The European Leagues & Competitions Thread V2

[El P. 1,354]

Messi deserves to win Ballon dOr, it's been a long time since his last time. So really happy CR got knocked out.

Next I want fuckin' City knocked out, so they don't come any closer to us in European comps success. Come on Spurs!

[Ayioros 76]

1 hour ago, El P. said:

Come on Spurs!

Jesus Christ...

[Laylabelle 9,395]

The thought of a Liverpool double is quite grim... 

Amazing play from Barcalona yesterday. Messi still has it 

[Fulham Broadway 16,951]

2 minutes ago, Laylabelle said:

The thought of a Liverpool double is quite grim... 

Amazing play from Barcalona yesterday. Messi still has it 

Barca will knock them out if Porto don't, and Citeh for the PL.

[Laylabelle 9,395]

33 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Barca will knock them out if Porto don't, and Citeh for the PL.

Let's hope so. Or tonight be even better cause surprise!!! 

[communicate 2,703]

31 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Barca will knock them out if Porto don't, and Citeh for the PL.

If I were a betting man, I will bet pool over barca. This pool team is designed to beat team like barca. High pressing and with lightning quick front 3. It is like the perfect combination against Barca. Of course there is Messi factor but they will concede goals even before Messi can wave his magic feet. 

[Fulham Broadway 16,951]

28 minutes ago, communicate said:

If I were a betting man, I will bet pool over barca. This pool team is designed to beat team like barca. High pressing and with lightning quick front 3. It is like the perfect combination against Barca. Of course there is Messi factor but they will concede goals even before Messi can wave his magic feet. 

If the 2nd leg is at Camp Nou and goes according to plan the Victims will be asking for a minutes silence later at Anfield

[Vesper 29,079]

12 hours ago, Johnnyeye said:

@Vesper in your opinion, what is the best scenario in the semis and final?

I pick

Shitty over Ajax

Barca over Victimpool 

Shitty over Barca unless Shitty get key injuries AND Barca have completely healthy, 100% game fit Umtiti and Dembele back and tearing shit up. Then, depending on Shitty injury(s) would lean to Barca.

Super close either way as they have Messi. I just cannot see Barca MF and back 4 (especially if no Umtiti) dealing with Shitty pace and strength. But Messi could go off for a hat truck or more, then it is Barca's.

Damn shame Messi didn't switch to Spain National team as a young lad. He would have a WC and EU trophy and we could easily put to bed who is greatest footballer ever. He needs a WC. 2022 is last chance and Argentina doesn't look like a great team atm.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Messi is scoring goals at a faster rate than Ronaldo (will most likely overtake him soon) ,assists more than Ronaldo (actually has more career assists in fewer games), creates way more chances than Ronaldo (Messi almost always top of the pile for key passes), dribbles much better than Ronaldo (therefore creates spaces for teammates and can destabilize an entire defense on his own). Messi is a far more dangerous offensive weapon and a much better player. Always has been. It's actually a mini travesty that both of these players are put in the same category all the time by some football enthusiasts. Messi's only real competition is Pele and there are legitimate arguments he's beyond the legendary Brazilian as well.

[MoroccanBlue 5,320]

Wanting City to win any trophy means you tolerate blatant corruption in Football. 

[El P. 1,354]

5 hours ago, Ayioros said:

Jesus Christ...

They have no chance in (semi)final to win UCL, City have. Just being pragmatic.

[Vesper 29,079]

39 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

Messi is scoring goals at a faster rate than Ronaldo (will most likely overtake him soon) ,assists more than Ronaldo (actually has more career assists in fewer games), creates way more chances than Ronaldo (Messi almost always top of the pile for key passes), dribbles much better than Ronaldo (therefore creates spaces for teammates and can destabilize an entire defense on his own). Messi is a far more dangerous offensive weapon and a much better player. Always has been. It's actually a mini travesty that both of these players are put in the same category all the time by some football enthusiasts. Messi's only real competition is Pele and there are legitimate arguments he's beyond the legendary Brazilian as well.

Maradona too.

my top 10 (Mesi would be number one but no WC unless he somehow drags the Argies to one in 2022)

 

1 Maradona

2 Pele

3 Messi

4 CR7

5 Johan Cruyff

6 Zidane

7 Garrincha

8 Franz Beckenbauer

9 Alfredo Di Stéfano

10 Ferenc Puskas

 

Marco van Basten would be in there except for his career hindering and then ending injuries

[MoroccanBlue 5,320]

Garrincha > Pele 

[Vesper 29,079]

Just now, MoroccanBlue said:

Garrincha > Pele 

tens of millions of Brasilians agree with you

[MoroccanBlue 5,320]

Just now, Vesper said:

tens of millions of Brasilians agree with you

Looks like the superior player when you watch clips of them. That and the fact Garrincha probably won the most difficult WC for Brasil. Comparable to Maradona in 86

For me, 

1. Messi

2. Maradona

3. Di Stefano

4. Garrincha

5. Cristiano Ronaldo 

 

[robsblubot 3,544]

1 hour ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

Messi is scoring goals at a faster rate than Ronaldo (will most likely overtake him soon) ,assists more than Ronaldo (actually has more career assists in fewer games), creates way more chances than Ronaldo (Messi almost always top of the pile for key passes), dribbles much better than Ronaldo (therefore creates spaces for teammates and can destabilize an entire defense on his own). Messi is a far more dangerous offensive weapon and a much better player. Always has been. It's actually a mini travesty that both of these players are put in the same category all the time by some football enthusiasts. Messi's only real competition is Pele and there are legitimate arguments he's beyond the legendary Brazilian as well.

True. Both could also be slotted in in the same starting XI without much tweaking, which emphasizes your point: very different players who play in different positions and roles.

Difficult to compare anything with Pele as football was basically a different sport back then. Shame Messi hasn't been able to do the same for Argentina though... either hasn't really found himself in a good Argentina side with a good manager, and/or perhaps did not apply himself as much.

@MoroccanBlue Nope, not many agree with that. Garrincha was more entertaining, but Pele was the better, and more influential, player.

[MoroccanBlue 5,320]

6 minutes ago, Robchels said:

 

@MoroccanBlue Nope, not many agree with that. Garrincha was more entertaining, but Pele was the better, and more influential, player.

It is virtually split among Brasilians. 

[robsblubot 3,544]

25 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

It is virtually split among Brasilians. 

It's really not. I'm brazilian.

You may have that idea from Rio bias, but for the rest of Brazil, no contest.

(And I'm not from Sao Paulo, so definitely don't have a Santos/Pele bias)

To elaborate a bit more, even though I obviously never seen either play, Pele or Garrincha, it's a lifetime hearing about their feats. Some of which, from close ones like when my Dad watched Pele play against his/our Gremio FBPA. Which was echoed by pretty much everybody I've met and what I've heard from talk shows and what not. I've heard Garrincha being pitted "just as good" by some, but never better. My personal feeling/take is that Garrincha wasn't that far behind though. but had huge physical (and mental) issues that cut his career short.

Also, Pele was a far more complete player than you'd hear these days, and what his goal tally would suggest. He was absolutely dominant in midfield, in attack, defending, and he was even the reserve goalie for santos (played goalie when the GK got red-carded and the fucker did not concede against Gremio) . My dad told me that Pele could be mean too: if hunted during a match, he would sometimes retaliate and injure the players hunting him. He was pretty powerful too, a fantastic athlete, despite his height. The consensus was that Pele was the complete footballer.