Does fuck all in big matches. Why are people still sucking him dry when he is just a flat track bully.
Messi is 33 and on huge wages. Wages that (especially in this time) will prevent Barca from making any top class long term upgrades (Harland, Mbappe category of players).
Barca needs to let him walk this season and replace his goals with the goals from a proper 9 - Haaland. Haaland will score and provide Barca with the player they miss the most - a striker/true 9. He won?t assists nearly as much as Messi. But that?s where the support comes in. Shifting to a 4-3-3 (I?m aware they still use it some of the time) from Koeman?s current 3-5-2 will work better with Haaland as striker flanked by Dembele and Ansu Fati than their current setup with Messi. They along with Pedri, De Jong (who will permanently play in midfield), Busquets, Dest and of course Alba will provide the assists.
Remember also that Ansu Fati started the season better than Messi with 4 goals in 7 matches, and he likely would have hit 15-20 goals this season with his shooting ability. Fati can act as consistent goal scoring forward or backup striker to Haaland (has played the position successfully at youth level). With Fati and Dembele flanking Haaland I?m convinced that they would look better than with Messi.
Tonight in a crucial match vs Madrid and also vs Valladolid Messi was bang average. He looked awful with his touch on the ball, his passing and his sharpness in front of goal. He looked like Ronaldo in some of the latter?s worst matches this season. Being a focal point isn?t good if you don?t show the necessary quality (especially vs teams ranked firmly below you). He has been a top player in 2021 based in stats and his overall play, but he isn?t the future. And even though he?s rightfully like a god in Barcelona they shouldn?t let sentimentality but sensibility guide their decision.
The sensible thing is to go all out for a young world class attacking player (preferably a 9) and replace Messi this summer!
Don?t give him a new contact with high wages limiting them in the transfer market and in their tactical setup. Laporta, I beg you. Sometimes you have to let go of the thing you love. This is one of those times.
