I guess how he performs in the 2nd leg will be interesting
Exactly my point.Maybe I made a mistake in believing he could do much better in such a big game
Lionel Messi
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I guess how he performs in the 2nd leg will be interesting
Exactly my point.Maybe I made a mistake in believing he could do much better in such a big game
He has it in him to be a difference every match tbh. I'm looking forward to what he can do in the WC.
I'm fearing burn out for the little argie.
There we go again, you really do seem to struggle with the difference between fact and opinion. It's your OPINION that Messi is the best player in the World, it's not a fact and never will be; even Maradona's place as the best player ever attracts different opinions.
I think you misread there Cal...
Erm, he said 'I think Messi...etc etc'. You even bolded it and it does suggest he knows it's just his opinion rather than fact.
Is it not a fact that i think he is the best in the world?
If i said the fact is that he is the best in the world. Would make you have a point as it is entirely debateable although having watched all the current top level players i ahve come to my own conclusion and my own truth that it is the truth.
Anyway if you have nothing but my use of the word "fact" to pick bones about i think you might as well call it a night.
Me bad this time, it's getting late. 
Sorry FV.
Sorry FV.
Anyway, FV, is this the first match ever that Messi has played that you don't think he was man of the match?
You just dont stop
You just dont stop
Off the top of my head, you've awared Messi the man of the match in the following games where it's been completely undeserved:
1. v Real Madrid when Ronaldinho got a standing ovation,
2. v United when he did next to nothing all game and had 1 shot,
Do you want to add this last match to the list?
I remember neither.
This match i would give the award too........................ Busquets or Xavi. I thought they were both very very good. Possibly Busquets gets the nod from me though.
We almost agree on one thing...
I thought Xavi was motm. Anyway, until the weekend then...
Busquets is responsible for Arsenal's first goal
Brwned/Boss do you agree with me that Messi has begun to assume a more central position or not?
Or is he playing exactly the same way as when he was 18..
Or is he playing exactly the same way as when he was 18..
Begun?
He played the exact same role against Arsenal that he did in the final last season.
Horses for courses.
He was playing behind Ibra at times, he's playing more centrally at times since latter parts of Last season. It worked to perfection when they bear Real 6-2.
He's always had freedom to be all over the pitch.
No I didn't mean just this season Poguemeister.. I was having a general discussion with Brnwed and Boss about Messi's development.
As a youngster, he'd play on the right drift in and get involved with play yes.. but since Guardiolas come in, there is a concerted effort to let him make an impact centrally when the need arises.
They said, his play hasn't changed at all.. just got better, but the use of Dani Alves yesterday suggests otherwise, Messi played predominantly as a trequartista all game.
I thought the argument was about him playing in a deeper central position, with the emphasis on deeper.
That'd be why I mentioned the fact that Guardiola specifically said he wanted him in higher areas of the pitch, rather than about width...
Messi's playing more centrally because someone needs to be on the end of things without Eto'o threatening in behind and Henry being largely useless. He's been in the box on the end of things far more often than ever before, especially as an aerial threat. Think it says more about where the team needs him than where he's best.
EDIT: And there was something about him doing more playmaking, which I'm sure most Messi fanboys will disagree with still.
Messi said a few years ago that he prefers to play centrally,people forget that this guy used to be a striker and this is how he played the Argentina u21s I don't think it's his best position but Guardiola may have asked him what he wanted and he told him. Fair play. I would have preferred him to come in rom the wings more and attack the fullbacks yesterday but he was more interested in spreading play.
Almost every predominantly creative player wants to play in the middle, it's where the action is. Ronaldinho, Robinho, Arshavin, Nasri...all examples of players who have previously said they preferred central positions and they're probably all better there, doesn't mean that's where they're most useful to the team.
It wasn't really an argument, we were just analysing his development.
I don't think we said its his best position, merely that its clear there has been a subtle change in his deployment.. against superior opposition, he is starting from central positions and its a role where he can be quite effective when on form.
Against the Arse, there wasn't any real playmaking on show from him, glimpses yes.. but it was the midfield who were really running the show.
Messi has demonstrated playmaking this season when he has needed to, especially because Iniesta and Xavi haven't really hit the heights of last year.. but by the looks of things, Xavi is back.
If Messi wants to be bring home the world cup, he has to realise there won't be no xavi etc pulling the strings and he will have to step up in the playmaking aspect... he can't afford to go subtle like he did yesterday, he'll be expected to be at the forefront of anything the argies produce going forward.
Infact he used to be a pure attacking midfield playmaker in the under 17's. It's Barca and Rijkaard who turned him into a wide man.
Not really. He is going to be employed as a decoy for the other dangers of the team. He wont really need to be the main playmaker. Just the main attractor of attention. Allowing those behind him to run things freely.
I got the sense he was being used as a decoy against Arsenal.
They'll all classic number 10s.
But obviously with the evolution of tactics and the increase of pace in football, they've had to find new roles.
Gourcuff is one of the few that still plays in his natural position, and that's in Ligue Un.
Same here. I expect the Argie's to pretty much use him in a similar way. He will be dropping into pockets of space, using and releasing the ball intelligently to keep attacks ticking over, then on occasion splitting defenders with his dribbling at the right moments, and getting on the end of things in the box.
Xavi.
He plays there for the NT and also in the CL
I thought so too. His unwillingness to run at players and just release it quickly seemed very much to be by instruction.
I honestly think Messi has looked somewhat tired in his past few matches. Guardiola is using him centrally with more freedom so he can get on the ball dragging men with him whilst not having to exert the same energy as he would if he roamed to wide areas.
Guardiola used the 4-2-3-1 against Stuttgart at CampNou where Messi was amazing, in the middle of the 3. I think we will be seeing alot more of Messi in the middle.
Only fair for me to bump this again to say Messi has been electric first half in this 2nd leg. Hat trick now and only 41 minutes in. Come on Leo, embarrass them.
all hail messi
Overrated.
needs to bulk up
What the hell can you say about that, he is just magic.
He makes it look so easy, is full of confidence and is only 22
He makes it look so easy, is full of confidence and is only 22
He just miscontrolled then...so, shit.
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