10 - Lionel Messi - v3

[BrianSwan]

Great goal and he's a great player still, obviously... but he doesn't seem to be the player of 09,2010 and 2011 anymore.

That Messi ALWAYS contributed in the 90 mins, current one can be shut out of games.

 

[DonAK]

Remember watching that live. Should watch the full version. Freaky.

 

[Blaugrana Bull]

He played in better teams and different systems. Simple as that. His individual skills are as good as ever.

Edit: He was in a better form, too and of course had not as many injuries. But that is normal. Every striker has different seasons. One season they score 20, then 15, then 30 etc.
Leo still manages to score 40+ every season.

 

[Flavia]

Nah, that is the trademark Cristiano Ronaldo phenomenon that I don't want Messi to be associated with.

Then you haven't been watching Messi closely. He doesn't only do that, but in the 10-11 season, for instance, he didn't have a superb game all games. Even more against buses.

 

[coura]

Funny that he played average but scored 2 goals that were decisive.
In 2010 he did not scored any goal but he was playing like hell. A mix of both would be nice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DtpXB_FMkE&feature=youtu.be

 

[Gaudi]

What stats are you reading? Care to share and elaborate?

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186466/index.html#lineups

Tracking stats, PDF file, you have others as well. Also you can compare with some other matches. I was reading "activity time spent" and "of the ball movement"

 

[Flavia]

Great goal and he's a great player still, obviously... but he doesn't seem to be the player of 09,2010 and 2011 anymore.

That Messi ALWAYS contributed in the 90 mins, current one can be shut out of games.

Teams changed the way they approach Messi since then, too.
And the "always" is a myth that comes with his legend, I suppose.

 

[Kerrybai]

Hmm, the video doesn't work for me for some reason. Meanwhile, I rewatched the highlights that I found and I am still in denial. I just don't see it.

[video]https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/13E1A6841B1092191809414815744_24a0e76b36b.0.4.7386 350694021396935.mp4?versionId=37V0i.PNqGLfw6xK2KXD NpcqO7TLdx8H[/video]

It seems to slightly change direction after he hits it. I'm delighted he is having some luck this time after 2010 where little deflections and amazing saves went against him.

 

[Flavia]

I've seen the goal in slow motion on tv, I saw no deflection.

 

[DonAK]

A slight nick of the boot of the Iranian player there. Nothing big or substantial.

 

[Sumlit]

Pretty annoying when people analyze, dissect and scrutinize every single minutiae of Messi's game.

Oh he should run X instead of Y amount.
Oh he should pass instead of shoot.
Oh he should play like this instead of that.
Oh he just spit on the floor, he must be sick.
Oh he just ignored a handshake from a kid.
Oh he demanded a change in formation from his coach.
Oh his goal took a deflection off the defender, it must be an own goal.
Oh he looks sad.
Oh he didn't smile, he must be unhappy.
Oh he's not running like a bat out of hell, he must have declined or lost his passion for the game.

Just give it a rest.

How about, Argentina have played like shit as a team and without Messi's individual heroics they would have 2 points instead of 6. How about that?!?!?!?

 

[i_bleed_blaugrana]

Pep turned Messi into the Messi of today bc he stressed so much into his off the ball play. And that's what I'm critiquing with the current Messi. He is still the best player in the world with the ball at his feet and I get that Iran parked the bus hardcore and that Argentina doesn't have the quality in MF we have, I get all of that.

First and foremost, Messi needs to learn how to break down buses bc that is all he is going to face with Barça. But the key is that if he makes more of an effort to win the ball high up the pitch, he will have more space to create and that's what's missing in his game right now. He simply doesn't do anything defensively and particularly with our pressing game at Barça, it has to start with him. Him pressing the opponent one way or another can force teams into a corner that makes it much easier to win the ball earlier. Often Cesc and even Xavi had to press the man Messi was supposed to be on which opens up space in the center, neutralizing the press in the first place.

It's his off the ball play that I'm critiquing and that he needs to readdress.

 

[i_bleed_blaugrana]

I've seen him do it before and I'm frustrated because there is no reason why he isn't doing it still. He is only going at 80% and while that still is enough to get the job now, against better competition it's not gonna cut it, for Barça next season and Argentina in the WC. It's much harder to consistently not play at your best and try and turn it up for the big games then playing at 100% all the time.

Greatness isn't an accident, it's a mindset, the will to dominate no matter if it's Iran, Rayo Vallecan or Madrid and Brazil. It's that aspect of Messi's game that is missing at times and most importantly in the past it was never an issue.

 

[Sumlit]

Pep turned Messi into the Messi of today bc he stressed so much into his off the ball play. And that's what I'm critiquing with the current Messi. He is still the best player in the world with the ball at his feet and I get that Iran parked the bus hardcore and that Argentina doesn't have the quality in MF we have, I get all of that.

First and foremost, Messi needs to learn how to break down buses bc that is all he is going to face with Barça. But the key is that if he makes more of an effort to win the ball high up the pitch, he will have more space to create and that's what's missing in his game right now. He simply doesn't do anything defensively and particularly with our pressing game at Barça, it has to start with him. Him pressing the opponent one way or another can force teams into a corner that makes it much easier to win the ball earlier. Often Cesc and even Xavi had to press the man Messi was supposed to be on which opens up space in the center, neutralizing the press in the first place.

It's his off the ball play that I'm critiquing and that he needs to readdress.

If you want Messi to press more and run more off the ball, then demand for his team mates to pick up the slack in other areas. You want Messi to run more, to press more, and to defend more, fine, however understand there is a tradeoff to that. That energy he'll spend doing this, means a drop in finishing, means sloppier touches and more errant passes. It means less late game heroics because the player is going to be running on fumes towards the end of the game.

There is a reason that as Messi's work rate declined, his scoring output and his efficiency increased. Even despite the downward trend in the team's overall performance. He conserved his energy to be a better and more reliable scorer.

You want more work rate and sacrifice from him, ok. But be prepapred to deal with the tradeoff. Be prepared to supplement that tradeoff with other players.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Pep turned Messi into the Messi of today bc he stressed so much into his off the ball play. And that's what I'm critiquing with the current Messi. He is still the best player in the world with the ball at his feet and I get that Iran parked the bus hardcore and that Argentina doesn't have the quality in MF we have, I get all of that.

First and foremost, Messi needs to learn how to break down buses bc that is all he is going to face with Barça. But the key is that if he makes more of an effort to win the ball high up the pitch, he will have more space to create and that's what's missing in his game right now. He simply doesn't do anything defensively and particularly with our pressing game at Barça, it has to start with him. Him pressing the opponent one way or another can force teams into a corner that makes it much easier to win the ball earlier. Often Cesc and even Xavi had to press the man Messi was supposed to be on which opens up space in the center, neutralizing the press in the first place.

It's his off the ball play that I'm critiquing and that he needs to readdress.

It would be really nice if he does his share of the pressing, but to me that is not the most important thing, after all he is a forward. The highlighted part about the off the ball movement is the most important part in my opinion, which I agreed with 100%. :beer2: