Lionel Messi | PSG Watch

NasirTimothy

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PSG team looks so top-heavy like it was created by someone on the Football Manager editor. Not sure who is going to do the running and pressing off the ball against the big sides in the UCL. Think a well-drilled Tuchel Chelsea team or a strong Bayern team could really smash them.
This team will destroy any team put in front of it so long as they play together. That goes for Bayern and Chelsea too.
 

BluesJr

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This team will destroy any team put in front of it so long as they play together. That goes for Bayern and Chelsea too.
Football doesn’t and never will work that way. I don’t know why people have this delusion.
 

NasirTimothy

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Barca had Neymar Suarez and Messi in their primes and they won 1 cl. Ridiculous that people are thinking this is an automatic CL win for PSG.
Nothing’s automatic, there’s still a lot of good teams around and it’s knockout football. But they’ve got to be the favourites.

Also, Neymar was not in his prime back then. Messi was better though.
 

nuanced

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Based on what exactly?
He’s really not, don’t understand the disrespect Enrique gets. Enrique has more trophies than most managers ever achieve.
As of right now in their careers, Enrique has proven to be a far better coach than Poch. Pretty sure Poch himself knows this.
When Enrique started, Barsa had 7 years of managers who placed a high emphasis on controlling the ball and dominating the other teams using their superior midfield. The quality of managers successfully able to implement such strategy dropped with every manager after Pep. When Enrique came, Barsa were in a sort of crisis, where their identity wasn't really working for them. After 7 months of poor results under Enrique, they (allegedly players like Xavi and Messi convincing/coercing Enrique) switched to a more reactive style, where they heavily depended on MSN to hit the other teams on counter, instead of being camped in the opponents penalty area. The switch from total ball domination to a somewhat counter attacking style was a breath of fresh air for that team, and they absolutely dominated the rest half of the season by trashing PSG, City, Bayern and Juve on route to the CL win. While that strategy was great for a team struggling to successfully implement it's inherent tactics, it was the seed which led to the total loss of their identity since that season. So much so that the Barsa which was humiliated by Pool and Roma, look miles apart than Pep's Barsa.

During the same time, Poch took over a Spurs team of young nobody's and developed players tlike Kane, Son Eriksen, Alderweireld, Dembele, Moura, etc to a high level. That culminated in them reaching a CL final against all odds. During his time, Spurs were a regular in CL (which wasn't really the case for most Spurs managers before and after him). At Espanyol, Southampton, and Spurs, Poch has shown a talent for developing young players, and making the team's abilities higher than the sum of their individual abilities. That's why I rate Poch higher than Enrique (who has show glimpses of that with Celta).
 

tenpoless

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That frontline is even more scary now that Messi is PSG player. But you see their midfield plus backline and find that the only reliable, hard working player that still have legs is Veratti.

If i have a squad much worse than them that has a good CF + AM, I would just play defensive football and ask the AM to keep playing those long balls and bypass their midfield (Veratti who is short). You have to remember that Ramos is 35. I would fancy Moyes Westham against them anyday of the week. orite
 

Chesterlestreet

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In spite of everything, I do admit that I'm fascinated by this move in a purely football sense. It will be interesting to see him play for PSG.

I won't pay for it - of course. I'll do the noble thing and grab some illegal stream or other.
 

dinostar77

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That frontline is even more scary now that Messi is PSG player. But you see their midfield plus backline and find that the only reliable, hard working player that still have legs is Veratti.

If i have a squad much worse than them that has a good CF + AM, I would just play defensive football and ask the AM to keep playing those long balls and bypass their midfield (Veratti who is short). You have to remember that Ramos is 35. I would fancy Moyes Westham against them anyday of the week. orite
They have wijnaldum, Herrera and Danilo as well. All have legs to get about. Veratti is a passer rather than a destroyer in midfield.

Normally teams double up on Neymar and Mbappe. To use your example, how long would West Ham survive having to double up on Messi, Neymar, Mbappe? Then not seeing the ball for long periods of time while PSG just pass it around. They can overload the flanks with Bernat and Hakimi. If it still isnt going their way they can bring on Di Maria, Icardi, Draxler etc.

Get a chance to advance on the PSG goal, you got to then get through Ramos and Marquinhos and then beat Donnarumma. Unless you score or the ball goes out of play your open for the transition up to Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. So with that in mind how many players do you commit to your attack? Or do you park the bus and hope to get lucky on the break?

Regardless its not going to be easy. Messi, Hakimi, Ramos, Wijnaldum and Donnarumma have taken the first team up a level. They will be tough to beat. Oh if you cath them on a day when Neymar, Mbappe and Messi all have 9 out 10 performances, then your really screwed.
 

NasirTimothy

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They have wijnaldum, Herrera and Danilo as well. All have legs to get about. Veratti is a passer rather than a destroyer in midfield.

Normally teams double up on Neymar and Mbappe. To use your example, how long would West Ham survive having to double up on Messi, Neymar, Mbappe? Then not seeing the ball for long periods of time while PSG just pass it around. They can overload the flanks with Bernat and Hakimi. If it still isnt going their way they can bring on Di Maria, Icardi, Draxler etc.

Get a chance to advance on the PSG goal, you got to then get through Ramos and Marquinhos and then beat Donnarumma. Unless you score or the ball goes out of play your open for the transition up to Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. So with that in mind how many players do you commit to your attack? Or do you park the bus and hope to get lucky on the break?

Regardless its not going to be easy. Messi, Hakimi, Ramos, Wijnaldum and Donnarumma have taken the first team up a level. They will be tough to beat. Oh if you cath them on a day when Neymar, Mbappe and Messi all have 9 out 10 performances, then your really screwed.
Agree with everything here. Nothing is set in stone, but they’re clearly the team to beat, for sure. I think they will win the CL this season and probably next season too. I mean, they’ve been pretty close in the last two years with a worse squad than they have now.
 

JPRouve

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In spite of everything, I do admit that I'm fascinated by this move in a purely football sense. It will be interesting to see him play for PSG.

I won't pay for it - of course. I'll do the noble thing and grab some illegal stream or other.
Noble, you are stealing money from a poor french club like Reims? I hope you lose some sleep over it. :nono:
 

tenpoless

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Oh if you cath them on a day when Neymar, Mbappe and Messi all have 9 out 10 performances, then your really screwed.
Then Declan Rice put a 11/10 performance and destroy them all. But really though the team, while it looks amazing on paper, it lacks work rate and we dont even know if it'll be cohesive. It surely works on FIFA. But actual players have ego, this team especially need a strong manager since their star additions only add more egos to the team, I dont think Poch has that.

I have read about the same stuffs about PSG winning CL and destroying teams left and right after they signed Mbappe + Neymar. Not to mention Veratti was at his peak, Cavani was still there, Thiago Silva was still there, then they added Alves. It didnt happen, they were only the kings of Ligue 1. The team back then was almost as impressive as the current one, with fresher legs. But alas it was only trully invicible in video games. On top of that they didnt even win Ligue 1 last season. So much for Mbappe and Neymar. Those two should be enough if football is only about firepower, its not.

I could give you another example. Remember Barca's fantastic four? what did they achieve?
 
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NasirTimothy

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Then Declan Rice put a 11/10 performance and destroy them all. But really though the team, while it looks amazing on paper, it lacks work rate and we dont even know if it'll be cohesive. It surely works on FIFA. But actual players have ego, this team especially need a strong manager since their star additions only add more egos to the team, I dont think Poch has that.

I have read about the same stuffs about PSG winning CL and destroying teams left and right after they signed Mbappe + Neymar. Not to mention Veratti was at his peak, Cavani was still there, Thiago Silva was still there, then they added Alves. It didnt happen, they were only the kings of Ligue 1. The team back then was almost as impressive as the current one, with fresher legs. But alas it was only trully good in video games. On top of that they didnt even win Ligue 1 last season. So much for Mbappe and Neymar. Those two should be enough if football is only about firepower, its not.

I could give you another example. Remember Barca's fantastic four? what did they achieve?
People really don’t want this team to win it all (and I understand the reasons why) but they’re just kidding themselves. “Football’s not played on paper” etc. All I’m saying is, please don’t be surprised when it happens, cos it likely will.
 

tenpoless

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People really don’t want this team to win it all (and I understand the reasons why) but they’re just kidding themselves. “Football’s not played on paper” etc. All I’m saying is, please don’t be surprised when it happens, cos it likely will.
Well because its not played on paper. The PSG team back then looked like they could have won the CL once at the very least and it didnt happen. So its not as simple as "we add messi then we win everything in sight". The same way why City havent won the CL despite having an extremely good team with an extremely capable manager.
 

Chesterlestreet

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Noble, you are stealing money from a poor french club like Reims? I hope you lose some sleep over it. :nono:
I do feel for Reims, now that you mention it: a proper club (Raymond Kopa and whatnot - not like that horrible PSG lot).

But I'll be able to live with it, I think.

In fact, I plan on not paying a penny for football next season - period (including United). We'll see how long it lasts - I usually end up getting some kind of subscription (because those lovely free streams tend to be shite).
 

NasirTimothy

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Well because its not played on paper. The PSG team back then looked like they could have won the CL once at the very least and it didnt happen. So its not as simple as we add messi then we win everything in sight. The same way why City havent won the CL despite having an extremely good team with a very capable manager.
They haven’t just added Messi by the way. But adding Messi is a pretty big deal, seeing as he is (in my view) the second or third greatest player to ever play the game (and of course the greatest ever in the opinion of many).
 

JPRouve

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I do feel for Reims, now that you mention it: a proper club (Raymond Kopa and whatnot - not like that horrible PSG lot).

But I'll be able to live with it, I think.

In fact, I plan on not paying a penny for football next season - period (including United). We'll see how long it lasts - I usually end up getting some kind of subscription (because those lovely free streams tend to be shite).
All french clubs have been sugar daddied at some point, PSG isn't special. If they aren't a proper club none of them are.
 
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Chesterlestreet

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All french clubs have been sugar daddies at some point, PSG isn't special. If they aren't a proper club none of them are.
I know, mate - I know.

More importantly, though - pronouncing "Reims"...is it (English style) "Rams"? Or more like "Rams" but with the "m" kind of silent? As in "ra-s".

I have also heard it pronounced more like "Rans" (English style) - as in, you substitute the "m" sound for something like an "n" sound.
 

JPRouve

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I know, mate - I know.

More importantly, though - pronouncing "Reims"...is it (English style) "Rams"? Or more like "Rams" but with the "m" kind of silent? As in "ra-s".

I have also heard it pronounced more like "Rans" (English style) - as in, you substitute the "m" sound for something like an "n" sound.
It's none of these, there is no n or m sound. I don't know if you have that sound in english. It's close to rance but it's not really that close for a french ear.
 

Chesterlestreet

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It's close to rance
I think I know what you mean - kind of "rance" but without the "n" being heard fully. Not "rass" (as in rhymes with "ass") but something in between "rance" and "rass", with the "n" almost being there but not fully.
 

JPRouve

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I think I know what you mean - kind of "rance" but without the "n" being heard fully. Not "rass" (as in rhymes with "ass") but something in between "rance" and "rass", with the "n" almost being there but not fully.
Yeah, "eim" in Reims is like 1(un) but I don't know if it helps. It's impossible to guess.
 

Oly Francis

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Some might think PSG is plastic here but our fans are real :

 

Chesterlestreet

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Yeah, "eim" in Reims is like 1(un) but I don't know if it helps.
It does, actually - for someone who learned French a hundred years ago (and have forgotten most of it since). But I do remember how to pronounce 1 (un).

Merci.
 

Twigg

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It's none of these, there is no n or m sound. I don't know if you have that sound in english. It's close to rance but it's not really that close for a french ear.
If the the IPA spelling /ræ̃s/ is correct then apparently it does incorporate what we would call an 'n' sound, a very soft one.
 

Oly Francis

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If the the IPA spelling /ræ̃s/ is correct then apparently it does incorporate what we would call an 'n' sound, a very soft one.
It doesn't (at least not in the way I imagine the n sound) you can check natives pronouncing it through the forvo link I posted a couple of minutes ago.
 

giorno

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If they manage to keep Mbappé, they can't not win the CL honestly. Only a serious injury crisis could stop them

They have literally the 3 best players in the world in attack. Nevermind balance, it's their opponents who have to worry about that. Press them high and every time Verratti or Ramos or Marquinhos manages to get the ball out in space to one of those 3, it's a goal. Don't press them high and they don't have to worry about balance and will still carve you open with the combination of Messi-Neymar-Mbappé-Hakimi

Who's their LWB? Bernat?
 

giorno

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It's none of these, there is no n or m sound. I don't know if you have that sound in english. It's close to rance but it's not really that close for a french ear.
Tl:dr french is a garbage language :D
 

Oly Francis

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Who's their LWB? Bernat?
Bernat is still recovering from his ACL surgery he should be back soon but he might have a hard time after almost a year without playing. So atm we only have Kurzawa or Diallo. It's The weak spot in the team. Our midfield isnt that great either.
 

giorno

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Bernat is still recovering from his ACL surgery he should be back soon but he might have a hard time after almost a year without playing. So atm we only have Kurzawa or Diallo. It's The weak spot in the team. Our midfield isnt that great either.
If Ramos is fit, Marquinhos-Wijnaldum-Verratti is a great midfield imo