Certainly
I cant see Argentina winning it sadly. If they take Higuain, they simply have no chance then.
Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
I cant see Argentina winning it sadly. If they take Higuain, they simply have no chance then.
More than ever, Barca need Messi now. It's probably gonna be his most important season ever.
I can see Barca struggling this season, relatively speaking. The system they play requires total commitment, and a high work rate. It was this combined with the phenomenal individual ability of the players than led the team of a few season back to rank as the best club side ever IMO.
I don't think the current squad has the same quality but it's more they don't seem to have the total faith in the system as they once did.
Messi still the best player in the world for me though. He could score half the goals he has and we'd still be ranking him as one of the best players ever. The fact he matches Ronaldo's output whilst being an incredible dribbler and passer is hard to comprehend.
I don't think the current squad has the same quality but it's more they don't seem to have the total faith in the system as they once did.
Messi still the best player in the world for me though. He could score half the goals he has and we'd still be ranking him as one of the best players ever. The fact he matches Ronaldo's output whilst being an incredible dribbler and passer is hard to comprehend.
Had a great performance vs Betis, unlucky to hit the post 3 times. He is playing in arguably the worst Barcelona team since the season 2007/2008, but shows no signs of slowing down. Fully expect him to have another outstanding season. His ball control and quickness to change direction is something truly incredible.
He was brilliant even without the goal but I expect even greater things once he has a couple of proper reinforcements
Deulofeu is a big prospect. The jury is still out on whether he turns out to be the next Bojan or not. I find it curious their board are not doing everything in their power to resign Alexis though, Alcacer is worse than Pedro ever was. Messi looked understandably frustrated at times last season.
Well, number one Deulofeu was instrumental in both goals yesterday and I have high hopes for him. Plus, Paco & Pedro are not similar players at all, neither do they play the same position
Why would they try hard to resign a guy who was a massive bust for them?
Under Pep. Alexis would be the missing link between Messi and Suarez now that Neymar is gone, plus at Arsenal he looks much more willing to take responsability and being a protagonist. He had the same problems as Ibra and David Villa before, which was the system. I know it won't happen, i'm just saying Messi would play even better with another world class striker. Let's see what happens.
The handling of Thiago sums up the Barca board. Fecking useless!
There was one moment in today's game vs Alaves where Lionel easily went past 4 or 5 players. I can't remember which half. Scored the two goals of the win. Looks like he will carry the team alone.
I can't yet put media here but the piece of play i'm talking about happened at 24:30 of the first half
Wouldn't say he was a massive bust - he did OK. Back then they were still adopting the tiki-taka philosophy and he just wasn't as quick as the other midfield/attacking players mentally and technically, I personally think he would have done well under Luis Enrique's system which was a bit more direct. Not sure yet what Valverde's identity will be for this Barca side, but I think they need good runners off the ball for Messi to pick out and someone creative in midfield to stand any chance of challenging Madrid. They could certainly use someone of Sanchez's grit and determination anyway.
Cant see him winning major titles for a very long time, Barcelona's board is so atrocious. With a better board, Neymar would still be there and they'd have replaced Xavi in a way, and would now only have to find Iniesta's and Suarez' heir slowly.
I'd actually argue that he has more chance of winning the world cup with Argentina now than winning champions league or la liga. he's certainly done with european trophies if Barca keep regressing.
Thanks for posting, Giflord!
I can't even find words to describe his ability anymore. The best ever. I'd go as far as to argue that he is the most dominant ATHLETE of all time in all sports. You look at his performances since 2004 and he has always played this way. 13 years at the top level. Unbelievable.
I can't even find words to describe his ability anymore. The best ever. I'd go as far as to argue that he is the most dominant ATHLETE of all time in all sports. You look at his performances since 2004 and he has always played this way. 13 years at the top level. Unbelievable.
Well, they are very good at reaching the final so that could be true. Aguero, Di Maria, Dybala and Messi, it's almost like the brazilian team in 2006 with Ronaldo Ronaldinho Kaká and Adriano was being talked about.
Created chances vs Uruguay and Venezuela but his teammates couldn't score...
Icardi not an upgrade on Higuain?
He's no Eder
Still baffles me to this day. Out of all the players in the world it was fecking Eder who scored the winning goal in an international final. If I was Messi I'd choke Higuain for his misses.
He's a good player but the decision to not use Aguero is Crazy. he is, by a long distance, the best striker in that country. Higuain is as overrated as Cavani. The prospect of a World Cup without Messi is more real than ever. And in one hand that should be a normal decline for Argentina as reaching 3 consecutive finals is not easy, but given the quality they got... Di Maria was destroying Venezuela defenders until he got injured, it still baffles me that Van Gaal couldn't get the best out of him here. Dybala still isn't playing like he does in Juventus. They look lost overall.
Isn't Aguero also shit for Argentina?
Exactly, it's like no one has watched Argentina for years now
Surprised I'm the first to bump this after his performance today in a Barcelona derby. He was absolutely sensational and I think there is no doubt that he is the GOAT at finishing from a cutback.
He moved all over today, but it was really interesting that dembele and deulofeu both stayed pretty much glued to the right wing, with no real threat coming from the left. Wondering where messi will actually spend most of his time on the pitch this season. An absolute joy to watch and already at 5 goals in 3 la liga games.
He moved all over today, but it was really interesting that dembele and deulofeu both stayed pretty much glued to the right wing, with no real threat coming from the left. Wondering where messi will actually spend most of his time on the pitch this season. An absolute joy to watch and already at 5 goals in 3 la liga games.
He was indeed sensational.
Looked very explosive too.
Looked very explosive too.
Saw a pic of him on twitter, looks a bit musclier than usual
He was fantastic today. When Alba plays well and manages to make the difference Messi becomes more dangerous as he loves making those passes over the top to the left back and shooting from cutbacks with his left foot.
True. Alba usually specializes in wasting Messi's passing.
When he plays well, they are much harder to contain, because Messi's lofted ball to the left is almost unstoppable.
Their connection today was other-worldly.
Imagine Marcelo was at Barcelona 
He's so magical, whenever he gets the ball he does what he wants, can't believe we actually get to witness him and Ronaldo, lucky people...
My father shakes his head when watching this current Barcelona and keeps saying this is almost identical to Johan's last few years at Barcelona where he was the only stability in a disorganised club.
Imagine Marcelo was at Barcelona
Alba doing a great job so far this season. Seems a bit more adept at making the right decisions lately
....???
He was incredible yesterday. To think that there are people on this forum who'd have him at City, "just to have him in the PL." Not a chance I'd have him in the PL unless he joined us - he's otherworldly and he'd destroy the league. Love watching him, but not if he were winning City the title.
He must have missed the game yesterday.
Johan Cruijff played well for Barcelona but they won nothing of import in his final few seasons because of the situation around the club. Messi still retains his genius but the club is in turmoil off the field and I was referring more to that than to his performances. Apologies if that wasn't clear.