ponsaelius Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Messi has changed as a player too. Maybe not as markedly as Ronaldo has done. But he was a genuine flying winger when he first broke through, had a spell as a central centre forward, and has now started playing far deeper than ever before in last 2 years as he's slowed right down. He also went from being a genuinely crap free kick taker to being the best in the world at it over what seemed like overnight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Ronaldo's physical decline this season has been pretty shocking. I actually thought his physical longevity was outshining Messi (maybe it is still - he is two years older after all) and allowing him to stay influential longer. But I think missing a summer pre-season this year has fucked him. He has looked painfully slow chasing after the ball at times. Maybe he can still have a Zlatan type revival even into his twilight years - but it probably needs another reinvention of style and even more importantly an acceptance that he can't start and play every single game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 8 hours ago, Flip said: With time I hope people will realize what a player Cristiano was and admire that a lot his faults is what made him become one of the greatest to ever play this game. I’ve never been his biggest fan, but he made a nation believe in something that for so long was impossible to believe in. He brought the second biggest trophy in international football home. Seeing people happy at the demise of him as an individual and calling it a major highlight is sad and shows that a lot of football fans nowadays focus on the wrong thing. His role in Euro 2016 is completely overstated. He scored in 2 games out of 6 and they won the final without him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 6 hours ago, Super Duper Branko Strupar said: Ronaldo hasnt been able to maintain his game endurance the way Messi has. Ronaldo to his credit has been able to be 2 or 3 different players in his career, Messi has pretty much been one. Neither is better than the other, there's arguments why both could be seen as better than the other. I still think peak Ronaldo matches peak Messi, in entirely different ways, and maybe Ronaldo has had more than one peak? Maybe thats horseshit. I think its unfair to say his greatest personal achievement is being part of Messi v Ronaldo, he didnt create that, "we" did. It is sad to see a bit of a clamour from him in recent years to justify his "greatness" in the whole Ronaldo v Messi universe. He neednt. We should all disavow the whole Messi v Ronaldo circus. I cant think over any time in history Ive read about where this kind of weird comparison has happened in football. Messi's been an out and out LW, an LF, a 10, a false 9, and then started playing as a Xavi, Iniesta, Messi hybrid who runs entire games, breaks lines, and finishes off chances. I can't even entertain the idea that Ronaldo was ever comparable to him tbh. I think it's totally daft. Their goal output is comparable, but that's about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Messi in his latter days has never run "entire games" at the most elite level. He's doing what Ronaldo was doing 1-4 years ago. Providing pivotal moments in bursts. Zidane vs Brazil 2006 - he's not done for club or country imo in recent years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Icarus Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 (edited) No one said he was doing it in his latter days. Straw man. He was doing it from about 14 to 18ish. Edited December 12, 2022 by Kid Icarus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
St1pe Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 It might just be me but I find Messi equally as dislikable as Ronaldo in terms of arrogant/egotistical behaviour. That interview where he’s being a prick to Weghost and the “dance now” clip from the penalties of the Copa America is just two of many examples. Two absolute peak performers. Two people who’s egos are out of control. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Mad how the Dutch act like cunts in every world cup and get away with it compared to South American teams. Their efforts to put off Lautaro Martinez before the penalty was much worse than anything Argentina did Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 7 hours ago, triggs said: Mad how the Dutch act like cunts in every world cup and get away with it compared to South American teams. Their efforts to put off Lautaro Martinez before the penalty was much worse than anything Argentina did That’s not true at all, thats actually a load of shit. Argentina were being cunts up 2-0. Paredes at 2-1 caused a melee (for some reason beyond me, he wasn’t sent off) Dutch then had momentum when they equalized and tried to pay it back, but Argentina ended up with the last laugh. Let’s not rewrite the story of the game though, just because one loves Messi. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 9 hours ago, St1pe said: It might just be me but I find Messi equally as dislikable as Ronaldo in terms of arrogant/egotistical behaviour. That interview where he’s being a prick to Weghost and the “dance now” clip from the penalties of the Copa America is just two of many examples. Two absolute peak performers. Two people who’s egos are out of control. Nah not as bad as Cristiano at all. Messi is becoming more Argentinian though. He gets away with a lot of diving. Probably been the player that has dived the most at this World Cup, but guess what? He won the Copa America last year being more Argentinian and might win the WC because of it as well, so credit to him not being the nice guy anymore. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, Flip said: That’s not true at all, thats actually a load of shit. Argentina were being cunts up 2-0. Paredes at 2-1 caused a melee (for some reason beyond me, he wasn’t sent off) Dutch then had momentum when they equalized and tried to pay it back, but Argentina ended up with the last laugh. Let’s not rewrite the story of the game though, just because one loves Messi. What Paredes did was stupid but ultimately completely harmless. I've seen a lot of penalty shoot outs and I don't think I've ever seen a team do what the Dutch tried to do to Lautaro before the last penalty Edited December 12, 2022 by triggs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 7 hours ago, triggs said: What Paredes did was stupid but ultimately completely harmless. I've seen a lot of penalty shoot outs and I don't think I've ever seen a team do what the Dutch tried to do to Lautaro before the last penalty Yes, but Paredes got the game to catch on fire with that situation, so wasn’t really harmless. Was worse than the mindgames that happen everytime. Casemiro tried it with Modric as well. South Americans have quite a lot of temperament and can be quite sour winners/losers as seen by Uruguay this WC and by many sides from the whole continent in Copa Libertadores. But no one, no one in South American football even comes close to this argentinian side Not even in club football. And mostly due to three players, but especially Otamendi. Go back to 2018. Otamendi kicked a ball in Rakitic and Pogbas face in two separate matches. The Copa America final last year he did similar. Otamendi is Pepe on cocaine basically and he’s their leader at the back. Would love for Messi to win this, and seriously, no one in world football is more deserving of it than him and same goes for their fans (despite having a huge problem with racism, put talking purely out of passion and dedication), but I hope his team burns up tonight because of his teammates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54 Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 Since England went out on Saturday I have absolutely no appetite for these games anymore, already back into Newcastle mode. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 9 hours ago, triggs said: What Paredes did was stupid but ultimately completely harmless. I've seen a lot of penalty shoot outs and I don't think I've ever seen a team do what the Dutch tried to do to Lautaro before the last penalty Those were definitely 2 yellow card offences in the space of 10 seconds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 2 hours ago, 54 said: Since England went out on Saturday I have absolutely no appetite for these games anymore, already back into Newcastle mode. This. Not bitter or owt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 On 11/12/2022 at 09:31, Flip said: Croatia v Morocco is the only deserving end to this tournament. Also one that most people wouldn't bother tuning in for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sushimonster85 Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 Personally think a 2018 final rerun is now inevitable. Croatia find ways to win these big games, and I feel like France will be an upset too far for Morocco. Would love to see Croatia go on and win it, but it's hard to look past France, as dull as that will be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 As Morocco aren't going to win it, I would like to see Argentina win, if only because of Messi. The stuff he produces, like that reverse pass in the QFs...that's why we watch football. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 1. Messi 2. Modric 3. Morocco 4. (Hate) M Ben Arfa Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 The result tonight will largely dictate the extent to which I pay an interest in what's left of the tournament tbh. From an entertainment perspective, it has to be an Argentina win for me. Croatia are a hard watch, as relentless a team as they are. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 Maroc Croatia France Argentina Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 I’m up for a Croatia vs Morocco final more than I am Croatia vs France or Argentina vs Morocco. I either want the two little’uns to win or the two big’uns. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaydnNUFC Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 Argentina v Morocco pls. Messi or a mint underdog story, win-win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dembabah Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 Matterface, Dixon and McCoist. Kill iz. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaydnNUFC Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 Matterface and Dixon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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