Lionel "The Greatest of All Time" Messi

[gregorrin10]

Exactly. Should have just become a poacher like Ronaldo. I think his finishing has actually regressed because he insists on being play maker and dropping so deep.

His love for the game is actually hurting him. He can't stand not being involved and not getting at least a few touches every few minutes. While Cristiano not only got used to it, but has made it his specialty to be fine to stay invisible for the majority of the game, but save his energy for the biggest moments, and being in the right place at the right time.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Just do what Xavi and Iniesta did. Go and make some easy money in a lesser league.

He is doing that already.

 

[Barcilliant]

He is fucking up his legacy big time. He cannot play in midfield either because he has zero work rate. The classic ten role has basically disappeared over the years. Modern football is about work rate and physicality. Messi lacks both and his attitude doesn't help either.

 

[JamDav1982]

Neymar was shite v PSG and still got a very good assist and created more than anyone.

Messi did diddly squat but one or both should have been taken off but coaches cant really do that to the PSG amigos without the dressing room putting them in place.

 

[serghei]

He is doing that already.

Preferably somewhere where they are not crazy enough to want the CL and boo you if you lose vs Real Madrid.

 

[te amo barca]

Thing is he is not a forward, but he is also not a midfielder. Never has been. Always was a 10 but played very well as an inverted winger before Pep. His pace was frightening back then. Now he lost it, obviously.

But the classic number 10 is an obsolete position these days, which is why he is struggling so much now. CAMs need to have more stamina and off-the-ball movement, both in offense and defense. I disagree that he could ever become a poacher, his traits and favored moves are those of a 10. Besides, what he would do in the box? Wait for crosses? He has a similar build to Aguero but that one always had the tenacity AND patience to wait for his chance in the box. Messi has no patience, he wants to be involved as much as possible, which is why he drops deep to the DM area.

 

[JamDav1982]

Preferably somewhere where they are not crazy enough to want the CL and boo you if you lose vs Real Madrid.

They booed him not just for losing to Real but because it was the familiar look of giving up and when going got tough in CL and also his season as a whole.

If he played well and did not have that head down walking about shite he has done too many times in big game recently they wouldnt be booing him.

 

[serghei]

Messi was always defined by the speed to which he could get in the box after getting involved in upper midfield areas. That is lost. He can't escape players anymore because his pace is not there and never will be.

He would have been a fine no 10 a la Modric if he had a fighter bone in him and a much better work ethic. But just doesn't have any of those qualities. You can tell Modric is old and slow these days, but boy he works his ass off to the max every time.

 

[OGbarca]

The best option would be if you would leave this forum.

cope. no thanks

 

[OGbarca]

Messi was never going to become a poacher.

Not his game in slightest.

100% different style and attribute requirements which he lacks

 

[Barcilliant]

Thing is he is not a forward, but he is also not a midfielder. Never has been. Always was a 10 but played very well as an inverted winger before Pep. His pace was frightening back then. Now he lost it, obviously.

But the classic number 10 is an obsolete position these days, which is why he is struggling so much now. CAMs need to have more stamina and off-the-ball movement, both in offense and defense. I disagree that he could ever become a poacher, his traits and favored moves are those of a 10. Besides, what he would do in the box? Wait for crosses? He has a similar build to Aguero but that one always had the tenacity AND patience to wait for his chance in the box. Messi has no patience, he wants to be involved as much as possible, which is why he drops deep to the DM area.

Watch his 12-13 season where he scored an insane amount of goals and Pedro and Alexis were basically passengers. He had alot of great finishes inside the box and was pretty much a poacher than. However he had a great midfield behind him. He can definitely do it but he isn't disciplined enough and coaches are scared of him. He needs to move to the MLS. I think he will after one more season. Would be interesting to see how Zidane would deal with PSG amigos including Messi.

 

[OGbarca]

He is doing that already.

except xavi and (especially) iniesta actually performed well for their retirement clubs

 

[te amo barca]

Watch his 12-13 season where he scored an insane amount of goals and Pedro and Alexis were basically passengers. He had alot of great finishes inside the box and was pretty much a poacher than. However he had a great midfield behind him. He can definitely do it but he isn't disciplined enough and coaches are scared of him. He needs to move to the MLS. I think he will after one more season. Would be interesting to see how Zidane would deal with PSG amigos including Messi.

His finishing has always been class in the box, but that does not make him a good CF. I agree that 12-13 was the closest he's ever played to the box, but as serghei pointed out, he had the mobility back then to get involved in the 10 area AND finish off the move in the box. Even when he would finish the chance in the box, he would be the one who started to set it up in upper midfield. Can't do that anymore.

 

[OGbarca]

Messi was always defined by the speed to which he could get in the box after getting involved in upper midfield areas. That is lost. He can't escape players anymore because his pace is not there and never will be.

He would have been a fine no 10 a la Modric if he had a fighter bone in him and a much better work ethic. But just doesn't have any of those qualities. You can tell Modric is old and slow these days, but boy he works his ass off to the max every time.

there are multiple compilations on YT now from his PSG games in which messi fails over and over and over to beat his man or being dispossessed with ease. just confirms your points.

id say his strongest attribute is FKs but he hasnt hit one all season and we know just how poor he is at pks. party is indeed over

 

[Rassvet]

Messi and his dad owe Laporta an apology. They overplayed their hand last summer asking for too much money and now Barca has moved on while they are having to beg the club to rescue him out of Paris.