₦airaland Forum

MSGAMBLE9:
if you noticed v City... He get dragged easily too for that EH chance that Eze cleared and others

Great!! You noticed too. I dunno if na fatigue or loss of concentration. Glad that Gabu redeemed himself. Make he no try that nonsense again

MSGAMBLE9:
@iamoyindamola Yet look at how easily he's getting dragged out of position now... If not Rice that covers for him

Na Rice dey epp our CBs at this point. See how two of them were running for that Murphy chance.

They should allow this Gillet officiate one Liverpool game. Let's see something vital that will spark reactions all over England fes. Mtchew.

mostob:
Na wetin dey vex me pass. I hope one way or the other, he gets a long layoff. At least players would be safe while playing Newcastle.

i wish they can see the effort made to foul Saka and give him passes that will make them commit closer or inside their box. They just no wan get sense. Rice needs to shoot abeg. No be everytime he go pass to Trossard.

MSGAMBLE9:
His first job is to defend his goal not looking for cheap foul... He and Mosquera are at fault for the goal Ojoro apart


They are playing at Newcastle pace and can't get any control yet... They need to slow the game down

Mosquera ke? Anyway Saliba is in. But that goalis on Gabu.

Joelinton just wan injure Saka. And why is the ref ignoring all the shirt pulls on Eze? Gabu was foolish for that push abeg. That's softer than the last one that gave Newcastle a win that year. Guy is rugged and should not be doing that abeg. Haba... That was a pk for Gyokores. Make they continue sha. We sha winning this one

Will Arteta use the barca approach or he'll go long for Gyokores? 3-1 win anyway

Spy360:
This is hilarious.

But no problem.

Since you say that Gyokeres' position was deliberately offside, so then never ever again complain that he doesn't get assistance.

Let him be staying deliberately offside o. Then you praise him for it. 😂

You're the one that's tiring abeg. I'll repeat what i typed earlier. if you at least heard what the commentators and pundits said about that very moment, you no go dey do all this yakiti yakiti you dey do right now. You act like he's always offside. You'll rather fixate on that one to drive home your own bias than focus on how even Legends of Arsenal are talking about how the team is playing asif he's not on the pitch. If he was getting services and wasting them like Kai and Martinelli, that's another thing entirely. But kontunu jare. No be you?

Spy360:
Then I am right.

Where was he when Eze created for Martinelli?

If you like blame everyone and don't open your eyes

LMAO. You think that wasn't deliberate? Have you watched Harry Kane well enough to know that many strikers do exact that across several games in Europe or you think it's one stupid move to be positioned offside? Lewandoski? Even Haaland sometimes. Na you suppose go study games abeg. Open eyes ke? When his time come na me gangan go blast am. Unless you're not paying attention since last 2-3seasons on this thread.

For heaven's sake, the least you needed to do if you weren't sure of what he did there was to simply listen to the commentators during that very goal and pundits after the game. 😂😂😂
Spy spy. Why why why??

Shegzdave:
Happy Birthday to Me and My Boy Lewis Skelly

Happy Birthday to you boss. Cheers to another fruitful year. More blessings, favours and open doors. 😎🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

Spy360:
Tactically avoiding criticizing your MCM. He missed a 1v1.

How is it that you easily criticise others even when they do relatively well but avoid criticising your MCM?

Lol. I will when his misses outweighs the normal chances created for him. He did his part for the goals. Isn't that what you personally love?

yinkeys:
Have they paid Falcons 2 months after WAFCON yet ?

they still dey give excuse. While the presidential payment, we heard nothing about it again. 😂

COOL10:
No passion for the round leather game. They're only passionate about making their round pot bellies as noticeable as possible 😂🤣

😂😂😂😂

Empty skulls.

Goke7:
I agree 💯 the game keeps evolving but we want players that must play like Jay Jay okocha honestly am tired of the same crap

I tell you. Funny enough, other countries are looking early on for players with profiles of their legends and doing all to make them develop properly aside their own career guidance. Here, na to see someone wey no even get anything near to begin dey tag am "that's how Jay Jay did it" lol.

COOL10:
I lost faith in the NFF a long time ago. They're just a bunch of confused, incompetent folks masquerading as sports administrators. From mishandling the timing of Rohr's sack, to sacking Peseiro, a man who took us to the AFCON Final despite all odds. They're just so poor at their jobs yet they expect the best from the players. It's laughable.

I can bet you the last few weeks has been the busiest ever they've been since the pitch and ineligibility issue arose. They're too comfortable. Clowns. 🤣🤣

A waste of 700 passes. With the defenders having over 60% of the total passes tonight

AGAINST PORT VALE. A TEAM with fans so happy to see Arsenal play them that despite losing, none of them left their seats to go home!!! The last 20 mins was more a joy to watch than the 70mins prior. Eyesore to me. What's the main reason he got Norgaard though?

Leo scored and thanked Gyokeres immediately for creating space for him. Dowman got his moment and Gyo dragged 3 shirts with him to get space to shoot. Na Nwaneri las las shoot.

Leo and Dowman with their deep diagonal wing passes
to their 9 to be free at goal>>>

We let them get into the game. A more technical team can adopt the way Port Vale pressed to reduce our passing lanes. They already detect how our Defenders rotate the ball L-R and they really did well for a l1 team to frustrate that aspect of our game. This L-R style, we gats bin it in the attacking 3rd. A team like Vale were as comfortable as Liverpool and Bilbao as we recycled the ball. Smh

If Arya Starr like make she no learn from that KSA incident or from this more recent one. This is beautiful from Tiwa Savage.

Goke7:
But it was agreed here that we played rubbish in the AFCON, or were we that good? cos if I remember very well, that's why we chased Paseiro away, that our players were too good and world-class to be playing haram football. We need to put things in proper perspective, cos am one of those who still feel we ruined it all with the poor management of the Afcon success. Some tactics worked well for us that we just needed to build upon, but hey, we threw everything away in arrogance.

It was divided.

Many agreed we didn't play to full strength of the team but we got results and passion on display. Many were satisfied with the approach aspa this is african football. The counter attack style was sweet and goals were distributed. Nobody got more stick from local journalists and nff fanboys than Iwobi, forgetting jpes was the one that gave him such a role. He didn't stay put on it anyway.

The issue is they're the very ones that chased Rohr away and brought Pes asif they dunno his approach before signing him on. Now they chased him away and Finidi, Eguavoen, Chelle.


The NFF has a philosophy understanding problem. I conclude that is why they're going to be in toxic marriage with this 442 when even the country that birthed and used it no longer use it today. Na Nostalgia go kee them. But arrogance too. The icing is their mt Everest arrogance and love for mediocrity.

solonnachi:
I wont blame them sir. When they break leg playing for the national team, does NFF take care of them? No be their clubs dey bear the cost?

That aspect alone has been a crux since covid. The medic crew of both teams act like they dunno what they're doing one bit. And NFF just want to be seen giving guys a chance to run with bags and spray to the players when down. Nothing dem sabi

COOL10:
Bro, you hit the nail on the head. Everything you said is the truth.

For years I've been saying the same thing about Iwobi; he needs to be played in and around the D (the arc of the box).

In a 4-3-3, his best role is either as a CAM, where he can arrive late into the box and finish with those calm one-touch strikes into the far corner, or as an inside winger operating in the half-spaces, threading those deadly diagonal passes. Playing him as a deep CM has never made sense.

In a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2, Iwobi should be deployed as a SS. If anyone doubts this, just rewatch our 4-2 win over Argentina in 2018. That was "beast in the middle" Iwobi. He was direct, creative and dangerous.


Now to Dessers: I've said this over and over, but many people still ignore the truth. Dessers is one of the most intelligent center forwards in the Super Eagles right now. His movement, positioning, ball control, and finishing are elite. But if you surround him with teammates who can’t read his diagonal and curved runs, then of course you'll never see his best.


Examples speak louder than words:

1) His headed goal vs Mexico.

2) The chest control and beautiful finish vs Jamaica.

3) That world-class strike vs Man United. Look at the ball control, quick turn, and left-footed rocket.
Dessers is two-footed in front of goal. If I remember correctly, he scored around 8 goals last season with his weaker left.

And it’s not just goals: he’s become more selfless, registering 8-9 assists last season. For a CF, that’s massive.

Until our coaches, fans, and those wanna-be OAPs and quack journalists drop the sentiment and start actually watching these players properly, we'll stay stuck. Imagine having two incredible players like Iwobi and Dessers and still not knowing how to use them. That’s the real tragedy.

Sadly they are all talk and no understanding. They're fat with corruption and ego. See the latest statement of Gusau on Falcons mata. Smh. These guys are here to enjoy quota and not serve or focus on leaving a legacy of success. The positions are not a competition but a reward for jamboree.

Iwobi best years were under Rohr.

This is no longer hard to see. I've always said this.

Roy Keane: “The few managers I've played under, particularly at club level, I always thought were gamblers - Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson were gamblers.

“They were all about winning and not waiting and not worrying too much about the opposition. They went for it and they got the rewards, and maybe Arteta is defensive minded.

“When I'm looking at Arteta, I think his mindset is, 'Let's make sure we don't get beaten today'. But because of the standards of the other teams, and we're talking about Liverpool and Man City over the last few years, that won't be enough.

“We've all sat there and gone, we'll take the draw. But you know too many draws won't get you anywhere fast, particularly when Liverpool are setting such high standards, and Man City did for a number of years, where Arsenal were competing with them.

“So they have to change that mindset, particularly at the start of the game today, 'Let's go at them'. It's as if they were waiting for something to happen. They've got the quality, the strength and depth. What are they waiting for? Have they got that belief?

“Arteta every week says he's proud of his team. I'd love for him to come out one time and go, 'No, I expect more from my players. We're Arsenal, we've got a big squad, we've spent a fortune, we're going places'. Instead of every week going, 'I'm proud of this and I'm proud of that'.

“You get proud of your team when you're winning trophies, and that's the next step for them. So Arsenal have to look at that and go, 'Are we proud to get a draw against a Man City team who aren't at their very best?'

“He has to be a bit more critical and say we need that extra bit if they're going to win the league title. Otherwise, come the end of the season, we'll be sitting here and they're second. But they've been second for the last three years.

solonnachi:
I wont blame them sir. When they break leg playing for the national team, does NFF take care of them? No be their clubs dey bear the cost?

I'm not even trying to blame them. The loyalty guage on the team is ALWAYS killed by the same guys that always refer to 90s set. These guys were all damn loyal and passionate just last year at Wafcon. We saw even a different Moses Simon. But they ruined it all with their decisions and expect that won't affect the players now that they have a coach that's bringing a new approach tactically? Why won't it be low morale? See the issues with bonuses as well.


How did they go from Afcon finalist to this tepid stale momentum if not leadership issues. It's so obvious that many don't even dare blame Chelle.

COOL10:
Cyriel Dessers has scored his second goal for his new club and it came in the "Derby of the Eternal Enemies". Man's on fire🔥😃🔥

Beautiful goal against league leaders Olympiacos. 💪😎💪

Typical Naija reaction

These guys are not loyal. Why be say dem go come national team begin play rubbish but return to their clubs begin bang goals?


The Reality:

[b]This is like putting a straw in an anthill and sucking it thinking water will come through. Our set up is terrible for attacking flair. We don't even prioritize player's strengths. We only sabi invite. A case study is Onyedika that was on the bench and Ndidi played all through. Man know man approach is not factored in.

Iwobi is our best attacking midfield outlet. But since Rohr, he's been struggling but he still ensures nobody contributes to attack than him till date. Despite that struggling tag on him. Since he arrived Fulham, they've never ever deployed him the way he plays at Fulham. one would think his performance vs Man U would help but they still play him deep and expect him to shine like his uncle JJ. Dessers was thrown under the bus by the Media officer of NFF just out of spite and lack of understanding of the setup of this team. Most of them only sabi 442 of old. Nothing more. Ask them to explain Gengenpressing or Joga Bonita now and they'll stammer. I doubt they watch Dessers at his club for understanding how he plays. This is one player that banging goals is no problem for him. But it changes every time it is GWG. I know not everyone will fit in and all that but until they begin to prioritize player's strengths over myopic nostalgia, we'll continue to struggle. Merino struggles for Arsenal but shines for spain. Two different approach. System player if you like. He shines for arsenal when deployed how he's deployed in Spain. Westerhof understood all of this.[/b]

It will be nice for Caf to adopt this ucl league format. It will sharpen attack focus per team. Reduce all this home and away gbasgbos. Plus all these qualifying stuff dey pain head abeg. Expand the tournament.

ndidibabe:
Nothing just eze, they didn't need gykores.

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Motsepe too close to Infantino and that might be a factor here. I mean, it is a strong possibility. Os that's Motsepe's country. Plus Caf operates like a cartel, especially with what Osasu exposed lately

mostob:
Tominay went to Napoli and he was their best player.

Hojlund scored yesterday.

Onana delivered a masterclass today.

This time, it's the environment

Fixed!! 😹

MSGAMBLE9:
Imagine last season with Saka and Saliba looking and Ode going down; leaving the pitch... Panic attack for don kee person

For Ethan, it will come with more game time and Merino is a very good player alas just too slow for EPL

By now we for no wan watch games sef. Odegaard hut ground and my chest no gbimmm? Omo!!

mostob:
Arteta cannot go a single game without making useless decision...

That Madueke sub should be Dowman not Martinelli ffs

Man felt its time for some running at the Tired legs 🤣🤣🤣
That guys decision making is below 20/100 at this rate. Why Rice wan give am assist sef when e go las las waste am?

MSGAMBLE9:
You are right, Ethan can get lost sometimes especially if middle is crowded and Merino na "Agba ghoster" for midfield... His man has shifted him (Merino) go front

I dunno what the advantage is right now of Merino in midfield other than he is familiar with Zubi😂

I hope Ethan gets his counter moments cos this team get am well for body but we dey kill am ourselves with little resistance. Looks like Zubi will score more than his career total at Arsenal this season at this rate.
Im happy we did this without the presence of some key regulars. This is the beauty of Squad depth. Better selection headache than tactical headache

Nwaneri flourishes better with counter attack football. He and Merino is a nono in Midfield. Individually, both are doing ok with Zubi, except to each other. 😹🤦🏽‍♂️

Eze and Eke providing chances for Gyoke is sweet to watch