Lionel Messi - v7

[Devils]

[tw]1224996257388748801[/tw]

 

[Riordon]

The whole interview from Abidal is madness. Implies that Xavi lied, disrespected Setien and Carlos Perez, undermines Bartomeu, talks about the club approaching Pochettino and accuses the squad of being lazy. 10/10 way to make your position untenable.

The fact that Abidal gave a 35 min interview is madness itself. Who the fuck does that as a sporting directors? Shows his incompetence and/or lack of experience

 

[Barcaman]

Messi talks about responsibility of the players and that they took it. I haven't seen that.

Abidal is spot on imo and should hold his ground. Bartomeu will probably sack him as he touched the nerve there about players not training hard enough. Fuck em all I say.

 

[Devils]

The whole interview from Abidal is madness. Implies that Xavi lied, disrespected Setien and Carlos Perez, undermines Bartomeu, talks about the club approaching Pochettino and accuses the squad of being lazy. 10/10 way to make your position untenable.

Lowkey a lot of things he said are going under the radar because of the Messi situation taking the spotlight.

He said there was never an offer to Xavi and also said Xavi lacked experience to become manager of Barca.

Madness is the right word to describe it, unless he is actually trying to get himself fired.

 

[Porque]

If Abidal says that the players are not training hard enough. Is that not implication on Valverde's methods and not the efforts of the players within the training sessions?

What Abidal says can be backed up by facts. Namely, the average distance run per game of FCB compared to our rivals.

 

[Riordon]

Lowkey a lot of things he said are going under the radar because of the Messi situation taking the spotlight.

He said there was never an offer to Xavi and also said Xavi lacked experience to become manager of Barca.

Madness is the right word to describe it.

Even worse, he said that Matheus Fernandes didn’t play much in Brazil because his club wanted to shield him from European teams

 

[Messi983]

Basically this. Not sure if you mean it or not, or you are sarcastic, but his ego is getting in the way of the team. He is not a leader in any way, and this is very disappointing to see from the best player in the history of this club.

I'm serious.

I love Messi the player as I'm sure all of us do. He has changed the history of this club and football in general and I'll forever be grateful to him for that. But this doesn't mean he shouldn't get criticised when his effort on the pitch is not on the level it's expected from a professional player. His greatness on the pitch also doesn't mean he's perfect in any sense of the word and he should be defended to death for everything he does/says when not playing. I'm starting to get tired of Messi the captain (he was never a leader but this wasn't as evident until we had other great leaders like Puyi or Masche), Messi the Sport director and imaginary president of Barça and Messi the president of club de amigos.

Now there is no actual proof of Messi impacting day-to-day decisions (like the lineups we're playing with) nor long-term, strategical decisions (like who we'll buy). But I'm sure our managers over the years (starting with Pep playing Eto'o, Ibra, Villa, Henry as wingers to use Messi as a false 9) have all at some point considered "the Messi effect". Sometimes it worked out other times didn't but it was understandable because he was/is our best player. At the same time I'm sure Bartomeu and Abidal/former SDs were also considering "what would Messi say/how would Messi get along with players X and Y" when buying new players. So while we can't say Messi was directly involved in any transfer we've made (I'm 100% certain he has and probably still is pushing for Neymar's return though) I think his indirect impact on a lot of club's decision over the years is evident.

Everyone inside the club wanted to make him happy instead of trying to look at the club's best interest. And all of this (besides his on-the-field greatness and our Messidependencia) got him almost unlimited power inside the club. In public he's a man of a few words (though he's opened up a bit in recent years in interviews) but when he talks everyone listen. I doubt anyone here at barcaforum knows Messi in person so we don't know how he is but I believe he's aware of his power and has made some internal demands to the club over the years which included a promise of renewing contracts of his closest friends before he has signed his last contract. He didn't have bad intentions but the club listening to his wishes instead of moving on from some players a few years ago finally turned us into club de amigos and in a situation we're currently in and will probably be for a few more years because we'll have a hard time to get rid off the players still under contract and unwilling to leave even if/when the club will finally realise this is what we should do.


I know we won't sell Messi because Bartomeu (or any other president) wouldn't want to go down in history as the president who would sell the best player in history but I wouldn't mind letting him walk next season when his contract expires alongside his amigos Suarez, Raki (Pique, Busi and Alba all still under contract for 2, 3 or 4 more years in Alba's case but I would send them packing too though as mentioned before this is almost impossible task) and start a true rebuild around MATS (he's by far the best suited to be our captain from the current players), FDJ, Puig, Fati, hopefully Trincao and Matheus Fernandes will be good signings and promote La Masia kids like Ilaix, Monchu, Collado,... Then bring back Pedri, Emerson, Todibo and Miranda from loans. Hopefully some of the youngsters will work out but we'll be shit for a few years anyway so they should all get a fair chance.

Players like Semedo, Lenglet, Roberto (as a versatile squad player not as a starter) and Griezmann (he would be our next star player until someone younger would emerge) can also be kept because they are still not too old and we can't really change 10+ players in one or two years but they would also be replaced down the road if/when we would get better players. Further, don't go overspending on superstars (unless we could get someone like Mbappe on a free contract in 2022 but this will never happen) and instead go looking for the next Haalands and Sanchos. So cheap talented players whom Dortmund would usually buy and let them develop here. We would be an average team not competing for major titles for a few seasons anyway so these youngsters would have enough opportunities to prove if they are good enough to stay longterm or we would have to look for someone else. But by paying 20-30m instead of 80-100+m (and at the same time giving them young talents instead of a proven star players wages) we wouldn't lose much (if anything at all) even if they wouldn't work out.

But yeah, I know not all of this things will actually happen. Whoever the next president will be wouldn't survive 2-3 trophyless seasons combined with a big loss of revenues by losing multiple star players, especially Messi (on the other hand our expenses would also lower a lot by getting rid off Messi, Suarez's,... wages so we could still keep financial stability if we would be smart on the market; renovation of Camp Nou would probably need to be delayed at least for a few seasons though). Also, none of the presidental candidates would win by suggesting such a drastical rebuild and if he would win by promising something else in his campaign and then decide to go this way he would also lose his credibility and socios support very soon.

So for now I'd be happy if we'll get rid off one or two amigos this summer and further one or two next year to limit veteran players's power inside the club. I believe the club will still do everything in their power to keep Messi around for a few more seasons and he also loves Barça too much (and is too comfortable here to leave) so he'll decide to stay despite some potential disagreements with the direction the cub might be going. But if he'll decide to move on and retire/return to Argentina (as I've said before I don't see him playing for another European club) in 2021 or 2022 then this will be a sad day but at the same time also an opportunity for us to start a true and total rebuild which we need but it's impossible to do as long as Messi and his friends are around regardless of who our coach or president is.

 

[Devils]

Even worse, he said that Matheus Fernandes didn’t play much in Brazil because his club wanted to shield him from European teams

I really didn't think Pep Segura's infamous "Coutinho and Dembele's deals are nearly finalized" interview could be topped, but Abidal has taken it to a whole another level.

We really need to have someone with PR experience to be a point of media contact at this club.

These directors have absolute no idea how to conduct themselves infront of a camera and microphone.

 

[slicknick]

Messi needs to realize that the Club de Amigos is over. Abidal has the unenviable job of busting up this friends group and the congenial atmosphere at the club. He’s doing Barto’s dirty work. Work that should have transpired a long time ago, or should have never had to happen

 

[khaled_a_d]

Man,Suarez has been an undisputed starter the past 3-4 years,despite playing like shit.Do you think that it has nothing to do with him being best pals with Messi?Maybe Messi didn’t demand anything directly,but the board surely wouldn’t want to upset him.

Absolutely, there is nothing to back this hypothesis that Suarez playing thanks to Messi being his friend.
Whenever Messi is out, Suarez was our best attacking performer. Whenever Messi was playing, Suarez has been always the one that made things easier.
Board not getting a proper striker for 3 years isn't because of Messi, it is because they are idiots who were still looking for Neymar replacement. And when they decided to bring a striker they got one who plays in Messi position ffs.

As shit as Suarez, no one in this squad has ever deserved to take his minutes. This is on sporting department not Messi. His best friend (Cesc) left the club with zero problem from Messi. Even Suarez has said multiple times he expects the club to get a striker to replace him and he has no problem with it.

It is true that he took responsibility for the losses,but repeatedly absolving EV of any responsibility practically gave him a free pass.Maybe they liked EV and he was a nice guy,but after a certain point they should have seen that there was no going back with EV at the helm.In other words,just because EV was nice and professional shouldn’t mean that the players should have backed him indefinitely for one of the most demanding coaching jobs in the world.

I AM NOT SAYING that they should have publicly asked for him to be fired.But c’mon,we all know that there is a middle option.

Backing EV was the right thing to do from players in general, it is up to the board to take responsibility and make decisions. EV lead the team to 2 Liga titles when everyone thought we were finished. It is normal that players would like him and think he is success. They aren't as delusional as fans who thinks League titles aren't success for a season.
Make no mistake,EV should have been gone last summer but if the board kept him it was because they didn't like alternatives (which have been heavily reported) not because of Messi.

There has barely been any media shitstorm the past 2 years.The team suffered back to back(to back if you count 2017) humiliations,but the media barely criticized the players and EV.There has been more fire against players like Dembele than Suarez or Rakitic.

And what kind of protection would you want?

There have been shitstorm for past 6 months at least, the club de amigos have been a thing for past few months at least, putting blame first and foremost on players rather than the board and the failures of Bartou and Abidal.
What protection? There should have been at least a denying of this term, saying all players we have are all treated equally and behaving well. Even if this is "club de amigos"thing is false. This could actually helped. But why they would do it when the players are blamed and not the board?
This is exactly what Messi is talking about, the club enjoyed blaming the players and forgetting that they are the ones that assembled this group of old misfits.
Then the club go publicly with it? he had every right to be mad.

And someone else said earlier,Messi stc already had backed EV many times in the past,so he had nothing to prove right now.No one would suspect that Messi etc were responsible for EV’s firing.

But would suspect that he is one of those who doesn't work hard. And as a team captain he should speak for the team and not just himself.

 

[BBZ8800]

Truth be told i never liked Abidal.. I remember he was whining a while back about the club when the club did everything correct regarding his health issue and beyond.

Imo, the only reason why Abidal is a sporting director is because of a PR.
Barto is doing anything to please the fans.

1. he hired Abidal because he was a part of a golden Pep's era and a lot of fans are happy with Abidal because of that
2. further, Abidal survived a cancer, and hiring him again brings you points in the eyes of fans

Something similar is with Fati.
Elections are near and Barto and his staff are working hard to please the fans and provoke happy emotions with Pep's era, some youngsters, trying to play beautiful football and similar.
This why Barto hired Valdes and tried to hire Puyol and Xavi also.

And a naive guy Abidal thought that he is here for sporting reasons and now started to give stupid interviews.
Oh well...

It is all about money, politics and elections.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Anyways, that's what I would've said. Same thing happened in the WC when Leo asked chihuahua Samp: "when did I ever tell you which players to pick?"

Seems to me like the dude is sick and tired of being thrown in the mix when all he wants to do is play.

Folks here keep blaming him on being a bad cap. Aiiight but who are the morons who gave the captaincy to a semi-autistic idiot savant in the 1st place?

This

The whole interview from Abidal is madness. Implies that Xavi lied, disrespected Setien and Carlos Perez, undermines Bartomeu, talks about the club approaching Pochettino and accuses the squad of being lazy. 10/10 way to make your position untenable.

And this

 

[khaled_a_d]

No doubt that the time is coming quickly to separate the way with Messi. Tired of watching him being an arrogant dictactor/worst captain in the locker room for many years. For me, he doesn't need to be a Barça player to enjoy him. I can even enjoy watching him even if he moves to RM. Barça has to prepare the life after Messi and it's already too late to make a gradual change since this club became too dependent on him.

Wow, you watched Messi in the locker room for many years? Lucky you

Nobody yet commented on that stupid request put by messi : " to give names". Is he really that dumb?

Many commented about it, which honestly is silly.
He is calling a bluff from Abidal. It isn't a serious request.

It's easy to just say "YEA THAT'S MY GOAT!" and then you look into the context of things I can't really agree with Messi on that.

Everything about this screams some of these guys being upset that Abidal actually had the balls to come out and say what led to Valverde getting sacked. Heck Abidal never said anything about the players who had complaints or dropped their level wanting Valverde sacked.

Abidal played under Frank Rijkaard and Pep, he seen where things descended into shit while also seeing a new dawn under Pep where he brought in big changes which led us to have the some if not the best years of this club has had with many considering the 2010-11 team to be the best team ever assembled. Abidal isn't perfect but he has seen his fair share of good and bad shit, and he knew Valverde wasn't the right man to lead this job.

Messi has played under Rijkaard and Pep too, more than Abidal himself.
Abidal put blame on players rather than the board, I see it as coward action rather than having the balls.
Why they didn't fire EV earlier if he thought he isn't working? Isn't he the sporting director?
Why throwing the new coach under the bus by saying he wanted other coaches first? why making accusations toward Xavi? Why everyone is wrong but he himself?

 

[Pedro]

[tw]1225029970512302081[/tw]

 

[Rory]

It's not ballsy to say nothing to players faces and not have meetings with the squad about their effort but instead to go crying to the media about it.