bigh0rt wrote:Oh, he's certainly not doing it all by himself, but he's much more integral to their success, offensively, than the other two, in my opinion.Regardless of the goals that Neymar and Suarez score (which I also gave them full credit for; that offensive arsenal is overwhelming and unbelievably impressive as a trio), Messi is the engine that fuels the offense, and the other two should thank him for their goals as much as they credit themselves. Almost all of Barcelona's threats against Juventus went through Messi, who was essentially responsible for the deciding goal in the match, as had Suarez not been there to knock in a sitter from six yards out, Rakitic was right there to do the same exact thing. Neymar scored a goal when Juve had committed their entire team forward to try for an equalizer, but no need to be nit picky, as a goal is a goal. My point in general was that, as tremendous goal scorers and players as Neymar and Suarez are (and Lord knows they are), they should be a lot more grateful for having Messi on their squad than he should be having them.
In my opinion, Messi is the best player who has ever played the game, so it goes without saying that he is the most integral part of his team. Suarez and Neymar are quite capable of creating their own goals though.
It's not as if they would struggle to score if Messi wasn't in the team though (Like Raheem Sterling did without Suarez at Liverpool this season).
Pointing to two charitable things he's done does not take away from the fact that he is, in fact, a shithead. He's bitten opponents on the field. He's been banned and suspended for racial abuse of another player, which is far more reprehensible than the former act. He's also generally a dirty player on the pitch, largely regarded as one of the dirtiest players who has ever played. You don't get that moniker by accident, or because you're a boy scout. Almost all professional athletes make calls to fans and do other charitable things, which are great. It should be applauded. Some of them are still assholes. I could visit cancer patients and donate my entire 2015 salary to charity, and if I go home and beat my wife, I'm still a scumbag. A few good acts don't just cancel out and negate the bad.
I'm not gonna bother arguing about this because you clearly don't like Suarez. And that's fine, you don't have to.
Ur Boi Bangs Chol wrote:Suarez didn't give up his 'free time'. It was international break and he was supposed to play for his national team but since he was still serving part of his match ban he played for Stevie G's testimonial/charity match instead.
Exactly. It was an international break and he was ineligible to play for Uruguay - thus he had free time. He didn't have to play in the charity match, but he chose to.
Liverpool still has to part with £8m for Danny Ings, some English FA rule about big clubs paying small clubs restitution for developing a player if the player spent most of his career with 'small clubs'.
Last I heard Liverpool were bidding about £4m to get the deal done faster and avoid the tribunal. Apparently the fee will somewhere in the middle of those two figures. It's not really a true free transfer.
Messi is indeed great and IS the team but in the first half of the season Barca was a mess, Enrique being doubted because of Messi skipping practice, and Suarez even labeled as a flop that early.
It's no coincidence that despite their shit defense and now aged midfield Barca started dominating again once Suarez got settled playing with Messi and Neymar, or because Enrique finally had the epiphany of playing his £65m striker in the middle instead of the wing and stopped imitating the Guardiola model of Messi in the middle, a tactic which has run its course.
Enrique did a decent job winning three trophies in his first year. I'm sure he got himself a nice payrise with his contract extension as well.
Qballer wrote:Any love for women's world cup? I watched us beat you aussies the other night
I saw the highlights of that match. 1-1 at half time but we ran out of steam in the second half it seemed.
Are the US the favourites to win it? Or are Germany/Brazil/Sweden still the best teams? I haven't really followed the sport closely for a while.
Now we play either Japan or Netherlands in the Quarter Final.
