Re: Match Day Thread 20/21

[CM Pep]

On another day, we would have won this 2-1. In another season, this 1-1 wouldn't seem too bad. We are 4 games without a win, that's why it looks appalling now.

It's clear as day that Busquets shouldn't be starting. Pjanic, no matter how slow, contributes way more that Busquets.

Messi... sigh.... what do we say now? As usual the truth is in between the both extremes. He's been more bad than good this season though. Also, i just don't understand why he's not given any rest? I mean, he's clearly gassed on so many occasions (on the ball, off the ball he offers 0 movement anyway). What's the point of playing him every match, 90 mins if he's not going to be able to run in his attacks? I mean do we really need to play him against Ferencaros?

[Myesyats]

Messi isn't bad but lets put it this way his performance doesnt warrant 1m wages per week anymore, he hasnt scored or assisted in 5 games straight which is his worst record since 2006 and that must be right because he's never been so wasteful. Selling him in the summer would be the best thing Bartomeu's board would have done given they've now resigned, our wage bill problem would be suddenly gone and we'd have cashed in 100m+, that was the only reasonable decision with beginning of new year bankruptcy rumors milling around these days.

[Kebab]

Messi is still the best player in the team. He is way faster than he was last season. With Koeman he trains hard and lost the weight. In a month he will be as fast as he was in 2015 and i expect him to score some Bilbao esque goal soon. Just wait and see

The problem in the team is that this season we got too many new players in the starting XI. Its completely different team and needs time to adjust. Also need a true No 9, you cant rely on Griezmann and fati. Suarez would score unexpectedly from nothing
But still i have hope that in a few months this team will get stronger after they know each other well. I have high hopes on Pjanic, the only true playmaker in the team

[FennecFox7]

Agree with kebab. Messi is tired. He is clearly trying to press and play as evidenced by the Madrid and juve games. He needs to accept a rotation and play the big games.

[BarrileteCosmico]

Messi always presses in the high-importance games, fwiw, but he chooses his battles as he can't do that regularly.

[FennecFox7]

That’s why he needs to accept being rotated. Cristiano did it and he’s extremely athletic and outrunning the young guys. Messi should save his gas and accept getting subbed or benched against minnows

[alexjanosik]

Koeman: "Sometimes you can't press. If you press it should be with the whole team. We have to talk and analyse."

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) November 4, 2020

[alexjanosik]

I think we all know who he is referring to. First 15 mins, decent press all around, good movement all round. Consequence, team looks great. After that, 10 players got suckered in and thought the 11th player was going to continue to press and move. Got suckered, 11th player just stood his ground while watching the ball go by 5 yards from him. Gaps appear all over and we get countered time after time after time. Great job getting played off the park by Dynamo's C team.

[alexjanosik]

With Setien's recent admission about the training ground threats, Martino's previous admission and now Koeman's statements. Coaches finally speaking out.

[Myesyats]

Yeah. It pains me to see the team work hard while Messi just stands there and gazes upon the horizon.

[alexjanosik]

Dembele with another good performance. Clear that he was more willing to put on the afterburners in this game. He was not willing to go full pelt in previous ones. Very impressive performance. The dribbling, the electric pace, the pass to Messi and the shot which produced a world class save. All he needs is an injury free season.

[BarrileteCosmico]

Let's hope he finally gets that, he's putting in the work

[BarrileteCosmico]

https://www.infobae.com/america/deportes/2020/11/05/la-imagen-de-lionel-messi-en-el-partido-ante-el-dinamo-de-kiev-que-genero-una-ola-de-criticas-en-espana/

Lmao. Honestly disgraceful from Messi

[elitedam]

https://www.infobae.com/america/deportes/2020/11/05/la-imagen-de-lionel-messi-en-el-partido-ante-el-dinamo-de-kiev-que-genero-una-ola-de-criticas-en-espana/

Lmao. Honestly disgraceful from Messi

That close-down speed.

[Myesyats]

^This happens almost every game for the past year or so

[danyjr]

lol

Still highest score on WhoScored doe

[Kebab]

Messi's pressing is improved. Its way better compared to last few seasons. He looks sharp and fast. He lost at least 10kg weight and was pressing whole match except few moments.
His performance was great yesterday. Earned penalty for himself and if not amazing saves by GK he would have hat trick. Made some good plays if not him nobody can penetrate opposition defense. Clearly best player on the pitch

[Harmonica]

Messi is destroying CL this season yet again. Liga is lost cause anyway as refdrids don't bother hiding anything anymore.

[Myesyats]

Messi's pressing is improved. Its way better compared to last few seasons. He looks sharp and fast. He lost at least 10kg weight and was pressing whole match except few moments.
His performance was great yesterday. Earned penalty for himself and if not amazing saves by GK he would have hat trick. Made some good plays if not him nobody can penetrate opposition defense. Clearly best player on the pitch

He walks around 95% of the game. People were amazed when he pressed for 2 games in a row

I love Messi but it's retarded to keep defending him. He stopped scoring goals and doesn't run- that's a really heavy burden on an otherwise moderately athletic team.

He will never go to any other team because they'd not let him just stand around and watch the opponent team players just stroll by. Man City's whole thing is pressing as a unit with everyone involved and Messi would royally disrupt that.

[danyjr]

Messi benched. Can't wait for Barcelona to magically become better.

[CM Pep]

Finally given some rest, was long overdue.

We'll press harder, not sure about 'magically better' (I know Alex said magically lol).

I think if we play 3-4 matches without him, then we become better as a pressing unit + attacking transitions.

Like we did in those months where Neymar and Suarez played without Messi.

[BarrileteCosmico]

Messi benched. Can't wait for Barcelona to magically become better.

you sure? that's not what I'm reading

[danyjr]

[danyjr]

Trincão looked good in preseason but he seems to have become out of favour by Koeman.

[Myesyats]

Does Pjanic not have match fitness? There is no reason to give him rest at this point in time

Barca is addicted to Messi so there will be withdrawals once he is sidelined, but in the long run we will heal

[danyjr]

Griezmann

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