Iirc his knee was described as a "ticking timebomb". Class player when not on strike though.

Zinedine Zidane vs Barcelona 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YPGyyLF-8E

Anything specific responsible for Napoli's recent slump?

****ting themselves at the thought of Chelsea.

Has there ever been any serious discussion of removing Messi as penalty taker for Barcelona? I've seen stats that he's only 74% from the penalty spot, while CR7 is 89% (96% since he joined Madrid) and Lampard is 96%. That seems to be a lot of goals they are giving up for no real reason.

Penalties are all variance don't you know. Messi could be the GOAT penalty taker with that sort of %.

/HENLEYS

Where did you find the pk stats? I was looking for rooney's stats today and couldn't find them, do you know his?

I think the number one concern here is to keep Messi happy. If Messi is fine with letting Fabregas or whoever take them it's probably a good idea, but the guy is a little special, so who knows? At this point I basically just trust Guardiola to always make the right decision.

I guess their current form can't really seriously be blamed on CL play affecting them at this very time.

If I were to point at anything it's them gradually moving more and more towards total dependence on creating from transition. The last two years I remember Napoli often creating, getting the better chances to win, when they had the large majority of possession, but in recent games with above 60 percent possession they've been unable to do enough and getting wins (Cesena, Novara and Bologna) and they also had way too much trouble getting any kind of established attacking going after Zlatan was sent off for Milan.

On the other hand they've created plenty in open games against Genoa and away to Palermo, and we all saw what they were able to do with low possession in the Champions League.

It's understandable a team like Udinese have fully gone the counter-attack route, both teams are deadly when countering, but Napoli should have more to offer I feel.

I think I wrote the last time Messi missed a penalty (and a poor one, at that), that I would prefer maybe Alexis to take them. Or someone. But Messi just isn't that good on the spot. But I guess it's easier said than done, not sure how Messi would feel if he was taken down from the no. 1 penalty taker spot.

Interesting facts about bundesliga:
- 7 years in a row avg. attendece is rising . Last year 42k/per game this year 44k
- avg. ticket cost is 22,43€
- in 2010/11 season the clubs almost made 2 billion € (season before 1,77 billion €)
- 2.bundesliga saw a 27% rise in attendence this year (17,125 per game this year)

Rooney is an awful PK taker don't you know. Messi must be too with that sort of %.

/Ra_Z_Boy

RM legend Michel is the new Sevilla coach

Here's where I found CR7 and Messi stats:

http://www.ronaldo7.net/news/2012/43...the-world.html

This article is the one that says Lampard is 94% (and Gerrard is 92%):

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/9...rs-game/page/6


This article says the penalty percentage from World Cup 62 to World Cup 98 is 76% (which means Messi is below average!)

http://www.soccer-training-info.com/penalty_kicks.asp

Couldn't find stats for Rooney.

Lampard isn't 94%. Gerrard isn't 92%.