Lionel Messi

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Well, for his sake, I hope that number dips a bit from year to year...Too much expected of the player, when a goal is needed it seems not just the fans are waiting for Leo to find it

Pedro & Cesc stuck in a dry patch and Villa still on the shelf....Needs better support from his teammates in the final third

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FCBarca said:
Well, for his sake, I hope that number dips a bit from year to year...Too much expected of the player, when a goal is needed it seems not just the fans are waiting for Leo to find it

Pedro & Cesc stuck in a dry patch and Villa still on the shelf....Needs better support from his teammates in the final third

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that was sublime
 
He seems to break a new record every week. Incredible.
 
It is strange that he went from having numerous fitness/injury issues right up until he was 19/20 to being seemingly completely indestructible.
 
antihenry said:
Does he ever get injured?
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He was having similar injuries over a 2-3 year period from 2005-2008...When Pep took over, among the many changes he made to how things were run was to also introduce specific nutritional programmes for each player...In particular, Leo was the subject of a very detailed regimen along with a personal fitness trainer in Juanjo Brau...The trainer accompanies him just about everywhere


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It's definitely worked although we're all witnessing an unprecedented run of form & minutes nevermind being relatively injury free...I think Messi has also embraced the detailed nutritional programme which is half the battle itself...195 goals under Guardiola in less than 4 seasons, and counting

Pep, again, deserves a ton of credit
 
Brwned said:
It is strange that he went from having numerous fitness/injury issues right up until he was 19/20 to being seemingly completely indestructible.
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http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p...gel’-juanjo-brau-in-hot-demand-at-barcelona.html

A lot depends on how a young player reacts to a spate of injuries. Some don't embrace the lifestyle shift of just training to the training, followed by strength and recovery work approach which is necessary to physically excel at the top level for many years.
 
So he still hasn't scored in open play against an Italian team?
 
Nesta- "With respect to the other great Barcelona players, I think Messi did at least 70% of the work tonight. Whenever they struggled to make their possession fruitful, he made one of his runs, making it so difficult for us because he does it so many times during a game."

Interesting comments from one of the very few all time great defenders that have played against him. I wonder if they would have won that tie at all without him.
 
Brwned said:
It is strange that he went from having numerous fitness/injury issues right up until he was 19/20 to being seemingly completely indestructible.
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People develop at different stages, some players have the physique of a man aged 16/17 like Rooney but Messi wasn't really developed in that regard i think he was always going to be more inclined to injury when young, it was a common thing for him throughout his younger years.

Of course what BarcaFC and Gio said will be the real difference maker but also just his rate of development as a full adult would play a part too.
 
Would they still win all those trophies without him, though.

Barca are phenomenally talented team and incredibly well organized but it's him who gives them that extra edge that tips the result in their favor when things get difficult.
It helps when you have the world's best player you can always turn to and who seemingly never gets injured.

I'd love to see Barca winning a tie against a top tier opposition without Messi in their ranks. They'd still be very strong, no doubt, but they're so used to have that ace up their sleeve, who knows how they'd react when he's not there, and the opposition will probably be bolder in their approach too, knowing they don't have to deal with the little genius running at their defenses every time they lose possession.
 
antihenry said:
Would they still win all those trophies without him, though.

Barca are phenomenally talented team and incredibly well organized but it's him who gives them that extra edge that tips the result in their favor when things get difficult.
It helps when you have the world's best player you can always turn to and who seemingly never gets injured.

I'd love to see Barca winning a tie against a top tier opposition without Messi in their ranks. They'd still be very strong, no doubt, but they're so used to have that ace up their sleeve, who knows how they'd react when he's not there, and the opposition will probably be bolder in their approach too, knowing they don't have to deal with the little genius running at their defenses every time they lose possession.
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Not a chance...

I know everyone will say, take away the best player from any team, and they'd struggle...but he takes that notion to a whole new level.

He attracts 3-4 defender every time he even looks like getting near the ball :lol::lol: And the freedom that gives the rest of the Barca players can't be understated.

Great for them...not so great for the rest of us :(
 
Neutral said:
Not a chance...

I know everyone will say, take away the best player from any team, and they'd struggle...but he takes that notion to a whole new level.

He attracts 3-4 defender every time he even looks like getting near the ball :lol::lol: And the freedom that gives the rest of the Barca players can't be understated.

Great for them...not so great for the rest of us :(
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But the thing is it is wrong to look at Barca minus Messi. How it should be is Barca minus Messi plus a plausible replacement.

Let's say Zlatan was there instead of Messi. Would they still win as much? No. But they would have still won the CL at least once and league in all those times bar may be last season.
 
I dont think so. Zlatan played for Barca and his attitude proved to be a big problem.

Plus hes a bit of a big game bottler and hes practically a Champions League Repellent :lol:
 
Brwned said:
It is strange that he went from having numerous fitness/injury issues right up until he was 19/20 to being seemingly completely indestructible.
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He sold his soul to the devil, it's the only explanation.Even Ronaldo gets the odd injury here and there that Messi doesn't
 
LTS10 said:
I dont think so. Zlatan played for Barca and his attitude proved to be a big problem.

Plus hes a bit of a big game bottler and hes practically a Champions League Repellent :lol:
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I think it was niave Pep that lost them, his idea to take of Zlatan and put Pique up front was madness and showed his lack of faith in Ibra who for the most part had been good for Barcelona, certainly no worse than Villa/Sanchez although Sanchez has time to show his true worth.
 
FCBarca said:
It is...Walking away from the pk, responding to the roar of the crowd, only...love it
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I love Busquets, partly because he is so hated and partly because he's such a class act. He got a bit of stick from Barca fans in the beginning but i am sure by the time he is set to hang up his boots he'll be as savoured as Xavi/Iniesta. Well maybe... but at least as savoured as Puyol ;)
 
Messi is the difference between winning 1-2 trophies a season and winning 6 and then 3-5 the next season.
 
FCBarca said:
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That's just insanely cool. Like the good guy turning his back on explosions in action movies. There was no doubt he was going to score. Even the Milan players didn't bother moving when he first hit it.
 
He's better than most at taking penalties but there are other players better at taking penalties than him. No big deal.
 
FranklyVulgar said:
I think it was niave Pep that lost them, his idea to take of Zlatan and put Pique up front was madness and showed his lack of faith in Ibra who for the most part had been good for Barcelona, certainly no worse than Villa/Sanchez although Sanchez has time to show his true worth.
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Villa and Eto'o have been the best ones for Barça. Ibrahimovic just isn't really made for their style, and Sánchez seems promising but not yet productive enough as evidenced by the massive burden on Messi this season.

Tactically, in the current setup (ie. with Messi as a false nine) Villa would make most sense. All others would drift into central areas, whereas Villa understands the wing-forward role completely and has the 2nd best work rate behind Alexis and best finishing on par with Eto'o in my opinion.
 
FranklyVulgar said:
I love Busquets, partly because he is so hated and partly because he's such a class act. He got a bit of stick from Barca fans in the beginning but i am sure by the time he is set to hang up his boots he'll be as savoured as Xavi/Iniesta. Well maybe... but at least as savoured as Puyol ;)
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Del Bosque, Pep, Xavi, just about any Spaniard...Ask them who is the most complete footballer, Busquets is almost universally the answer...I was a serious Yaya fanboy so despite being excited at his promotion and impressive inaugural season, Sergio made me nervous A LOT of that first season with the first team...He'd try these cheeky moves that led to a few goals for the opposition and so there was this fear that he was too sloppy or perhaps clumsy...It's remarkable how much he's changed fortunes for both club & country...I can't even recall the last time he had a poor pass

He's the future Xavi
 
That list is complete bullshit! So many players on there who are anything but overrated. feck that.
 
FranklyVulgar said:
I love Busquets, partly because he is so hated and partly because he's such a class act. He got a bit of stick from Barca fans in the beginning but i am sure by the time he is set to hang up his boots he'll be as savoured as Xavi/Iniesta. Well maybe... but at least as savoured as Puyol ;)
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Puyol is a fecking legend for Barca. I adore that player.:D
 
Bro, it's bleacher report. Funniest website on the internet.
 
I think it can be very easily done
We’ll just put Bleacher out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61
 
peterstorey said:
I think it can be very easily done
We’ll just put Bleacher out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61
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Now the rowin' gambler he was very bored
He was tryin' to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said I never engaged in this kind of thing before
 
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