Is it tata maybe? Its obviously the tactics but maybe a new coach can change his attitude
Lionel Messi
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Don't think I have ever seen him as poor as he has been in last few games. Don't think just the coach or tactics should mask it. He strangely does not look up for it
What is wrong with him ? He can't run and he doesn't even looked arsed.
It's weird. I know it's a cliche, but he really "doesn't look like himself", as they say. Wouldn't shock me if the coach had something to do with it.
He's off the PEDs.
I'm joking Messi fanbois
I'm joking Messi fanbois
Is this where we blame Messi for Barcelona's massive problems at board and management level?
He's been poor recently (and for a lot of the season he hasn't been at his best) but even the best players won't shine when the tactics are awful.
He's been poor recently (and for a lot of the season he hasn't been at his best) but even the best players won't shine when the tactics are awful.
I remember he gave an interview a few months ago where he said he was working to peak in time for the WC. I was wondering at the time why not peak for Barcelona. Perhaps it's a small peak into his current mindset.
He may as well have not been on the pitch and he did absolutely nothing to get himself involved in the game. The tactics may have been awful and maybe Martino isn't a great manager, but that effort level and performance was shocking. If Rooney or RVP gave a performance like that in a cup final they would be getting ripped to shreds on this forum and in the press and justly so.
Tactically they're awful. Squad wise they're on a huge decline. They need refreshed and it's no coincidence that he looks like he needs it too.
I thought the supposed GOAT should be able to win a match regardless of tactics?
He won it for them last time they played Madrid.
Didn't look interested, for the 3rd game in a row.
The amount of standing around was phenomenal. His game is coming to Iniesta and Xavi, retrieving the ball and making an attack. Today it almost seemed like he was making an effort not to get the ball. There is something wrong here for sure, worst player on the pitch for the 3rd game now in 1 week
He's already reached the footballing pinnacle. He can only go down from there.
He doesn't care, he knows the season is over. His mind is on the World Cup already, he know's how important that is to Argentina.
He's off! City have turned his head with 750k per week offer, a new Ferrari annually, and all the free Jaguar energy drinks he desires!
Well if this wasn't the case already, it certainly will be now.
Jesus...
Where that argument falls flat on it's face is that there's genuinely hundreds of examples where the all time greats (in all sports) have lost and/or underperformed.
Definitely this.
Off to City in the summer clearly.
Surely he deserves all the criticism he gets if that's his mentality. Maybe he's carrying some niggling injury but his performance today in a cup final against Madrid on the heels of an abject performance over 2 legs against Atletico in the CL quarters is inexcusable. Having a poor a game is one thing and it happens to all the best players in every sport, but like you said he just doesn't look like he cares and that is a sad state of affairs.
Hmm...Messi's body language is very similar to how RVP's has been recently.
Make of that what you will...
Personally I thinks its Martino. Since when has Fabregas ever been a right winger??
??Tactically inept
(come to think of it... sounds like someone else I know)
Make of that what you will...
Personally I thinks its Martino. Since when has Fabregas ever been a right winger??
??Tactically inept(come to think of it... sounds like someone else I know)
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What? He's been poor in the last three games and all of them could win a title. A win against Granada and they would have been a point behind Atlético and yet to play them at home. A win against Atlético would have gotten to them to the semi-finals of the CL. A win against Real Madrid would have brought them a cup then and there. You're saying he didn't care about one or all of these things?
I'm sure he'd take losing out on all of them if it meant he'll be fully fit and firing come the World Cup. He wouldn't want to risk an injury and it's clear his mind is completely on that.
If that's the case then I'd seriously question him as a professional.
That's an incredibly selfish and unprofessional attitude if he did. Could you imagine Rooney or RvP not giving a shit like that as we were chasing a treble? The pitchforks would certainly be out for one.
He reminds me of how RvP has been playing for us this season. His body language/movement on the pitch shows he doesn't really care that much
You do not seem to appreciate who Messi is. RvP and Rooney are not Messi. I mean what will Barcelona tell Messi now? We are gonna sell you? He has such presence in the game by now, that he can do whatever the feck he likes and no one can tell him shit about it. Are Barcelona supporters happy with this this season? No way. Can they do anything about it? Nope. The way Messi probably sees it, is that he has already achieved a lot at club level, and now, in 2014, all that matters for him is to deliver at the world cup for Argentina, the one stick his detractors use to beat him with. After that, he will have several seasons with FCB (or maybe even another club) to prove himself yet again at club level.
If then Messi fails to perform at the world cup, or next season for Barcelona, then it will be clear signs that his legs have gone early, and that the club is better served by cashing out...
Really? I'd imagine every single footballer is like that. World cup is the ultimate prize for everyone, especially for somebody like Messi who's won everything multiple times. It's not like he's playing for a place in the squad like others, or a place in the starting 11. Argentina's hopes rest with him and he knows it. If he gets injured and misses out while playing for Barca, then his whole country would be pissed, along with himself. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ronaldo taking it easy once he comes back from injury, or RVP, or Rooney, or like Aguero has been the last few games. They don't want to risk getting injured again and risk missing the world cup.
And this is the incredibly bad attitude of a sportsman if he feels he could hold a club at such ransom like that. I do appreciate who Messi is, and he has given so much for the club. But at the end of the day he is one of the best players in the world, the best paid player in the world and should be playing to a high standard when he can. I'm not saying this is definitely the case, because it could be completely burnout for all we know, but if the attitude is not to do anything on a pitch in these important games, then that is just ridiculous.
If this is not complete burnout, something which will become apparent in the next few months (a year at the max) then Messi has the power to do whatever he likes. Life is a relation of power. And Messi has a lot of it at the moment at least. Like I said, we will know what has happened with Messi this season pretty soon.
agree on all of that
If he's saving himself for the world cup he needs his arse kicked. Barcelona are paying his wages, hefty wages too.
He hasn't really cared all season. Even during his rehab he went back home to Argentina. This is a huge world cup for Argentina and Brasil. The players from both those squads are are guaranteed a spot (such as Messi) have no real remorse for this season. Its about staying fit for the World Cup. Messi has already won all of the things you've mentioned on more than one occasion and will most likely win them again in the coming years. The world cup is what eludes him, considering he only has about 2 more cracks at, he knows its time to deliver now more than ever - especially when you consider its in the land of their biggest footballing rivals.
Had a poor game. It's difficult with Messi, his standard is so ridiculous high that it is impossible for him to consistently perform. He didn't look arsed anyway, he's won it all before so motivation may become an issue.
Well, a large part of the reason the season's off is because he's been horrible for three straight matches! Win those three and the season's far from over.
Billy big bollox cnuts are saving themselves for the WC (karzey)
Yes really. That's a shitty attitude to have. Barcelona is paying his salary. Barcelona is the reason he's able to play football at all.
Not that I buy into it at all that he's prepping for the WC. Asinine thinking. No professional player worth his salt thinks like that.
Is he not motivated for different reasons? Perhaps. Lots of reasons why a player might feel disheartened for a match.
I think motivation could well be an issue. I certainly don't think it's implausible. We can debate money and professionalism all we like, but realistically people's standards and expectations can and do shift relative to their success. You can't help that. In fact it happens to most players. We've been spoiled under Fergie in that regard to expect it as almost a commandment.
He's won everything domestically and personally. His legacy is set in stone by 26. Madrid under Mourinho provided a spark of motivation to win the league back, now that's done he's playing under an underwhelming manager who looks like his fat uncle and looking mostly at the World Cup, his one final unachieved goal.
He's won everything domestically and personally. His legacy is set in stone by 26. Madrid under Mourinho provided a spark of motivation to win the league back, now that's done he's playing under an underwhelming manager who looks like his fat uncle and looking mostly at the World Cup, his one final unachieved goal.
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Regardless of who pays his salary, he's still the best in the world so he's in the position where he can do pretty much whatever he wants these next few weeks in the build up to the world cup. Some people underrate how important the world cup is. And for most people, country>club every day of the week, regardless of who pays his wages. I'm not saying it's completely because of that, he might not like having Martino as manager, the rest of the club being below par so he figures why should he give more then 100% and risk injuring himself, tiring himself out before the summer. I'd guarantee you that the world cup is the main thought on pretty much every footballers mind at the moment who is in with a chance of making it, apart from Liverpool players or Atletico and a few others. Those who have won it all before will definitely care more about the world cup. Like it or not, it's just the way it is.
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