₦airaland Forum

Raalsalghul:
Debroslink how far?

Laporta is not the reason for Messi's departure. I know you are just a troll, so you won't understand.

Goodbye GOAT Leo Messi.

Oldboss:
trophy what see we have trophy winning playet it time for Griezmann to prove he is not a flop

Judging from the Salzburg match, It's best not to raise any expectations this season. Yes, we have quality players, but the style of play matters.

BlueRayDick:
Honestly I didn’t get that assurance from the Salzburg match I watched. Maybe that’s just a friendly match tho , but then I didn’t really see that hunger , that bite in that game at all .

Exactly! Team is still focused on #PasstoMessi tactics and no one wants to take the shot. Our defence is still as porous as ever. I expect us to go trophy less this new season. May next season, things will pick up.

BlueRayDick:
This life is truly unfair. See everybody dey pray and hope say make Messi choose their team..... Nobody is even talking about the kind suffer Barca go suffer this coming season

Na make dem Atalanta, Leipzig, Salzburg etc dey use dem knack ground anytime they meet for Europe remain laidis

We'll be fine after changing pattern of #PasstoMessi tactics that we've been doing in recent years.

What we need is a good coach. That's all.

nihilistjnr:
Omo sign Messi up

Thunder fire your mouth there

Thank you Lionel Messi for the glorious 15 years of service. You remain the GOAT of football, and I'll support you wherever you go.

Barcelona remains my club, and I hope La Liga rises again.

So we lost To Salzburg with our almost full strength. Hmm...

ValeeLove:
With the way things are going now, I doubt it. AEW might not be able to put WWE out of business now, but if care is not taken WWE will put itself out of business. I hope Wyatt stands on his feet soon.

Who says AEW can't rule the wrestling business? All they need is creativity, packaging and sponsors. Their stars are on par with WWE stars already.

ValeeLove:
With the way things are going now, I doubt it. AEW might not be able to put WWE out of business now, but if care is not taken WWE will put itself out of business. I hope Wyatt stands on his feet soon.

Another iconic superstar leaving WWE. If Wyatt, Bryan and CM Punk end up at AEW, I keep saying it, I'm done with WWE.

Big thanks to the guy that is dropping AEW reviews.

Sommyroy10:
FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid CF welcome today's Court's decision enforcing, with immediate effect, UEFA's obligation to unwind the actions taken against all European Super League founding clubs, including terminating the disciplinary proceedings against the undersigning three clubs and removing the penalties and restrictions imposed on the remaining nine founding clubs for them to avoid UEFA's disciplinary action.

The Court backs the request made by the promoters of the European Super League, dismisses UEFA's appeal, and confirms its warning to UEFA that failure to comply with its ruling shall result in fines and potential criminal liability. The case will be assessed by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, which shall review UEFA's monopolistic position over European football.

We have the duty to address the very serious issues facing football: UEFA has established itself as the sole regulator, exclusive operator, and unique owner of rights of European football competitions. This monopolistic position, in conflict of interest, is damaging football and its competitive balance. As shown by ample evidence, financial controls are inadequate, and they have been improperly enforced. Clubs participating in European competitions have the right to govern their own competitions.

We are pleased that going forward we will no longer be subject to ongoing UEFA's threats. Our aim is to keep developing the Super League project in a constructive and cooperative manner, always counting on all football stakeholders: fans, players, coaches, clubs, leagues, and national and international associations. We are aware that there are elements of our proposal that should be reviewed and, of course, can be improved through dialogue and consensus. We remain confident in the success of a project that will be always compliant with European Union laws.

Messi signed a 5 year contract with 50% cut. Barca of those days would have signed Harry Kane instead of managing free agent Aguero. Madrid sold their top 2 defenders without any replacement. They are too poor to sign mega players like Mbappe. Juve can't sign either.

The way out is Super League. I'm sure EPL big 6 are watching closely. Once Perez successfully bleeps up UEFA in the court, these EPL big 6 will back out of any agreement they signed with PL.

ThierryJay:
Let's get this straight, Xavi is better than Gerard and Xavi is more consistent in delivery. However, Gerard has an individual x-factor which at its best trumps Xavi's output although inconsistent. This is what I'm banking on when I made that choice.

X-factor against almighty Westham . You mean the X-factor that made him give back passes to Henry o and numerous occasions.

Don't just even try to bring in Xavi into this discourse. Xavi has been winning league titles since he was 18. Long before Ronaldinho or Messi. Gerrard was slipping off before league title. Spot the difference.

ThierryJay:
Circumstances bro. Being 3-1 down in a final, to then equalize with 2 spectacular strikes for your team, dying minute, that's the stuff of legends. No single performance by Modric reaches this level.

Lol, that Madrid team won the La liga twice in a row in 07 and 08, so they were strong.

That he didnt perform well enough against Chelsea and the likes is main reason I say he was inconsistent which is what gives Modric the advantage.

2 goals against freaking Westham. Call better teams abeg.
If 2014 Atletico was leading by 2 goals, there's nothing Gerrard would do. Modric crushed that tight defence with a well placed cross for Ramos

Madrid was rubbish in 07. They only won the league because Ronaldinho started partying and wasn't serious anymore. Henry destroyed that same Madrid at the Bernabeu a year before and we are not making noise about it.

ThierryJay:
You are totally missing the point. I do not dispute that Modric is an overall greater player than Gerard and that is largely due to his consistency in quality just like Xavi.

My point is Gerard has better individual outputs than Modric has when both are on song. In fact he is renowned for this. When you think of Istanbul, FA Cup 2007, Real Madrid 07, Olympiakos 04, you think of Gerard alone as the instigator, the magician, the driver in all these matches. Modric, like Xavi, on the other hand is more systemic.

FA CUP win against Westham
Win against Olympiakos
Are you kidding me?

Win against a shambolic Madrid team whose galaticos were past their prime. A team which hadn't won La Liga for 4 years in a row. A team battered and brutalised by Henry's Arsenal a year before Gerrard. Is that what you are using to praise Gerrard? Are you kidding me?

But when Gerrard faced real teams like Chelsea, invincible Arsenal, Zidane's France, Suarez's Uruguay, he choked big time.

Modric over Gerrard anytime anyday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YVHGKJNrw8

FirstbornWds:
Cont'd

I remember Edgar Davids and Ronaldinho midfield combo of 2004. Chaiiiiii... Tiki-taka that took us from 16th position to 2nd

ThierryJay:
None of those three you mentioned matches Gerard's spectacular output against Madrid in 2007 and in the UCL and FA cup final where liverpool were several goals behind before magic started. A single assist in finals does not qualify as a spectacular performance.

Even Messi has given balls away that resulted in goals for the opponent or lost crucial penalties so that is not a differentiating yardstick.

Like I said, while Modric may be better on an overall note, I prefer Gerard's more spectacular individual impact. If only he was more consistent in his quality performances, we wouldn't even have a contest in the first place.

Brother, what are you talking about? Gerrard's fine display against Madrid didn't win them the UCL that season. Pirlo knocked him out in the final.

I dropped assists provided by Modric which won his team the UCL, but you are dropping Gerrard's FA Cup. Can't you see the difference?

When important matches came up, I showed you videos of Gerrard costing Liverpool the EPL title and failing his NT.

No matter how you see it, his errors are greater than his exploits.

Modric hardly makes errors. Rather, he drives his team to glory.

pu7pl3:
Henry must really love playing against this guy

You can say that again. Henry, Drogba, Suarez. They all knew Gerrard was the weak link.

ThierryJay:
That was below the belt and frankly Gerards cup of tea (which most great players have including Messi and CR), but doesnt diminish his standing.

In reverse fashion, can you give me a match where Modric overwhelming orchestrated the downfall of elite opponent in a high profile match like Gerard did to Real Madrid in 2007, AC Milan in 2005, FA Cup final in 2006?

1. Came from the bench to knock out Man utd from UCL round 16 by providing a goal and assist

2. Provided the assist in Madrid's fifa club world Cup in 2016

3. Provided an assist in UCL final against Juventus in 2017

Do you want some more?

Now your turn. Can you provide some scenarios where Modric cost his team of some major trophies?

FirstbornWds:
E still remain.

U for go find players of Rivaldo's era. Dem Cocu, De Boer brothers, Saviola, Sony Anderson, Overmars, etc

ThierryJay:
Thanks for admitting that its individuality first before trophies. A GOAT is expected to have both so I agree with you on that.

Just a slight point of correction, Zidane played either the game against Senegal or the last game against Denmark in 02 WC, so the failure of France at that tourney was collective as Henry also missed the second and third games due to an early red card. Also, Zidane did not play in the 2003 confed cup in which Henry won golden ball.

To your initial argument, frankly I consider Gerard and Modric to be at similar level/in same class. Gerard produced more spirited spectacular individual displays while Modric is more technically gifted and consistent similar to Xavi. So using trophies won to separate them is in order and on that basis, I believe Modric edges Gerard out in greatness.

But if I have a choice in a single crucial match, I'll take a prime Gerard over prime Modric.

In crucial matches, I'll pick Modric over Gerrard anytime. I'll rather have balance and direction in my midfield, than have a player who chokes and fails in crucial matches such as the ones below...

Look at number 2 and 7 for God's sake.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YVHGKJNrw8

ThierryJay:
Dont get me wrong, I'm not saying trophies dont matter. Messi's Copa win was a relief to us all cos it officially validates his all-round greatness and is good for his GOAT CV and I agree with you on that point. But that is all that Copa trophy does: validation of what was already known, rather than significantly change any perception.

My key point is that if one player is clearly better individually than another, no amount of trophies can reverse that fact.

Case in point, the fact that Henry Thierry won World Cup, Euros, Confederations cup and reached another WC final in addition to being instrumental to all these wins (13 goals in 4 tournaments) does not make him better or greater than Cristiano Ronaldo who only managed a single Euro win.

Even Cristiano is generally regarded above Zidane who won more key trophies. It is because of his individual prowess. This is my point.

No player in this century has ever matched up to the level of Messi and CR7. But even Messi had to Labour for that elusive senior trophy. If Messi didn't win it, questions of being the GOAT will be raised after his retirement.

Henry may have won more NT trophies, but every football fan knows that he was always in Zidane's shadows. Zidane didn't play 2002 WC and we all saw how Henry flopped woefully and couldn't make the Ko stage in a group that had the likes of Senegal.

So back to basis. Are you really saying that individually, Gerrard is better than Modric?

ThierryJay:
I think you are exaggerating the trophy thing too far. Even before Copa win, majority of football experts (journalists, pundits and ex-players) still ranked Messi higher than CR.

There is a level of individual prowess a player reaches that will trump someone else of lower individual output but more trophies. That trophy thing can only be used to distinguish between players of close individual standing e.g Scholes and Modric. At individual level, Maradona and Pele are still better than Cryuff without trophies.

Cr fans trolling is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things cos it didnt really change Messi's standing in the eyes of the majority that matter. Only real good impact of the Copa win was that it massively reduced noise pollution from their quarters.

Boss, trophies matter a lot too, especially when you are a key player. One of the main reasons Okocha never won African player of the year is lack of trophies in his club career.

If Messi retired without a NT trophy, do you think the noise pollution would reduce at all? That's what journalists and punters would use against him when they are ranking GOAT in football. Do you think it was a joke when players lifted Messi to the skies instead of the coach after COPA victory?

patrickmuf:
Are you now accepting this criteria only because Messi has won a senior international trophy? If not, then those Madrid fans were right at that point, don't you think so?

Of course they were. I never argued with any of them. If Messi had retired without a senior trophy for Argentina, that would have been a stigma in his career.

patrickmuf:
Before now, point to a post where you acknowledged that Ronaldo was greater than Messi because he had won the Euros or is the argument now changing because Messi has a senior international trophy?

"Show us Messi's International trophy" has been a slogan by Ronaldo's fans over the years. When we showed them his individual trophy, they'll ask and demand for Messi's pictures in Argentina shirt.

There's a reason Cruyff is a level below Maradona and Pele in GOAT standards

A player's greatness is measured by how good he was on the field, his influence in key games, and his trophy cabinet for both club and Country.

patrickmuf:
Also, whilst KDB has not won any international trophy, you cannot say he isn't amongst the best ATM...

KDB is an excellent player. However, if he ends up not winning UCL or any trophy for his all star NT, posterity will judge him and place him below Xavi, Iniesta and Pirlo.

There's a reason why Argentine players threw Messi to the skies after Copa victory. Everyone knows that Messi is a better player than CR7, however, there's a reason why Ronaldo fans have shut their mouths since the past 3 weeks.

IKON360:

I think, you don't just like Gerrard. That's it, you don't like him at all.

I'm just stating the facts. No hating. How can someone without a league title in his career, and also let his nation down on numerous occasions be on the same line with Xavi, Iniesta and Pirlo?

If this is not overrating, tell us what it is.

myami:
modric was a fringe player in 2007. Kranjcar and co stopped england

Oga Modric played the whole 90 minutes. How is that a fringe player?

IKON360:
You won't use only the national team as basis to compare these players na, Modric has never won an international trophy and will most likely never do so. Gerrard was basically wallowing in a pool of badluck with Liverpool because for a lot of his career was freaking phenomenal for Liverpool, as an 8, as a 10 and as Deep lying playmaker, just for you to get his versatility. And he was brilliant playing all these roles. So I don't get how you want to use only national team triumphs to criticize a phenomenal player

Gerrard was actually the badluck and the weak point. He contributed massively to England's loss at euro 2004.
When Liverpool was at the brink of league title, he made sure that that didn't happen by slipping in front of Demba Ba.
Who can forget his header and pass to Uruguay's Suarez at the WC? A world class blunder!

Just under 5 years of leaving Liverpool, they won the EPL and UCL.

Watch this video below if you have forgotten.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVPypAiIXLI

IKON360:
The same Modric that Fede Valverde has been outshining for the past two seasons?
Modric in his prime wasn't better than Gerrard or Scholes

While Modric dragged less fancied Croatia to WC final by winning Golden Ball, Gerrard was busy making sure England were beaten at Euro 2004 by giving a back pass to Thierry Henry of France.

Modric at age 22 ensured that England with peak Lampard and peak Gerrard didn't qualify for Euro 2008. He helped Croatia beat England at Wembley.

How can NT flops be placed alongside gods like Xavi, Iniesta, Zidane, Pirlo, Kross, Modric

GrammarNazi1:
He knows exactly your point but I, too, disagree with you.

It is not always about trophies, yet it is about your contribution to trophy wins.

Xavi and Iniesta contributed hugely to lots of club and international trophies. How then is it not about trophies and how the players contributed to them?

Kindly mention the lots of trophies that Scholes, Gerrard, and Lampard contributed hugely to.

Exactly! God bless you.

FirstbornWds:
Una no try o

Na you no try at all. You dropped a very controversial picture and hid in the shadows to observe debate, instead of joining us.

samistry:
Aew recap coming this week.

Once I sight CM Punk and Daniel Bryan at AEW, I'm done with WWE.