₦airaland Forum

ddippset:
So if you were to bench or sell one of Messi and Griezman,
Who would it be?

Messi can't be benched or sold. Griezmann will have to suffer being called a flop and a useless signing.

FirstbornWds:
You're beginning to get the point. I am not saying Grizzy is that bad but claiming that his role mismanagement is a major cause of his decline is not overly true.

The problem is the lack of creativeness from the midfield and from our side backs. A constant display of what Alba did tonight during the last 20 minutes will definitely make Griezman a goal beast even from the wings (Remember the pair that led to an off-target shot against Madrid in the Classico), that's what I'm talking about.

You can't shoehorn Griezmann to the wings and expect him to be successful it's the same with Dybala. Those two players are more effective when they are the focal point of a team or at least have free roles. It's the same reason Messi and Dybala can't operate together at Argentina and it's the same reason griezmann won't be effective at barca. I really hope I am wrong

FirstbornWds:
Don't forget France another box-like striker in Mbappe. Truth that Grizzy is being played out of position but I seriously think he's not manning up to the responsibility to be given a free role just yet. He needs to show more class than what he's doing presently.

You don't buy a Ferrari and drive it like a fiat. We have bought strikers before and play them at wingers Henry,villa etc and was successfully because we had every body pressing to win back the ball and a World class midfield under a great tactical coach. Now we don't have that luxury anymore.

FirstbornWds:
Lol. I'll have to disagree with you on this.
It's not really a big deal to be dependent on Messi. He has proven times without number to be more than capable to handle the burden but somehow, I think what we need is a solid team that wouldn't be overly dependent and even they are, it shouldn't be too apparent.

Even Ronaldo at Real Madrid suffered the same fate. The only difference was that they had the players who were "matured" enough to realize immediately when he's having a bad game. That's the same level of team spirit we need for Barcelona.

Phasing out Messi isn't really right yet. We need just more than that.

Age is not on Messi side. We need to start planning ahead and when I mean phase it doesn't mean just drop him out no. We have to try to turn the focal point of the team to somebody else . Try competing at top when midfield have to adapt to a player that cant/wont track back and adapt to the lack of options from players running off ball etc.
Messi when ball in his area is best ever but off the ball he is Barcas biggest weakness in terms of attacking/defending as a unit.

Sociedad targetted our right side all night and we were lucky they did not get more joy from it.

FirstbornWds:
Does he play the same free role in France?

Yes he does. He plays just behind Giroud as a supporting striker and free to roam into pocket of space. Same with when he was at Atletico Madrid.

ddippset:
Where's Messi playing now?

Messi is basically roaming just behind the striker and dropping back when he feels like.

Debroslink:
God forbids that My Barcelona will keep playing #PasstoMessi for the next 4 years.

I need a real coach that will change this useless tactic.

No top coach will entertain the Barca job until the old core are gone and that includes Messi.
Majority of time he is still the best ever on the ball but the balance of the team is completely off as he takes next to no part in a consistent pressing game, doesnt hold a position and doesnt run off ball.
Add that to Suarez, Busi and Pique and as Setien has realised the tactics seem to settle on how Valverde approached it with a bit more pointless passing from the back.

ddippset:
Maybe we just haven't gotten the right next superstar.

Remember MSN?

Wasn't Neymar wreaking havoc on that left wing even with Messi on the pitch?


We've lost Neymar but I could swear that a healthy Dembele would have reduced our Messi dependency significantly.

Several I saw Dembele ignoring Messi and going solo; taking on defences all by himself.

The last time we won champions league we had two wingers in Messi and Neymar causing havoc in both wings and Suarez dragging and bullying defenders. Messi position currently can't allow us play with 2 wingers. Messi has not played on the wing for barca for years now.

ddippset:
Suarez should be phased out then let Griezman play top 9.

Let's see what he will say again.

Griezmann is not a pure striker his best current position is as a supporting striker ala Messi

ddippset:
Hehehehehehehe

Nobody phases out Messi until he turns 37 years old.

But his position is a big problem moving forward. We ideally want to be able to play through both flanks and with a Centre forward. Where will Messi fit in? Messi dropping drop leaves our right flank empty and griezmann is not a winger. Messi cannot longer play as a false 9 so where does he fit in.

ddippset:
That's the problem Exaclty.
As long as Messi and Suarez are in the team, Griezman is useless to us.
Abi is he supposed to displace any of them?

Both are 30+ already. We can not build the team long term with those 2.

haymekus:
You’re a mumu man

Did I insult you?

Eruditor:
And even Messi is noticeably slower. It is a bad strategy to still be depending on him. Like build around someone else so Messi can be free to wreck teams.

Exactly You cannot build a team around a 33 year old Messi any more. Xavi was phased out. Iniesta was phased out. It's time for Barca to contemplate phasing out Messi little by little.

Griezmann is just another Dybala situation to me. They are not compatible because they operate in the same space. If you want griezmann to flourish you give him a free role in the team.

ddippset:
lol
Many are still looking at the Griezman of Athletico.
Dembele has done more for us than Griezman.
Fact.
Our best attack remains
Dembele Suarez Messi
Sorry to say.

I joined in slandering Suarez but mehn, I want him back.

What exactly has dembele done for us?

BlueAngel444:
Welcome to Epl; where Claudio Ranieri did his magic and got everyone talking, Conte as well wins and gets his own emoji, Pep does his own thing for a while but here now comes Klopp stealing the spot light and that's the thing who knows who tomorrow belongs to.

Speaking of which, how did an average Henderson become such an important key in Liverpool's midfield, I remember all the trolls and shades thrown towards him then. That ordinary midfielder, Henderson. Things change in life.

Or how Salah is the best right winger in EPL, and an arguable becomes best right winger in history if not greatest winger in EPL history.

That's why I love EPL. The change is amazing

Did you type this or copied it from somewhere?

Kimbeast:
I can't still make out how Norwich won the championship last season yet they are 19points behind Sheffield United. How is that even possible?

I think it's the style of play. Norwich didn't adapt to the premier league while Sheffield did.

Swissh:
When intelligence was being distributed in heaven, Codedguy1 was in slumber. His portion was given to a Pig .

That's tough

Swissh:
Only unbalanced people like codedguy1 use passion as an excuse to commit outrageous acts.

A40:
Still immaterial to the argument. I don't know if you expected them to go unbeaten but regardless the question here is after this loss is the league still weak or is it just Liverpool.

Immaterial to what argument? What exactly was the argument.

A40:
I thought the league was weak. Which is it now?

I told you this before.

Godx:
And the bold is exactly the premise of my argument. Liverpool have not played anything this season to be having 20+ point gap and anybody who have watched thier matches can attest to that. The point tally does not reflect their true quality/strength of the team.

Swissh:
Liverpool can never create chances from midfield combinations or passes . All they do is spam crosses all through. What a boring team.

They’ve been playing like this for weeks now. They are going to stutter the rest of the season. It’s not a huge surprise klopp has barely rotated this season. I told A40 before if you watch Liverpool they are very ordinary.

Swissh:
Elamps you are absolutely correct on this. I'm surprised the consensus here seems to be wrong decision. He is literally between the keeper and the ball when the shot is taken. Also he moved his leg so the ball could get in, that is interfering with the play in an offside position.

This one you are supporting United is everything all right

A40:
Immobile plays against Champions League competition?

Your point being?

A40:
Are you saying Salah and Mané are not world class?

Do you know over the last 4 seasons only Messi has combined for more goals and assists than Salah?

Salah goals + assist = 92 in 97 Games

Immobile goals + assist = 92 in 94 Games.

Is immobile world class? Why is Salah and mane considered world class and not Firmino .

A40:
You can say this for every other coach that has ever lived in every Sport

Thankfully you know.

kendrick93:
Of course Robertson is who said he is not?

Read that part properly again. Is Immobile not amongst the best in his position this season. Did you see that chart that showed his goal contribution. Infact no need for back and front. The entire Liverpool squad is world class.

kendrick93:
World class- A player that can get in to any team in the world or among the best in their respective positions...
These players I listed are amongst the best or the best in their positions....
No need to argue blindly..
Firmino maybe...
Henderson and matip are not but very good..
Gomez has the highest potential to be in the elite.

Immobile at present is amongst the best in his position. His he world class? Damn no. Forget all this your explanation and tell us the entire Liverpool team is world class. What makes Salah and Mane world class and not firmino or Robertson world class and not Gomez. Why is Gomez a potential world class and not Trent. Van dijk and Allison are the only world class players Liverpool have

CapitalCee:
No, Mane and Robertson are also world Class in my humble opinion.

Mane and Robertson are very good players in my opinion not world class. Liverpool system is masking their true ability. No one will call Zinchenko or Gundogan World class.

kendrick93:
TAA, Mane, Salah are all world class...
One or two bad results means little....
I wonder who are these so called world class players who are better than these players
Recency bias is a b!tch

Why stop at just Salah and Mane? Plus Firmino, Henderson, Gomez, Matip and the entire Liverpool Squad are also world class.

nitrogen:
Thank you so much, analyses of all three goals show VVD as the common factor, folks in here continue to praise VVD every day, I mean, he is okay o, but not a great defender. I just watched the game again, and it is really difficult for me to mention one thing that VVD did in that game.

Van dijk has been world class for the past 2 Seasons. If he can keep it up for the next 2 to 3 seasons he will be a great defender. Allison and Van Dijk are the only true world class players Liverpool have in my opinion.

A40:
That shows you the work of Klopp

It shows he has good players who fit into his system. He doesn't touch players with magic wands.