10 - Lionel Messi - v5
- Thread starter Barcaman
- Start date
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Equally it is time that those other players who are brought in do not have to over compensate for areas of the game Messi is not doing and causing issues to the team defensively.
There are a number of things that need addressed.
Lomar1o
Active member
they won't have to, if those midfielders can hold on to the ball they will have much less defensive duties as Barca will be the one with the initiative, not the opponent throughout the whole damn game. Messi's lack of work rate isn't as big of an issue as our complete lack of midfield. We won't be needing to defend if we can actually keep the ball and possession and attack. Even if Messi defended today the result would've been the same, they didn't just score goals from his side, they were waltzing on everyone's side be it Alba, Busquets, Sergi Roberto. Messi's defending wouldn't change shit when there is no midfield.
DonAndres
Wild Man of Borneo
He was a total and utter disaster today, but I'm surprisingly not worried about him.
He's been a dominating force this season whether the team was functioning well or falling apart. This isn't like 13/14 where he genuinely looked uninspired at times and had personal motivational issues to overcome. He's at a great level individually and I just think it's time to adapt the system to fit an aging Messi so that games against sides like PSG who overwhelmed us can't just shut him down totally.
Theoretically if we just had a good RB and a good RCM, we'd have more control and better defensive cover on the right side to mitigate Messi's weaknesses. I'd imagine that could work for another good 1-2 years, maybe 3 if this hypothetical RCM turned out to be a creative powerhouse along with his good pressing ability.
However, this issue will become bigger as Messi stops being an attacker and plays mostly around the midfield. In that kind of system we'd need a good RB and a Vidal type of wide player to complement/cover Messi everywhere on the right side. Busquets would also have to pay more attention to the right side than left. I hope they time this adaptation to occur around the time when Iniesta starts to fall out of the starting lineup. Our replacement LCM will have to complement Messi very well and have the stamina to cover a lot of space. People have their doubts about Messi in midfield but I think we could make it work very well. A well organized, collective press can mask the weaknesses of any player. Pressing was the key difference between the treble and the prior trophyless season for us.
What's unfortunate is that this is another year without a CL run and now without La Liga as well for him. He's somewhat near the end of his prime and now we need to totally rebuild and hope for a rebirth yet again to get valuable trophies in these next years.
He's been a dominating force this season whether the team was functioning well or falling apart. This isn't like 13/14 where he genuinely looked uninspired at times and had personal motivational issues to overcome. He's at a great level individually and I just think it's time to adapt the system to fit an aging Messi so that games against sides like PSG who overwhelmed us can't just shut him down totally.
Theoretically if we just had a good RB and a good RCM, we'd have more control and better defensive cover on the right side to mitigate Messi's weaknesses. I'd imagine that could work for another good 1-2 years, maybe 3 if this hypothetical RCM turned out to be a creative powerhouse along with his good pressing ability.
However, this issue will become bigger as Messi stops being an attacker and plays mostly around the midfield. In that kind of system we'd need a good RB and a Vidal type of wide player to complement/cover Messi everywhere on the right side. Busquets would also have to pay more attention to the right side than left. I hope they time this adaptation to occur around the time when Iniesta starts to fall out of the starting lineup. Our replacement LCM will have to complement Messi very well and have the stamina to cover a lot of space. People have their doubts about Messi in midfield but I think we could make it work very well. A well organized, collective press can mask the weaknesses of any player. Pressing was the key difference between the treble and the prior trophyless season for us.
What's unfortunate is that this is another year without a CL run and now without La Liga as well for him. He's somewhat near the end of his prime and now we need to totally rebuild and hope for a rebirth yet again to get valuable trophies in these next years.
raskolnikov
Well-known member
Very well said. Im worried though how likely it is we will go this route let alone make it work. It feels likelier for us to turn into milan/United 2.0
KingLeo10
Senior Member
i like your sentiment and optimism, but messi's workate is absolutely pathetic, and he rarely fights for the ball. he would need a gattuso and seedorf at their peaks behind him to make this work.
Serbian
New member
WORST PERFORMANCE EVER!! 2nd goal looses the ball and DOES NOT EVEN TRY TO RUN he just gave up and started strolling incredible!!! no fight no heart unbelievable
Mitchell1978
Senior Member
Its been clear for a while that Messi isn't really playing as a RW anymore but as a 10 or a second striker behind Suarez but tactically we are still set-up 4-3-3 with Messi as a RW. Its time to look for alternatives (like 4-2-3-1) to get the best out of Messi and the team by really positioning him as a 10/second striker. Don't think he will ever play like a CM.
F
FlaFCB
Guest
It had been a while since opportunist trolls appeared here...
Serbian
New member
ive been saying this for so long, that the 4-3-3 can no longer be played because we dont have the personal we get overrun in midfield. Playing 4-2-3-1 is common sense that lucho doesnt have. In a 4-2-3-1 You need to play masherano or raketic with busquets as holding midfielders and destroyer. Then Neymar stays on LW Messi as 2nd striker behind Suarez, and have Arda Turn or Rafiniha play as a FIXED RW. BUT IDIOT ENRIQUE WILL NEVER SEE THIS, STUPID FOOL.
Richard.H
Senior Member
The star of that Milan team was Kevin Prince Boateng... No way you can compare the two teams.
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