I actually think a move to City might end in tears for all involved. It's more likely it will go very well of course, but one very notable thing about 33 year old Messi is he doesn't like to run if he doesn't have to. Barcelona brought in Arturo Vidal to basically do Messi's running for him and that didn't work out. Guardiola is a very exacting manager; if people aren't pressing his way all over the pitch he gives them no end of grief, as Sterling and Aguero have learned. Pep knows Messi well and will likely make exceptions for him because he's so good, but City will likely have to alter the way they play slightly in order to work around Messi which will be interesting. Does Pep change his whole set-up for Messi, does he try to force him to adapt his game a bit to find a middle ground? Either way it will be a good watch.
I do hope he ends up at City. Seeing Messi in the Prem would be fantastic, and it would definitely add an extra spark to the title race given that you can see Liverpool having another really good season
I think he'd probably have to.
I'm not saying Messi can't adapt, as he can probably play anywhere and do anything, but i just don't see a 33 year old Messi changing the way he plays that much, so you'd surely adapt your side to play around him. He'd probably want certain assurances before agreeing to sign anyway.
Be interesting to see what happens if they do sign him though. Firstly you then minimise the effect other players have, like De Bruyne for example. Everything goes through him now, but that won't happen if Messi is your playmaker. Secondly they'd surely have to offload some top quality players. If you have Messi as your right sided attacker then you don't need both Mahrez and Bernardo.
In any case, as incredible a player as he is, it still won't hide the fact that City's problem is with their defence.
They could certainly afford him. Ozil was 350k a week?
If he went Arsenal...it would make them so much money.
The league's failures would be rising back to the top in a number of ways.
Revenue would jump...players would perform out if their skin and would once again have belief.
Messi is on double that.
Zero chance he signs for a club not in the champions league and who can't compete for a league title. If we think he has perhaps 3 years left at the top then he won't be wasting those years. Otherwise he'd stay at Barca.
If he signs for Man City, they could genuinely be a good shout for winning the treble next season. If they got a CB, heard they were interested in Koulibaly, and Messi then no other team stands a chance
Think it depends on Messi's mentality, PSG would suit no doubt if his main aim is to win the CL, the league is a joke and he would have plenty of breaks during the season but I think Messi might want to play in a more competitive league, he still has a couple of seasons in him playing at the very top level so could see the appeal of the Premier League, PSG might suit Ronaldo better.
Suppose it all depends if he can go on a free or not
I would like to see Messi in Serie A. Follows Ronaldo there, potentially brings success back to one of the Milan teams and the chance of breaking Juve's title dominance? Would do a lot to help his claim to Greatest Of All Time.
The Argentina international, 33, sent a fax to the club on Tuesday saying he wishes to exercise a clause in his contract, allowing him to leave for free with immediate effect.
Seriously?
Seriously. A fax is a legal document and is faster than a letter.
The Argentina international, 33, sent a fax to the club on Tuesday saying he wishes to exercise a clause in his contract, allowing him to leave for free with immediate effect.
Seriously?
Seriously. A fax is a legal document and is faster than a letter.
Also a lot more secure in transit than email. Potential issues with security at either end, mind (might leave the document lying around in an office, might not shred it afterwards) but the above is the exact reason faxes are still in use.
Find it depressing that many clubs are in the shit like Bury, wigan, us and countless others yet rolling sky sports news is all about Messi and will Manchester City's oil barons pip the other oil barons to sign him for £100m pa salary.
It's perverse.
I have absolutely no doubt that we and any club outside of the sky luvvies could go out of business and it would cause little more than a ripple for a couple of days, if that, before the sky circus resumed with this nonsense to feed those who lap it all up.
Really going off football. It's rancid with all these dodgy takeovers and hundred plus year old clubs on the verge of extinction left right and centre yet the voice of football is focussing on this wank.
Less trouble than the 70s and 80s, professional but not to the nth degree like now, still a fun mix of shite cloggers and great players, foreigners were exotic, going to matches was still affordable, a game on TV was still rare enough (was it one a week on a Sunday?) to be a big thing.
The money in the game going up and up since has ruined it.
I'm well aware I'm inviting a ton of responses telling me why it was better in the 60s, 70s etc.
Less trouble than the 70s and 80s, professional but not to the nth degree like now, still a fun mix of shite cloggers and great players, foreigners were exotic, going to matches was still affordable, a game on TV was still rare enough (was it one a week on a Sunday?) to be a big thing.
The money in the game going up and up since has ruined it.
I'm well aware I'm inviting a ton of responses telling me why it was better in the 60s, 70s etc.
I thoroughly recommend the Quickly Kevin podcast. 90s based football podcast and brilliant
A move to Man City is ultimately going to be money driven. I think Liverpool are going to have to change their style a little. Teams were starting to work out how to play them. I can see Man Utd being up there.
Less trouble than the 70s and 80s, professional but not to the nth degree like now, still a fun mix of shite cloggers and great players, foreigners were exotic, going to matches was still affordable, a game on TV was still rare enough (was it one a week on a Sunday?) to be a big thing.
The money in the game going up and up since has ruined it.
I'm well aware I'm inviting a ton of responses telling me why it was better in the 60s, 70s etc.
I thoroughly recommend the Quickly Kevin podcast. 90s based football podcast and brilliant
Yeah I'm about halfway through that, started late- very good, and a Curbs episode!
Comments
I'm not saying Messi can't adapt, as he can probably play anywhere and do anything, but i just don't see a 33 year old Messi changing the way he plays that much, so you'd surely adapt your side to play around him.
He'd probably want certain assurances before agreeing to sign anyway.
Be interesting to see what happens if they do sign him though. Firstly you then minimise the effect other players have, like De Bruyne for example. Everything goes through him now, but that won't happen if Messi is your playmaker. Secondly they'd surely have to offload some top quality players. If you have Messi as your right sided attacker then you don't need both Mahrez and Bernardo.
In any case, as incredible a player as he is, it still won't hide the fact that City's problem is with their defence.
They could certainly afford him. Ozil was 350k a week?
If he went Arsenal...it would make them so much money.
The league's failures would be rising back to the top in a number of ways.
Revenue would jump...players would perform out if their skin and would once again have belief.
Plus you'd never heard the end of it from them
Zero chance he signs for a club not in the champions league and who can't compete for a league title. If we think he has perhaps 3 years left at the top then he won't be wasting those years. Otherwise he'd stay at Barca.
Only one answer really. Has to either be Liverpool, city, United, Chelsea.
Most likely just PSG though. They probably tick most of his boxes. Even if it would be a bit dull.
Suppose it all depends if he can go on a free or not
Would never imagine Charlton playing against Messi.
This has to be some of the most outrageous clickbait I've seen yet from TalkSport. Some source that...
What a depressingly apt nomenclature for the modern game.
Arent they still used during the Transfer Windows?
It's perverse.
I have absolutely no doubt that we and any club outside of the sky luvvies could go out of business and it would cause little more than a ripple for a couple of days, if that, before the sky circus resumed with this nonsense to feed those who lap it all up.
Really going off football. It's rancid with all these dodgy takeovers and hundred plus year old clubs on the verge of extinction left right and centre yet the voice of football is focussing on this wank.
Game has been stolen and sold away. Rotten.
Less trouble than the 70s and 80s, professional but not to the nth degree like now, still a fun mix of shite cloggers and great players, foreigners were exotic, going to matches was still affordable, a game on TV was still rare enough (was it one a week on a Sunday?) to be a big thing.
The money in the game going up and up since has ruined it.
I'm well aware I'm inviting a ton of responses telling me why it was better in the 60s, 70s etc.