They’ve never spent money. First Brady, then Fitzgerald, now MessiWow the Revolution really blew this one. They could have signed Messi as a free agent, but they failed! Can't believe the Krafts were outbid by PSG. They're contending for the title, where's the urgency to upgrade the team?
I thought Twitter reported Messi was at Logan Airport...They’ve never spent money. First Brady, then Fitzgerald, now Messi
Well Nash is a two-time MVP. But I get it.Messi is a lot better than Steve Nash or Dwight Howard. For an NBA analogy, this is more like the Warriors signing Durant.
I thought they beat back that reputation a couple of seasons ago. Gini will definitely give them more mettle in the middle and make them tougher, but I think they have a pretty good mentality already. Kimpebe has really matured since Thiago left.I think Gini might be an undervalued piece of this puzzle. He brings veteran leadership and hard nosed experience to a side with a glass jaw. We've seen how this group behaves when things aren't going their way and it's pretty fucking ugly. You could argue that the addition of Messi makes it less likely they'll experience that type of adversity, but if Gini can rally them when they're cracking they'll be unbeatable.
Wasn’t their CL exit last year pretty brutal? Red cards in both legs?I thought they beat back that reputation a couple of seasons ago. Gini will definitely give them more mettle in the middle and make them tougher, but I think they have a pretty good mentality already. Kimpebe has really matured since Thiago left.
I had no idea that Neymar is almost 30. I presumed he was like 26.Neymar is also like, always hurt and will be 30 in February, I really don't know how much more he has left.
Yes, but 2 seasons ago (the '19-'20 UCL) PSG went through Dortmund, Atalanta, and Leipzig and giving Bayern a helluva game in the Final. If memory serves, they had a handful of excellent opportunities in the first half hour, didn't convert, and ran out of steam.Wasn’t their CL exit last year pretty brutal? Red cards in both legs?
Yeah and he hasn't played a full-season since 2016-2017. His goal contributions per 90 numbers have held steady over the years, but he hasn't scored 20+ goals in six years, despite playing in a weak league where elite PSG players score 30+ goals with ease. He wouldn't be the first guy to be winding down his career in his late 90s. Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were done by 30.I had no idea that Neymar is almost 30. I presumed he was like 26.
And Sergio Ramos, while clearly past his best, is one of the standout big match players of recent history.I think Gini might be an undervalued piece of this puzzle. He brings veteran leadership and hard nosed experience to a side with a glass jaw. We've seen how this group behaves when things aren't going their way and it's pretty fucking ugly. You could argue that the addition of Messi makes it less likely they'll experience that type of adversity, but if Gini can rally them when they're cracking they'll be unbeatable.
that front 3 isn’t going to do much defensive work or counter-press with the consistent intensity necessary for the biggest matches. A LOT is going to fall on Gini and Verratti.I thought they beat back that reputation a couple of seasons ago. Gini will definitely give them more mettle in the middle and make them tougher, but I think they have a pretty good mentality already. Kimpebe has really matured since Thiago left.
Different situation a bit, but think hes more like the Kobe in this analogy.Messi is a lot better than Steve Nash or Dwight Howard. For an NBA analogy, this is more like the Warriors signing Durant.
Count me skeptical that PSG will be able to run and gun to a CL title. This team has all the makings of a squad that will be fun at times but I’m just not sure you can get away with three guys who don’t play defense in the highest levels of the modern game, even with three as good as they are.that front 3 isn’t going to do much defensive work or counter-press with the consistent intensity necessary for the biggest matches. A LOT is going to fall on Gini and Verratti.
How do you compare this team to Barca's 2014-15 UCL-winning squad (i.e. SNM):Count me skeptical that PSG will be able to run and gun to a CL title. This team has all the makings of a squad that will be fun at times but I’m just not sure you can get away with three guys who don’t play defense in the highest levels of the modern game, even with three as good as they are.
I think this is an instructive comparison, not only because two of the players are the same but also because that team demonstrated a pretty simple truth in football: If your front three is fearsome enough, they don't really have to play much defense because nobody in their right mind is attacking you in numbers.How do you compare this team to Barca's 2014-15 UCL-winning squad (i.e. SNM):
MATS
Alba-Pique-Masche-Alves
Rak-Busi-Iniesta
Messi-Suarez-Ney
Ney may have been doing slightly more tracking then, but I recall the front 3 staying high pretty much at all times.
I wonder if their front 3 is good enough to drastically change how good teams play against them with possession. Will teams be brave enough to get players forward? Is it feasible for PSG play with a low block of 7?Count me skeptical that PSG will be able to run and gun to a CL title. This team has all the makings of a squad that will be fun at times but I’m just not sure you can get away with three guys who don’t play defense in the highest levels of the modern game, even with three as good as they are.
The stats don't really support this at all. His midfield activity has been steadily increasing for years, probably out of necessity given Barca's midfield decline. He led the world in both passes and carries into the final third. If anything, I think having someone like Neymar (and Veratti, and Hakimi) to do a lot of that midfield ball progression will let Messi be more of a forward for PSG.I think Poch would do well to study Pep's Barca sides from 2008-2011, where Messi dropped into MF to connect with Xavi-Iniesta and progress the ball to Eto'o, Henry, Pedro, and Villa. With Ney and Mbappe, Messi can drop deeper and facilitate more, whereas at Barca over the past few years he had to try and stay high since there was no one else scoring enough.
I explained that poorly--Messi TRIED to stay high, but as you said he couldn't. Messi for the last 3-4 seasons has had to be the facilitator AND finisher for Barca. I do think Messi and Ney will both be very fluid and drop in/stay high as needed--not to mention combine in "high slot" (i.e. between the lines in the attacking third, but not necessarily near the penalty area). Ultimately, you may be correct that Neymar ends up dropping deep and leaving Messi up higher, but I would expect it to work the other way since Neymar is more mobile and would be in a better position to take advantage of space. OTOH, there's no better finisher in the world than Lio, so it's not like he's going to venture out too far from goal. In sum, I could see them playing fairly parallel to each other (i.e. similar roles, but when one drops into MF the other stays high) on opposite sides of the pitch.I wonder if their front 3 is good enough to drastically change how good teams play against them with possession. Will teams be brave enough to get players forward? Is it feasible for PSG play with a low block of 7?
One thing that is really interesting is that this team is absolutely impossible to be pressed, it would be suicide for anyone to try. It also seems crazy to sit back and give the front 3 a lot of the ball.
The stats don't really support this at all. His midfield activity has been steadily increasing for years, probably out of necessity given Barca's midfield decline. He led the world in both passes and carries into the final third. If anything, I think having someone like Neymar (and Veratti, and Hakimi) to do a lot of that midfield ball progression will let Messi be more of a forward for PSG.