The Leo Messi Appreciation Thread

[Golden_Boy™]

A tribute to the best player in the world

At 21, having his best season so far: 39 games, 30 goals and 18 assists

This Argentinian striker's playmaker's career started in 1995 at Newell's Old Boys, where he played until the year 2000. At the age of 13, Lionel Messi crossed the Atlantic to try his luck in Barcelona, and joined the Under 14s.

Messi made spectacular progress at each of the different age levels, climbing through the ranks of the different youth teams and then Barça C, followed by Barça B and the first team in record time.

In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly with Porto that marked the opening of the new Dragao stadium. The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona's derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1).

With several first team players seriously injured, the services of several reserve team players were called upon, and Messi became a regular feature of Barça squads. On May 1, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona - against Albacete when Messi was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old. That record would eventually be beaten by Bojan.

At the Under 20 World Cup in Holland, Messi not only won the title with Argentina, but was also the leading goalscorer and was voted best player in the tournament. Aged 18 years, he had become one of the hottest properties in the world game. Shortly after, he made his first full international appearance in a
friendly against Hungary.

His breakthrough as a player came in the 2005-06 season, starting with an amazing performance in the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Juventus. He was also outstanding at the Santiago Bernabéu, in Barcelona's unforgettable 3-0 win, and also at Stamford Bridge, in the Champions League match against Chelsea. Injury kept him sidelined for much of the latter stage of the season. Messi played a total of 17 league games, 6 in the Champions League and 2 in the Copa del Rey. Messi scored eight goals.

The following season Messi moved up a gear and astounded the world with goals such as the one he scored against Getafe in the King’s Cup. In the 2006/07 season, and even though the team didn’t win any titles, the Argentine was second in the FIFA World Player awards and third in the Golden Ball. He continued to develop in the 2007/08 campaign, when he scored 16 goals and gave 10 assists in the 40 games he played in. In 2008, Leo Messi was runner up in the FIFA WORLD PLAYER AWARD for the second season in a row.

Messi also regularly plays for Argentina, appearing at the World Cup in 2006 and the Copa Amèrica in 2007. In the latter competition Argentina reached the final only to lose to Brazil.

CHARACTERISTICS

Messi is an unusual player. He is highly creative, and has the skills to take on defenders with ease. He is a versatile left-footed player who can play either in the middle or on either wing, or even as a centre forward.

Although he is quite short, he is so fast and physically strong that he can cope with larger opponents. He is incredibly powerful, and a specialist in such dead ball situations as corners, free kicks and penalties.

Leo Messi is cool-headed and able to assume several responsibilities in times of need. He is a player who is destined to have a very successful career in football.

HONOURS

FC Barcelona
2006/07 Spanish Supercup
2005/06 Champions League
2005/06 League
2005/06 Spanish Supercup
2004/05 League

Argentinian National Team
2004/05 World Cup Under-20
2008 Gold Medal Beijing'08

Hat-trick versus Real
'Maradona' goal versus Getafe
At Atlético this season
Versus France
Half volley at Sevilla
versus Depor
Winner at Osasuna
Copa chip V Mexico

[officergroyman]

the dude is AWEsome !!!! ;D

[ovechkin8]

Yes he is. Question is can the prize pillock managing Argentina utilise his star quality a la Zidane to get Argentina another World Cup.

Currently I think not.

Lets hope he tips Shitsea to pieces.

[Golden_Boy™]

Apr 16, 2009 17:13:31 GMT -1 ovechkin8 said:

Yes he is. Question is can the prize pillock managing Argentina utilise his star quality a la Zidane to get Argentina another World Cup.

Currently I think not.

Lets hope he tips Shitsea to pieces.

That really is the burning question.

With JRR now out of the picture it could mean Leo taking more of a playmaker role just behind the front two possibly making way for a number 9 type of player ala Crespo..

Who is going to mark him in the Chelsea ties with Cashley out? ;D

Mancienne touted as a possibility - he'll get torn a new hole.

Essien?

[ovechkin8]

What I fear is a Real Madrid type assasination attempt.

Heavy tackles a la Ramos in the first few minutes to injure him and get him out of the game.

I don't think Leo is the classical enganche but better retained in a free role down the right GB.

There is a desperate need to link the back to front though. Valeri could be an option to take over JRR spot or Ibagaza.Someone that Leo could and the striker could rotate off as at Barca with Iniesta.

3-5-2 should be the formation Argentina should go with given the paucity of full backs or 4-1-4-1 with Cambiasso behind the striker.

Insua,Ansaldi down the left back role Angeleri the right or use Maxi and Jonas as wing backs or Zabby.

[ovechkin8]

New article on St.Lionel of Rosario

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article6168681.ece

Diego Riquelme (guess who he is named after) called up to Argentina u17. Hope he has a bit more pace than Roman. ;D Apparently just as skilled too ... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[ovechkin8]

Argentine u17 a far more skilled group than their u20 predecessors beat Uruguay 2-0 to win their group inc.a stunning long range voley from Rivers Villvalva (how long before he leaves)and qualify for the u17 WC in Nigeria.

They will play the winners of the other group of five nations which inc. Brazil too see who are the South American champions.

Looking good.

[Golden_Boy™]

Apr 24, 2009 17:00:14 GMT -1 ovechkin8 said:

What I fear is a Real Madrid type assasination attempt.

Heavy tackles a la Ramos in the first few minutes to injure him and get him out of the game.

I don't think Leo is the classical enganche but better retained in a free role down the right GB.

There is a desperate need to link the back to front though. Valeri could be an option to take over JRR spot or Ibagaza.Someone that Leo could and the striker could rotate off as at Barca with Iniesta.

3-5-2 should be the formation Argentina should go with given the paucity of full backs or 4-1-4-1 with Cambiasso behind the striker.

Insua,Ansaldi down the left back role Angeleri the right or use Maxi and Jonas as wing backs or Zabby.

Deviating away from praising Messi I see

Even if Chelsea were to have a few guys man marking Lionel that'd only serve to free up the likes of Eto'o, Henry, Xavi and Iniesta to pick them off...

It's virtually impossible to stop someone with the ability and technique of Messi, which is why teams resort to just simply chopping him down, as you say like what we saw in El Clasico and further back - v Chelsea in the CL where Del Horno was the culprit.

I'd agree Messi is not your traditional enganche as you say, and I also agree with you that he's more effective wide right where he's given a free role and he just makes it so hard to play against him...but i'd still say he could do the job if need be, for both club and country in the enganche 'number 10' playmaker role.

Re: Formations - I think 3-5-2 is worth a go, only if the correct balance can be found (which I think it can but Diego just needs to pick the right players). Saying that though, when Maradona took over he did say he'll be playing with 4 at the back. 4-3-1-2 seems to be a popular choice..

Problem areas for me are finding a reliable keeper, and replacing the god awful Heinze and also deciding who is the successor to Batigol, as there just hasn't been anyone to fill his boots since he left all that time ago..

Gago & Mascherano need to be the duo in the centre of midfield.. I have been impressed with their partnership so far (bar the Bolivia game). Maxi Rodriguez, Di Maria, Gutiérrez, and others are all guys who can do a job on the wings (Messi is a no brainer).

Then there's the difficult decision of who to go with up front as i referenced earlier - It's well known Argentina have been lacking a 'target man' since Crespo has been in decline, going further back in time and someone they really could do with right now is of course a Gabriel Batistuta. People have mentioned the likes of Cruz, Di Santo, Milito as possible solutions but none of them are the answer imho.

Problem is most of the striking options are so small, there just is no number 9. I think Argentina are going to continue playing without a big number 9 unless someone comes through in the next year or two.

Back on topic - Messi

[MagicalUnited]

Meh, He is a shame to my name
joke

He s the best in the world, simple as really.

[ovechkin8]

Re the '9' Liam.

Cruz is too old for a start. Milito is solely a poacher albeit a bloody good one but he does not do enough to merit an international place.

Lisandro Lopez too wasteful and playing in too weak a league Liga Sagres to judge.

di Santo is very promising but too young (2014) as is Mauro Icardi just 16.

As a River fan you should be aware of the renaissance of that lethal marksman Fernando Cavenaghi. He is a natural born finisher and works well with his midfield ie Gourcuff.

He does need to leave Bordeaux (who will be in the CL again)and many big clubs are interested. He is a natural killer with a very high accuracy rate.

Higuain could do a job up there. He is maturing physically and reads the game well and is goal scoring accuracy and conversion whilst not the best still is improving.

Goalkeeping wise I'm not too worried. Romero had a great season with AZ and will be in the CL next season and was part of a defence that did not concede for a record time (again albeit weak Eredivisie).
Andujar and Assman are progressing nicely in Argentina both blessed with great reflexes.

Defending wise why the likes of Garay, Fazio, Gonzalo and young Forlin are not in the team is a mystery.

They have more pace and are excellent defenders to work in tandem with Dimi. Forlin especially looks magnificent for such a kid and Garay is part of a very solid Santander back four (which can also blow hot or cold).

My sole concern is the full backs. Ansaldi ? Insua ? Awful defending to let Geovanni just waltz past him like that. Zabby will get burnt for pace.

Monzon is pacy and improving defensively and should have been persisted with.

The personell aside from conventional FBs is there and a tight defence is needed to win a World Cup. Unfortunately I dont think the right man is in charge to pick the right players or tactics as we saw in Bolivia and the weaknesses were still present in the game against Venuzuela.

Spain for 2010 I think at present.

Argentina with the wealth of talent available should be right there......

Ta for now... come on Barca.

[ovechkin8]

Boo.......

How can Steve 'Beige' Ryder describe that as a victory for football ?

10 men behind the ball with Malouda and Wankba diving every other chance and Alves too as well and Bollock not getting sent off.

Krkic and Hleb.

Lionel was quiet tonight. Disappointing and he never tried to get into space enough times. Barca's tempo until late on was too slow and like Argentina (please note Diego) a lack of width againt teams that like to defence in a compact 4-4 is essential.

Xavi & Iniesta a pleasure to watch. Henry very unlucky and clobbered a fair few times as well.

[DTR]

He was shit last night and only plays in la liga against maybe three or four decent teams would not take the kicking in the Prem

[MagicalUnited]

I still think when it comes to pure quality, Ronaldo is better, Messi is more consitent and has had the better season however.

[ovechkin8]

I see......

Unlike whinging petulant crybaby Ronaldo.

van Basten, Cruyff , Diego , Capello , Zizou , Platini , et al must all be wrong in their opinion of Messi then ?

One weak game with Barca seeming to have more than an eye on theor forthcoming championship decider against Real Madrid makes him average.

As for there are only four clubs in La Liga garbage I take it you don't watch it very often. Plenty of vicious kicking pulling aimed at Messi which unlike nancy boy Ronaldo he just gets up from without resorting to kicking out.

[MagicalUnited]

you sound like my father Ovech

[ovechkin8]

Apr 29, 2009 16:52:17 GMT -1 MagicalUnited said:

you sound like my father Ovech

Thanks for the compliment young man. Your father is very wise.

[MagicalUnited]

he refused to buy me a ronaldo top, got me messi barcelona to with my argentina one instead lol


I got Ronaldo myself

[ovechkin8]

I've got the 18 Messi one too. Wear it with pride.

Much as like the blaugrana they are not a patch on Watford. ;D

[Golden_Boy™]

Apr 29, 2009 10:22:26 GMT -1 DTR said:

He was shit last night and only plays in la liga against maybe three or four decent teams would not take the kicking in the Prem

It's hard to work out if you actually think that or are on the wind up!

[Neko Bazu]

Greatest player in the world? Couldn't even take the ball round a parked bus