₦airaland Forum

coogar: seriously, i really don't think arsenal played badly on the day - their 3rd goalie cost them the match. he parried the shot back into a danger area when he should be pushing the ball out of play.......

the low number of chances created can be attributed to mental/physical tiredness which can happen in away games. that was not arsenal playing on saturday - they were visibly fatigued and i expect wenger's boys to get back to their winning ways in their next league tie!

People talk about goalies should have parried it out of play or away from danger. That is easier said than done.
You don't have the time to think about that...your first instinct is just to get your hand/body behind the ball and save.
Otherwise nothing would be stopping all goalies from diverting it away from danger.

Same old gnashing of teeth on the Arsenal thread

There is no logic behind wearing that silly shirt anyway.
It's just a stupid procedure.
They've actually generated more attention by refusing to wear it.

What would Fergie discipline him for though? For failing to wear a shirt? please!
Fergie is just pissed cos he categorically said all his players would wear it at the press conference and he's been made to look like an old bum

Please Scholes shouldn't start against Chelsea next week o

[quote author=A-40]Lol phuck what u heard this is the official "How market" anthem of the 2012/2013 season

Asuegbeeeeee!!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sBOseFQUuQ[/quote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOrAYZtAPco

Lalaboi, how far na?
How market?

naijababe: 6-1 to the Red & White army

Ibime: What's the story this time

Cazorla couldn't fire? Or was it Giroud or Podolski fault?

Out of title race by October

It's shiiiii like that made sensible folk like 40boi jump ship

International football is rarely convenient for club managers. Arsene Wenger may find auxiliary employment in commentating on matches for a TV station back in France, but he is rarely one to celebrate legs being wearied in a cause other than his own.

While delivering pearls of wisdom on Spain v France he will have been heartened that Santi Cazorla completed a match he joined after just 12 minutes when he replaced David Silva, and also that Olivier Giroud's confidence will have been further lifted by Les Bleus' equalising goal. He may not have been quite so cheered by Laurent Koscielny's slack defending for Sergio Ramos' goal for Spain.

Arsenal entered the international break with spirits revived after a demoralising defeat to Chelsea, with twinned 3-1 defeats of Olympiakos and West Ham United. Norwich City, by contrast, have had a fortnight to digest the bitter pill of two canings at the hands of big clubs - 5-2 by Liverpool, 4-1 by Chelsea. The visit of Arsenal suggests that the fixture list has not been kind to the Canaries of late. Then again, they have hardly helped themselves all season.

A club desperate for its first league win of 2012-13 will not be keen on having to entertain an Arsenal team who have played some of the best football of the Premier League season. Chris Hughton is a much-beloved figure in football, and Arsenal fans may even forgive him for nearly 30 years of association with Spurs, but he is yet to demonstrate at Norwich that nice guys can prosper. Even if he was successful at both Newcastle United and Birmingham City under trying circumstances, Norwich looks like being the toughest test yet in his managerial career.

Where predecessor Paul Lambert was hugely adaptable in his thinking during games, Hughton has been accused of being too inflexible. Players that had previously looked able to make the jump from the Football League have often looked out of their depth this season. Norwich are many people's idea of a relegation favourite, including among a section of their own fans, but they will hope that they can catch Arsenal cold after a fortnight away from their manager.

Arsenal will want to pick up from where they left off. Norwich will hope this can feel just like starting all over again.

Norwich City player to watch: Wes Hoolahan. The Irishman is yet to fully look a part of Hughton's long-term plans, just as he has been largely ignored by Giovanni Trapattoni for his national team. But amid some harrowing recent results, he has been a beacon of hope for a group of supporters who clearly admire him. What good play was supplied against Chelsea was supplied by him, on only his third start of the season. Creativity has been lacking, and Hoolahan can provide it.

Arsenal player to watch: Olivier Giroud. Considering his recent public declaration that he is just about ready to play again, it would be cheering to Arsenal fans if this selection was Jack Wilshere, but while he may travel to Carrow Road, it will surely be to reacquaint himself with Premier League affairs. Instead, we have an in-form Frenchman, who scored against West Ham after a long wait that drew uncharitable comparisons with Marouane Chamakh and even Stephane Guivarc'h, but an assist against Olympiakos set Giroud on the road to recently rich form.

Key battle: Grant Holt v Per Mertesacker. Among the rare positives to be drawn from heavy defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea was a return to goalscoring by Holt. He certainly enjoyed netting the opener at Stamford Bridge before it all came apart, but end-product has arrived after a summer where he stretched his popularity with a contract dispute. He should fancy himself against Mertesacker, who may still be in some kind of state of shock after being part of a German defence that conceded four second-half goals against Sweden to blow a 4-0 lead. Mertesacker is now regarded as Arsenal's prime organiser at the back; one of his first tasks will be to nullify Cumbria's finest hitman.



http://espnfc.com/uk/en/preview/345769/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739

Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing to roll the welcome mat out for Stoke's ``jolly green giants'' insisting they hold no fears for Manchester United.

The statistics back up Ferguson's belief. In eight games since Stoke returned to the top flight in 2008 the Potteries outfit have collected just a single point against United.

Only Chelsea (two in nine) have enjoyed similar success, with Stoke taking eight points from nine games with both Arsenal and Manchester City, and 11 off Liverpool from a similar number of fixtures.

The key, according to Ferguson, as it used to be when facing Bolton and Wimbledon before them, is in the mind.

``We've got the jolly green giants coming to play against us,'' said Ferguson

``The biggest team in Europe. You can get yourself in a tangle about that because they are a handful at set-piece plays and long throw-ins, but you can't make a terror for yourself.''

Ferguson has plenty of time for Tony Pulis, who has transformed Stoke's fortunes since his arrival at the club in 2006. He has no truck with those who believe Stoke's robust style has no place in the refined arena of the Premier League.

``Tony has done a fantastic job,'' said Ferguson.

``I can see progress every year, right from the foundations of the club in terms of youth players breaking through into the first team.

``Continuity brings consistency and they are a formidable outfit now.''

Ferguson has major selection dilemmas in attack, which will not be made easier by the return of Ashley Young from a knee injury.

The 27-year-old made an excellent start to his United career, only to be stalled by an injury at Fulham last December, after which his form never truly recovered.

Young then endured a poor Euro 2012 before suffering a knee injury in the Old Trafford meeting with Fulham two months ago that condemned him to spend another couple of months on the sidelines.

In his absence, Ferguson has implemented a new diamond formation, without orthodox wide men, which in theory puts Young's place at risk.

However, the Scot believes Young will have spent much of his time out thinking about what might have been.

And that should drive him forward in the weeks ahead.

``The opportunities are there for him,'' said Ferguson.

``Ashley has the opportunity to win things here. I don't think that's lost on him.

``I'm sure during the time he's been out he's been thinking about that.

``That's what players do when they've been out, they start thinking about what should have been and what can be for them.

``That will hopefully surface as the season goes on.''

Stoke boss Tony Pulis feels his side can only ``do their best'' when they take on big guns like United, claiming it is ``not a level playing field'' for such contests.

The Potters face United at Old Trafford, where they have been beaten by Sir Alex Ferguson's men on all four of their visits since their promotion to the top-flight in 2008.

Overall, they have lost seven and drawn one of their eight Premier League meetings with the Red Devils and reflecting on one of them - played in Manchester in January 2011 - Pulis said: ``We got close. Nani scored and we got beaten 2-1.

``We probably played as well as we have played. We have had good periods in games up there, but they have always managed to get goals at the right time.

``The most important thing is that you go out there and do your best, but it is not a level playing field when you are playing against the top six or seven sides - you just look at the players they have, the money they have spent and their turnover compared to other clubs in the Premier League.

``United are one of those sides, but we will go up there and do our best - it is all we can do.''

Pulis will assess the condition of Glenn Whelan and Michael Owen ahead of the game against the latter's former club.

Midfielder Whelan, who came off in the 0-0 draw at Liverpool with a hamstring problem which kept him out of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Faroe Islands, is rated by Pulis as having a ``50-50'' chance of featuring at Old Trafford.

The manager has also said he expects striker Owen, missing from the Liverpool game after tweaking his groin, to only be fit enough for a place on the bench at best, but defender Andy Wilkinson is available again after completing a three-match suspension.


http://espnfc.com/uk/en/preview/345775/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739

Andre Villas-Boas' presence on the touchline against Chelsea this weekend is in danger of overshadowing a Premier League game that has the potential to be the best we have seen so far this season.

The Portuguese, hung out to dry by Stamford Bridge bosses only months into his three-year contract, has begun promisingly on the path to redemption with Spurs.

ome tricky early results have been overcome and a new-look Tottenham side are beginning to show the kind of form, and steely determination, which could see them become title challengers in the next year or two.

It is nine unbeaten in all competitions now, and among those results have been the impressive 3-2 win against Man United at Old Trafford, the hard-fought victory over Aston Villa and the dominating display against Reading, which was Villas-Boas' first win.

These are heady days for the White Hart Lane faithful as they prepare for a new era, but the visit of league leaders Chelsea presents a whole new challenge and the toughest test of their mettle so far.

Currently four points clear of second-placed Man City, Roberto Di Matteo is another young manager pulling up trees.

Villas-Boas' replacement, and former right-hand man, has revamped his team's whole mentality since claiming a first Champions League triumph in Chelsea's history last May.

The introduction of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Victor Moses was not expected to work so well, so soon. But add Juan Mata to the mix and you have an attacking line-up which could rival the world's best in years to come.

Chelsea have seen off the challenge of Arsenal in the league already, winning 2-1, but wilted when put under the spotlight by sterner opposition, Juventus pegged back a two-goal deficit in the Champions League, and Atletico Madrid fired four past Petr Cech in a UEFA Super Cup masterclass.

Tottenham will present another tough test for Di Matteo's young side and, with both sets of players capable of scoring the goals to win the game, it has the prospect of being a classic London derby.


http://espnfc.com/uk/en/preview/345771/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739

montelik: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2217908/Chris-Smalling-Ashley-Young-Phil-Jones-soon-make-Manchester-United-comebacks.html

Finally some light at the end of the tunnel

I reckon Jones and Smalling should get some games with the U-21's first...they haven't played any game this season. Match fitness will be at an all time low.

Young can come into the squad, he has had some games under his belt.

StarBoard: If you don't have anything more to say,aside from your inane jokes,go back to your thread full of football muppets.

Danny Welbeck after several seasons in the EPL shouldn't be developing his trade at this stage of his career.
He haggled for a pay-rise and all we get to see of him is his stupid fluke trick shot against lesser-footballing nations.
Yet he can afford to miss the flight of a cross in an attempted header in the six-yard box against Norwich last season or mess his composure entirely vs Newcastle with nobody to beat in goal.

Welbeck is an id.iot.
How he manages to get regular games at United and England is a modern-day mystery in all forms.

Abegi, last year was his first full season at United so I don't know what you expect from him.
Welbeck is not a world beater and needs to improve on his finishing. He is no where near the finished article.

oko lagbara

Idowuogbo: u back? i guess ur twitter account acting shady. sexy chamo bck y'all...yayyyy!!! *dancing*

hehe. sup?
Just wanna see what has changed in this section

yusufogrin: it bout a girl in ma hood,she visits my house frequently and she showed me a lot of signs..........Not dat am scared to propose to her but the fact is that if i propose to her and she says NO,AM DOOMED...any scope i fit use hit her

You are contradicting yourself.
If you don't make a move, you will never know.

scratch my balls

U1: Wish kain strategy be that?

Person wey wan run marathon dey sprint? Go ask Mo Farah

When Ipukulu came from your behind last season wetin you dey look?

[quote author=A-40]Naah I saw replays on SS right after the match. Every other angle was inconclusive till they showed the replay with the angle at the extreme left of the post! Not that it matters as it hardly changes a thing but for the record it did[/quote]Ichiro, the whole of the ball didn't cross the line. All pundits that have commented on the incident have said the same including both managers involved.
Lets say it did cross the line, do you expect the linesman to see that and be 100% sure? It happened so fast.

[quote author=A-40]Bros u wey dey for page 2 nko [/quote]Ma wo oju Uche...na strategy

Na where Ipukulu go finish e don dey now

Why does Evra go up for corners though...what's his business in the box...isn't he like 4'4?

I think Fletcher did well in the holding role in midweek

Newcastle on Sunday...with the way we are playing at the moment, I'd take a draw now cos I expect Giggs and Scholes to start again.

Evra: "We all have to play their best to play for this team now. The star is the team not one player"

Evra should be demoted to the U-21's for a few weeks.

StarBoard: Evra has been a liability since 2009.So when the guy flew by him I wasn't surprised.
Evans was clearly shown ball-watching after Evra was left in the dumps. Agreed he may have had little choice but he should have more been alert when that first diagonal ball was flighted to anticipate the danger.Instead he waited till Evra was skinned like a lizard (that he is).

The only thing Evans might have done wrong was that the gap between him and Evra was too wide before the initial move started but he had to focus on the danger at hand at that time. He has to do his own job first before thinking about Evra. Evra is not a baby that his fellowm defenders should be cleaning up his mess.

As soon as that touch beat Evra, the defence was in no man's land.
Evra single-handedly cost us at least 17 goals last season, this season he has cost us 4/5.
At this rate, he'll cost the team about 30 goals.

StarBoard: Everybody knows at some point in the game Evra is going to get caught out of position (and his jogging back was after being left for dead was actually funny to me), but Evans' remedying the situation was criminal.
Not only was he slow to cover but he was also ball-watching and forgot he had a man behind him.The pass made him look foolish.
I've given up on the sod.If Fergie let Piqué go because of this guy then it means he has been losing it slowly since 2008.How come you're not willing to give Vidic the same benefit of the doubt when he came back from a more serious injury after being sidelined for 5 months, but you are ready to excuse a younger Evans who got injured at the tail-end of last season?

I thought I was the only one that noticed that.

You cant blame Evans for that goal...it was simply a fantastic movement by the striker...dummied his run then pulled back.
Evans had to cover the front post...if you look at the replay again you will see that he quickly had a glance at the striker to check his position but got done by a nice movement.

At this rate we might need to sign Mikael Silvestre...he cant be any worse than Evra at LB