Topic: Lionel Messi

[LFC_4_life]

And to think that Arsenal could officially be the best team in England in a few weeks time.

[CHOPPER]

And to think that Arsenal could officially be the best team in England in a few weeks time.

I hope they are. Don't you?

[LFC_4_life]

I hope they are. Don't you?

I hope so to. The lesser of three evils. But as long as it's not the mancs, don't really care.

[nicholasanthony]

I hope so to. The lesser of three evils. But as long as it's not the mancs, don't really care.

I'd rather chelsea before arsenal. Absolute cannot stand Wenger and hope nothing good happens to him for the rest of his career. Glad the little master destroyed them.

[xerxes1]

I have vigorously debated the phrase "World Class" with other forumistas on some other threads. One of my definitions is the ability to shine and do the job at the business end of competitions. Messi demonstrated just that last night.

[rowan_d]

Weren't you going on about international tournaments mainly?

[lionel_messias]

Disputes are over. I mean how many people now expect him to score at least two, or perhaps another hattrick against Madrid at the weekend?
 
People will argue he needs to dominate a World Cup that his country wins, surely if Argentina just press high up the pitch and keep the ball....this is going to happen
 
But Spain are better right now 

[hic]

Jokes aside, he probably is...
What Messi does in La Liga, he can't do in EPL.
Ronaldo does well in both EPL and La Liga.
EPL>La Liga
Since 2005-present, there has always been an English team in CL finals.
To beat Barcelona, you need discipline. Arsenal don't have that.
We do, Man Utd does, Chelsea as well, and that's why we've beat Barcelona last time we met, and Chelsea has gotten the better of them over the past few years, dispite last season's result.
I'd rather have Torres over Messi if I'm facing the likes of Inter and Chelsea.
I firmly believe he would not be able to cope with the physicality of the EPL, Ronaldo is proven over here.
Messi's record vs English opposition is poor.
Arsenal, being the least English team of all, just happened to be the victim of his brilliance, but Ronaldo has stripped Arsenal in similar fashion as well.

He's still very young, and has plenty of time to improve of course.
Bare in mind, the midfield of Barca makes things very easy for Messi.
Great player no doubt, but I'd have Ronaldo over him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQ_Ja02gTY

[Chivasino]

The way he took the match ball with a huge smile on his face, and bounced it around as he shook hands with the other players, it looked as if he had just finished a kickabout with his mates in a park. And it looked as if he had barely broke sweat.

The lad has the world as his feet. He's clearly the most talented player of his generation and playing at a great club, surrounded by brilliant players, and managed my a man who gets the team to play in his vision.

[bakstabba]

Jokes aside, he probably is...
What Messi does in La Liga, he can't do in EPL.
Ronaldo does well in both EPL and La Liga.
EPL>La Liga
Since 2005-present, there has always been an English team in CL finals.
To beat Barcelona, you need discipline. Arsenal don't have that.
We do, Man Utd does, Chelsea as well, and that's why we've beat Barcelona last time we met, and Chelsea has gotten the better of them over the past few years, dispite last season's result.
I'd rather have Torres over Messi if I'm facing the likes of Inter and Chelsea.
I firmly believe he would not be able to cope with the physicality of the EPL, Ronaldo is proven over here.
Messi's record vs English opposition is poor.
Arsenal, being the least English team of all, just happened to be the victim of his brilliance, but Ronaldo has stripped Arsenal in similar fashion as well.

He's still very young, and has plenty of time to improve of course.
Bare in mind, the midfield of Barca makes things very easy for Messi.
Great player no doubt, but I'd have Ronaldo over him.

Interesting. To compare Torres and Messi is extremely difficult as they are very different players in what they add to a team. I'd have Messi over Ronaldo personally because Messi is more of a team player and more likeable. RE: your comments on Messi and "English" styles of football, you have a nice point but its speculation in seeing how he'll do in the Premier League. All the talk about him being  "not good in the air", and "lightweight" is bullshit

[wardides]

Dont forget Ronaldo took all Utds Free-kicks and pens aswell. Messi doesn't for Barca

Messi does take most for Barcelona..Actually takes them all,apart from a few weeks back when he let Ibra take it.And to say Ronaldo carried united that year when he scored 42 goals.I never bought into that..Rooney is carrying them this year but when Carlos Tevez scores 14 in the league and rooney pops up with 12 aswell as being the top assister in the league.He hardly did it all himself,especially when you consider he was also playing with the best defence in the league?

[xavidub]

I don't care what anyone says, I thought the lad did ok last night

[Stussy]

Still thinking about the tricky genius all morning, the night after.

[wardides]

I don't care what anyone says, I thought the lad did ok last night

Was very quiet apart from his 4 goals i thought.

[itsgunnabebarnes!]

The problem tht lads going to face is when he decides to come to us, can he dislodge Dirk Kuyt? i have my reservations.

["Nookie".]

Poor man's Ameobi

[myrlas]

Imagine if Maradona played nowadays.

I wonder what the polls would have looked like.

[kingkenny79]

All the talks about some good/great player MAYBE won't cut it in EPL, means he is not actually a great player,really bother me.

Morientes still a great player in my eyes, even though he didnt made it in EPL
Litmanen still a great player...
Riedle still a great player...

Speaking of Riedle,,what happen to him now?
I really like him as player

[SalisburyRed]

Just read this on another forum and had to laugh:

Messi is good, very good but Rooney is simply a genius. Thats all that needs to be said.

[Marcus6]

Jokes aside, he probably is...
What Messi does in La Liga, he can't do in EPL.
Ronaldo does well in both EPL and La Liga.
EPL>La Liga
Since 2005-present, there has always been an English team in CL finals.
To beat Barcelona, you need discipline. Arsenal don't have that.
We do, Man Utd does, Chelsea as well, and that's why we've beat Barcelona last time we met, and Chelsea has gotten the better of them over the past few years, dispite last season's result.
I'd rather have Torres over Messi if I'm facing the likes of Inter and Chelsea.
I firmly believe he would not be able to cope with the physicality of the EPL, Ronaldo is proven over here.
Messi's record vs English opposition is poor.
Arsenal, being the least English team of all, just happened to be the victim of his brilliance, but Ronaldo has stripped Arsenal in similar fashion as well.

He's still very young, and has plenty of time to improve of course.
Bare in mind, the midfield of Barca makes things very easy for Messi.
Great player no doubt, but I'd have Ronaldo over him.

If that is not a fishing trip, i despair...

[Finn Solomon]

All the talks about some good/great player MAYBE won't cut it in EPL, means he is not actually a great player,really bother me.

Morientes still a great player in my eyes, even though he didnt made it in EPL
Litmanen still a great player...
Riedle still a great player...

Speaking of Riedle,,what happen to him now?
I really like him as player

Most of it is tongue-in-cheek. No one says Gerrard is crap because he can't hack it in La Liga.

[DangerScouse]

Just read this on another forum and had to laugh:

I pray to god it wasn't a Liverpool forum!!!

[Crosby Nick]

Most of it is tongue-in-cheek. No one says Gerard is crap because he can't hack it in La Liga.

He did ok at Barca and Valencia from memory

[rafa forever]

Got a tenner bet on with me mate. See who gets player of the season. Gotta be Messi IMO. His bets Rooney.

[Istanbul Therapy Group]

Got a tenner bet on with me mate. See who gets player of the season. Gotta be Messi IMO. His bets Rooney.

Will he consider taking bets off people who arent his mates? I like Money

[Ultimate Bromance]

Well thankfully we'll never see Messi in the PL, or at least I hope. The Sky wankfest would probably make me hate the midget c*nt.

[LFC_4_life]

Well thankfully we'll never see Messi in the PL, or at least I hope. The Sky wankfest would probably make me hate the midget c*nt.

Just imagine he played for Man Utd.

[scoresagain]

do people think the english league is still the best in the world? when we dont have the best team or the best player?

[jaffod]

do people think the english league is still the best in the world? when we dont have the best team or the best player?

Richard Keys and Andy Gray think so. That's good enough for me.

[DangerScouse]

do people think the english league is still the best in the world? when we dont have the best team or the best player?

I don't think that's exactly relevant though is it? The discussion should be about the overall standard of the league and not based on who has the single best player or team.

[Daranoza]

Messi does take most for Barcelona..Actually takes them all,apart from a few weeks back when he let Ibra take it.

Penalties, yes, but it's Alves and Xavi that take their fair share of free kicks.

[Daranoza]

The way he took the match ball with a huge smile on his face, and bounced it around as he shook hands with the other players, it looked as if he had just finished a kickabout with his mates in a park. And it looked as if he had barely broke sweat.

It’s moments like that when you realise how young he truly is. That, and the celebrations at Nou Camp when he was off his face and acting like a naughty little schoolboy. He seems so old for his years but it’s moments like this when you realise he’s still got absolute years ahead of him.

[DangerScouse]

Penalties, yes, but it's Alves and Xavi that take their fair share of free kicks.

I was pretty sure Sid Lowe stated in his article about Messi recently that he hadn't taken any this season, i actually though he had.

Edit:

Here is the article:

It was not a new conclusion. In England too Ronaldo is invariably described as more complete than Messi – stronger, faster, bigger, more athletic. But aren't they all part of the same package, an obsession with physical strength? Isn't that a pretty incomplete reading of complete? Last season Messi scored twice as many Champions League goals with half as many shots. This season, Messi is the league's top scorer with 10 more than Ronaldo, has provided more assists than anyone else (Ronaldo is not in the top 20) and has completed more passes than any other attacker. He hasn't even taken any penalties.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/mar/22/leo-messi-barcelona-la-liga-spain

[hoonin]

Just tuned into SSN to see them asking the question:

"Is Messi the greatest player ever after last night"

Fuck off!

Outrageously talented? Yes. Head and shoulders above his contemporaries? Yes. Greatest ever? Not yet - his international medal collection is empty.

[scoresagain]

I don't think that's exactly relevant though is it? The discussion should be about the overall standard of the league and not based on who has the single best player or team.

i suppose so...then i suppose there isnt a big difference between la liga and england then.

i happen to think anyone who thinks he couldnt make it in the epl is a bit of a stupid one to be honest.
he should have to play in this league to prove anything. la liga is right up there and he lights it up.
i hope he never comes here, i want him to be the best player barca ever had, i want him to win everything season after season with barca and be a one club man.

and the lad who say the barca midfield make it easy for him...well i cant think of anything to say to that to be honest.

[lionel_messias]

Dirk Kuyt has not laced his boots in anger this week yet, so we should ALL calm the fuck down.

[scoresagain]

Just tuned into SSN to see them asking the question:

"Is Messi the greatest player ever after last night"

Fuck off!

Outrageously talented? Yes. Head and shoulders above his contemporaries? Yes. Greatest ever? Not yet - his international medal collection is empty.

i can see your point but what if he played for a team like belgium and could never possibly win anything internationally, would he have no chance of being the greatest i cant see how that should count against him. hes won everything domestically, multiple times.

[xavidub]

He clearly has the potential to be the greatest player ever and is the best in the world right now. But he still has to do it in a couple of World Cups and and also has to maintain his performance for most of his career so it's too early to say.

Puskas scored 514 in 529 games including two hat tricks in European Cup Finals. If you are going to be the greatest player ever then that's the kind of competition you've got.

[Daranoza]

I was pretty sure Sid Lowe stated in his article about Messi recently that he hadn't taken any this season, i actually though he had.

In general he is one of their designated penalty takers and I do know that he shares free kicks. Knew he didn't take all of them as had been stated, though. He let Ibra take the penalty because he needed a goal. He's a team player.

[DangerScouse]

He clearly has the potential to be the greatest player ever and is the best in the world right now. But he still has to do it in a couple of World Cups and and also has to maintain his performance for most of his career so it's too early to say.

Puskas scored 514 in 529 games including two hat tricks in European Cup Finals. If you are going to be the greatest player ever then that's the kind of competition you've got.

That scoring record is incredibe, but Real did win the first 5 European Cups in a row so you could argue it's far more competitive now given the fact no team has retained the cup since its been revamped as the Champions League. I've no idea what the overall standard of the Spanish league was back then but i know Real had a monopoly on pretty much any player they wanted and both themselves and Barca were just as much dominant back then as they are now. But i agree, he has a lot more to achieve to be considered the best of all time. I've no doubt, injuries permitting, he'll do that though.