Still not conceded a league goal. What's the record for the most consecutive clean sheets?
La Liga - 2014/15
- Thread starter jojojo
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As a Barca fan, I agree. Though I guess it works better for both teams. Opposite might not have worked good for either teams. I think Neymar is finally coming in sync with Messi now. Now just wait for the cannibal
If Suarez is half as selfless as he was for Liverpool last season then it should make for an awsome front line.
Gif of Messi's goal?
Probably right because he does just stand on the wing waiting for the ball, would be a liability in the big games though but he could be a good impact player. He's just a bit of a one trick pony.
Neymar wasn't that great for Barcelona last season but that's understandable considering it was his first season. This season however he has almost surpassed his goal tally of last season in the first two months. Hazard is excellent but Neymar is just better. Just saying that he's a better goal scorer than Hazard is a tad stupid as he tends to go past players with absolute ease.
Neymar also performed brilliantly in the WC whereas Hazard was absolutely average.
Finishing problems my ass, talk about threading the eye of the needle.
Great finish by Messi. Is it me or has he lost a yard of pace/looks as if he's put on weight?
Great goal. Such a difficult angle to score from but he still managed it.
Ironically he scored his most difficult chance... but he had a 1on1 where he should've scored and 2 other attempts where he shot way too centrally.
edit: and he should've scored that header just now.
Im not so sure about him putting on weight but it is clear to me that he has lost some of his pace since the reoccurring injuries in 2013 and that his dribbling has suffered as a result. He is still a great dribbler though.
Solid win in the end. Eibar deserved a goal, but it's a big jump from a 6000 seater stadium to the Camp Nou.
I can't see that myself, but if he has put on weight that might be a good thing. I said in the summer than I thought he might be ill (as opposed to injured) maybe he's finally getting over that.
(And yes I know Messi and his dad said it was all "nothing to be concerned about")
Who cares? Is that all that matters when judging a players talent?
Neymar may have looked spectacular in Brazil, but there's a reason he's found it difficult in La Liga. Massive step up in quality, he's frustrating to watch and Hazard doesn't run up blind allies like Neymar does, nor does try to take entire teams on getting dispossessed after the first or second man. He's more intelligent than that, picks his moments, and when he does teams can't live with him. Only Messi can match his pace, balance and ball control when in full flow.
Re the WC - I suppose Neymar is better than Ronaldo too seeing as he out-performed him Brazil too? Or have you got another excuse for that?
Is it controversial to think Xavi should rest against Ajax and then start against Real Madrid? I think he deserves a start based on his last few performances, with Iniesta and Rakitić fighting for the other place (Rakitić has been easily the better of the two but Iniesta fits with Xavi better).
Purely hypothetical, as Luis Enrique will almost definitely have Xavi on the bench.
Purely hypothetical, as Luis Enrique will almost definitely have Xavi on the bench.
Messi is just ridiculous. It's like some sort of video game cheat mode applied to real life. You want someone to score 90 plus goals in year, he's the man. You want him to be the creative hub of the team, he'll do that too. And he'll probably score a goal while he does the latter too.
Ronaldo has 47 goals in 2014. Only 45 more to go to break Messi's record.
Incredible, isn't it? The finishing of 2012/2013 Messi was something else.
I thought it would be cLoser than that. Messi pre-injury and this withdrawn role is the best goalscorer I've seen. And he's not even all about goals.Ronaldo has 47 goals in 2014. Only 45 more to go to break Messi's record.
Incredible, isn't it? The finishing of 2012/2013 Messi was something else.
That was true about two years ago. Now Messi would struggle to score 45, let alone 90 goals. Physically wise, he isn't the same player any more.
Ronaldo usually goes on his pre Ballon d'Or goalscoring spree around October until December, that's probably why. Despite the new narrative that Messi has lost it all he's actually only 5 goals behind Ronaldo's tally this year and on 42 goals. Pichichi race last season was also 31 vs. 28 goals. @Treble above me will be surprised.
Hell probbaly score 40 and set up 40 going the way he is going right now. The "he isn't the same player" is a lazy assessment of his season so far. He has been outstanding. No other on this planet can be both creative and affect scores he way he can.
And I bet messi creates twice or thrice the chances Ronaldo does. Goal tally is the only race Ronaldo can win. As a footballer, there isn't any contest between them.
40 goals and 40 assists? He won't be able to that. It will become clear over the course of the season that, unlike Ronaldo, he's declined physically. Barca haven't looked particularly good in the more difficult games so far, Messi too. Maybe I'm wrong in my assessment though. Time will tell, etc. Personally, I expect an easy win for Madrid next week.
So he's declined physically yet he keeps performing brilliantly. Shows that he doesn't need this supposed physicality to keep peforming to these fantastic levels, that's a testament to his talent. Ronaldo isn't actually capable of bring a creator. Therein lie the difference between the two. Madrid might win next week. Feck knows. I was talking about an individual, not the teams.
I think you're being pretty harsh in your assessment of Neymar to be honest... sure I can understand the whole show pony attitude grating, but looking beyond that he is quite simply an extremely talented player. He's a great dribbler if lacking a bit in the decision-making department, he's got an eye for a pass and he can score. He's a far more raw kinda talent than Hazard, so there's consistency issues, ie. his game "intelligence" letting him down, even from one move to the next in a game itself, but I think he potentially has a higher top level than Hazard does, although at this point in time Hazard is the more rounded player. I agree with the bolded bit though, Hazard is ridiculously effective at dribbling and needs less space than Neymar would.
In defense of Neymar (I know stats be damned, but still...); tonight he added his 200th goal and 100th assist in 333 games at senior level for club and country, aged 22! Those are Pelé-esque numbers... well almost anyway, Pelé scored his 400th career goal at age 23
wow I thought he'd be closer. Thats incredible.Ronaldo has 47 goals in 2014. Only 45 more to go to break Messi's record.
Incredible, isn't it? The finishing of 2012/2013 Messi was something else.
I wrote similar sentences 2 years ago when you were failing to recognize Messi's genius. They are still true. At his peak, Messi was the best ever. Not any more though because he lost some of his pace, exposiviness and power. Right now, Ronaldo's exceptional and better than Messi. Just my opinion, of course. I'm not a fan of Ronaldo or Messi. For the record, Barca are my favourite team outside England.
Neymar is a strange one. Statistically seems to be outstanding but yet theres so much missing.
Neymar's decision making will improve. He's still 22 and has been fighting injuries and off the pitch drama in his first season in Europe. I agree, there is still one too many unnecessary take-on or flick ingrained in his game which halts the flow of the game. He also has a knack of missing easier chances despite his already great goal scoring record. Lots of room for improvement. Hazard is also great, has much more maturity to his game right now with his experience in Europe and is probably a better close control dribbler in general (Neymar is no slouch and has that prime Kaka acceleration, or so it seems, boy is flying). Overall I don't think Hazard will ever reach Neymar's productivity though. I can see Neymar becoming a 1 goal per game player à la Ronaldo. Hazard gives me more Ribery vibes.
I don't think Messi's declined THAT much physically. I think a lot of it is also down to the general quality of how team, how much Barca have regressed and how often he ends up playing in front of 10 outfield players.
I'd actually love to see him in a team like Madrid's where he'd get a lot of 1 v 1's. Teams seem to attack Madrid a lot more, which ironically plays right into their hands with the ridiculous pace they have.
I'd actually love to see him in a team like Madrid's where he'd get a lot of 1 v 1's. Teams seem to attack Madrid a lot more, which ironically plays right into their hands with the ridiculous pace they have.
We spanked Athletic Bilbao 2 weeks ago.
Fuentes?
Athletic have been terrible this season, though. 5 points after tonight's draw from 8 games, not sure I'd classify them as a great side, though they obviously are tricky when on form.
Don't think it's fair to criticise Real Madrid anyway, they've been playing well over the last few weeks no matter how difficult the fixtures have been.
Next week will be interesting. Unstoppable force (Real Madrid with 30 goals scored in their 8 games) against the immovable object (Barcelona, 0 goals conceded in their 8 games).
The roids had to wear off at some point... :-)
feck, didn't realise they were doing so horribly in the league. Any others bailed like Ander? Who's managing them now?
Still a good team I know...
I would rather pay 100 Euros for a Arsenal away ticket as 45 Euros for that shit
No one really notable left other than Ander. A few loans out and 1 or 2 contracts expired but that's it. Valverde is still managing them too. Haven't watched them too often to know exactly what's went wrong but it's probably similar to Real Sociedad last season (without the managerial change) - Lost an important midfielder, struggling to cope with Champions League football and drained after a tough previous season. Just a guess though...
Yeah, CL football must be taking it's toll on them. Hope they can recover, or I'm guessing there'll be a few bargains in the summer.