Lionel Messi | Joins Inter Miami (pg4111)

[Tugay One Cup]

At closing down and winning the ball back - yes.
And now his sharpness is diminishing, he needs to do ALL the activities of a modern stroker to stay at the top.

Alright but we can agree he is a pretty useful player?

I'm one of the ones who doesn't really want him but some of the reasoning and hyperbole on here from others in the same boat as me is absurd.

 

[kupest]

If the world's best player who is in decline can't help his squad out of the quarters... something he used to be capable of virtually putting on himself to do by himself how will he help this team who hasn't made it past that stage in over 3 years?

That doesn't even make sense. Are you looking at the numbers he is putting out.

 

[Keeper!]

If ha came with Pep 4 years ago, everything you said above would be completely true.

But he did not, he's 4 years older and looks a tired player.

Will he run the dressing room like he does at Barca?

If the answer is yes, stay well clear.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

Let me get this straight, you're saying Lionel Messi is useless?

Do you remember how Liverpool swept a Barcelona team aside containing Messi last season? You need the other players to do extra work against teams with pace and power like Liverpool and Bayern.

Of course he isn’t useless, but he isn’t the answer for the big games we want to be competing in.

 

[Zenmanc]

That doesn't even make sense. Are you looking at the numbers he is putting out.

The OP to which I responded stated him to be in decline which is the vein I took in my response. Please don't call others out when you aren't paying attention.

 

[Zenmanc]

We come here every off season with the glittering Messi rumors. It's a waste of time. With the adjustment period it'd take him to the PL and the fact his fee would buy 2-4 other quality younger players it's simply a fanciful distraction for fans trying to deceive themselves in thinking we were again cheated by CL.

 

[Gingers Dad]

Lionel Messi would be the best thing to happen to City on and off the pitch since September 2008, that's why the board want him so much

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Do you remember how Liverpool swept a Barcelona team aside containing Messi last season? You need the other players to do extra work against teams with pace and power like Liverpool and Bayern.

Of course he isn’t useless, but he isn’t the answer for the big games we want to be competing in.

Take Messi out of that Barca team and we will absolutely rip them to pieces every day of the week. Put him on our team and do you think that changes?

They are in an absolute state and it has nothing to do with Messi's defensive workrate. They just started a game against the best side in Europe with two right backs, three holding midfielders and still insisting to play out from the back and people are acting like it's him that cost them the game.

And I still don't fancy taking him because I think we're drifting the same way they are; no intensity and trying to make up for a lack of quality in defence by sacrificing what has made us so good in recent years.

If you could assure me that we'll make the signings we need to make regardless of him coming and that there wouldn't be any long term squad harmony or financial ramifications then I'd be all over it because he's still the best player on the planet.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Lionel Messi would be the best thing to happen to City on and off the pitch since September 2008, that's why the board want him so much

His nickname will be 'Fat'.

 

[Scottish Cityzen]

If the finances for this deal mean the club feel they can afford it and (big if) if he wants to come then I think it would be amazing.

The entire Barca team has looked jaded since lockdown - don’t know if the players have downed tools or what but they have been crap for the past few months.

Take the world’s best ever player (and that status is still current) parachute him into our beat 11 and it would be incredible.

I think a lot gets made of him having a lot of power behind the scenes at Barca but I’m not sure how true that is. If he wants to play out his final few years in a great team he might just want to come to us.