Andrés Iniesta

[e28makaveli]

As much as I enjoy both players, for me personally Messi is more enjoyable to watch. His dribbling is above Iniesta for me and some of his touches make me drool. He's the reason I started watching Barca, in fact I had stopped watching football altogether until I discovered Messi. Of course it's all personal preference.

Same sentiment.

 

[e28makaveli]

Iniesta's dribbling in tight area's is alot more unpredictable & easy on the eye than Messi's, Messi's dribbling is always the same thing = cutting in. I get bored of watching Messi's dribbling as defenders should do alot better becuase it's obvious what he's doing. Iniesta mixes up alot more. Even though often it doesn't have any end product - assist/goal. But it's alot better to watch from a neutral for sure.

I actually prefer Xavi/Pirlo subtle turns to keep the ball though.

true too. Iniesta definitely offers more variety in the dribbling arena and is a delight to watch. But I need results and Messi does it for us and with finesse.

 

[Xtroverto]

Iniesta's dribbling in tight area's is alot more unpredictable & easy on the eye than Messi's, Messi's dribbling is always the same thing = cutting in. I get bored of watching Messi's dribbling as defenders should do alot better becuase it's obvious what he's doing. Iniesta mixes up alot more. Even though often it doesn't have any end product - assist/goal. But it's alot better to watch from a neutral for sure.

I actually prefer Xavi/Pirlo subtle turns to keep the ball though.

I agree that Iniesta score higher on the flair scale, he just dominate his opponents in a way few players have since I began watching football many decades ago. His way of floating around like an ice-skater effortlessly in minuscule spaces and an ability to trick his opponent into stupid at times humiliating moves is unmatched in today's game.

However, the argument that Messi is predictable and therefore boring I do not agree with. I also do not agree with the idea that defenders should do a lot better because it's obvious what he's doing, in fact it is the complete opposite. The reason Messi is probably the most consistent footballer in the history of the game is his unpredictability.

 

[spark]

I love how people make it seem like if it wasnt for speed messi woulnt be able to dribble as well as someone like iniesta. Messi has been the better dribbler since he debuted at 16 when he wasnt a goal scorer and will continue to be so even when they are 50 playing legends charity matches.

Only dribbling at pace :

Last week it was "Iniesta is always feeling superior to opponents unlike Messi"

 

[ThwiX]

The greatest of all time could entertain and be effective i.e. the guy in my avatar.

Ronaldinho the greatest of all time? I'm sorry to say this, but if anything, he's probably the most overrated.

 

[Edman]

Ronaldinho the greatest of all time? I'm sorry to say this, but if anything, he's probably the most overrated.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Iniesta's dribbling in tight area's is alot more unpredictable & easy on the eye than Messi's, Messi's dribbling is always the same thing = cutting in. I get bored of watching Messi's dribbling as defenders should do alot better becuase it's obvious what he's doing. Iniesta mixes up alot more. Even though often it doesn't have any end product - assist/goal. But it's alot better to watch from a neutral for sure.

I actually prefer Xavi/Pirlo subtle turns to keep the ball though.

Iniesta reserves some pace to allow him to be more unpredictable. He also is more fluid in his objective; if a path is shut, he finds a new path, not necessarily towards goal. Messi, on the other hand, has a more direct objective, to penetrate up the middle at full pace. The result is almost always a shot, a key pass/assist, a foul, or the ball tackled away. I also enjoy watching (and emulating) Iniesta more, but they are really two different attacking styles with different objectives; Iniesta's style is to elude, Messi to penetrate.

 

[ThwiX]

Ronaldinho had his few really good years, but should that be enough to get so much hype and loving. No, I don't think so. He was very good, but not one of the greatest of all time.

 

[footyfan]

Two great finishes aside, particularly the first, Messi was quite wasteful and was dispossessed more than usual.

If Iniesta's volley goes in, he gets the plaudits. But he ran the show with Xavi, winning tackles, creating space and driving the team forward with his dribbling and decisive passing.

The Don.

This was actually one of the games in a long time where Messi made a lot of good choices and wasn't wasteful at all. Yes, he lost the ball but this is Milan and it's his play-style, something that I have accepted. BTW goals are very important. If Messi doesn't provide that moment of genius, there's no guarantee Miilan would've crumbled or that Barca would've had the same belief.

The MOTM if it wasn't for Messi is definitely Busquets.

I love how people make it seem like if it wasnt for speed messi woulnt be able to dribble as well as someone like iniesta. Messi has been the better dribbler since he debuted at 16 when he wasnt a goal scorer and will continue to be so even when they are 50 playing legends charity matches.

Only dribbling at pace :
Last week it was "Iniesta is always feeling superior to opponents unlike Messi"

Messi's speed and superior physical attributes definitely help him make driving forward runs better than Iniesta, and there's nothing wrong with utilizing attributes like pace. Actually, I agree with you that some of the things that people say for Iniesta in the Iniesta vs Messi debate are quite funny. Sometimes Iniesta is untouchable on the forum even though he has a poor/below average game.

But one thing that I myself am convinced (and this could sound funny to others) is that Iniesta's decision making and his ability in tight areas (due to his decision making and touch) is unrivalled by even Messi. When people sometimes refer to dribbling, they're not actually talking about going past players but about getting out of problematic areas with possession of the ball.

 

[Edman]

Ronaldinho had his few really good years, but should that be enough to get so much hype and loving. No, I don't think so. He was very good, but not one of the greatest of all time.

I agree that he's not one of THE greats (pele, maradona, etc.) and I don't think he's widely regarded as such. So, to say he's the "most overrated" really doesn't do him justice.

 

[Dinho]

Ronaldinho the greatest of all time? I'm sorry to say this, but if anything, he's probably the most overrated.

The greatest, as in plural. A list of all time greats.

He won't make the elite because his peak was short lived.

But he is the most talented footballer of all time.

He combined entertainment with an end product. Messi is a goal machine and more effective.

Ronaldinho could score goals, create them, dictate the play, take on multiple defenders, showboat and mesmerise you with the ball at his feet.

Toe pokes, defence splitting passes, passes with the outside of the boot, bicycle kicks, bending free kicks, raking long balls, tricks, first time passes, no look passes, dribbling ability, balance, creativity, swagger, guile.

He had it all.

 

[Dinho]

This was actually one of the games in a long time where Messi made a lot of good choices and wasn't wasteful at all. Yes, he lost the ball but this is Milan and it's his play-style, something that I have accepted. BTW goals are very important. If Messi doesn't provide that moment of genius, there's no guarantee Miilan would've crumbled or that Barca would've had the same belief.

The MOTM if it wasn't for Messi is definitely Busquets.



Messi's speed and superior physical attributes definitely help him make driving forward runs better than Iniesta, and there's nothing wrong with utilizing attributes like pace. Actually, I agree with you that some of the things that people say for Iniesta in the Iniesta vs Messi debate are quite funny. Sometimes Iniesta is untouchable on the forum even though he has a poor/below average game.

But one thing that I myself am convinced (and this could sound funny to others) is that Iniesta's decision making and his ability in tight areas (due to his decision making and touch) is unrivalled by even Messi. When people sometimes refer to dribbling, they're not actually talking about going past players but about getting out of problematic areas with possession of the ball.

How could Busquets be MOTM in a game where Milan offered practically zero attacking threat.

Iniesta had the team driving forward, going for the kill from the kick off. Messi finished off the moves.

 

[ricknattery]

Iniesta's dribbling in tight area's is alot more unpredictable & easy on the eye than Messi's, Messi's dribbling is always the same thing = cutting in. I get bored of watching Messi's dribbling as defenders should do alot better becuase it's obvious what he's doing. Iniesta mixes up alot more. Even though often it doesn't have any end product - assist/goal. But it's alot better to watch from a neutral for sure.

I actually prefer Xavi/Pirlo subtle turns to keep the ball though.

Maybe it isnt that obvious since top defenders cannot stop him with the mere knowledge that Messi "always cuts in"

Pretty bold (and inocent) of you to make such claims

 

[misterplatin]

Iniesta reserves some pace to allow him to be more unpredictable. He also is more fluid in his objective; if a path is shut, he finds a new path, not necessarily towards goal. Messi, on the other hand, has a more direct objective, to penetrate up the middle at full pace. The result is almost always a shot, a key pass/assist, a foul, or the ball tackled away. I also enjoy watching (and emulating) Iniesta more, but they are really two different attacking styles with different objectives; Iniesta's style is to elude, Messi to penetrate.

This is exactly what I came to say :beer2:
Messi drops to midfield so we compare him to Iniesta but Messi is always focused towards getting the final pass,shot and not the usual midfield work.If he can't make anything happen he will just pass it to Xavi,Iniesta without wasting a second. That is the the way our play is built .However if Messi tried to open up the pitch and create space for others like Maradona used to do, it would be even more enjoyable . But I am not sure that would be best for the team as we have enough/better creativity through our midfield and we actualy need a goalscorer in Messi.

 

[Ode to Django]

Maybe it isnt that obvious since top defenders cannot stop him with the mere knowledge that Messi "always cuts in"

Pretty bold (and inocent) of you to make such claims

Well there aren't any top defenders around at the moment, when the best around is Thiago Silva (as good as he is) there's a problem & there is nothing wrong with that statement, i've watched countless of Barcelona games & nine times out of ten that's what he does when dribbling.

I find his dribbling to be very predictable.