The European football thread

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Goofle11

Messi should win the ballon d'Or tonight. Best footballer ever.

Forgot that was on. Thanks. I think it's at 4pm our time.

lol, the Messi GOAT thing, it annoys me when you get old farts (40/50+) who saw the likes of Best and Maradona play who always say one of those is the best. Just smacks of elitism, as if they can see something in football that we can't because they're somehow smarter.

It's funny as well because, all of Messi's games are broadcast live in their entirety where we can watch his talent with unrivaled consistency, whereas Maradona could only be watched on TV in the World Cup, most of his club games would have been impossible to watch for the British fan.

Messi's critics, for me, prove he is still one of the most, if not the most, underrated footballers in the world.

[Goofle]

I think that last line is a bit strange. I know what you are trying to say, but I think he is generally regarded as the best ever. Sergio Busquets is probably the most underrated footballer in general.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Goofle11

I think that last line is a bit strange. I know what you are trying to say, but I think he is generally regarded as the best ever. Sergio Busquets is probably the most underrated footballer in general.

By people our age he is but I post on another forum full of mostly match going older football fans and I'm talking the vast majority regard Maradona to be the best, as do all my friends' dads, "if you saw him play you'd realise why Maradona is the best" etc... like I say just seems like elitism and nothing else. I mean one stick you see people beat him with is "he needs to do it for Argentina", but how many people watch Argentina's games? Messi has been playing in the playmaker's role for them for years, clocking up the assists. It's only been within the last year he's played further up and his goal stats for Argentina now replicate his Barca stats. This is what I mean by underrated. Messi could easily play in midfield imo, in fact I think he will do once his physical attributes start to decline, he'll play further back and dink balls over to the forwards or slice defences with through balls. His free kicks are underrated too, he is one of the best in the world now. Yet Ronaldo is regarded as better even though the majority of the time he can't even clear the wall.

Messi's shooting is unreal as well, it is always in the corners whether he's inside the box or outside. Like I say the majority of people don't appreciate or realise how good he actually is.

Messi is still underrated for me. Busquets is underrated possibly, but that's most because he is a little shit who does himself no favours at all.

[Cuthbert]

Messi wins the Ballon d'Or for the fourth year running. Absolute freak of football.

[FRED HALE SR.]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Kittens

By people our age he is but I post on another forum full of mostly match going older football fans and I'm talking the vast majority regard Maradona to be the best, as do all my friends' dads, "if you saw him play you'd realise why Maradona is the best" etc... like I say just seems like elitism and nothing else. I mean one stick you see people beat him with is "he needs to do it for Argentina", but how many people watch Argentina's games? Messi has been playing in the playmaker's role for them for years, clocking up the assists. It's only been within the last year he's played further up and his goal stats for Argentina now replicate his Barca stats. This is what I mean by underrated. Messi could easily play in midfield imo, in fact I think he will do once his physical attributes start to decline, he'll play further back and dink balls over to the forwards or slice defences with through balls. His free kicks are underrated too, he is one of the best in the world now. Yet Ronaldo is regarded as better even though the majority of the time he can't even clear the wall.

Messi's shooting is unreal as well, it is always in the corners whether he's inside the box or outside. Like I say the majority of people don't appreciate or realise how good he actually is.

Messi is still underrated for me. Busquets is underrated possibly, but that's most because he is a little shit who does himself no favours at all.

Thats strange everyone i talk with throughout my travels and here in the states all know who Lionel Messi is and regard him as the worlds best footballer. I even considered him above Ronaldo when everyone was crying about his win last year in the World Footballer of the Year talks. I've seen plenty of Maradona games as well as Van Basten, Ronaldo [the original one], and Batistuta. I'd say that hes above all of them in complete game, but I'd take Van Basten in front of the net every day of the week. Messi is certainly the most complete footballer the world has ever seen, hes an absolute freak with the heart of a Lion on the pitch.

[Goofle]

Messi is the best ever at near enough every attacking aspect of play, and is a World Class tackler when needed.

[Cuthbert]

Lionel Messi's mesmerising goal shows why he has won fourth Ballon D'Or | Sport | Guardian Weekly

I was watching this live and I think there's a slight exaggeration here. It was quick thinking but not mesmerising or "dizzyingly impossible". He just ran on to a back pass and rounded the goalkeeper then slotted the ball into the empty net.

[Cuthbert]

So Barca finally lose and Pep is off to Bayern in the summer. Full credit to Sociedad for coming back from 2-0 down.

Messi has 3 in 3 this year. He's shit.

[Cuthbert]

Are you German then mate?

Good league, the Bundesliga. My favourite German team is Dortmund, and it was Dortmund before they started thrashing teams this season, but only because of the Westfalenstadion.

[Cuthbert]

Beckham joins PSG (shit tinpot club) and says his wages will be going to a children's charity in Paris, so he's playing for free. Admirable.

Beckham is cool as fuck and a legend of football.