Declare away. But mentioning him being the greatest in every conversation is unnecessary. Fair enough in a debate over who is the best ever but not in general conversation.
Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
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Declare away. But mentioning him being the greatest in every conversation is unnecessary. Fair enough in a debate over who is the best ever but not in general conversation.
Well it is a thread about him.
Who would you say is the best player of all time?
Lingard for me.
Why do people on here continuously label him “the greatest of all time” in every discussion. As if it is a fact. Yes he is one of the best ever but when talking about him, there is no need to keep calling him the greatest as if it is fact. Because it isn’t and is up for debate. Sorry
Messi is GOATIMO.
It's opinion isn't it and in that persons opinion he's the greatest of all time. Do you want everyone to write a paragraph explaining that their opinions aren't actual facts when they share them on a forum. Of course it's up for debate. That's what a forum is for. Also.... it kind of is a fact too
You've completely missed the joke
Pretty obvious they're speaking for themselves. Would be rather stupid if they had to put disclaimers for others for no reason. not sorry
Over the past 25 years no one has scored more freekicks in the Primera Liga than Lionel Messi - 20
GOAT
Messi in La Liga at Camp Nou: 200 games 212 goals 89 assists 171 wins 11 loss!! Just 11 loss! Unreal stats.
Participation level of the La Liga forwards in the game of their teams. Passes completed by 90' and % influence.
For those who still insist in calling other players the GOAT, if Messi isn't it yet, the general consensus is that he would be just below Pele and Maradona. With him turning just 31 in June and since his game doesn't depends exclusively on the explosiveness of his body, i'm pretty sure until 2022 at most when he's going from 34 to 35, the debate will be settled worldwide. I mean, think about how many incredible performances he can do in the next four years, even as his pace declines. Even if he doesn't win the world cup this year he could still choose to try again in 2022 and if he never wins it then i'm pretty sure his club record, four years from now, will be big enough to have surpassed completely any other player.
Just saw this...Now that's sensational.
Solid performance against Chelsea. His acceleration to go past 3 or 4 players in a short distance still amazes.
He always gives you the feeling that things effortless for him. Even when playing "simple" passes, it is so easy on the eye.
Messidependencia seasons always end up with Messi being too pressured and ending up falling short of glory.
Although not as Messidependencia as 2012/13 or last season, as Valverde has done enough to make team defensively solid, but still this season reeks of Messidependencia.
Although not as Messidependencia as 2012/13 or last season, as Valverde has done enough to make team defensively solid, but still this season reeks of Messidependencia.
Nothing special last night, off game or the end had begun?
He's had plenty of games like that in the past few season. A fairly typical match I'd say.
I see
Chelsea camped in their box with all the players except 2, they had little space in the box. There was no space to even play one twos or all their off the ball movements.
Chelsea executed their plan very well except 1 moment.
Still they way he wrong footed goalkeeper was class.
It was a typical Messi performance against Chelski. His kryptonite team.
Still broke the deadlock against them, and he needed only one shot.
More that the Barca team depends on him for creativity so much, that Chelsea had Kante + 1 on him, most of the time. Making it difficult for Messi as he had to almost constantly try to beat 2 or more players to try and create space.
It didn't help matters that Iniesta was fairly quiet (though he ended up with the vital assist) and Paulino on the right was fairly useless - even more so if you take into account that he was playing on the right and blocking Roberto's overlapping runs.
But, decent result for Barca. If Dembele stays injury free and hits some form, at least a bit of creativity will be added and some space will open up for Messi to operate in....you'd think.
He's practically playing everything, coming deep for the ball, spreading passes, dribbles, runs into the channels and scores.
Even on a night when he looks quiet, comfortably head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch. Such a brilliant player. He will need help, though. The defence is doing their job, but they need more firepower up front. Suarez doesn't have a single goal in CL.
Even on a night when he looks quiet, comfortably head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch. Such a brilliant player. He will need help, though. The defence is doing their job, but they need more firepower up front. Suarez doesn't have a single goal in CL.
Thank you for the information, I asked since there were positions where there was a pass available or a shot and he didn't take the opportunity. This could obviously be down to other things but still. The goal, in all honesty, was nothing to write home about. We've seen keepers chose a corner before and it's comical.
Looking forward to him playing versus another opponent if they go past Chelsea.
Looking forward to him playing versus another opponent if they go past Chelsea.
Yeah, it's pretty insane how much they look to him for everything, especially chance creation.
That Suarez stat is quite surprising though he's had a slow start to the season, he's hit some form over recent months.
Coutinho would have been a massive help to Barca in the UCL. Unless Dembele stays injury free and hits some form, along with Iniesta, Barca will basically be looking at Messi to get them through.
Almost hilarious to watch, you could see it in every attack. Don't think that Chelsea way of playing also suited them, the whole team behind the ball and two men on Messi made them pretty impotent considering there is lack of threat from anyone else. Now, that they have 1-1, though, Chelsea can't play the same way, so it's much easier for them. In that sense, Messi goal was really huge for the second leg.
I would like to see Barcelona - Liverpool match-up next if they go through. Despite Barcelona being not so impressive, I think they would be far more comfortable with them than a team who defends so deep like Chelsea.
As for Suarez, I haven't been impressed with him for a while now tbh. He does get numbers in La Liga, but it's his second season in CL where he has been underwhelming, especially in big matches. Think he is in decline, or he lost a bit of that passion (hunger). Don't know, maybe he should bite someone.
Almost hilarious to watch, you could see it in every attack. Don't think that Chelsea way of playing also suited them, the whole team behind the ball and two men on Messi made them pretty impotent considering there is lack of threat from anyone else. Now, that they have 1-1, though, Chelsea can't play the same way, so it's much easier for them. In that sense, Messi goal was really huge for the second leg.
I would like to see Barcelona - Liverpool match-up next if they go through. Despite Barcelona being not so impressive, I think they would be far more comfortable with them than a team who defends so deep like Chelsea.
As for Suarez, I haven't been impressed with him for a while now tbh. He does get numbers in La Liga, but it's his second season in CL where he has been underwhelming, especially in big matches. Think he is in decline, or he lost a bit of that passion (hunger). Don't know, maybe he should bite someone.
isn't there some sort of behavior/biting clause and penalties in his Barca contract? Or was that just made up media bollocks before he signed?Wrt Suarez, yeah, I agree somewhat. He was poor in La liga last season too, iirc. He's stepped it up a bit midway through this season. But someone asked the question recently about why Barca would be interested in signing Griezmann.
I'd say Suarez's age and potential decline are key factors. Also, Griezmann is even more suited to drifting wide to allow Messi space in the middle. Also, AG's price is obviously a bit of a bargain in this market. I think replacing key players before/around their decline is key to staying relevant and avoiding a long, and rather costly revamp.
On topic though, maybe Dembele staying injury free and hitting some form will help Messi as well. He just had too much to do and with Chelsea sitting so deep, most of the space through the middle was congested.
Wrt Suarez, yeah, I agree somewhat. He was poor in La liga last season too, iirc. He's stepped it up a bit midway through this season. But someone asked the question recently about why Barca would be interested in signing Griezmann.
I'd say Suarez's age and potential decline are key factors. Also, Griezmann is even more suited to drifting wide to allow Messi space in the middle. Also, AG's price is obviously a bit of a bargain in this market. I think replacing key players before/around their decline is key to staying relevant and avoiding a long, and rather costly revamp.
On topic though, maybe Dembele staying injury free and hitting some form will help Messi as well. He just had too much to do and with Chelsea sitting so deep, most of the space through the middle was congested.
Not sure, there were some rumours that he had "anti-bite clause" when he signed his first contract. Imagine coming to a new employer and getting a contract with a penalty clause if you bite someone.
You would have to wonder a little about it. Agree about Griezmann. With him, Coutinho and Dembele they would practically make a new spine of the team in only a year and Messi can play on a high level for 3-4 seasons more certainly.
Yeah, Dembele would really help, especially as he would provide width and the opponent could not congest the middle of the park so much as you say. Don't know when he's coming back, though?
On the bolded bit, surprisingly he was ready to come on last night. He was warming up right as Barca equalised, and that obviously changed Valverde's plans - especially as you'd assume Dembele has just got back from injury. No point in bringing him back to such a pressure cooker, for fear of re-injuring himself.Not sure, there were some rumours that he had "anti-bite clause" when he signed his first contract. Imagine coming to a new employer and getting a contract with a penalty clause if you bite someone.
Agree about Griezmann. With him, Coutinho and Dembele they would practically make a new spine of the team in only a year and Messi can play on a high level for 3-4 seasons more certainly.
Yeah, Dembele would really help, especially as he would provide width and the opponent could not congest the middle of the park so much as you say. Don't know when he's coming back, though?
This match, Juve-Spurs and the Madrid match all seem be set up nicely for the return legs. Though I'd expect Barca to have a bit too much for Chelsea at the Camp Nou.
Ah cheers, didn't notice him warming up at all tbh. Thought he was still recovering.
I assume Chelsea will still sit deep, at least until the second half. No point opening yourself if one goal can put you through and Conte is the pragmatic type of manager. But, yeah, all matches still pretty much open.
Agreed with that. He'll play the same tactics as he did last night, except maybe start with Morata in for Pedro - because they need someone who can challenge and win some of the clearances, to bring Hazard/Willian into play on the counter.
Messi's been excellent this season, though I think he's tailed off a bit the last couple weeks. Though he's still creating a lot. I guess as long as they win matches, it will be alright. But I think against "better" sides, if Barca play as they did during the first half, they'll find themselves trailing after the first leg.
Maybe he's due a rest.
I thought he was just fine. Couple of nice moves against a very defensive side at a tough ground and a very well taken goal. That inch perfect cross for Paulinho from between a couple of players wasn't half bad either.
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As they have La Liga almost wrapped up, it wouldn't be a bad idea.
They're in a brilliant position to focus their energy on the UCL yeah. Through to the CDR final as well.
Is it just me or has Messi's dribbling massively decline in the last year or so?
He hardly dribbled past anybody, with Kante making him look pedestrian whenever he tried really
His playmaking ability is incredibly, but he seems to have lost the ability to dribble past players like he had 2-3 years ago
He hardly dribbled past anybody, with Kante making him look pedestrian whenever he tried really
His playmaking ability is incredibly, but he seems to have lost the ability to dribble past players like he had 2-3 years ago