The only similarity between the two is that they both look like cartoon characters.
Lionel Messi
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The only similarity between the two is that they both look like cartoon characters.
Epic.
If anything his loyalty stopped people rating him. Just because he chose to be loyal to a small club rather than be loyal to a big one ala a Giggs. IMO there is little doubt he has been amongst the best around for a while now. On form I'd take him over a player like Kaka.
I disagree. Especially when you also mention Messi. Berbatov is up there with Bergkamp when it comes to ball control in one place. Only Ronaldinho, Del piero and Zlatan are better of the current crop still playing.
If what Berbatov was doing was merely ''standard stuff'' as you claim, most Tom's, Dick's and Harry's in football would be doing it on the regular.
I'd say Berbatov is a striker Zidane, 'cept a bit less well-rounded and agile. His touch is definitely world class, IMO.
His first touch for his second/hattrick goal against Newcastle after Tevez's pass through was out of this world, and his chest control is consistently brilliant, it hasn't gotten worse since 06/07.
It's just not as good as Messi's.
This is true, and I realised that as I typed it. The difference, if there is one, is that agility is said to be a skill-related component of fitness, as opposed to the likes of strength and speed. Probably a technicallity though really.
Red Pavan said:
The reason for this is that, often, Rooney tries to do everything with his first touch, which can make it seem a bit inconsistent. It's magical when it goes right though, and a good example is the touch he took before he belted the ball 60 yards to Ryan Giggs against City.
I rate Messi and Zlatan's first touch about equal. Zlatan often has more difficult balls to work with but some of the touches Messi has are amazing. Love the way he can control a ball with his chest perfectly forward in the direction of his run and just take a 30-40 yard pass in his stride. Also, his ability to receive a pass at speed and under pressure is unparralelled by anyone.
Ronaldinho probably tops both though, partly because he seems to be able to use any part of his body with purpose.
Ronaldinho probably tops both though, partly because he seems to be able to use any part of his body with purpose.
Ehh Ronaldo. He's done some mental stuff while on the run and receiving a long ball.
Probably the best touch I have seen was Sergio Ramos earlier this season. At least one of the best. Of the top of my head it was the best
It's not right to say it's unparalleled by anyone. It's just as hard for any player to receive the ball when he's sprinting as for Messi. He just runs faster than most. Doesn't mean it's harder because for them they are doing the same.
Zlatan and Berba and Ronaldinho are the best that I've seen when it comes to first touch in any situation. Messi isn't bad at it either but he lacks the hight to do it in the same scenarios that they have proven them self in.
That doesn't seem to make much sense. Look, the faster you run, the harder it is to control a ball. For anyone. Good technique is controlling the ball under hard circumstances.
Running at full pelt and having to control a hard pass is really difficult and most can't pull it off regularly without having to slow down or stop altogether. Messi can and does so on with a regularity that I would say it is unparalleled by anyone.
the only thing they got in common is that they're playing on the opposite wing of their best foot.You could have mentioned about hundreds other players.
You'll struggle to top Ronaldinho for technical ability with a football, even now.
Class post this. Highlights the strengths and hard work from both of these players. Something the world's most talented footballer, Ronaldinho, lacks. If only Ronaldinho applied himself like Ronaldo and Messi then he would be streets ahead of anyone.
Agreed.
Messi was not good at all last night but he certainly showed his ability to take a high long ball in his stride on a few occasions. Has anyone ever made it look easier?
Yep, he's unbelieveable.
His touch is the best of all time?
Definitely.
Messi was pretty good in this game. Was a constant threat, passing was excellent. He probably should have scored more or at least set up a goal as he was creative and busy enough to do it.
Some short Argie with a drug problem for starts...
Wonder if all the Barca supporters are saying how shit Ibra is for heading straight to the keeper ... (similar to how people were giving Berba a slagging during the Manchester Derby and Given made a couple of good saves).
He should have burried it no doubt but i actually thought he was unlucky as a whole not to score. He had one chopped off and had himself in great positions, one time messi went it alone and a defender got a block in. The other Iniesta intercepted a pass meant for him so all in all he's still bedding in but his contribution thus far has been on the whole very good.
It's just as hard as controlling the ball at full pace for Emile Heskey as it is for Messi or Ronaldo. The fact that the latter run faster doesn't mean that they put for effort into running. That's what I was talking about that you didn't catch.
How fecking good is he? Just saw the highlights of the game against Valencia, brilliant hattrick. It's a joy watching him play, it all comes so easy for him.
He's too good for Spain.Probably the best player in the world when it comes to attacking defenders with the ball, you can't stop him if you don't foul him
Nobody in the world is better at attacking space, the man is incredible
I remember in 2006 he scored a brilliant goal against Seville, took on players etc but because the match was not shown on tv (sponser dispute I think it was. not sure, something on Sevilla's part) we never got to see the goal properly.
Actually found it, 2:32, best view of it I've seen
Actually found it, 2:32, best view of it I've seen
Excellent goals there. Especially that first one, his ability to just stop then burst off in another direction is incredible.
On a side note, what an assist by Henry for the 3rd.
I can safely say that's probably the best Henry has played all season, there was a real purpose about him and we got to see his famous pace at times. Maybe he just doesn't work well with Zlatan
First 2 goals were absolutely magnificent.
why on earth a team thats well adjusted, that wins absolutely everything, instead of staying the same, sells one of it's best scorers -etoo- benches the other good scorer -henry- and buys a player that hasn't been proved in la liga -ibrahimovich-
i tell you, i should be barca manage, because i'm a lot better that the idiots that run it
The second one I already knew what he was going to do before he scored it, the first touch knocks it into space, typical Messi, then the defenders leave the space in between them for Messi to go across them to shape up to shoot.
It's so simple but with his control and quick thinking it can not be stopped.
It's so simple but with his control and quick thinking it can not be stopped.
why on earth a team thats well adjusted, that wins absolutely everything, instead of staying the same, sells one of it's best scorers -etoo- benches the other good scorer -henry- and buys a player that hasn't been proved in la liga -ibrahimovich-
i tell you, i should be barca manage, because i'm a lot better that the idiots that run it
If it's not broke don't fix it, comes to mind, but then again a part of me thinks Barca just wanted a Galactico, or maybe Pep really wanted to go with something different. (a target man)
Last year against Chelsea at the Bridge, how many crosses did Alvez float in for nobody to connect? The problem is Ibra is not your traditional target man, he wants to get involved in the play and show his vast array of skills and the football is not as fluent as it was last season.
It'll take time. A team cannot be as good as Barcelona were last season for another whole season. It just doesnt ever happen. Maybe it was a bad move, footballing wise but judgment has to wait a while for that. I thought despite his goals last season that Eto'o isn't the same player he once was.
I think what we are seeing here is the importance of Messi. When you talk about Barcelona it is rightly Messi, Xavi and Iniesta who get the credit but this season more than any other has shown why Messi is the real key. Whilst Xavi and Iniesta make football look spectacular and keep the ball for fun there is nobody more direct and incisive than Messi.
I think what we are seeing here is the importance of Messi. When you talk about Barcelona it is rightly Messi, Xavi and Iniesta who get the credit but this season more than any other has shown why Messi is the real key. Whilst Xavi and Iniesta make football look spectacular and keep the ball for fun there is nobody more direct and incisive than Messi.
Messi was just toying with the defenders, he and Ronaldo seem to be taking the piss at times
That's exactly what I thought.
The crux of the matter. Barcelona are on a hiding to nothing this season in those terms. No matter what they win they simply wont be as fantastic as they were last season. Even if they had kept E'too.
The defending for a couple of those goals was just absolutely woeful. I understand that Spanish teams are renowned for their attacking play, but surely defenders can't look at themselves with any real sense of purpose.
The whole, "settling in" line that Frankly is taking is a load of tripe. Ibra has moved from an defensively strong league, to one that is far more open where his technical skills should almost be shown as a master class week in and week out. He's not short of pace and he doesn't lack fineese, so what is it?
Can I admit something here?
Messi doesn't excite me.
There, I said it. Let the ridicule begin.
Messi doesn't excite me.
There, I said it. Let the ridicule begin.
Don't you think his style of play is very attractive, possibly more attractive than any other player in Europe?
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