₦airaland Forum

MrDojo:
If Burnley can do that to us, what do you think Liverpool will do? Especially at Anfield. If we can't comfortably beat Burnley's press, then a tough time awaits us against City and Liverpool. Those two are the Masters of pressing.

IMO, I think the best way to go against teams like l.pool is not racing with them, they will outdo us that way, I feel we need to slow the game down in the middle, our midfielders should keep possession then pick the runs of our forwards..
Xhaka and Torreira who are the most matured combo suffered at Anfield, they cracked and our defense was destroyed with 5 goals..this isn't about players, its coach's tactics that will do.

solomonbrown64:
..... Dani Ceballos' game by numbers vs. Burnley: 100% take-ons completed 97 touches 90% pass accuracy 70 passes 19 duels 7 recoveries 5 crosses 4 take-ons completed 4 chances created 3 fouls won 3 shots 2 tackles made 2 assists

..... Holy shittt !!!!

Baba abeg sharply edit or delete this, don't let Zidane see it, He wants to come to this thread after their match .They may want to take him back in Jan or place £70M on him.

This is the atmosphere we used to have at the Emirates, crowd happy, cheering new players and youngsters on, Hopefully, the end of slow dry boring football is gone, Entertaining games like this will turn Emirates to Anfield gradually..

Luiz looked like captain, baba didn't smile all day,he meant business..

I was also happy for Guen,Nelson and Willock, had we lost the game,we fans would have heaped curses and blames on them and Emery.. The wins are good for their development..

Pepe reminds me of ousmane Dembele, if he isn't scoring/assisting for barca, he will be entertaining you with dribbles, skills and nutmegs.

For sure, Bellerin,Tierney,Ozil and rest will have to work harder to outshine players deputizing them and that's a good selection headache for Emery.

Keky:
You could see that performance wise it was a work in progress today but when it starts to click with this squad I am excited.

David Luiz solid
Ceballos MOTM
Willock and Guendouzi energetic throughout
Laca and Auba on the scoresheet
Pepe glimpses of excitement
No defensive meltdowns
Just think about when Hector and KT are added to that side!

I said same thing last week,by Sept/Oct the team would have oiled v.well.
The look on Tierney, like he so wants to get fit and nail that LB position..
Considering how well Nacho played, he'll get the message, its high standard here..

Dreamswayne:
Pepe ehn...


Those runs go help us for Anfield oo...

Henderson should foul him so he gets a red, hopefully our strikers bury his chances, those incisive passes reminds me of Manhrez of Leicester in 2015.

Roland17:
That is why I was shocked people were busy worrying about Liverpool after the Newcastle game, basically writing off the Burnley fixture. Burnley is a difficult side when they are set and when I saw their formation, I knew it was going to be a tough game.

I dey among, I already forgot we are in England, This league is hard

Roland17:
I did not expect an easy game against Burnley and they are proving me right.

The way Burnley are playing like they want to survive relegation is scary, game look like we are at the Britannia stadium..
This kind of game, 3 points matters.

Abeg Burnley are too physical, they aren't giving any space, we should just get 3 points and its a fine day..

Matteo,Nelson and Willock can't match their energy,pace and power.

Ceballos& Luiz..fans favorite.

Beorn1:
Abeg, more update on my nigga Frodd. I hope he's not interfering in the Mike and Seyi squabble?


How's he doing so far? What's the nature of the task Team Iconics are to execute? Someone help me out.

Frodd is a rapist sorry rapster,His voice is dope

sod09:
that is why xhaka and torreira need someone in ozil or ceballos that can hold and available for the ball also know what to do with the ball.
No way Arnold will go forward knowing well auba is also fast. I can only say sallah will destroy monreal

The 3 men in the middle will determine a lot about the game, if they can shield,posses and look for forwards on the counter.
I think Auba is fast,direct and knows what to do from the CF or RW position than left..He'll either have to cut and shoot or Cross for Laca/pepe who can score headers well.

kokaneprodigy:
Laca

Auba Ceballos/Ozil Pepe

Xhaka Torreira

Monreal Luiz Mustafi Chambers/AMN

@ Fkhalifa

Hmmm, This line up is good on paper but I'm doubting it at Anfield,
Auba isn't the defending type, that LW will be run ragged by Anold and Sallah, Monreal won't be protected,

Xhaka torreira suffered at Anfield last time, Xhaka has no pace and will lose the ball much when put under pressure, Torreira gets tired around 70mint,

But if they can slow the ball down and possess the ball for long, that'll be fine..Ozil,ceballos shouldn't contest running with them, just hold it, pass it simple and slow, then set up our pacy forwards on the counter..
Liverpool are beatable at the Emirates, but Anfield is a different war entirely.

kokaneprodigy:
Are we sure these Liverpool players are not doping. See how Chelsea players are panting, Liverpool playing like it’s just 10mins into the match.

How do you think is the best way to play them?
Since we can't match them in running.

solomonbrown64:
.... Ain't you scared with Sallah and Mane facing Niles and Monreal and Firmino facing Luiz and Papa? I am still trying to forget how Sallah and Firmino especially the latter finished our defense last season. Even with new signings I am still deliberating on watching the match.

No be only you o, I'll join them in 2nd half and that's if we don't have a cricket score already..
We've been getting raped over the past years there, 5-1, 4-0, 3-1, 5-1 isn't child's play.

The way Liverpool run things at Anfield no be am

Torrera and xhaka suffered a great deal that day, I'm still recovering, it was like the deliberately stopped attacking us after 5th goal, Only Iwobi and Niles had matched their Intensity

we need to slow the game down in the middle, maybe Ozil,Guen and cebalos, we can't contest pace with them, let's just slow the ball to frustrate them in the midfield, and use the wings for speed and counter..

Not even barca can survive their high energy and pace on that ground.

sod09:
we they here...I hope he becomes our next fabregas

No, He is him and hope he becomes his better self,not fab ,we haven't seen Fab,Rosicky and carzola's like.

sod09:
fabregas is combination of guen, torreira and xhaka
Pass, intelligent run and shoot how does he fall any how?

Fab in his early days I said, he has small frame, he doesn't do physical duels, he just draw fouls when he can't find his way, its a common thing among Spaniards.

sod09:
and falling like whiz khalifa bitch
Did you see how willock stood toe to toe with shelvey but guendouzi is the fvcking best

Fabregas in his early days, used that tactics, its common among Spaniards, when you face a bigger rough
hefty player,hold the ball and draw foul from him, it's a freekick advantage

It is better than losing the ball, or boodying the ball away, that's what Xhaka does, small pressure baba will form strength and gbam defense is under pressure...

Busquet is the Baba in this, he doesn't lose the ball until you foul him..

kokaneprodigy:
do guys know the genesis of this Guen ish at all? Why not ask why he’s the one being picked on. You hardly see anyone pick on AMN or .

You can’t claim on one hand that he still got a lot to improve on and another hand play him as a regular starter. Some even went ahead to rate him above senior players. Can Xhaka post that 1 tackle stat and we’ll applaud?

Tbh, its only on this thread I see Guen ish, I believe even his biggest fan will tell you, he isn't a Modric/pirlo, there are still some side he has to work on, age's on his side, but his ability to be on the same plane and/or look more matured, look confident even against the big teams on big grounds than even some Senior member is why we feel he doesn't need to be condemned and crucified like some do here..most especially when you see them ignore senior men who cost/earn and are supposed to be covering inequities of our youngsters failing at their jobs.
I read comments on YouTube, AFTV, Instagram even Nairaland front page, and you don't see that much negative energy on him there like here.

solomonbrown64:
..... You don mind them.... Only De jong is superior at similar age currently as well as Van DeeVeek but they don't play the same position. His defensive awareness last season was poor but since going for youth Euros and returning, anyone can see that he is getting better at it. He recycled the ball well and if there was no connect, that was on Willock. He was the #10 yesterday and not Guen. Which was why I was not happy that Willock was used there, that isn't his position. If Ozil was there yesterday, it would have been a different game, I can't believe I am mentioning Ozil but it's true.

.... He did his job well .... look at that sweet ball over the top he gave Auba yesterday, just that the keeper got to it before he did. I want more of that for players like Auba and Pepe. But alas, some people are more knowledgeable on football matters than Shearer na. Na so we see am oh.

Even the De jong and beek, maybe they have to come do it in England, Spurs without Harry Kane, Son and orther top players showed them the English madness..
Maybe our youngsters could have got more attention and hype outside England, see Gnabry,Carlos vela,Benarcer et al
I'm not underrating them o, but Football in England ATM, is another thing..
Guen and Torreria were fire in the beginning, but saw hell from that December schedule to may.
I also love that pass he gave Auba..

Spy360:
Someone even asked why he isn't as good as Kroos and I was like...

whoa!

Our youngsters don suffer, Well it's good for them Bellerin,Iwobi and Niles grew with thick skin..

This is a player who doesn't cost us much in market and wages, can be easily sold and pass as squad player at worst..
Not even when some teams are still crying over £50 Fred, Mac tominay, Jorginho, Bakayoko and many more.

Those young lads just need quality senior men around them, see how city use zichenko and Foden.

sod09:
what did this even mean this guy hold the ball damn too long he ain't driving or making any split defence passes. Willock connected more to the team than he did yet because almighty shearer put him in his own team of the week not even EPL official site.

The formation has Willock much in advance role than Guen, so one is expected to connect more with forwards than orthers.. Some one has to hold the ball in the middle, aren't you frustrated with Xhaka releasing the ball so fast to the nearest man in fear of getting dispossessed?

sod09:
unless the opposing team get that, even papa was gentle on Sunday very unusual.

Hmmm If it gets tough, Papa will switch to wrestling, Luiz and Xhaka are my fear

MrDojo:
With VAR, Dean can't channel is attention seeking white mode. The only way the guy can fvvck us up is him he doesn't want to ref in the EPL again. Apart from that, VAR will handle him.

I think VAR will be a boon to us, we'll benefit than suffer this year.

solomonbrown64:
..... Matteo Guendouzi vs Newcastle 69 passes 86% pass accuracy 1 key pass 1 dribble won 1 tackle won 2 interceptions 3 clearances 3 aerials

.... And some haters said he did nothing special. For Shearer to pick an arsenal player in his team then he did something special. Of all the midfielders in England, Shearer picked him, an arsenal player. Some people can hate sha.

Maybe they want him to be a /Fab/Modric/pirlo over night...They talk of Mbappe and de light, how many of them teens do you see around, the top players in football world now are in their mid 20s or early 30s..
Shearer is one of the biggest football personnel in England, when he talks, you listen and learn and not a doughnut seller from Ghana on Instagram.

solomonbrown64:
....Lol....You guys are just scared of nothing. Dean hasn't really been trouble for a while now, the guy get wahala, yes but if we play our game, we go win. Na home we dey.

.... I hope Luis starts on Saturday even though Chambers was alright because we really need someone to orchestrate that passing at the back and Luiz is head and shoulders better than every defender at doing that here. Our defenders struggled very hard in doing that yesterday, it affected our way, infact it was so bad that Xhaka waved to Leno to skip the pass from the back and just boody the ball. Luiz is crucial than we realize. He must start on Saturday.

Baba don tire to dey lose ball anyhow

sod09:
penalty don sure for that game

Na Red I dey fear sef

sod09:
he tried nothing spectacular, he was one of the reasons our attack was not connecting with midfield atleast he stayed on his feet but I know 200% he won't go back to win the ball back like willock if he was the one

Yes he and no one wasn't 100%, he's still learning and will improve on that..Xhaka is a bigger headache.

solomonbrown64:
..... That's good jare ..... Congrats to Guendouzi....Baba did very well and held our midfield. He was outstanding in that match. Even Baba Ray, his number one critic here said he played well on Sunday. Anybody wey say otherwise no get eyes. Good start to the season and I hope he continues to develop.

Lol
I was even suprised to fans drag Guen and pogba on who to make TOTW..even some utd fans on that premierleague official page rated his perfomance above pogba on sunday..
Hopefully, Guen continues to impress so he can win Baba Ray's heart completely
personally, I feel good whenever our youngsters are doing well at the top level, mostly because they don't cost us from market and wages.
Fans support on Niles,Iwobi,Bellerin,Holding, Guen,Willock, Nelson and the rest aids their progression.

Mike Dean has been appointed as the referee for Saturdays first Home game of the season against Burnley.

Luiz and Xhaka straight Red..
He'll be the first to mistake Guen for Luiz, Thank God for VAR.

sod09:
I would pick willock ahead of guen
You intentionally brought this here and you happy cos he included him in the team of week fvcking shearer aka anti arsenal.
Nawa oo

But you didn't react like this when somebody brought a negative comment from a nobody on Instagram about him na?
Ofcus, I'll be happy if our players especially Youngsters gets recognition, praise and mentions for their hard work.
No problem with Willock, he's been good, I like how he won the ball back from shevley after he had been shrugged away to the touchline, that's passion, I like that, some of our oldies will just stroll or walk back.
Willock's future looks bright, with little more hard work, he will begin to get the ratings and attention in the league.

We hope to see Pepe,luiz,ceballos, Tierney and other hardworking members of the team appear on this sheet till next May.
Congrats Guen and Good luck to the lads

kokaneprodigy:
i just hope Emery knows how to train cohesion. Cos what I’m seeing ain’t different from last season. Though Chelsea lost u’ll drool at the way they moved the ball during the first half against United, the speed, interchanging moves and intent you’ll hardly see that with our team.

Slow pass me I pass you football can frustrate local men..
Maybe Ljumberg will help us address that,maybe Luiz will bring high energy to them...
Hopefully it gets better as we progress game by game.

solomonbrown64:
..... That clean sheet alone dey burst my brain because whether we like it or not, with the disjointed way we played today, we go hear am when we play them Liverpool and co.

..... Also, whether it's due to the rain or the field I don't know or the fact that most of our players are not fully match fit yet or something but we were quite slow and the intensity of last season wasn't there. The play was so slow most times, we really need to up the tempo jare, other teams no dey wait for us oh.

Leno and his defenders needed that clean sheet, conceding could have dent thier confidence and sure fans would pounce on them and Emery...
I think the disjointed play was as a result of different players playing together at a tough stage for the first time..
Chambers is new to sokratis and Niles,
Nelson and Willock are also new comers, pepe,ceba,martinelli aren't settled nor understand the culture yet..
That's why I feel by October/Nov, we'll hit the top gear.
Most important is we get 3 points here, don't forget city lost there, l.pool struggled there and our away form hasn't been good, so its a confidence booster.

Next is Burnley, another must win game, we can then try and get draw against l.pool and spurs.
No dropping of unnecessary points again.

Good 3 points today, clean sheet,away win..
Even better our bench/Youngsters with few first 11 players did it..

Our new signings will take upto sept/Oct before they hit top gear, ATM, they look disjointed, no much chemistry and cohesion...

Hopefully we start to see our original starting line up, the teenagers and squad players will do group stage of europa and cup games..

Lastly, Auba on the CF position is a bomb, he'll score 100 when pepe,ceballos and soarez/Zaha around him