₦airaland Forum

Shegzdave:
I just weak
The night is getting dark with our interest in him and it’s gonna get darker for the fans when sterling starts with his usual misses

I don’t understand the duo of Arteta and Edu, arteta especially, always jeopardizing himself

See the joy on the social media posts of Chelsea fans hearing Sterling is going... That's all one needs to know na rubbish we just buy. It is like buying Antony from Man U. The fans of the former club will have bigger joy than any joy levels the new club fans will ever imagine. If this was the catch they for just leave Nketiah alone. Smh

Leyqute:
Dave P

Sterling might actually be a good buy for you guys. You guys signed Havertz from Chelsea too, and he turned out well eventually.

This pov befits a top 4 vision. We're way past that. We are trying to best the best and buys that doesn't inspire that trajectory, or belong to the might actually category are no nos. How many games before Kai even settled? Do we have that kind of time again? 5years?? We shouldn't be dependent on probability factor at this point in time. That's Bet9ja.

Shegzdave:
See person wey I Dey give benefit of doubt go carry Miss sterling

This season fit long no doubt with sterling among our attackers

That moment we begin to miss Martinelli and compare with Sterling. The night is dark

5yrs no attacker

So na Sterling dem go use close window?

The duo obviously don't rate the loyalty of fans. They don trust process but to reward them once na wahala.

Osimhen go wan play conference league so?

72games and averaging a game ever 4.3days means even Odegaard won't be immune to the demands of this season. We should be prepared for it all round by doing what's compulsory.

The new format prioritizes attackers and creators


You have to outscore your other rivals

If city beat Dinamo 11-0 and madrid win 12-1 and Arsenal won 8-0, that means city be 1st and madrid 2nd and arsenal 3rd.

No more pass ball around because you feel you have qualified already. You need a top spot for a better r16 fixture.

So goals all the way to be in top 8 automatic qualifications.

We all know what that entails.

This means the 8 opponents we face, we must outscore and beat them by large margins simply because of the other top teams that have a better probability of outscoring us.

Are we ready or we wan still dey Havertize?

How solid is our backline

Folorunsho and Shukurat?

Nomination have started. Don't forget to nominate

Odunayaw:
I am against him going to Saudi. However it's not difficult to imagine how tempting the monetary returns must be to him.

With what he is earning, he will never be poor again. But in the words of Emeritus Professor Lil Wayne , "too much money ain't enough money"

Na just the thing be that.

I hate that the average Nigerian gats face one of the surest crossroads as a result of our reality as a nation- The money choice crossroad. Sapa sef.

I can't forget the movie, Simple Baby


Gangster's returns from America to his sick father in the village. He catches the eyes of the damsels and one in particular loved hearing him tell yankee tales. He discovers his father's kinsmen are working to end his father's life by all means. He goes gangster on each of them by invading them on their farms and stealing their livestock.

He is accused of being a thief and he denies. The mazi that boldly accuses him will be his next target for solitary invasion.

He'll tie them down and make them chew away from their roasted goats or ram while asking questions about their involvement in a plot against his dad.

Everyone loved simple baby swag but he was now what he didn't want to become. 😹😹😹😹😹
He also impregnated many girls and denied.
A son of another mazi killed him. That one too na yankee just come 🤣

Hanks played the role well.

Odunayaw:
If Osimhen no go Saudi my respect for him go enter Mars because what is this figures!

The implications should be considered for both his career and caf apoty rep. Plus he has haterz that will ring bells of fluke form even if it doesn't stick it will be loud. Those in saudi are those done with UEFA and at most won 1 UCL. He needs better uefa teammates and a better atmosphere in Europe imo

Starboytwo:
I nominate
Davep
Charlesemeka85
Elyte89


Cc
Lelion
Humility33
Maidaboi

Thanks for the vote. Gracias 🙌🏾🙌🏾💯

Spy360:
Darwin Nunez

Nico Williams

We should stop going after the Tokunbo of other rival epl teams. It's pissing me off. Can't we get brand new from elsewhere?

So all the trolling of Nunez go just transfer to Emirates? Mba!! Who dey even suggest these names sef?

Kai
GJ


I even heard the Sterling and Rashford noise at some point. Lol.

Lwkm

GMO is a business not a solution to any farmer out there. The aim is control. Imagine farmers unable to but GMO seeds or having money to buy but have to wait for modifier to manufacture and supply. Lol

Nothing do our natural seeds. They are free, good and reliable and not within the control of monopolists. No pr or marketing can hide the real intentions of this move. Even Europeans know.

RN is the last of Wengerball Era. Oh My!! Last man standing. Imagine him shocking us this season before bowing out.

iamoyindamola:
Osihmen is not an upgrade to the striker we want
He's no different from Jesus one day on one day off
I will rather give martinelli the striking position than buy osihmeh

This one na insult o. Not different from GJ?? No tok am outside o. This na the Osimhen that sport blogs were doing comparison with Haaland the season Napoli won league o. Haba. When last GJ score 20goals in a season with or without injury?

charlesemeka85:
We don over rotten for this country to an extend that we now embrace evil and criminality as norm

Even if Siasia won us the World Cup,Afcon,Chan etc in the past with his current bad rep he isn’t suppose to be close to anything related to our football

It is more like this, Since Sia1 don start to dey do all these dream team exploits, etc, why hasn't another even better manager risen to recognition from the local level? Pls nobody should mention those mediocre ones enmeshed with bribery scandals and no progressive template. And not even the older ones from 94 or before 94 set. Aside the nepotism of the system, to even give the current good managers in npfl with modern style or approach a chance at cadet jobs is such a huge mountain.

All we have are handlers not tacticians getting these spots, esp the female cadet teams.
By now, we should be having a dozen Siasias or one local Jo Bonfrere.

oliverano:
Then you should be happy. It's a sign that you're now a super team...it means your team is playing without mistakes. Be happy 😊

This is what one of the the goat CB said about tackling.

I am happy. 😎

Jodera:
Kai na MA favored son same as Saka but I doubt Martinelli is also included. I believe the attributes Martinelli have is what is keeping him presently (pace, helping defence and keeping the width). If truly Martinelli is one of his favored sons, I believe he wouldn't have benched him for Trossard last season. One thing with Trossard is that aside his lack of burst of pace with ball, he normally drift away from game when playing wings around the 60th to 70th minutes upwards(or sometimes even less) and I think that's one of the reasons why Arteta haven't fully made that position his. But then, he really still deserves to start over Martinelli.


I don't think we suffered from many ball carriers last season due to our coordinated press so I believe Aston Villa's game especially Rogers was just a one off. One thing I believe is that Partey and Rice really underestimated him, not fully knowing he's that kinda deadly. Next game against him, I believe arsenal (and those duo) will take him seriously cos the way he use use dem ehh...

Anyways, tactically I'll be watching how we setup and play this season. We've not fully hit top gear too so with more game time I believe we'll see more sharpness.

If it repeats vs Brighton, without prime end product, I'll zone out of anything about him. If na before, na loan for happen.

Jodera:
The way our players tackle needs to be studied especially Saliba. The way they just poke the ball away from you when you think you've guarded it 100% sometimes makes me laugh.

That's one of the big reasons we're one of the least 2 yellow carded team last season

I think the best tackling Fullback we have is Yasu, especially from a recovery position. The rest no get the pace to get back like these 2. If it was before, na strolling things. As for Zinny, once he's passed, he no go do anything again.😂😭😭

BlueRayDick:
We usually have most of the possession in games so obviously we don’t spend much of the game tackling to win the ball back.

We also press our opponents so much that they surrender the ball to us and we keep recycling possession till we get to their box area where we shoot at goal.

Only few of our players actually do tackle ; Partey or Jorginho & Rice in midfield ; and if the opposing players beat them they have Saliba to contend with.

I think it's a sign that we are dominating our opponents . I'm sure during the time of Emery when we had dem Guendouzi in Midfield, David Luiz, Mustafi & Sokratis in CB position; we would definitely be topping the tackle list .

That's true. Even our yellow cards have drastically reduced. We've come a long way. This is the season.
Else....

Deltamani:
Hmm 🧐

If you know this Woman with her Prideful and Bad character u fit no tell her Congratulation sef..

Person wha no want Mk u criticize am when she even Dey wrong.

Its a "nanana eh eh eh goodbye" kinda congrats o.

No be here we gather dey complain about pics quality in particular?


As for that voting wey the other madam do during Apoty, i still can't deep the why.

Deltamani:
SuperFalcons Media Officer Speaks


Thank you, my colleagues , lovers of women football, and the football community :
To God Be The Glory 🙌🏻.

" Your tenure as the MO of the Super Falcons will end in August after the Olympics." Those were the words of the president of the Nigerian Football Federation Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau to me exactly a year ago ( August 2023) in his office in Abuja.
The one year notice by him was very respectful and the most professional exit meeting I could ever dream of.
It was also followed up with his best wishes in our exit chats days ago.

It was an amazing , fullfiling & expository four years with the most successful & most decorated
national football team in Africa.
I am proud to have diligently projected these amazing ladies to the world. They were indeed a quality brand , stressless to project 👏.

I appreciate Nigerians and the lovers of women football, especially. Their support was overwhelming, and most importantly, the players I worked with were accommodating, respectful, and professionals at all times.
Thank you to the two captains i worked with Onome Ebi and currently Rasheedat Ajibade, Mummy GO, Your humility & wisdom are contagious, and I am grateful for your kind words during my exit conversation with you. Your words, " Thank you for all you do ma'am , God bless you."

I worked with two presidents at various times. Thank you, President Emeritus Amaju Pinnick, for endorsing my nomination & appointing my humble self in 2020 and to Alhaji Musa Gusau for considering continuity upon your assumption of office.
To the Guild of Editors and their president NwokeOma Tony Ubani (you are one in a million), my colleagues, and my closest family in the profession - the female broadcasters group - I say thank you.

It was an honour to serve as the 5th Media Officer of the Super Falcons of Nigeria , the first ex female footballer to serve in that capacity and the longest serving MO of the team

The Almighty God that breaks all protocols was gracious to me. HE guided and ordered my footsteps in all my endeavours.

Thank you, Nigerians ,the president and board members of the NFF, the GS , SWAN Lagos Chapter, Women in football - Former Super Falcons MOs Chisom Mbonu & Remi kisu Sulola, MO of the Golden Eaglets Francis Achi , Emmanuel Aduku (Mees Palace ), Mr Lux, Ms Charlotte & Dr Christian Emeruah (CAF), Godwin Enakhena & Mrs Sabina Ekhaisomi. I am indeed grateful.

My appreciation to Erelu Ronke Ogunleye (Sports Diva) , Janine Anthony (tiktok), Tega Onajaife (LIS) , Dr. Nneka Anibeze, Ogechukwukanma Ogwo (Brilla FM), Odogwu Pat Nwaogu , Barr Seyi Akinwunmi , Kuddy Khillany and many more propellers of my progress as the Media Spokesperson of the Super Falcons.
Coach Randy & Kyle 🥰 take your flowers , Esther & Akaso , I enjoyed our time together.

To everyone who supported me , counselled and criticised positively, I appreciate you all.
We must have disagreed in the course of my work, but trust me, it was inevitable as a rigid principled journalist. Measuring up with standard practise was always on my mind. I strove for excellence & maintained FIFA standard.
The trainings by FIFA , CAF, and Tiktok were maximally utilised.
I appreciate you all.

African Football noticed and appreciated my genuine hard work & potential. She beckoned on me for a higher challenge, and I embraced the challenge joyfully.

Warmest regards
Oluchi 'tobex' tobe-Chukwu

Congratulations to her. And nice courtesy by giving a year's notice. I love that


Meanwhile seeing Tega's name(LIS) gave me Wapoty PTSD. IYKYk. Make i no tok much.

Observation: We are not a tackling team.

Last season we no dey top 14. This season we no dey top 10 after 2 games. Sleek or bleak?

Jodera:
The only thing I can take from that picture is that those three suppose to attack that near post zone instead of being away from it. I believe the players were poorly positioned cos 3 players is more than enough in attacking a cross.

I won't love for us to tamper with our structure by pushing more bodies (if that's what the structure entails), then get caught on the counter when they miss a cross. It's not as if that's the dying moment of the game sef.

Meanwhile, Martinelli needs to look up more and also stop being a one trick pony. I don't know if it's confidence issues that's affecting him

You're getting my pov already. Even if we aren't all that tactical, relegation teams without much of a tactic will have 3 players in that position and attack it well to get their heads on the ball. So it boils down to either playing safe or they just lack the know how of attacking such space(3 of them)

GM is why i love what Trossard did with his goal celebration.


Arteta's two bias since he arrived are Kai and Martinelli.

These two are guaranteed starters shirts even if they play rubbish or offer nothing. Even if GJ dey fit, he go still wan start Kai. This look down thing of GM has not changed since last season. It proves one thing -MA is jot working on this kid in that regards.

As for the plan for counter, there's a slight problem for me.

The ball carrier runs some 40 to 60m without as much as a scent of a tackle or resistance by us. I don't like that approach at all. We had no answer to Rogers too. Thanks to the pace of Saliba for thwarting that sure banker goal. We used to rely on Offside trap last season. What's changed? The more that free ball carrier approaches, the more the danger to me. I hope that's just a Villa game mistake sha.


Gabriel's trap vs Man U last season 💯💯💯💯😂😂😂😂😂

Jodera:
I've doubt that Haaland might thrive in this our setup like Man City Sha but I agree, Havertz needs to be more stronger and show more presence.

Tbh ehh, I just want our two sides to be working and goals to be coming everywhere as it did last season. Once that happens, then I can fully vouch for Haaland or Haaland type to gel here

Haaland is a bully on 1v1. Kai isnt and can't even be.

Shot power is word and opposite for these two. To expect a big hit from Haaland is high. To expect a weak hit from Kai is high. Saliba is one of 2 defenders that bullied Haaland last season in all his strengths, out of all defenders in EPL. His presence alone will carve open that centre space at the box arc for any arsenal shirt to explore b2b. Kai did that in 2nd half a little.

I've accepted to reduce expectations. But its hard to see situations upon situations that may end up crucial being wasted due to lack of the 1 figure that can make 10moinmoin out of one tin of beans



Question: do we have an fpl league to start with?

Jodera:
Do you know that Arteta/arsenal plays zonal Positional football?

Lemme see if I can explain it briefly and without making it long:
It's a situation in pitch where every zones in the field is being occupied by at least one player in the pitch and there should not be more than intended people at a particular zone. Rotations can be allowed but more than intended (max 2 I read) must not be in a particular zone. I read the field in colney (their training ground) is marked/demarcated with vertical lines for the players to properly assimilate the zones

Now the importance of this is to make us quickly counterpress and fall back into shape once ball is lost. There's a reason we're one of the best out of possession teams(OOP team) in England.

Why did I bring this up?

if we have more players there (like you said), don't you think that it will affect the shape and zonal structure in the team and might make us susceptible to counter attack?

There's a reason I always say Martinelli should calm down. What he's doing (in terms of that cross) is good but perhaps it's not right and it's not working due to the team's tactical system hence he should learn to play within the team's tactical system.

Have you noticed Saka's crosses (his backpost cross) and how it's relatively different yet productive and effective compared to Martinelli's own?

There's a big reason why one of them can't be benched sha

I understand alll of this. Presence for a productive outcome is what matters. The probability that a goal ought to come out of that increase when more shirts are unmarked or the shirts are positioned to get a header. Or do you want it as a norm where anyone that crosses ends up with nothing because of Zonal play?

Oh i forgot that our defenders are the better headers so far. But that's no excuse for those 3 at that spot right there.


I understand all the tactical talk but chances need to be taken whenever presented. We don't want to be desperate for anything possible on a desperate night because the tactics is what GM ought to abide by especially when the OPPORTUNITY presents itself. Everyone crosses in and coach never stop am.

Bottomline, na who see chance and bury am dey mata. Na after game end we go analyze tactical play.


Conclusion: GM still dey play rubbish sha. Pls let that be settled as my pov o

BlueRayDick:
Baba what are u analysing ?

Martinelli played absolute rubbish with that needless left footed pass. Even if a jumper(striker) was there , it would still have been a rubbish pass. Martinelli had enough time before he ran himself into 3 villa players.

I understand u desire for us to sign a traditional striker and it is looking almost inevitable with the depatrure of Nketiah and Jesus' injury; but u see Martinelli ehn.... He really gba inside that match on Saturday.

I'm not saying he played well. Me that want him benched for Trossard? 😂😂😂

I'm pointing out aspects of his game that still have hope. Infact he and Kai yesterday ehn😹

Jodera:
I don't know whether Merino will play DM or Lcm if he starts. That's something I'll look forward to in order to see his role.
The presence of Cala should help Martinelli cos he's attacking minded. With time I believe that LHS will liven but more still depends on Martinelli to make it work sha especially in his decision making.

There's a reason I never wanted Zinny to start even for all his attacking qualities cos I fully know that Emery will exploit there and that was what Emery fully wanted. That Lb lockup saved a lot of pressure on the defence

Lol, I would have really liked a good striker that'll gel in this team but bro, I've zeroed my mind from it cos I know that's not what Arteta wants so why thinking up fantasies?
If I don't do that, I'll be very disappointed and I'll just advise you to take such step too. Na why I dey hope for a very good winger, esp now that Viera is gone and hopefully Nketiah or Nelson or both will follow soon.

The departures is what's making me believe he just might get it. Abi he wan leave Kai and Jesus as CF? I wantu cut him that slack. But he fit shock us by wasting the slack😹😹😹

Rem i kept saying this team is built for that kind of 9. Infact if haaland dey Arsenal, he fit outscore his City Tally solely based on how we play and not what he plays. But I'll reduce my expectations. It is just that campaign is long and UCL no be beans either. Top defenders that will give Kai hell dey UCL. Not to talk of our wingers.

Cala and GM/Trossard replicating their own gel that will make us forget Saka-White? I want to see that so bad.

Notice that we had 3 shirts just as Martinelli was about to cross, yet no good jumper to meet the perfect cross. The fact that it was 3 dey vex me. Cos all we need is 2 sef to punish those defenders if we get better aerial threat.


Also notice that this very spot is the precise spot for a cross to a 9 that will accurately turn goal no matter how the defenders do their thing. But once again...
The idea is to be a thorn that makes the defenders commit and eventually a pk comes out. We all know the pass went to GM and it ended up being a waste las las.

Infact from that position alone, White can be raking up assists and that will reduce prime pressure and give Saka more space and hence, our advantage.

Lastly, I'll be watching keenly our outside box shots this season.

Jodera:
I noticed the bolded but he needs to understand we don't have a traditional striker to exploit all those his near post cross thus he needs to adjust(especially as he's not even the main man).

I agree, we need a monster Havertz. Someone that's stronger and can take on his man type of Havertz. But aside that, we need a good supporting casts. There's a reason our Rhs is our strongest and that's because the trio of White, Odegaard and Saka are good and have that understanding (watch our first goal). That's something we're lacking in that LHS. Rice haven't clicked up to gear yet but we'll need more from either Cala or Timber and then Martinelli to be dangerous. Once this two sides are effective, then Havertz can be better than what he's presently showing.

As for Cf, just forget it. I've Sha but I'm still patiently waiting for that Surprise signing edu promised us

Well said. I think it's because of the cover duties ingrained in him that's why. Merino might just fit that LHS clicking. Rice is still loading sha. The way Partey lost duels vs Rogers that game made Rice to just stay. I trust Emery. If na Zinny start, they'll focus on his win taya. That lb lockup tilted mentality in our favor.

Last season before he chop injury and bench, those crosses reach 30 o. Everytime i see them i imagine a Haaland or Osimhen at the receiving end. At least those ones fit rake in 16goals due to how perfect those crosses are weighed. If we get better AM, those back posts passes go just dey net dey go.