There is an ITV show about Messi, as good as Barca are, I think they should make a documentary about blatant ref decisions that have given Barca a lot of their success, like in the 2006 final when we were given a red card when it wasn't needed, or in 2009 when the ref's blatantly robbed Chelsea in the semis, and then last season the worst none red card against us in history, and the decisions for Barca go on and on...Jose Mourinho does talk a lot of crap, but he has a big point when it comes to ref's and Barca, so maybe a documentary should be made on that. We also saw complete rubbish refereeing last night, once against the ref was obviously swayed in favour of another major European team.
You only have to look at him sending off our top player when we were going to knock barca out last year. RVP kicked the ball about 1 second after the whistle and he sent him off For messi to be in the mix for "best player ever" he needs to do it for argentina basically.
You do? Alfredo Di Stefano never did much on a international stage and he is considered as one of the greats.
I do. Although maybe not seeing his goals tonight I guess he is already in the running but doing it for the argies would help is cause ALOT. I still maintain that xavi would be first name on my team sheet. Obviously messi would be probably second though
Messi is a great but he is not so good that he can cover the mistakes of managers. In the world cup he was dropping into the midfield far too deep to get the ball because Argentina could not get the ball to him in dangerous areas. Argentina need to build a midfield, also develop some half decent full backs. Because if your full backs are **** going forward then the other team can put more effort into actually stopping Messi.
Well they had the players but maradonna left them at home and took 7 strikers. Cambiasso was absolutly phemonamal that year. As was the experienced zanetti. There was their centre mid patnership if needs be. And I agree to some extent. Although the french had dire managers (the crazy man) and zidane just took control and carried the side on his back every tournament. I am biassed though. At some point I end caring about the results. Sure messi and ronaldo get the job done and score the goals. But if I was to watch 1 player it would be zidane by a country mile. The guy was just an artist on the pitch. I dont think I will ever see another sportsman who was so good to watch. Is that more important than scoring 50 goals? i dont know, and I am pretty sure watching zidane in his pomp again would have me forgetting any other player whilst I was int he moment.
Crazy/mediocre managers? Yes, but he also had fellow leaders and world class players around him. That French generation was amazing just like the current Spanish one.
But without zidane they werent going to qualify in 2006 and they didnt score a goal in 2002 when he got injured before the tourny
They had the base though. Zidane was the creative force and his return meant they clicked going forward. For Argentina, Messi does not have a solid enough base especially against the good sides to get the best out of him. If you take Messi as far away from the goal as possible then you done your job. Germany made him pick the ball up from the DM. I just do not buy the argument that he must match the performance of Pele and co for his national team. Football is different now and if you do not have a team that is set up properly then you can find a way to even stop Messi when he plays for the disorganized team (Argentina).
Its a fair arguement to be honest. Alot of truth to it. But argentina do have the players thats all I was saying. On paper even without messi they were one of the strongest sides in 2010. Obviously ignoring maradonna shocking incompetance. But when I watch messi I dont get that feeling like wow, I am in the presence of greatest. He is the most clinical player I have ever seen and he is exceptionally effective. But its not an art form when I watch him. I dont tune in to game just to watch messi. But with zidane I did. At its best football is close to an art form. In this way you cant define greatness. Its like nobody knows why viveldi was such a genius composer. But he just was...when you listen to it you can hear the magic. The same with zidane for me...but everyone is different. When I watched zidane I was just in awe of how he made things look. Was it the most effective ever? Well maybe but maybe not. But I cant imagine anyone being so good to watch..at least from my point of view. The great passers are the ones who get me. Seeing that pass and executing it. Dictating the play. Taking the ball in however it is fed to you. Those great number 10's are the players that I think most people tune in to watch. Sure the great goalscoroers are great but there is something about a genius playmaker...
I feel the same about Messi - until he does it for Argentina he can't be considered one of the best of all time. Every time I saw Maradona play I was like "wow", lets not forget Argentina were not an amazing team and Napoli were mediocre when he went there ! Best player I have ever seen. I put Brazilian Ronaldo and Zidane higher than Messi too.
But betterer Ronaldo did things that I've NEVER seen another striker do before or since. Messi is a great dribbler, but I've seen it all before.
Nah. Messi is the best ever for me. He scores the goals he does with the clinical eye in front of goal, takes out players with the dribbling skills and can also slot into the midfield and kill teams with his passing. The complete player. The chip with the weaker foot summed up his ability.
But what I say is that ooze better, Kevin nolin or Messy? Cud that argie git do the bussiniz on a wet Thursday night at Walsall? I ten to daht it!!
Never done it at international level though Super Jack, to me that means he has some way to go. Maradona did it at 2 World Cups and Ronaldo did it at 3 World Cups.
Still only 24 . Hopefully Argentina can put together a team by 2014, although I can't think of many top Argentina prospects at the back. Maybe I should have said the best I have seen. Because he is. What he is doing for Barcelona is unreal. People are just running out of words to describe it. He is about to become Barca's all time goal scorer and about to hit 50 CL goals. Also this is a player who is the best dribbler in the world, not to mention the fact he can easily play as a play-maker and find a pass that can open any defence. The thing about him is he has the raw qualities of a classic South American player in that he loves to go past people and that is so natural to him but because he came to Barca so early he developed his passing game into what it is now. Like I said, the guy is complete.
I actually think a bigger test will be when xavi hangs up the boats. If messi can become the man and continue to dominate without xavi then I think that will be a big deal.
It would not shock me if the Barca youth system develops a player that can take over from Xavi. Iniesta will probably become the senior man in midfield.
