10 - Lionel Messi - v5

[Centauri B]

It is relevant when discussing Messi performance which was terrible and lacklustre to point it was painful to watch and that is heightened as there is more expected of him.

Messi was easy to shut out due to way he played.

Those things in relieving pressure Messi if he is the player we all think he is should be able to provide some of that influence and help the midfield. But he didnt even attempt to do that the whole game.

Football is a team sport. Messi cannot play his football with a team as poor as this one against a team as good as Croatia. And if Messi cannot do it, nobody can.

 

[Gaunter O Dimm]

He played like he had no confidence in himself or his team mates and was completely ineffective.

Dont agree that no one could do better.

A player that defends more, moves more and shows some fight even an fairly average player could have more impact than he did tonight.

Still a shite performance from team that he cant be blamed for or expect victory but when he is that inept it is hard to watch.

You can make all the runs and great movement off the ball you want, that midfield, those wide players are not getting the ball to you.

"A player that defends more, moves more and shows some fight even an fairly average player could have more impact than he did tonight."

I think it would be better if the dysfunctional Argentina team was replaced with an average team so Messi could just do his job rather than him being replaced by an average player.

 

[JamDav1982]

Funny that unsung hero of Real and Croatia, Modric, cemented Messis legacy. Without him, Croatia nor Real would have won. We should have bought him, he begged us to come here...but alas.

Pep wanted Fabregas and no one was really calling for him at the time.

 

[JamDav1982]

You can make all the runs and great movement off the ball you want, that midfield, those wide players are not getting the ball to you.

"A player that defends more, moves more and shows some fight even an fairly average player could have more impact than he did tonight."

I think it would be better if the dysfunctional Argentina team was replaced with an average team so Messi could just do his job rather than him being replaced by an average player.

Better movement makes it easier for that poor midfield to get the ball to you.

It is a backward argument to somehow make out Messi had no chance of getting on ball so no point in moving.

Messi needs to do far more to get on ball and influence game than he did tonight.

 

[JamDav1982]

Football is a team sport. Messi cannot play his football with a team as poor as this one against a team as good as Croatia. And if Messi cannot do it, nobody can.

He offered fuck all for the team tonight.

Barely when defending other than couple times to close down, barely moved off ball when Argentina had it which can offer better options to team mates.

While he offered no real example or visible fight, he looked totally withdrawn from game.

 

[Gaunter O Dimm]

(much) Better coach, team cohesion and solid players in all 3 lines, including GK. Argentina has attack line. That s it.

A functioning team and a coach that fits.

 

[blaugrana1987]

Pep wanted Fabregas and no one was really calling for him at the time.

Yea there where roumors around we are in for him. Fabregas was luxury, Modric necessity. Obvious not, perhaps not obvious then, but then again with our board its good we havent gone under at least..

 

[MessiCam]

Aguero is a striker and he's not supposed to touch the ball many times.

10 touches in over 50 minutes is a serious problem for even a striker.

Surely the midfield is not good enough but the main problem is Messi who doesn't move enough.

You’re not getting it... With a midfield of that quality nobody is getting the ball other than the goal keeper. Messi moving is not going to change the quality of the balls.

Messi's lack of movement also shows at Barca where he is surrounded by a world class midfield.

It’s not nearly as bad as receiving the ball a grand total of 20 times in 1 half.

Against teams who play a high line like Roma or Croatia today the midfield wasn't able to find Messi and again the whole Barca forum blames the midfield instead of Messi who does nothing to make himself available to receive a pass.

Croatia did not play with a high line. I’d say they had a medium block going. A high line against Messi is suicidal.

 

[Joan]

True, JamDav. It's (probably) his last WC and one would expect him to bite.

Looked withdrawn and off. Not motivated.

 

[JamDav1982]

Yea there where roumors around we are in for him. Fabregas was luxury, Modric necessity. Obvious not, perhaps not obvious then, but then again with our board its good we havent gone under at least..

Pep wanted Fabregas and not Modric.

There was no real link to him at that point when had Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and Thiago coming through.

 

[blaugrana1987]

Messi is divorcing I think. Read something about it few days ago in Argie news, looked defeated in training.

 

[blaugrana1987]

Pep wanted Fabregas and not Modric.

There was no real link to him at that point when had Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and Thiago coming through.

We had Xavi but Tiago left with Pep. Xavi was also pretty much worh 1-2 seasons more, but anyway...Modric ruined it alot for Barcelona and Messi. They would never won without him.

 

[MessiCam]

Fairly clear what it has to do with it... if breaking down before reaches Aguero he will get ball less and he was poor anyway and Higuain with better movement offered more.

Messi never played 'wide' or on 'the flank'.

What are you claiming the formation was?

Go and look at his heat map or watch the game again. He moved centrally when Dybala came on.

Did you watch the game? Because it doesn’t appear like you did...

Higuain suffered the same fate as Aguero. He was not better...

 

[Stoichkov1]

10 touches in over 50 minutes is a serious problem for even a striker.


You’re not getting it... With a midfield of that quality nobody is getting the ball other than the goal keeper. Messi moving is not going to change the quality of the balls.


It’s not nearly as bad as receiving the ball a grand total of 20 times in 1 half.


Croatia did not play with a high line. I’d say they had a medium block going. A high line against Messi is suicidal.

I repeat that that midfield is terrible but Messi didn't facilitate their job.

I'm quite sure Messi didn't touch the ball against Roma either and at Barca he is surrounder by Busquets, Iniesta and Rakitic. Busquets is the best in the world in his position and Rakitic top 10. Only Iniesta is probably finished but it's still a world class midfiled and the problem showed again because Messi doesn't move enough when not in possession.

Roma played with a high line against Barca in the return leg and Messi looked awful. Messi doesn't make runs behind the defenders so it isn't that suicidal to play a high line against Messi.

 

[Gaunter O Dimm]

Better movement makes it easier for that poor midfield to get the ball to you.

It is a backward argument to somehow make out Messi had no chance of getting on ball so no point in moving.

Messi needs to do far more to get on ball and influence game than he did tonight.

I never said there was no point to him moving. I don't agree he has bad movement. A player who scores as regular as him is not bad off the ball. Anyway Aguero made some decent runs why couldn't they get the ball to him?