triggs

Di Maria is infuriating at times

See the above post. As it's near impossible to separate the individual from the context of his team, role, competition they're playing in, etc I think it's risky business giving too much importance to these numbers when comparing them side by side. Statistical analysis has a role to play in football, but you've got to be comparing like for like otherwise the numbers are meaningless. A great example is comparing Demba Ba's pre-Cisse and post-Cisse scoring records with us. If you remove all context, it looks like Ba's form completely dropped. You need the context of knowing he was being played in a wide position to figure out what's really going on. Another example would be Jozy Altidore's scoring record in Holland. The numbers alone are meaningless without context. You can't compare Messi's all-Barca career to Ronaldo's career looking just at the numbers, which is why I'm focusing on their current talent, attitudes, performances. Actually, those stats were derived in context, the article had a whole segment trying to separate Messi's numbers from the impact Barca has had on his numbers. Not to be a jerk, but try reading it during halftime, I'd be curious what you think afterwards. I'll take a look in a few, see what they came up with. But it'll have to be some work of genius to separate out the fact they've played for completely different clubs at different levels, in different countries for their entire careers. Barcelona and Madrid are in the same country for the time being at least

Well that was the biggest fuck up of a finish I've seen in a while

Inler has been great so far

Bet Pards is loving Rodriguez

Higuain is playing like Shola so far this world cup

Messi doesn't edge it on dribbling, he destroys him on dribbling along with most other things They have a completely different style of dribbling. You're not comparing like for like. Messi's style favors tighter spaces, he doesn't give much away with his body, but overall it's not complicated. The only remarkable factor is how quickly he does it. Those little inside-outside movements are things my kids can do. It's his speed, balance and his smarts that make him so good. Ronaldo, from a purely technical standpoint, has a greater range of movement, uses his body well to sell moves, but tends to take longer strides which means he's not as good when swamped by players. From a non-technical standpoint, just pure effectiveness, they're both devastating when they're on form. Messi is the more brutal, though. It's so much harder to get anywhere near him. Messi's dribbling is also prettier which is part of the reason why people think it's so much better than Ronaldo's 40,000 step overs. Yes but its not the style that I am basing the opinion that Messi is a better dribbler on, its the fact that he is statistically way more successful

That quote sums it up for me. Ronaldo is brilliant but Messi is a God like footballer

Messi doesn't edge it on dribbling, he destroys him on dribbling along with most other things

Ronaldo clearly can be mentioned in the same breath as Messi. If you can't see it with your eyes just look at the graphs. Messi can do everything to the highest standard while Ronaldo just scores goals to a similar standard to Messi

I hated back last season when Messi was struggling for form/saving himself for the world cup that pundits kept saying Ronaldo was the best player in the world. Just because Messi went through a bit of a blip doesn't mean Ronaldo is better. Ronaldo shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Messi

Jonathan Pearce and Lawro are commentating on Argentina Switzerland. Fucking dream team

I admire his total lack of ambition to be a top manager

I forget which game he said that about but a central midfielder simply cannot have a good game in a game in which you are beaten 4-0

was thinking about france aye but the bairn will only be 6.5 then...2020 is that 13 city thing that'll possibly be worth a look but there'll only probably be 2-3 games in each city world cup 2024 then, just have to stay alive long enough I'm afraid you won't be alive to see a world cup in 2024

Saw this on twitter So bad

They weren't even that good, barely finished ahead of us

Can't see Lallana being in Liverpool's first team

I think somebody else said it a few days ago but I hate Lallana for some reason. Probably because he looks like an arrogant cunt

In what universe is Roy Keane a Celtic legend?

Should be in Brazil

Is it just me or do France and Germany not play each other very often for two teams that are regularly in the later stages of competitions?

Friedel is a class pundit

Very boss. Well done Algeria

Massive respect to Algeria, serious heart from them