And who will pay his price?
Lionel Messi
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And who will pay his price?
True story
i didn't talk about this as a point even once, because it doesn't really matter to me. League form is about being ruthless and constant, barcelona slipped up against a madrid that went out on penalties to bayern in the semi's and had a record haul of points, but was an extremely formidable team that given more favorable a situation, had a strong claim to each title. this barca had no chance to win the cl either this year or the last, won the league because of messi last season and can't score a goal for their life without messi, and has tactical flaws that mean they will always be exposed. i think until recently this year's barca was alright with tata, but that's probably because it looks good compared to the disastor that was tito's barcelona. you don't think getting beaten 7-0 over two legs isn't a conclusion over the state of the team? it was a definitive assessment and deduction of barcelona's extraordinary accumulation of flaws and lack of structure/identity.
yeah there is hope, but in reality, none for the league.
barca lost to chelsea but so did bayern. it was a fluke of history. barca would have won that game 95 times out of 100. they dominated and just lacked that bit of verve to carry them through. you talk about 'if' you drew granada, well 'if' messi scores that penalty it's game over and barca are favorites against bayern in the final.
it's like when de gea makes mistakes. these days, it almost never happens, but when it did (sunderland) we trust him, we forgive him, and we see him earning that trust. Messi deserves all the trust in the world, and to question his very character and intentions themself, i never see a long time fan doing that, just some bandwagoner that only understands glory.
i think what you say is fair, but also what you say doesn't reflect HOW you've been criticizing messi.
i think i can agree with most of that. i just think it's incredibly dickish of an attitude. mes que un club eh?
i don't think messi is the greatest ever even if he wins the cup, and the team he's in with argentina is just set up to fail at against the best, i doubt he will do much regardless but maradona is still the most capable and gifted player the games seen, achievements or not.
this goat for the cup sentiment is just a media storyline.
i criticize him all the time, and i think the best version of him was 2010-11 era. i just don't think you throw a player to the dogs when he's been struggling with injuries after virtually carrying barcelona to as much as they could last season as near single handedly as i've ever seen.
and that's what i feel like you're doing. throwing him to the dogs.
I think Messi's days as the "best player in the world" are numbered. I felt this way last season also. He'll still be a good player, but he won't be as good as he once was.
I think the best thing for Barca and for Messi is for both parties to part ways at some point in the near future. I am sure there are a couple clubs out there ready to pay the massive transfer fee. I think the Balon D' Or next time will be between Ronaldo and Suarez.
I think the best thing for Barca and for Messi is for both parties to part ways at some point in the near future. I am sure there are a couple clubs out there ready to pay the massive transfer fee. I think the Balon D' Or next time will be between Ronaldo and Suarez.
Say hi to the second best player in the world right now.
That's not the point I was making but yeah I definitely agree with you. It doesn't mean Ronaldo didn't have a good tournament though, au contraire I'd say.
I think you're doing a huge disservice to Ribery and Robben, who are terrifying to play against and a key part of why Bayern are as good as they are. Then you've got players like Neuer, who won't get the plaudits because he's a 'keeper, but he's the best goalkeeper in the world and another reason why they're at the point they're at.
Remember the injury problems he had last season. I am sure it has something to do with his performance this season. Yes, he's still amazing but it could also be the thing that will start slowing him down.
Ronaldinho better than Ronaldo in that tournament? Not for me. His game was obviously more limited then that it was pre-injury but two goals in the final, the only goal in the semi and a goal to kill off Belgium in the last 16 were vital contributions. They weren't as spectacular as Ronaldinho's goal v England but overall I'd say he exerted more influence in the knockout stages by those goals alone than anything Ronaldinho produced.
Wasn't that just a hamstring injury that kept getting aggravated from being rushed back? If he's fit now then you wouldn't think it'd be much of an issue physically (maybe mentally).
I agree Ronaldo especially with his two final goals was better, I more or less agreed on the Rivaldo part.
Balague claims we're interested in Messi. Ahem.
http://opinion.as.com/opinion/2014/04/21/portada/1398115326_972025.html
http://opinion.as.com/opinion/2014/04/21/portada/1398115326_972025.html
Our new winger.
He's so full of shit. But at the same time he's not wrong. Newcastle, Wigan and Stoke I'm sure are also interested in Messi
Balague!ffs
That's the last time I reveal my ITK sources to you lot.
I bet Ronaldo is coming home too. Both in the same team 
I'm sure he would love to come play under Moyes' fla.... No, wait, that nightmare is over now! Come play under Sir Giggsy!
Just noticed he only need 10 more goals to have scored the most goals in la liga. Record is held by Telmo Zarra (251) and Messi is currently standing on 241.
Fecking hell! Does your Cristiano Ronaldo do this?
Oh, someone has managed to turn it into a Messi vs ronaldo debate; these are fun and infrequent.
I think it is time to bring back the rule about not talking about Mess in Ronaldo thread and vice versa.
In comparison to a couple of years ago, definitely so. Frankly Vulgar vs Cal was a terrible thing to watch.
Looking at some older Messi dribbling videos and comparing his qualities back then to his recent years, I fear the Rooneyfication process of increased slowness, non-sprintingness and sluggishness has started.
40 goals in 43 games this year. In decline.
Barcelona are in a bit of a rut and need a revamp. They're going to spend massive money in the summer due to the transfer ban and will revamp large parts of the squad. I expect Messi to be back to his greatest of all time level shortly.
Barcelona are in a bit of a rut and need a revamp. They're going to spend massive money in the summer due to the transfer ban and will revamp large parts of the squad. I expect Messi to be back to his greatest of all time level shortly.
He did set his bar ridiculously high at a young age; it's no wonder people are seeing a goal a game as a decline now.
There is definitely something not right with him right now, be it he is simply suffering from burnout after so many years of consistently playing at this tempo, or that he isn't pushing hard as a protest to Tata Martino. Whatever it is, I'm not quite sure he will bring back that form we saw a year or two ago, but he is going to remain at the top for years to come.
There is definitely something not right with him right now, be it he is simply suffering from burnout after so many years of consistently playing at this tempo, or that he isn't pushing hard as a protest to Tata Martino. Whatever it is, I'm not quite sure he will bring back that form we saw a year or two ago, but he is going to remain at the top for years to come.
Waiting for world cup.
It's possible that those recurring muscle injuries he suffered in 2006 and 2007 took away some of his long-term physical abilities. Back in 2005-06 he was pure raw, electrifying talent that never stopped running. Maybe that was only youthful exuberance, but by comparison nowadays he looks burned out at times.
I remember some of his performances back then were unreal for an 18-year old, starting with a pre-season friendly against Capello's Juve, league games v Osasuna, Villarreal and Cádiz where he outshone everyone, the Ronaldinho standing ovation game at the Bernábeu he was excellent in as well, a CL group game v Udinese, that game at Stamford Bridge, etc.
Perhaps he's not on the juice anymore...
Amazing how Barca's pressing abilities declined so significantly over such short a period. They did look....supernatural, for a time. Bit suspicious that the court ordered the destruction of a load of evidence, mind you. This is one of my favourite football conspiracy theories
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Related to some of the cross-thread debate about Messi's passing, a nice moment from the game v Athletic Bilbao two weeks ago.
Touch, control, vision, weight, speed of execution... and Alexis Sánchez missing another sitter
Touch, control, vision, weight, speed of execution... and Alexis Sánchez missing another sitter
great post spoony,
please caftards, don't dare to defend messi, we don't want fanbois here
He wasn't bad or even sluggish against Man City recently mind you. I guess we'll know for sure by next season if he is really on a downward slope in terms of stamina and speed. I think he has to shed 2 or 3 kilos, in order to gain his former zip. That amount of extra weight can make a lot of difference. Especially in terms of stamina, acceleration and flexibility.
Hope he wins the world cup
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27442531
Signs a new contract at Barca. Not entirely unexpected, can't see him leaving Barca.
Signs a new contract at Barca. Not entirely unexpected, can't see him leaving Barca.
He still dribbles through ddefences regularly. Do people think he scored 40 tap ins?
The greatest playing, no question.
Does anyone think he has lost a bit of speed though in the last year maybe? Its like his usual injection of speed is slower
Does anyone think he has lost a bit of speed though in the last year maybe? Its like his usual injection of speed is slower
Queue a new Ronaldo contract. Shows that even the best in the game, no matter how innocent or loyal, are as much after money as everyone else.
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