Lionel Messi, Neymar and Barcelona Stars Are Bored, Claims Paul Scholes

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes Lionel Messi and Barcelona's players have become "bored."

Scholes detailed his argument after watching Luis Enrique's side live against Valencia. He was in the Mestalla to see Sergio Busquets' last-gasp goal sink the hosts, 1-0, but the Englishman wasn't impressed, per The Independent:

"

I watch Barca as much as I can on television, and this was just a snapshot of their season so far, but for much of the game I felt they were a ghost of the side they had once been.

They still pass the ball relentlessly, but that old drive and tempo are not nearly as urgent. The breathtaking speed and penetration have gone. They won the game in injury time but even in those final stages they hardly created chances.

"

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Scholes continued, "When I try to find a way of summarising the attitude of the team, and of some longer-serving individuals, I keep alighting on the word 'bored.'"

His assessment is "not meant to sound flippant," but he doesn't believe the current squad have the energy and desire to replicate what Pep Guardiola's legendary team managed. He believes Luis Suarez "struggled" against Valencia and that Neymar "looked a bit lightweight," with Messi also failing to escape his judgement.

"In [Messi], as much as anyone, I detected that mood of boredom," said Scholes.

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Barcelona's problems are obvious, but suggesting the team is bored is unfair. The Blaugrana's options at centre-back pale in comparison to those Guardiola had at his disposal, while the ageing legs of Xavi and Andres Iniesta ensure the midfield doesn't have the same balance it used to.

Enrique tried to add combativeness through the signing of Ivan Rakitic. Xavi doesn't ghost into space like he once did, though, meaning Barca's centre often appears far more static than we're used to seeing. 

Penetration is missing through the middle—a combination of Xavi, Busquets and Javier Mascherano lacked the pace or invention to skip beyond Valencia—but none of the trio shied away from their duties.

That said, the attacking trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar have had little time to forge a profitable trident.

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Messi recently became the all-time top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League history, having scored 17 goals—on top of providing nine assists—in 18 appearances so far this season, per WhoScored.com.

Neymar has already equalled his goal total from last season in the aforementioned competitions, producing 13 strikes and three assists in his 16 appearances.

Suarez may only have one goal in seven matches, but he continues to be productive. His four assists are the mark of a player who—despite working toward full sharpness—is willing to cover considerable ground to aid his team's cause.

"I'm arguing less and fighting with opponents less," said Suarez, per Radio Catalunya's El Club de la Mitjanit show (h/t Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star). "I now try to make friends on the pitch so I don't get involved." Perhaps, from the outside, this unwillingness to instigate trouble could mean Suarez has lost his fire.

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Valencia stood strong against Barca and looked to attack quickly on the break. The away side had to battle until the very last to breach Diego Alves' goal and will certainly consider the three points among the most important of their season so far.

The nature of the result provided a massive boost ahead of Sunday's derby against Espanyol, a fixture detailed by B/R UK guest columnist Guillem Balague:

It's certainly difficult to suggest that Barca, a team who are currently two points behind arguably the world's best in Real Madrid, are suffering from a lack of interest.

The overall quality of the squad has diminished since Scholes faced Guardiola's side, but if anything, the win against Valencia highlighted there is greater fight within it than we saw under Gerardo Martino last term.