill then we should stop it with these type of discussions , it's really tiring to read all the time the same thing. Even if he has passed his ,, peak " , so what ? He is still the best in the world even if he doesn't put that much effort as before.

Unfortunately the same was complained about him in the last ARG match

 

[Flavia]

Unfortunately the same was complained about him in the last ARG match

Did you watch that match? He was arg's best player.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Unfortunately the same was complained about him in the last ARG match

He did very well in that match, in my opinion, despite being not physically well.

 

[Gascav]

He did very well in that match, in my opinion, despite being not physically well.

He lacked movement, the times he did well was when he was on the ball dribbling. He didnt press, he didnt help defend

 

[BarcaGirl]

He lacked movement, the times he did well was when he was on the ball dribbling. He didnt press, he didnt help defend

It was just a friendly. Jeez. Calm down!

 

[Kerrybai]

All the Messi talk is tiring, it's just the same recycled opinions again and again. He may not be at his best but he's not the one to worry about. This teams decline is not his doing. We have much bigger problems than Messi's lack of running.

 

[CatalinR10]

Unfortunately the same was complained about him in the last ARG match

Considering it was just an unimportant friendly , he was awesome.

Then again....people were complaining that Messi is too lazy when he scored 91 in a year. The difference between then and now is that his finishing ability has declined a bit . Then he had 3 chances per game but scored 2 . Now he needs more chances to score.

 

[Luftstalag14]

He lacked movement, the times he did well was when he was on the ball dribbling. He didnt press, he didnt help defend

Messi rarely presses these days, that shouldn't be the yardstick of measuring whether he played well or not. And keep in mind, he was not well!

 

[Gascav]

Messi rarely presses these days, that shouldn't be the yardstick of measuring whether he played well or not. And keep in mind, he was not well!

But not making movements off the ball is unacceptable! The analysts stated how often the play passed him by while he was busy walking

 

[Gascav]

Messi rarely presses these days, that shouldn't be the yardstick of measuring whether he played well or not. And keep in mind, he was not well!

But not making movements off the ball is unacceptable! The analysts stated how often the play passed him by while he was busy walking

 

[Mitchell1978]

He certainly has the WC and the injuries in the back of his mind and I believe that is a huge factor. Having said that, Messi has been playing like this (being lazy, walking around) for several years. So what we truly don't know is what prompted/caused the change, was he instructed to play like this, or something else?

It has been said several times that he was instructed by the barca stuff to play that way (press less conserve energy etc) as far back as in Pep's last season.