10 - Lionel Messi - v3

[eye-switcher]

i think its correct, 29 goals in 28 PL games but he didn't score in 3 or 4 FA Cup and League Cup games

Ah i was only thinking about the League. Yes he was suspened one League cup game also.

 

[DonAK]

Messi covered 6.8 KMs while Pinto covered 5.3 KMs tonight.

Messi got the freedom to roam, he could have tried to break loose, or well, atleast tried something. It's not his fault that we lost, it was a collective shit performance, but still very disappointing nevertheless.

 

[Chainsaw]

Should have scored that free header after Atleti's goal. Could changed the whole match around. These incidents decide the matches and unfortunately he was not there tonight for Barca.

 

[DonAndres]

Yes and they are both decent teams.

Other results just as bad and worse have happened with Messi in the team since he came back.

Not denying that we've had bad games even with Messi here, but let's not act like his absence suddenly spurs all our other players to perform at their best level. The only times we were playing even slightly competitive games when Messi was out turned out to be losses. Those same problems showed again even when he returned.

The point is that our problems exist beyond Messi playing or not playing, so there's no real evidence to show that Messi being gone makes our team look better. There's a lot of rot building up underneath this Barca team's ship as it goes on but Messi is not one of our degenerative factors. He's had his bad games (tonight being horrid) but don't try and color outside the lines waving faulty accusations like "team is more balanced without him", "his immobility is the source of all our problems", etc.

 

[eye-switcher]

Messi covered 6.8 KMs while Pinto covered 5.3 KMs tonight.

Messi got the freedom to roam, he could have tried to break loose, or well, atleast tried something. It's not his fault that we lost, it was a collective shit performance, but still very disappointing nevertheless.

Sorry but he most have the fever or something, why would he otherwise barely cover more ground than Pinto in the biggest game of the year?

 

[mazoo]

What the hell? Was he even playing? Didnt even try to dribble or make himself available. So static and no fighting spirit whatsoever. I would forgive him if he put in an effort but he looked like he wanted to be anywhere else than the pitch. Thats the danger in building your team around 1 player.

If he really is thinking of the world cup then he can fuck off to the bench. We are not Madrid where we keep playing selfish players due to their pricetag.

We have to look at serious changes if we have to be competitive again. Enough of our other attackers being waterboys for Messi. Getting an striker like Suarez who wont lay down for Messi might be beneficial. We need some ego in the team. Make our attack more varied with a striker.

This.

 

[Jadentheman]

All he needs to do is hit the booze and call it a day at 26/27 like Best.

You want him to go down the path like a certain someone in your avatar.

All he needs now is to perform poorly at the WC and we certainly we get a player like that.

 

[serghei]

People really need to make a difference between not performing and NOT TRYING to perform. Everyone can have bad days, but not giving a fuck in a CL quarter-final is unacceptable and embarassing.

 

[JamDav1982]

Not denying that we've had bad games even with Messi here, but let's not act like his absence suddenly spurs all our other players to perform at their best level. The only times we were playing even slightly competitive games when Messi was out turned out to be losses. Those same problems showed again even when he returned.

The point is that our problems exist beyond Messi playing or not playing, so there's no real evidence to show that Messi being gone makes our team look better. There's a lot of rot building up underneath this Barca team's ship as it goes on but Messi is not one of our degenerative factors. He's had his bad games (tonight being horrid) but don't try and color outside the lines waving faulty accusations like "team is more balanced without him", "his immobility is the source of all our problems", etc.

Lost against competitive teams without Messi - even with Messi Barca have been poor away in CL and struggled away to Bilbao.

The flip side of that is losing to more poor/average teams since Messi came back.

Also probably the best the team has played against Atletico was the two games in which Messi only played a half.

I dont think the team is always more balanced without him but I believe there is an argument this season on the whole other players have played in a system that suits them more and with more freedom when Messi has not been in the team.

 

[darthvader7888]

He needs a coach who kicks him in the ass. It's no coincidence that he got worse as soon as Pep left.

We need a coach who kicks ALL our players in the ass.

I agree, it's not a coincidence at all that his effort has dropped since Pep left. Same goes for the rest of the team.

 

[JamDav1982]

We need a coach who kicks ALL our players in the ass.

I agree, it's not a coincidence at all that his effort has dropped since Pep left. Same goes for the rest of the team.

Pep never kicked Messi's ass. Messi ruled the roost between those two.

He couldnt even sub him off without his permission.

 

[Hamzah]

His efforts and the whole team apart from Alba, Iniesta and Neymar are shocking. I hope Argentina fail miserably.

 

[Flavia]

Lost against competitive teams without Messi - even with Messi Barca have been poor away in CL and struggled away to Bilbao.

Messi didn't play in the match against Athletic.

 

[JamDav1982]

Messi didn't play in the match against Athletic.

I know.

My point is that these are the type of games Barcelona have always struggled a bit in the past even with Messi - away CL games and away to Bilbao.

 

[tikitaka]

he seemed not bothered and didn't want to try anything really.. this is the first time I see a game like this from Messi.