Lionel "The Greatest of All Time" Messi V2

[Porque]

We paid Messi as a franchise player because he was the franchise player.

The problem is we paid all those around him as franchise players too.

Well the issue is well established on how misappropriately the funds were managed.

But put it this way, if Messi was on 100m and the rest of the team on the salary tiers, then the moment he left we shouldn't have been left in this mess. Even if we had to reduce wage expenditure as we did.

Look at Madrids salary cap yet they lost Ronaldo AND built a stadium.

Yet here we are.

 

[delancey]

Back to back to back CL groups exit? We're going for the hattrick.

Oh snap. We’re so screwed in Europe.

 

[Raketa10]

Short term he would get far more in SA. It's not like he wouldn't get tons of additional sponsorship money there as well combined with astronomical wages. Don't expect it to happen but who knows, maybe in 2-3 years he could still go to Arabia as well. Sheiks are butthurt now that he rejected them but will get over it in time.

But moving to the States is clearly a good strategic move. And another potential reason for going there that not many people are mentioning right now is so he can acclimatize to USA before playing Copa America there next year and potentially WC 2026 as well.

Acclimatize? Messi will be playing in a laughable competition. In a year time his game level will drop significantly. Unfortunately, this is retirement and not acclimatization. The last thing he can win is this year's Ballon d'Or because of his WC performance. After that it's game over for him.

 

[AKS99]

Acclimatize? Messi will be playing in a laughable competition. In a year time his game level will drop significantly. Unfortunately, this is retirement and not acclimatization. The last thing he can win is this year's Ballon d'Or because of his WC performance. After that it's game over for him.

He'll be playing in the Copa America next year and Argentina will be favourites. But yes after that his career is over

 

[malvolio]

Underpaid during his prime, overpaid in the years after. After he signed that contract he had one of the greatest seasons ever seen in football. But if you're one of them that puts anfield on him we'll have to call it a day.

Let's say he cost us what? 1 billion overall in wages/bonuses/gifts etc? Might not be that much, but what the hell, I ain't paying.

So if you spread it over 17 years it comes down to around 60M a season. Since he didn't cost us anything on transfers fees this is the amount we payed to have him ever year for 17 years as a professional.

60M a season to have Messi. This is not even taking into account the money he brought the club. Barca became the no 1 club by revenue and one of the most valuable in the world in his time here.

 

[Raketa10]

He'll be playing in the Copa America next year and Argentina will be favourites. But yes after that his career is over

I don't think Argentina will be favorites. They relied heavily on Messi for years and his level will drop significantly next season in MLS. Brazil could also be much more motivated for that competition next summer.

 

[soul24rage]

I don't think Argentina will be favorites. They relied heavily on Messi for years and his level will drop significantly next season in MLS. Brazil could also be much more motivated for that competition next summer.

Messi is the key player, but they don't rely on him as they have done in 16-18. The Argentina squad, believe it or not, actually got stronger than that of the WC so even if Messi's level dropped, the level of the players around him increased so that will help compensate that.

Brazil still has big problems at the full back area and I don't really rate their CBs. If Guimaraes plays then the team will be stronger, but don't see them better than Argentina imo.

 

[Temptation]

Getting out of their CL groups?

PSG were getting further prior to his arrival.........

 

[Messi983]

Acclimatize? Messi will be playing in a laughable competition. In a year time his game level will drop significantly. Unfortunately, this is retirement and not acclimatization. The last thing he can win is this year's Ballon d'Or because of his WC performance. After that it's game over for him.

I meant he will get used playing in US a season before Copa America.

Also as said before I think MLS is more competitive than most people here believe.

 

[Temptation]

Messi is the key player, but they don't rely on him as they have done in 16-18. The Argentina squad, believe it or not, actually got stronger than that of the WC so even if Messi's level dropped, the level of the players around him increased so that will help compensate that.

Brazil still has big problems at the full back area and I don't really rate their CBs. If Guimaraes plays then the team will be stronger, but don't see them better than Argentina imo.

This is where I disagree. The team around him is great and extremely functional. But it's functional and it works based on the fact that Messi will add that little magic Midas touch in the final third. Making a difference in the final third is the toughest thing in the sport. Tougher than "running games".


This team works brilliantly as a unit relying on the prospect of Messi making the difference in the final third. Take that away and the team becomes less functional and will struggle to score against the elite sides.


Messi declining will directly harm the national team's style unless someone else steps up with the goals.

 

[Kul_z]

In before miami loan in january

 

[soul24rage]

This is where I disagree. The team around him is great and extremely functional. But it's functional and it works based on the fact that Messi will add that little magic Midas touch in the final third. Making a difference in the final third is the toughest thing in the sport. Tougher than "running games".


This team works brilliantly as a unit relying on the prospect of Messi making the difference in the final third. Take that away and the team becomes less functional and will struggle to score against the elite sides.


Messi declining will directly harm the national team's style unless someone else steps up with the goals.

I can see where you are coming from which is why Messi is still the key player. Even if you do take out Messi from the team, the team is still good enough to beat the majority of the teams like how they proven without Messi in the WC Qualifiers in Fall 2021.

Martinez and Alvarez improved and Dybala got his mojo back (the guy needs to stop being injured). Lo Celso can be the creative difference in the final third and Garnacho can be a super sub. There are options that is good enough to help beat the majority of the teams, but obviously it's harder without Messi.

 

[Temptation]

I can see where you are coming from which is why Messi is still the key player. Even if you do take out Messi from the team, the team is still good enough to beat the majority of the teams like how they proven without Messi in the WC Qualifiers in Fall 2021.

Martinez and Alvarez improved and Dybala got his mojo back (the guy needs to stop being injured). Lo Celso can be the creative difference in the final third and Garnacho can be a super sub. There are options that is good enough to help beat the majority of the teams, but obviously it's harder without Messi.

But they will struggle to score enough goals against the elites.

Likes of England and France won't have issues with the Argie attacks.

 

[MagIX]

He has won everything, an extraordinary career, he's considered the GOAT (or the goat with Maradona and Pele)
Ended the last 2 years as a professional (holidays at Inter MIami) by winning CA and World Cup... a fairytale.
What more do you want? Let's close the chapter and move on.
Amazing that 2 of the 3 players considered the GOATs played for us.

My Goats

 

[soul24rage]

But they will struggle to score enough goals against the elites.

Likes of England and France won't have issues with the Argie attacks.

My post to Raketa was more for the Copa America 2024, but yea against the likes of England and France (I also include Netherlands as well as they have a good defense), then I agree it's a lot harder but I'm confident that a Messi-less attack can still cause some problems for those defense.