Messi makes it a trio of Ballon d’Or trophies for Club… but what now for country.

by: Jason Martinez

Lionel Messi stands only 5’6″ 1/2 inches tall yet his presense puts fear in the hearts of his opposition as if he were the size of Munster Rugby player #5 Peter O’Connell. His fluidity on the pitch, his eye for threading the thin pass, and his magnetism for scoring goals from anywhere at anytime, was a shoe-in for the coveted Ballon d’Or. He joins such legends of the beautiful game, Michel Platini, Marco Van Basten, and Johan Cryuff as the only players to win this honor three times in a row. This however should theoretically transfer over to his international playing with the Argentina National Team (AFA) right, well not exactly.

Treble winner, Lionel Messi poses with his third consecutive men's 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or soccer player of the year award. (AP Photo/Keystone, Steffen Schmidt)

Argentina’s manager at the moment is most certainly not Pep Guardiola and the squad does not consist of Barcelona prodigies Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and the long lost wonderkid Cesc Fabregas. Also, let’s not forget the remaining current assembly of players that makes FC Barcelona the champion winning side that it has become. Messi is by far the most equip footballer in the world, he has all the skills to be the lynchpin of any club team but amazingly enough he can only work his magic at Barca. Granted, Messi has only been with one other club (Newell’s Old Boys) before joining Barcelona in 2000, so to place the argument of, he hasn’t played anywhere else but Barcelona is factual, but it is at the same time inaccurate because the AFA is the other team.

It could be that the problem isn’t him and it might be what is built around him or maybe Blaugrana is the only color pumping in his veins, which is why it seems at times Messi isn’t Messi-esque with the AFA. Now I’m not knocking Messi’s pride for his country, he just seems to turn-off when international duties come calling. Maybe its due to the “X-Amount” of games and competitions that Barcelona are involved in year after year. Or it could be just as simple as building the right staff to make AFA more Barca-like. They have an array of talent as mentioned above but for some reason they cannot be as dominant as say their rivals Brazil, who have gone through some ups and downs themselves.

Nevertheless success for footballing teams are based on three things, talent, execution, and an alliance, not only from the players, but from the entire club itself. A manger’s role is to bring the best out of all their players in order to achieve greatness and potential winners, but this does not happen over night. Every player has to believe in the system that they are playing in, while at the same time the manager must be a positive motivator when their lads are down and praised them all just the same when they excel. The players and managers should by no means be content on past laurels as is the case with the AFA. Sure, Diego Maradona lead them to the promiseland back then, but in this present age no team fears the AFA like they do Barcelona even with the same number 10 on the pitch with his massive bag of tricks.

As an admirer of Messi’s persona on the pitch, my only hope is that this three peat of personal triumphs that he has gained with Barcelona will motivate him to replicate his footballing brilliance; not only for his country but for himself. Winning the World Cup, Copa America or a repeat of winning a gold medal at this years Olympics would be a defining achievement as he has yet to add onto his structure of awards for the AFA as he has done for Barca.

The AFA will undoubtly call upon Messi during this years olympics in London. Lionel and the rest of his supporting cast, Kun Aguero, Javier Macherano, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Angel di Maria will be looking to redeem themselves after being knocked out in the quarter finals of last years Copa America. If beckoned upon, Messi needs to bring with him to the olympics what he brings with him every time out for Barca, the stealth eye for goal and his Merlin like passes that he makes week-in and week-out. If Messi can do this wearing the Blaugrana then he can surely doing this while wearing the Albiceleste.

Is Man City MAN enough for the long haul?….FA Cup Reality Check

by Jason Martinez

Taking off my City jersey for a bit, I now write before you as a footballing connoisseur giving you this Midfield Strikers P.O.V. on this past Sunday’s (January 8th) FA Cup match between fierce arch rivals Manchester City and Manchester United.

Relentless were both teams attacks on each of the young and frail goalkeepers. “Throw them to the wolves” both managers must have had on their agendas as each of their gloved-fawns faced a coin toss of potentially mind boggling saves or imminent scape-goating blunders.

City’s Blue Aces of Kun Aguero, James Milner, David Silva, and sure footed Aleksandar Kolarov were armed and dangerous against the United locum keeper Anders Lindegaard in goal. City’s keeper for the night, Costel Pantilimon, however, faced a Red Devil firing squad of Wayne Rooney, Nani, Ryan Giggs, Danny Welbeck, oh and of course the immortal Paul Scholes who is not quite retired as of yet.

Paul Scholes wearing an old number of his for during his return to the pitch. (photo provided by Getty)

Blistering winger bursts by Adam Johnson and co. lead the drive forward for City’s attacks who in the beginning look to run up the possession charts but only ended up with 58% total control of the football. United however with less possession, grabbed the remaining 42%, and in United-esque style scored when offenses are supposed to score, (take note City) when defenses fall asleep and when scoring opportunities present themselves.

United brilliantly capitalized on City’s lack of defensive prowess and with a chip on his shoulder to bare, Wayne Rooney showed and prove to his skeptics that he is still England’s best choice upfront, but that remains to be seen and another topic for my (Club & Country Sleepers and Dreamers).

Roberto Mancini must take this loss on the chin and to heart as City’s Mancunian foes set the bar high at the Etihad Stadium by saying in brash United style, “to be a champion you must first beat a champion in champion style.” It is clearly obvious that 3-2 defeat is just as painful as a 6-1 drubbing. Granted Manchester City are the defending cup holders but Manchester United are the archetypes of the FA cup with massive successes of winning it in the past. It is matches such as these that are essential for City to be successful in, not only as individuals but as a club as well.

Even though I wear a shirt of another color I do recognize the amazing ability Wayne Rooney possesses as was shown during this match. He is the footballing worlds Boot-Laced Yin and Yang with sheer brilliance as shown from a match like this and utter stupidity as displayed in past incidences.

Continuing with the man of the match, Wayne Rooney, who shined bright under those Etihad lights and with a kiss of the badge put all doubters to rest. Not to belittle Rooney, but he seems to only find his form for club and not for country (see Messi=Ballon d’Or). He looked as if he had been playing this way every time he is on the pitch. He made his presence known to the fawn City keeper by stalking patiently and consistently and netted two goals with the confidence of a world class footballer.

Overall in the eyes of this footballing savant, Manchester City had pace, tenacity and for awhile ten men behind the ball. The one thing City lacked other than Kompany’s physical presence (red carded 12 minutes into the match) was of course a bit of lady luck on the pitch. Not to call United lucky but there have been numerous 1 goal wins over their illustrious title winning years that but that is what makes their red machine fuel, by getting the job done. It was in this manner on how those goals came to fruition that have made United the team we either love or hate.

Vincent Kompany is a stud, though I don’t think he should show them during a match. (photo provided by Andrew Yates/AFP)

Mancini is seen as a manager on a dauntingly difficult mission, to dethrone, deface, and demonize the Red Devils from their throne as a mighty force not only in England but all across Europe. City has made a decent effort in the Champions League and will try their hand to move further in the Europa League, FA and Carling Cup competitions.

City must know that this just isn’t a loss in front of their rivals, this is a loss in front of all of the competition that they have lined up ahead in their schedule. They must get back up after falling off of this FA Cup horse, grab their season by the reigns and break the back of this wild steed of a season to show their opposition that City are the bronco busting aggressors everybody perceived them to be.

Though this match had no trophy at the end of it, there are still those Mancunian bragging rights to which everybody loves to gloat and boast about. For now United are labeled as the Kings of Manchester but how long can they keep this run up? City on the other hand have their main objectives to keep in tow, which are to remain top of the league at all costs (transfer season). This makes everything else secondary and if they follow through with completing this task, that will be the biggest bragging right for City and its followers for years and years to come.

A Midfield Striker’s Role

The irony of this title or moniker is that there aren’t any midfield strikers out there in the world of football, unless you move your favorite midfielder (defensive or otherwise) to a striking role to pad up those FIFA 12 or Pro Evo goal scores; in hopes that Steven Gerrard, Xavi Hernandez, or Scott Brown can win that elusive Ballon d’Or or the scoring title of your intended league.

This role in which I have gladly accepted is a role unlike any other because of two things. The first being a choice that no one would dare to claim as theirs (because midfielders are not as flashy as the players upfront) and the second reason is my needle threaded distribution of posts that will surely create space for a new blood such as myself; while at the same time giving me a clear open shot to hit in that high upper 90 echelon of literature that most keepers cannot defend against.

My aim is to give the readers something for their eyes to enjoy, as well as taking in chiming responses from time to time. Be it right, wrong, or indifferent it does not matter because after all we are all in one unified form as followers of this beautiful game.

Jason M.