Yeah me too. So lucky to be able to see this genius play every week...Cheered me up a bit after our performance to see how football should be...
Lionel Messi
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Messi 2020/2021 in La Liga
1st in goals
1st in assists
1st in dribbles
1st in shots
1st in opportunities created
1st in key passes
1st in goals
1st in assists
1st in dribbles
1st in shots
1st in opportunities created
1st in key passes
‘Declining’ they said.
His finish for the second goal is just beautiful - it's so simple, yet it's perfect. Most would whack it, or go far post.
He's ridiculous.
He's ridiculous.
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Insane and this is declined version.
Is there even words for it anymore?
Ridcolously good, unbelievable how people can question him
Great goal, but one of the worst co-commentators I've ever heard.
What a brilliant goal, all started from halfway line, with some good one two and intelligent move, great control and fine finish.
And winning a cup trophy is not too bad this season too, during the so called rebuild process.
And winning a cup trophy is not too bad this season too, during the so called rebuild process.
That's Ale Moreno for you, part of the terrible ESPN FC crew.
This.
Anyway do we think Messi is staying at Barcelona for now? He looks a lot happier these days compared to early season and they are still in the title race although it will be hard to nick it.
Shades of old from the great man.
Showed a nice turn of pace along with the customary total mastery of the football.
Hopefully we get to enjoy him for a few years yet, there's never been anything like him.
The goal only Messi can score. Started the move in the own half and finished the move awesomely.
What a player.
It really struck me yesterday how happy he looked on the pitch.. Genuine smiles, celebrating with his teammates.. Sincere words after the game as well.. This seemed so far away a couple months ago... Im so hoping he will stay at Barca.. Just how it should be..
Already on 2 goals before half-time. Think he'll get a hattrick tonight.
Also, probably should have had an assist when he put Griezmann through who just lost his footing. Not to mention the curler from the edge of the box that clipped the underside of the bar. When he's on it, which is most of the time, there's not much you can do.
He's jinxed these days! Not had a hattrick in over a year.
Don't know if I would call it jinxed when he's on two goals and then gives the pen to Griezmann.
23 goals and 8 assist in 2021.
Ronaldo 32 goals and 4 assists all competitions.
Messi 33 goals and 14 assists in all competitions.
I still think Messi is the better and more complete player.
Messi 33 goals and 14 assists in all competitions.
I still think Messi is the better and more complete player.
He always has been but it’s no surprise he ages better than Ronaldo, as he’s less reliant on physical attributes.
Wrong thread though isn't? Also Messi is about 2,5 years younger. Messi will always be on top of things like dribbling, keypasses and chance creation. Also he has 21 motm awards vs Ronaldo's 7.
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Amazing
I'm kinda used to what he is and how good he is, but those stats are simply insane.
To be fair that Shearer and Rooney stat doesn't look at the full picture. La Liga defences in the teams at the bottom are not as good as in the PL and never have been.
Obviously Messi is a better goalscorer than both of them and the amount of seasons he has played, if he was in the PL would have still broken Shearers record.
I'm not sure what you mean? I mean obviously there is some nuance here such as Alan Shearer played for Newcastle and Blackburn, Rooney was rarely played as a pure striker, the relative strength of the PL etc. However despite Messi not having defensive duties, he's not a pure striker in the first place. He's always drop far deeper than pure 9's and even more so after the creative burden has been put on him.
Anyway as you can see here, he's scored more goals against the strongest teams than the weaks ones.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/lionel-messi/bilanz/spieler/28003
He's scored the most of his goals against.
1. Sevilla
2. Athletico Madrid
3. Athletic Bilbao
4. Valencia
5. Real Madrid
6. Betis.
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Is there any basis for this claim? Because I really don't see why EPL teams should be better at defending. I'd say it's harder to score in the EPL because there are 6-9 teams with enough quality for European competitions while in Spain, the peak is much thinner. But the bottom? Nah. If anything, the underdog teams in Spain, Germany and Italy are better organized and drilled.
More drilled how? If anything you could say more of them actually attempt to play football rather than putting ten men behind the ball like they do in England. Leeds are a prime example of more of the sort of lower half teams you see in Spain. I'm sure United for one would prefer to play them every week over Burnley.
I used to be one of those folks in the Ronnie camp instead. No longer - how he just keeps going is amazing. The way he picked himself back up after some dark days - and then did a 180 it seems in finding a lot of joy in the game and his teammates again is amazing to watch. It's like he went back in time 5 years.
He looks reborn without the beard. I don't know why he ever ditched the long hair. That was the coolest looking Messi.
That's part of being well drilled. In modern football you defend with the ball as much as you do without it.
Moreover, teams park the bus in those leagues, too. Bielefeld for example had 22% possession against Leverkusen and 18% against Leipzig just a few weeks ago. They simply aren't doing it all the time - it's a question of game plans. If you guys struggle against deep blocks, you'd encounter plenty of them in other leagues, too.
And I doubt United would prefer playing Leeds over Burnley. People put too much emphasis on snapshots. Proactive approaches to football pay off at all levels.
Farmers League
Messi also has more goals against the top 6 in the PL than Rooney and RVP despite having never played in PL
I’m curious: what is the actual evidence for this statement? If you can provide something concrete, then I’ll accept it. If not, then we just have to accept that Messi has scored more goals than the two all-time best premier league goalscorers (combined) against the same level of competition. In 400+ less games
shearer was scoring against some crap defences in the early 90s too
He's having a Balon D'or worthy season. If Barcelona manage the impossible and win the league after the horrible 2020 start of the season, then i think its a given.
Anyone calling farmers league La Liga is being sarcastic or i don't know. At technical level it's been the best for years. Only now is weaker.
I doubt he wins another Ballon D'or. He should, but it's a routine for him to have this kind of level, people are just used to it. I literally will cry when he retires.
I doubt he wins another Ballon D'or. He should, but it's a routine for him to have this kind of level, people are just used to it. I literally will cry when he retires.
I sincerely hope this is ironic. Because it’s extremely unintelligent if not. One might even call it a ‘twitter-worthy’ level of post.