He might look a bit stupid then if once again Argentina fail to make any impact on the WC!
Lionel Messi
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He might look a bit stupid then if once again Argentina fail to make any impact on the WC!
He's a midget Argie playing football? Already thinking about cashing out? FFS man, he deserves better.
A true footballer will stay faithful to his country and his club. Your club is usually your home away from home and there's no excuse for not playing to your full ability every time you're on that field.
If you replace the word "true" with the word "average" you're probably right.
True.
It's desperate folks finding an excuse for his poor performance. Just a poor season for one of the best ever players to have played the game. He'll be back better next season.
Nah.. it is clear that his intensity is not the same as previous seasons. He should more fire last season even when he was playing through injury.
I said it long back he does not want to get injured before the WC.
I said it long back he does not want to get injured before the WC.
That's the risk he has to take isn't it? I'm surprised most people aren't appreciating just how big the world cup is to most people, especially the players. It's still by far the biggest prize there is, and Messi is at his prime right now, and has a chance to win it. Who knows what could happen 4 years from now, it's the one thing he has left to prove himself in and you can be sure he's saving himself for it and will give his all when the time comes.
That's just bullshit. For very few people is it country over club. I couldn't name a single player who would think like that. International games are bonus games. Players don't clock out because they're thinking about 3-6 games 2-3 months from now. That's a ridiculous notion.
What you're basically saying is that Messi is lazy, selfish and unprofessional. Screw the millions of Barcelona fans all around the world. Screw the people who pay me my money. Screw integrity and honor.
I don't buy it. My guess is that he's just out of form. Maybe he's got some confidence issues. Maybe he's a bit tired. I'd imagine he's a bit tired. Has he stop giving a feck? No he hasn't. It's his style. He barely runs when he doesn't have the ball. He covers less that 90m per minute. Xavi is over 130m and Iniesta is at about 120. He covers at least 2-3km less than the average player in the CL. Now, take his good form away and what are you left with. A player that looks like he's just jogging for 90 minutes, occasionally trying a through pass or dribbles past a player.
Yes he is a midget, and yes he is an Argie, but he can sure as hell hold Barcelona or any other club ransom for the time at least. Like I said in my previous posts, there can broadly be only two explanations for Messi's performances this season:
a) He is saving himself for the World Cup. That includes, not risking injury at all, either in matches or in training, and much more crucially, holding back his training regime so that he can pick right on time for the World Cup.
b) The above explanation is BS. Messi has burnt out a la Kaka from an early age, and he will never be nearly as good as he has been for the past 6-8 years or so. If that is the case, then Barcelona's interests as a football club will be better served by selling now for an astronomical price that would allow the complete and total rebuilding of the team with genuine world class talent in every single position.
Can Barcelina fine a player for not giving a feck?
Messi is not like other players dude.
He is supposed to be the heir of Maradonna. And what is Maradona most famous for? He is most famous for leading Argentina, as its number "10" to a World Cup victory. Has Messi achieved everything at club level? Yes. Has he achieved anything great with Argentina at international level? Nope. Will he get the chance to win the CL/Liga/Copa again? Yes, several times. Will he have another good chance to shine in a World Cup? Not really, he will be 30 to 31 by the next world cup in Russia. So this world cup is one in a lifetime chance for Messi to get the biggest monkey (the only monkey) off his back.
The motive for him to be completely indifferent during this club season is definitely there.
Messi has never come across as that sort of person though, who is motivated to be better than others and to walk the same path as Maradona. He always seemed to play for the badge on the front of his jersey, so for him to play poorly for Barca for selfish reasons seems improbable. I think its likely he doesn't get on with Tata, and the tactics are frustrating him, but I don't think he is the kind of character to put the club second. I don't think he will run out of the ability to play at this level by 30/31 either, he isn't a player who relies as much on physical ability.
He doesn't strike me as a person who would intentionally not play to the fullest of his ability. Football is in his blood and it's an automatic reaction to go all out whenever he plays.
There have been various reports the past year or so portraying Messi to be quite the petulant and selfish arsehole. I've no idea how true these stories are, but Messi is literally so good that any club he plays for would have to jump through hoops for him. If Messi is under-performing because he has an eye on the world cup there's not much Barcelona can do, is there?
We will soon find out I feel.
The tactics and not getting along with the manager are the poorest of excuses for performances like that from Messi. The only good excuse I can think of is that he is saving himself for the World Cup. If that is not the case, and this is his current level more or less, then Barcelona should start looking for the bigger and better deal.
It's not ridiculous at all, the world cup comes around once every 4 years and most players won't ever win it. For a player who's dominated football for the last 7 years, there's 1 thing he hasn't done. And that is perform at the world cup. Listen to what former players say on it. The world cup is the biggest prize, it's everybody's dream. Winning the league/champions league doesn't come close. Maybe certain countries are different, depending on how likely they are to win it, or if they have no chance then it won't be as big of a deal. But for Brazillians, argentinians, germans, spaniards, you can be sure its the biggest thing there is.
And I'm not saying that at all. He's almost scored 40 goals this season. Shite by his standards, yes, but still pretty fecking good. He's been injured for a few months and now that he's back, he doesn't want to get injured again and risk missing the world cup. Why risk himself for a manager he probably doesn't even like too much and who probably won't be around another month or 2 from now?
I don't watch as much Barca as you obviously, but I have noticed that messi has been shunted out wide a bit as of late. Today he spent quite a bit of time in the game on the right wing and playing long passes.
It doesn't change much, he looked disinterested and didn't make himself open to receive passes. He only really moves when he has made the pass and is trying to force a play but other than that, he stood around or played balls into the box. I've never seen Barca play as many crosses as they did today.
Absolutely. They can't do shit!
And yes, there have been several reports of him being petulant and selfish in the past few years or so. He is careful not to show that in public though. In my opinion, he has completely stopped trying in training this season. That is the only impression I get of him whenever I have seen him play this season for us. Especially the past few months. He literally couldn't be arsed.
All unnecessary because Brazil will win anyways.
I'm 100% sure he's saving himself for the world cup. Almost all players do it, especially those who are key players for a country with a chance to win it. Nobody wants to miss their chance to play in the world cup, even if it comes at the expense of a few club trophies that they've won loads of times before. Messi by a normal players standards has still had a ridiculous season. It's just by his standards, because he was out injured, he's seen as having a shite season, and Barca being below par overall, and now the world cup coming up doesn't help. 38 goals in 41 appearances this season, loads of assists as well. Only these last few weeks has he started walking around a lot more and not trying as hard, because we're nearing the world cup.
It's not the manager. Messi would never risk an injury at this stage, even if Barcelona were managed by his mum...
I thought Messi had a strong relationship with Tata prior to his appointment?
Regardless, I'm saying that's just adding on to the reason. If for whatever reason the world cup starting soon, arguably the biggest month of Messi's footballing career so far, if that isn't enough of a reason to be cautious then you can also look at just the rest of the team not performing at their best, making him seem worse, and the morale likely being low, manager being under pressure and will probably get sacked soon. I agree though, if Messi's family, Pep, Fergie, whoever was in charge right now, Messi would still not be giving 100%. There's simply no way he would risk getting injured for the world cup or risk playing through it with an injury, or risk burning out. Just like a player wouldn't give 100% 3 days before a champions league semi final. Priorities.
Also, the reason I highly doubt it's just poor form is because look at him the last 7 years or so. He's hardly had a run of poor form during that time, been consistently brilliant, scoring loads, assisting, and just being Messi, leading to talks of him being the best ever. No way did he suddenly hit a bad patch of form at the end of a season before a world cup, or that he's just not as good as he was (that's just ridiculous IMO).
I agree with you here 100%.
Barcelona have won many leagues the past few years. The Copa is no biggie. Another CL would be great for this group of players as an icing on the cake for their overall achievements, and that can achieved in the following years.
For Messi in particular, there is only one thing that really hurts him. He has never won the World Cup, hell, he has not even scored in one yet. He feels that he must definitely shine in the one coming up. It will probably be his last as the "best player on the planet"
Ask most footballers if they could win a single trophy in life which one it would be and I am certain a good majority will say it is the WC. WC is the holy grail for most pro footballers out there, especially for someone like Messi who has won every single thing he could with Barca. Look at his game, he barely tries to dribble past 3-4 players as he did before. If he was trying that and not being able to pull it off, it would be down to bad form. He just had an injury lay off after a long time and I doubt he wants to risk going injured into the WC.
Monkey off his back? Like he cares about that at all. He's been voted the BPIT numerous times. He's won a lot more trophies, scored a lot more goals and that's all without doing drugs or cheating his way to a trophy.
Doesn't matter what he'll do with the rest of his career. He won't exceed Maradona in religious status. Argentinian league is down the crapper from the days of Maradona. WC is completely different. CL is a bigger trophy to win. The WC is bigger in name only.
He's been back from his injury longer than he was injured. He's more tired if anything because he's played more than any other footballer in the world for past 5 years. That takes it toll.
Holy grail? Sure. Perhaps. It's not like it once was though. They have to win Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria. The road to the semis isn't exactly paved with top teams.
What's the risk exactly? So long as he avoids strains he'll be fine. You think he's just walking around every day in training? If he get's kicked hard he'll be kicked no matter how much he's trying.
You probably don't think he cares, but you can be sure that he does. For somebody like him, won everything, apart from that one thing. The one thing he hasn't performed at. The one competition that matters more to anyone. Maybe in your opinion the champions league is bigger. You'd be in the minority though. Most people if you ask them they'd say World cup every time. He's won the champions league 3 times and he'll have many more chances to win it again. World cup it's either this time, or potentially 4 years from now when he'll be declining. It's almost the case of now or never.
If he's playing for the World cup, he's a little shit.
It is obvious the more you try to take on players and dribble past them, the more likely you are to getting caught and injured.
I am also not sure if you truly believe that Messi would have rather won any trophy with Barca this season than the WC with Argies. Quality of opposition is irrelevant to the glory WC brings. The only reason people think WC is not as important for players as before is due to the CL hype in Europe. But I don't think that is true for players or even for fans outside England. Most Italians and Germans I knew wanted to win the WC with their NT than anything with their club.
Even a small in intensity matters a lot in football.
I think a lot of people are transferring their own feelings about the WC onto the players.
people said similar stuff about torres in 09/10 and that he was only thinking about the world cup. Even though the club pays them, I guess they see the world cup as something you don't get to experience much and only focus on it. Tbf if I played for a team that had a good chance in it and I knew I could go down as the best ever if I won it, I would be pretty focused on it too.
WC has the most prestige than any trophy in world of football. It is simple as that really.
Wherever his mind is, he's not physically right at the moment.
The press drew attention a couple of months ago to several incidents when he'd thrown up on the pitch. Messi said it was nothing to worry about - it happens in training and at home as well. Tata's comments were basically that it didn't seem normal to him but that Messi had seen doctors about it.
He stopped working with the Barca fitness coach (who Guardiola had appointed as his personal trainer) last summer. According to one of the football gossip shows, one of the Argentine team physios is now staying at Messi's house looking after him.
Anyway, here's Ronaldo after the match commiserating with Messi.
Ronaldo: "Shame you didn't get a game either."
The press drew attention a couple of months ago to several incidents when he'd thrown up on the pitch. Messi said it was nothing to worry about - it happens in training and at home as well. Tata's comments were basically that it didn't seem normal to him but that Messi had seen doctors about it.
He stopped working with the Barca fitness coach (who Guardiola had appointed as his personal trainer) last summer. According to one of the football gossip shows, one of the Argentine team physios is now staying at Messi's house looking after him.
Anyway, here's Ronaldo after the match commiserating with Messi.
Ronaldo: "Shame you didn't get a game either."
It's all of the above.
- he is saving himself for the World Cup, especially given the entire teams fairly lackluster performance which has them struggling to pick up any silverware, why bust a gut?
- he is not at his best, hasn't been since his injury problems at the end of last year.
- he is not happy that Neymar is now a second focal point in the time, and nor should he be, that never works, was never going to work. Martini drops Iniesta to ensure Neymar can get a game, it's messed up at that club right now.
- he and other players are distracted by the off the field problems of Barcelona, naturally, with a new boss unable to even provide continuity.
I am by no means sure he can just up and lift his performances for Argentina either. It could be another disappointment on the international stage for him.
- he is saving himself for the World Cup, especially given the entire teams fairly lackluster performance which has them struggling to pick up any silverware, why bust a gut?
- he is not at his best, hasn't been since his injury problems at the end of last year.
- he is not happy that Neymar is now a second focal point in the time, and nor should he be, that never works, was never going to work. Martini drops Iniesta to ensure Neymar can get a game, it's messed up at that club right now.
- he and other players are distracted by the off the field problems of Barcelona, naturally, with a new boss unable to even provide continuity.
I am by no means sure he can just up and lift his performances for Argentina either. It could be another disappointment on the international stage for him.
Wherever his mind is, he's not physically right at the moment.
The press drew attention a couple of months ago to several incidents when he'd thrown up on the pitch. Messi said it was nothing to worry about - it happens in training and at home as well. Tata's comments were basically that it didn't seem normal to him but that Messi had seen doctors about it.
He stopped working with the Barca fitness coach (who Guardiola had appointed as his personal trainer) last summer. According to one of the football gossip shows, one of the Argentine team physios is now staying at Messi's house looking after him.
Anyway, here's Ronaldo after the match commiserating with Messi.
Ronaldo: "Shame you didn't get a game either."
Well I understand from Messi's point of view why he is saving himself, I just feel it won't make a difference anyway, Argentina as a team is nowhere as good. And Messi also the n shouldn't be on the pitch at all if he is thinking like that, because even though he is basically doing nothing by just being there, he could still get injured. Last point as the WC game in 2010 against Germany already showed Messi on his own turning up won't matter at all (he wasn't bad after all against Germany either, but all his other teammates somehow were, and having Maradona didn't help of course).
The whole idea that he is saving himself for the World Cup is based on the false premise that coasting along in third gear is going to help him come the summer. Whereas in reality he needs to be going hell for leather right now to get into the optimum physical, mental and technical condition for Brazil. Form, fitness, sharpness and rhythm aren't just going to magically appear when the Argentine plane touches down in Brazil.
Actually he scored on his WC debut... as a sub v Serbia & Montenegro as they still were back then... but I take your point about its importance to him
All this football is proving too much for him. If he wants a year away from European football then there is this one club...
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