₦airaland Forum

AnfieldFan:
Subtle and not so subtle decisions have been going for City...
It did vs Arsenal...
Vs Newcastle...
Vs Everton today...
And some more matches I don't remember...

It's the Webb years all over again...
What can we do except play our best football and hope for the best....

You forgot to add wolves too!!

50d33q:
The credibility of these referees are already questionable, they make the stupid and bias decisions
Rodri handled the ball yet no PK, if that was the opposite they will award it
Same with arsenal most of the var decisions are hardly check useless mofos favouring some and deal with others

Lol, you see EPL ref, I've erase my mind off dem. They're bunch of mofos. When I know how biased those ref and var are was when man city won wolves through a penalty (1-0). If you see the stupid thing they called as handball eh?? I was shocked.

LostMyZeal:
Yes, he did


From the Juve of the ganja-chewing Sarri and the confused Pirlo


Don't even wanna talk about Allegri

And let it be known that Federico Chiesa performed his best when Ororo was in that Juve team

Now, do you hear of Chiesa today as much?!

but chiesa is injured with an Acl injury na.
How do you hear of a player wen he's injured? Abi your agenda wan reach dat side too

Expert17:
I don't know where this analysis is coming from... lmfao

Bruno and Ronaldo (yes Ronaldo) played RUBBISH

Expert ratings attached

Lol, all I see if half-chance or even quarter chance sef. Tell me one clean chance he missed that was very clear.
If Ronaldo deserve a 3 then all man u outfield players bar elanga and matic deserve less then 3

daveP:
It’s common knowledge that we aren’t at our best, down to squad depth. Some of us have accepted this faster and are looking at things from this new pov, not necessarily cos we think that’s normal. Abi we want to forget last two seasons?

Me I’ve accepted Laca no go score goals for a while now. If we see someone better, talk will change. Its simple deflection from headache and tongue ache.

Apt and perfect!!
You said my mind here 100%!!!

LostMyZeal:
Thank you velli much

See the way dem dey shout chances up & down like say na one-on-one miss or something

For a second I actually thought the meaning of "cha nces" dun change

Waiting for those decorated clowns to come and tell us the CHANCES wey dem create for Ororo

Lol, even the place I watched it sef, one guy was just blaming Ronaldo too. The only person I'll hold accountable for this dropped point is Bruno. Him no try at all

ChristoBam:
Bruno was the worst on the pitch. And going by the comments, most people agree. The few times Ronaldo is mentioned is the one that registers in your mind. And Ronaldo played well for like the first 20 minutes and was stinking for the rest of the game.

Maybe to you, to me I see Ronaldo only stinking towards the end of the game. Majority of the 2nd half, man u didn't fashion many good chances just wayward crosses and shots. The few chances in which Ronaldo was involved in was squandered by chief in culprit Bruno.

Ellexy:
Honestly can't believe we're having scoring problems when we have Cristiano fvcking Ronaldo leading our frontline, and no be say the team no dey create chances for him. Imagine he's upto - 4 in xG

It has not been working for him this year at all and Bruno keeps looking for him when there are other well positioned players in the box

This here is the big issue and I think coach should say something about it.

But I think in today's game, nobody would have been looking at Ronaldo's fault if Bruno have converted his clear cut chance. Una fullbacks sef na another tory entirely

daveP:
Watford came prepared though. Besides, i stil feel Ragnick is not the Man U kinda manager IMO. Na dem sabi sha. Its a season of Ego Clashing for them pitifully.

I feel rangnick have tried for them. I mean, if a coach creates a system for his team to create clean goalscoring chances and they do but they refuse to score, how is that the coach's fault. Ego too full that team and if they think Ten Haag will save them from their egoistic ways they should have a rethink cos even Ten Haag fit no even tame them too. After all he's coming from a Dutch league not even from barca, Madrid or Bayern team sef.

Anyways, any dropped points is our gain and it's really important

Spy360:
Don't get me wrong.

His ginger means a lot to me. It's good.

His playing from deep is good too.

But these are extra curricular.

Kane does same for Spurs but Kane scores goals too. I'd say same if he does not.

If Lacazette doesn't score, he is failing in his primary duty. You need to see his joy when he thought he scored Vs Wolves. He knows he needs to get on the score sheet. He is missing lots of chances. All his efforts will soon become null when go goes like 5 more games without scoring despite starting regularly now that Auba is out.

You think he is better than Nketiah, may be he is, but if Nketiah starts getting goals from the bench, I tell you Arteta will bench Lacazette immediately.

This is the crux of the matter. He misses chances, fine and he should score more goals. That's different from you saying he brings nothing aside ginger and an out of form auba is better than him.

It's amazing how you bring other facets of his game then turn around and said he brings ONLY ginger. Except of course thev ginger you know is different from what I know.

And no, even if nketiah starts scoring goals, Laca will be paired with him upfront (na martinelli go suffer am). You think Arteta style of play don't rely on dominance?

All I see is Bruno costing you guys this game and Ronaldo as the lively attacker (aside elanga who was the best). It's surprising how you guys fashion chances game after game but miss them with all the arrays of stars upfront

Ronaldo who seems to be the only one trying to get into the ends of things is even the one even trolled here more sef .
Rashford sha, only heavens knows what's happened to that one!!

Roland17:
That was some resolute defending by Watford and they nearly took all 3 at the end. We need to take our chances against them. Like I have been saying for a while now, that top 6 is quite fluid, we need to stay around the bubble and get as much points as we can. Spuds won today, the idiots wan pour sand for our garri sha but God pass dem!

I tell you, the top 6/4 is quite fluid. We just need to keep winning matches and garnering max points. I expected Tottenham to be Leeds(time to drop point go come) but I didn't expect Man u to drop point today. I just thank God for Bruno who ensured they would head back with maximum points. Credits also to Watford's defence


I just hope our boys watched that match and are revved up to take max points next week.

Spy360:
So tell us what else he brings.

As the striker, he should be the main goal threat but he is not. His play only tend to give others chances to shoot at goal, it is not entirely bad (like I said) but he is making us lose out at the most important contribution we want from him. Goals.

If we get a striker that can score, you will see the best from the likes of Saka and Martinelli. They will be willing to create tonnes of chances.

So if you're not bringing goal threat as a striker, it means na only fighting spirit you bring??.

While I admit he should add goals to his play(I always say this), I won't turn blind eye to other facets of his game he brings. Watch how Kane played against Leeds today and you'll see how he could have easily won motm even without his goal. He creates from deep, helps Tottenham in dominating possession and help in creating an outlet for their midfield to transition the ball and start attack from the front down to midfield helping them to recover possession. And that's what Laca does for us(tho not like Kane). If you still thinks all these things equate to "ginger" then reason am again..

Like I said, while I want us to move on from Laca to a better player, I(and most arsenal fans) know he's better than Nketiah and balogun for now as against you who felt they're all the same

daveP:
Well said. Vlah do us strong thing. Make we no come qualify and meet Juve and baba go score two against us. E go pain.

Watford
Leicester
Liverpool

6/9points should not be bad.

I swear, if we can get 6/9 points eh, I would be very very happy.

Man u just dropped points again, I just hope we'll get 3 points next week.

Spy360:
I did not say he is entirely useless. I said apart from his ginger or his fighting spirit.

The only contribution he brings is that fighting spirit, which is good but not enough.

Some say he drops into midfield, but that's not his job. Honestly I prefer Nketiah because he sometimes drops deep and sometimes makes good runs, Laca kills attack simple.

In summary, I appreciate his efforts but there are not enough, he will not get a contract extension.

it means I wasn't wrong then. I mean, if na only fighting spirit player dey bring, doesn't that means he's useless?

It was still you who said Laca had an understanding with martinelli and saka(I wish I sabi dig up post), but now you've forgotten that and claimed na only fighting spirit him dey bring.

One thing I won't forget early this season is that we were always dominated as we were known to park the bus and being outplayed(even by small teams) while looking to score one or two early goals. We might win those match but everyone knew it wasn't sustainable and complained here . All that changed when Arteta brought in lacazette into the fray. Since then, we've been dominating and at least getting a foothold of the game for most parts of the 90mins. If you think it's only fighting spirit that ensured that from Laca's end, then I think you should have a rethink again...

And no, I'm not advocating for Laca contract extension but I know he brings more than fighting spirit or ginger as you alleged.

daveP:
if our bench was that versatile, it will force Laca to change his style. But na Lokonga dey there. E for sweet if he scored as much as he roughens up defenders when playing deep. Or he can go Kane style, but no Son in our team sincerely that will run and finish off sweet kane passes all alone.

Two players would have made big difference; Guimares and Vlah. But look at us.

Lol, the laca excuse would have been valid if he was scoring consistently wen our bench was versatile but nah, he wasn't. He was here wen we had Ozil, mkhi, iwobi et al, yet he didn't change his style.

And yeah, Vlahovic would have made a difference, but I'll wait to see Guimares quality

daveP:
True. I doubt he’d see how we are and not want to attack. He too dey target top 4. Arteta should talk to his boys to avoid red card that day or else. If i see red, I’ll change to watch movie until i hear screams of goal from neighborhood.

50d33q:
Everyone knows I don't like xhaka but the last 2 games he has impress me I think I have to give kudos to Arteta because I am loving his new position.
It's good for us and him,he's not a liability at the back, he's getting confident on the ball, partey have the midfield to himself the kind of ndidi dominance
Overall the midfield us looking coordinated because we are closing opponents down on time even neves admitted this.
Ódegaard is a motherfvcking baller #nocap
The team showed mental strength yesterday I honestly thought the highest we could was a draw

COYG

No lies bro!!!
Everything you said is on point!!

Parrie:
Top three you mean?
because that's what we are aiming for.

Boss calm down...
We shouldn't be faster then our shadow oo

daveP:
While we may not like he does in the box, lets not forget how bad we struggle without him doing that deep play. Our game in the middle is weak in attack until Laca brings that rough energy that makes things easy for the boys that are swift. Remove him and don’t expect any hope of goals at all. I’m not saying he’s indispensable. But its far worse, especially as we signed no one. If we get a midfielder with his style, irrespective of our Striker, e go better.


We really are sour to watch recently in attack, with or without him.

He don dey old. Make he go Ligue 1 back.

Lol, I share your opinion about laca, reason why I said he's one of those helping us to dominate teams. And it's also a big reason why I'm always against spy when he's saying Laca is useless or an out of form auba is better than him. That I'll never accept at all

But then, I just wish he should add goals to his game esp his goal to chance ratio needs to be improved. I know his style of play will make him not to get chances as box strikers and running strikers (like auba) should normally have, but the few he comes across let him convert it. I'm not saying he should change his style, just let him improve his goal scoring chance that's all I ask...

daveP:
I tel you. No difference to them. They don replace Man U under sAF. Make we sef find team we go dey do like this, with or without form na. We should fear Conte o. That’s a fact. Cos that City game alone shows he sabi dissect Pep’s tactic.

Lol, the thing is that conte can choose to park bus against man city as an underdog playing away. In our own, that will be a different ball game cos he'll be forced to attack. While I'm not underestimating conte, I feel we have players that can go toe to toe with Tottenham. The only issue is that we're playing away but then I'm keeping my mind open

daveP:
I’ve always known it’s his style of play, but if we had that key midfielder, I doubt Laca would be coming to collect ball from middle. We still need some technical players. It’s not a good sign most times for Arsenal. Although I see Kane do it well but Kane will lay off KDB pass and stand in middle while his teammates finish it off with a goal. Understanding each other is still WIP sha. Telepathic goal scoring passes will return to Emirates soon!

Lol, laca have been like this right from ozil's time. I just feel it's his style of play.

My issue sef is with him converting his chances (the few he gets). He tends to miss much this season compared to previous seasons and that's my worry

Lush100:
Laca plays to much in midfield trying to hold ball and exerts all his energy doing so and this usually affects his shooting ability. At a point laca was at left back corner flag trying to collect ball which waa supposed to be xhaka duty.
Xhaka was a passenger in 1st half and early half of second half. He was probably trying to avoid any card.
He came into the game once we started dominating
There is no way laca can do both midfield and striker work.
Martinelli needs to stop hugging the winger line and should move inwards.
Pepe should be a support striker or at least move towards opponents 18 yards box.
Cedric was lucky not to get a card for elbow on the wolves goalscorer.
Saka wasted more chances today than laca
We played well into the second half
Partey was playing alone in midfield and was the reason we controlled the game.
He was everything today except shooting.
Imagine if xhaka was playing on the same wavelength.
Gabriel is slow. White awareness was poor but white played better today.
They weren't in synch today.
They better watch it as wolves would have scored two in the first half had their number 9 being on target

While I appreciate Laca esp as he's giving us cohesion in that attack, I still feel he should try to balance it. Meaning he shouldn't try to put all the responsibility of scoring on our two young wingers or 3 if you add ESR. If we have salah or Sanchez, I wouldn't have mind, but we have very very trio youngsters who, tho talented, but can be prone to inconsistencies due to their young age. Laca should try to at least convert chances and ensure that he scores too. None of our youngsters are prolific yet and he should know by now he's the leader of that attack so he should try to add goals to his game too

daveP:
dont expect much from the outstanding.
Kai and Kane are in top form right now. And Liverpool? Lol

We should just go and prepare to snatch a point vs Liverpool. But Chelsea is open to silly mistakes

For all three outstanding, the most I fear is Liverpool and the least I fear is Tottenham. We just need to tactically play our game esp against Chelsea. Moreover I don't know the havertz you say is in top form. He's improved from his lackadaisical game, fine, but to me that's not top form.
But for Kane, I agree.

I'm just keeping my mind open in all 3 games. It's just a shame we're playing both Tottenham and Chelsea away and then our nemesis (Liverpool) at home. Liverpool wey for dem Emirates=Anfield

ORIJIN201:
How some of una dey watch football? An out of form Auba dey useless, short one useless Lacazette plays the Firmino for Arsenal. Like Firmino, he is hardly in the box and gets less chances.

Na the reason wey I want make spy see be this. An out of form Auba is very irritating to watch. Very very annoying to watch

Roland17:
Man, I miss Santi Carzola! One of the most cerebral player I have watched after Viera/ Bergkamp/TH14

Facts!!!
Our midfield is getting complete. We just need a very big upgrade on Xhaka and we'll have one of the Best midfield trio in England.

I'm so glad we got Partey mehn

BlueRayDick:
He just dey give Tino Werner vibes today; like he can do every other thing on the pitch aside scoring.

.

Laca on the beat

daveP:
Well said!! The chili don Dey weak o. He doesn’t need start vs Watford to me! But again, not other trophy campaigns this season, meaning enough rest and recovery time per week. Unless na special drills sha. But as I know, na Nelli Dey chop drills pass after White for Colney . Anyways, he’s burned out. Concerned

Exactly! He one of the players who's always on 90min. I just wish we can get the old saka back. Arteta seems not to notice as he's bent on running him to the ground which isn't good. Well I wouldn't blame Arteta much tho

Roland17:
Baba, Partey na classy player, especially when he is healthy, I have been preaching this gospel for a while.

I just need to borrow am my shooting boots because e be like say na Timberland shoe him dey use shoot ball.

I won't doubt that, you did mehn!! I'm just so glad he's overcome his injury woes. The way that guy coordinates our midfield ehn, I've never had such confidence in a player since cazorla left us

BlueRayDick:
But what he said is true. An out of form Auba was still outscoring. It's a fact!

Lacazette no just be striker wey dey score; imagine he's never scored 15 EPL goals for the past 5 years he's spent at the Emirates even though he's played at least 30 EPL games in 4 of those 5 seasons.

If I hear say anybody give that guy fresh contract lasan

I swear, make dem no give am any contract at all.. I could see the plethora of chances he missed today and the worst part is that he hardly takes he short on target. And even if he does, it's not deadly enough

daveP:
Laca had his chances. But he’s very unlucky with it cos most are tight angles. Na cos we love Saka we no wan criticize am o, but we should. He had open chances and was slow on most of them. Two goals from tight spots. Bottom line is Laca is that kind of player that needs an Ozil. It’s cos he’s majorly unlucky in front of goal, many aren’t settled with him. He works he’s though.

Watching Saka play I could see he really fatigued. It's like his body is experiencing burnout at such a young age. I just wish Arteta would rest him for a match or two but I know he won't be willing to take such risk.

I could see saka forcing himself to dribble players or make runs. This present saka can't last for 90mins and it's no coincidence, reason why he's been giving "below his standard" performances. I just wish he should take a rest and come back refreshed

daveP:
based on positions this season, as in sweet sure banger positions to score in front of box 18, Partey suppose Dey same goals with ESR this season. Rosicky, Santi will bury them sweepingly. I also don’t doubt xhaka in positions like that. Unfortunate he doesn’t have such freedom.

Lol, if only partey have shot accuracy like cazorla or Rosicky, na with Chelsea we for dey drag position with

But on a more serious note, I think partey creates his chances which xhaka doesn't