10 - Lionel Messi - v5
- Thread starter Barcaman
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serghei
Senior Member
Messi's position is tricky, because in midfield, off the ball movement is one of the key things you must have, and he just doesn't have that. To find Messi in midfield in a good position, you have to find a great pass almost everytime. This or or you can also find him when the opponent makes a mistake or is too adventurous.
But you only rarely find Messi in space in midfield thanks to his off the ball movement.
So. On the ball he is the best player in the world, but if he doesn't find a way to be on the ball more, then Messi at midfield is not certain to work. Great teams can suffocate him and give him very little time on the ball. It is up to him mostly to make sure it doesn't happen. So far, I'm not seeing he has the will and the desire to work so hard that the opponents can't mark him.
He has full control on the ball and he can do everything he wants. But he doesn't look like he has full control over how often he is on the ball. That is not only down to teammates not being good enough, but also down to him for not moving enough to make himself available.
But you only rarely find Messi in space in midfield thanks to his off the ball movement.
So. On the ball he is the best player in the world, but if he doesn't find a way to be on the ball more, then Messi at midfield is not certain to work. Great teams can suffocate him and give him very little time on the ball. It is up to him mostly to make sure it doesn't happen. So far, I'm not seeing he has the will and the desire to work so hard that the opponents can't mark him.
He has full control on the ball and he can do everything he wants. But he doesn't look like he has full control over how often he is on the ball. That is not only down to teammates not being good enough, but also down to him for not moving enough to make himself available.
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FlaFCB
Guest
You mean Bob's lack of defending. Messi wasn't as involved in this game. I don't think he was licho's main concern to try this tactics. He only didn't want to lose like vs psg.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
No I mean Messi lack of defending and it leaving a poor area of team exposed.
Allowing him not to worry about that and stay central trying to influence things more was the intention I think along with many other things.
Otherwise just play Messi at RW where Rafinha was for most part and defended a lot.
serghei
Senior Member
I think it was a combination of more things. Basically, Messi played vs Madrid in the exact same way like today, but because we didn't use a 3-4-3, we had a major hole down the right. And that whole was exactly where we should have insisted the most, on Marcelo's side. You could actually see Marcelo having no one to be concerned about, because Messi was playing in midfield almost all the time.
Another option would be to play 4-3-3, but with a 2-1 midfield, instead of 1-2. That 1 can be Messi, but when you use Messi in a midfield 3, you have to use 2 ball winners behind him. So, Mascherano - Busquets, Neymar - Messi - Rafinha, Suarez, can also work. It transforms into a 4-1-1 on defensive transition, with Neymar - Busi - Mascherano - Rafinha in midfield.
Another option would be to play 4-3-3, but with a 2-1 midfield, instead of 1-2. That 1 can be Messi, but when you use Messi in a midfield 3, you have to use 2 ball winners behind him. So, Mascherano - Busquets, Neymar - Messi - Rafinha, Suarez, can also work. It transforms into a 4-1-1 on defensive transition, with Neymar - Busi - Mascherano - Rafinha in midfield.
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Does it not reset to 10 like in the Premiership?
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FlaFCB
Guest
Messi never defended. It's strange this was an issue all of a sudden. Problem was losing alves and replacing with Bob, who's poor there.
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FlaFCB
Guest
No. A suspension every 5 yellows.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Even last season with Alves and Raktic playing better teams like Real had Marcelo running riot bar that one game Roberto played RW.
Messi lack of defending was leaving poor area far too exposed.
Otherwise just play him RW today if it has nothing to do with Messi and covering his defending and trying to get in game more.
Total-Football
Senior Member
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Pedro
La Masia
First of all Barca haven't been playing at their best recently, so it's good to get 2 wins in a row after PSG, this is what Champions do, get results when not playing well. I'm sure Barca will be back to their best very soon.
Regarding this game about Messi, it was vs. A.Madrid, who have always given Barca tough games even under Pep, so the result was fantastic. At this stage of the season it's not about Messi playing well or not, it's about getting the wins, and Messi got the winner. He hasn't been rested for ages, he's human, he needs a rest sometimes. He's been playing well during most games this season, 35 goals and plenty of assists. Let's hope Real Madrid slip up tonight.
Regarding this game about Messi, it was vs. A.Madrid, who have always given Barca tough games even under Pep, so the result was fantastic. At this stage of the season it's not about Messi playing well or not, it's about getting the wins, and Messi got the winner. He hasn't been rested for ages, he's human, he needs a rest sometimes. He's been playing well during most games this season, 35 goals and plenty of assists. Let's hope Real Madrid slip up tonight.
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FlaFCB
Guest
What is that supposed to prove? He did one or two of those today as well, running after the ball. And still you were complaining about him in the chat. He never defended consistently, because that's not his job.
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