₦airaland Forum

We reached a point where our defenders are not the problem anymore. There was a time when conceding two goals was okay because we were sure we would outscore the opponents. Now we hardly concede goals, but we cannot score either.

Our defense is among the best in Europe, if not even the best, with 0.4 goals conceded per match. That is better than Arsenal (0,9), Bayern (0,9), Napoli (0. , and PSG (0.
8 ).
In addition, Barcelona is the team that recovers the most balls in La Liga at a rate of 3,9 per minute, which is due to the press after the possession loss.

So where is the problem? The problem is not even Xavi but the players being indecisive. Barcelona has only one goal scorer, Lewandowski, with 13 goals scored out of 34 in La Liga. Dembele comes in 2nd place with 4 goals.

Moreover, Barcelona has the highest xg ratio (expected goals) in the top 5 leagues (39,69), ahead of City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. However, Barcelona is the team that missed the most chances in La Liga, with 33 opportunities.

Again, where is the problem? The problem is our mediocre forwards who cannot shoot the ball. We missed way too many chances to score a single goal. Xavi's job is to make the players reach the final third, and he is currently the best in Europe. Nevertheless, he cannot score goals himself. I am not trying to defend Xavi, as there are some things that he can change but the players forgetting how to score goals is not his fault.

oliverano:
Not about complain bros, it's not just about this game. We're in the Europa partly because of Busquet. He gave the ball twice in 3 mins which lead to the equaliser.

In this game, he has been too passive. Our intensity droped immediately he entered. Hope you're watching the game. Also, Alonso is never a CB, we'll continue to play like shit till we're sorted which starts with Busi out then Xavi... Amateur stuff smfh!

Not to forget that the same Enrique that you and Debroslink are tryna use as guise played Rodri as CB just to accommodate Busi in midfield.

You can equally call him an amateur

oliverano:
Not about complain bros, it's not just about this game. We're in the Europa partly because of Busquet. He gave the ball twice in 3 mins which lead to the equaliser.

In this game, he has been too passive. Our intensity droped immediately he entered. Hope you're watching the game. Also, Alonso is never a CB, we'll continue to play like shit till we're sorted which starts with Busi out then Xavi... Amateur stuff smfh!

I am not protecting Busi. I am talking about this particular match..


What would have done any better since Gavi got injured?

Debroslink:
Penalties can go anywhere. I expect you to be smarter than this.

I didn't expect you to blame Alonso for causing that Penalty cos it was soft and totally could have been anyone.

Now, using that as a criterion to measure why he didn't play the WC is quite mindless

Debroslink:
Enrique didn't even bother to take Alonso to WC, but Xavi rates him highly to play CB.

Despite that... No be Morocco bundle am out.

Abeg make we hear word

oliverano:
We were always going go concede. No surprises there. Xavi showing exactly why he must leave if he fails to win Laliga.

Introducing Busquet changed the game, he's as useless as a training cone, it's appalling.

Can't believe Xavi could be this shit, God forbid!

You guys can complain fire...


You obviously saw that Gavi was in pains before he was substituted.

Who should he have brought in? Kessie or who?

Blame Alonso all you want for the penalty but he was easily our best player before that.

Now, Lahoz has shown us his true colors

Omoh..


This game has gone to the dogs.

Lahoz is shameless.


Goodness

Jesus.. See penalty call o

Let us not lie.. There's this balance in midfield whenever Busi comes in.. Just that old age has caught up with him

Alonso is our best player today

Be like Fati day craze.. Hit your fucking body to the ball.

Looks like we've forgotten that we still have one Nico Gonzalez in Valencia o

andrewbaba44:
They will still come and tell you xavi is killing fati

I just hope he turns up at the second half before he wi be subbed out

Fati needs to buckle up. Or na loan he day go next season.

He's not been confident in front of goal for a while now and it:s most likely telling on him.

OhBritannia:
Raphinha looking so sharp, he is literally everywhere.
Fati is not looking good, xavi needs to remove him, he is not in the game.

Nice play from the players, i am particularly impressed with our defenders.

Gavi doing good but he needs to calm down to avoid a red card.

What we are lacking in the Game is a midfielder that can give in through balls and that's where pedri has been lacking, he needs to feed lewadoski. We are playing well, only problem is fati and pedri not doing his job well.

Gavi hasn't been rough in this game nah. They've even fouled him more. I think Xavi is more interested in leaving a midfielder to run into the box with the striker for support, leaving Jordi to play the through balls.

Is there a way we can eliminate Lahoz from referring any of our games ever again?


How's that not a foul against Alba

Raphina hasn't been really bad abeg.


And Fati... The boy just needs to start scoring.. Nothing is wrong with his confidence

The Chelsea connection

Jokerman:
Una don do picture quick quick... na wa o

Check out this mad-ass summary edit of the GOAT debate.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFcwnS66/

Jodera:
Good question and that's what I'm wondering too.

I'm mean, this is a guy that scores screamers and goals as at May. Scoring 18goals in one of the most competitive league in the world (no mean feat).

How did a player who scores wonderful and consistent goals as at May now become so bang average at both club and country come August - December same year?

Age and lack of concentration happened, according to the doc, which I kinda agree with.

Nonetheless, there's a Luka Modric still running the show at 37, even as a midfielder that still runs the length and breadth of the pitch.

Different strokes for different folks

afrodoc:
I have always said Messi is more talented. It’s not a knock on either of them. It is what it is. The only reason Ronaldo made this thing a debate for so long is cos of his almost psychotic drive.

This is in no way a knock on Messi who also had to work hard to fulfil his potential. They both drove each other to heights they otherwise wouldn’t have reached.

Agreed... I

afrodoc:
At that age the tendency is to fall off a cliff. You are good one moment and struggling the next, and often happens after an injury lay off or (in his case) an extended off season.

I remember how Gary Neville looked after his return from injury. At that age the worst thing that can happen is to have a lay off.

True sha

nitrogen:
Lol. The fact is Messi is a very talented player. Football is fuvking natural to him. There are/were very very few players that can do what Messi does. I did not say he does not work hard, he does but it’s not at Ronaldo’s level.

Brother.. Ronaldo himself is very talented. You don't become a club's biggest signing as a teenager ( Manyoo of that time) and Madrid's biggest name during the Galactico era by being less talented. All this talk of hard work and being the very first to get to and last to leave the training area is just adding another feather to his cap.

The difference is just the mentality both players work with. Whilst most of us see Messi as a team player ( of course he is), Ronaldo is not any less only that he doesn't mind not touching the ball for a long while as long as he scores a goal( at least, goals win games), Messi, on the other hand, would always want to be in the center of the happening.

andrewbaba44:
I am waiting for his delusional fan boys who supported him by saying ten Haag disrespected him by benching him

Very arrogant footballer pouring out his frustration at man united ,make e Kuku enjoy al nassr wey get better chef and training facilities than Man U

Any right-thinking person knows that Ronaldo was benched at United because he couldn't offer what ETH was offering. He simply wasn't good enough but what bothers me is how he went from being their best player to becoming bang average both for Portugal and United in the same year.

Jokerman:
Records, Ronaldo is leaving behind in Europe for now...

Hopefully he can get above 91 goals in Asia, to break the already existing 91 goals in a calendar year....

For club way Abuboukar go still bench am?

Abegii.


Carry your Alfa Ronaldo comot here

Where una see this Courtois abeg..

See saves everywhere

Unlimited22:
He means Edson Alvarez.

Uh oh

nateevs:
Na wa. Another over £100m player. I don't tire. I swear I thought we were in the market for Alvarez, Amarabat, and Zakharyan. We could buy all 3 and still get change on €120m and would have solidified that midfield defensively and offensively for years to come.

You think Pep will allow Julian leave now? Nah.. Not with that impressive display in the WC!

Mrviktor:
Enzo isn't worth more Dan 45m even if he's 13 years old

Oshey... Forbes

Mrviktor:
Alvarez was very clear...

This guy was pure ass. Didn't see anything mind blowing..

Wasn't even as influential as musiala.. That was my stand out youngster..

This award was purely bks he got to the final..

The age difference. One is 21, the other is 22... That's why Enzo won it?


And Musiala?? Lol, you'll rate someone that couldn't even extend past group stage? C'mon.

Genuine Madrid?


You couldn't even spin well. Common