10 - Lionel Messi - v5

[FlaFCB]

Which is what he did the *next* time he lost the ball (after that goal). The problem was more that he was trying take-ons from deep, in the middle, for no good reason. That's why there was open space behind him. Maybe against scrub teams, but still too risky even for him. He totally misjudged that yesterday.

Neymar's risktaking on the wing, on the other hand, was both smart and rewarded. Unfortunately, unlike PSG, there is little support on Barça for an attacker breaking forward at pace (short of a full counterattack).

The reason is he was trying to create something. These days it's the only way something happens. Barça don't have an organized attack anymore, it's all improvised. And Messi is often alone, without support from the rcm or the rb.

 

[SocalBarcaFan]

Verratti is a fantasy, I believe our set of current crop of players are good enough, it's just the tactics of Lucho are simply not working. I believe the key to be successful is for Unzue or Sampaoli or whoever our next coach is to have a sitdown with Messi and discuss if he still wants to play as a CAM, if he does, then the solution is simple, we need to switch formations.

Our new RW can be Vidal because I believe we won't be out on a spending spree.

I'm okay with Vidal as long as he's willing to track back on defense. IMO the perfect player would have been Pedro. Come back to us!

 

[DonAK]

Without Messi this season we'd be a midtable club as that's how bad we've been playing. He was bad yesterday, but the amount of time he's bailed us out this season is astonishing itself.

 

[mark1nhu]

Nothing to do with that. His mistake vs Chelsea was way worse. Those will keep happening, it's nothing new.

Doesn't change shit. It was a huge mistake and the goal was on him, no matter if it happened before or or it is going to happen again.

Don't understand why you keep missing my point.

 

[opjeoff]

However, Messi does carry blame for the mistake he made yesterday. Saying its nothing new and that it'll keep happening says that Messi doesnt see his mistakes and isnt willing to improve something which is harming the team. I've always thought he was quite good at defending and tracking back, and was surprised when he decided not to track back. We arent even getting into how he had no touches inside the opposition box, which for any forward is unacceptable, even more so for Messi.

 

[FlaFCB]

Doesn't change shit. It was a huge mistake and the goal was on him, no matter if it happened before or or it is going to happen again.

Don't understand why you keep missing my point.

If your point is the goal was on him, you're wrong. It wasn't only on him. You should rewatch it. There was plenty of time and opportunities to stop Verratti or draxler in that play. Unlike his mistake vs Chelsea, where there wasn't really much to do once Ramires got the ball from him.

 

[Pedro]

Messi is also the only one who played all matches this year. 13 games in 40 days. He only got a few minutes after the match vs bilbao, when he was subbed.

That is Messi's fault, he never likes getting subbed at all. He should really be subbed sometimes to get a good rest for big games. Even Pep had to play Messi every game and Lucho has to do the same otherwise Messi will get unhappy. For example on the weekend after 4-0 vs. Alaves, would've been perfect time to sub him off to rest for PSG and there's been many other occasions like that.

 

[Ritchie]

That is Messi's fault, he never likes getting subbed at all. He should really be subbed sometimes to get a good rest for big games. Even Pep had to play Messi every game and Lucho has to do the same otherwise Messi will get unhappy. For example on the weekend after 4-0 vs. Alaves, would've been perfect time to sub him off to rest for PSG and there's been many other occasions like that.

We use too much energy on the Copa Del Ray in January and February every midweek and then the tank is empty for the key CL run. 13 games in 40 days is too hard going and no wonder Messi ends up knackered for when it really matters. Let him sit out the Copa Del Ray, or certainly one of the two legs.

 

[opjeoff]

If your point is the goal was on him, you're wrong. It wasn't only on him. You should rewatch it. There was plenty of time and opportunities to stop Verratti or draxler in that play. Unlike his mistake vs Chelsea, where there wasn't really much to do once Ramires got the ball from him.

He lost the ball in a key position, placed us on the back foot and didnt bother chasing back to rectify his mistake, that is on him.

 

[Altomonte]

Yes to all but I felt his level of participation and involvement goes down mysteriously in big/important/high-stake games when it should be going up, for some reason. Head scratching stuff.

If you analyze Messi's less than stellar performances you will find that it always happens when he does not have enough rest before the match. This time he had 2 days after the Alavés game where he played 90 minutes, and 6 days after the tough Atletico game. In the Copa last year he played very well in the semifinal but was too tired in the final. Same in the WC against Germany. His stamina in a match is ok, but he seems to need 4 days of recovery before big games.
Lucho should know that by now. It was hurting us last year and is now hurting us again now.
Lucho thought he could both win the Alavés match and play well in Paris, against a well rested PSG team.
He underestimated PSG und overestimated Barça's and Messi's ability to recover in 2 days. Statistics tell the story: 10% more effort by PSG, 10km extra distance.

 

[KingMessi]

What happened to all the cutting edge instruments Lucho was using to keep track of the players' fatigue? Did he just decide to chuck it?

 

[Altomonte]

one player who was not too tired was Rakitic, but he did not play. Mascherano's injury was another big factor - he never gives up.

 

[FlaFCB]

He lost the ball in a key position, placed us on the back foot and didnt bother chasing back to rectify his mistake, that is on him.

There was no "back foot". Defense was on place. Problem was Iniesta also not closing down on Verratti, and busi being between the cbs, instead of being on his position too. Verratti run freely with the ball, from the circle to the edge of the box, and took as much as four touches before making the pass. There was more than enough time for him to be dispossessed.

 

[opjeoff]

There was no "back foot". Defense was on place. Problem was Iniesta also not closing down on Verratti, and busi being between the cbs, instead of being on his position too. Verratti run freely with the ball, from the circle to the edge of the box, and took as much as four touches before making the pass. There was more than enough time for him to be dispossessed.

Messi lost the ball as the last man in midfield, even if Verratti took 100 touches, our players were caught off-guard and had trouble covering due to that mistake. Are you really arguing that that goal was not Messi's fault? I dont actually understand your point.

 

[mark1nhu]

If your point is the goal was on him, you're wrong. It wasn't only on him. You should rewatch it. There was plenty of time and opportunities to stop Verratti or draxler in that play. Unlike his mistake vs Chelsea, where there wasn't really much to do once Ramires got the ball from him.

Alba and Iniesta were both caught on their wrong feet because our team was MOVING FORWARD when Messi lost the ball in an easy play.

This is the moment Verrati took the ball from him and IMMEDIATELY passed to Draxler:

As you can see, Iniesta was at least 4 meters from Draxler. I don't know about you, but I don't expect an old guy like Iniesta to catch a younger one with this distance.

Still, Iniesta started to run after Draxler as soon as Verrati passed the ball.

What happened next?

Draxler gave the ball back to Verrati, who was completely alone, since Messi didn't track back after his own fuck up.

This moment Iniesta was completely sold (same goes for Alba since the beginning). Both of them couldn't do shit to hold Draxler or Verrati.

Who could? Busi, Umtiti or Pique, but all of them would need to leave their spots and COMMIT to TWO opponents, which is always a bad thing for a defender.

Since both were caught off guard with the wrong foot, they simply didn't have time to think about the play and to coordinate their positions and their actions, so they kept going back until it was too late.

Yes, you could argue Umtiti failed by not getting close to Draxler, but defending is always easier said than done. He would never be put in that situation if Messi didn't take an unnecessary risk, when he had passing options, as I already pointed out.