₦airaland Forum

dademola: silva has more pace and power?? I wanna believe u're talking about wots happening in ur PES or FIFA!!

Silva clearly has more pace and power. He most often involved in City counter. He runs some yards and release a killer pass to his strikers.

StarBoard: elampiro jumping from pillar to post.
Now looking for statements to stop his leaky faucet of a mouth to justify his gaffe on Kagawa.
Let Moyes give him the free role he had at Dortmund, and we'll see how good Rooney really is.
Kagawa is an excellent player. Fergie had no idea on how to deploy him.

What is the pillar to post here? He has only been good at possessional football. Which EPL team will give you the space Japanese had yesterday? Only QPR and our United give such space to opponents to operate. Was Kagawa the best Japenese player? No. Perhaps we could as well import all Japenese players and give them free roles.

Cleverly had problems, blame SAF. Adndrson has problems, blame SAF, Nani and Kagawa have problems blame SAF, Chicharito has problems blame SAF. Yet SAF is the best coach in the world and won the EPL easily with his ideas. What is free role? Who has a free role in current United teams? Kagawa was even on the left yesterday, even one legged Valencia can still be find in the middle. Only Nani seemed to have free role in United.

RuuDie: I hope Rooney is watching.

If he thinks he is "irreplaceable" - he better think again.

@ Elampiro, Kagawa didn't play on the left. He was given a free role and could drift any which way but Zaccheroni also utilised him as an "overload" on that LHS.

Over 80% of Kagawa's game yesterday was on the left.

dademola: i didnt see d match, so i cant really say anyfn about his performance, bt bros, u keep talking about hw physical d EPL is, and hw tsnt suited for kagawa. Hw can u just jump to such a conclusion afta just one season?? Like sme pple pointed out to u earlier.. Wot about dem oscar, mata, silva, etc?? To me, kagawa can be our own david silva; our play dictator, cos, like cooger pointed out, he is an inteligent player!! Playmakers r usually more intelligent dan hw strong dey r physically,bro. He doesnt really nid to add weight, i think what he nids is to adapt more to d intensity of d EPL.

You people are getting me wrong. I said he didn't cope well in fast paced and physical matches. I was even more on the fast paced. Oscar,Hazard, Silva, Ramires, etc have more pace, power and force to their games. You could see Kagawa went through once yesterday and couldn't advance further with force beyond the defender's reach. A chicharito, Nani, Oscar, Rooney wouldn't have been blocked again.

Again, as I pointed out, it was a slow match with each side trying out possessions. Japanese did better, not just Kagawa alone. The enire Japan team and individual players had a decent outing.

Finally, Kagawa played just like this in our preseason maches last year and flopped in the EPL. I am still watching. I am a fan of all our players, but I make judgment based on what I see and not what to expect.

dayokanu: So was it that the Italians were not physical enough that made Kagawa shine?

Not only Kagawa played well but all Japanese players. Honda was their best man of the night. Kagawa did well on the left which many people said was responsible for his United flop.

Now to answer your question, the Italians played an unusual pattern different from their normal game. They played a slow possessional football and also gave so much space. They were unexpectedly 0-2 down no thanks to bad officiating resulting to a controversial penalty, that alone was enough to cause nervousness to the Italians. The game was not physical or fast paced at all. No EPL team plays that way.

dayokanu: Later person go say he no see Kagawa o.

Abi the Italian team is not strong and physical enough

Kagawa has been good so far despite the goal.

However, the Italians unusually adopted a slow and possessional style of play in this match which suits the Japanese team and Kagawa well. The last 10 minutes of first half saw the Italians raised the tempo and you could see it was difficult for Kagawa.

I hear una. Most of these players you guys are listing will still leave Rooney at United should he decides to stay. You guys can even claim Iniester is finished because he didn't score this season.

Rooney goal form for England is at its peak now, yet United fans are trying to bash him. Anyway, the people who know this game more than us are working hard to keep him at 250K salary. Beckham, Kean and the rest were easily shipped away.

I have made my point, that's all.

coogar: that's his job....
he's a striker, he's meant to wait for the delivery and score. inzaghi, ruud, raul, etc became legends scoring that way. why should chicharito worry about the midfield?

rooney is a jack of all trade - master of nada!!!



there's no number 9 in a 4-4-2 formation!
united stopped playing rigid 4-4-2 in 09/10 and rooney was the arrow head that season - so you have no point!

SAF has only adopted a 4-4-2 formation in a few matches in the last decade. Even in a 4.4.2 formation, one striker stays up while another drops to build attack.

dademola: bros... E don do!! U're alws talking about rooney's achievements. If na by achievements, we wldnt hav sold nistelrooy. In football, u dwell on d present. And what's d present situation with rooney?? He is an over-paid fat cat dt nids to be called to order...either by telling him to up his performances, or by showing him d exit door. Pls dnt talk about rooney performing below his high standards, and him being betta dan sme oda pple despite this. Ts very annoying. U may argue dt rooney still merits anoda chance to rediscover his old form, bt pls stop creating d impression dt rooney is man utd!!A player's form has dropped, and he still has d guts to submit a transfer request?? Wot an insult!! Hw i wish he only had a yr left on his contract. He wld hav deserved to benched thru out dt yr, b4 being released/thrown out!!

A deep playing forward came up with 12 goals and 12 assist and you call him fat? He has no problem with form and fitness 'cos his goals for Egland are increasing than ever before. It was the decision of SAF to use him to prevent shame in our midfield that changed his game a little. If RVP was used same way he would have ended up in the Kagawa total flop zone. We only need to appreciate Rooney from saving the club from shame and for adapting well.

coogar: how many games did saha play for united? what a liar you are. was saha ever fit? tevez? berbatov? hehehe. if you take a lie detector test, it would explode!!!

Ajigbojigbijigbi. Nilstelroy, Saha, Folan, Tevez, Berba, Chicha and RVP are our number 9s in the past 10 years. That's all.

nitrogen: You are right, but not up to three players to fill the vacuum, even one will do sef.

Btw, na SAF Zap up, he built the team around him, made him to play in the mid-field esp. when we were in need of midfielders and he never did bring any in. Thank God he is gone, we need Giggs, Valencia(or just one year more for the one legged and non-creative lad) and Rooney to follow suit. Then Moyes should bring in one or two players, and we are good to go.

Give United two years (without Rooney and with Moyes getting it right), we will be champions of Europe once again!

I guess with Chicharito who can't play except sit and wait in the box as we saw tonight when he hardly touch the ball up to 7 times? And indomie Kagawa who can't match a power or pacing match?

coogar: that's a lame excuse - rooney was the arrowhead for 6.5 seasons out of 9 seasons. when ruud left, it was saha/rooney in the striking role in 06/07. then it was tevez/rooney in 07/08. why didn't he score 40 goals in those seasons?

156 goals + 79 assists in 26,000+ mins is a disgrace!!!

See lies ooohhh!!!

Rooney only spearheaded our attack in just one season 2009/10. It was Nilsterooy, Folan, Saha, Tevev and Berbatov. Then Chicharito and RVP.

coogar: we heard the same thing when ruud left....
heard the same thing when ronaldo left, beckham? cantona and even roy keane!!! united would tick on nicely if rooney leaves. we won nearly all the league games we played without him last season.

in hernandez, i trust!

Rooney is more a difficult player to replace than Becham, Kean and Cantona. Rooney has a multiple function for United. He is the most all round player United has had in recent history.

coogar: don't mind the rooney apologists.....
i dunno when it's become cool to rate a striker for his defensive qualities. legendary strikers are hyped for their prolific way of scoring goals - but rooney's apologists would keep bringing up nonsense facts that are not worthy of discussion....

this is the overall stat(all comp) of RVP and rooney....
the difference is glaring!!

Same mistake over and over again. Hw can you use goals to compare a workaholic coordinating 10 to a sitting point 9? Like comparing Maradonna to Platini/Ronaldo Lima. It's odd!

nitrogen: And that did give them the result they wanted?

Results are needed here and not contributions, mind you.

Without such guys inbox sitting players as Chicha won't touch ball in 90 minutes. So how would they have even won a penalty the last match?

nitrogen:

To be candid here, Rooney is not a fantastic player like that jare, he supports, and does some nice work in the mid-field, but he isn't near a world class player (for now), he's been awful and he also looses possession anyhow, lastly, he is an ingrate. I wouldn't mind his exit so we can have a new/superb united squad.

If Rooney exits, without quality replacement like Fabregas or Aguero types, we will end up in the Totteham zone. We may even need two or three strong players to feel the vacuum to be left by his exit.

Look at Brazil vs Mexico.

Even if Chicha scores tonight, the number 10 man Dos Santos is the Mexican man tonight. His contribution is ten times more than Chicharito.

That's how to know what certain players contribute to team play.

coogar: hahahaha, the facts are emerging...

rooney has played 345 games to van persie's 232 games and somehow people are surprised rooney has more goals/assists than RVP. 113 games more than van persie and people are comparing?

this argument is hilarious!

The difference is that one is a sitting 9 while the other is a workaholic organizing/coordinating 10.

Maradonna was a number 10, it wasn't goals that made him greatest but contribution to team play. Siasia and Onwubokiri were prolific scorers but Amokackie and Adepoju with far less goals were preferred. Whenever Amokachie was off, Yekini was dry and the pressure against opponents less.

coogar: hahahaha, the facts are emerging...

rooney has played 345 games to van persie's 232 games and somehow people are surprised rooney has more goals/assists than RVP. 113 games more than van persie and people are comparing?

this argument is hilarious!

The difference is that one is a sitting 9 while the other is a workaholic organizing/coordinating 10.

Maradonna was a number 10, it wasn't goals that made him greatest but contribution to team play. Siasia and Onwubokiri were prolific scorers but Amokackie and Adepoju with far less goals were preferred. Whenever Amokachie was off, Yekini was dry and the pressure against opponents less.

coogar: how did ronaldo score 42 goals from the flank in one season?

Remove Ronaldo and Messi from any argument. They are given a free role and are super men.

Maradonna was NOT rated world best or 2nd overall best player ever based on goals, it was his overall contribution to team success. Same as Rooney, Robben and Iniester or their level.

Amokachie was not a great scorer but was more viyal in the supporting striking role than high scorers as Siasia and Owunbokiri.

Rooney is not just the most vital man for United on contribution, he adds goals. Scored more than Drogba and Torres who were seating strikers.

montelik: Is that so. Dude has yet to score in a world cup, despite having gone to 2 and you are waxing lyrical. "White Pele" indeed.

How many do Messi and Ronaldo have in the world cup. Even Copa America?

People comparing a sitting 9 to a supporting 10 in terms of goals. Is that not a ridiculous comparison? Number 10 that has to work for 9. Nilsterooy success was largely part of Rooney's contribution. It's like comparing Hazard, Oscar and Mata to Demba Ba.

BinghiNya: @coogar and elampiro

I have been following your debate about Rooney.

Facts:

1. United is shit without Rooney(though he loses the ball too much)
2. Rooney provides more defensive cover than any other forward
3. Rooney can play in the midfield no other forward could properly do.
4. Rooney is the most feared striker in United.
5. In the last 6 years Rooney has had the highest assist in United.

Rooney going would be a greater loss to United tha any other striker.

Nani Vs. Valencia

1. Valencia is a better crosser(Not a showman)
2. Valencia provides cover for the right full back than nani does for the other full back
3. valencia prefers team glory to Nani's individual glory.
4. Rooney prefers valencia to nani.
5. Nani has never done anything concrete in United. Too many poor games, he is a waste pipe.

My guy you said it all from a balanced point of view. Some people have sworn never to admit to the truth.
They said Rooney is a striker and he doesn't score. The record states Rooney and RVP are joint highest scorers in the last 6 years. 5 years aggregate even put Rooney ahead of RVP and Drogba who are just point men. Oscar, Iniester, Fabregas, Hazard, Mata, are all attackers or attacking midfielders. When Nistelrooy was available, Rooney was the supporting striker. When Nilsterooy left, Saha sat upfront untill Tevez and Berbatov arrived. Rooney is the 4th highest scorer of all time for United and has led the team to many laurels. He is our greatest goal scorer or best goal getter/maker in the last 6 years. That's all.

With two or three more years Rooney will make history as the highest scorer ever for United and one of the highest EPL has ever produced. He has already surpassed even Alan Shearer for the Three Lions.

Who can interpret Spanish.

De Gea told Thiago ''come to Manchester United''


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ2YYv6tvs8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DiJ2YYv6tvs8

Transfer news/speculation:

Capello currently holding talk with PSG today.
Gattuso confirmed new Palermo manager.

De Gea rumoured to also be convincing Thiago to join United.

Ronaldo has a mega offer from Monaco and also has been contacted by PSG, he is yet to make his final decision. ..... Report from a football agent.

Caughtoffside (I don't know how reliable they are in their news) have reported Strootman will fly directly to England to complete Manchester deal. ... Hope this is not an offside news. Lol

Gerard Pique : " He (Thiago) could leave for 18 million [euros].

"The most important thing is to make him see that there is no better place than Barcelona football club.

"Players of the calibre of Xavi, who also play in his position, had patience and in the end defined an era."

"I know that he (Thiago) has a lot of quality and he could be a starter for any team in Europe," added Pique.

"We have the players that we have but I think in the end he will realise because he is an intelligent player."

Meanwhile Rio Ferdinand tweeted as "Thiago wants the ball under pressure, he demands it anywhere. We need to produce that kind of mentality in our kids."

The Champions!

Baptism of fire for Moyes. He has to cut his holiday short. The blast from the block should be powerful.

August
17 – Swansea (A)
24 – Chelsea (H)
31 – Liverpool (A)

September
14 – Crystal Palace (H)
21 – Manchester City (A)
28 – West Brom (H)

October
5 – Sunderland (A)
19 – Southampton (H)
26 – Stoke City (H)
November
2 – Fulham (A)
9 – Arsenal (H)
23 – Cardiff (A)
30 – Tottenham (A)

December
3 – Everton (H)
7 – Newcastle (H)
14 – Aston Villa (A)
21 – West Ham (H)
26 – Hull City (A)
28 – Norwich City (A)

January
1 – Tottenham (H)
11 – Swansea (H)
18 – Chelsea (A)
28 – Cardiff (H)

February
1 – Stoke City (A)
8 – Fulham (H)
11 – Arsenal (A)
22 – Crystal Palace (A)

March
1 – Manchester City (H)
8 – West Brom (A)
15 – Liverpool (H)
22 – West Ham (A)
29 – Aston Villa (H)

April
5 – Newcastle (A)
12 – Hull City (H)
19 – Everton (A)
26 – Norwich City (H)

May
3 – Sunderland (H)
11 – Southampton (A)

SailorXY: I don't access players by country football, what was Cavani's impact against Spain? Yet he is worth €60m the obvious downside of that midfield will be height which I believe future signings will be consciously made to compensate

After England vs Ireland friendly I saw you guys analyzing Rooney's performance.

Cavani was it that poor against Spain.

Fixtures: Reds start at Swansea

New Manchester United manager David Moyes' first test in the Barclays Premier League will be to take the Reds to Wales to face Swansea City on the opening day of the 2013/14 season.

It's the first time the sides have met on the maiden day of a league campaign and the match is currently scheduled to kick-off on Saturday 17 August (all fixtures are subject to change; the first round of TV selections will be made in mid-July).

The Premier League's 2013/14 fixtures were announced at 09:00 BST on Wednesday and, as always, make for interesting reading. Following what's been, in recent seasons, a tricky trip to the Liberty Stadium, the defending champions' schedule doesn't get any easier.

Moyes' men then host Chelsea at Old Trafford (Saturday 24 August) before travelling away to Liverpool (Saturday 31 August), welcoming Crystal Palace to Manchester (Saturday 14 September) and then visiting Manchester City (Saturday 21 September).

Kagawa is playing tonight. My assessment of him continue. Sailor watch this one in full and not the highlight only to see who scores or makes assists or hit target.