₦airaland Forum

Good morning and a happy Sunday Sir Ellexy, Igwe KingAlabi and HRH Oasis007.

How are you doing?

kokaneprodigy:
Good morning my neighbor, we go again next week

Hahahahaha...

Go again for wetin? Kai Kokane, this is Sunday ooo

Omo, Gabriel Jesus first goal be giving me goosebumps. Just made me remember Alexis goal against ludogorets. Silky and milky
2goals and 2 assists in Emirates debut together with a potential goal of the month? What more could one ask for a home debut?

Martinelli goal na die. The way he hustled and won that ball cleanly sha before passing it, ran into position then use his weaker foot to beat Ward. You'll think winning that ball is nothing until you notice how Leicester was building from the back and already on the ascendency to break us down.
.Perfect!!!


Sometimes, I look at our squad and I'm marvelled. Na we really get this squad? Plus these guys seems improved from last season. Early days tho, but the optimism on this group is high. Not the first time I'm saying this but this squad dey give me Joy...


Happy days and long may it continue.. COYG!!

BlueRayDick:
My Take on Today's match and the team generally.

1. I would say we really got a good bargain signing Jesus and Zinchenko from city. While Jesus has shown to be a very good upgrade to Lacazette and Auba individually, his ability to press and force error from defenders is definitely superior to what both of them offered us in the recent past. Jesus' technical ability on the ball and hold-up play makes him a serious threat to any defence. The moment he turned Johnny Evans from his back at goal to facing the keeper had me leap for joy. I hope he doesn't suffer injury from any stupiddd defender going forward o.

Zinchenko on the other hand just showed how one-dimensional Tierney had been for us. Tierney normally when he has the ball by the sideline just wants to whip a cross into the box and leave the players in the box to hustle for nodding or tap-in, Zinchenko offers much more than that as we've seen in these two games thus far. He can dribble, can retain possession and even wriggle his way out of tight positions. The guy is just a No.10 playing from leftback position. I know we bought him for flexibility ; to be used in midfield when the need arises but as it stands I don't think I want him playing in midfield for now. His Combo with Martinelli is something I'm not willing to sacrifice for now.

2. We found a fortress in Saliba. For his sake I hope we win something in the nearest possible future, if not big clubs will start to finger his brain with big money offers within a year or two cos the boy is definitely going to do great things if injuries does not disrupt his development. The way he times his tackles is a joy to behold; he can do jam-body when the need arises, he slides without commiting fouls and breaks attacks without breaking a sweat. It's no surprise the fans got behind him immediately after the own goal incident. I just hope he communicates more with other members of the defence.... Maybe if there was more communication he could've alerted white of his wrong positioning before the own goal incident and then maybe if there was enough communication between him and Ramsdale he could've allowed the ball go to Ramsdale instead of nodding it, but then again there was Vardy charging down and everyone knows how Vardy is deadly in such situations. All in all, I think he's definitely going to have a good time doing what he knows how to do best. Kudos to the club management for allowing him to go on loan at a club where he enjoyed enough playing time to develop his potentials.

3. Partey na senior man! No long talk, Make god of soccer pity us this year and allow our Charlie no get injury this year ó. He's obviously going to be vital to our success this season.

4. The fluidity of our attack from midfield to the opponent's box is just wow! Kudos to the coaching staff, they've put in serious work in that regard and it's showing. We've moved from the team most people know that is firstly defensive minded before anything to a team that just glides past opponents midfield and lay siege on their 18 yard box. Martinelli is ready to take anybody on and create opening for others, Saka is either exchanging passes with Odegaard and making a run for return pass in the box, while Jesus can come as far as midfield to get the ball and still be in a position to score by the time the ball gets go the opponent's box. Odegaard is always ready to stretch the ball from one side of the field to the other. Those boys want baba Xhaka to run and get the ball , but man's don't run ...... I'm impressed sha that Xhaka has improved his game going forward tho if he had more speed it would make us even better, but as it seems we are stuck with him I don't have anything against him for now.

5. Arteta thus far is showing that with the necessary ingredients he can cook better for us, make he just dey cook dey go.....and make he no cook Ogbono/Draw soup yet sha

Lol, I be wan write my own "thoughts on the game" later tonight but mehn, you've already captured almost everything I wanted to say esp your thoughts on Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko and Xhaka...

Great piece boss

Android22:
Not you. I dey reply another poster using you.

Lol.... Tohhh!!

Gabriel Jesus - 2 goals 2 assists


I pity people wey sell am comot for FPL this week just because he blanked last week. The tears no go be here

Android22:
lol positionless player is about diversity not lack of position.

Lol, we're just trolling na.
I thought you might have noticed by now

Android22:
Did he score 4 goals today?

Lol... Na the main criteria for positionless be that?

Coyg!!!!

Correct match
Correct 3points!!

CAPdan21:
The positionless player don dey score o...Abi he don get position now
CC: Jodera

Him don dey graduate from positionless small small ooo

iamoyindamola:
Jodera I wanted this guy for arsenal but Una no believe

And I still no believe abeg.
Make him dey him Leipzig

Mrviktor:
Nobody abused Arsenal like this during Wenger years.

Nobody insulted Liverpool like this..

This na press for goodness sake

Lol, arsenal that's even the epitome of butt-jokes during those years.

All these is just normal for a big going through hard times. It's very normal

Karleb:
https://zeenews.india.com/football/ballon-d-or-award-process-to-witness-these-rule-changes-check-out-2444528.html

Thanks

Just read it now and I totally agree with the new changes. At least, there'll be credible nominees now unlike before

iamoyindamola:

Which kind amala turning be this

Lol... But na true na.

Wetin concern Vlahovic for that list?

Hehehehehe

Karleb:
So if the rules was not changed, Messi and Neymar will make ballon d'or shortlist?

I mean, why have they not thought of changing the rules since ages?

What rule change was that?

KingAlabi:
We dominated brighton
Cant say the same for ass-anal
I know ETH will come through
But see arteta eh

Na main culprit

You know say you no fit talk this thing for faceless forum in front of your comrades here shey??

iamoyindamola:
I was thinking why will a flop enter such award nominee and Bobby no they

Na the same way Messi miss out on the list. E dey happen

iamoyindamola:
As you no tell us say haller they ballon d'or

Lol, I no know say Haller na arsenal player na.

ObaIgwe1:
Marquinhos scored another 2 goals in Arsenal U21 2-3 win.

Should he be left to mature with the U21 team with guaranteed game time or he should be immediately allowed to fight it out with Pepe and Saka in the senior team?

Nice one from Marquinhos

Please he should be allowed to still mature with the u-21 team. When Europa time reaches, he should be allowed to play in the group stage. If he still gives up same positive outputs then we can consider promoting him to the first team to fight with Pepe for Saka deputy

Blueray and Sod, make Una no mind me and Spy abeg

andrewbaba44:
And you can’t agree Thiago doesn’t deserve to be there? Lol

Someone with 1,537 minutes ,but you are here calculating how many times cancelo played as a LB ,cancelo played more minutes as a LB than the minutes Thiago played in the midfield

the mistake is from me(I accept) but you won't blame me. When a player plays RB 14 times in a season and most of the time I watched him I see him at right back, what do you want me to say. 14 times no be small number


And how many times will I tell you that I don't support having Thiago over Rodri? Abi you just wan rope me I'm with Thiago by faya?

andrewbaba44:
Thiago played less games than Rodri and he made the team ,so you can see that you have no point .

Cancelo played 21 premier league games as an LB from his 36 premier league games

Like I said, both of them are starters in their respective teams. When I meant chop and change, I meant that those who aren't certified starters will surely be affected, I didn't mean that relative less appearance affects the vote

raumdeuter:
Have you heard of polling booth before? You think say polling booth na your mate

dem go 'high' then all Rodri name turn to Thiago

Android22:
Nah he was just repeating what Pep had said late into last season. You can tell that Pep uses it to motivate his players. Remember he [Bernardo] made the list.

For him to repeat it means it got to him and that he himself send just like Pep.

So like I said, Speak for yourself

Android22:
Did Salah not start some games on the bench last season? Why are you comparing apples and oranges my guy? I am not arguing for Jesus or Sterling. I brought up Mahrez and Laporte. I did not bring up Walker who is a starter because objectively TAA was better. Na you suppose understand the argument. Mahrez was a first team starter. That he started some games on the bench does not even play any role especially when the argument is not supposed to be subjective; who performed better?

I'm sorry but I'll also give subjective opinion too

Android22:
1+1 = 2 is an objective argument. But someone is telling me what if one of the 1s was not happy will it still agree to be added to the other 1 to get 2? That is what your argument is implying.

Maybe if you were the PFA you would have said Liverpool should win the league because 6 of their players impressed you regardless of the fact that they had less points than City.

Like I said before, we no send dem [awards] we don't give a blood clot. . .

Speak for yasef

Bernado actually send, na why him dey rant

donstan18:
Stable or unstable, sane or insane...

Nothing justifies the foolishness and stupidity of not adding Rodri in that team. Man didn’t just anchor the DM, he scored important thunderous strikes to seal points.

I didn’t even see Mount. Jeez!!!

Like I said, my issue is not with Rodri. He deserves to be there

Maybe you didn't read the screenshots that followed Andrew's quote else you'd know what I'm saying

Android22:
No wonder you have been all over the place. Cancelo mostly played as the LB anyone who watched City should know that.

KdB was player's player of the year the season before last. See if your first team jibber jabber argument works for him. I doubt he even played up to 25 games that season. lol

Was he a first teamer or not? He is. simple.

Mahrez last season isn't. I don't know whether you're deliberately just mixing up certified first teamer to number of appearances just to gain ground.

Android22:
Sorry I don't do subjective nonsense. If you have fine points to make delineate them. All that "if you are this good..." is foolish talk. If I play 3 minutes from the bench and score a hattrick, I did better than someone who started and scored one. I won't even bother touching the Rudiger talking point as well, since it is just drivel.

Meanwhile, I am not offended that Laporte or Mahrez did not make the team lol. They should even remove all the City players entirely. I just wanna see City winning and making haters mad.

The whole point was, you don't have enough facts to challenge Bernardo and that is where the penny drops.

That you don't believe 1+1 =2 does not make it wrong.

You and Bernado will continue seeing less and less man city players in EPL team of the season with the way Pep chops and change. While EPL results are objectives, awards are subjectives.

You can keep on being objectives, it's your choice and it's cool but do not carry "objective" mind to a subjective matter and start arguing unnecessarily. E no dey help anybody

Peace!!!

Android22:
Cancelo played LB more last season. As for the contributing factor, I have already shown you that it does not when results are compared. Was that not the justification (unjustified IMHO) for Thiago who played less games than Rodri?

How many did Cancelo play as a RB compared to Lb? Cos most games I watched he was mostly RB.

Thiago was an automatic starter same as Rodri. I was always insisting on cut and chop and that's for those who aren't sure starters even when fit like Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez dem.

Android22:
I don't do subjective arguments. That is exactly why you cannot challenge what Bernardo said which is what led to this conversation. Rudiger was playing when his team conceded more than Laporte's team. VVD conceded the same number of goals as Laporte. Laporte now won the league but you say no other players should make it. Then Mahrez scored and assisted more in less games but you say he was coming off the bench to score sometimes. How does it matter? Is it better to start a game and score 1 goal in that game or to come on 20 minutes to the end and score 2? Who performed better?

That is why I said performances are judged not who started and all that stuff.

Don't forget that if only 3 of City players were top performing, then how can you explain how they got to win the league against another team that had 6 players top performing? And how would you explain how the Manager of the 6 is manager of the year compared to the manager who got the best out of only 3 of his players yet won the league?

Maybe you must be living in Disneyland if you think a team winning a competition automatically means most of the players in that team must be up for awards. There's a reason why it's called award and it's for specifically individual performances. And yes, a player's Performance might not reflect in his team result but that's what this award is made for — to recognise 'that' performance even in the midst of shambolic display by his teammates.

Awards are mostly subjective. I don't know why you'd say it isn't. Nobody will begrudge PFA for giving Salah the best player's award even though his team didn't the league. That's the individual performances at play here.

And the bolded matters. If he's that good as you claim he won't be coming from the bench. No coach puts their best players more on the bench than starting lineup and if Mahrez can't consistently start game in his team, the sorry he's not fit to be in EPL best 11 except of course the other teams 19 players in his position underwhelms too which is practically impossible.

And please, don't misinterpret me na. I didn't say only three Man city players are top performing. I just said the 3 players are the best in their position. The other city players are top performing but unfortunately another player in another team might outperform them individually. That doesn't mean they're not top performing.

Eg Like Laporte might have a top Performance
Of 9.0 but Rudiger might edge him with 9.3. It doesn't mean Laporte was a flop or he didn't perform or that the 9.0 can't make one win the league, he was just a bit unfortunate that Rudiger outperform him. Simple.