₦airaland Forum

Roland17:
He is not staying back, it was already established since high school and recruiting that he is staying only one season. Zion, Barrett, and Reddish are one and done, they are off to the NBA.

You are right but I feel like his game still needs honing. Perhaps, he will do so in the NBA but he is not yet the finished article. Cam Reddish might even be slightly better prepared since he has a somewhat consistent jump shot.

If I am Zion I will be in a dilemma; to stay back and hone my game or head straight into the NBA. Other people sabi jump for NBA or/and many are almost as strong. He will need solid FTs and a consistent jump shot to be elite. He can rebound and fly et al but we don see people with same skill set in the NBA.

I hope Auburn goes on to win this. I have friends in that school and Okeke is our Naija brother.

Lack of free throw shooting has done Duke in. More like lack of the ability to shoot FTs by their best players.

Sad story and now Zion is gone.

BlueRayDick:
The truth is Sissoko was foolish in his decision. Any decent player would've drifted the ball to the left while advancing towards the keeper, rather he was foolishly moving the ball in between Van Djik and son because he never made up his mind to shoot.

Van Djik only did the normal thing any basic defender would've done which is to shadow mark the him and son and hope the advancing won't have enough sense to do the right thing.

Leroy Sane would've scored that ball without stress, same with sterling.

I was so angry. I wished it was someone else but Sissoko. Every other player advances the ball as though they were trying to score themselves then they will pass at the final moment. Sissoko showed he had only one thing on his mind.

raumdeuter:
2 players, 1 with ball, 1 without. And you are telling us blocking the one without is the right option?

Sisoko could have easily shot on target like 90% of players in thay situation will. It was an error from VVD the only rreason he got away was because Sissoko didnt shoot on target. Replay that move 10times, 9 times out of 10 Sissoko shoots on target

Baba, fact is for every other Tottenham player today VVD made a big error but preventing the ball from getting to Son and letting Sissoko shoot was probably the better decision. Sissoko is so incompetent (in front of goal) and his left leg is a walking stick that VVD fan boys can argue that it shaped his decision today.

IKON360:
the problem with this post is that it doesn't take into cognizance that Coutinho played extremely well in the latter part of last season, he scored so many goals from the perceived out of position, also Coutinho started matched early this season from the midfield, playing and having an opportunity to dictate play, Messi was injured for a month, all these yet Coutinho has been so underwhelming. So explain it? Cos excluding Andre Gomes I don't know any player we got for a big sum that has been so underwhelming

Played extremely well in what role? See, I don't have time because this discourse will turn into an EV bashing contest on my side which is not necessary. You can Google what Barca fans said this season when Phillipe struggled badly against Levante same team he scored a hat trick against towards the end of last. I can help you out; most people said EV should leave the job the way Mou left for Pogba to flourish. The only reason I did not exactly side in with them is because EV is winning.

When Rijkaard was playing Iniesta in fringe roles and was planning to sell Xavi to Bayern nobody batted an eyelid because he had won 2 league titles and the UCL. But the very minute he stopped winning games, he was let go for another manager who then made the same 2 players become widely regarded as the best midfield pairing in decades.

Enough said.

BlueRayDick:
It is the other way round. When most hazard fan boys start hyping him up and down and don't allow others hear word, people just get tired and start trolling him by giving details of players that have best him.in stats but have not been making noise about it.

See Sanchez for example. We've been seeing hazard do take-ons since he got to the epl and less goals to show. Sanchez came, did that same take-ons and still scored goals in the process.

Wò, I'm not even arguing, hazard is a good player but he has his own deficiencies too like every other player. When una decide to over-hype am people go surely drag am down. Na wetin Dayo dey always do

My name is Eruditor (soon to be Pepruditor) and I endorse this message

IKON360:
dont waste your time but dont also lord your ignorance over other people, De Bruyne played CAM for Wolfsburg before Man city signed him, and he played that position behind Aguero numerous times, he started playing CM under Guardiola and for Belgium when they play 3 5 2, De Bruyne plays CAM. Have a nice day, dont waste your time

This is how daft you are. I asked you when last he played that role and like a daft dumbo you went on to answer me even when it was better to know the answer and keep mum since it exposed your daftness even further. Imagine describing a player today with a role he played 4 or 5 years ago. LMAO

IKON360:
go and pick pillow and sleep, your mates are having their siesta. Watch football no, be diving highlight upandan

The irony. Coming from someone with at least one false information per post. You are a special type of dumb. I'd give you that.

Sommyroy10:
Coutinho played majorly as a CAM in Vasco, Inter Milan and Espanyol. His early days at Liverpool he also played CAM, then was moved to the left, his last season at Liverpool and the season before (last month to campaign end) he played as a CM/CAM hybrid.
His best moment in his club career, with his best ever output was his last season at Liverpool where he played CM/CAM.
You already know in Brazil, if all players are available, he plays CAM, and just look at his performance at the world cup. Also Coutinho primary position is CAM, the rest are his secondary position whether he plays better there or not. It's just like Roberto.

That is why I referred that post to you. You actually know what you are talking about.

IKON360:
oga no dey type all these things, please which team or teams did Coutinho play CAM for excluding Brazil? Have you seen how Ericksen and De Bruyne play CAM, they fall back and orchestrate play from BOTH wings, please tell me which team or match Coutinho played CAM in? All of Coutinho's best matches in Spain, Brazil and England have all come from the left so what are you saying?

My problem with you is how you brandish rubbish with utmost confidence. When did you see De Bruyne play CAM last? All of whose best matches have come from where?

I won't even waste my time.

Sommyroy10:
Coutinho played majorly as a CAM in Vasco, Inter Milan and Espanyol. His early days at Liverpool he also played CAM, then was moved to the left, his last season at Liverpool and the season before (last month to campaign end) he played as a CM/CAM hybrid.
His best moment in his club career, with his best ever output was his last season at Liverpool where he played CM/CAM.
You already know in Brazil, if all players are available, he plays CAM, and just look at his performance at the world cup. Also Coutinho primary position is CAM, the rest are his secondary position whether he plays better there or not. It's just like Roberto.

This is from a post on Quora. I am using just because it is saying everything I want to say:

When Coutinho became Barcelona’s club-record signing at 160 million Euros after a long, drawn out transfer saga, he was touted to be a replacement for Andres Iniesta. However, he is clearly not playing at that level and I feel it has got to do with not only himself or his position but with Ernesto Valverde as well.

Under Valverde, Iniesta generally played on the left flank in a 4–4–2 formation. This was different as compared to the position he played under Luis Enrique, generally in a CM position. This allowed him to do what he did best, control the tempo. However, playing on the left flank, he was generally underwhelming and his best performance probably came against Juventus in that game in the UCL. The left flank position also did not suit him as he was not in prime position to dictate play. He was also rested very frequently owing to his age and played almost half the games Barca played.

This made it clear that Barcelona needed an Iniesta replacement, an artist, someone who could control play and dictate tempo. Entrer, Coutinho.

Artist? Bruh he’s Brazilian. Check!

Dictates play and controls tempo? Liverpool’s best midfielder at that time so, Check?

Plays in a central position like Iniesta? Check!

Coutinho was ideal, or so it was thought. He played as a CAM in Liverpool and was instrumental in many of their wins.He could often be seen doing his thing, skilling past defenders and making the final ball for an assist or curling one in from an audacious postiton. He was an ideal CAM. He would have worked at that position at Barca too. But Barca do not play that way. they don’t need a CAM, and even if they do, Messi comes in from the right to take that place.

Thus, he was played at the left flank like Iniesta. This is where Barcelona fans were misled. They were led to believe Iniesta wasn’t working out because he is old. Nope! He just was not in a position where he played his best football. Similarly with Coutinho, he is either playing the left flank in a 4–4–2 or like against Sevilla in the Cup tie recently, he plays on the wings. He is not his best there and cannot do any of the things he is renowned for.

Coutinho needs to be in a central position to be his best version. From there, he can make amazing plays, feeding balls to attackers or himself can dribble up the pitch and maybe even shoot from distance and score. He needs to be at the forefront of every attacking play. But this will require either an injury to Rakitic or Arthur, Barcelona’s preferred central midfielders, or a complete formation shift where Coutinho plays a CAM with any 2 of Messi, Suarez and Dembele upfront. I don’t see either of the 2 happening and even if the former happens, De Jong is already on his way.

This leads me to believe Valverde did not have a say in the Coutinho transfer. Barcelona lost a high-profile player in Neymar. They needed to show that they can get another one and with Iniesta getting older, it became convenient to buy Coutinho. He would have never worked for Valverde’s tactics. Valverde would have rather bought someone similar to the Vidal or Paulinho profile with that kind of money.

It seems like the money has gone down the drain. The only good performances Coutinho puts in are because of his natural talent and skill where he fights against his unnatural position to put in bangers of performances. Unless Valverde changes his tactics or leaves altogether, I don’t see Coutinho working out. He will be “the most expensive substitute player”. For now though, his situation is panning out like another of Barcelona’s players, Andre Gomes. (So many botched decisions, Jesus!)

It’s just tragic, not only for him but for us fans, that we’re robbed of Coutinho’s magic. If Valverde continues, hopefully Barcelona sell him someplace where he can work his magic and Barcelona can salvage something out of a bad decision.

airmark:
You will be disgraced.

He will be the one to retire Ronaldo and Messi permanently from that top 2, under Zidane. If Barca are smart, they should hijack Hazard, send Coutinho away, play him on the left side with Messi on the right.

The only thing I agree with is that Hazard will be more of an EV type player than Phillipe. Phillipe is a CAM not a LW or LWF so Hazard will be better on the wing but he is not productive enough to make a difference and he shakushakus just like Phillipe. Let him go to his RM and compete with Isco.

steady986:
Spurs no doubt, plainly because they got more talent. The Celtics got talent but man for man, I think the Sixer's got this one.

The Celtics own the Sixers. Even the most recent Sixers win felt more like Celtics choking than the other way around. They led that game all through till the last few mins. Trust me when I say, they OWN the sixers.

IKON360:
like the hype that surrounded Coutinho?

I know critical thinking does not come free so let me help you out;
1. Coutinho never asked to be traded to Barcelona. He was enjoying his football until Barcelona approached Liverpool and broke the bank for him.
1b. Some other players have been begging to go to RM. If you are worth the hype..they will come for you aggressively like we did for Phillipe. Gareth Bale was signed the same way. CR7 was signed the same way.

No need for the plenty talk and dumb excuses.

raumdeuter:
This post is filled with LOL comments

First I need to ask are you a Chelsea fan? It sounds like what a Chelsea fan will say

Mandzukic and Pirlo have won CL

CL is the pinnacle of club football. Hazard guaranteed starter and top player? Yet has never made a CL final nor a world cup final

I have to bite my tongue "figuratively" each time I read posts here. Can't wait for Hazard to come to RM so the hype concerning him will be put to bed once and for all.

Leyqute:
Hey guys, I’d like your honest opinion on an issue.

Lionel Messi is one of the world’s most talented players. It’s obvious that he played a huge part in Barca’s 3 UCL victories in the last decade.

Here’s my question: would Barcelona have won those trophies without his contribution? And if Messi were playing for another team, say Bayern (him replacing Robben or something like that), would they instead be the winner of more UCL trophies than the 1 they have?

Thanks.

Debroslink Tesppidd Eruditor Excallibur

Barca will not have won the UCL without Messi in 2011 and 2015. 2009 is neither here nor there although he was the best player. Bayern would have won 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 if they had Messi.

Roland17:
No be wen Warriors sweep everybody for playoff now people go begin count the number of all stars wen dey the team.

The Warriors have set the bar very high when it comes to assembling, coaching and winning. I never under-rate the Warriors no matter their regular season form and if by a rare chance they falter this post season, they have earned my respect for life. They maximized their team resources and gave their fans/supporters enough to cheer for going into the new arena.

We always underestimate how difficult it is to motivate players, particularly superstars who achieved multiple championships in a very short span. Na dis one dey pain my padi Eruditor pass

Baba, my own is, I don't want OKC or Spurs in the first round. I have already decommissioned myself from the regular season. Not like I fear both teams but they will stress GSW for a round 1 game.

I still think the regular culprits will make it from the west and east so my money is still on Celts vs GSW. But both teams especially Celts will face slugfests before the finals. They own the Sixers but Bucks and Raptors will be very tough depending on when/if they meet. As for GSW, Rockets still look like the biggest issue but less so than last season.

Duke got lucky. On another day they would lose this game. But I have to admire their mental strength and tenacity.

At this rate he is the MVP and he deserves it. Without Giannis he would have been the 2nd Unanimous MVP of the NBA. Good thing for GSW though. All that energy expended will count when the playoffs come.

The refs are home cooking for the spurs. Call me whiny but that is clear as day.

10Dove:
You should know when to take some comments as trolls n just bypass.

You should know I ignore dumb posts and posters as a habit. I just wanted to warn one of the dumbos to just stir clear. Too many of them on here. LOL

Adiwana:
Nah.When Messi scored,Betis played better.They pressed us so well in that first half that we were all over the place.I was even saying that we needed a Gerard Pique to calm things down.There was a ball Lenglet lost that Valverde very unhappy with.He was visibly angry and i even thought Lenglet has returned to playing rubbish.But things kind of calmed down.As the players started gaining that control of the game,2 chances were created in 10 minutes or so and shouldve been two goals.This is the same thing that happened away to Levante.When the Home team presses and creates those chances,the pklayers tend to be a little bit disorganised.But when they settle,they actually control and outplay the opposition

Barcelona is not going to play any game and not create a chance. In the first few mins of the game we were in our half, losing the ball and having to defend. We had set up to play on the counter and if Betis had scored during those moments we would have been forced to come out. Same thing we did against Sevilla that almost back-fired. As soon as Messi scored that freekick. Betis had to come out more so that played into the counter-attack that we had originally planned. We won so all is well with the world. My only question was, had Messi not scored a free kick and we kept watching Betis dominate possession and create chances, is that the type of game you would have been happy to watch?

Because something worked does not mean it was the most ideal. A fellow Cule complained and I saw reason in his argument there is nothing more to add or remove from that.

hustleranthem:
oga speak for yourself because we are pleased with the results today. U are just too pesssimstic

Noticed I apologized for quoting you. I realized you are on course to being the dumbest Barca supporter I have ever come across. Keep being dumb...just stay away from me while at it.

RuuDie:
Ol' boy you are smarter than this.

Betis BEAT Barca at the Nou Camp. So you have to be 'sensible' with such a team... and if the 'sensible' approach means allowing them DOMINATE the midfield, while you hit them on the counter, I don't see why this is supposed to be a problem!

Every Barca fan knows we lost to Betis AT HOME. Question is why: they counter-attacked us. Being sensible against them is not necessarily ceding possession hoping to counter them. If this was a 2-leg tie Betis will be happy to play that way. Winning papers over cracks in a way people will not see potential pitfalls to playing a certain unhealthy way. Any untrained person can be excited that we were up 2-0 at the break forgetting that the counter-attacking tactics only worked well after Messi scored from a freekick. So Barca fans are within their rights to be uneasy about hoping to beat Betis on the counter. End of.

RuuDie:
First of, your team is not gonna dominate games 100% of the time.

Second, revisit and review the reverse of this fixture and perhaps you will understand why being a little cautious is not a bad idea.

https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/910415/fc-barcelona-3-4-betis-first-home-defeat#

That Betis played Barca on the counter at Nou Camp? What else were they going to play?

RuuDie:
Ask Real Betis if they prefer to be 2 goals up or have complete dominance of the midfield...

We are better than Betis and have the best player in the world but it does not mean it is comfortable to be dominated by Betis this way. Last season, after beating Roma 4-1 that was our consolation: that at least we won. Only to lose the return leg 3-0 by playing the same way.

At least if he is missing his chances he should be making some for his teammates who will not miss.

Debroslink:
Screw you Suarez

Another one on one missed

TBH, he is so frustrating. I just hate criticising him because I remember him at his best.

hustleranthem:
even possession wolves collect am..so what are you saying boy? Wolves were clearly the better side

hustleranthem:
stop giving excuses for your mediocre team and even the possession wolves collect that one too. So what exactly is your point. If wolves can play Amanda like this then there is absolutely nothing they can do against a superior Barca side

I am sorry I quoted you.

hustleranthem:
See as wolves deal with Amanda United and u expect them to perform magic against us? I laugh in japanese

Football is about match ups. United came out to control possession whilst Wolves counter attacked but against us United will set up to ultra defend and counter.

Or does it mean Wolves will beat PSG too?