‘We gotta talk about Messi’: Barcelona fans turn on their No 10

There is always a handful of fans at every club around the globe that think they know better, but a cohort of Barcelona fans have really outdone themselves by questioning the ability of Lionel Messi.

By his own high standards, the No 10 did not enjoy his greatest evening on Saturday when he missed one penalty but scored with another to help his side limp to a 1-0 win over Real Vallodolid. Not too shabby for a bad night’s work. 

However, despite Ernesto Valverde’s men going seven points clear at the top of La Liga, that was not enough for some fans, who were disappointed by the Argentinean’s display.  

Lionel Messi has seen his performance against Real Vallodolid called into question by fans

The Argentinean missed from the spot during the league fixture at the Nou Camp on Saturday

However, the No 10 did score from another penalty, helping his side go seven points clear

Dismissing the fact Messi has scored 30 goals in 30 appearances this season to date, one supporter sought to hone in on his tactical and spacial awareness, or lack of. 

Picking out one moment where Ousmane Dembele bursts into the Valldolid half, the Twitter user is adamant that the 31-year-old has misjudged the situation terribly and really should have been sprinting beyond the Frenchman.

Forgetting for a second the difficulty even Usain Bolt might have overlapping Dembele in full flight, the supporter states, without a hint of mischief: ‘We gotta talk about Messi.

‘Here‘s a scene where he has to do better, his off the ball movement at the counter attack isn‘t good enough.’

To his credit, he gives the scene the full Neville and Carragher treatment, crosses and arrows – the works really – to depict how the attack should have gone, if only Messi knew his onions.  

Incredibly, some supporters were happy to pick up the pitchforks and torches. 

@Barcastastic commented: ‘Yeah his decision making was not so good safe to say he had an bad game.’ 

Another added: ‘Well he’s hasn’t been himself lately,’ conveniently forgetting that the man has netted in nine of his last 10 La Liga appearances. 

At least a couple of people appeared to see the peverse nature of the witch hunt against Messi. 

Commenting with just a hint of sarcasm, one user responded: ‘I’ve never rated him to be honest, he is just an Argentine Jermaine Pennant.’