10 - Lionel Messi - v5

[BigBarcaBoy]

We need that fire in the belly Messi too, seriously he can't afford to walk around off the ball. The game is changing all the time and players are pushing their bodies to new limits and if Messi doesn't adapt he will stop being significant in UCL knockout games.

I'm still fuming he wasn't rested in Copa.

Relax, leo's got this

 

[ronniecro]

chelsea is not arsenal,i also think he won't do much

 

[MessiCam]

The creativity falls on Messi in these games due to the way he and the team plays a lot in recent years.

Recent years? The much maligned Neymar shared the creative responsibility with Messi. He gave Suarez his central position and Lucho had them switch to a more direct style often bypassing midfield.

Slow passing, get ball to Messi who comes towards ball slowly in exactly area pitch opposition know he will be in.

In an earlier discussion you wanted more positional discipline from Messi but here you want him to be unpredictable. How exactly is he supposed to do both? About the slow passing... How else do you play against a parked bus when you have no wings?

Messi is not a play maker, he doesnt dictate tempo or probe opposition defence enough. He is a difference maker in he final third.

And yet he is playing that role due to this obsession to get both him and Suarez into central positions. The only way it works is with a switch to a 3 man defence. Even Lucho figured it out.

 

[JamDav1982]

None of that has any relevance to what was said.

 

[MessiCam]

None of that has any relevance to what was said.

It does because the poster you replied pointed out that Messi is being singled out despite the team and system not being conducive to him. And he is right but you’re right too in that Messi is not a playmaker. Problem is he is being forced to be one while still shouldering scoring responsibilities.

Unfortunately I can’t see how Valverde fixes it by keeping both Messi and Suarez in the starting 11. Neither want to play wide.

 

[JamDav1982]

It does because the poster you replied pointed out that Messi is being singled out despite the team and system not being conducive to him. And he is right but you’re right too in that Messi is not a playmaker. Problem is he is being forced to be one while still shouldering scoring responsibilities.

Unfortunately I can’t see how Valverde fixes it by keeping both Messi and Suarez in the starting 11. Neither want to play wide.

It doesnt as you have responded to things that were never said.

For example never said Messi at all times had to hold position I said i think he is more effective off the ball if does not come to it so often - holds position MORE, moves off ball MORE then he can come to ball at times as well as well.

Messi is not a playmaker and players give ball to him too often in tight games where other team defending well.

It limits Messi and the other players chances of making an impact at times.

Suarez is not a wide player and certainly not now. That leaves Messi refusing to play wide if anyone.

 

[MessiCam]

It doesnt as you have responded to things that were never said.

For example never said Messi at all times had to hold position I said i think he is more effective off the ball if does not come to it so often - holds position MORE, moves off ball MORE then he can come to ball at times as well as well.

Messi is not a playmaker and players give ball to him too often in tight games where other team defending well.

It limits Messi and the other players chances of making an impact at times.

Suarez is not a wide player and certainly not now. That leaves Messi refusing to play wide if anyone.

Fair enough I’ll just add 1 thing though. I didn’t say anybody is refusing to play wide. I said neither want to play wide. I’m sure either would play wide if asked. But Valverde’s first order of business was getting Messi centrally so I don’t know. All I know is that our midfield is a shit show with a double pivot and 2 attacking wide players so much so that I pray Valverde reverts to [MENTION=16942]BBZ8800[/MENTION]’s workhorse 4-4-2.

And that’s a difficult thing for me to say because I hate too many workhorses and I hate the 4-4-2. I think it’s a limited system.

 

[RIZALDINHO]

i hope we rest messi and iniesta today for the chelsea game we should easily able to beat eibar without them today

 

[gatsu]

Chelsea will not park the bus. It's not in conte's philosophy. Additionally they will be dumb to do so kwowing that its not the best way to couter us.

 

[serghei]

Chelsea will not park the bus. It's not in conte's philosophy. Additionally they will be dumb to do so kwowing that its not the best way to couter us.

I say it's in his philosophy for sure. Didn't you watch Chelsea - City 0-1? That's parking the bus.

 

[ASordidGod]

Conte is a very defensive manager. He'll go 5 at back plus 2 def/workhorse mids prob, maybe even 3, then Hazard and Giroud would be my guess. Almost certainly he'll be set up to counter though, with lots of bodies behind the ball, all very cautious. We need to be smart.

 

[El Barcelona]

Conte is a very defensive manager. He'll go 5 at back plus 2 def/workhorse mids prob, maybe even 3, then Hazard and Giroud would be my guess. Almost certainly he'll be set up to counter though, with lots of bodies behind the ball, all very cautious. We need to be smart.

They play with 352 formation.

 

[Truthist]

Honestly, if Chelsea park the bus ( and they will for sure ), I am afraid Messi can't win this game alone.
If Suarez doesn't step up too, you'll see only Messi long passes trying to break Chelsea bus, but those will be blocked by Chelsea defenders, who are quite tall.

The thing is who does Messi interchange with up front. If you ps4s the ball in tight situations to Suarez you can guarantee a loss of possession.

I'm really worried Messi will be nullified with the Ronaldo fanboys out in full force again. Please rest him against Elbar.

 

[Ripsta]

His lack of goals lately is a real worry. Relying on Suarez to get them is just a big fucking risk given how his form can yo-yo from bad to brilliant. At least he's creating chances for others.

*cue 2nd half hat-trick.

If he's not careful another resurgence in form from Cristiano is well and truely going to put his entire legacy to shade.

 

[pregra]

At least he actually got a decent chance this game,been a while since that happened. Also, when you hit the post THAT many times it isn’t just bad luck.