UCL Ro16 2021/22 | PSG vs Real Madrid

danyjr wrote:Messi has been poor for PSG. I now see what people are talking about.

this is a standard post-2016 Messi match, what else do you expect? If he pings in one into the top corner out of nowhere like he is capable of, you don't make this post.

I would like for @Harmonica to explain the mental block at the penalty spot when it comes to this stage of the CL though.

Casciavit wrote:This match is a passing of the torch moment

I thought that was Mbappe's Camp Nou hatrick

Forced narrative imo

Deserved victory for PSG.

Madrid should be ashamed of themselves for this pathetic display.

Robespierre wrote:Away goal rule abolished is gonna make matches more boring imo

Real played for 0-0 today...

Pretty much. Teams are gonna park the bus in the first leg and try to get a result in the second leg.

Casciavit wrote:Madrid was complete ass. Do they look this bad in the league? They got dominated.

Yep. but we play against sh*t Liga teams so....

Pathetic performance. absolutely nothing in attack. honestly some of the players shocked me in how bad they were. Mendy could not even control the ball properly.

Vinicius was sh*t. so was Kroos and Modric and Asensio.

Thibu and maybe Alaba aside, everyone was Sh*t. Karim didn't get to touch the ball much so he was OK too.

We continue like this Ancelotti has to go. we are going to lose LaLiga too ffs.

El Gunner wrote:

danyjr wrote:Messi has been poor for PSG. I now see what people are talking about.

this is a standard post-2016 Messi match, what else do you expect? If he pings in one into the top corner out of nowhere like he is capable of, you don't make this post.

I would like for @Harmonica to explain the mental block at the penalty spot when it comes to this stage of the CL though.

There's no mental block, nobody scores them all. Messi is one of the best ever pressure penalty takers. Always takes the hardest one in SO's too. The one thing I noticed that ref suddenly started moving after Messi started moving, and I even thought it would get taken back. He was practically saying stuff to somebody when Messi was taking it. Could've been a distraction.

I thought you’d show more attacking impetus but you completely sat back and couldn’t counter when you had the chance. It was like 20 shots to 2 at one point. What an awful performance.

IIRC read some posters somewhere saying Mbappe is overrated, just about speed, etc. Also some said Vini > Mbappe hehehhe...

Harmonica wrote:

El Gunner wrote:

danyjr wrote:Messi has been poor for PSG. I now see what people are talking about.

this is a standard post-2016 Messi match, what else do you expect? If he pings in one into the top corner out of nowhere like he is capable of, you don't make this post.

I would like for @Harmonica to explain the mental block at the penalty spot when it comes to this stage of the CL though.

There's no mental block, nobody scores them all. Messi is one of the best ever pressure penalty takers. Always takes the hardest one in SO's too. The one thing I noticed that ref suddenly started moving after Messi started moving, and I even thought it would get taken back. He was practically saying stuff to somebody when Messi was taking it. Could've been a distraction.

isn't this like 3 big CL KO-stage penalty misses now?

If I were Madrid I would think twice about signing Mbappé and Haaland. Midfield additions should be the absolutely top priority even ahead of Mbappé. The current midfield work in the slower tempo settings of La Liga but you can't play both old men Modrić and Kroos vs teams like PSG. While they defended well, they had problems #1 driving the ball forward and #2 getting into pockets of space to help their team mates build up counter attacks. All down to their age IMHO.

This was a very good PSG line up. Verratti is the best CM in the game today IMHO. Him and Leandrito are great partners, not so much complementing each other as they both are the profile of midfielders that are complete on their own and don't need another guy carrying them.

Mbappé is king. Best player in the world by far?

Mbappe played this game like a job interview and aced it. No chance madrid doesn't announce his signing soon

I just think Carlo saw how Ligue 1 played against PSG and literally set up the same tactic...  but Madrid doesn't have the horses for it.  Namely, Ligue 1 teams have super athletes with unlimited cardio.  Madrid has technicians and older players.

Weird to say the least.

Also, people who don't actually watch PSG don't understand that Mbappe's been the best player on the team for 2+ years now.  It's not just about stats... the impact of his play is completely unique and saves PSG from some very inconsistent performances.

El Gunner wrote:

danyjr wrote:Messi has been poor for PSG. I now see what people are talking about.

this is a standard post-2016 Messi match, what else do you expect? If he pings in one into the top corner out of nowhere like he is capable of, you don't make this post.

I would like for @Harmonica to explain the mental block at the penalty spot when it comes to this stage of the CL though.

No this was not 'standard' post-2016 Messi. Post-2016 Messi would still score a goal every match, make on average 2 dangerous passes a game even against top teams. In contrast tonight, bar a couple of sparks he had nothing going for him. He wasn't sharp and lost the ball far too many times too. Failing to score the penalty was the final nail in the coffin.

His levels have dropped massively since 2020. But this season the slump has been sharp. You're saying 'if he pings on into the top corner I wouldn't make this post'. How many times has he pinged the ball in the top corner this season?

This is probably the system PSG should use moving forward. Let Danilo drop back to form a back 3 to cover for Hakimi. Then play Mbappe on the right with Messi central and Neymar left. It’s better defensively and even offensively Messi can play closer to Neymar. The main weakness is Messi doesn’t attack the box centrally off the ball and hangs around the edge. So there’s a lack of presence in the box but that trade off is worth it.

@danyjr.. Messi can't get past people anymore. And even if he does, they catch him from behind. He needs to adjust how he plays if he can.

sportsczy wrote:I just think Carlo saw how Ligue 1 played against PSG and literally set up the same tactic... but Madrid doesn't have the horses for it. Namely, Ligue 1 teams have super athletes with unlimited cardio. Madrid has technicians and older players.

Weird to say the least.

Also, people who don't actually watch PSG don't understand that he's been the best player on the team for 2+ years now. It's not just about stats... the impact of his play is completely unique and saves PSG from some very inconsistent performances.

I think all these big signings have put more eyes on PSG, and the main people benefitting from that are Verratti and Mbappe. They’ve been getting a lot more praise this season.

He was poor until the last minute. Almost as bad as Messi, but with more energy. If he didn’t flop the big chance in the first half all we’d be hearing about is Messi’s genius, instead the narrative changes to Messi being finished. Thanks Kylian    I’ll tell ya if it wasn’t for the last minute Mbappe would be getting a lot of stick

Found wrote:He was poor until the last minute.

I'm sorry but this has got to be the dumbest take ever

sportsczy wrote:@danyjr.. Messi can't get past people anymore. And even if he does, they catch him from behind. He needs to adjust how he plays if he can.

Agreed.
Or be benched.

What a goal, out of nothing.

danyjr wrote:

El Gunner wrote:

danyjr wrote:Messi has been poor for PSG. I now see what people are talking about.

this is a standard post-2016 Messi match, what else do you expect? If he pings in one into the top corner out of nowhere like he is capable of, you don't make this post.

I would like for @Harmonica to explain the mental block at the penalty spot when it comes to this stage of the CL though.

No this was not 'standard' post-2016 Messi. Post-2016 Messi would still score a goal every match, make on average 2 dangerous passes a game even against top teams. In contrast tonight, bar a couple of sparks he had nothing going for him. He wasn't sharp and lost the ball far too many times too. Failing to score the penalty was the final nail in the coffin.

His levels have dropped massively since 2020. But this season the slump has been sharp. You're saying 'if he pings on into the top corner I wouldn't make this post'. How many times has he pinged the ball in the top corner this season?

haven't watched all their games, but i remember he did it in the City group stage match... and i know he has hit the post/crossbar like 7 times or whatever this season too.

what i mean to say it's post-2016 Messi relative to natural regression. You can't expect pre-2016 Messi kind of performance level at this stage anymore, come on guys let's just be real. He is slower, he won't be in position for quick action as much as he used to, but he is still capable here and there to a lesser degree. But it's still Messi in terms of he is the most skilled player on the pitch in terms of his passing acumen, smarts and technique with the ball and ability to make something out of nothing from deep. He made that wonderful pass to Mbappe in the first half which Mpabbe could only scuff with his left foot. That pass was absolutely perfect with its pace and power and spin. I believe that counts as a dangerous defensive splitting pass.

@El Gunner What I'm trying to say is that he may have been declining since 2016 but you can't compare 2022 Messi to 2017 Messi. 2017 Messi was thrice the player he is now.

Robespierre wrote:Away goal rule abolished is gonna make matches more boring imo

Real played for 0-0 today...

This. There was a reason why it was introduced, it's only we forgot why after decades.

A bit like Section 5 of the US.American Voting Rights Act of 1965

Now the reactionaries will have their way with us

danyjr wrote:
Mbappé is king. Best player in the world by far?

Level 1: Salah, KDB, Lewandowski
Level 2: Haaland, Mbappe, Sane (?)

Not that I think KDB’s been playing great this season but I’ve been amazed by his ability to still get things done while playing crap

If Real Madrid fans were wondering what life would be like under Max Allegri, today is a good answer

— Matteo Bonetti (@Bonetti) February 15, 2022

danyjr wrote:@El Gunner What I'm trying to say is that he may have been declining since 2016 but you can't compare 2022 Messi to 2017 Messi. 2017 Messi was thrice the player he is now.

i understand, and i agree with you. All I'm saying is then you should adjust your expectations relative to that. Because you seem to be taking it to the extreme by saying he is so shit he should be benched.