₦airaland Forum

daveP:
The departures is what's making me believe he just might get it. Abi he wan leave Kai and Jesus as CF? I wantu cut him that slack. But he fit shock us by wasting the slack😹😹😹

Rem i kept saying this team is built for that kind of 9. Infact if haaland dey Arsenal, he fit outscore his City Tally solely based on how we play and not what he plays. But I'll reduce my expectations. It is just that campaign is long and UCL no be beans either. Top defenders that will give Kai hell dey UCL. Not to talk of our wingers.

Cala and GM/Trossard replicating their own gel that will make us forget Saka-White? I want to see that so bad.

I've doubt that Haaland might thrive in this our setup like Man City Sha but I agree, Havertz needs to be more stronger and show more presence.

Tbh ehh, I just want our two sides to be working and goals to be coming everywhere as it did last season. Once that happens, then I can fully vouch for Haaland or Haaland type to gel here

Ijustwantto:
Lol. No ucl, no party!
If they are calling the big boys (clubs), no come out ooooo

Go and tell that to Awoniyi and Aina in Nottingham forest and dey slap that your mouth

DeeScan:
that's not true ..


By the way Arne slot hasnt lost a game .. Hope you've been informed..

😁😁😁

Check Ange postecoglue last season and tell me how many matches he won straight before faltering?

I no dey shaken for two games when it's a new coach on board.

Just Match day 2 and you dey shine teeth laidis. Ahh!!

airmark:
Where did you see Arsenal in my post? You haven't even won Epl since 2004, why would I use you as example when Conte's Chelsea is there to use. Sit down.

Then why are you always saying Arsenal and Chelsea have same number of big chances and all those your explanations?

Abi you dey only compare to arsenal when e convenient for you?

daveP:
Notice that we had 3 shirts just as Martinelli was about to cross, yet no good jumper to meet the perfect cross. The fact that it was 3 dey vex me. Cos all we need is 2 sef to punish those defenders if we get better aerial threat.


Also notice that this very spot is the precise spot for a cross to a 9 that will accurately turn goal no matter how the defenders do their thing. But once again...
The idea is to be a thorn that makes the defenders commit and eventually a pk comes out. We all know the pass went to GM and it ended up being a waste las las.

Infact from that position alone, White can be raking up assists and that will reduce prime pressure and give Saka more space and hence, our advantage.

Lastly, I'll be watching keenly our outside box shots this season.

Do you know that Arteta/arsenal plays zonal Positional football?

Lemme see if I can explain it briefly and without making it long:
It's a situation in pitch where every zones in the field is being occupied by at least one player in the pitch and there should not be more than intended people at a particular zone. Rotations can be allowed but more than intended (max 2 I read) must not be in a particular zone. I read the field in colney (their training ground) is marked/demarcated with vertical lines for the players to properly assimilate the zones

Now the importance of this is to make us quickly counterpress and fall back into shape once ball is lost. There's a reason we're one of the best out of possession teams(OOP team) in England.

Why did I bring this up?

if we have more players there (like you said), don't you think that it will affect the shape and zonal structure in the team and might make us susceptible to counter attack?

There's a reason I always say Martinelli should calm down. What he's doing (in terms of that cross) is good but perhaps it's not right and it's not working due to the team's tactical system hence he should learn to play within the team's tactical system.

Have you noticed Saka's crosses (his backpost cross) and how it's relatively different yet productive and effective compared to Martinelli's own?

There's a big reason why one of them can't be benched sha

airmark:

He is already shinning in your faces.

Not yet tbh...

He needs to do it consistently cos I'm certain that it's after 15matches again that you'll start disturbing about Madueke

airmark:
He wasn't the one that asked me to request for Sterling to be chased away in order for Madueke to be playing regularly and a new LWF to be bought.

Teams will start to sit deep against us and double up on Madueke and other winger, that's where a prolific striker will be crucial. I believe Maresca can't be deceived by yesterday's result as Wolves thought we would be wasteful like last season and left their rear.

You always bring arsenal for comparison sometimes so I want to ask:
Which prolific striker did Arsenal have last season?
Is it prolific striker that's making us scoring 5 goals consistently last season?
Even your Chelsea, was it prolific striker that makes you guys scored 6 goals ystdy?

I'm not against prolific striker but good supporting casts is the way to go. With good supporting cast and good tactical system, you can break up any low block teams easily. Forget all these doubling up of wingers.

And before you call Haaland, know that Man City have been obliterating teams and setting records before the purchase of Haaland.
Liverpool with false 9 firmino have been obliterating teams just because of good supporting cast.

Just so you know...

daveP:
Well said. I think it's because of the cover duties ingrained in him that's why. Merino might just fit that LHS clicking. Rice is still loading sha. The way Partey lost duels vs Rogers that game made Rice to just stay. I trust Emery. If na Zinny start, they'll focus on his win taya. That lb lockup tilted mentality in our favor.

Last season before he chop injury and bench, those crosses reach 30 o. Everytime i see them i imagine a Haaland or Osimhen at the receiving end. At least those ones fit rake in 16goals due to how perfect those crosses are weighed. If we get better AM, those back posts passes go just dey net dey go.

I don't know whether Merino will play DM or Lcm if he starts. That's something I'll look forward to in order to see his role.
The presence of Cala should help Martinelli cos he's attacking minded. With time I believe that LHS will liven but more still depends on Martinelli to make it work sha especially in his decision making.

There's a reason I never wanted Zinny to start even for all his attacking qualities cos I fully know that Emery will exploit there and that was what Emery fully wanted. That Lb lockup saved a lot of pressure on the defence

Lol, I would have really liked a good striker that'll gel in this team but bro, I've zeroed my mind from it cos I know that's not what Arteta wants so why thinking up fantasies?
If I don't do that, I'll be very disappointed and I'll just advise you to take such step too. Na why I dey hope for a very good winger, esp now that Viera is gone and hopefully Nketiah or Nelson or both will follow soon.

BlueRayDick:


We've really come a long way; We no longer want to face teams like Crystal palace and begin to feel jittery. That time, once Zaha see Mustafi like this he dey always get joy unlimited.

Tbh, the only team I deh get doubt to beat is Man City. Before Liverpool was there too but since the disbandment of prime Salah firmino and mane, I no longer fear them.

During those times ehh, na from Man u to Chelsea to Brighton to Crystal palace to wolves. It's even worse if we're playing away cos we must certainly collect.

Omorr, we've come a long way. Our only prayer is to make it count (which I believe)

BlueRayDick:
That's why each time I see Chelsea fans doing the Defence vs Attack debate on their thread, I just laugh silently.

They obviously don't know how terrible things can be with a bad defensive structure. Under Emery, I remembered we faced 31 shots vs Watford; as in 4cking Watford o. In that very match we were leading 2-0 until Papasthapopulous gifted the watford player a goal with his wrong pass and David Luiz caused a stupid penalty that led to their equalizer.

Anybody that has lived through those times will understand the kind of Joy Gabriel and Saliba dey give us with their partnership. As it stands, we have played 10 away games in 2024 calender year, won 9, draw 1, scored 30 goals and conceded only 3.

Watford was the highest but even before Watford I know say we deh concede 20+ shots frequently like say we be one relegation threatened team. Leno was on top form that era so he made some of those scorelines looks fair.


Omorr, that bolded is crazy. Really crazy. It just proves how far we've come and It's really really great to see. My own be say anything wey Raya deh take this season, make him talk am out so that we fans go provide an in quantum

germaphobe:
baba fit talk wetin he wan talk but we know what we saw and even Arteta got the message. Nelli have been wasteful and even himself knows it.

Arteta literally said he knows Trossard was upset though like any diplomatic coach he chose to talk about the positive part of the 'upset' and used it to praise Trossard.

But then, it's also good for Trossard to downplay that his "celebration", more like damage control stuff.

He passed his message. Message passed. That's the most important thing (as long as he downplayed the notion publicly)

germaphobe:
It was a nice ride with him, I totally enjoyed it from a distance

BlueRayDick:
🥹🥹🥹

When you no get good defenders, you go deh argue defence vs attack


I remember when we dey do our own defence vs attack here when we get those rubbish defenders. (I know say I deh among those wey deh for pro attack and bad defence. Thankfully I know better now)

Omorr, Saliba and Gabriel no know wetin dem don do for Arsenal fans' lives. Those two Saliba interceptions in both halves and Raya save was what really gave our attack hope to go for all 3 points. That Saliba first half interception is world class. How he read that situation... Geez!!!!

FBS:
Na when we dey play you guys sef?

Noni is coming

Lmaoo...
Cos of 6-2??

Where was this mouth last week??

Spy360:
On second thought

It's possible for Trossard to start without risking his defensive output

We can focus on creating from the right with Saka and Odegaard and then allowing Trossard to drift from the left towards the centre as we saw in the goal

Then when out of possession, Rice can be the cover for the LB while either Havertz or Trossard himself can cover the middle spot

Goes back to what I said that it's all tactical

Cc Jo.dera, D.avep

You just finally arrived to all what we're saying. Whether you wrap it under tactical or not is another debate on its own.

The koko is that if Martinelli keeps on messing up, he'll be benched sooner rather than later. Na just the potential of what he can brings that's still keeping him in starting lineup but there's a limit to rubbish a coach can take.

daveP:
A more experienced coach would have benched Nelli by now till he resets that wasteful part of his brain. I still hope we get deputies and that striker NOW. As wasteful as Martinelli is, his left footed crosses are the kind a lethal aerial 9 needs to punish any defense in the EPL. At least that one would make him look good despite his underwhelming performance. I can't imagine relying on Kai this season. He's not the physical monster we need upfront.

I noticed the bolded but he needs to understand we don't have a traditional striker to exploit all those his near post cross thus he needs to adjust(especially as he's not even the main man).

I agree, we need a monster Havertz. Someone that's stronger and can take on his man type of Havertz. But aside that, we need a good supporting casts. There's a reason our Rhs is our strongest and that's because the trio of White, Odegaard and Saka are good and have that understanding (watch our first goal). That's something we're lacking in that LHS. Rice haven't clicked up to gear yet but we'll need more from either Cala or Timber and then Martinelli to be dangerous. Once this two sides are effective, then Havertz can be better than what he's presently showing.

As for Cf, just forget it. I've Sha but I'm still patiently waiting for that Surprise signing edu promised us

airmark:
Jod.era and Rau.mdeuter, I cast out every spirit of injuries you may want to inflict on my boy. With time you will shamefully give me my flowers.

Lol...
You no go wait make e shine first before you do receipts digging?

airmark:
No need again, I am done with cooking. Na to eat well, once we get a scoring striker.

Abi ki npe Jodera?

Do you need a goalscoring striker with all these goals ystdy.

Nateevvs talked about good supporting cast and supporting cast who can score. Have you seen the importance?

oliverano:
Fofana is moving like a trailer. Man's done at the top level. Colwil lol

That defence needs massive surgery!

Big time surgery. Shebi na the Fofana and Colwill Cb Dem be dey wait for this season, yet..

That attack is good, at least to make top 4. The only department sabotaging them is the defence

Unlimited22:
Come we go put leg for one trouser o

The attack is shit

Ahh noo..
We all know attack is shiiit na

Nothing do defence

oliverano:
People will blame Madueka and quite rightly so but the fact is that Chelsea can't defend for sh!!t. Every attack or pre/near attacks looks like they could concede!

Na this thing dey always give opposition hope to attack Chelsea.

No matter how we want to look at it collectively, this attack is better than Tuchel's attack but there's a big reason why those sets makes top 4

Lol...
Attack deh score two goals oo.

By season's end if Dem score another 77 goals, we'll still hear attack is the problem

2-2 so far

hensben:
When I saw Caceido and Enzo I know we are not winning the game. Enzo doesn’t have legs to cover ground while Caceido turn like makelele at 35.

Hensben, na you dey talk this thing?

Especially against Caicedo?

timbros:
Osimhen doesn't want to gamble on a season long loan deal without an obligation to buy because there is every tendency that he won't perform this one season, and if that's the case, Chelsea will withdraw from the deal. It's very understandable because if that happens, he is going back to Napoli which means looking for yet another club or riding bench.

But if he truly believes he can come in here and perform well, what stops Chelsea from offering him a new lucrative deal? Palmer played just one season and got a bumper new deal.

Looking at how unstable Chelsea is and how anything can happen to any player under this una boehly, I won't blame him Sha.

timbros:
So you want Chelsea to take the risk of paying him his present wages and sign him for 7 years (as this board normally does) then he flops and be stuck with Chelsea, abi?

Why didn't Arsenal sign him? I thought you guys were interested in him? Have you signed a number 9?

Lol, then why are you guys after him if that's the case here?
This type of your contract is mostly for young upcoming players or players at a lower club not top player and top club like Osimhen is who has already made name for himself.

Arsenal aren't really serious for Osimhen. Most I'm seeing is just rumors and stuff. If we're after Osimhen, we won't be offering him at least 150k wage at this his stage he is at his career. It's insulting na.

timbros:
Conte does not have to hold a press conference and tell everyone that he doesn't need Osimhen anymore.

When he ride bench continously, body go tell am.

Osimhen didn't make the squad for Conte's opener against Hellas Verona. I don't know if he is injured or because of the transfer saga, but if it's a player Conte wants, he would have at least made the bench as long as he is still a Napoli player.

I'm not saying this from a fan bias, but I'll advise Osimhen to make the move. Even if it's not Chelsea, he should leave for more playing time to another club.

I believe it might be the transfer Saga but let's see sha

lordfalcao:
osihmen will not play a single match for Napoli again

Okay na..
Let's see how it goes

Arizoner:
Chelsea about to get whooped today. Haha. Jo.dera pass me the blunt

Lol..

Vischy:
You still don't get it? What's wrong in getting pay cut for one season loan and get a bumper contract later?

You're behaving like it's a permanent deal

Is this what was agreed on or what you're thinking?

If the situation is that he'll earn his "at least 150k" then from the seasons upward he'll have his normal wages, then it's acceptable (and that's only valid if it's obligation to buy)

But if not, then he's putting himself at risk financially cos nothing is guaranteed. I don't think Chelsea wants to pay him anything close to what he's earning presently

kingBolton:
Exactly, if Osimhen is going to another club with a pay cut , they will be asking why he is taking a pay cut.

Likeee..
Chelsea mgt just wants to exploit his situation to cut down his wages

timbros:
As if you don't know who Conte is. Conte who axed a red hot Costa from Chelsea team.

There is Gio Simeone to deputise Lukaku. Why do you think Conte will fall back to Osimhen?

I don't follow Napoli news but like I said, except Conte is saying he doesn't want Osimhen AT ALL, then he might not fall back to him but if his reason is just to get Lukaku as his first choice, then Osimhen automatically becomes 2nd choice.

And as for Costa, we all know the reason he axed him. Two unrelated situations

timbros:
In any case, with Lukaku arrival, the reality before Osimhen right now is: look for game time elsewhere or ride the bench.

Is there any club willing to sign him right now?

It still depends on Osimhen to fight for his place. Conte hasn't categorically told him that he's not needed or won't be used (even though he won't be the first choice again) and I don't think Lukaku is the Lukaku Conte think he's getting. So yeah, Osimhen can still fight for his shirt back.