Might happen at the balon dor given Messi has it wrapped up
Lionel Messi - Performances
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
The first picture 
This video shows how important Dani Alves' technique is to Messi. Put in a more average right back in terms of passing and those connections that begin to break down defenses don't exist (see Zabaleta in Argentina NT)
Your club tries that every time they play mine
I don't see anything in the pics beyond the media stirring up the usual rivalry.
It's not supposed to be funny. Thread is being updated because Messi won two awards and Brown Toothpick's source was a Barcelona twitter feed.
I guess this is why lot of people don't like Messi. Because his fans make everything about Ronaldo losing out. To be honest they are annoying at times.
Think you're maybe taking it a tad seriously.
Are you talking about the Vato comment? He's a Real supporter and was only joking. This was a Barcelona tweet highlighting Ronaldo applauding Messi. The point was about Messi, not Ronaldo.
Individual awards.
Messi's tax fraud charges dropped.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/722/la-.../messi-tax-fraud-charges-dropped?ICID=HP_HN_1
http://www.goal.com/en/news/722/la-.../messi-tax-fraud-charges-dropped?ICID=HP_HN_1
Technically not as his Dad is still facing investigation so one Messi is still in trouble.
Leo, however, has put in the performance of the season to avoid that
The case hasn't been dropped. The public prosecutor is asking for a custodial sentence for Messi's dad (18 months is the figure suggested) and has suggested the removal of the fraud charge against Messi himself. The Tax office hasn't confirmed that they are willing to accept that proposal.
The expected outcome hasn't really changed since the initial charges two years ago. An out of court settlement with Messi based on him paying a big fine, and a fraud trial for his dad. The main argument has always been how big a fine/surcharge can the Tax office get out of Messi and whether the Tax Office would be willing to accept full disclosure on how the tax dodge scheme worked and the dirt of the accountants/lawyers etc involved, in return for a non-custodial sentence on his dad.
It sounds like they may now have a new deal on offer. Maybe this is the year the case actually gets closed.
The expected outcome hasn't really changed since the initial charges two years ago. An out of court settlement with Messi based on him paying a big fine, and a fraud trial for his dad. The main argument has always been how big a fine/surcharge can the Tax office get out of Messi and whether the Tax Office would be willing to accept full disclosure on how the tax dodge scheme worked and the dirt of the accountants/lawyers etc involved, in return for a non-custodial sentence on his dad.
It sounds like they may now have a new deal on offer. Maybe this is the year the case actually gets closed.
Some of the passing is cheating, ridiculous really that their understanding could reach such a big level.
that video is frightening, and a good indicator why he isn't as effective for Argentina
Phenomenal watch, especially loved that the creator included some of those amazing clips of them preparing ahead of a match - I've seen it live and its a real pleasure to watch
A lot of culés lament what 'could've' been with Ronaldinho but Alves & his connection with Messi is remarkable. I wonder if it evolved in training when Dani first arrived at the club. In fact you get the impression that Alves encouraged Neymar to follow the same approach on his arrival
Lovely vid, can watch it over & over
A lot of culés lament what 'could've' been with Ronaldinho but Alves & his connection with Messi is remarkable. I wonder if it evolved in training when Dani first arrived at the club. In fact you get the impression that Alves encouraged Neymar to follow the same approach on his arrival
Lovely vid, can watch it over & over
Didn't find any recent thread for his performances. One thing is for sure though without him Argentina might not even qualify for next world cup. So people who used to say that Argentina is filled with stars should look once more how poor the team plays without Messi.
Even on the WC it was all Messi. Di Maria was average, Higuain was average, Aguero was actually very poor, Lavezzi was average too.
Yep. Messi's contribution got them to the quarters and their defence dragged them through to the final.
But as you mentioned, non of the other attackers bothered to show up.
Can't wait for him to return from injury, football just doesn't seem the same without seeing an insane Messi dribble or finish being shared everywhere once every few weeks. What is normal for him is the incredible for other players.
Yep. On paper Argentina's attack is insanely good. In reality, it's carried by Messi who is bafflingly criticised for great performances.
You can't say someone like Aguero was poor when he was injured.
Di Maria was the best player for us during the KO stages, until he got injured.
Higuain and Lavezzi are pretty average.
But if fully fit, Argentina should be able to beat any side without Messi. The keeper and the left back are the only weak spots I see. And I'm just talking about the quality of the players. If Argentina struggles for a win against Ecuador and Paraguay it's because Gerardo Martino is making everything bad and with almost no plan. There's a pretty weak "plan A", and then there is no plan B or something.
Players like Aguero, Di Maria, Tevez, Pastore, Correa, Kranevitter, Mascherano, Dybala, Icardi, in attack should perform well. The thing is the team has no ideas, and what actually happens is that we depend on individual actions. That's why it doesn't work.
To say Argentina won't qualify without Messi is insane. Argentina won't qualify with someone like Martino as a manager. Give me Pekerman, Sampaoli or Bielsa and Argentina will look like a Bugatti Veyron.
So now, his planned return from the injury is exactly at the start of next international break where Argentina play Brazil home and Columbia away. Martino says he won't hasten his return but it makes you wonder, will he jump into those matches straight in after injury risking that it might re-occur or will he let himself heal properly risking that Argentina might lose more points? IIRC El Classico is somewhat after the international break too and Barcelona don't look the same without him.
He's always under fire in Argentina for some reason and try to imagine what happens if he doesn't play for them in the next two matches. Can get sweaty around there.
He's always under fire in Argentina for some reason and try to imagine what happens if he doesn't play for them in the next two matches. Can get sweaty around there.
Correct. Tata Martino is out of his depth, dont know how he got the job. Absolutely woeful the first two games for a team with these players and i even watched them for the most part.
It's the first game after the international break.
I'm assuming there's no chance he makes it for Villareal, the first game before the international break?
There is no way he'll play for that game.
I believe Messi will make the effort to play for Argentina, and even if Barcelona doesn't like this, they'll have to let him play if he wants. At least going as a sub and have a couple minutes.
Messi had this kind of trouble back in 2008, although there was no injuries related back then. Barcelona had to play the UCL qualifiers and Argentina had to play the Olympics. Messi wanted to play with Argentina and the thing got tense..until Guardiola gave him permission
You said you were going to that game, right? From what I've read there doesn't seem to be any chance unfortunately, only a discussion about whether he might play for the national team before El Classico. If he did get minutes in that game the national team would call him up for both games which Barca might not be happy with as it could risk further injury.
Cheers all. Yeah, I'm at that one - sorted the trip a while ago. Going to have to go another time to see Leo!
Messi got him the job, same way as he got martino the job at barca
Messi knows he isnt the guy to bring them success after experiencing that at Barca. He probably is a likeable guy and they can do what they want under him, but i would be surprised. I think there arent many good managers they could hire.
Of course he did. The manager who believes that Messi should get the least amount of ball possession possible.
Why the bloody feck would Messi want a manager who he had his worst season under, and who froze him out of games with his shit tactics? He's not an idiot.
@IFC 1905 - Di María was absolutely tragic at the World Cup. I'd struggle to say he was Argentina's 10th best player at it, never mind 1st for crying out loud!
Sorry but I don't agree. He was phenomenal. He was having the best season of his career. And for me, it's a fact that if he remained with the team and played the final, the WC would had been ours.
after that tournment he started to play....terrible.