Messi

[general35]

What a sick guy this is. Possibly the greatest player in the world today and maybe in the last 20 years. What a performance today, 4 goals in a 4-1 route of Arsenal. I cant wait for the Real Madrid/Barca match on Sunday. It is going to be a show.

 

[Squall]

when my buddy and I used to argue (past couple of years or so) over who the best player in the world is, I always chose Torres over Messi. My argument was that Torres was amazing in a league that actually played a little defense.

Right now though, knowing how injury prone torres is, and seeing Messi just do mind-boggling things, I may have to go with Messi.

 

[THEU]

I would have Messi the best player with Kaka second on the list.

 

[ilsa]

Kaka has not been on form in a while. He's not the best player on his team at the moment.

Messi is on another planet right now, although I still think Xavi is the most important guy on the team because of the way he dictates the game. The scary part about today was Barca was without a fully fit Iniesta, Ibra and Yaya. Add to that the suspensions of Pique and Puyol.

 

[Napoleon]

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[HornsInTheHouse]

And to think Ibrahimovic was out injured.

Messi and Ibrahimovic as the strikers. Inter Milan is going to have a challenge of their lifetime. They have a strong defense in Lucio, Motta, Samuel, and Maicon.

 

[ilsa]

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[overmaars]

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[1899horn]

Messi seems to do pretty well against Prem teams, Italian teams, spanish, german,.... it doesn't matter. He is far and away the best player on the planet, and it's not even close.

If I am not mistaken, that was his fourth 3 goal game so far in 2010, not 2009-2010, 2010.

I wonder who Dieguito is going to pair with him in SA? Aguero? Higuain? Tevez? Lisandro Lopez? Milito? Palermo? Kempes? Luque? Batistuta? Valdano? Who am I missing?

It is an embarrassment of riches which makes their suffered qualifying all the more puzzling.

Argentina should be the prohibitive favorite to win the world cup, especially considering how light the top half of the draw is. But Dieguito...

I think he'll pull all the right levers and get them to the semi finals. And in games that tight, players who can generate plays out of thin air make all the difference.

Cue la pulga.

 

[ilsa]

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[Napoleon]

Mascherano wouldn't start for Spain or Brazil because he doesn't have the on-the-ball-skilz that those two countries want from his position. He doesn't pass as well as most top CBs. And there are several DMs around Europe who pass better than he does.

Argentina has strikers, but they don't have a team. And that's why they're not really a threat to go very far.

 

[HornsInTheHouse]

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[1899horn]

Argentina has many able bodied DMs and defenders to field a very competitive team. And with the very light top half of the draw, they can do very well. Whatever Macherano lacks can be made up by the incomparable Cuchu

I do find it hilarious that those vaunted Prem defenses were all systematically torn apart, and now there are none left in the CL.

 

[Squall]

1899 - please don't say that my Chelsea's defense was torn apart, they gave up three goals in 2 games to Inter (which is more than they should have) but still 7 goals conceded in 8 Champions league games.... i wouldn't call that torn apart!!!

 

[overmaars]

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[1899horn]

They may not dive as much, but there is plenty of diving in the EPL. It's a part of the game, whether at Old Trafford or the Giuseppe Meazza.

Mr. England

8 of 10 dives in the EPL

 

[overmaars]

1899, I think you managed to find all of the dives that have ever occurred in English football in that one clip. Seriously, I can watch a whole weekend of Premiership, that's what, 6 matches? And not see one dive. I can't watch a single Spanish or Italian match...not one...without seeing a dive.

I'll give you this. Drogba is the ******* worst in the PL about it (sorry Squall but its true). And Gerrard is a colossal douche for talking trash about it and then pulling it. But as an undertone of the league, it's not as prominent as the rest of Europe. And in support of this original post, Messi is really balanced and stays committed to the dribble through contact. He's doesn't dive, which I respect. It's part of why he's the caliber of player he is.

 

[1899horn]

That is one of the reasons why I admire Messi as well. He's a little guy and gets knocked around quite a bit. When he gets up, he rarely ******* to the ref for the card, and then just keeps playing. He always seems to get the last laugh, and it's usually when he has just finished scoring another one.

 

[Lone Star]

Messi’s creativity, vision, hustle – just a pleasure to watch. I’m just happy Argentina qualified.

Less than 60 days to the World Cup – bring it.

 

[midwayhorn]

Not only does Messi not b!tch when he gets hammered, he's putting the ball back in play while everybody else is standing around wondering if a card is coming out.



In other news, Real is not getting their money's worth......