Messi in Miami

[RedDevilQuebecois]

The clear assessment to make from Messi's performances in 6 matches is that the MLS is plain shite, even if it pains me to say it because I wish the best for my hometown MLS club too. Volumes are spoken about how poor the playing quality is, regardless of what US pundits try to sell about the MLS. If you want to tune in MLS just to watch the Messi Show, be my guest. The problem is that it does not send the right message about how the beautiful game is growing in North America. Homegrown talent is supposed to improve as your indicator of how healthy player development is, and it does not look good.

In comparison, Andrés Iniesta was no longer able to start matches for his club in Japan. Several former superstars (Fórlan, Torres, Villa, Podolski, etc.) say it is not that easy to succeed in the J1 League.

 

[JB7]

Apologies if I’m wrong. Initials and a 7, not exactly hard to see how someone would come to that conclusion, especially when people bitter about Messi are often emotionally attached to another player. What I thinks weird is implying that they’re having different rules applied to them or that a crappy bottom of the league side suddenly winning 5 in a row by adding a few older players (2 for the most part) isn’t impressive.

Fair enough. I can see where you’re coming from thinking about i since how that has become synonymous with Ronaldo but when I joined this forum I’m not sure “CR7” was really even a thing. It’s a long time ago but I think the thinking was more DB7 at the time, both the car and the footballer. But to be clear, I couldn’t give a rats arse about Ronaldo. Great player, but that’s that.

I would question whether you watched the game I referred to though. If you did and you think that was a reasonably fairly officiated match, fine, but I highly doubt you would think so had you seen the game. Social media isn’t generally a great barometer for reasoned comment but the responses to MLS & Orlando’s results tweets were universally damning from fans of clubs all over the league (including from Miami fans iirc). And in fairness they haven’t just signed a couple of players, they were already an expensively anssembled under performing side due to having an inadequate manager, which has also changed over the past few weeks. They are also playing in a tournament that they appear to have taken more seriously than other teams (for example Philadelphia deciding to make a couple of pretty random changes yesterday despite it being a semi final & the Mexican teams mostly being dispatched early on which is at odds with their performances against MLS teams generally). They’ll win the tournament, no real surprise as their name has been on the trophy since they announced Messi would debut in the competition but the interesting part will be when the MLS-proper restarts.

 

[GinobiliTheGOAT]

With all due respect:
1. Football is the ONLY truly global sport and therefore its superstars are global superstars. Basketball is played professionally by relatively fe countries.

2. Football is much more physically demanding than basketball. It is also more cerebral than basketball and requires a higher skill level. Given the larger pool of talent in football, its greatest are the true goats of sport. Jordan is the greatest basketballer, Messi is the greatest footballer and sports person.

That is very debatable. Football allows for far more luck and variance than basketball. Far less upsets in basketball for a reason.

 

[FrankFoot]

That is very debatable. Football allows for far more luck and variance than basketball. Far less upsets in basketball for a reason.

I feel like Football is the only sport where you can get heavily outplayed and still win somehow, upsets are way more common in Football than in any other sport.

 

[Joel Miller]

Fair enough. I can see where you’re coming from thinking about i since how that has become synonymous with Ronaldo but when I joined this forum I’m not sure “CR7” was really even a thing. It’s a long time ago but I think the thinking was more DB7 at the time, both the car and the footballer. But to be clear, I couldn’t give a rats arse about Ronaldo. Great player, but that’s that.

I would question whether you watched the game I referred to though. If you did and you think that was a reasonably fairly officiated match, fine, but I highly doubt you would think so had you seen the game. Social media isn’t generally a great barometer for reasoned comment but the responses to MLS & Orlando’s results tweets were universally damning from fans of clubs all over the league (including from Miami fans iirc). And in fairness they haven’t just signed a couple of players, they were already an expensively anssembled under performing side due to having an inadequate manager, which has also changed over the past few weeks. They are also playing in a tournament that they appear to have taken more seriously than other teams (for example Philadelphia deciding to make a couple of pretty random changes yesterday despite it being a semi final & the Mexican teams mostly being dispatched early on which is at odds with their performances against MLS teams generally). They’ll win the tournament, no real surprise as their name has been on the trophy since they announced Messi would debut in the competition but the interesting part will be when the MLS-proper restarts.

Then I apologise, sincerely.

I watched bits and pieces of his first couple of games, and seen each one after that. I don’t recall anything particularly bad, just the usual errors you get anywhere in the world. Although I remember people online whinging because Messi went shoulder to shoulder with someone while on a yellow and didn’t get sent off, but that just seemed to be the standard Ronaldo lunatics that swarm all over these things. Yeah in fairness the coach deserves some of the credit, still, the majority of that team is dreadful, it’s quite painful watching how much some of them struggle with basics.

 

[MrMarcello]

Saw it live from that side of the field. It's a great strike not just in the precision but also timing. Messi caught Blake as he was backtracking and every single person in the stadium expected a pass, til it was in the net.

Messi - Busquets - Jordi Alba. How the hell did Beckham swing that trio within salary cap. They've transformed a really really crap Miami team.

Quite a few top class keepers make the save there, IMO. And they're likely taking different positioning, possibly anticipating Messi taking that sort of attempt, so forth. Not sure where a pass was expected there with a wide open shooting lane and no one to his right anywhere near the box; he had one guy to his immediate left who is marked/path is blocked. When I saw the replay on SportsCenter and the space I was like no wonder he took a shot there, they basically invited him to take the chance.

Blake looked extremely slow in reaction as the ball neared him and his footwork moving back into his line was horrendous, almost amateurish.

 

[MrMarcello]

I can see Miami making the playoffs considering nine teams from each conference will get in. They are 12 points back from the 9th spot with 12 matches to play - most in their conference - and will likely win most of their remaining matches with Messi scoring and assisting for fun, and Alba plus Busquets boosts their overall XI quality against the opposition. But, the clubs above them could also climb up higher needing fewer points though Toronto is only a point better having played two more matches.

They get in and it's literally a lottery in the MLS postseason.

 

[Andrade]

The clear assessment to make from Messi's performances in 6 matches is that the MLS is plain shite, even if it pains me to say it because I wish the best for my hometown MLS club too. Volumes are spoken about how poor the playing quality is, regardless of what US pundits try to sell about the MLS. If you want to tune in MLS just to watch the Messi Show, be my guest. The problem is that it does not send the right message about how the beautiful game is growing in North America. Homegrown talent is supposed to improve as your indicator of how healthy player development is, and it does not look good.

In comparison, Andrés Iniesta was no longer able to start matches for his club in Japan. Several former superstars (Fórlan, Torres, Villa, Podolski, etc.) say it is not that easy to succeed in the J1 League.

The MLS is not shite. Plenty of top players from Europe have gone their at the end of their careers and not done much.

 

[do.ob]

The MLS is not shite. Plenty of top players from Europe have gone their at the end of their careers and not done much.

If they were motivated and (still) capable they would have stayed in Europe. I don't think that argument really works.
On the other hand there's also Giovinco's case.

 

[Iker Quesadillas]

The MLS is not shite. Plenty of top players from Europe have gone their at the end of their careers and not done much.

Some of the goals in these games are pretty bad.

 

[Redlyn]

Not watching the matches only highlights, but certainly following his journey. He's had a blistering start to his mls career and completely transformed that team. I hope they can sneak into play offs by winning all their remaining MLS games. He had to move to the MLs for me to become a fan

 

[Andrade]

If they were motivated and (still) capable they would have stayed in Europe. I don't think that argument really works.
On the other hand there's also Giovinco's case.

The argument does work

 

[Gehrman]

If they were motivated and (still) capable they would have stayed in Europe. I don't think that argument really works.
On the other hand there's also Giovinco's case.

Kind of applies to the players who went to Japan as well. Not saying the MLS is better than the Japanese league, but nearly all the high profile names moving away from Europe is usually when they are a good deal past their prime and want to enjoy themselves at a lower level while milking their name for as much money as possible.

Apart from Zlatan and Messi atm Im not really sure who smashed it in the MLS.

 

[MrMarcello]

Kind of applies to the players who went to Japan as well. Not saying the MLS is better than the Japanese league, but nearly all the high profile names moving away from Europe is usually when they are a good deal past their prime and want to enjoy themselves at a lower level while milking their name for as much money as possible.

Apart from Zlatan and Messi atm Im not really sure who smashed it in the MLS.

Valderrama had a field day in the early years of the league, arguably the first global star for the league. His passing and vision were miles ahead of everyone else.

 

[Gehrman]

Valderrama had a field day in the early years of the league, arguably the first global star for the league. His passing and vision were miles ahead of everyone else.

Well that was over 20 years ago. Not doubting he showed his quality, but Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham didnt seem to make headlines. Im not trying to big it up only that it isnt league where a old guy from transferring from can automatically smash it. Rooney didnt. Henry didnt. Its about expectations though. Messi is a few notches above so expectations for him are greater. But seeing him scoring almost 2 goals pr game for the worst team in the league is pure fun.

 

[Zlaatan]

Proper weird you boys who think everything is about Ronaldo (almost as if there are people on this forum of all places who seem to think he invented the number 7?!) when the post you’re responding to of mine didn’t even mention Messi

It might not be your intention but so many of your posts in this thread are quite cynical and negative, so it's not that surprising that people think that you're just another bitter Ronaldo fan.

 

[FrankFoot]

Kind of applies to the players who went to Japan as well. Not saying the MLS is better than the Japanese league, but nearly all the high profile names moving away from Europe is usually when they are a good deal past their prime and want to enjoy themselves at a lower level while milking their name for as much money as possible.

Apart from Zlatan and Messi atm Im not really sure who smashed it in the MLS.

A bunch of worse players than Messi and Zlatan smashed it in the MLS, mexicans and the B- tier south american players who aren't good enough for a european top league.

I don't think the argument that not many top players smashed the MLS works for MLS not being shit, when you have many B-tier unknown players who smashed the league.

 

[Bobski]

That is very debatable. Football allows for far more luck and variance than basketball. Far less upsets in basketball for a reason.

Yes, 7 game series and the ease of scoring in comparison to football. If the NBA playoffs were straight knockouts you would get a ton of upsets especially given the variance generated by 3 point contests.

The difficulty of scoring means no guarantee you will win despite playing well, look at Wolves the other night, on balance should have won 3/4-1, come away with nothing.

I love Basketball but football is a far more skilled sport, you simply don't get the likes of Hakeem starting at 18 (literally picking up a ball for the first time) and ending one of the most skilled big men ever in football.

 

[Gehrman]

A bunch of worse players than Messi and Zlatan smashed it in the MLS, mexicans and the B- tier south american players who aren't good enough for a european top league.

I don't think the argument that not many top players smashed the MLS works for MLS not being shit, when you have many B-tier unknown players who smashed the league.

I dont think i argued it wasnt shit. It was more shit compared to what? Top leagues in Europe? We already know that.

 

[OrcaFat]

Well that was over 20 years ago. Not doubting he showed his quality, but Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham didnt seem to make headlines. Im not trying to big it up only that it isnt league where a old guy from transferring from can automatically smash it. Rooney didnt. Henry didnt. Its about expectations though. Messi is a few notches above so expectations for him are greater. But seeing him scoring almost 2 goals pr game for the worst team in the league is pure fun.

Beckham was good there.

 

[Gehrman]

Beckham was good there.

I dont doubt. Just said he didnt make headlines at least related his performance on the pitch.

 

[Hoof the ball]

This hopefully should open the gates to the MLS doing some domestic restructing to allow MLS teams to participate in these types of competitions. It's healthy for the league to not be restricted to only MLS teams. One area where football excels, where NBA and NFL doesn't is the integration of domestic teams into non-domestic competitions. The Mexican teams have been playing in the competition for years anyway, so, it's only logical that MLS teams should begin getting the chance.

 

[Jam]

Kind of applies to the players who went to Japan as well. Not saying the MLS is better than the Japanese league, but nearly all the high profile names moving away from Europe is usually when they are a good deal past their prime and want to enjoy themselves at a lower level while milking their name for as much money as possible.

Apart from Zlatan and Messi atm Im not really sure who smashed it in the MLS.

Not really a “star” but didn’t that Juve forward (Giovinco?) go to MLS and absolutely take the piss for a few years?

 

[Hoof the ball]

As for the growth of the MLS from a quality standpoint; the deal with Apple brings in $2.5 billion over the next ten years. The massive exposure of the MLS to worldwide households outside the US is where and how the MLS gets better. The salary cap is set to increase significantly by next year, which should allow better standard of players brought in from abroad to fill out all the teams, which should in turn make for better matches and a better product to drive the Apple subs worldwide.

Hopefully they'll change some rules to permit more Designation Players coming in on contracts that aren't curtailed by the salary cap.

All this leading into next year's Copa America being hosted in the USA and the World Cup in 2026 hosted by US/Mex/Can should spike the popularity in the country. The timing of Messi's involvement in the MLS is a strike of genius, not only for the league and the country itself, but for Messi, who could end up being the catalyst that brings the game into the mainstream in the States and builds a legacy that continues after his playing career.

 

[Zehner]

As for the growth of the MLS from a quality standpoint; the deal with Apple brings in $2.5 billion over the next ten years. The massive exposure of the MLS to worldwide households outside the US is where and how the MLS gets better. The salary cap is set to increase significantly by next year, which should allow better standard of players brought in from abroad to fill out all the teams, which should in turn make for better matches and a better product to drive the Apple subs worldwide.

Hopefully they'll change some rules to permit more Designation Players coming in on contracts that aren't curtailed by the salary cap.

All this leading into next year's Copa America being hosted in the USA and the World Cup in 2026 hosted by US/Mex/Can should spike the popularity in the country. The timing of Messi's involvement in the MLS is a strike of genius, not only for the league and the country itself, but for Messi, who could end up being the catalyst that brings the game into the mainstream in the States and builds a legacy that continues after his playing career.

Fully expect Messi to make a cameo in Ted Lasso S4 at this point

 

[Hoof the ball]

Fully expect Messi to make a cameo in Ted Lasso S4 at this point

Tell me there's not going to be a S4! I thought they were wrapping that show up at S3?!

 

[Zehner]

Tell me there's not going to be a S4! I thought they were wrapping that show up at S3?!

I believe a spinoff is likely at least, a fourth season possible but Messi will have probably retired when it airs

 

[JB7]

It might not be your intention but so many of your posts in this thread are quite cynical and negative, so it's not that surprising that people think that you're just another bitter Ronaldo fan.

I don’t think any of the posts have been cynical or negative towards Messi directly, rather towards Fort Lauderdale FC. I would suggest it’s somewhat lazy to link a dislike of a football club and the looseness if the rules in their favour being due to their star player. Frankly people who support players rather than clubs shouldn’t be anywhere near the sport - freaks.

 

[Ted Lasso]

I don’t think any of the posts have been cynical or negative towards Messi directly, rather towards Fort Lauderdale FC. I would suggest it’s somewhat lazy to link a dislike of a football club and the looseness if the rules in their favour being due to their star player. Frankly people who support players rather than clubs shouldn’t be anywhere near the sport - freaks.

Jesus Christ this guy

 

[JB7]

Jesus Christ this guy

Go on then. Issues with either of what you bolded.

 

[WI_Red]

Go on then. Issues with either of what you bolded.

Exactly, I also like to root for Trafford United

 

[JB7]

Exactly, I also like to root for Trafford United

Ah yes, because Manchester United, based in Trafford, Greater Manchester is the same as Inter Miami, based in the city of Fort Lauderdale, 30 miles away.

 

[horsechoker]

This hopefully should open the gates to the MLS doing some domestic restructing to allow MLS teams to participate in these types of competitions. It's healthy for the league to not be restricted to only MLS teams. One area where football excels, where NBA and NFL doesn't is the integration of domestic teams into non-domestic competitions. The Mexican teams have been playing in the competition for years anyway, so, it's only logical that MLS teams should begin getting the chance.

They should be in the champions league

 

[Trequarista10]

The clear assessment to make from Messi's performances in 6 matches is that the MLS is plain shite, even if it pains me to say it because I wish the best for my hometown MLS club too. Volumes are spoken about how poor the playing quality is, regardless of what US pundits try to sell about the MLS. If you want to tune in MLS just to watch the Messi Show, be my guest. The problem is that it does not send the right message about how the beautiful game is growing in North America. Homegrown talent is supposed to improve as your indicator of how healthy player development is, and it does not look good.

In comparison, Andrés Iniesta was no longer able to start matches for his club in Japan. Several former superstars (Fórlan, Torres, Villa, Podolski, etc.) say it is not that easy to succeed in the J1 League.

To be fair, Messi is the best footballer of all time and has still been performing at international level and high level European competition until now.

I'm glad he's doing well in MLS. Would have been a shame if he only went when his legs had completely gone and he couldn't make an impact.

 

[WI_Red]

Ah yes, because Manchester United, based in Trafford, Greater Manchester is the same as Inter Miami, based in the city of Fort Lauderdale, 30 miles away.

You'll be absolutely delighted to know that the Greater Miami area includes both Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Much less typing for you to do in the future when talking about the team.

 

[JB7]

You'll be absolutely delighted to know that the Greater Miami area includes both Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Much less typing for you to do in the future when talking about the team.

Quite difference being in an entirely different city like an hour away but each to their own.

 

[mshnsh]

I don’t think any of the posts have been cynical or negative towards Messi directly, rather towards Fort Lauderdale FC. I would suggest it’s somewhat lazy to link a dislike of a football club and the looseness if the rules in their favour being due to their star player. Frankly people who support players rather than clubs shouldn’t be anywhere near the sport - freaks.

But why the hate towards them? Is the mls that important to you?

 

[JB7]

But why the hate towards them? Is the mls that important to you?

I’d say dislike rather than hatred, but largely because I’ve been watching their local rivals for over 10 years, travelling over to watch a game or two most seasons and staying up to watch them at whatever time they play week in week out, so there is a level of long-term importance I guess. You could also add that they have been violating the leagues rules since the day they were founded and this will only continue with the latest signings and the league will look the other way due to the publicity that being owned by David Beckham (my favourite player of all time by the way) and having Messi in the team will bring to the league. Also there was already a decent team in Miami and they have basically just trampled them and stolen their fanbase. Apart from that they’re alright I guess.

 

[Lay]

The clear assessment to make from Messi's performances in 6 matches is that the MLS is plain shite, even if it pains me to say it because I wish the best for my hometown MLS club too. Volumes are spoken about how poor the playing quality is, regardless of what US pundits try to sell about the MLS. If you want to tune in MLS just to watch the Messi Show, be my guest. The problem is that it does not send the right message about how the beautiful game is growing in North America. Homegrown talent is supposed to improve as your indicator of how healthy player development is, and it does not look good.

In comparison, Andrés Iniesta was no longer able to start matches for his club in Japan. Several former superstars (Fórlan, Torres, Villa, Podolski, etc.) say it is not that easy to succeed in the J1 League.

The quality looks shocking whenever I tune in.

The J league is technically on a different level to the MLS. Their home grown talent is deep and they all play with similar system

 

[Ted Lasso]

David Beckham (my favourite player of all time by the way)

Hates on people having favorite players then goes on to talk about his favorite player a few posts later. Top stuff.

You'll be absolutely delighted to know that the Greater Miami area includes both Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Much less typing for you to do in the future when talking about the team.

To be fair, we might just have a classic case of Florida man. Angry at nothing and everything at the same time, brazen foolishness powered by ignorance or bath salts.