Messi... Best Ever ????
Messi... Best Ever ????
5 tonight for Barca. Is he the greatest platyer ever?
Personally i think he needs to show more for Argentina before he can lay claim to that title, but by f**k he is good!!!!
sthn.jeff2012-03-08 10:58:00
That was a hell of an impressive effort 
casi, casi... But yeah, phenomenal. And still only 24?
Man, I am looking forward to seeing the highlights of this one tonight. Unbelievable. The Mozart of Football!
Personally i think he needs to show more for Argentina before he can lay claim to that title, but by f**k he is good!!!!
I take it you never watch him play for Argentina then?
I am certainly not saying he is pants at International level, just that he is yet to truly dominate as he does at club level
Slight difference in personnel at Barcelona and Argentina though.
Exactly, that is part of the point
He scored a hat-trick in his last match for Argentina too. And I think if the Argies had not be coached by a crack-fueled egomaniacal lunatic (
Maradona) at the last WC, or been pressured by the public into jamming Tevez into the system somehow at the Copa America, then he would have already been able to stamp his mark on the international stage as well. Argentina's attacking tactics have been a confused mess for a couple of years and he ends up pushed back into a deeper role by Tevez, Higuain, Lavezzi, and Aguero too often which doesn't suit him as well as the sort of free-roaming false -9 role he has at Barca.
Anyway, as much as it is impossible to compare players across differrent eras, he must already be in the top 5 or so ever, and if he continues like this for another decade or more he will just leave the rest behind.
This morning as I watched that game I realised that I was thinking "ho hum, no big deal" after his 4th goal and if that had been any other player I would have been awestruck. Either one of his chips would be the best goal of most player's season, if not career, but its all just a bit routine for Messi. His true talent shows in how easy everything looks for him - Ronaldo has had an equally impressive record in the last few seasons but he always seems to be trying so hard, while Messi just seems like he's having a kickaround at the park.
Sure, he relies on the quality around him to create the space he exploits so damn well, but so what? His brilliance shouldn't be diminished because he's part of a one of the greatest club sides ever - after all he is part of the reason why Barca are so damn impressive!
BarryZuckerkorn2012-03-08 17:35:51
Maradona) at the last WC, or been pressured by the public into jamming Tevez into the system somehow at the Copa America, then he would have already been able to stamp his mark on the international stage as well. Argentina's attacking tactics have been a confused mess for a couple of years and he ends up pushed back into a deeper role by Tevez, Higuain, Lavezzi, and Aguero too often which doesn't suit him as well as the sort of free-roaming false -9 role he has at Barca.Anyway, as much as it is impossible to compare players across differrent eras, he must already be in the top 5 or so ever, and if he continues like this for another decade or more he will just leave the rest behind.
This morning as I watched that game I realised that I was thinking "ho hum, no big deal" after his 4th goal and if that had been any other player I would have been awestruck. Either one of his chips would be the best goal of most player's season, if not career, but its all just a bit routine for Messi. His true talent shows in how easy everything looks for him - Ronaldo has had an equally impressive record in the last few seasons but he always seems to be trying so hard, while Messi just seems like he's having a kickaround at the park.
Sure, he relies on the quality around him to create the space he exploits so damn well, but so what? His brilliance shouldn't be diminished because he's part of a one of the greatest club sides ever - after all he is part of the reason why Barca are so damn impressive!
BarryZuckerkorn2012-03-08 17:35:51
Messi has become ruthlessly efficient, to the point where there is barely a wow factor anymore.
He doesn't have that same aura that a Ronaldinho or Zidane had, not yet anyway. These are players who in their prime were marvels to watch. Yes, goals, assists, trophies and medals are all great, but outside of the player or the club/national team he wins them for it means little, which is why him winning the World Cup doesn't matter at all. If it were all about stats, players like Gerd Muller and Jimmy Greaves would receive far far more plaudits than they currently do.
He doesn't have that same aura that a Ronaldinho or Zidane had, not yet anyway. These are players who in their prime were marvels to watch. Yes, goals, assists, trophies and medals are all great, but outside of the player or the club/national team he wins them for it means little, which is why him winning the World Cup doesn't matter at all. If it were all about stats, players like Gerd Muller and Jimmy Greaves would receive far far more plaudits than they currently do.
Definitely the best Lionel Messi to date.
However, I can't see any way to rate him higher than Lev Yashin.
only seen the goals in his 5 goal haul (not the game) but that BL defence looked like dog sh*t
Definitely the best Lionel Messi to date.
However, I can't see any way to rate him higher than Lev Yashin.
only seen the goals in his 5 goal haul (not the game) but that BL defence looked like dog sh*t
Well, that team did just beat Bayern 2-0 a few days before the game. And qualified for the last 16 of Champions League from a group including Chelsea and Valencia, beating both in the process. So they're no bunnies by any stretch of imagination.
I think it's more that Barcelona makes most defences around Europe look amateurish.
only seen the goals in his 5 goal haul (not the game) but that BL defence looked like dog sh*t
Well, that team did just beat Bayern 2-0 a few days before the game. And qualified for the last 16 of Champions League from a group including Chelsea and Valencia, beating both in the process. So they're no bunnies by any stretch of imagination.
I think it's more that Barcelona makes most defences around Europe look amateurish.
I think Leverkusen had run up the white flag before kick-off. The fighting over Messi's shirt on the first leg suggests that they were "just glad to be there".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/02/barcelona-malaga-la-liga
Just in case there was any doubt...
