40 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Nope. Look four years ago when Messi dragged Argentina to a World Cup final when Portugal went out in the groups. Don't let 2 games cloud judgement. 

4 years ago he didn't really stand out anyway, for someone that wants to be the best of all time it was underwhelming.

Portugal is a smaller football nation compared to Argentina, Ronaldo overcame Eusebio but Messi didn't overcome Maradona yet, he has been bound to 1 system of Barcelona his whole career but outside of that he showed that he is not a good leader.

 

4 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

4 years ago he didn't really stand out anyway, for someone that wants to be the best of all time it was underwhelming.

Portugal is a smaller football nation compared to Argentina, Ronaldo overcame Eusebio but Messi didn't overcome Maradona yet, he has been bound to 1 system of Barcelona his whole career but outside of that he showed that he is not a good leader.

 

Won the player of the tournament at a WC, not sure how that is 'not standing out'. 

Smaller football nation so Ronaldo had less to over come to get to the top. 

Just now, RIP Mourinho said:

Won the player of the tournament at a WC, not sure how that is 'not standing out'. 

Smaller football nation so Ronaldo had less to over come to get to the top. 

That award was just some marketing move from fifa, he did nothing special I bet that if it was fair James would have won that award...

He also won the Copa America best player award, the other competition he bottled away, doesn't make him the same player as in Barcelona, if he wants to be the best of all time he at least should have carried the team for real and win it not bottle it.

Mascherano that was the real leader in defense, that year Rojo,Otamendi sold themselves to the Premier league after playing so well and Zabaleta was in his best years too so Messi had a great team and still failed to win.

So Ronaldo had less to overcome but he at least did it, Messi didn't do it and now at his 4th WC he can't score from the penalty spot against some part-time fisherman- part-time movie director from Island . . . 

took him what 5-6 games to score against us? And that mostly because we bottled it and Courtouis didn't care to do his job those days since he was missing Madrid...

33 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

That award was just some marketing move from fifa, he did nothing special I bet that if it was fair James would have won that award...

He also won the Copa America best player award, the other competition he bottled away, doesn't make him the same player as in Barcelona, if he wants to be the best of all time he at least should have carried the team for real and win it not bottle it.

Mascherano that was the real leader in defense, that year Rojo,Otamendi sold themselves to the Premier league after playing so well and Zabaleta was in his best years too so Messi had a great team and still failed to win.

So Ronaldo had less to overcome but he at least did it, Messi didn't do it and now at his 4th WC he can't score from the penalty spot against some part-time fisherman- part-time movie director from Island . . . 

took him what 5-6 games to score against us? And that mostly because we bottled it and Courtouis didn't care to do his job those days since he was missing Madrid...

marketing move by fifa pmsl.

Portugal looked better and won the Euro's when Ronaldo got injured so lets not pretend he won that tournament for his team.

In 2014 Otamendi had just moved from Porto to Valencia, Rojo was playing in the Portugese league, Mascherano was playing in midfield and Romero had played 3 games the previous season. So no, the defense was still sh*t. If anything they had a better defense this year.

 

1 hour ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Rock solid defense and great goal keeper pmsl! Just as bad, if not worse than it is now.

 

Tell me more about how he didn't drag Argentina to that final. 

1) They didn't concede a goal for 120 minutes against Switzerland + 90 against Belgium + 120 against Netherlands + 110 against Germany. This is a definition of dragging by the defense.

2) I don't care about group stage. Good for him for scoring against Iran and Bosnia. What a great achievement.

3) I told you - not a single goal in the eliminations. This is a game of goals. He didn't score one and you are talking about dragging. Maybe he was their best player, but that word is exaggeration.

5 minutes ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

1) They didn't concede a goal for 120 minutes against Switzerland + 90 against Belgium + 120 against Netherlands + 110 against Germany. This is a definition of dragging by the defense.

2) I don't care about group stage. Good for him for scoring against Iran and Bosnia. What a great achievement.

3) I told you - not a single goal in the eliminations. This is a game of goals. He didn't score one and you are talking about dragging. Maybe he was their best player, but that word is exaggeration.

1) They dominated possession in these games because of their attack, hence not conceding.

2) you don't care because it goes against your opinion.

3) created both goals in the R16 and quarter final matches. That's the thing with Messi, he's a creator not just a finisher like Ronaldo. 

4) Best player of the tournament and would have won it was it not for Higuain's poor finishing. What would your excuse be then?

So his two assists in the eliminations would have sent Argentina to the finals anyway even if they had conceded some goals. Yes, great logic.

Let's summarize what my math says and what yours:

440 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal vs 2 assists and 0 goals in eliminations.

Damn, you win.

Croatia played cleverly, they were dirty in the first half and put two on Messi every time he had the ball, Argentina played dirty in the 2nd after they conceded. 

Argentina excluding Aguero lacked quality which is why I thought Messi would play a different game to lift the team. 

I don't see Croatia winning and would expect Spain, France, Germany etc to put them to the sword.

15 hours ago, Nibs said:

Can someone do me a favour and reassure me that Willy Caballero will NOT be our No.2 next season.

What a complete liability.

What an assist though, laid it up perfectly for the volley 

That is quality from Kuipers (referee). Acknowledged his own mistake and corrected it.

11 hours ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

When it matters, when the team needs you desperately - don't look at Messi. He is not a champion in his mind, his mentality is so reconciled even at his best between 2009-2012 he was never there in the most crucial moments. Against us, Inter, United(except for one header in two matches), Juventus - his teammates saved his butt. And now, with the best offense we've ever seen, the pundits are blaming the squad? They don't suit him well? The comfort they are giving to this guy is a disgrace.

He's a joke, he's a choker, always been carried, even at his best performances - from 2009-2014 in semifinals and finals in CL he's got 3 or 4 goals - vs Bayern Munich, one header vs United and maybe he scored against RM when they got a red card. That's the amount of goals that Ronaldo scores in 2 matches. And we are talking about Messis' golden age. I don't even want to start with the last few years and performances like yesterdays'. That's what I wanna hear. And they are still discussing the squad. I bet Portugal squad would have suited him better. They are so freaking great, this lucky boy Cristiano.

I hate all of this Messi and Ronaldo fanboy rubbish, it leads to posts like yours, which is just you recreating history to suit your agenda. 

Messi and Argentina are having a poor tournament, Ronaldo himself has had many of them with Portugal too. Messi hasn't performed in every big game, same as Ronaldo (Messi's big game record is a lot better than Ronaldo's though)

They are both up there with the best of all time, why not just leave it at that? Why praise one and criticise the other? To label Messi a choker is one of the most ridiculous things you can say about him.

I also dislike comparing players now to the 70's. I mean football has evolved in many aspects. Some may say it's easier now, some may say it was easier then. 

Big Ken Omeruo is looking good for the Super Eagles. I wonder if he will still get a shot playing for Chelsea. Still on the Blues books.

Good goal by Musa.

Pretty awful error by Omerou, sold the LB short with that pass. The lack of concentration/good decision making may explain why he doesn't get a shot.

Edited June 22, 20188 yr by the special one

Even if Argentina can beat Nigeria, they have to hope Croatia don't let Iceland win, and even if Argentia do finish 2nd, they'll probably have to play France next. 

all of the Messi fanboys were Super Eagle fans today - it will be funny if The Super Eagles slap up Argentina next week

8 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

marketing move by fifa pmsl.

Portugal looked better and won the Euro's when Ronaldo got injured so lets not pretend he won that tournament for his team.

In 2014 Otamendi had just moved from Porto to Valencia, Rojo was playing in the Portugese league, Mascherano was playing in midfield and Romero had played 3 games the previous season. So no, the defense was still sh*t. If anything they had a better defense this year.

 

Yea James played that WC much better than Messi but Fifa marketing and even if Ronaldo got injured in the finals of the Euro fact remains he is the captain of European Champions that won the Euro for the first time in their history.

But you are mostly wrong about Argentina at 2014 WC, after that WC Otamendi and Rojo joined Man City and Man United, thats how good their defense was, if you think that this year their defense is better compared to Mascherano, Rojo,Otamendi,Zabaleta from 4 years ago you need to re-think your narrative.

 

Brana has lost his bollocks, when he was with us he’d have blocked that shot with his face and then got up and murder a few kittens. He’s gone soft. 

Shaqiri has surely won it for Switzerland.

Serbia vs Switzerland was the Best so far in Russia - we saw it all except for goal-keeping mistakes :P

Just now, robdog said:

Serbia vs Switzerland was the Best so far in Russia - we saw it all except for goal-keeping mistakes :P

Personally I'd go Spain v Portugal so far. 

 

I've yet to see why anyone would pay anywhere near the 100m quoted for Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian Pogba. 

 

7 minutes ago, charierre said:

Personally I'd go Spain v Portugal so far. 

 

I guess you didn't see the part about Goal-keeping mistakes 

BTW I want to agree w/ this guy 

just can't say The Real Ronaldo was better than ZZ - especially since ZZ lead France over Brazil a couple of times when it really mattered

 

Edited June 22, 20188 yr by robdog

For me Zidane is the best player to ever kick a football. Or to be more accurate, charm a football