Lionel Messi - Performances

Peyroteo said:
That was a stupid goal to concede and their defense was crap today but they're usually pretty good. They finished as the second best defense in conmebol and having a solid defense in knockout tournaments usually goes a long way.
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Their defence is usually the solid part of the team. But too much of that team is dysfunctional. Either it's composure or it's cohesion or something else. It's like when you see a club team who are being managed terribly.

Basically they'll either need Sampoli to sort it out quickly or a lot will have go their way for them to beat the better teams at the WC.
 
He deserves the Balon d’Or

No question about it. The reality is that this guy is simply the best of all time.
 
Que Golazos from Messi , he is so concentrated and would love it if he is in that form during the WC 2018 and no one knows what can happen there
 
His efficiency is dumbfounding. When you realized Ecquador was leaving enough space for him to operate in the 'hole' you knew the match was pretty much over.
Every time he gets the ball in that area of the pitch, turns and faces the defence you just know something is gonna happen, there is almost nothing any back 4 can do to bother him.
amolbhatia50k said:
Their defence is usually the solid part of the team. But too much of that team is dysfunctional. Either it's composure or it's cohesion or something else. It's like when you see a club team who are being managed terribly.

Basically they'll either need Sampoli to sort it out quickly or a lot will have go their way for them to beat the better teams at the WC.
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They certainly have the talent and you'd expect with a coach of Sampoli's excellence he'd get it right but that hasn't seemed the case. He needs to trust the better players in the squad to get it done and not try winning the world cup with these no name brands. Messi has shown at Barca that as long as he has the right supporting cast giving him the right support he'll get rid of teams in a hurry.
 
If that superstar attack can gel together at some point, Argentina would be favorites for the WC. Its' ridiculous how they struggle for goals without Messi to bail them out.

Maybe Guardiola would be a good coach for them, he usually crams his squad with attackers and manages to build high scoring teams.

EDIT: Meant to post this in the NT thread, didn't see. Guess the 2 threads are somewhat related though.
 
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amolbhatia50k said:
:lol: That was hilarious to watch. Huge game, need to win. Let's concede a goal from a long ball and pin ball headers. They'll go out of the group stages at the WC f they're such a brittle team.
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Usually overlooked, Argentina were awful enough to go out in the 2014 WC group stages, Messi had to bail them with 4 goals in 3 games (3 of them game winners and the other the equaliser vs Nigeria) in a group with Iran, Bosnia and Nigeria.

This is like the Ronaldo situation in the last Euro, both Argentina and Portugal are awful teams that shouldn't have any claim to be playing international finals, but those guys are clutch enough to bail them at least once every 3 games. 2018 might be the same, first job for Leo will be taking Argentina beyond the group phase, after that a good draw in R16 and shutting down the goal for 2 games puts you in contention for the World Cup, there's a lot of teams way better than Argentina in the next world cup, but I'm not betting against them winning the whole thing.
 
Ishdalar said:
Usually overlooked, Argentina were awful enough to go out in the 2014 WC group stages, Messi had to bail them with 4 goals in 3 games (3 of them game winners and the other the equaliser vs Nigeria) in a group with Iran, Bosnia and Nigeria.

This is like the Ronaldo situation in the last Euro, both Argentina and Portugal are awful teams that shouldn't have any claim to be playing international finals, but those guys are clutch enough to bail them at least once every 3 games. 2018 might be the same, first job for Leo will be taking Argentina beyond the group phase, after that a good draw in R16 and shutting down the goal for 2 games puts you in contention for the World Cup, there's a lot of teams way better than Argentina in the next world cup, but I'm not betting against them winning the whole thing.
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I remember the Iran game, they should have lost that one. Iran missed some crazy chances.
 
kouroux said:
I remember the Iran game, they should have lost that one. Iran missed some crazy chances.
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Wasn't Germany close to being eliminated by Algeria? Those games happen for each team almost. What matters is to get through them. Russia won't be different. The winner will have moments like that as well.
 
This reminded me a bit of his performance at the away Clasico last season (2 goals + assist, 3-2 win) in that he was amazing, far above his team-mates, but ultimately it may not mean much. Barca lost La Liga after re-igniting the race with that win and if the rest of the Argentinian team continues like this, there's no sight of the World Cup.
 
The WC wouldn't be the same without Messi. Happy that he put in a great performance and helped Argentina qualify.
 
This match was for those who thought messi was not carrying argentina alone till now.
 
People sure get overboard after a match against mighty equador, who had a bunch of first teamers and had nothing to play for. The amount of space equador conceded at the back made the game too easy.
 
Kazi said:
The GOAT to surpass all other GOATs
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Maradona would piss it in 2017. No one would be allowed to touch him. Let's calm down about Messi finally doing what Maradona did with knobs on.
 
Are they through via an automatic spot?
 
FCBarca said:
No one not named Messi has scored for Argentina in 11 months
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That’s absolutely amazing and horribly sad in equal measure. What a player. What a regression from the other star players. They were World Cup runners up!
 
FC Ronaldo said:
That’s absolutely amazing and horribly sad in equal measure. What a player. What a regression from the other star players. They were World Cup runners up!
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It epitomizes the dysfunctional AFA and bottlers that played for Argentina. Plus, it's a reminder that you cannot win it on your own
 
Needham said:
Maradona would piss it in 2017. No one would be allowed to touch him. Let's calm down about Messi finally doing what Maradona did with knobs on.
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Meh Messi is better even most the Argies would tell you that and once he retires it wont even be a question worth debating. Messi scored more in a season than Maradonna did in about 4 years of his prime.
 
Castia said:
Meh Messi is better even most the Argies would tell you that and once he retires it wont even be a question worth debating. Messi scored more in a season than Maradonna did in about 4 years of his prime.
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Really?
 
Castia said:
Meh Messi is better even most the Argies would tell you that and once he retires it wont even be a question worth debating. Messi scored more in a season than Maradonna did in about 4 years of his prime.
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Different style of player. Messi more of a final third roaming playmaker and forward whereas Maradona game wasn't as geared towards goalscoring he was more of a pure 10.

I don't Maradona would ever be a better goalscorer than Messi whose goalscoring instinct is simply superior but Maradona is the superior playmaker imo.
 
FCBarca said:
Not counting friendlies, yes - not since November 16, 2016
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Wow. Just checked. They played 6 games in that period scoring 5 goals. How can a team blessed with so much attacking talent be this dependent on one player even if it's Messi.
 
I used to dislike Messi because;
1. He destroyed us in 2 champions league finals
2. I wanted Ronaldo to win the personal competition between them

But as i've matured i've realised there is no hiding from what an incredible player he is. I hope Argentina win the next WC.
 
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