10 - Lionel Messi - v5

[Horatio]

Not for Argentina though. Remember, they will be playing in Russia. Most South Americans are not used to their weather..

Russia is hot during the summer. Been there.

 

[MessiCam]

Not for Argentina though. Remember, they will be playing in Russia. Most South Americans are not used to their weather. Also, even without that spell, Argentina already had a slim chance of getting to the final how much more if you include that spell lol

2014 FIFA World Cup was their best chance to win it. They were not even expected to get to the final at that time because their lineup was so shit. They were very lucky to be in the finals and to be carried by Messi.

I don’t think Messi carried Argentina in the previous World Cup, sure his goals came at a time when the team needed them but it was actually Mascherano in defence that saved their bacon on numerous occasions. He was fantastic in 2014 World Cup and I honestly thought he would win player of the tournament.

But, yeah, this Argentina team doesn’t have a hope in hell of winning it. They just don’t have the players apart from a few here and there.

 

[Ripsta]

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Did you ever think that would happen when he broke through to the first team? What he and Ronaldo have done in La Liga is astonishing. It's not like the rest of the league is shit either, plenty of them have done well in Europe over the years.

 

[Ritchie]

Did you ever think that would happen when he broke through to the first team? What he and Ronaldo have done in La Liga is astonishing. It's not like the rest of the league is shit either, plenty of them have done well in Europe over the years.

I remember Alcantara's record 369 goals being a target for Messi (including all kinds of friendlies) and he broke that a couple of years ago. Now he's ready to break it just in league games.

I hope he stays to get 500 Barcelona La Liga goals.

 

[Iarwain]

I don’t think Messi carried Argentina in the previous World Cup, sure his goals came at a time when the team needed them but it was actually Mascherano in defence that saved their bacon on numerous occasions. He was fantastic in 2014 World Cup and I honestly thought he would win player of the tournament.

Mascherano was almost abysmal in the first 4 games (group stages + R16 vs Swi) where Argentina had advanced offensive set up, since he's almost useless as a midfielder in-possession. He looked good only when Sabella switched to deep defending 442 in the last 3 games (Bel, Ned, Ger) where Argentina had a cautious approach and disiplined 2x4 players line when outside of possession (where Mascherano came into his own as a natural tackler/runner with clear defensive routines before him).

Don't let the "anus tearing" save on Robben fool you, his lack of in-possession midfield skills (building up the play, passing, evading opponent pressure and effectively moving the ball up) was in great part responsible for Argentina's ineffective distribution. Him and Biglia were out of their league (in possession) in that final game.

 

[JamDav1982]

Mascherano was almost abysmal in the first 4 games (group stages + R16 vs Swi) where Argentina had advanced offensive set up, since he's almost useless as a midfielder in-possession. He looked good only when Sabella switched to deep defending 442 in the last 3 games (Bel, Ned, Ger) where Argentina had a cautious approach and disiplined 2x4 players line when outside of possession (where Mascherano came into his own as a natural tackler/runner with clear defensive routines before him).

Don't let the "anus tearing" save on Robben fool you, his lack of in-possession midfield skills (building up the play, passing, evading opponent pressure and effectively moving the ball up) was in great part responsible for Argentina's ineffective distribution. Him and Biglia were out of their league (in possession) in that final game.

Masche was one of the best players for Argentina and kept them in that semi final with Holland. He was far better than Messi in that game.

Likes of Romero did well also as did the whole defence for most part.

Messi had a good tournament and was their best player overall but was fairly quiet in the semi final and final and wasnt leading them to anything single handed. Other players stepped up when needed to as well at different times to get to that final.

Dont think Messi really had any great games bar Nigeria but had good moments in most of them.

 

[Ritchie]

Messi wasn't fit at that World Cup and had come off his poorest club season under Tata Martino certainly from 08/09 onwards. Barca fans were complaining he was saving himself for the World Cup and wasn't bothered but he wasn't right physically after his injury problems in 2013.

He'd come to life for a few moments in each game which would make the difference (Bosnia goal, Iran winner, Nigeria game, Switzerland assist for the winner). By the quarters he was gassed.

 

[Iarwain]

Masche was one of the best players for Argentina and kept them in that semi final with Holland. He was far better than Messi in that game.

Likes of Romero did well also as did the whole defence for most part.

Messi had a good tournament and was their best player overall but was fairly quiet in the semi final and final and wasnt leading them to anything single handed. Other players stepped up when needed to as well at different times to get to that final.

Dont think Messi really had any great games bar Nigeria but had good moments in most of them.

Mascherano was one unit in 8-man defence that worked well outside of possession in the last few games, he didn't stand out any more than say Rojo or fucking Demichelis. He offered next to nothing when Argentina had the ball since he's known one-direction player (which is why he never made it in Barca midfield). You seriously don't notice how uncomfortable and clueless he is when they play high line and have possession where it's necessary to think fast and play fast to reach any fruition?

Yes, "anus tearing" save on Robben was crucial for sure, but he was in good part responsible why they were always attacking a fully set up Netherlands defense.

Messi wasn't fit at that World Cup and had come off his poorest club season under Tata Martino certainly from 08/09 onwards. Barca fans were complaining he was saving himself for the World Cup and wasn't bothered but he wasn't right physically after his injury problems in 2013.

He'd come to life for a few moments in each game which would make the difference (Bosnia goal, Iran winner, Nigeria game, Switzerland assist for the winner). By the quarters he was gassed.

I believe he was instructed to conserve his energy throughout the tournament since it's 7 high intensity games in short time span. Hence why he didn't bother to run much outside of possession.

 

[JamDav1982]

Mascherano was one unit in 8-man defence that worked well outside of possession in the last few games, he didn't stand out any more than say Rojo or fucking Demichelis. He offered next to nothing when Argentina had the ball since he's known one-direction player (which is why he never made it in Barca midfield). You seriously don't notice how uncomfortable and clueless he is when they play high line and have possession where it's necessary to think fast and play fast to reach any fruition?

Yes, "anus tearing" save on Robben was crucial for sure, but he was in good part responsible why they were always attacking a fully set up Netherlands defense.



I believe he was instructed to conserve his energy throughout the tournament since it's 7 high intensity games in short time span. Hence why he didn't bother to run much outside of possession.

Masch was one of their top players and was the best player in the semi final along with maybe Romero for getting them through the shoot out.

He did stand out more than Rojo or Dimechelis.

Masch was decent enough on the ball vs Holland and was everywhere trying to make a difference. Messi looked like he had virtually given up in that game.

The last three games Messi did not have much impact and they got so close to winning it largely through moments from other players and not him taking them anywhere single handed.

 

[Iarwain]

and was the best player in the semi final along with maybe Romero for getting them through the shoot out.

He made a crucial save that everyone remembers from highlight reels, any other defender in that game wasn't below him at all, they defended well as a unit and Mascherano was a piece in it. Meanwhile he was toothless in possession play since his known limitations.

He did stand out more than Rojo or Dimechelis.

No, he didn't. Rojo and Demichelis played above expectation in the last 3 games precisely because Sabella switched to cautious 442 which reduced a lot of pressure off them. The same reason why Mascherano looked good in these games, since he had less ground to cover and more teammates utilized in defensive line to cover each other. In earlier games, where he had more responsibility on him individually since Argentina pushed up more, all his limitations ware exposed.

Masch was decent enough on the ball vs Holland and was everywhere trying to make a difference.

Err no, all he did was hoof long balls as he can't into build-ups at all. For that level of football it certainly is not decent from a supposedly elite midfielder.

Messi looked like he had virtually given up in that game.

Yeah, since he continuously had fully set up Netherlands defense in front of him. Still managed to produce situations that could decide the tie: his crossfield pass which Rojo fucked while Higuain was all alone inside, and that Maxi chance late in the game which Messi literally pulled out of his ass by taking the ball at the centre and going all alone inside, that's a lot considering how cautious approach both teams had in that game (and considering it came from a guy that virtually gave up ).

The last three games Messi did not have much impact and they got so close to winning it largely through moments from other players and not him taking them anywhere single handed.

Of course he wasn't as impactful as Sabella switched to a cautious 442 system in these 3 games which suited natural defenders more which I described above. My point is he wasn't that much impactful because of tactical approach that isolated him more on behalf of more compact defensive line(s). If you look at the Germany game, Argentina barely attacked with 3-4 players max. Not that I criticize Sabella by this at all, it was a perfectly legitimate decision.

 

[JamDav1982]

No Masche had a good game and that tackle was part of it.

Messi barely moved that game and bar one good run down the right was anonymous to point it looked like he was going to get subbed out at one point.

Masche was Argies top player in that game and he and Romero were the biggest reason they got through in the end.

 

[henias]

Simple, Argentina played a very defensive game and Messi was clearly isolated against a whole horde of defenders. Higuain and a few others were gifted with the clearest chances yet failed to score. They were naturally defensive, players like Mascherano are bound to shine. Messi on the other hand will be compromised. Likewise, if Argentina decides to go more attacking, Mascherano would have more workload and would find it hard to shine. Vice Versa.

 

[JamDav1982]

Simple, Argentina played a very defensive game and Messi was clearly isolated against a whole horde of defenders. Higuain and a few others were gifted with the clearest chances yet failed to score. They were naturally defensive, players like Mascherano are bound to shine. Messi on the other hand will be compromised. Likewise, if Argentina decides to go more attacking, Mascherano would have more workload and would find it hard to shine. Vice Versa.

Messi had a good chances that he has scored in the past and failed to score as well.

It was a fairly even final with chances at both ends.

Argentina had played fairly defensively and on the counter that whole campaign leading up to the WC.

 

[henias]

Messi had a good chances that he has scored in the past and failed to score as well.

It was a fairly even final with chances at both ends.

Argentina had played fairly defensively and on the counter that whole campaign leading up to the WC.

Like I said "clearest of chances". You dont have to get all defensive just to show ur superior knowledge of the situation. In Barcelona, he usually takes a couple of good shots before he could convert. Same goes for any player. Im not saying Messi had the best of games, but overall he did well, dribbles and creating spaces, good link up as well. Overall, Germany had better link up plays while Argentina's best chances were mostly random crosses or mistakes by the opposition. Higuain's one was one of the worst miss alongside Torres'. It was simply atrocious and was given on a platter. Simply no excuse for that one.

Imagine if Messi was the one who did the Higuain miss, the uproar and hate for him will be endless and entrenched forever in the minds of people.

 

[BarcaMessi]

Absolute crap for the first half vs Peru.

Walks around when Peru has possession, not playing defense, lost most of his take on's in a do-or-die game for Argentina at home.