₦airaland Forum

We're giving too many cheap freekicks. Hope it doesn't bite us

Costas decision making is too poor.

Till full time then

Well, I'm certainly feeling jittery about this but once again, in the 'tailor' we trust.

timbros:


You dey crase I swear.
I only spot the sarcasm for the last paragraph.

@donjazet If e no be Azpi e no fit be Azpi... Matic for Fab though.

Well, anxiously waiting for the lineup then
In the 'tailor', we trust.

CONTEDDICTED:
Give me 1 good reason why you shouldn't be beheaded for this crime?

I've made my case.

Nihilist:
Yeah.

I don't think any short players should play today, West Ham's aerial threat is a really troublesome concern. That height advantage is a really really big deal.
I propose we also bench Kante Hazard and Pedro for RLC, Chalobah and Solanke

In as much as I spot the sarcasm, I do believe you get my point, the players you listed there are virtually the untouchables because of their 'ultra importance ', hazard is the star man, kante is the best CM in the league, Pedro is the most inform attacker in the team right now.

I'm not saying we eliminate all midgets in our team, I'm saying we balance it. Some tall players to sub the efficient shorter ones. Zouma is not soo far off from azpi, matic has been arguably efficient in the team. The team we're playing against are soo good in using their height to their advantage, it's only logical to believe they would exploit that as some teams already have.

Using zouma and matic wouldn't cripple us in any way.

Anyway, about our match today, would I be wrong in wanting zouma to come in for azpi today?? We are going to have a giant in the box today and our opponents scores lots of goals from set pieces, their height average is soo far above ours. Zouma for azpi and matic for fabregas. Anyone thinking in this dimension?

@ timbros, you definitely know that taking penalties isn't really a 'special skillset' every penalty is either an 80:20 situation or 70:30. But odds are always very high on scoring a penalty no matter who because it's much easier. Milner has 7 EPL goals, that is higher than sane, Erickson, sterling and Ross Barkley but would you say he is a better goal scorer than these guys??
This is Ronaldo's worst season, he has 18 league goals of which 6 are penalties. Everyone knows he hasn't really been at his usual best this season but you can see how the penalties have bumped his stats.

If Costa was our penalty taker, he would be up there at the top of the log, that goes to show how high his conversion rate has been.
Penalties just pad goal stats which you know don't tell the whole story.

timbros:
I'm not comparing players here.

I am only pointing out that penalty goals count as much as those headers, tap ins, thunderbolts, chips etc goals...

A goal is a goal.
We have players who are know as 'tap in' experts. Tell me which is easier to score, tap in or penalty? But how many times have we sorted out tap ins in a strikers stat?

I beg to differ. A key characteristic of a striker is his accuracy. Penalties are not a yardstick to use in judging a strikers accuracy because they are much more easier than scoring from open play.

And you can not say that all goals are the same. Freekicks displays a players technical ability and it would be fair to say those types of strikers are the most efficient and effective strikers.
Heading of the ball simply boils down to height and lifts/ jump power, you would hardly see a short striker scoring headers. I am simply trying to correct your notion that all goals are equal.
More so, there is no striker that you would say is very bad at pk. You might say they miss a considerable number and other strikers might have better conversion rate but the penalty goals they've scored will always be much higher than the ones they've missed because most penalties are just a 70:30 situation for the striker.

I believe that discounting the penalty goals would be a much better indices to use in judging a striker.

Today

This weekend is Manchester United’s chance to move up finally from the sixth place they have occupied since early November. As Liverpool play Arsenal on Saturday evening one side, at least, will drop points. This means that, should José Mourinho’s side defeat Bournemouth, they will definitely start the week in fifth whatever the result at Anfield. United last lost in the league at Chelsea in October so this will be a difficult ask for Eddie Howe. Jamie Jackson

Kick-off Saturday 12.30pm
Venue Old Trafford

Last season Man Utd 3 Bournemouth 1

Referee Kevin Friend
This season G15, Y67, R0, 4.47 cards per game


Manchester Utd
Subs from Pereira, Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe, Young, Schweinsteiger, Lingard, Rojo, Romero, Rooney, Shaw, Darmian, Martial, Fellaini
Doubtful Jones (match fitness)
Injured Mkhitaryan (hamstring, Apr)

Suspended None
Form WDDDWW

Discipline Y53 R1
Leading scorer Ibrahimovic 15

Bournemouth

Subs from Allsop, Jordan, B Smith, Cargill, Mousset, Gosling, Ibe, Pugh, Ramsdale, Gradel
Doubtful None
Injured Francis (hamstring, Mar), Wilson (knee, Oct), Federici (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form LDLLLL
Discipline Y38 R2
Leading scorer King 7

West Ham have beaten Chelsea once this season, edging a tight EFL Cup tie on a fiery night at the London Stadium in October. Crowd trouble marred a fine win for Slaven Bilic’s side and it was a surprise to see this match moved to a late kick-off. West Ham, who will be hoping that Andy Carroll will be fit enough to replace the suspended Michail Antonio up front, will be desperate for the focus to remain on the pitch. Then again, Chelsea are likely to be out for revenge. Jacob Steinberg

Kick-off Monday 8pm

Venue London Stadium

Last season West Ham 2 Chelsea 1

Referee Andre Marriner
This season G18, Y67, R1, 3.78 cards per game

Odds H 11-2 A 8-13 D 3-1

West Ham Utd
Subs from Adrián, Spiegel, Collins, Masuaku, Byram, Nordtveit, Fernandes, Quina, Ayew, Fletcher, Calleri
Doubtful Carroll (groin)

Injured Sakho (back, Apr), Ogbonna (knee, Aug), Arbeloa (calf, unknown), Töre (knee, unknown)
Suspended Antonio (one match)
Form WWLWDD
Discipline Y61 R4
Leading scorer Antonio 8

Chelsea
Subs from Begovic, Eduardo, Zouma, Terry, Aina, Fàbregas, Chalobah, Aké, Musonda, Batshuayi, Loftus-Cheek, Willian

Doubtful Alonso, Hazard (both match fitness), David Luiz (knee)
Injured None
Suspended None
Form WWDWDW
Discipline Y50 R
Leading scorer Costa 16


https://www.nairaland.com/920248/official-chelsea-fan-thread-pride/2638#54297595

Guys, please recommend any series that features the White House or any law series. Apart from these:
24 and 24legacy,
suits
house of cards,
HTGAWM,
scandal,
Designeted survivor,
madam secretary
Boston legal.

Please reply.

Ibime:
I did not know Dele was really our boi. I think say na born troway.

Why this guy dey do him popsie like this na? After spending £20k per year on school fees.
He even grew up a Chelsea fan making him really our boi.

Abeg share the source of this article.

Nihilist:
This is a myth.

List the big games we've played this season and highlight Matic's defensive effectiveness in those games.
I've been saying all season that there is a difference between what Matic is supposed to do, and what he actually does on the pitch.
That's why in all my arguments with Ibime, I've asked specifically what he does and not he is supposed to do.
When you see a quant refusing to apply numbers to Matic's defensive output instead taking a qualitative approach, then you know there is an actual problem.

I'll definitely get back to this later. I believe you are so wrong on many levels.

It's as simple as this, fabregas is definitely much more creative than matic, he has great vision in that midfield, he has an eye for all types of passes, especially the defense splitting passes that can change a game in a twinkle of an eye if the attackers are prolific and maximize the chances he's created, he has good incomparable vision on the pitch, it is almost impossible to dispossess fabregas once he's with the ball, he would turn at 360 degrees, look up for a pass, if no one has made a run towards the box, he then gives the short pass and enters space to receive the ball back. In short words, he simply dominates the midfield in the way very few can.

As for his weaknesses, he simply suffers the same thing that midfielders in their prime, like Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Pirlo, Carrick, Gerrard etc all suffer: mistimed tackles, lack of energy and athleticism, closing down opponents, in short words, the defensive aspects of midfield duties.
And that is why most of these guys were paired with very energetic midfielders who had horse power work rates to complement them and shoulder part of the defensive responsibility, players like Henderson, Vidal, Herrera etc these hardworking players cover these perceived deficiencies.

Since we use a 2 man midfield, it would be very logical to start fabregas against the smaller teams who we know just come to camp in their box, as fabregas would have a field day throwing those defense splitting passes which would be key to unlocking the defense. Against the smaller , there would be nothing like midfield battle because the midfielders become secondary defenders camped fully in their half and our midfielders wouldn't need to run the length of the pitch except on very very few occasions when they break away on counter.

However against the big teams, it would be much better to use matic, as we would need his energy, ball recovery techniques and Ariel ability much more or we could tweak our formation to a 352 to accommodate all 3 midfielders and sacrifice one of our attackers since we tend to be overrun in the midfield against the big teams.

One thing is for sure, with fabregas in the team, the amount of chances created from the midfield is much more astronomical than when he isn't and that merit definitely surpasses whatever demerits anyone might have against his inclusion into the squad.

raumdeuter:
You have to start getting your facts straight. Where can we start from wen you are telling us only 2 German champions of Europe

How is this different from Ibime lying shamelessly English team in the late 50s and early 60s refused to join the EPL

Do you expect me to remember hamburger's solitary win? Anyways, it's still a fact that of the top 4 leagues, the Germans are the most inferior of all. All top leagues can point to a certain period of dominance in Europe. Can the Germans do that?

afrodoc2:
That is very debatable, it depends on what indices you want to use.
Spain has 16 titles but just 2 winners, Italy 12 titles but just 3 winners while England has 12 titles from 5 different winners showing depth and variety.
And in terms of dominant periods only England has ever dominated to the point of winning the European cup 6 years in a row. Spain went 5 years in a row and I believe the longest straight dominance by Italy was 3 years.

I clearly stated earlier that I was using the final appearances as my yardstick and indices. Using only the winner doesn't fully cover the facts. It would be a flawed logic and analysis. Someone who got the final should be appraised and appreciated.

raumdeuter:
Is this the best you can come up with?

When did EUropean cup start? How many editions did England miss?

So whats the hyperbole whats the lie?

You know for all your ejaculations over our expressions of the facts about English's inferiority in Europe. I don't see or hear anything about the Germans. They are almost irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. While one points to the tops leagues periods of dominance, I can't see or hear about German domination
And the only worthwhile mention goes to Bayern. You have only 2 German champions of Europe. That's a shame nigga.

afrodoc2:
Lol
So many inaccurate statements all over the place.

Donjazet was wrong in his statement saying apart from 04-10 English teams had not dominated. The greatest era for English teams was not 04-10 it was actually 77-84 when they were rotating the European Cup title amongst themselves.

And of course Ibime was wrong, there were English clubs in the European cup in the late 50s and early 60s.
NO EUROPEAN CLUB , English or otherwise could have stopped the Real Madrid team of the 50s.

I eventually corrected that notion but my primary point was that the English teams have never dominated Europe the way the Spaniards and Italians have. Whatever reason one might give this is highly debatable but it won't take away the fact that the Italians and Spaniards have always been much stronger than the English teams.

Funlordmaniac:
Yes sir! I can confirm that donjazets nappies were duly and forcefully changed by mr chelsea! The evidence is right in front of me!

the thunder wey go fire you still dey do press up.

Ibime:
English teams dominated the 70s, 80s and 2000s. You are just a child of the 90s, that's all. English league has 5 different UCL winners. No other country has more than 3. In the last 11 years, England has 3 seperate winners. That is diversity and strength in depth.

If you wanted to be objective, you would know that what you just replied didn't really counter my point but rather pointed my omission which has no bearing on the facts. I may have started watching football in the early 2000s but that doesn't impugn my ability or knowledge of football .

Now unto the facts, I stated earlier that English teams have never really dominated Europe the way the Italians and Spanish have. Of which you pointed out that the English also had a little period of dominance but which can't be measured up to that of the earlier stated leagues.

The metric I am using as my measurement or standard of dominance is a UCL final appearance.
From its inception in 1955 to 1967, there was always a Spanish or Italian team in the final consecutively. Ajax then went on to dominate the next 5 years, although the final was against 3 Italian teams.

England would then go on to dominate for 10 years from 1975 --1985 with Celtic, Liverpool, Nottingham forest, Aston Villa,leeds and Manchester United all winning it on the first time of asking. The subsequent years will be overrun with the Italians and Spanish again dominating till mid 2000s and then the last 5 years.

In all, since the inception of the European cup, the Italians have made 26 finals, the Spanish 23 finals and then English teams have made 16 finals. You can see that this invalidates your claim that the English league is more diverse and has better strength in depth because you didn't take into account the other finalists.

England has produced 7 finalists(clubs) with 5 winning on the first time of asking. Of their 16 final appearances, the English teams have won 12 of them, the highest conversion rate of any league. Compare that with the Italians who have only 3 winners out of 8 finalists with juventus losing 6 finals and both Milan teams losing 9 finals coupled with sampodoria, Roma (2), fiorentina all losing theirs.

In Spain, ATM has lost 4 finals, Valencia 2 finals, Barça and Madrid losing a combined 5 although they have won a combined 16 finals.
Since the year 2000, the Spanish teams have won 25 European trophies to England's 7, this includes super cup.
Head to head between Spanish and English teams stands at 17 wins for the Spanish and 5 for English in that time frame . . That's dominance right there.
I have invested my time in a bid to prove my point. Peace bro

Lol When are we all just going to accept that the quality of gameplay in EPL is shite I mean, even the French teams are now performing much better than the EPL teams Germany currently has 4 representatives in Bayern, Dortmund, schalke and moncheglabach with evidence of dominant and outstanding displays, likewise the Spanish teams via Madrid, Seville, celta vigo and ATM, the French has Lyon, PSG and Monaco, The Italians still 3 teams.

It's worth noting that all these teams put in very good performances and scored a lot of goals and those that were eliminated were edged slightly by teams from the very top leagues also. Now compare that to an acclaimed best league in the world, where a 'supposed' top team (arsenal) is constantly being raped year in year out. West Ham losing the qualification playoff to a much lower team, Southampton losing to hapeol beer sheva of Israel, the less said about Leicester, the better. Where another top team(tottenham) is being eliminated by a much lower ranked league team.

In as much as the EPL is the most popular and arguably the most competitive league, it must be said that the quality of play is poor as is reflected in Europe. Look at the head to head between English teams and Spanish teams in Europe and you see the utter dominance by the Spaniards. In truth, apart from 2004 --2010, the English teams have never dominated Europe the way the Spanish and Italians used to. Let's be honest with ourselves.

This will definitely be on front page soon

Logic dictates that this child will never have a normal life. Another advantage of abortion. Had the doctors detected this in the womb, it would have been best to abort the foetus. As it is now, one would never know if it would be right or wrong to terminate this innocent child's life.

Preview later today

raumdeuter:
What you call ridiculous excuses are simply facts. Watch how pep gets rid of the older players for younger one

Man city just won this game without him.
But are you trying to say that Aguero was/ is the main problem man city had?

Raumdeuter has always made ridiculous excuses. He never gets tired.

Done

ollah1:
Some one said Pep failed at Barca simply cos he didn't win the UCL but same person will credit Mou's Chelsea despite not winning same UCL.

#Home of Double Standard




1

Why is there always a "1" at the end of your posts