Lionel Messi

[LucasXXII]

I’m all for Messi coming to City on a huge salary.

First, it will drain their FFP limited budget and prevent them to from getting quality reinforcements.

Second, Tuesday rainy night at Stoke actually may come true. He is 33 y.o. who played the whole career in La Liga. EPL will be tough.

Third, he will bring his legendary status with him and will try to use it to get his share of power at City. Healthy atmosphere and team cohesion guaranteed.

Messi is aesthetically the best player ever. His efficiency as a great player and a team member is questionable though. His success in terms of trophies always relied on players around him: Xavi, Iniesta, Suarez, etc.

Personally I think it's less about Tuesday rainy night but more that he runs at least 3-4 km less than his teammates every match.

City could easily walk the league with every team parking the bus and Messi being a league specialist, but more intense pressing is required in the latter stages of UCL, and that's where he places a significant burden on his teammates to make up for his lack of distance covered.

Not to mention Messi would be heavily marked when playing against top oppositions, and has often been successfully nullified in recent seasons. If normally everything goes through Messi, the team would have a hard time adopting to the opposite.

 

[romufc]

Thing is even if Messi and the gang got their wish what is a new president going to be able to do?

1. They have a massive wage bill, some pretty undesirable players on big contracts who aren't going anywhere. How is a new President going to make these players desirable to other clubs?
2. Who exactly are they going to sign, player wise who will come in and make a big difference straight away? They've tried throwing money around and its been a massive failure, if we can't find players to elevate us who are available, how are Barca going to without spending lots of cash they don't have?
3. Where is the money going to come from for that?
4. Who will they bring in as manager to oversee all of this who they can't attract currently. Are Klopp/Pep going to suddenly say, you know what I like the new guy and his magic wand I'll ditch my current job and hotfoot it over to the absolute shambles that is current Barca?
5. How long is this going to take to realistically turn the ship around? Will it be done before Messi is properly washed up in a couple of seasons?

It may be a gambit on his part to squeeze out Bartomeu. But, if you're looking at it properly, it would actually make sense for him to leave. I think he might actually be serious this time.

I agree that the problems are further than the current president.

They have already signed Pjanice, again you wonder what they were thinking signing ageing players.

The new president may bring funding from somewhere, who knows?

We all know the new president wants Xavi as the new manager.

All I am saying is, do not be surprised if a change at the top will mean Messi stays.

 

[Mickeza]

You’re a mad man.

I reckon that could be worth a poll. I’m convinced most would side with me...I’d happily swap Jesse Messi for the real thing though.

 

[Scorpy]

I reckon that could be worth a poll. I’m convinced most would side with me...I’d happily swap Jesse Messi for the real thing though.

I certainly would.

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

Personally I think it's less about Tuesday rainy night but more that he runs at least 3-4 km less than his teammates every match.

This is what I meant by Tuesday rainy night. EPL is full of tactically disciplined and hard working teams who would make Leo’s life miserable. Especially in rainy winters

 

[Dirty Schwein]

Putting two ageing superstars in the same team would inevitably be a disappointment, a bit like The Irishman

Or like wrestlemania where oldies like Goldberg rule.

 

[glazed]

Don't mind him making that noise provided he actually still signs Sancho before the window closes

Well that's the point. He might not.

 

[Squeaky Bumtime]

This is what I meant by Tuesday rainy night. EPL is full of tactically disciplined and hard working teams who would make Leo’s life miserable. Especially in rainy winters

Yeah he has beaten ton of teams all over Europe but he'd have problem with Bournemouth and West Brom I guess.

 

[Borys]

Signing him would be a decent consolation after Sancho fiasko.

 

[RepardReece]

This is what I meant by Tuesday rainy night. EPL is full of tactically disciplined and hard working teams who would make Leo’s life miserable. Especially in rainy winters

Yet he has one of the best scoring records against the top 6 in the prem and this is all whilst being a La Liga player. Honestly think it's ridiculous you'd think he would struggle.

 

[BluesJr]

Feck them, this is not our level, wishing other clubs stopping Looserpool, a club in the size and heritage of Manchester United should be the club that stop the dippers.

Yeah that’s great but we clearly don’t have the owners that allow that to be possible so for now we have to resort to hoping Man City do it. Pathetic.

 

[Kasper]

Jesus, some United fans "all for Messi coming to City" because of "huge wages", "team chemistry issues" or "lack of working off the ball effort"?

You guys are lunatics if you think there`s any positive spin to him joining them. It`s freaking Lionel Messi, even at 33 years, with Pep as his coach he`ll rip teams apart left and right. City dont give a shit about wages, they`ll pay him through some backdoor contracts.

 

[glazed]

Messi is a great player, one of the greatest ever but his best days are behind him. Seriously hope we don't sign him or even attempt to sign him.
I believe his likely destination is Serie A, Juve or Inter.

Italian football is becoming like seniors tennis tournament

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

Yeah he has beaten ton of teams all over Europe but he'd have problem with Bournemouth and West Brom I guess.

I never doubted his ability 1) as an attacking threat, and 2) when he was younger. But he 1) useless in pressing and 2) is 33 now.

EPL is a very competitive league where nobody can afford a pure creator like Messi at the cost of losing a worker. Oezil and Mata becoming first and most notable victims of mid-2010s pressing revolution.

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

Jesus, some United fans "all for Messi coming to City" because of "huge wages", "team chemistry issues" or "lack of working off the ball effort"?

You guys are lunatics if you think there`s any positive spin to him joining them. It`s freaking Lionel Messi, even at 33 years, with Pep as his coach he`ll rip teams apart left and right. City dont give a shit about wages, they`ll pay him through some backdoor contracts.

No, I am not a lunatic. I just have an opinion. It’s no “us”, it’s only me who support such an extravagant idea, as far as I know.

So, you can talk to me, mate

 

[Jinn]

Argentines generally don't perform well for UTD. He won't do well here. Feck him anyway. Bring Ronnie back.

 

[RedNed77]

I agree that the problems are further than the current president.

They have already signed Pjanice, again you wonder what they were thinking signing ageing players.

The new president may bring funding from somewhere, who knows?

We all know the new president wants Xavi as the new manager.

All I am saying is, do not be surprised if a change at the top will mean Messi stays.

This bit I do agree with. Messi does seem to love the club and for some reason I don't see him as the sharpest knife in the drawer.

The money is still going to be an issue though. With the whole "mes que un club" technically being fan owned, I don't see where they can get the extra cash from unless some megarich superfan just decides to give them some cash. They can't sell a share as far as I'm aware, and naming rights for the Camp Nou is a non starter.

 

[Alemar]

It`s freaking Lionel Messi, even at 33 years, with Pep as his coach he`ll rip teams apart left and right.

He will rip teams apart even with Ole, not just with Pep. Yes, City are a better team than us, but if Messi joins Man Utd, then our starting XI will be on par.

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

Yet he has one of the best scoring records against the top 6 in the prem and this is all whilst being a La Liga player. Honestly think it's ridiculous you'd think he would struggle.

Again, his all time record has nothing to do with what is happening now or in the future.

 

[kouroux]

I never doubted his ability 1) as an attacking threat, and 2) when he was younger. But he 1) useless in pressing and 2) is 33 now.

EPL is a very competitive league where nobody can afford a pure creator like Messi at the cost of losing a worker. Oezil and Mata becoming first and most notable victims of mid-2010s pressing revolution.

His attacking output far exceeds them, it could be worth the risk for many teams. Besides that's not why Mata doesn't start anymore, not because he cannot press

 

[LucasXXII]

This is what I meant by Tuesday rainy night. EPL is full of tactically disciplined and hard working teams who would make Leo’s life miserable. Especially in rainy winters

Hard-working (and hard-tackling) yeah, but I don't see how EPL teams are more tactically disciplined relative to other leagues, with all the big money transfers and the relatively disappointing results in Europe.

I think it's probably in the UCL again that Messi and City would run into trouble. I do expect City to win the league if Messi joins them though.

 

[romufc]

This bit I do agree with. Messi does seem to love the club and for some reason I don't see him as the sharpest knife in the drawer.

The money is still going to be an issue though. With the whole "me que un club" technically being fan owned, I don't see where they can get the extra cash from unless some megarich superfan just decides to give them some cash. They can't sell a share as far as I'm aware, and naming rights for the Camp Nou is a non starter.

I am not a specialist in regards to Barca and how they are operated.

They did find £140m for Dembele, £140m for Coutinho, £60m for De Jong, £100m for Griezman all within the last 3 years so you can see they just find money from somewhere whilst paying Messi the wages he gets.

I dont know how they do it but just like United, they have spent the money recklessly. Which is why both clubs find themselves in this position.

 

[cyberman]

Hard-working (and hard-tackling) yeah, but I don't see how EPL teams are more tactically disciplined relative to other leagues, with all the big money transfers and the relatively disappointing results in Europe.

I think it's probably in the UCL again that Messi and City would run into trouble. I do expect City to win the league if Messi joins them though.

Fans said the same about Pep tactics. He admited he had to adjst his play, that everybody said was perfect and would wreck English football, to be successful.
And 4 years later he is struggling against pressure and fast breaks yet again.
English football is unique in how ruthless they are when a weakness is there to be exploited.

 

[TheGame]

City need a striker and he will fit right in. Can’t see him going anywhere but City.

 

[Mickeza]

Hard-working (and hard-tackling) yeah, but I don't see how EPL teams are more tactically disciplined relative to other leagues, with all the big money transfers and the relatively disappointing results in Europe.

I think it's probably in the UCL again that Messi and City would run into trouble. I do expect City to win the league if Messi joins them though.

They’re favourites for the league anyway without him though. I think this is the point some are alluding to. Messi will get fantastic individual stats but that would undoubtedly be at the expense of others and will he improve them that much as a team? With him they have all the weaknesses they currently have, and actually they’re probably amplified because defensively he doesn’t run which that City side hasn’t been built for. They all work exceptionally hard off the ball to allow their high line. And at the highest level such as the CL unbalanced sides carrying passengers will be exploited.

And If you’re KDB who has done far more for City than Messi wouldn’t you be slightly peeved to be earning 3 times less than him? Like I’ve said if you’re City and you have a chance to sign him you do it but let’s not pretend there aren’t big potential negatives to it.

 

[davidmichael]

Why would someone like Messi need this? You don't think he's up for a challenge?

Not the kind of challenge that it’d take coming to the Premier League at 33 years old with a new team and team mates regardless of having played under Pep, I love Messi and always have done but this is Messi at 33 not 23 or even 28

Because he is Lionel messi and he more than likely believes in his ability. What is the only argument anyone ever has for Ronaldo being better than him? He’s only played for Barca. Hasn’t proved himself elsewhere. Can he do it on a Tuesday night in stoke?

He may want to put the greatest debate to bed once and for all.. what better way to do that than dominate the premier league? The best league in world football... it’s just a thought but if anyone football can do it, it’s messi.

Of course if anyone can it’s Messi but he won’t have an entire club built around his genius like at Barca, of course he believes in his ability and he’s the greatest player of all time BUT why come to the hardest league in football at 33 ? As for City they’ve already got an ageing team with players needing to be replaced all over already and holes in their defejve

Maybe that is exactly the reason for him to move here: to challenge himself. Not to have a free ride, but to get challenged to the highest extent possible in club football

As I’ve stated I’m a HUGE fan of Messi and believe him to be the best of all time but I just don’t see him challenging himself like that at 33, uprooting his young family and starting all over again.

I’d have loved to have seen a pre 30 Messi in the Premier League and even at 33 he’s still probably the best player in the world but he’s in the wind down part of his career, I think it’s a power struggle between Messi and the president and I can see the president getting paid off for his final 7 months to leave and Messi winning the power struggle.

 

[bondsname]

Messi to join City and Ronaldo back to United? Now that would be something!

 

[ForeverRed1]

Not the kind of challenge that it’d take coming to the Premier League at 33 years old with a new team and team mates regardless of having played under Pep, I love Messi and always have done but this is Messi at 33 not 23 or even 28



Of course if anyone can it’s Messi but he won’t have an entire club built around his genius like at Barca, of course he believes in his ability and he’s the greatest player of all time BUT why come to the hardest league in football at 33 ? As for City they’ve already got an ageing team with players needing to be replaced all over already and holes in their defejve



As I’ve stated I’m a HUGE fan of Messi and believe him to be the best of all time but I just don’t see him challenging himself like that at 33, uprooting his young family and starting all over again.

I’d have loved to have seen a pre 30 Messi in the Premier League and even at 33 he’s still probably the best player in the world but he’s in the wind down part of his career, I think it’s a power struggle between Messi and the president and I can see the president getting paid off for his final 7 months to leave and Messi winning the power struggle.

do you really think messi will sit at home at night thinking Man City will be too hard for him? ‘Maybe I should go psg because it’s easier’ he won’t. It will come down to many factors.. but that won’t be one of them.

 

[soralapio]

Jesus, some United fans "all for Messi coming to City" because of "huge wages", "team chemistry issues" or "lack of working off the ball effort"?

You guys are lunatics if you think there`s any positive spin to him joining them. It`s freaking Lionel Messi, even at 33 years, with Pep as his coach he`ll rip teams apart left and right. City dont give a shit about wages, they`ll pay him through some backdoor contracts.

Yeah, just do the Neymar. Give him a FFP compliant base salary, then hire him on to be the Qatari Football Ambassador for £1m a week tax free or something, duties include "being photographed with the Qatari prince once a year".

 

[B20]

And If you’re KDB who has done far more for City than Messi wouldn’t you be slightly peeved to be earning 3 times less than him? Like I’ve said if you’re City and you have a chance to sign him you do it but let’s not pretend there aren’t big potential negatives to it.

Not really. I think everyone knows that there are different rules when it comes to the GOAT. If I am KDB I'd be far more pumped about the possibility of playing with Lionel Messi than how much more he'd earn than me. There is not a player around who could be miffed about wage disparity with Messi without succumbing to massive delusions about your own ability.

 

[B20]

do you really think messi will sit at home at night thinking Man City will be too hard for him? ‘Maybe I should go psg because it’s easier’ he won’t. It will come down to many factors.. but that won’t be one of them.

A quick glance at his record against English teams should inspire confidence if for some reason he's missing it.

He might have a few periods of difficulty, but not enough to stop him from tearing it up wherever he goes.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

I reckon that could be worth a poll. I’m convinced most would side with me...I’d happily swap Jesse Messi for the real thing though.

You’re probably right. The caf is obsessed with our academy players. I remember a few years back someone saying the same about Januzaj over Ronaldo.

Greenwood looks really good, but we don’t know how good he will become, he might let fame get to him & end up in the championship in a few years, we just don’t know. Messi is the greatest player of this century, I’d swap anyone for him.

 

[Beachryan]

If he goes to City we should try to sign Foden.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

A quick glance at his record against English teams should inspire confidence if for some reason he's missing it.

He might have a few periods of difficulty, but not enough to stop him from tearing it up wherever he goes.

Urgh they could go from transfer ban to signings Messi. Ridiculous

Messi will be great against English teams subject to settling down and team dynamics as he always is. Hence hope he doesn't come to England

 

[RepardReece]

Spoiler: Messi Stats

33 Games, 46 G + A's. Just the sub-par season for Messi then according to a bunch of you. Imagine Barca's output without him.

 

[Mickeza]

Not really. I think everyone knows that there are different rules when it comes to the GOAT. If I am KDB I'd be far more pumped about the possibility of playing with Lionel Messi than how much more he'd earn than me. There is not a player around who could be miffed about wage disparity with Messi without succumbing to massive delusions about your own ability.

Footballers all have huge egos. KDB is one of the best footballers on the planet and I seriously doubt he thinks current Messi is three times the player he is. His salary at Barcelona is in no small part due to what he’s done for Barcelona in the past. He’s done nothing for City. KDB has done quite a lot.

You may be right though. It’s interesting how the basic fundamentals don’t apply to Messi. Nobody is bigger than the club. Team over individual. Everyone has to work hard regardless of talent. We’re all in this together. Messi defies all these things because of how good he is. How much does he have to wane before you can’t look the other way anymore though? His stats are still unreal so not yet is the answer I guess. I just think it may be different expecting that same treatment as an outsider at another club. If he does join City it’ll be fascinating to watch at least.

 

[Real Madras]

Barca are going to be the Southampton of La Liga under Koeman.

 

[Cloud7]

PSG shirts really arent that common. There seems to be a lot of resistence to the oil clubs thank feck.

Maybe not where you are, but there are a lot of PSG and City shirts in my country these days, when a decade ago that would have been unthinkable. It’s especially common among kids I’ve noticed.

 

[Offsideagain]

He won’t leave Barca, another ploy in my view. If he does, it won’t be City or the Guardiola link as he only has a year left on his contract and usually buggers off when it’s up. Reports say Messi wants the CL so that rules City out even with Guardiola. Not even reach a semi in four years with him. They would have to shuffle their team too much to accommodate Messi. It would be a short term move too. United are just daft enough to sign him for ridiculous wages and watch him fade over two seasons.

At least Sancho is out of the headlines for a day or two.

 

[sammsky1]

What position would he play under OGS ... Doesn't solve our right wing problem does he?
If he went in at false 9, what do we do with Bruno?
Im assuming if we signed him, we wouldn't also get Sancho.