10 - Lionel Messi - V6

[Luftstalag14]

I think starting next season it will be to our best advantage to have Messi play just the 2nd half. He doesn't have the stamina to sustain a high-intensity 90 minutes and if he comes up to play in the 2nd half he will be more energetic, focused and lethal. Also this will allow us to start learning how not to depend on Messi on every attacking play, in the long run this will help the transition of not having Messi entirely one day.

 

[DonAK]

This is ridiculous.

I have a better idea: Let's just sell the guy so Rakitic and Roberto and the rest of the team can shine. We will definitely win the treble.

 

[Raketa10]

I think starting next season it will be to our best advantage to have Messi play just the 2nd half. He doesn't have the stamina to sustain a high-intensity 90 minutes and if he comes up to play in the 2nd half he will be more energetic, focused and lethal. Also this allows to start learning how not to depend on Messi on every attacking play, in the long run this will help the transition of not having Messi entirely one day.

WTF?!?! Please take some medications dude you are not well.

 

[Luftstalag14]

WTF?!?!

Not trolling, I am genuinely believing that would be a better plan for both us and Messi himself.

 

[Daniele]

Yes, Messi walking is the reason we lost. Never mind the other players playing like shit. The usual suspects are back at it again.

Messi not pressing have usually not been a hindrance to us winning in the league. In fact him walking and winning it on his own is a reason we've usually won these league titles.

Also we barely won against a team that's getting relegated without Messi, and we probably didn't deserve it either.

I agree, the neverending "Messi does not run enough" issue I give it not much credit. In fact his ability to avoid uselees efforts it's what allows him to break the match even in the last minutes of the game. I see a mental problem with barca against lower level teams they tend to underrate

 

[Mitchell1978]

I think starting next season it will be to our best advantage to have Messi play just the 2nd half.

this isn't basketball

 

[DonAK]

You guys are just pathetic. No wonder the trolls these days are having a great run on this forum when even the old regulars are losing their minds and slitting their wrists over one game like this.

Might as well make Pedro, Maxim and Messi56239283 the mods around here.

 

[Raketa10]

I am out of this shit. You can't have a normal talk in this forum anymore. This forum is definitely not the place to go and talk about the football or tactics. It has became a freak show and admins are for sure not helping. PATHETIC!

Oh and yes I NEVER said that MESSI is the problem. He is undoubtedly a football GOD! The problem is in our tactics when he is on the field. Instead utilizing THE GOAT in the right way we are beeing slaughtered because no one knows how to cower the right side when he is on the field.

 

[DonAK]

Excuse? Yeah others were magnificent! He was the main issue as always.

No, I am not saying he's the main issue, but neither is Messi's lack of pressing which you seem to be talking about.

 

[te amo barca]

Of course Messi still needs to start in every semi-important game, just don't play him in the useless Copa Del Rey games. I said that he should have not started today because he has just come back from the injury and did not put much effort, perhaps he was cautious for his elbow. Moreover, we tried to press high today, but without one man participating Betis just cut through our pressing engagement line with unreal ease and created a ton of 3-4 v 4 situations... Carvalho and Firpo especially had a really fun evening.

 

[Luftstalag14]

this isn't basketball

So? The question is how to make the best out of Messi to our benefit. He is going to be 32 by the start of next season, why should we expect him to start every single game? We all know the best Messi is a rested Messi (and sometimes an angry Messi), so why not? Do we let him play every single minute in every game and risk injuries, fatigue and him becoming less effective? Do we risk totally relying on him for our attacking play until he retires and then we figure out how to play without him?

 

[DonAK]

My question to you folks is: We've had games like this without Messi too, like last game vs Rayo Vallecano where we definitely didn't deserve to win, and keep one thing in mind, Rayo are likely going to get relegated while Betis will get into EL places again.

What was your excuse against them? Messi's lack of pressing couldn't have been an issue since he didn't play. Nor did Rakitic and Roberto have to cover for Messi as again, he did not play.

Why did we play like shit and barely scrap a win against a relegation team? Did the team not know how to play?

Your arguments are simple minded when we played like this in our last game without the player that's supposedly causing our overall play issues and making our other players play like a bunch of pussies.

The only difference is that Real Betis' quality overshadowed Rayo's so they took their chances and managed to defend better which the latter couldn't.

 

[KingLeo10]

real have a blackhole without CR7 because they were reliant on his finishing.

and you guys think we should transition messi out when we are reliant on his finishing plus his playmaking.

messi had a poor game by his standards and didn't try very hard. sure, you can blame that on him (even though most of the defeat lies on EV + roberto) . but to suggest we would be better off completely without a guy who's scored 600 goals and provided 250 assists for barca is absolutely insane.

 

[Raketa10]

No, I am not saying he's the main issue, but neither is Messi's lack of pressing which you seem to be talking about.

No you misunderstood me, I was refering to our system not the lack of pressing from Messi. IMO there is no way you can keep on playing 4-3-3 with Messi on the field while Roberto is playing as a RB. It's just impossible.

We need to change the system ASAP even 4-4-2 is better than 4-3-3 with Messi as a hybrid RW and Roberto as a RB. For the love of God I can't understand why is Valverde so reluctant in giving Semedo a chance or trying 4-2-3-1 with Messi as a CAM.

We are basically playing 4-3-3 without a RW and with a midfielder playing as a RB so what the hell do we expect?

 

[DonAK]

No you misunderstood me, I was refering to our system not the lack of pressing from Messi. IMO there is no way you can keep on playing 4-3-3 with Messi on the field while Roberto is olaying as a RB. It's just wrong!

Well, that is on the manager, and it's easier to move Semedo in at RB than move Messi somewhere else on the pitch. Although I'm not sure it would make a big difference considering the issues starts and ends with Valverde's incapability to find a way to counter teams like this, regardless of who is on the pitch.

You can play a 4-4-2 which would make us slower and shittier in attack.