Messi

Do we think he can/will get better? What areas of his game, if any should he work on? Has he peaked?

Here's my theory - Messi can get better, there is no reason he can't. He's 23, years off peaking physically,

BUT,

it may not be so obvious, because if he wasn't a "marked" man already, he sure as hell will be now.

Managers and players all over the World will be out to stop him like never before. You may start to see him being double man marked for example. With Barcelona it's a risk given the quality around him will profit, but certainly for Argentina it's going to be as difficult as ever unless his team mates can support him in making use of the "gaps" so to speak.

Still, he's a one in a generation talent, I can't see him becoming anything but the greatest modern day player ever

Will get better, peak at 25/26, then decline rapidly from there and probably finish by the age of 30, unless he can change his game to be less speed/dribbling based and more passing based, like Giggs has done.

But that brings me to what areas of his game he should work on, and it's his passing. I'd say he's a 7/10, and although it sometimes looks not as good as it actually is because he's surrounded by Xavi and Iniesta, he does have potential to make it 8 or 9 out of 10.

Pretty much perfect in everything else already, ranging from technical to mental attributes. Obviously some physical limitations but he's not going to overcome those now. Injuries seem to have been sorted out.

Yes. While Messi is fit and starting most games Barca are more likley to win doubles and trebles than not.

fcb wrote:But that brings me to what areas of his game he should work on, and it's his passing.

You have to think he'll burn out at some point, and probably finish up earlier than many players, merely on the amount of top level games he's already played at his age. 3 seasons on the bounce of 50+ club games along with probably 10+ internationals in a very physically demanding role (both in terms of running & the amount of knocks he takes). I do think injuries will eventually start to take their toll & he won't be able to keep up this sheer amount of football.

In terms of quality, he doesn't have much weakness in his game to improve. Can he get even more efficient at finishing chances? Perhaps, but he's already at a goal a game. Can't think of any striker in modern game that has kept that rate for any length of time, let alone surpassed it.

don't think he can get much better, for his its all about maintain his form for a few more seasons, rather than getting better.

their isn't much he can improve on, maybe he can be more two footed, but thats a rarity in the game to be honest, most players have one very dominant foot.

his passing his has good has it gets for the area of the field in which he plays, i don't expect him to be able to pass has good as a xavi/iniest or whoever, that's not has needed for him in the area where he plays, but he has the vision an weight of pass to pick out a player in an around the penalty area which is all is required for him, evident in his 25 assist this season, maybe has he gets older he will need to improve that area but i doubt it.

Messiah wrote:his passing his has good has it gets for the area of the field in which he plays, i don't expect him to be able to pass has good as a xavi/iniest or whoever, that's not has needed for him in the area where he plays, but he has the vision an weight of pass to pick out a player in an around the penalty area which is all is required for him, evident in his 25 assist this season, maybe has he gets older he will need to improve that area but i doubt it.

Funny, the video in the other thread only featured 23.

If he's that good then there's no need to exaggerate. Barca fans constantly feel the need to exaggerate. Ergo...

Deferring the Apocalypse wrote:

Messiah wrote:his passing his has good has it gets for the area of the field in which he plays, i don't expect him to be able to pass has good as a xavi/iniest or whoever, that's not has needed for him in the area where he plays, but he has the vision an weight of pass to pick out a player in an around the penalty area which is all is required for him, evident in his 25 assist this season, maybe has he gets older he will need to improve that area but i doubt it.

Funny, the video in the other thread only featured 23.

If he's that good then there's no need to exaggerate. Barca fans constantly feel the need to exaggerate. Ergo...

Pedantic much? I agree with Messiah anyway. He doesn't need to be a Xavi or a Zidane because he plays far higher up the pitch than they do. The video posted proves people who say his passing isn't great are incorrect because most of the assists were beautifully and delicately hit enough in order to allow the recieving player to get on the end of it and score.

Luis wrote:Pedantic much? I agree with Messiah anyway. He doesn't need to be a Xavi or a Zidane because he plays far higher up the pitch than they do. The video posted proves people who say his passing isn't great are incorrect because most of the assists were beautifully and delicately hit enough in order to allow the recieving player to get on the end of it and score.

The latent homosexuality in your posts to me is a bit worrying.

Deferring the Apocalypse wrote:

Luis wrote:Pedantic much? I agree with Messiah anyway. He doesn't need to be a Xavi or a Zidane because he plays far higher up the pitch than they do. The video posted proves people who say his passing isn't great are incorrect because most of the assists were beautifully and delicately hit enough in order to allow the recieving player to get on the end of it and score.

The latent homosexuality in your posts to me is a bit worrying.

Here's another one:

You've really taken an ass-whooping this past week haven't you? you've been raped bad style.

What is being raped bad style?

Is it worse than being raped normally?

Hlebagone wrote:What is being raped bad style?

Is it worse than being raped normally?

Yep, I force him to wear a Liverpool kit with King Kenny on the back then I rape him

Wow. Each to their own I guess.

Nothing funnier than a bourgeois kid trying to act chav to appear tough. You big gayer.

Deferring the Apocalypse wrote:


Nothing funnier than a bourgeois kid trying to act chav to appear tough. You big gayer.

What's tough about rape?

You're the one who keeps trying to locate any traces in my posts that can be linked to being gay, that's slightly worrying. I'm just here to keep proving you wrong, and you being reduced to pretending I've failed an exam or I'm gay or I'm a chav is rather pleasing for me.

Thanks for listening

Gay exam-failer.

Nothing suggests that he is not going to continue to improve in upcoming years. Personally, don't get into the whole Messi hype like most football fans do though. I think he's incredible, but I think hes also incredibly lucky to be surrounded by the best of the best on a weekly basis. I'm not saying I don't understand or appreciate his contribution to the modern game, but I think there is alot to be said for every single player on the Barca squad that allows him to be what he does as well. So his improvement will depend on the rest of the team as well, seems to be that alot of people forget the rest when they are wanking off to Messi on a weekly basis, which is a shame IMO.

OrangeSky wrote:Nothing suggests that he is not going to continue to improve in upcoming years. Personally, don't get into the whole Messi hype like most football fans do though. I think he's incredible, but I think hes also incredibly lucky to be surrounded by the best of the best on a weekly basis. I'm not saying I don't understand or appreciate his contribution to the modern game, but I think there is alot to be said for every single player on the Barca squad that allows him to be what he does as well. So his improvement will depend on the rest of the team as well, seems to be that alot of people forget the rest when they are wanking off to Messi on a weekly basis, which is a shame IMO.

Blah blah Blah, the team helps him to score 53 goals and 25 assist, he helps the team with 53 goals and 25 assist.

see what i'm getting at, such a shame IMO

The thing with the "Messi is only good because of the rest of Barça" argument is that people don't watch week in week out and see how he takes the already very good team to a different level.

And quite frequently this past season, there were spells in games against small park the bus teams where the team couldn't make a breakthrough, and literally just gave it to Messi, hoping he would do a Maradona and produce the goods.

When I say "produce the goods", I don't necessarily mean to just dribble all the way and score a goal...but instead, even a few seconds of dribbling forces the opposition defense deeper, confuses them, creates space for a genuine chance to be created, where normal passing didn't help.

Messi is the reason why Barcelona are more enjoyable to watch than Spain, for example, and why they are less predictable. Barcelona is the reason why Messi is able to shine and do so incredibly well. Both are true.

barcelona wouldnt be as good without messi, messi wont be as good without barca

Messi