I see your view very well. Just that I see some players are in need of rest and despite what Messi did today, he just had an injury and I can handle losing to Sevilla, but not to real madrid. All said, GOAT hat trick saved Barca.
I am very surprised Sevilla didn't punish us on the counter more in the 2nd half. We took off Semedo for Roberto and Vidal for Dembele. We should have been slaughtered to be honest. But that's thoe one thing Roberto has over Semedo, better passing even if most of it is backwards. I'd still take Semedo today at FB. He just needs to improve on offense. With his speed, it's amazing he can't do more in that department.
3 points here or 3 points at Madrid ... it doesn't matter in the league. We also knew that Sevilla were probably tired as well. So it was the right move.
for whatever reason, we play much better in the second half. sevilla can not counter like the first half and although it is messi who win this game
Pablo Machin, Sevilla’s coach on Messi after a hattrick. “To answer that question, I’m going to say the obvious. He is the greatest player in the history of sports. A difference maker. We did everything we can as a team but 11 against 1 wasn’t and won’t be enough. That’s all”
My worry about Dembele is that he has never been a good finisher. Most of his goals early this season were lucky deflections and scuffed shots that dribbled into the net. If that clear chance he had today came earlier in the season he would've whiffed with his right foot and the ball would've deflected in the net off his standing left foot.
Very short 3:20 minute highlights, so mostly just goals and about 4 near misses/great saves, in English by Phil and Ray:
I agree . It remains to be seen if he improves his finishing . But at least defenses have to respect his speed and directness . That can at the very least unsettle defenses . I am hoping for some important goals for Dembele down the stretch , not necessarily number of goals . And for everybody asking for Malcom , he isn’t and never was a goal scorer. Although I would like to see him get some more mins .
Roberto is actually better suited to Rugby as he bursts forwards 10 metres each time and then passes backwards ...
We were sloppy in the first half and lacked energy at times. Barely attempted to produce anything the first 20 minutes. We have to get off to better starts. At least the notion of Messi being out of form/injured is buried though. @celito you said he looked slow running. I saw one instance today I think in the first half he was a bullet down the pitch and he got fouled. You hit the hammer right on the nail when you said two out of three of Suarez, Dembele, and Coutinho have to find their form now.
Pique was at fault on that 2nd goal. Instead of continuing to play and close down the goal scorer before the pass which he could have done, he stopped and asked for offsides. He should have done better.
People has been saying its beginning of the end for Messi after WC 2014 final, after Copa 2015 & 2016 finals, after WC 2018 final, he's now weak, he cant accelerate anymore, etc. Well, I dont care if that means he's still scoring and assisting at the same rate.
Messi's heat map against Sevilla. pic.twitter.com/MAMQxoR3nj— Barça Insider (@theBarcaInsider) February 24, 2019