Reminder that Vini, like a few of his teammates, might be playing through some discomfort. Came off against Paraguay with some pain not that long ago. Certainly worth considering.
He's definitely not 100% and that's understandable after a long season. Unlike Mbappe, however, at least Vini isn't phoning it in. Vini's out there busting his ass in the heat while other players are watching the game from the hotel lobby and probably heading out to the pool instead of the bench after 80 minutes. I do like him in that "free role." Vini as a #10 is the sauce, he will be the teams most important player if todays game was any indicator of the direction Xabi sees the team taking next season.
He was better today, but I expect more from the guy who said he was the best in the world. He’ll get back there soon enough.
As some posters blamed Mbappe being added to the team for Vini's dip in form since then Mbappe or not Vini has done nothing to prove or show his desire, hunger or to prove these people right. To be honest, it looks like he needs a rest bad, just to clock off for a bit, lets hope he can get back to his best this season. and if these two really have beef they should sort it out asap or one of them should go. Last season, it seemed like Vini was not passing to Mbappe on purpose in some matches.
I hope we don’t give him a contract extension with his demands right now. That would just enable him more. Telling that Rodrygo wants to stick around. Maybe there is some debate within the club to sell Vinny next summer. If that’s the case it makes sense to keep the band together one more year and then decide.
Never looked like that to me, just looked like they did not gel that well on the pitch, both of them are kind of, pick the ball up and head for goal trying to dribble as many opponents on the way as possible or outrun all opponents players, rather than look for combinations or pass to a teammate in a better position players, that's my super basic analysis, and why IMO Kylian "looks" better with Rodry than he does with Vin. Xabi is going to have to find a way to get them to work better together, add in they both don't do much pressing from the front or tracking back that much and you have some issues for the team, Xabi must solve that, Carlo did not, but they've had a whole season together now, they should know each other better.....i'm hoping for the best, we need both of them firing on all cylinders to be successful, the biggest problem ..... i say it again... there's only one ball
Absolutely ridiciulous claim to make. Vini was giving Mbappe his PK's and gave him the most assists in the team. Vini gave Mbappe more assist than Mbappe gave the whole team. Then people want to turn around and use Vini's goal stats against him as if the whole club wasn't pulling in one direction to aritificially inflate Mbappe's stats and make it look like signing him as a free agent was a better deal than winning championships.
Biggest take away from last season after the lack of off the ball work was how many times our attackers would start a run and not get played by midfield or defense in possession.
You mean two games, vs Al-Hilal and 10 men against Pachuca? Playing in a different system through injury while Rodrygo goes full muy triste and Mbappe eats too many fajitas on vacation? As if 3 world class seasons and 2 UCL titles weren't enough to give the player the benefit of the doubt. A bad season for Vini is 21 goals and 18 assists. Victim of his own success, I guess.
Vini has 19 goals and 10 assists in UCL + La Liga. He turns 25 in half a month, should be on an upward trajectory. And yeah, he had a bad season and a major drop in form.
This is where we're at right now. We tear down our great talent and managers just like barca Fandom. It's really weird because they dislike these people so much because they feel they are keeping us from winning the CL and Leagues they forget they helped us win in our recent past.
I meant last season when Mbappe was not playing, I would never ague Vini's input in our CL winning seasons. Also I am giving him the benefit of the doubt, however he's been looking like he cant be asked for a bit now. Fair point, however later in the season I swear Vini ignored him on purpose in some situations but maybe its just me.
Unsure why you would exclude Copa Del Rey since that is a major title. And why does it have to be a 'major' drop in form? Given his output of 20 goals and 12 assists +/-, I'd say the drop in form was closer to minor than major. And then doubly magnified by the current state of the team, his behavioural recklessness, and the PR disaster that was the ballon d'or. Whatever degree you think his drop of form was, I'd say you're an insane person not to be excited about his return to form over everything else. That's a guy who puts the club at a major advantage to win titles. It's just illogical. Vini can actually be finished, and at best it would've been a lucky guess. The conversation about how Xabi can get the best out of Vini is so much more interesting IMO.
Vini had a significant drop off last season compared to 2021-24 even if stats doesn't reflect it. His take on skills and final pass weren't close to 2021-24 levels. Hope he gets back to his best. Dinho had impressive numbers in 2006-07, but watching him it was obvious it was not the same player of 2003-06.
Same goes for Bale.He had very good first 2-3 season, bringing us some trophies and crucial winning goals...after that he dropped a lot even though his stats numbers (goals,assist) aint that bad and dont reflect that
I just don't think this is entirely true and I watched the same games you did. I'm talking strictly on the language that is used surrounding Vini. Drop off? Yes. Significant? Not significant enough to warrant the growing sentiment surrounding the player. Practically no one talks about Rodrygo as if he's finished as a player, but rather that he needs to be on the left wing or play in a different system, or with a different coach. And that's a guy who still hasn't had a breakout season. My instinct tells me that the reality is probably a lot more fair to Vinicius than what you hear out of fandom these days.
Maybe he's from in form was not significant, but his drop in commitment and effort was significant., especially post the snuff in balloon d'or. He walked plenty of games.
Vini was the best winger in the world imo from 2021-24. Had a significant drop off from that standard last season while Salah and Yamal were top class.
Brother he had 1 goal and 2 assists in Copa Del Ray. Completely irrelevant, your stats are wrong and even if they weren't its obvious that he wasn't as good as he can be. Nor as good as he demands his wages to be. If you're so obsessed with stats go check his stats from last 3-4 months. Then also open your eyes. "Victim of his own success" It's called expectations, and responsibilities.