Righteous Steps
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He asked me to name one defender tbh, Gvardiol is still a great defender to be fair, didn’t even know he was only 20.The kid is 20 ffs
He asked me to name one defender tbh, Gvardiol is still a great defender to be fair, didn’t even know he was only 20.The kid is 20 ffs
Once he's got you stopping and starting, you're toast. Pace doesn't matter if you can't use it, and from a standing start, it's a redundancy.It was a good run but poor defending, a couple times he could have got in closer especially at the end but just looked like he was moving in slow motion, I couldn’t see the current version of Messi doing that to VVD in his prime for example, of course he could dribble past him and so on but to completely embarrass him one on one, no.
This
Name a single defender on the planet that 35 y.o. couldn't do the exact same thing to.
To be fair, Juan Foyth did him up like a kipper with the exact same move towards the end of the game.Ffs people making it sound like Messi is just any other random player
Possibly but late in the match, tired legs….anyway! I think most defenders have that moment where they get burnt. This time it was messi…To be fair, Juan Foyth did him up like a kipper with the exact same move towards the end of the game.
Mind you, although I think he is a absolute class, splashing 100m on him is madness imo. And that is from Croatian.. It is absolute gamble and those types of fee should go to attackers/ forward players.He asked me to name one defender tbh, Gvardiol is still a great defender to be fair, didn’t even know he was only 20.
Athleticism is more than just pace though, you see the drills they do in the NFL? It’s just as much about having the natural athleticism and spring to be able to twist and turn, just like the top attackers. You said one defender current Messi couldn’t do that to in a hypothetical world I think the player I named is one, peak Messi though there’s really nothing you can do but don’t think he’s close to his peak anymore.Once he's got you stopping and starting, you're toast. Pace doesn't matter if you can't use it, and from a standing start, it's a redundancy.
That 35 yo couldn't do the exact same thing to many defenders in this tournament. What a silly defense to a feck up at the biggest stage.
Name a single defender on the planet that 35 y.o. couldn't do the exact same thing to.
Agreed, if you could get a Rio or Nesta in his prime then maybe it is worth it but even then it’s an absurd fee.Mind you, although I think he is a absolute class, splashing 100m on him is madness imo. And that is from Croatian.. It is absolute gamble and those types of fee should go to attackers/ forward players.
Was dead certain De Ligt is a sure thing. No point in putting such a crazy burden on him. Would be best if he stays in current club another season if that's possible.
I'll maintain, this isn't about lineal pace; once he gets a defender starting and stopping, it's about: agility, centre of gravity, balance and then acceleration - pace isn't a primary concern in such a scenario.Athleticism is more than just pace though, you see the drills they do in the NFL? It’s just as much about having the natural athleticism and spring to be able to twist and turn, just like the top attackers. You said one defender current Messi couldn’t do that to in a hypothetical world I think the player I named is one, peak Messi though there’s really nothing you can do but don’t think he’s close to his peak anymore.
I feel it was poor defending from Gvardiol but it happens.
Can agree with that but there also a very small number of cbs who have the above you named, I really should have said athleticism but athleticism and pace go hand in hand.I'll maintain, this isn't about lineal pace; once he gets a defender starting and stopping, it's about: agility, centre of gravity, balance and then acceleration - pace isn't a primary concern in such a scenario.
So even per your own post, it's not about the pace you entered the fray with. 35-yr old Messi still has agility on any CB.
No defender worth that much should be made to look like a mug like this. He should have brought him down sooner. He pretty much escorted him into the box. He’s good but not as good as some have made him out to be.One game obviously but its strange how he was made out to look like the 35 yo
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Thats because VVD will never be caught one on one with Messi, he will rather delegate Fabinho Robertson and Matip to face Messi one on one while waiting to mop upI couldn’t see the current version of Messi doing that to VVD in his prime for example, of course he could dribble past him and so on but to completely embarrass him one on one, no.
Yep was thinking this but that’s actually the best way to defend against him, if he ever got isolated out wide don’t think he would quite embarrass him in the same way, VVD in his prime was an athletic beast and could twist turn and move as well as most elite attackers.Thats because VVD will never be caught one on one with Messi, he will rather delegate Robertson and Matip to face Messi one on one while waiting to mop up
That's nonsense. Plenty of world class defenders have been made to look like mugs.No defender worth that much should be made to look like a mug like this. He should have brought him down sooner. He pretty much escorted him into the box. He’s good but not as good as some have made him out to be.
im not sure this any comparison, he was turned by one the best players ever who was afraid to tackle once in box, even boetang being discussed like this is dis respectfulPoor lad got Boateng'd. I mean, at least he didn't slip.
Not to forget the twist and turn, and the moment Messi got inside the box it was game overOnce he's got you stopping and starting, you're toast. Pace doesn't matter if you can't use it, and from a standing start, it's a redundancy.
I know it's not "this version of Messi" but I do remember him running rings around the entire Liverpool back four in the first leg of their 2019 CL tie. He's made damn near every CB in the world look like proper mugs, who cares, Gvardiol is still a kid and has immense qualities as a ball playing CB.It was a good run but poor defending, a couple times he could have got in closer especially at the end but just looked like he was moving in slow motion, I couldn’t see the current version of Messi doing that to VVD in his prime for example, of course he could dribble past him and so on but to completely embarrass him one on one, no.
He's quick enough. The thing with Messi, even in a chase, you can't sprint because he can turn on a sixpence and his dribbling ability is just so immense that if you commit to a full sprint, he'll turn you inside out (which he did anyway tbf).Even with the foot race, he barely kept up with Messi. Is he slow?
He’s reminds me of peak Rudiger in that way. Really good, aggressive proactive CB.I also like how proactive he is when defending. Always keen to stop the attack high up the pitch at the risk of making himself look silly occasionally. It's the opposite of VVD who will backtrack till he's in the stands in fear of getting beat by someone.
He had another player coming back to cover who would have helped cut off Messi when he initially started moving back toward the top of the box. Great prospect in general but it was really shit defending. Gvardiol showed zero awareness of his teammate and the overall situation when he bit hard on that move toward the top of the box and therefore opened the door for Messi to reverse direction and beat him to the byline.My take on that goal is more that Gvardiol received no support from his team mates. He held him off from going directly towards goal for a fair bit, but in a situation like that you'd expect another player to join to cover Messi.