Do they? I tried to inform myself about the likelihood of Messi's party being right and every source I found sounded like they seem to be. La Liga and UEFA apparently are on Messi's side.
Lionel Messi
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
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Do they? I tried to inform myself about the likelihood of Messi's party being right and every source I found sounded like they seem to be. La Liga and UEFA apparently are on Messi's side.
this is the best deepfake ever haha.
When you see this and you know it's a Bengali man going crazy in his house!
That B**** Bartlomeu
Playmaker? He’s not really known for his extensive passing range. The number of players that actually play until 39/40 at the top level is minuscule. Messi has been the best player of a generation by far but that doesn’t mean that he’s superhuman and can just keep playing through the aging process.
2 -3 years tops.
I think he's not afraid of the Premier League anymore, knowing he won't have to prove his worth on a cold Tuesday away to Stoke City now.
Aguero's taken the number 10 off his Instagram handle.
What about on a slippy day at Anfield though?
He's already the chief playmaker at Barca. Everything goes through him. He's an incredible passer and has great vision. I'm sure he can tweak that part of the game and transition deeper into midfield.
We are arguably talking about the most talented player in the last 15 years.
For City, this will be the culmination of the validation of their project. Signing arguably the greatest ever player against his club's wishes.
His current role is completely different to what you’re suggesting he transitions to though? Bruno Fernandez is a great playmaker but if you put him in the position that Matic takes up on the pitch, that creative effect is going to drop to the point where you’re better off buying a specialist in that role.
You think that being the chief playmaker in the free role that he’s afforded in the final third of the pitch is the same as having him deep?
Kind of tough to put in words but he can keep playing in the same position but reduce the frequency of forwards surges into the box and instead hang deeper or around the box when City are dominating. Will conserve a lot of energy and physicality is not of prime importance. Very similar to the role David Silva played at City in the last few years.
Edit : He already has the array of passing abilities, will just need to put them to more use.
I used to think that too, but his work rate is very low right now. He would have to change his game completely, and midfielders right now are becoming way more about hard running and pressing rather than being creative, that's left down to the front 3 more often.
We all know Messi is insane on the ball but only the most complete teams can carry his defensive output IMO. It just doesn't make sense to give him £1m a week for a player of his age.
He's not?
Especially love the volley switches of play.
That being said he's obviously not going to drop into midfield at any point in time. He's going to play the role he currently plays until he retires. It's not as if he relies much on his acceleration anyway these days. I'd also say he's got 3-4 more years in him at the top level.
So he’s signing for City?
Marvellous.
Marvellous.
He is 100% not a bad signing.
Im just not shitting myself as much as I would’ve 3 years ago. He’s still great and puts City that much closer to winning the CL.
I still think he'll end up staying, but if he leaves I can't imagine him going anywhere else but City. Massively sad and depressing example of what footballs become.
The people on here excited to see him play for City are a weird and odd bunch. The only positive is he'll stop Liverpool winning the league, but its a very bleak turn of events.
The people on here excited to see him play for City are a weird and odd bunch. The only positive is he'll stop Liverpool winning the league, but its a very bleak turn of events.
Fantastic signing off the pitch as much as on it.
They'll have ridiculous appeal to future signings too. A chance to go to the club that Messi plays for.
And finally fill their stadium in every home match.
I'll be very jealous if he goes there, but equally very intrigued to see him in the PL.
How sickening that Man City will be must-see
They'll have ridiculous appeal to future signings too. A chance to go to the club that Messi plays for.
And finally fill their stadium in every home match.
I'll be very jealous if he goes there, but equally very intrigued to see him in the PL.
How sickening that Man City will be must-see
Absolutely.
Its really frustrating that great players like Aguero and Silva have basically dedicated their careers to City, with a weird amount of loyalty throughout. Messi going there would be that frustration amplified by a million.
And proof, if they needed it, that forward thinking all those years ago with Txiki, Sorriano and Pep has been vindicated. You don't do business like signing Pep and Messi without having structure and direction.
Fair enough.
I feel there is no chance he can ever play as a 6/8 but with a mindset change, he can a very lengthy career at his current role(RW/CAM). Pep is a great coach to slowly enable his transition but let's see how it goes.
Serious question. Why is his name spelt Lionel, but his instagram is Leo Messi? Have I missed something the last 15 odd years?
It's been like that for a decade now, and I doubt you'd have that much of a problem with it if United was still a giant on the field with SAF in charge. The football world is always evolving but City being at the top is not something new and is not something that'll go away anytime soon. The only thing other teams can do is trying to catch up instead of dwelling in self-pity that "everything was better back in the good old days".
For what it's worth I don't understand it either that anyone can view it as a positive thing that he's joining City though. It's best for both Utd and Liverpool that Messi stays out of the PL.
And unlimited resources.
Money, that's the only reason. Structure and direction indeed.
You can't have watched much of Messi in the last 5 years
And 30-40 years down the line, people will still talk about how the GOAT played for Manchester City especially if its a successful spell. uughhh.
You could already say with a near certainty that it will be. It's a club that won everything there is to win in the last 3 years apart from the Champions League and they're adding the best player ever to their team.
Depends on what you'd call successful though, if he never wins the CL at City then you could say he only established the status quo even further but couldn't lift them to a higher level.
Yet David Silva is now too old to play for a top side in the premier league, and is just two years older than Messi.
I would be extremely disappointed if we spent a huge amount of money on Messi only to have nothing in two years time, when we could have spent that on younger players to build for the future. It might be alright for a club like City whose owners would just put in a load more money in when required, but we're not in that position.
It's called Lionel because of Lionel Richie, but Lio/Lionel is not common in Spanish.
It is both Leonel and the diminutive Leo and apparently he prefers it from his time in La Masía
His job was harder than ever this season because he had to carry Barcelona like never before. Barely got a rest all season. You could see it taking its toll by the end of the season but in general, he was as majestic and dominant as ever. I'm seeing no decline at all. His game is not based on physicality but technique and intelligence so I'd wager he has three years left as a top-3 player in the world.
So, City's hopes for a UCL title in 2021 will be built around two +32 yo overpaid primadonnas? Two ageing pals that consistently failed with Argentina in the 2010s? Managed by a guy who last reached a UCL final in 2011, despite having spent nearly 2 Billion in signings in 2011-2019 ?? Ok .
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Ok cool. Was worried he couldn't spell his own name or something
So, City's hopes for a UCL title in 2021 will be built around two +32 yo overpaid primadonnas? Two ageing pals that consistently failed with Argentina in the 2010s? Ok
That has to be the most incredible ever underrating of Aguero and Messi.
That's a lot of arrogance.So, City's hopes for a UCL title in 2021 will be built around two +32 yo overpaid primadonnas? Two ageing pals that consistently failed with Argentina in the 2010s? Ok
Or, y'know, on the greatest player to ever play and the best midfielder in the world coming off his best season ever. Just a thought.So, City's hopes for a UCL title in 2021 will be built around two +32 yo overpaid primadonnas? Two ageing pals that consistently failed with Argentina in the 2010s? Ok
Messi won't sign for City. I'm still a firm believer that this is all a plot to rid the club of Bartomeu and that is exactly what will happen. Barcelona will then appoint a new president, some top signing will be made and Messi will publicly announce he's staying and that he will never play for another club in Europe.
Haven't we spent more than anyone bar City? So how come Liverpool are winning CLs and Premier Leagues and we're fighting for CL spaces?
It'd be really interesting to see how Pep manages to rotate that talent if they sign another player who'd be free of rotation risk
KDB, Aguero and Messi will be starting most games. I'm assuming Fernandinho/Rodri/Gundogan will be fighting for one midfield slot. Then they're having Sterling who's likely going to play 80% of games as well
So, that would leave Bilva, Foden, Mahrez, Torres all fighting for that last spot. Surely, they'd have to let someone leave in that case
KDB, Aguero and Messi will be starting most games. I'm assuming Fernandinho/Rodri/Gundogan will be fighting for one midfield slot. Then they're having Sterling who's likely going to play 80% of games as well
So, that would leave Bilva, Foden, Mahrez, Torres all fighting for that last spot. Surely, they'd have to let someone leave in that case
You can have all the money in the world, but without the vision, direction and structure its no guarantee of success. Which is exactly what we've proven.
As big of a joke City's existence is, they've nailed it in the departments we've badly failed in. They've still spunked a disgusting amount of money on crap, but their hits have hit very well.
As big of a joke City's existence is, they've nailed it in the departments we've badly failed in. They've still spunked a disgusting amount of money on crap, but their hits have hit very well.
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