₦airaland Forum

Rode our luck with that ball into the box, indecision on every side, can't afford to do much of that when yu have tall guys like Samba and Nzonzi lurking.

My man Gerv doin his thing, made it look so easy. 1 - 0 to the arsenal.

This is a welcomed development, I'm glad that we are going about the peace negotiations in a "Nigerian" way. Our communal way of life is reflected in a National Elder visiting the family of the central figure in the "Boko Haram" wahala, after taking away the confusion of politics and religion we still have to coexist communally as a people as we traditionally did. It is also a positive thing that OBJ is trying to make peace for the country rather than slinging mud in the press with another less likeable Elder.

[quote author=dipo+ link=topic=743413.msg9154362#msg9154362 date=1316107655]One thing  i find a little disturbing is Wenger's refusal to hand Ox some playing time when Walcott isn't delivering. Walcott is a bit of a weak link in our attack right now and he shouldn't be seeing 90mins until he improves.[/quote]GBAM, true word but I think Arsene wants that role to be earned and not given out, Theo IMO is one injury away from losing his shirt. That is how Arsene works Gilberto/Flamini, Denilson/Wilshere are two distinct instances. I've always been one to hurry young players along but I see some sense in what Arsene is doing, OX's time will come and so will Ryo's.

[quote author=dipo+ link=topic=743413.msg9154362#msg9154362 date=1316107655]Overall, I am content with our current team  as we seem to have far more competent players. Per, Ben and Arteta really bring something to the table, and we haven't even seen Young, Santos and the younger ones who i'm sure are waiting to pounce on an opportunity to impress.

I don't think we have any reason to fear as regards maintaining a top 4 finish and its looks to me we will finish higher than we have been doing in recent years.
The only way is forward right now. Who says we aren't GENUINE title contenders?[/quote]Cautious optimism is the term, I wouldn't blame anyone who has given up, hope deffered makes the heart weak. We have a good balance between youth /experience as well as considerable depth in strength in terms of skill and numbers (the RB is possibly the only area of obvious weakness without proven backup) as well as hungry young players chomping at the bits, no first team player can afford to be relaxed any longer.

A word for Arsenal fans for those times when you read something uncomplimentary about Arsenal from our departed captain in the media, this is life and direct from the player himself, no interpretation. Anyone who likes can still choose to believe the lies of the media, like I said, Arsenal in trouble is the media's favorite news even if interviews have to be fabricated.

[Quote]

"Id never speak 1 bad word abt AFC, here there's once more prove that so many people put in newspaper wtv they want and its not professional.

"I want Arsenal to be successful as much as every single fan. Thats not why i left, it was never in my mind. AFC made me who i am today.

"And nobody will ever change that. I never gave any interview away since my press conference at my presentation and there i just said the truth and what came out of my heart. Great words abt this great football club cause that just what they deserve: success and trophies.

"People can h8 me 4 leaving or remember that i gave my all for the club. But me talking 1 bad word or saying smthng against AFC will not seen."[/quote]

@OP

Economic prosperity and infrastructural development is not the only yardstick for measuring development, protection of human equality and rights are also as important if not more. As a good number of people have pointed out as well, there is no proof that a more inclusive government could not have done better with the same resources.

I consider it a bit intellectually lazy comparing Libya to Nigeria and other african countries when most of them have also been victims of the same dictatorial evil that has bedeviled Africa as Nigeria has only had a democratic experince about a 3rd of the time Ghadaffi has spent ruling Libya. Trying to compare the quality of life in Libya to some of the less populated Scandinavian countries with no oil resources but with a more inclusive democratic oriented government would make a lot more sense.

Through out this match, I've had my eyes on only one player and that is Nicolas Gaitan, what a player.

@JJCD,
You know I will still fight Arsene's corner and say he was simply making the best of a not so ideal situation, dealing with young players is never easy, having a team full of youngsters and something close to a revolving door policy because the club needed to balance the books was a difficult juggling act, I was recently pointing out to someone that almost 2 generations of players in almost every position including Goalkeeper have passed through Arsenal between our last league win and now and you remember that old adage that the devil known is better than the angel unknown made all the more worse when you can't even compete financially with others in buying the top talents that would actually improve the team.

As to our AM, I think that is going to be Ramsey's position in the long term, we already know Wilshere can play anywhere but I think Ramsey is the closest to Cesc as a playmaker. 2 games marked him out for me while he was younger the Sheffield Utd, Wigan and Burnley games in the Carling cup run, it is a shame that leg break set him back and I hope he improves his off the ball work. We should be very glad we have those 2 players.

Abeg DK, sharrap dere. The only people Gotze impregnated recently were your Mumunich guyz at the Allianz when they stuffed you 3 - 1 in your own backyard. Have your boiz delivered yet or yu're still awaiting a top-up from City?

DK, I have only one statement for you.
The fear of Citeh is the beginning of Wisdom for Mumunich.

edoyad:
obviously, Rambo's injury didn't do the team any good. The middle really looked out of sorts, thank god for song.

That is what he brings to the team and what I said about his passing on Saturday, there are some players who define the Arsenal game and Ramsey is one of them, his work rate is definitely questionable and lack of playing time might have dulled his decision making but you will soon see the Ramsey who was just about to break through before that leg break.
If we don't have him and Wilshere available, we'll have a number of games like this while Arteta and Banayoun settle.

folahann:
We played against champions of 1 league like that.

You meant to say League 1 equivalent?

Good result considering the circumstances, if you play like that in what is effectively pre-season then you've done good.
Dortmund deserved a result though and Arsenal fans can learn from the atmosphere created in that stadium. Gervinho was trying to do too much and didn't make wise decisions when on the ball, I'll give Theo a pass  as that assist was a beauty but Gibbs was uncharacteristically dodgy and looked uncomfortable and unsure of himself a lot. Song was mostly imperious, Arteta and Benayoun might not have the technical ability of Cesc but they do work hard. The players defended as a team and would have taken a result back to the emirates if not for that strike. Maybe there is a new Arsenal with some much needed grit at last, the jury is out.

@Debo

that table you put up there is very much indicative of the problem we've been facing. Those long term injuries have a bit of a domino effect, firstly deprive us of getting enough game time from our top performers and secondly lead to us overusing the few who manage to stay fit, that is why Nasri could have a good half season and then fizzle out of the 2nd half of the season while Song and others could also fizzle out of a final against a team they comfortably put to the sword on their own ground in the league. That Wilshere had to play 44 games in his breakout season frankly says it all, I recall Denilson also made the most appearances in the 08/09 season which was his breakout season as well.

Funny enough, like Dr. Kit I'm beginning to develop some optimism as well though I'm not yet bullish about it, but the exit of Cesc and Nasri coupled with the increasing productivity of our youth system has actually given us a big squad this season depending on how the likes of OX/Miyaichi and Frimpong/Coquelin come on as the latter have been pretty encouraging so far, if Arteta and Benayoun settle as quickly as their first game has shown, this season might still hold a lot of promise.

proudly9ja:
I'm not too bothered about what's happening at Manchester. I said it before that United will run away with the league (although I didn't expect this goal rush). The other Manchester team can't maintain the tempo. SAF has got all the experience to make sure his boys run this marathon till the end.

The race for 4th place will be between us and Liverpool and barring a total system collapse on our side ala 2010/11 season and/or Daglish is sacked and Mourinho hired ( ), we will nick it.

Lets be careful handing out the trophy in September, go and take another look at that City squad, I glanced at their bench today and they had both Balloteli and Dzeko (who scored 4 goals in his last match and just won Player of the month award). The fact that they've gelled so early in the season is ominous for this league. I'd go for them ahead of United. Reminds me of the battle between us and Chelsea in the 04/05 season at the beginning of the breakup of the invincibles when we still had our swagger, pipping these same much heralded Manure to the FA cup (how time flies).

Quality tells and money talks my man, people might not notice but Manure is now competing against 2 big spenders, one might fumble every now and then but it is extremely unlikely that both will always fumble at the same time. If Fergie does it this season, he'll go up yet another notch in my eyes and if Mancini doesnt, then he deserves a sack.

If FFP doesn't check those arabs, they'll turn this league into the bundesliga and win it about twice every 3 years or thereabouts like DK's lot, they aint messing around at all.

Horrible and very wicked.

[quote author=dipo+ link=topic=743413.msg9120008#msg9120008 date=1315673255]But then that's what champions do right? Play woefully and come out with 3 points. Manure do that steadily. The resultant feeling is that of joy and anyone will choose this over many games when we played so well and still ended up with nothing more than a point.[/quote]Keep it tight, don't do nothing stewpid at the back and profit from everything yu're offered by the opposition. Maybe the boys are finally learning how to win. 
We played like this at Sunderland away last season, missed a penalty and conceeded a last gasp goal to end up with only a point.

@Kashmo

Moments like that at times determines games, while our players were temporarily shocked at the delivery ( 4 players to aim for as opposed to 1 opposing player), Swansea almost went up to score against us, terrible. If I can give Rambo any excuse, its that he's played a great number of games within a short time, this is still the player who won man of the match against England and scored against Bulgaria during the international window. Lets not make too much of it. I've seen even more experienced players serve up shockers after the international break. He'll learn from it.

Not a pretty sight atimes but at least 3 points in the bag, much work needs to be done in terms of team understanding. Vorm is a good goalie.

RVP needs to rediscover his mojo, not quite good enof. I should have made Aguero my fantasy footie captain.

edoyad:
dudu no vex o, UNITED beer is not in production at the moment, seems one other organisation know as UNITED have taken them to court

nor mind dem bullies wannabe jare, they dont want us enjoying our liquor in peace.  
whats with these yellows naa? do we want to get a red card in every game?  

kashmo:
^^^ Egbon Dudu, when will Sir Ramsey get into his element? Things like this will cost us couple points waiting on raw products like Ramsey to turn into finish goods. I would prefer if plys his trade coming from the bench!

Nor worry, our time will come. 
If Diaby and Wilshere are fit, Ramsey will start on the bench for now, but he is going to be a very good player.

Thanks @lastpage, I was just about complaining that the link from abes wasn't the correct one.

Gekko:
am i the only one frustrated at watching Ramsey play? he is just not IT for me. seriously, whats the difference btw him and Denilson? immobile, sideway passes, inventive etc etc

As long as he never plays the DM role he'll be fine, his off the ball work rate is quite poor relative to PL standards but the boy can string passes together anyhow when he is in his element. In a team with good movement around him, Ramsey is a great asset.

[quote author=dipo+ link=topic=743413.msg9119463#msg9119463 date=1315666535]Methinks Metersacker is giving a good account. Tho he wasn't really face directly with a pacy striker, but his anticipation is commendable[/quote]Scot Sinclair and Nathan Dyer are quite fast, i was thinking they'd target him.

Thank you jare Ed. When will RVP open the floodgates?

Arshavin ke?  na wetin happen to him nails wey dey give am trouble?
Yes, bodi don settle small small. Abeg Edi, pass me a can of UNITED beer.

edoyad:
dudu me sef o. Frimpong is more brawn than brains obviously. Arteta and Rvp seem to have a good understanding

He is still very enthusiastic I think on breaking into the first team, IGG as dem dey call am.  
I think he'll be a better passer than Song in the long term, is he not passing out from the back well?
send me link naa, abi yu dey hoard am?

And I nor wan hear of any understanding with RVP, I want him to put the ball in the net.

When these boys wan score naa?
thot we would be about 4 goals up by now.

Anyone get links? the usual sources dey fail o.

[quote author=dipo+ link=topic=743413.msg9117491#msg9117491 date=1315643686]Unbelievable. Moderator just bulldozed the whole thread.
Came to the forum for a good laugh at DonkeyKanu/Hitler's movie 'sin' about that 8-2 bashing and the mode just deprived me of that. Wikid stuff right there, no bullsh,
Now, a nucca gotta keep a long face[/quote]That part at the end where he says "get my Xbox" was a killer, I fell on the floor laughing. 

@Dgunnerz

Today's team list will be interesting, don't think Park will be available or he might make the bench. I'm looking forward to an OX appearance at some point and seeing how Mertesacker adapts to the pace of the PL.

@Mukina2

I don't like this your broom, like Slim says, it removes a lot of forensic evidence. Can I request priviledged access to the alternative DB? 
and I don't think anyone took offence at that Youtube clip from DK, it was very funny.

Very good game for Ramsey against England yesterday, if there is anything he still needs to improve, its his off the ball work and movement, still spotted him jogging when others were busting their guts in a breakaway opportunity but his passing was spot on yesterday, kept finding his man and played in Bale for a 1v1 with Joe Hart which was wrongly flagged offside.

My only response to the Arshavin debate is simple, in his best game for Arsenal where he scored 4 goals, he played this same position on the wings which is now anathema, won't argue he isn't best used centrally but the guy is just lazy. Even if used in what was Cesc's position he would still be a liability against a team that ups the tempo.

Oh Messi, have mercy.