Lionel Messi - v7

[Andresito]

Actually he is. Falling to nepotism is the definition of stupid.

I don't think he'll want to veto any of the old players being forced to leave. It's a stretch to call it nepotism with Alba, Busi, Vidal etc.

Maybe Suarez but as I said he doesn't have a clear replacement so should be safe from leaving.

Who has Messi stopped from leaving? The club has never showed intention of selling the Amigos. Not until now.

 

[DonAK]

The player who has been talking(openly to the press) about the team needing to improve and not being good enough to win the CL is not going to force the club to keep the same players who he was probably indirectly talking or thinking about when claiming the team wasn't good enough.

Some of your speculation makes little sense.

 

[JamDav1982]

The player who has been talking about the team needing to improve and not being good enough to win the CL is not going to force the club to keep the same players who he was probably indirectly talking or thinking about when claiming the team wasn't good enough.

Some of your speculation makes little sense.

That came across as a dig at Setien as much as anything.

Would not be surprised in slightest if amigos think they are still good enough and have not had the coach and other players around them to succeed.

 

[wisconsincule]

Time for our 500 million in players to shine. Coutinho, Griezmann and Dembele leading the way.

 

[Xaviniesta]

CR tried to up his legacy, but in order to do that, he had to go to a suffering team in Europe, where in case of success he'd be in the limelight as their savior or leader. Messi can do the same, and join a team with no European results and help them achieve that.

Tactically, his best move, if Pep wants him, is to join City. They have a great team that is missing something, and with the addition of Messi and a serious reliable defender, he could win the Champions League with them.

Other than City I see no options for him to really up his legacy. PSG, Bayern, Liverpool are already very successful without him. And he can't lift a weaker side with multiple problems, just like Ronaldo couldn't do it with Juventus.

Messi as false 9 for Liverpool instead of firmino. that would be something else

 

[serghei]

I do not see Pep wanting him in City at all. All their outfield players put on a shift for 90 mins. Could really see it being PSG if they get hammered in the final or Inter since their new project looks promising. Both Ligue 1 and Serie A are less physical and easier than EPL too.

It would be a sacrifice for City on that end. But City lack things, and Messi can bring them.

Ligue 1 is terrible for him imo.

City, or Inter. But with Inter, no CL for him until he retires. Still, scudetto after so many consecutive wins by Juve would be something worth fighting for late in his career.

 

[JamDav1982]

Messi as false 9 for Liverpool instead of firmino. that would be something else

Liverpool would not even entertain that move.

 

[DonAK]

Anyway. The moves they make the next few days will be interesting. Time is running out for them if they actually want to make some good moves. Once the season starts in September other teams won't be that willing to sell players.

 

[serghei]

That came across as a dig at Setien as much as anything.

Would not be surprised in slightest if amigos think they are still good enough and have not had the coach and other players around them to succeed.

My best bet. They are perverse imo. They enjoy the freedom of having weak managers and a weak board allowing them to control things in the team, and when shit hits the fan using that approach, they play the victim card to get rid of the manager and pull the same stunt again with the next name.

Only this time, apparently they fucked up too badly. And neither Barto or the manager is seemingly willing to bite again.

 

[JamDav1982]

Anyway. The moves they make the next few days will be interesting. Time is running out for them if they actually want to make some good moves. Once the season starts in September other teams won't be that willing to sell players.

Depends on how players react. If they dig in and dont go then not much will happen.

 

[Andresito]

(Un)fortunately no team is going to want Messi because they think he's the missing piece, like Liverpool and City.

The clubs that'll want him are clubs that are horny for a big name to stay relevant, like PSG when Mbappe/Neymar leave.

 

[El Gato]

I don't think he'll want to veto any of the old players being forced to leave. It's a stretch to call it nepotism with Alba, Busi, Vidal etc.

Maybe Suarez but as I said he doesn't have a clear replacement so should be safe from leaving.

Who has Messi stopped from leaving? The club has never showed intention of selling the Amigos. Not until now.

He's not decisive and shouldn't be held responsible for swaying board decisions, because Barto had wrong priorities from starters, but the fact he didn't realise the weight of his endorsements for Valverde and likely the silence in the face of waning powers of his mates make him at least partly accountable. He is stupid, at least to a degree. Then again, which great player wasn't? Couldn't name one if you tried, all are fallible; be it CR (money), Buffon (trophy chasing and denial), Casillas (media and politics) etc etc

 

[KingLeo10]

And he can't lift a weaker side with multiple problems, just like Ronaldo couldn't do it with Juventus.

They never could.

With the last 3 years, I've come to the full realization that they're both nothing special compared to the likes of Cruyff, Distefano, Maradona, Romario, R9 etc. They've just won a lot more individually and team-wise because they played with very strong teams (in their heydays) and were highly professional.

The GOAT label for this guy, or anyone else, makes me cringe. And I think it's about time we start appreciating the other legends who contributed to our success as well (you already do this but talking about others), even if Messi was the cherry on top.

The evidence was there for all to see this much earlier.

The 120+ goal CL scorers have scored 0 KO goals in the WC between them over 4 WCs.

 

[serghei]

They never could.

With the last 3 years, I've come to the full realization that they're both nothing special compared to the likes of Cruyff, Distefano, Maradona, Romario, R9 etc. They've just won a lot more individually and team-wise because they played with very strong teams (in their heydays) and were highly professional.

The GOAT label for this guy, or anyone else, makes me cringe. And I think it's about time we start appreciating the other legends who contributed to our success as well (you already do this but talking about others), even if Messi was the cherry on top.

I belive it's more like a sign of the times. Right now, the comfort in being a footballer, the insane money you win, the privileges you have, the increased standard of living, it makes it harder for superstars to access that anger, that rage with which former glories would lead teams and channel themselves.

I think Messi and Ronaldo are products of the modern era.

 

[DonAK]

Romario and R9 are nowhere close to Messi or CR7 legacy wise.