10 - Lionel Messi - v3
- Thread starter Barcaman
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CatalinR10
Senior Member
Even though I'm one of his biggest fanboys it pisses me off when people deffend him after games like these. You're Leo Messi , known by some the best in history . This was a crucial game for the title and he put on that display ? I'm sorry but if some guy would have watched him for the first time yesterday and another one would say that he is the best in history , the first guy would think that he has some serious mental problems.
He was not as lazy as in other games but how can I be satisfied with that from the guy who won 4 ballon d'ors ? If he was just some random player I would let it pass but he's not.
Kerrybai
New member
I'd like him to press more too but not if it sacrifices his ability to sprint with the ball late into the game. Lately he looks quite tired so i'd rather he conserve his energy. If the energy is there he certainly should press a little harder. Having said that I don't see it as a major problem compared to the problems we have when we possession the ball.
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Flavia
Guest
People were lashing out at him here as if the team was playing good football and he was the one at fault for everything... That is unreasonable. He looks out of form too. Not only Messi, but he caught my attention exactly for not running the most, and still looking exausted. And the throw up was there again. Something's definitely off.
e28makaveli
New member
C'mon, why does he always have to save the team? Where are the other 10 players? This is getting ridiculous.
.... and what do you think his problem might be? It is easy for you to sit on the other side of the TV with such expectations without having complete context, isn't it not? Maybe you guys should start adjusting your expectations of the guy. Does any of the complainers here know how much effort it takes to truly excel at something? Maybe it is taking a toll on the guy, you know.
Personally, I am very grateful for what Messi brings every day. I take what he offers and shut the fuck up because I can guess his work ethic. I also suspect that there are other variables such as tactics that does not suit his particular play style, that will drain enthusiasm. Taking all of this into consideration, I will not be one to be overly critical. Remember he is now 26 and has sustained an injury. These things matter.
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Flavia
Guest
Messi is so far the player with most goals (27) and the player with most assists (11) in the year 2014 [via @messi10stats]
And this is not at his best, with horrible tactics and the team playing badly.
And this is not at his best, with horrible tactics and the team playing badly.
e28makaveli
New member
Lots of spoiled fans on here. I may offer myself as the official Messi body guard to stop this madness, if such a position is up for grabs. Folks need a reality check.
Vapor
New member
I think an important thing for many to keep in mind regarding his dip in form is that he IS coming off of the worst injury period of his entire career. He just returned from a 2-month absence, following 5 muscle injuries in 6 months. He's effectively been injured since the Champion's League run in 2012-2013.
He has only been back for barely 4 months now. I refuse to believe that such a huge injury problem has no lingering repercussions for a player. I never expected Messi to be fully 100% recovered from such an extended period of injury so soon. Even if he is, for the most part, recovered physically... there is a big mental component that goes with getting continually re-injured for a year and then getting sidelined for two months due to injury. Not to mention, that is two whole months of not playing... thus lacking rhythm, feel and momentum. (He's had to restart his engine from zero, whereas Ronaldo has been getting steady play and rhythm all that time.) I believe that that has to be at least some part of it.
We'll just have to see if, with a little time, he can return back to his herculean heights. Although I am one that is "defending" Messi in this thread against what seems to some of us an unreasonable amount of blame and criticism, I completely do admit that Messi is not the Messi of 2012, or 2011, etc. I rememeber watching every single game in the 2011-2012 season and being absolutely AMAZED game in-game-out by the Messi's incredible genius... 96 goals in that year... undoubtedly at his peak. I think it is obvious to all that he hasn't really reached that peak since maybe Champion's League 2012-2013 season. What IS obvious and clear to see, however, is that since his injuries he has never FULLY reached that level again.
Either way, I think the World Cup will be very telling. The pressure of the occassion and his desire to win might be enough for him to forego his cautiousness and break any mental barriers he might have and give it 120% effort again, and really beast it. If he's able to sustain an entire World Cup run playing back at or near his best, that might be all it'll take for him to get over it.
Or, it's not just the injury but other factors. But I refuse to believe that his talented has degraded as much as numbers tell. I think the injury problems, lack of cohesiveness in the squad, ultra man marking etc all play a part in it. If he can fully put this past injury spell behind him, get decent help up front to take some of the burden off and get a team with a reliable D, a trusted coach and a confident and unified team spirit... I don't see why he won't start performing to near his best again. I see this as more of a dip than a permanent drop off... after an injury especially, dips like these are to be expected. Hope I'm right... but it seems plausible.
He has only been back for barely 4 months now. I refuse to believe that such a huge injury problem has no lingering repercussions for a player. I never expected Messi to be fully 100% recovered from such an extended period of injury so soon. Even if he is, for the most part, recovered physically... there is a big mental component that goes with getting continually re-injured for a year and then getting sidelined for two months due to injury. Not to mention, that is two whole months of not playing... thus lacking rhythm, feel and momentum. (He's had to restart his engine from zero, whereas Ronaldo has been getting steady play and rhythm all that time.) I believe that that has to be at least some part of it.
We'll just have to see if, with a little time, he can return back to his herculean heights. Although I am one that is "defending" Messi in this thread against what seems to some of us an unreasonable amount of blame and criticism, I completely do admit that Messi is not the Messi of 2012, or 2011, etc. I rememeber watching every single game in the 2011-2012 season and being absolutely AMAZED game in-game-out by the Messi's incredible genius... 96 goals in that year... undoubtedly at his peak. I think it is obvious to all that he hasn't really reached that peak since maybe Champion's League 2012-2013 season. What IS obvious and clear to see, however, is that since his injuries he has never FULLY reached that level again.
Either way, I think the World Cup will be very telling. The pressure of the occassion and his desire to win might be enough for him to forego his cautiousness and break any mental barriers he might have and give it 120% effort again, and really beast it. If he's able to sustain an entire World Cup run playing back at or near his best, that might be all it'll take for him to get over it.
Or, it's not just the injury but other factors. But I refuse to believe that his talented has degraded as much as numbers tell. I think the injury problems, lack of cohesiveness in the squad, ultra man marking etc all play a part in it. If he can fully put this past injury spell behind him, get decent help up front to take some of the burden off and get a team with a reliable D, a trusted coach and a confident and unified team spirit... I don't see why he won't start performing to near his best again. I see this as more of a dip than a permanent drop off... after an injury especially, dips like these are to be expected. Hope I'm right... but it seems plausible.
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CatalinR10
Senior Member
Yes , I'm a total cunt for wanting him to run more than 6 km per game and put more effort in games of such importance while watching him on my tv.
Anyway , until now I used to defend his shocking games ( by his standards ) by saying that he is more focused on the world cup but now I think there is something wrong with him , medically speaking. In his glory days I seriously can't remember him throwing up in any of the games he played , and I think from 2009 until now I've missed only 2-3 games. These days he's vomiting a lot of times , spitting every 5 seconds on the pitch .
I refuse to think that he doesn't care anymore or doesn't want to give his best in crucial games. During the game there was a camera on him when some player missed a chance , and Messi was really pissed.
And I don't think his injury has to do much with his current form . He returned from injury 4,5 months ago and in some games he really looked like his old self ( Madrid and City game ) .
Vapor
New member
Yea, that's a really good point. I don't really think the injury is present anymore, at least physically, he seems to have fully recovered. IF anything he might be holding back ever so slightly with injuries in the back of his mind (especially right before the world cup).
Agreed , the old Messi used to be the difference between us and the other teams now he's just another player ..
ebc_99
Active member
Messi has scored more goals and had more assists than any other player in Europe this year. He is not at his best but this stat just show how far ahead he is of everyone else. If any other player had these stats, people would say they are in great form including Ronaldo but for Messi it is not enough.
He is going through a tough time for whatever reason but he is still the best and I don't think there is many if any playing better at this moment.
He is going through a tough time for whatever reason but he is still the best and I don't think there is many if any playing better at this moment.
FCBarca
Mike the Knife
You have to appreciate how special the past 6 seasons have been and how so many things came together to make it work as well as it did - I call it the Gestalt effect...Success is not simply predicated on Messi and when there are as many problems as there are atm, Leo isn't merely going to solve everything...The failures of the board et al permeates the club, players & fans...The body language of several against Elche, for example, resembled a defeated lot...The mental aspect of sport is often bigger than the physical/technical
Ghostmaster
Danger Ahead
Exactly amazing stats despite not being superb form and despite team which it seems only tries to score goals through Alves crosses. But it's not enough for fans because he has to save the team every game although it isn't playing the way it used to. Maybe it's good thing that he is not saving us every game because it would mask deficiencies of the team and we wouldn't need changes in the squad after all.
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