₦airaland Forum

Ibime:
Boy - that got me going. Thank God Ballack is starting. Malouda for Kalou is a good decision. Keep it tight to start with. Which formation do you think Man Utd will play? 4-4-2 or 4-3-3?

Man United will play both formation. That is the fluidity United can count on while Chelsea is frigid. United may start with 4-4-2 with Hargreaves on the right wing and Ronaldo on the left wing. Carrick and Scholes to play in the middle of the pack with Rooney and Tevez leading the attack.
They can also go 4-3-3/4-5-1 with a 3-man midfield and Ronaldo playing in the attack. United will RULE.

Xerxes.:
PROBABLE TEAM.

Van Der Sar

Brown Rio Vidic Evra


Carrick

Hargreaves Scholes


Ronaldo Tevez

Rooney.

Spot on! You read Fergie's mind really well.

Ballack and Ashley Cole starts. . . . .

@ Vicade,

Don't bore me with this argument. First all, how many seasons did it take Drogba to score 33 goals in a season? Was he not bought for 24 million? It sometimes take some players time to bed in especially South Americans like Veron. U even went on to say Rooney is 23? C'mon mate, Rooney is 22 and he is a better player than Cesc or whoever at Arsenal. I saw Wayne Rooney light up the stage at Euro 2004. He was shouldering the responsibility of his country at the age of 18. Where was Cesc or Van Persie or all those mediocre players at Arsenal in 2004?


The mistake u are making here is u think it's all about goal-scoring. In your mind's eye, Adebayor is better than Dennis Bergkamp and Tevez is better than Solskjaer. For players like Rooney, what governs them is not goals but the ability to create. How many times would u see Rooney shooting straight at net when he's got a team-mate in a better position to score? However, Ronaldo will shoot from all sorts of angles. Most times he misses, sometimes he scores which explains his high goal tally this season. Compare Rooney's assists as a striker to Ronaldo's assist(winger) and lets analyse.

Saha scored 15 for Fulham before January transfer, it means Louis Saha scored 15 goals in 19 league games for a mediocre club like Fulham. What does that tell u? Is he prolific or not? I am not sure either Adebayor, Ronaldo or Torres had 15 by January this season despite their goal-crazed campaign. Did i just hear u say Adebayor is better than Van Persie? Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeesh********** that ends the argument. U have just poisoned my appetite to continue this.

@ nateevs,

I think i remember u now, u are the Chelsea fan that was on Man Utd thread last summer predicting doom whe United couldn't win a single game in their first 3 games. Unless London clubs buckle their belts, i dont see the title coming down south for a while. United is keeping it for the 11th time unless Fergie suffers heatstroke.

@ Vicade,

Please, don't compare players the way u are harping about it. Sheeeesh* Veron wasn't a flop at Man Utd. He didn't stay long enough to realise his potentials. If Adebayor had left Arsenal last season, we would all be here saying he is crap. Veron spent only 2 seasons at Man Utd, i don't think that is enough to say he is crap. Wayne Rooney? Crap!!!! It seems u don't know your football. How old was Rooney at Everton? In a season Rooney got injured three different times, i wouldn't say he is crap. Last season, he scored the same goals as Ronaldo so what is your point?

Cesc Fabregas is talent and reh reh reh. . . It took him 4 years to be what he is today. How many goals did Cesc score last season and what was his contribution? If Cesc had left last summer, u won't be saying all these things. Ballack was labelled to be a massive flop but would u say that considering his contributions in the last few weeks? Are u saying Adebayor is now better than van Persie because RVP has never scored 15 league goals in his entire career? Rooney plays for the team, Ronaldo plays for himself. So now, u can list Clichy, Toure and all those mediocre players in Arsenal as talents.

What about Torres, Van Nistelrooy, Rio, Essien,  Henry, Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo and other big money players?

@ Mc Omo,

Saha scored 20 league goals in 03/04 season. I'm sure he was close to 30 goals if u add FA cup and Carling cup goals. When Saha is fit, he delivers.

@ Vicade,

U cannot judge players like that. Both Rooney and Ronaldo are effective for Man Utd. They both need each other to function effectively. Adebayor was able to score 30 goals a season because he is the only focal point Arsenal has got. If he doesn't score, nobody else would. Put Saha in that position too with the same circumstances then he would score 30 goals or more. Granted, money might not guarantee success but NOT SPENDING money CAN NEVER guarantee success. Ferguson spent 60 million and he reaped the benefits, didn't he? Chelsea also acquired one of the best squads in Europe and they matched United toe to toe.

@ Rikkyjen,

What are u talking about here? Are u aware Arsenal charge the highest matchday ticket in the world? 95 pounds is what it costs a negro to watch a football match at the Emirates. Arsenal rakes 3 million every matchday excluding restaurant/food and drinks. A club making that much should be ready to splash money on world class players. Arsenal has to match their rivals in the transfer market to win the league title. The chances of Arsenal winning the title next season is slimmer than Debosky shagging Beyonce. No club can win the league title with kids like Ferguson did years ago. Look at Ajax and other clubs and tell me how they have fared with their kids. When big clubs come knocking their doors, selling clubs like Arsenal dont have a choice but to sell.

@ Rikkyjen,

I beg to differ. United can afford to do away with Wes Brown because of so many factors. Brown is replacable(Neviile, O'Shea, Hargreaves, Brazilian twins, Danny Simpson). Tell me, how many players have Arsenal got to replace Flamini as we speak? NONE!!!! Flamini is arguably Arsenal's most improved player this season. Wenger must have worked his socks off to get Flamini develop in this manner. Why on earth did he sell him when he should be reaping his benefits? U get the drift now? U cannot really compare the situation in Man Utd to Arsenal. They have a very lean squad which makes any starting XI player more valuable. Before the end of the season, we all agreed Arsene should have bought 3-5 players in January, if he starts losing players now, he will need 12 by August.

@ Cristalz,

Debosky is ill. I have forgiven him for making outrageous comments he cannot defend.

tboy1:
At the price i'm hearing barca wants to sell Etó, wenger will rather play Senderos up front

U can add Eboue and Fabianski to the forward line as well. Wenger to buy Etoo? He will have to sell 3/4 of his starting XI to afford Etoo.

@ A-40,

I am the English champion. Don't even think about it. What platform do u play on? Xbox or PS? I do FIFA 08 on PS3. Can u crack that with me?

@ HNIC,

I am not making any theories. These are well known fact and discussion every pub/bar u go in London these days.

@ A-40,

One of y'all should connect ur playstations online. I feel like whupping some sorry Arses on the net. Debosky, A-40, and Ritchboy should please take action.

@ Nightrider,

Lets hope Wenger gets it right this time with his buys. It's becoming boring with United winning back to back again.

@ tboy1,

I am not bashing Arsenal. Far from it!!!!! Just highlighting where problems might crop up as your fans on this forum have decided to ignore the truth. Wenger is an experienced manager and fans expect him to sort it out. Lets have a stiff challenge next season not the muppetry i was fed in 2007/08. I knew Arsenal's would fail to win the Prem around october.

Uby40:
@ Hucarson

if u were up to date, u would know Barca are bearly 24hrs away from landing Danial Alves for 26m dollars. the only stock left in the right back market now is Micah richards of ManCity. and it would take mountain of fire's intervention to seal that deal, i'd suggest u guys start looking for local dudes like Dolphin's right back, that guy is good, esp in conceding freekicks and penalties.

Man Utd is not too keen. There are more than 5 options on that right wing. Brazilian twins, Wes Brown, Gary Neville, Owen Hargreaves and even John O'Shea. United is packed to the hilt. If Alves moves else where, United will just about manage it and win another title next season.

@ tboy1,

Can u guys see the situation now? It's becoming desperate for Wenger. After William Gallas' petulant display after the Birmingham game, a change is surely due. Gallas won't take it well, but Fabregas or Kolo Toure are far better suited to the role and if Wenger keeps faith with the French defender (as he did with Thierry Henry last season), then he is doing more harm than good. Should Gallas fails to hold on to his captaincy, he might also decide to leave this summer. This is why everyone thinks Arsenal is cracking. Rallying the boys back after starting the season impressively is a big challenge on it's own. Any extra brouhaha will just plunge the club into deep crisis.

How can one win the treble with luck? Winning the Premiership cannot be regarded as luck, let alone adding the FA cup and the champions league. @ the Camp Nou, United missed Roy Keane and Paul Scholes(the duo destroyed the Italian giants on their way to the final). David Beckham had to play as a central midfielder and the whole team was unbalanced. If Bayern were a good team, they should have buried the game before United's come back.

@ Eldee,

This is not about Flamini. I just don't like the way Arsenal fans feel Flamini's exit is not a shocker and won't be be catastrophic. Debosky and Loyika are pretending as if they all knew Flamini would leave and their non-challance makes me wanna puke. Why can't fans of Arsenal stare reality in the face and scream Bleep WENGER!!!!

@ Debosky,

Stop acting stupid. The whole forum is reading this debate. Don't let them conclude early that u are demented. Eboue had a stunning season at right-back before the arrival of Bacary Sagna, yet he is sorely out of his depth on the wing - never once looking like he'd provide a telling cross or even score a goal. Indeed Wenger's blind faith in the Ivorian, coupled with the sale of Lassana Diarra to Portsmouth in January, can be seen as a major contributing factor to Arsenal's capitulation. Granted, the club has dealt well with departures before: when Patrick Vieira left it gave Fabregas a chance to shine, likewise Emmanuel Adebayor has blossomed after coming out of the shadow of Thierry Henry. Yet, having to plug the gaps coming from unexpected departures this summer, Wenger may be blinded by the fact that his squad needs more strength in depth. The cracks are beginning to show at the Emirates even before Flamini's shocker.

@ Dayokanu,

U don't win the treble with luck. Beating Juventus, Inter and Bayern Munich is more hardwork than luck to me.

@ tboy1,

Arsene lacks tactical acumen. His persistence to play Eboue on the right wing helped the capitulation of Arsenal's season. With an injury to the impressive Sagna coming in the club's most crucial run of games, Wenger's decision to shift Kolo Toure to right-back upset the balance of the side and exposed a startling lack of depth. Diarra could have filled in and would have also taken over the mantle from Flamini in central midfield, but chose to join the Redknapp revolution instead. Wenger will be counting on Alexander Song to fill in the void left by Diarra and Flamster but i believe experience is needed in the spine of the team if Arsenal are to stiffen their defensive resolve. Eboue should have been played in Sagna's position when Sagna got injured. Is Arsene Wenger mentally-ill?

@ Debosky,

Are u high on cess? Where is Jackal? Do u still live in your fool's paardise thinking Huca is Jackal? Why ain't i surprised? An average gunner is dumb, deaf and dyslexic. It makes me laugh when u compare legends like Stam, Ballack, Heinze to Flamini. A player that won no medal at Arsenal and was forced to leave because Arsenal won't increase his wages. Whats the basis for comparison? Did Heinze leave because of money? Heinze left because of Evra and Fergie sold him to Madrid. Remember Heinze's preferred choice was Liverpool.

@ HNIC,

It's left to Arsene to rally his boys back. I am just concerned for ma girlfriend that supports Arsenal. She's heartbroken, cries everynight because the joke of a gaffer that makes decisions at Arsenal is a nutter. August 31st u say, i will be waiting patiently to see who your gaffer buys. Get back to me in August and i will tell u where Arsenal will finish next season.

@ Loyika,

David Beckham didn't leave. Ferguson hocked him off when he started the prima donna bollocks. In Ferguson's 22 years at Old Trafford, Ferguson has only lost a player he wanted to stay. Stam, Keane, Ince, Ruud, Beckham, Butt, Smith and others were hocked off. Flamini left for money? YES. In these modern times, money is very important. Wenger should go take man-management courses at Old Trafford. How does Fergie keep those prima donnas happy? CR7 cannot leave Man United now. The only thing that can push Ronaldo to Spain is if CQ and AF leaves Man United. Cristiano is happy shagging his Brazilian sissies in Manchester and the weather is improving in the UK now. Metrologists say UK will be as hot as Lagos in the next few years, happy days!!!!

@ Loyika,

Scholes is from Manchester and a product of the academy same as Giggsy. Ronaldo/Pique and whoever are bloody foreigners. Do u really see Scholes and Giggs playing else where apart from Man United? It seems you are deluded. Pique is a squad member and even when Vidic was out injured, Ferguson moved Brown to CB and played Hargreaves as a RB. Pique is nowhere near the finished product yet but FLAMINI is. We are talking about the dude that stopped KAKA from playing. Fellas, appreciate!!! If United fail to win the champions league, Ronaldo will stay and try to win it before considering any transfer. For these players, it's the challenge that drives them. Henry had to move when it was obvious he cannot get better than what he has done in the past. Arsenal fans, THINK!!!

HNIC:
@ huc

What kind of logic are u spewing?
Flamini only broke into arsenal's first 11 this season.
I doubt if u knew who he was prior to last season
and may I remind u for the upteenth time that he is the only one that has LEFT.
Mentioning Cesc and Hleb wanting to leave makes u look ridiculous.
Hleb has only said he's tired of London's chaotic life and Cesc has said he remains a gunner.
Contrast that to Evra sweating over contract talks(the ni#@a works his a** off for manure but still gets peanuts) and to perhaps your best player, Ronnie coming out to say he could be on his way to Madrid .
I wonder what your point is!!!
Flamster didn't win anything with Arsenal,what guarantee is their that he would even play at all at AC Milan?
Then dude,quit talking about Flamster.Is he your football hero? Even arsenal has moved on,

Keep twisting the facts! Does it matter when a player broke into the 1st team? Wes Brown broke into the 1st team this season so does that make him unimportant? The point is: Flamster left for the wrong reasons and Arsenal should be ashamed for letting an anchorman like that leave on a free transfer. Evra's contracts will be extended. He is the only left back we have got. Silvestre is moving to Bordeaux. Ronaldo can go to Madrid or Barcelona as long as he wins the champions league. Fergie will sell him at 80 and get Messi. Flamini left and who has Wenger acquired to replace him? Wilson Oruma.

@ Loyika,

Don't be a dumb gooner. If Ronaldo wins the Champions league, i will sanction his move to Spain. He has acheived everything achievable. Player of the season(twice), Golden boot, 2 EPL medals, FA Cup, Carling Cup so what else? Now, lets compare that to Flamini, Hleb, or Cesc. What have they won since joining Arsenal? Nothing. Gerard Pique is not in the United starting XI. He didn't even get a premiership medal so that should tell u he is just a squad member.

@ tocdee,

Don't compare the circumstances of Ferguson in 1986 to Benitez in 2004. Ferguson took over a relegating club(a la Derby, Fulham, Reading). He started from scratch and relied heavily on his academy to provide the spine of the new Man Utd team. Benitez started by buying Cisse, Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso etc. There's a huge difference in that. Capice?

@ Loyika,

How old were Kanu, Campbell and Lauren when they left Arsenal? How old is Flamini and Hleb and maybe Cesc now? These are your first team members. . . . .It's like Rooney, Evra, Vidic wanting to leave now. . .why would they want to leave? All your players keep complaining about one thing: LACK OF AMBITION.

@ HNIC,

It's simple! Arsenal became the laughing stock of the public when they failed to win anything in the last 3 seasons. This is the same club Wenger told the fans will rule England for years to come. What is the point in developing players for years and then allowing em to go? Keane, Stam, Ruud, Beckham all achieved something at Man Utd before leaving. . . .Tell us what Flamini achieved? Emirates cup?

@ Loyika,

I am not leaving this thread until u tell us what ur club aims to achieve in 2008/09 season. FA Cup or the Premiership title?

@ Loyika,

I cannot let it slide. Arsenal will continue to fail as a club until some certain issues are reviewed. Motivation is the key. A manager should not expect these bunch of mercenaries to be contented with pea-nuts. Of course, Wenger will replace Flamini or whoever that decides to leave. I saw him on ArsenalTV boasting over 251 players have called his fone since Flamini left. Its one thing for 200 players to call a manager and it's anutha thing for 2 of them to be sterling quality. We shall see what pans out. Samuel Etoo to join Arsenal? 16/1 odds.

@ Moderator,

Can u flipping move the threads u have locked to the recycle bin section. It becomes frustrating when one cannot comment on 90% of the threads on sports as u have locked it. Once u know a thread is meaningless, please lock it and remove it from the sports section. There's no point reading what one cannot comment on.

@ Loyika,

Dont even come to this party with a trick dice. Patients in the psychiatric hospital know danger looms at the Emirates. It's only a matter of time before things blow out like nitro and i will be here to remind u. The sillyness about your comment centres around comparing the circumstances surrounding the exit of Stam, Keane, Beckham, Ruud and Heinze to Flamini.   The players that left Man Utd did so not because of the money. Virtually everyone that left Arsenal in the last half decade left because the money wasn't good enough/the club have no ambition. Smell the coffee, amigo!!!

@ HNIC,

Double standard? Did i smell one? This was the same u that was analysing Evra's upper-cut aimed at Chelsea's groundsmen some weeks ago. U went on to analyse how United are falling apart under pressure and why u think Fergie will not win any trophy. I get chuffed to bits whenever i read the silly rants coming from the Emirates camp. Arsene Wenger has declared his interests again in ur perennial tournament. Amsterdam cup and the Emirates cup seems to be the only trophy Arsenal can win nowadays. What a shame!!!!

@ HNIC,

Enuff said. I agree with u, there's no crisis at Arsenal. Wenger will win the quadruple next season. Adebayor to bang in 50 goals, Fabregas will score more than 45 goals to break Ronaldo's goal record for a midfielder. Carlos Vela is the new Ronaldinho. Arsenal will go on and win the league by January 2009 with a massive 45 points ahead of others. Expect to see more beautiful and sexy football at the Emirates. The kind of football that will stop global warming with a team that has the average age of 18!!!!! Are u guys happy now? Schmukz!!!!!

Cristalz:
@debo
Now i'm really tempted to say 'dumb Arse'. Have all gaynners suddenly lost the ability to comprehend fully? I'm gettin really tired of repeating myself as y'all have all become quite myopic.

When did i say 'Henry is the best?' When did i deny Becks wanted to leave? Jeez! You've succeeded in ignoring the questions i asked,the facts i pointed out,and veered your Arse-loving self into a ditch.Who cares what happened to your runaway players after they left Arsenal?The point is,they left.Also why and when they left.

Henry,Pires,Vieira,and co left because the club was becoming way too sucky,and AW didn't care so much if they stayed or not.In fact,i'm not even going to repeat myself anymore.Reasoning with a gaynner has always been a futile effort.Dude,when you've got more worthwhile contributions to make,buzz moi.Till then,go over to Romance or something

Romance? He should go self-service off with a brand new KY Jelly.