He is getting the same briefings as all the media, ESPN are all over it today, although they state PSG are in the mix.
Rarely played a decent game with Aguero.
Plays in a free role, with team built around him.
KDB often plays a free role in our team.
Will be playing in a higher intensity league, at 34 where many of our younger attackers have picked up injuries.
Takes all the pressure off Pep , to build a new team & allows him to do a Pellegrini, seeing out a 3 year deal tied to Messi, then leave, with whatever situation behind him.
Teams will be more keen to stop us, again rather than stopping Liverpool, whose turn it should be for the treatment.
Players who don't fit in with Messi, will effectively be finished at City, even if they are key members of the 'team' with all the possible resentment that brings in, with their team mates.
Pep might go mental & leave, if results don't go his way & he loses inspiration (we do still have to defend & Barca can't do it for example) .
Imo Messi will have no problem in the Prem but no guarantee the team will not lose out in other areas.
Chicken or egg situation.While i agree with some of your your are already deciding that Messi cant press. You are also forgetting that we pretty much stopped high pressing regualrly last season - not cause we couldnt but because for whatever reason Pep decided not to - we returned to it against Madrid but for most of the season we werent pressing with the same intensity regardless. We arent like Liverpool under klopp and never have been
I understand what he said, but should we blow a large portion of that CFG money on a 33 yr old?
That CFG money is also needed for a new stadium for NYCFC, and the Etihad 100% needs a complete new roof within the next 10 years and the North stand rebuild.
We are well short in terms of our owner's requirement to win the Champions League and to regain the title we lost by 18 points this last season.
If that money is available for special signings, go and get Mbappe, Felix and the like, players who could and probably will be the next superstars and potentially give 10 years service for this club.
Messi would only sign for us because he is rightfully pissed with Barca, he would come nowhere near us if he was happy.
Ok, but the media all over the world are picking something up from somebody, same story, City evaluating the costs etc.You think City are briefing the media about Messi?
My info is out of Abu Dhabi and some related contacts at CFG, they most certainly ain't briefs!
Some of the stories now doing the rounds will be chatter from Spain and ripping stuff off here.
Mbappe doesn't want to come here and never will.
In the attacking phase of the game, yes, mostly against crap La Liga teams. Did he look like the best player in the world when Barca got smashed by Roma, Liverpool and Bayern? Has he been the best player in the CL since 2016? NO.
This season in the CL, Messi contributed a goal/assist every 110 minutes. In comparison, the much maligned on here Jesus contributed a goal/assist every 60 minutes.
However, and here comes the really bad part, football is also about defending well, and modern football about defending well from the front by high pressing. When it comes to defending, Messi is literally worse than a conference player. An U18 player would be more useful than him when defending.
Hope our bosses do not invest 250m in a 33 y.o. player who contributes only in the attacking phase of the game and whose career in England might be ruined by a daft challenge by some random old-style defender.
Mbappe doesn't want to come here and never will.
I was using an example of a special player if available.Mbappe doesn't want to come here and never will.
It’s brilliant this thread and what a good forum is all about.
It is relevant when the sides including us that are winning the titles are using the high press, as Bayern proved last weekend.Chicken or egg situation.
I'd suggest we didn't press with he same intensity because we didn't have the players (available or in form) to implement it this season.
I never said anything about being like Livarpool or wanting to be anything like Livarpool but as you rightly point out we did high press in the two title winning seasons, for different reasons, but that's irrelevant. We're at our best with high intensity pressing, the trophy cabinet proves it.
Messi can press but won't because like most players of a certain age, he needs to conserve his energy levels. Very few players (Fernandinho being one) can maintain constant high intensity pressing levels at 33, however we all know Fernandinho at 35 simply isn't capable of doing that job anymore on a consistent basis. If you think Messi is any different and age doesn't affect him, then we'll have to agree to disagree.
Maybe someone within the club decided the CB we were after just wasn't worth the money, looking back at his performances and the fact he is as we speak on trial in the Greek courts, i'd say they were right.I was using an example of a special player if available.
I would prefer us to be spending those reserves on the next big things.
The only place Mbappe is going to is Real.
I find it strange if these reserves are available for special players, why the hell did we not break the bank to get the CB we desperately needed at the start of last season.
I was using an example of a special player if available.
I would prefer us to be spending those reserves on the next big things.
The only place Mbappe is going to is Real.
I find it strange if these reserves are available for special players, why the hell did we not break the bank to get the CB we desperately needed at the start of last season.
I am not, but we are talking a 33 yr old Messi.You seem to be only viewing one side of the equation. Messi would bring substantially increased commercial revenues.
I may be well wide of the mark here and maybe Mr Hairdoo can put me right.......this is just opinion by the way.I was using an example of a special player if available.
I would prefer us to be spending those reserves on the next big things.
The only place Mbappe is going to is Real.
I find it strange if these reserves are available for special players, why the hell did we not break the bank to get the CB we desperately needed at the start of last season.
I totally agree and if he costs us little or the same any 'ordinary" player , then get him in, and quickly.I may be well wide of the mark here and maybe Mr Hairdoo can put me right.......this is just opinion by the way.
I personally don't think Mansour/Khaldoon are signing off £20-30m in wages for a player they KNOW is past his best.
I also think that some sponsor/partner,maybe a good few,are lined up to chip a bit more into the pot.
No way we do a deal for him unless it benefits us and our partners/sponsors in some way,shape or form.
Ultimately,I'm guessing he ends up free........just opinion.
Chicken or egg situation.
I'd suggest we didn't press with he same intensity because we didn't have the players (available or in form) to implement it this season. - Pep bought and coached those players - he changed it
I never said anything about being like Livarpool or wanting to be anything like Livarpool but as you rightly point out we did high press in the two title winning seasons, for different reasons, but that's irrelevant. We're at our best with high intensity pressing, the trophy cabinet proves it. - Liverpool was just an example. Even in our title winning seasons we press sporadically and at certain points - not fully intensley - are you suggesting Messi cant do this - especially playing less games, being rotated, subbed on and off as needed and with a team that can press unlike his barca team mates who had pretty much downed tools
Messi can press but won't because like most players of a certain age, he needs to conserve his energy levels. Very few players (Fernandinho being one) can maintain constant high intensity pressing levels at 33, however we all know Fernandinho at 35 simply isn't capable of doing that job anymore on a consistent basis. If you think Messi is any different and age doesn't affect him, then we'll have to agree to disagree. - Ive already answered this - he will have less pressure on him, will be rotated and will conserve energy that way - not played to death -he will have youth around him that will helpl him out. He is more energetic and mobile that Rodri, Gundogan for starters (not suggesting he will play defensive midfield btw and Pep lpays both of those regularly and Gundogan esp doesnt press when played in a more attacking role - its about balance and choosing when to press NOT being like liverpool and going full all out all the time (hence then as the example I used)
The only bit I said was irrelevant was the reason for the high press; ours to regain possession, Livarpool's as a way to start attacks. Other than that I completely agree.It is relevant when the sides including us that are winning the titles are using the high press, as Bayern proved last weekend.
Messi at his glorious best under Pep was not only the greatest player on the planet but also one of the most hardworking. His pressing as the first line of defence was extraordinary!
I was using an example of a special player if available.
I would prefer us to be spending those reserves on the next big things.
The only place Mbappe is going to is Real.
I find it strange if these reserves are available for special players, why the hell did we not break the bank to get the CB we desperately needed at the start of last season.