***Official Football (Soccer) Thread: All leagues and competitions Part 39***

[Kaliconic]

Its also not selective, Messi has 15 chances to win a tropphy without those two

5 UCL seasons since Xavi left
6 Copa Americas
4 World cups

All he has is 4 final appearances, in which his team scored 0 goals across 450 minutes of football.

Im sorry but you cant be the GOAT if you cant inspire your team to 1 goal in either of two 120 minute finals against CHILE to win one trophy. Lining up alongside Aguero, Higuain, Di Maria and they cant manage a single goal against Gary Medel, Jean Beasejour etc?

Lol. Ronaldo's big success in a major final came in a game in which he went off injured after 25 minutes and contributed exactly nothing to his team's victory. If your big measure is performance in national team finals then Messi is the clear winner... I mean, at least he has consistently made it that far in the tournament and is able to play the full match. Not to mention Euro 2016 is one of the flukiest wins of all time. Imagine not winning a single game in the first round and getting to play Poland and Wales as two of your knockout stage opponents.

The only thing Ronaldo is great at doing for his national team is bagging tons of goals against European opposition like Luxembourg, Andorra, and San Marino.

[Trillhouse]

Arsenal got lucky there

Theyll be found out next round

[TokenV]

Europa League once agains delivers

- huge Slavia upset againts Leicester
- Molde upset against Hoffenheim
- Bern upset against Leverkusen
- double turnaround in the PSV - Olympiakos game

hnggggg

[CaliSuperSport]

Nah I can count them;


Xavi & Iniesta at Barca without Messi = 1 UCL

Xavi & Iniesta with Spain = 3 Trophies


Messi since Xavi left = 0 UCL

Messi with Argentina = 0 Trophies, 4 choked finals without a goal, 1 missed pen in a shootout

u wot m8, tons of silverware from La Liga, Copa Del Ray, Supercups, Club World Cups, etc.

Barcelona's transfer activity outside MSN has been pretty poor. I mean I haven't followed them as much since 2018 but I remember I got blasted on the Barca forums once for criticizing signing Mascherano for 24m. And then he repeatedly got burned especially when playing as a CB in big games

[LukeS1]

Lol. Ronaldo's big success in a major final came in a game in which he went off injured after 25 minutes and contributed exactly nothing to his team's victory. If your big measure is performance in national team finals then Messi is the clear winner... I mean, at least he has consistently made it that far in the tournament and is able to play the full match. Not to mention Euro 2016 is one of the flukiest wins of all time. Imagine not winning a single game in the first round and getting to play Poland and Wales as two of your knockout stage opponents.

The only thing Ronaldo is great at doing for his national team is bagging tons of goals against European opposition like Luxembourg, Andorra, and San Marino.

Portugal had never won a trophy, or even reached a final in their history before CR7. They are a small country of 10million people. Since they have reached 2 Euros, winning 1, and won a nations league.

Argentina before Messi reached 4 World Cup finals, won 2 of them, and won 14 Copa America titles. With Messi they have done nothing but choke finals




Obviously winning the Euros is a fuk ton harder than Copa America as well, it should be a 50/50 between Argentina and Brazil each year. 240 minutes of football against CHILE, and they can't score a single goal? theres no excuses for that and it eliminates Messi from GOAT contender

[LukeS1]

u wot m8, tons of silverware from La Liga, Copa Del Ray, Supercups, Club World Cups, etc.

Barcelona's transfer activity outside MSN has been pretty poor. I mean I haven't followed them as much since 2018 but I remember I got blasted on the Barca forums once for criticizing signing Mascherano for 24m. And then he repeatedly got burned especially when playing as a CB in big games

Agreed there have been some dumb buyers but up until the last year or two the squad was still filled with world class talent like Suarez, Pique, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Ter Stegen. I know a lot of those have declined fast now though


But theres no excuses for the way that Barca looked in certain games. The loss to Roma was a complete collapse, they gave up and looked like they all wanted to run off the field and cry in the corner. Its just a common theme with Messi lead sides, they don't stand up tall and take control in big games

[engscott]

I stand corrected, Rangers lost against St. Mirren in the Scottish League Cup QF in December

and again 5 goals already with 15 minutes still to play

Their season has been ridiculous... what a year for the club!

[TokenV]

[mandarino]

If any one of you were a young talent,

Would you rather spend your development stage under Ronaldinhos wing along with some local bros,
Or be cultivated by Fergie and all the legends he had on his roster?

[LukeS1]

If any one of you were a young talent,

Would you rather spend your development stage under Ronaldinhos wing along with some local bros,
Or be cultivated by Fergie and all the legends he had on his roster?

I think Messi had the easier upbringing, but Ronaldo's built more character in him


The initial Barca side had 7 of the starting 11 as La Masia graduates (Valdez, Pique, Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi). They were all brought up playing the same tactics and style, not to mention the talent, the best midfield 3 of all time.


Ronaldo was starting fresh in a new league where he didnt speak the language, he was playing RM in a 442 which didnt suit him. Its also the most physical and competitive league. Theres no doubt though that growing up with Fergie as well as the leadership of the class of 92 was huge in giving him the winning mentality and example to live up to

[mandarino]

I think Messi had the easier upbringing, but Ronaldo's built more character in him


The initial Barca side had 7 of the starting 11 as La Masia graduates (Valdez, Pique, Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi). They were all brought up playing the same tactics and style, not to mention the talent, the best midfield 3 of all time.


Ronaldo was starting fresh in a new league where he didnt speak the language, he was playing RM in a 442 which didnt suit him. Its also the most physical and competitive league. Theres no doubt though that growing up with Fergie as well as the leadership of the class of 92 was huge in giving him the winning mentality and example to live up to

Id rather take the ronaldo upbringing.


Being in a system as a child does not guarantee success.

Id rather have been with a bonafide winner fergie. You forget its not class of 92 only. Van nistelrooy, et etc. Winners in that team before id even walk in the door.

[GarthVader]

Players would drag their balls through broken glass for Fergie.

[CaliSuperSport]

Agreed there have been some dumb buyers but up until the last year or two the squad was still filled with world class talent like Suarez, Pique, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Ter Stegen. I know a lot of those have declined fast now though


But theres no excuses for the way that Barca looked in certain games. The loss to Roma was a complete collapse, they gave up and looked like they all wanted to run off the field and cry in the corner. Its just a common theme with Messi lead sides, they don't stand up tall and take control in big games

In their roughest years, the biggest criticism was always the lack of a target man. I think they were one of the shortest clubs in the CL a couple years. That really gimped them when the opponent just sits back.

I don't really remember barcas attack from that aggregate loss to Roma, but their back four was absolutely appalling, Umtiti and Alba in particular. And Pique just ripping Dzeko down I mean what can you say other than a shambles. That header from Manolas was just perfection.

[CaliSuperSport]

After our injuries and looking at our April and May schedule, I think Newcastle are very likely going down...

[Xinroth]

LOL@that Penalty not given to Man U.

On one hand, fuk Man U.
on the other hand, fuk those refs.

[LukeS1]

After our injuries and looking at our April and May schedule, I think Newcastle are very likely going down...

It looked pretty set that the bottom 3 would stay that way, but Fulham are actually looking decent now


Never rule out big Sam as well, but if he did pull WBA out that would be his greatest ever escape

[LukeS1]

LOL@that Penalty not given to Man U.

On one hand, fuk Man U.
on the other hand, fuk those refs.

Its just the inconsistency

Refs letting their ego get in the way and trying to manage their perception

[engscott]

Seeing whats been given this year, I just don't see how it isn't given

[CaliSuperSport]

It looked pretty set that the bottom 3 would stay that way, but Fulham are actually looking decent now


Never rule out big Sam as well, but if he did pull WBA out that would be his greatest ever escape

Yeah but we actually play West Brom on Sunday and Fulham on the last match day of the season. Our two best players are out for at least a month. Fukin aids

[Trillhouse]

LOL@that Penalty not given to Man U.

On one hand, fuk Man U.
on the other hand, fuk those refs.

But who was

[engscott]

See the kickout on Fred from Mount as well?

Oh well, still above them and solely in second. I'll take it

[Kaliconic]

Five straight losses in the league at Anfield after going 68 games undefeated. Unbelievable from Liverpool.

[anegusse]

I thought we would at least beat Chelsea yesterday.... lol

our problems stated last year after we won the league. Klopp should have rested most of them but kept playing them instead and now our players are burned out. Hardly rotates players. Most of them started against Madrid in 2018 UCL final. Missing VVD and Gomez sucks but they weren't convincing after that Villa game. lol

i have a feeling Villa will trash us again at Anfield lol

[Kaliconic]

I'm watching Haaland play for the first time today and boy is he living up to the hype. First he scores two minutes in... Which I manage to miss out on because I was in the bathroom. But it doesn't matter because within another six minutes he's bagged another. Buyern down 2-0 after nine minutes.

EDIT: Of course Buyern still come back and win easily. The Bundesliga is the least competitive league in the world.

[engscott]

United handles City at the Etihad and no one says a thing? great win, needed it

[LukeS1]

United have perfected this style in big games, defend deep, allow pressure and counter attack quickly with precision.

Less overall shots, way less possession but still fully deserved to win based on chances created



Problem is those games against lesser sides that sit deep themselves and dont allow any space behind, Ole needs different ideas for those situations. Maybe having Mata come in on the right hand side giving another player alongside Bruno to move the ball around quickly and deliver a final ball

[Brad_Pitt]

Shaw and his big fat love handles is low-key the best LB in the Prem right now.

[LukeS1]

Shaw and his big fat love handles is low-key the best LB in the Prem right now.

Alex Telles' transfer fee is already a good deal just for the effect it has had on Shaw

[Brad_Pitt]

Alex Telles' transfer fee is already a good deal just for the effect it has had on Shaw

Funny how that works.

[engscott]

Definitely bringing in competition for Shaw has made him work his ass off and like you say he's now right up there for best LB