Lionel Messi - v7

[Catta]

He needs to step up in the Classico, if he plays like this, we will lose.

 

[evilhita666]

He was able to get into good positions but as soon he got the ball he looked mentally blocked, kinda weird from him...

 

[kattanib]

Offical Motm.

Just to tell you how bad we were. Motm in my opinion is Masip or Dembele

 

[Hardy]

Hopefully this isn't the Messi we will see in El Clasico

considering his last clasico maybe we'll see even worst messi

 

[eaman]

People here usually overreact and say he plays poor in other games when he's actually decent but he hasn't played as bad as tonight in years. He is better off not resting these days. I guess its harder to get going after time off when you get older

 

[hardyboy]

Lack of training may be the reason for such an awful performance.

 

[Horatio]

Never know what to expect with him after too long of a break. Hope he is fired up for el Clasico.

 

[malvolio]

vs his 2021 form you could say he was attrocius. otherwise a meh game, could have had 2 assists if colleagues converted.

at least we got bailed out by our other superstar forward, as it should be when messi is not firing on all cylinders.

 

[Jakabor]

Very unimpressive.

Should have played much better with this much rest. He needs to step up vs Madrid otherwise he can be let go to City or PSG in the summer.

Use his wages on Haaland - the future.

 

[Vilarrubi]

Below par but calma.

First game since December 2020 without a goal or assist in La Liga.

 

[Barcaman]

Below par but calma.

First game since December 2020 without a goal or assist in La Liga.

Saving himself for Real

 

[CatalinR10]

Very unimpressive.

Should have played much better with this much rest. He needs to step up vs Madrid otherwise he can be let go to City or PSG in the summer.

Use his wages on Haaland - the future.

And if he doesn't step up that means he has to go regardless that he's been top 1 or 2 player this year ?

 

[JohnN]

Shit today as always after a long break. Hope he returns for el classico!
Vamos....

 

[cro-man]

He kept the ball so many times for too long that it resultet into one counter after another. Beyond awfull performance by him.

 

[Jakabor]

And if he doesn't step up that means he has to go regardless that he's been top 1 or 2 player this year ?

Hey buddy. Let me enlighten you a little bit.
Barca need to think long term. Messi = unimpressive tonight and no long term solution.
Messi is 33 and on huge wages. Wages that (especially in this time) will prevent Barca from making any top class long term upgrades (Haaland, Mbappe category of players).

Barca needs to let him walk this season and replace his goals with the goals from a proper 9 - Haaland. Haaland will score and provide Barca with the player they miss the most - a striker/true 9. He will not assists nearly as much as Messi. But that is where the support comes in. Shifting to a 4-3-3 (I am aware they still use it some of the time) from Koemans current 3-5-2 will work better with Haaland as striker flanked by Dembele and Ansu Fati than their current setup with Messi. They along with Pedri, De Jong (who will permanently play in midfield), Busquets, Dest and of course Alba will provide the assists.

Remember also that Ansu Fati started the season better than Messi with 4 goals in 7 matches, and he likely would have hit 15-20 goals this season with his shooting ability. Fati can act as consistent goal scoring forward or backup striker to Haaland (has played the position successfully at youth level). With Fati and Dembele flanking Haaland I am convinced that they would look better than with Messi.

Tonight vs a band average Valladolid team Messi looked awful with his touch on the ball, his passing and his sharpness in front of goal. He looked like Ronaldo in some of the latters worst matches this season. Being a focal point is not good if you do not show the necessary quality (especially vs teams ranked firmly below you). He has been a top player in 2021 based in stats and his overall play, but he is not the future. And even though he is rightfully like a god in Barcelona they should not let sentimentality but sensibility guide their decision.
The sensible thing is to go all out for a young world class attacking player (preferably a 9) and replace Messi this summer!

Do not give him a new contact with high wages limiting them in the transfer market and in their tactical setup. Laporta, I beg you. Sometimes you have to let go of the thing you love. This is one of those times.