Lionel Messi - v7

[Rory]

Messi's lack of running is only a big problem in the current squad we have and the current "system" of playing we've had. Most teams have a striker who does a lot less running than the rest of the team but because their job is to score it's not that deep. Also these teams usually have a manager who can design tactics to account for this. Busquets who is our main central player can't run and suarez who is our main central attacking player doesn't run. They are far bigger issues. Not happy with how messi doesn't put the effort in for running but can be forgiven for everything else he brings.

 

[serghei]

You can do without pressing if you have many strong defenders. Teams who are not rock solid in defense basically need pressing to avoid situations where they have to face many attacks being played near their goal.

Current Barca can't do without pressing. No hope in hell. We've seen why vs Bayern.

 

[malvolio]

Messi's lack of running is only a big problem in the current squad we have and the current "system" of playing we've had. Most teams have a striker who does a lot less running than the rest of the team but because their job is to score it's not that deep. Also these teams usually have a manager who can design tactics to account for this. Busquets who is our main central player can't run and suarez who is our main central attacking player doesn't run. They are far bigger issues. Not happy with how messi doesn't put the effort in for running but can be forgiven for everything else he brings.

finally! this man gets it!

 

[MagIX]

Messi's lack of running is only a big problem in the current squad we have and the current "system" of playing we've had. Most teams have a striker who does a lot less running than the rest of the team but because their job is to score it's not that deep. Also these teams usually have a manager who can design tactics to account for this. Busquets who is our main central player can't run and suarez who is our main central attacking player doesn't run. They are far bigger issues. Not happy with how messi doesn't put the effort in for running but can be forgiven for everything else he brings.

+1

 

[serghei]

You guys need to understand Barcelona is not Atletico. Not even Atletico makes it work these days, and they're often found out when they defend too deep and don't try to press enough.

 

[ItachiXXX]

Barca can buy certain players and teach them to press but can they biy someone that they can teach to be the best goalscorer,dribbler, can create chances, provide assist etc etc
People act like this is something new that Messi had a high defensive workrate that all of a sudden change, it's a fact he's like this ever since, specially after 2013 injury. But i guess people are more happy to see him go than buy players that will improve the mid and backline.

 

[serghei]

And you're not going to rebuild the side, fill it up with defenders left and right, and adopt the style of Simeone's Atletico, just so you can cater to 34-35 years old Messi. That's dumb as hell.

 

[Rory]

You guys need to understand Barcelona is not Atletico. Not even Atletico makes it work these days, and they're often found out when they defend too deep and don't try to press enough.

Replace Messi with a winger who runs a lot and what happens for the season? 3rd place? 4th place? no champions league qualification at all? Do we get past Napoli? I'd say we do even worse because there are huge issues in the squad that still wouldn't be addressed. Now imagine we have Partey instead of Busquets, we have a striker who runs and a lw that is pacey and can get on the end of a Messi through ball.

Do we do worse than this season, the same or better? I would bet on better and yet Messi is still part of the equation.

 

[Batistuta9]

You guys need to understand Barcelona is not Atletico. Not even Atletico makes it work these days, and they're often found out when they defend too deep and don't try to press enough.

They do have a point though. I don't know what setien was trying to do. We could have played griezmann instead of Messi, who would press more and we still would have been battered. We were outclassed in every department, individually and collectively.

 

[KingLeo10]

They do have a point though. I don't know what setien was trying to do. We could have played griezmann instead of Messi, who would press more and we still would have been battered. We were outclassed in every department, individually and collectively.

We're not saying that. Griezmann and 10 other runners would have also lost but not lost this badly. The problem isn't just Messi. It's all amigos/non hard working players, which happens to include him at 33. I don't want us building a team around him going forward as he's too old for that.

 

[ItachiXXX]

This. If Messi moved to Germany, playing under Flick and surrounded by the hardworking Bayern players, using their nutritionists and having no amigos to pad him, you would see an elite Messi again. In 3 weeks he would be eating his Sauerkraut, drinking his milk before bedtime and running like a Fruhlingshuhn.

Messi is still elite but his teammates are not, he doesn't need to run to be elite

 

[serghei]

Yea, who said the problem is Messi alone? The problem is the entire Amigos clique, which can be resumed in one sentence: old legends with gone legs who can't run properly anymore.

 

[malvolio]

You guys need to understand Barcelona is not Atletico. Not even Atletico makes it work these days, and they're often found out when they defend too deep and don't try to press enough.

What most people that are anti Messi don't realise or don't want to realise is that Atletico(using them as example since you mentioned them) never had a Messi in the side. They had 3 donkeys in Griezmann, Morata and Diego Costa.
Messi has a higher combined attacking output than all those three combined. That leaves you room to focus on other positions that complement Messi and maximise his output.
No one is saying that we fill the team with plodders.
But instead of giving him good team mates we brought Dembele, Griezmann and Coutinho - which all failed.

 

[Rory]

They all feed into each other with a horrible cycle. Messi doesn't press --> makes it so midfield has to press more -->midfield is old and can't press --> Suarez needed to help with pressing --> Suarez doesn't press either --> team implodes against pressing teams.

Take out the Messi doesn't press. you still have:
midfield is old and can't press --> Suarez needed to help with pressing --> Suarez doesn't press either --> team implodes against pressing teams.

I don't want the future squad being built around Messi. I personally want Busquets, Alba and Suarez straight out of the starting xi. Then we can see how Messi's lack of running really has an effect because at the moment it just contributes to the starting xi's overall inability to press the opponent. Hard to see the individual impact. Especially when that individual is far better than any other player in the world at producing goals/assists.

 

[feggydinho]

And you're not going to rebuild the side, fill it up with defenders left and right, and adopt the style of Simeone's Atletico, just so you can cater to 34-35 years old Messi. That's dumb as hell.

Really terrible if you ask me, People act like he's still young. Messi is a Barca legend but Barca should start thinking of their future