Messi doesn't do stepovers because he can't. The greatest players who played the game have done stepovers - they have their particular use: shield the ball while doing a body feint and keep the angle of attack in direction of the goal, while also setting up for a possible immediate shot/pass. There is no "alternative" to the stepover. It is an essential skill and one of the best 1v1 moves.
That Messi does not do it is simply because he cannot reliably pull it off at a high level.
Skills have a use. Misapplying skills is problematic. But spitting in the face of a rich tradition because YOUR player doesn't execute things is disrespectful and WE REJECT you from our global culture.
We don't need people limiting the brilliance, creativity, and beauty of this sport because YOUR hero doesn't fit the bill.
@Jack_Moore7 Managers, of course, know so much more about the game than a casual like me. Could I drill a well coordinated press into a team? No. Could I orchestrate beautiful build up? No. But sometimes it’s as simple as seeing where players look dangerous vs where they’re not
@lawyer_memes Bill,
Inspirational leadership. I will be incorporating at work (and using this framework to assess promotions / bonuses).
Best,
big agenda pusher