StuartBannigan wrote: 88 ST seems incredibly underrated for me in his prime set, look how many goals he’s scored by chipping it over the goalkeeper. He might not score bicycle kicks or many volleys at all but he has always been extremely clinical from difficult looking positions, his unbelievable balance helps him there, kind of like Gerd Müller. He could definitely go up to orange, I think 91 would be perfect.
The consistency of being able to shoot a shot cleanly is a big part of st, meaning not to scuff the shot, or to mishit, or put way too much power on a shot as to blast a shot into row z. the better one's st, the more consistently and cleanly a shooter can shoot when the ball is in a really erratic and difficult position from which to execute a shot with control. the more out of control a shot is, the more st a striker needs to consistently be able to execute a clean shot. In the default ratings patterns we've been able to see this correlation consistently throughout the existence of ST as a stat. One just needs to look at the high ST strikers, strikers with high ST ratings and lower SA, and strikers with high SA but lower ST- the clear relationship is the ability to shoot from difficult angles, and the ability to connect with a shot when the ball is coming at a very awkward and unusual angle/height. Bicycle kicks, scissor kicks, are all just an extension of what are defined as awkward and unusual shots, shots requiring a higher level of skillto be able to consistently time and execute these shots. So there is aclear effect and demonstrable ratings logic behind ST.
Messi is capable of a variety of difficult or impressive finishes from tight angles, but thats what his current rating already reflects. He already has a quitegood ST value. It's as simple as Messi will mishit and have an erratic shot more often than the higher level ST shooters rated above him would in the same situations, and for the hardest shots Messi will need to take a touch whereothers can shoot with ridiculous improvisation and timing, a touch that often is the difference between a shooting oppurtunity for one player, and a reset for someone like Messi where the defender has time to get back in position to block.
i used to hold optimism about Messi's ST for the same reasons as you, for his chipping ability, and from spectacular goals messiscored when he was young, like the mexico goal, or the bayern volley. But in hindsight, these were mostly one offs, one offs and outliers that any technical genius has in their highlight reel. For the dependability of being able to cleanly connect with shots in any situation. For rating ST this ability is much more relevant than the delicate finesse of chipping that Messi is well known for, which has very little, or no effect or relationship to ST. Players like Lewandowski, Huntelaar, Inzaghi of old, and Icardi today, Aubameyang, are avery clear level above Messi; in the tier below those elite level ST shooters, the likes of Diego Costa, Aguero, Giroud, Gignac, even if not enormously moreso, but they'rejust a bit more capable and skilledin shooting cleanlyand more consistently in any situation. Giroud is actually an excellent example of very good ST low SA in the modern game. He can shoot from really difficult angles and consistently shows really exciting techniques like scissors or bicycles, but he just can't place his shot that well; so he can score someof the most amazing goals, buthe's not a very dependable shooter overall as far as being a goal threat, to me Messi's ST should stay with his current value.
When it comes to shooting placement though,Messi is probably the 2nd greatest ever in my opinion. For his prime i though a solid 98 sa for the majority of those amazing years. This is the reason Messi scores so much off of his dribbles. Any time Messi connects properly with his shot, that shot is going right in the corners. Messi's deadliness in a situation where he has contol over the ball and so control over his shot is unmatched. It's just when Messiis trying to finish loose balls or awkward angle shots, i think he's good but nothing special. This current 88 ST is accurate, and fair in my view.
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Argentina
