Club World Cup

Do we really believe Chelsea can beat Madrid in the final? PSG in the semis probably the best hope to eliminate them.

FinBarcelonafan said:

Watching City vs Al Hilal.

Doku himself on the left isn't enough, he isn't Yamal who has end product too, either great pass, dribbles or scoring.

Defensively, only saw the second half, but holy moly. Their defense has huge issues catching up any attacker from Al Hilal and Malcolm isn't exactly the fastest player on earth.

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City has massive problems in wings and defense.

Savinho and Doku are good for depth, not as a starters. Compare it to PSG, Barca, Bayern, RM, Liverpool. Grealish is done, and at this point Silva & Foden aren't really wingers, niether do Marmoush and surely not Cherki.

On defense, they are still having an identity crisis, between the old Pep who played with typical 4 man defense, and 2023 Pep who played with all CB type of defense.

Don't think City should be too bothered with this defeat, at least they'll have more time to rest and prepare for next season.

It's clear Pep will need time to involve all new signings (also those coming in January) in the team.

Horatio said:

Now u rate our defense?

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I've always rated our defense, where have you been lol.

Sometimes you ask some crazy questions brother.

I rate the individuals in our defense, hence the list 5 better defense, the tactical setup that's a different story.

Crazy questions and lines you draw sometimes brother, because I know what you trying to come with

It will be tougher than we and Pep thought to replace that legendary core of Kdb, Gundo, Silva at City. Think he will leave City in 1-2 years.

Messi983 said:

Birdy

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Yeah, dude,

as if any one else in here predicted Al Hilal to go through...

Fati_Future_BallonDor said:

It will be tougher than we and Pep thought to replace that legendary core of Kdb, Gundo, Silva at City. Think he will leave City in 1-2 years.

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Yes, Reijnders-Rodri is WC duo at 6 and 8 position

But Cherki or Foden cannot rise to the level of KdB or prime Bernardo.
Bernardo himself gradually reminds me of Messi declining. He has the same technique and intelligence, but his body is limiting him...
Gundo, of course, is also washed by now

soul24rage said:

You know how Ironic it is that you are speaking of tiresome? The majority of the folks here think you are talking a bunch of nonsense lol I am nice enough to even engage in this rubbish nonsense with you. I'll rearrange your argument because you seem all over the place and organize it for you.

- You resort to the excuse that he was injured. OK, if that is the case, show me his non-injured current version doing it against defenders like PSG's. Well, Current Messi doesn't face a defense like PSG often because you know.... He plays in bloody MLS....lol Best examples are the games vs Porto and vs Colombia in recent games. Just go to Youtube -> Type in Messi vs Porto or Messi vs Colombia and you can find compilations. Takes you less than 10 seconds to find many comps.

Better yet, here is the full match of the game vs Porto. Watch the whole game if you need to. Sneak peak at minute 17

Stats back this up as well

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1939641280335663278

- Compare that to the (at least) 5 times he received vs PSG not in congested areas, but in open space on the counter, and he could not do the same. Besides being injured, why would you even dribble, when passing is a much easier, faster and more efficient to score. This is football 101 again. Prime Messi has done this many many times and if you watched his games then you will know that this is true.

For my question of "how his strengths lost its bite and how his weakness became more blatant" I was for a list of answer and your only answer is this "his ability to run via dribbling in tight spaces versus many people" Is that it? Is that the only answer that you can give me?

Even if you take that away his dribbling, he's still one of the best passers in the world, one of the best playmakers in the world, one of the best free kick taker in the world, one of the best finishers in the world and so much more. With those skills, he definitely belongs in the elite level. Fans, players, coaches, they all think that current Messi can cut it at the elite level. Your hate for Messi is blinding you mate. Let go of it.

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You know I don't give a flying fuck what majority in here thinks of me. I am not running for president to need to be popular. Thanks for engaging, I also engage with you because you at least try to debate, and do not resort to cliches

Now to the point:
- I posted a clip that in the first 3 minutes shows countless times of prime Messi not passing, but running via dribble in congested areas among many players. I claim current Messi can't do that, and you still haven't provided me with one counter-example. I watched YT highlights vs Colombia and Porto, did not see even 1 instance of that. When you find counter-examples, come back to talk about it

- How dribbles are calculated by stat companies: if you statically kick the ball through or around a player, it counts as a successful dribble. Doesn't matter if the next sec he is again ahead of you (and you essentially cannot take him on).

- I know very well passing is faster than running. My point is that prime Messi receiving in such situations like against PSG with such open space would finish the play himself. I claim he can't do it now, that's why he passes. Not because passing is faster. I have watched almost all of Barca games when Messi was around, and I know very well what he was doing, and he was doing that all the time...


PS: I can give you more aspects, like his shot power and precision that have declined, and of course his acceleration. The only essential aspect that I see the same in him is his vertical pass and through-ball. And the static ones (free-kicks for instance, or pens).
But there is no point in doing such a detailed discussion if we can't agree to the basics.
You don't watch Messi objectively, you inflate and idolize his current version.
You can't even admit what you see with your eyes

The Dutch Baljeet is still at it?

It's quite embarrassing to have unlimited funds and Pep as a coach for so long and get knocked out from this tournament by mighty Al-Hilal.

Sure this is a joke of a tournament but still.

Was Ronaldo on to something when he said saudi is top 5 league?

Yeah, his choice of drugs must be top tier.

FC B said:

It's quite embarrassing to have unlimited funds and Pep as a coach for so long and get knocked out from this tournament by mighty Al-Hilal.

Sure this is a joke of a tournament but still.

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Dont underrate Saudi, they are on their way to become a top3 league

We're lucky that in european CL Al hilal, Al Nassr and Itthiad are not included, otherwise winning cl would be much much tougher!

Birdy said:

Yes, Reijnders-Rodri is WC duo at 6 and 8 position

But Cherki or Foden cannot rise to the level of KdB or prime Bernardo.
Bernardo himself gradually reminds me of Messi declining. He has the same technique and intelligence, but his body is limiting him...
Gundo, of course, is also washed by now

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Yep and if Reijnders or Rodri gets an injury the season for City might be over

at least Pl will be exciting this season

with Kloppo i think Liverpool would walk the league but with Slot it might be more difficult compared to that german genius

Horatio said:

Was Ronaldo on to something when he said saudi is top 5 league?

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5 times better than soccer league. That much I'm sure