Lionel Messi - v7

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

I still dont think he is finished, if he gets a lot more rest and better off-ball movement he can be worldclass again.

 

[JamDav1982]

It doesn't matter anyway, since Liverpool is ultra-dynamic with Klopp. In comparison, we're stiff and rigid as a corpse. It's an enormous difference in terms of overall speed of play and movement.

Liverpool play with a front three that all press like maniacs and move off ball and play for one another in opening up space.

Have always said Coutinho suits that and a more 'chaotic' fast approach where gaps are opened and opposition are at sixes an sevens trying to keep up. He will never be a player that takes ball in a slow team facing up to ten men behind ball with little options.

A team built on Messi is a slow attacking team, with little options and movement.

There were times yesterday Dembele took off with ball in own half drove into the Atletico half and Messi did not move an inch to run into space or provide an option. Dembele ended up passing ball back inside where it would find Messi.

Messi slows the game down to suit his style of play time and again and then receives ball too often in areas where not much is on.

Been same for years and ends up with lots of giveaways and genius moments to open teams up.

Folk then complain Messi has to do everything and ignore how he is the main reason team plays like that.

Sick of watching it now.

 

[JohnN]

I don't get the "Coutinho is out best player if he plays in his position" thing.
Hell, try playing Messi in his position too, that's a thought.. or is our amazing defense gonna have a problem then? Because it is solid as steel now.
Btw, Coutinho was the worst player on the pitch last night.

 

[Altomonte]

Even in his prime, Messi would have suffered from the heavy, compressed schedule caused by COVID. He never performed well after only 3 days rest. A sensible coach and his medical team should plan accordingly and never let him play 90 minutes in such situations.
Koeman should hire an assistant trained in sports medicine.
Such a person should also have told himnot to use Sergi Roberto after a tough match in the Spanish NT, when Dest is available. As a consequence, Roberto got hurt.
I think Lucho was smarter. He would rest Messi and - by doing so - prolong his career.

 

[serghei]

Liverpool play with a front three that all press like maniacs and move off ball and play for one another in opening up space.

Have always said Coutinho suits that and a more 'chaotic' fast approach where gaps are opened and opposition are at sixes an sevens trying to keep up. He will never be a player that takes ball in a slow team facing up to ten men behind ball with little options.

A team built on Messi is a slow attacking team, with little options and movement.

There were times yesterday Dembele took off with ball in own half drove into the Atletico half and Messi did not move an inch to run into space or provide an option. Dembele ended up passing ball back inside where it would find Messi.

Messi slows the game down to suit his style of play time and again and then receives ball too often in areas where not much is on.

Been same for years and ends up with lots of giveaways and genius moments to open teams up.

Folk then complain Messi has to do everything and ignore how he is the main reason team plays like that.

Sick of watching it now.

No doubt. I see it the same.

 

[JamDav1982]

Even in his prime, Messi would have suffered from the heavy, compressed schedule caused by COVID. He never performed well after only 3 days rest. A sensible coach and his medical team should plan accordingly and never let him play 90 minutes in such situations.
Koeman should hire an assistant trained in sports medicine.
Such a person should also have told himnot to use Sergi Roberto after a tough match in the Spanish NT, when Dest is available. As a consequence, Roberto got hurt.
I think Lucho was smarter. He would rest Messi and - by doing so - prolong his career.

You miss out the part where Messi is furious when Lucho rested him and it is not as easily said as done.

No coach ever at Barca would have rested Messi in that game last night with options available if at all.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Even in his prime, Messi would have suffered from the heavy, compressed schedule caused by COVID. He never performed well after only 3 days rest. A sensible coach and his medical team should plan accordingly and never let him play 90 minutes in such situations.
Koeman should hire an assistant trained in sports medicine.
Such a person should also have told himnot to use Sergi Roberto after a tough match in the Spanish NT, when Dest is available. As a consequence, Roberto got hurt.
I think Lucho was smarter. He would rest Messi and - by doing so - prolong his career.

lol are you really thinking that the coches are too stupid to see that Messi needs rest ?! Messi hates being on the bench, he said it several times and thats why he wants to play every fucking match. Ronaldo has learned it and Messi should also do.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Imagine Messi goes to CIty in winter and Neymar comes to us after being elimated in the group stage.

 

[KingLeo10]

He's trying more for Argentina than he is for Barcelona, which is something you previously couldn't accuse him of. Declining production could be masked to a degree with more effort (8 km in a must win game v AM for instance) but these days, he is serving up little production and little effort.

All while being on 100 m wages. I would've let him go for whatever amount last summer just to get those 100M wages off our books.

 

[sikkboy]

wasn't jamdav the one advocating for us to not sell for anything lower than 100mil? i would have let him go on a free in the summer. we were heading for a disastrous season anyway, with the squad and manager we have. not getting the transfer fee would have been cancelled by not paying his salary for a season. and it would have been a nice gesture for all the joy and success he brought us.

There's something odd about the way Bartomeu handled it, almost as if he deliberately undermined the club and Messi.

 

[sikkboy]

But somehow we do. Ansu and Coutinho are our best performers this season. Ansu is out, so we might as well play Coutinho properly. Not that it will happen of course...

Over-egging a bit. I would disagree with you on Fati but c'mon man, Coutinho. He's had a few spells in games but has hardly set the heather on fire. Barca have been, for the most part very average, certainly by their high standards and even by current La Liga standards.

 

[eaman]

He's trying more for Argentina than he is for Barcelona, which is something you previously couldn't accuse him of. Declining production could be masked to a degree with more effort (8 km in a must win game v AM for instance) but these days, he is serving up little production and little effort.

All while being on 100 m wages. I would've let him go for whatever amount last summer just to get those 100M wages off our books.

How many kms did he run for Argentina? Atletico isnt the type of game forwards rack up distances seen as atletico sit back so much. It wasnt really a counter attacking game with much space in behind.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

He's trying more for Argentina than he is for Barcelona, which is something you previously couldn't accuse him of. Declining production could be masked to a degree with more effort (8 km in a must win game v AM for instance) but these days, he is serving up little production and little effort.

All while being on 100 m wages. I would've let him go for whatever amount last summer just to get those 100M wages off our books.

Yeah I also noticed that he put more effort for argentinia which is normal but he should accept rest against small teams

 

[JamDav1982]

Sky saying City no longer interested.

 

[serghei]

Sky saying City no longer interested.

That's really bad if true. Our only hope is gone. I wonder if they were ever 100% interested, considering his poor level atm, his astronomical wages, and his fitness & age. Like so many negatives about 34 years old Messi, only his name and his past are left.

Sounds like a terrible transfer for any smart club. Surprised to hear City were in for him to begin with.

Maybe if he cuts his demands by a lot, asking for a much lower wage from his new club, then we'll be able to move him.

No one except Barca is dumb enough to pay him 100m a year with taxes, maybe not even half that.