₦airaland Forum

AdisaOwala:
Are you sure you have not been overating Alagolo Boateng all this while?

We can now at least understand these people's viewpoint. I've always wondered why mediocrity would be given popularity on this thread, I guess we all get the drift now

CFCman:
In those 5 festive fixtures, Chelsea should garner at least 11 points (possibly dropping points at Crystal Palace and at home to Stoke).

Anything less than 11 points would be disappointing, and lead to a tighter title race .

I see no reason why we shouldn't eviscerate Stoke on the last day of the year. They aren't as stubborn as they used to be. Palace on the other hand aren't here or there, If we must show them some respect, then we're bound to leave Selhurst Park with the maximum points.

15 points gabadai!

I promised to kick-off the "Chelsea for the title" campaign if we turn-up against Spuds and Citeh. And here you have it, we are winning the league.

It is pretty obvious EPL managers and teams are still flummoxed with Conte's approach. They are having hard times deciphering how to stop us and that can only be to our own advantage b'cos the longer it takes to understand how to stop us, the quicker we close on the title.

I am really impressed with the work-rate of this team and above all the character they put up today. That is simply champions' stuff. Luiz to me has improved by many miles and this isn't even about the hackneyed 'the tactics is helping him' claim. Dude looks way serious than he has ever been in his playing career. For some reasons he has my man-of-the-match award. Another positive to take home is the fact that Costa seems to be a changed man. He is scoring for fun and as well is making peace amid brawls. If you ask me, I'll say he is firing us to the title.

There is just a problem - our left-wing back. I clearly identified him as our weakest link weeks ago and that was proven correct today. He seems to be too sloppy retreating and his response is quite suspect. Navas and KDB were whipping in all manner of crosses from his end and if not for good defending and City's profligacy we could have conceded more. Cahill might be getting an understandable level of flak for that own-goal but it must not be forgotten that it was Alonso who was particularly at fault for being far too central when that cross was delivered.

That said, this team is simply good for the title. What I can only dread at the moment is an injury to Costa.

Our next five games this festive month would see us entertain; West Brom (h), Sunderland (A), Crystal Palace (A), Bournemouth (H), Stoke (H). I don't see any reason why we shouldn't move into 2017 on top of the table. It would only be a question of, how wide is the margin?

Let's KTBFFH!

hensben:
we should be playing matic against small team and fab against big team.

I don't even understand this assertion. Matic brings a lot of steel to our game, so why should that be reserved for the smaller folks?

Yet to record a shot on target, we are simply shut-out. I'd prefer a 3-5-2 at this stage. We need to take control of this game.

Same weakness - left-wing back.

I knew this was going to be bad without Matic. Cesc is trapped in a no-man's land. Can we grab one back?

afrodoc2:
I don't know about you but 56 is waaaay more than 7 especially when Mr 56 also has 10 goals against World Cup teams while Mr 7 is padding stats against never do wells like El Salvador, Ecuador and Wales that had not even smelled World Cup in decades.

It is finished!

Ibime:
Is Matic injured?

Omo match don cast.

Conte indicated on Friday that one or two of his players were carrying injuries and would need to be assessed before he named his team. Guess Matic is on that list.

This is a problem for us. Kante-Matic are midfield behemoths and they have had us ticking over the past few weeks. It is yet to be seen how Cesc copes against the likes of Gundogan, Fernandinho and Toure.

First time in a long time we're traveling North to face City and im so confident. I believe a draw would do just fine. Our next 4 games are quite easy fixtures, so the chances of finishing this year on top is very wide. Just a draw against City!

I hear say we dey face sanction from the FA for a scandal that transpired in 1970.

Could something that happened several decades ago and involved a hierarchy that are long since gone, be an influencing factor on what the future may hold for our club?

AdisaOwala:
https://www.nairaland.com/920248/official-chelsea-fan-thread-pride/1604

More of such posts can be found there...

There's a sharp distinction between international punditry and local punditry. You can't compare what Gary Neville brings to the table to what Mr Raumdeuter brings to this board.

One analyses from experience while the other analyses from footages he saw in the 70s. One analyses based on good knowledge of the game whilst the other analyses based on hunches hence the steady stream of inaccuracies and contradictory claims we see every now and then.

There is always a sharp distinction.

Emaprince:
I can't really disagree with him. Especially being short at left-back.

If there are players there who are not supposed to be in a title winning team, I can't tell. Yeah we had average players like Moses, Alonso, Cahill... and pedro who was a headless chicken.. but this new system is bringing out the best in them.

As far as the players are adhering to instructions and winning games, what more can we ask for?

Nwanne free Redknapp, man is high on some cheap crack. When Leicester dey run away with the title with average joes like Fuchs, Simpson, Drinkwater, Ulloa, Morgan etc, we no hear im voice.

A 3-4-3 midfield doesn't even require flair, all that is needed is discipline and better workrate.

No be the same Harry wey talk say Victor Moses na young English prospect. Man is never too far from crack.

diggz:
Omo mehn.......the best news ever today......

My one and only Queen just gave me a little Princess......

Cc Raumdeuter
Nihilist
Ibime
Nateevs
Chelseafan1
Griffon
Emaprince
Hensben(no go give ur side chic belle oo )
Tval
FBS
Lalaboi
Lana1
Sinizia.......

Make una no vex say I no upload picture, I no want any vile human being to misyarn.....

Congratulobia my brother. Train that lady up well, make her a star and a Chelsea fan.

macjireh:
I want to solemnly beg conte to use a 4man defence against city,,, totham almost exploited our 3defenders till iva was brought in, they would have scored if they were clinical enough.... my heart virtually left its position, thank God we won,, but if we try 3defenders against city,, they will rape us... pls conte do d needful abeg

I'm here to do the needful.

It looked like Spuds were exploiting us cos they understood how our system works. Our formation is very strong against central attacks but can award space to the opposition down the flanks. Pochettino understood this and informed his boys to attack us via our weakest links. Good we came out clean with that albeit we had to concede a goal in the process.

Against Citeh, we don't have to revert to any damned 4-man backline, that would be panicking. A system that has fetched you seven consecutive victories can't just go wrong in one day.

Aguero is their biggest threat. He is the focal point of the team and I dread him like I dread fvcking a hoe without protection. So I would hope Luiz and co. do a yeoman job on that day. It is also important that one central midfielder gets to cover in the defensive spots if a central defender is sucked out side to pressure the ball.

It would be interesting to see how the midfield battle goes. Wanyama almost had us sodomised today because he was afforded the space to play his game. We can't afford to present Gundogan and sons with such luxury. Kante and Matic must stay disciplined and focused to win this.

We have been playing to our strength and I'm glad about that. The boys upfield are on fire and with Stones at Citeh's back, we can only hope to have our way.

We conceded for the first time in 601 minutes and I'm honestly not surprised. Before this game, I stressed that this and the Citeh games are our biggest tests, given the fact that the two teams know how to press very well. And that with the right organisation is all you need to punish us.

I'm glad we passed this stern test, but we must not forget that there is a sterner test ahead.

A win or a draw at Etihad would see me kick-off the 'Chelsea-for-the-title' campaign. It might be too early though for such fantasies but fvck it, who is there to stop us?

Nihilist:
Jokes aside, it's pretty clear that Barcelona seem to be offering these tax avoidance schemes to their top players as incentives to sign new contracts.

Basically the way it works is this. Each player has a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) salaried contract with his club whereby the club pays their player a fixed annual salary which is subject to income tax. In the UK, anybody earning over 150k a year is liable to remit 45% of his earnings back to the government in Income Tax. So basically half your Salary belongs to Iya Charlie.

Many Top Players are themselves valuable brands and their images are particular useful marketing tools for their clubs and other businesses. Unlike football which is a service that the Club plays their player to render, the rights to use an image are a commodity that can be sold. So what a lot of these players do is setup a limited company and transfer their image rights to the company. That way, any club that want's to use their image has to buy the image rights from the Player's company which is legally a separate entity to the player himself.

Companies are taxed very differently to Individuals. In the UK, Companies pay Corporation Tax at 20%, which is only tax on any declared profit.

Already you can see the attractiveness of getting payments to your company rather than getting paid a salary. So i think Barcelona are offering their players higher amounts of money to sign new contracts by paying their players lower salaries, but buying their image rights for significantly huge amounts....and now the Spanish Government are pissed.

This is a very good angle, quite valid.

Antell95:
Rivals in football shouldn't go beyond football..


I've learnt something from Donald Trump..


You expected "Hello friends" but it changes nothing



please vote for me but City Will whip you at Stamford bridge next week

I will wait till the cows come home

Antell95:
Hello Rivals, I need una help.. At least for the fact that I'll be rooting for you guys against those so-called unbeaten blokes...please i need your votes and comments here https://www.nairaland.com/3484738/hub-nigeria-selfie-contest#51355530

Are you seriously soliciting for help with the phrase 'Hello rivals'? Who does that? You are at our mercy dawg!

Your incentive isn't even good enough. Rooting for us against Spurs doesn't mean a thing, I'm pretty sure some die-hard fans of Arsenal who hate us to the bone would love to watch us beat Spuds.

Then your signature, mehn! Bruh just leave this thing and pick up a course in marketing.

NegusNagast:
Blame the greedy nature of humans and not the taxing system. The taxing system works fine, the criminal nature of humans to eat their cakes and have it is the ultimate downfall of these greedy lot. They get paid in millions, live in posh apartments, drive latest automobiles, fly private jet, but to contribute to the running of the country by contributing their bit from the bulging accounts of theirs, they refuse. Greedy lot. I have no pity for any one found guilty. The poor man pays taxes, why can't the rich men follow suit?

I don't think this has anything to do with the rich failing to pay. Ronaldo is rich and we've not heard of him being charged with tax evasion. So let's place aside the Robin Hood ideal in this.

What I think is the real issue is, why are these scandals Barcelona related? You don't get to hear that a Real Madrid player is being charged with tax evasion, not even the boys from Athletico, so why Barcelona?

As a top franchise, aren't they supposed to create corporations that would protect the interest of their players? Or are they heavily involved in this evasions?

If an individual income-tax rate is high in Spain that their players can't afford to comply, what stops Barca from using corporations to service these debts?

Does it mean that Barcelona have zero knowledge of how the system works or that they can't afford to hire smart tax accountants and attorneys to do a good job for them and their players?

I don't even get it. How does taxing work in Spain?

Are there stringent measures or rigorous standards of paying up in place that makes it almost difficult for one to comply?

Eto'o is facing ten years jail terms over this over-flogged issue, Neymar and Messi are still running around with their lawyers over same issue.

Caveat Emptor!

This space una don collectively purchase fit collapse anytime soon.

airmark:

I am still trying to figure out that special thing the iranian did that made that useless defender to hit his mouth on the ground like this.

[img]http:///media/11-24-2016/FhAi4_.gif[/img]

I've learnt not to question people's life decisions and choices. Boateng has decided to keep displaying masochistic behaviours. Airmark, we have no right to question the young man's choice

barackohandso:
Hehehehehehehehehe


Falling at your feet will do just fine then

I just don't know how much falling a player can take before he eventually stays on the ground for good

The Indians weren't allowed to participate at the 1950 world cup 'cos they wanted to play on bare feet, now what do we make of Boateng who has decided to keep playing with invicible slippers?

barackohandso:
Wow, seems a lot of falling is being done by Boateng these days
DJ please play me "Don't let me fall" by B.O.B.
Dedicated to Boateng

Sorry bruv, there is no way we are playing you that song. Boateng must keep falling.

When his fanboys on this board who I believe are afflicted with neurotic maladies of the gravest species went comparing him with greats like Terry, Maldini etc, they forgot they were stupidly risking the wrath of the gods.

These are the repercussions, so allow him to suffer. Ever since those hind-sight comparisons were raised, I've honestly lost count of how many times Jerome booked a place in the realm of meadows. It is either he's doing a kumbayaya stunt or he's droping like the naira.

Sorry we can't afford to refund you your ticket fee, can you make do with the crowded house's 'Falling at your feet'? This lovely rock song was performed in the 90s for moments like this!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id6fyY8CUkk

In event a civil war breaks out, I am solidly with Team Luiz. Hopefully, I would get a chance to shake hands with my old friend Nihilist after the war, that is if I don't get to blow off his head with my newly acquired RPG before then.

pkasso:
As the most central of the three CBs, he is tasked with shutting down opposition strikers and building attacks from the back. They say Luiz can't defend, yet he has shackled Vardy, IBRA, pocketed Austin, Lukaku and Negredo. Bad belle no go allow people talk truth. Awon football Einsteins.

Now this is nothing but the cold-blooded gospel truth.

Nihilist:
I don't doubt that, that's why I don't expect them to play for the Eagles

Bruv Iwobi is an outlier. If he didn't have Super Eagles royalty in his family, I doubt he would have considered playing for us sef. We can't tempt the likes of Ikechi Anya, Moses Odubajo, Dominic Iorfa, Jordon Ibe, Keshi Anderson, Sheyi Ojo et al to play for us and these aren't exactly superstars. Is it Tammy Abraham that is the flavour of the month that we'll now get?

My boy has options via England and Ireland. If he came to me and said he wanted to play for Naija, I will slide tackle him and end his career myself.

Lmao! It is not like you can even slide tackle. Don't go ending your own career in the process

Well, Pinnick sounds so confident. Let's see where this goes.

Tammy and Iheanacho's partnership go make sense sha.

Nihilist:
So far it's only the rubbish ones that choose naija though. Iwobi being the exception.

Alli is so ashamed of his naija roots that he removed his surname from his Jersey. Ogbonna had only his green passport till he was 18 and he still chose to play for Italy

It's the same in Rugby sef. Did you know Nigeria has a rugby union team? I didn't even know until last year when I saw Nigeria's rugby seven side at an invitational. And there several Nigerians in the game at top level all choosing to play for England. It is what it is.

Pinnick can yarn all he wants. If you're half good, you play for England. Only the dross and leftovers play for Eagles.

I never knew they had a rugby team. I would even argue that one doesn't exist

Truth is, I'd gladly accept to start these 'dross' players ahead of the niggas who ply their trades in some lord forsaken leagues. Most of these 'dross' players are owned by top teams in Europe and you can be rest assured that their football education is on point.

Iwobi had that education and was given a chance and he took it. You can see the star he is today.

The likes of Tammy and Ovie have been on the books of Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, for quite a long while, there is no denying the fact that they've got something to offer. If these lads are entirely 'dross' as you put it, I don't think they would have been retained at top franchises like Chelsea and Liverpool.

They are receiving good football education there and Nigeria would just benefit from it.

I even heard that Germany-born Akpoguma who captained the Germany-U20 side at the last world cup is very much in the sight of the national team selectors of Naija. And he is receiving his football education at Hoffeinheim.

I fucking hate this country, believe me, but I think these they are doing is just right for her football.

That said, what would be your decision if your son turns out to be another 'dross' player who isn't considered good enough for the Three Lions? Forget SE?

I've never fancied Alonso's defending. He's too sloppy for this league. I suggested Ake getting recalled or Chelsea bringing on board Wolfsburg's Ricardo Rodriguez (I am his biggest fan).

Meanwhile, NFF chief, Pinnick, is coming in with a strong claim. Check this out:

"What we are trying to do is what we call VIP scouting – talking to these young players that are playing abroad to play for their father land.”

"If you talk about Tammy Abraham, he is like my son, his father and I grew up in the same neighborhood.

“So when they talk about him, I just laugh because I know what to do. As for Ovie Ejaria, I talk with the father often, he just called me recently. These are people we have met and they are all excited about Nigeria.

Ovie Ejaria has played for England's Under-20s

“I am yet to see a Nigerian that is regretting being a Nigerian. No Nigerian, even if they have four or five passports, they are always excited being Nigerians. I can assure you that we shall get them to play for us at the appropriate time."

Golden era?