₦airaland Forum

rasputinn:
Hey GOONERS,Like I wrote somewhere,in our push for the EPL title this year,all kinds of permutations are flying about as to which club needs to do what and which ones need to not do what( ) for several scenarios to play out by Sunday,9 May 2010

With our boots laced hard,all hands on deck,there is no eason why we cannot take 28 out of the 30 points

Our defining moments(per the remaining games) will be;

First and foremost the two match days in April.First April 10 away to the spuds and April 24 @ Fort Emirates against Citeh(not that the remaining 8 fixtures are write offs,but these two are surely our toughest hurdles to cross on the road to EPL glory this season)

Secondly,the lone match day in March and three in April that Manure has;i.e March 21 @ home to Liverpool,April 3 @ home to Chelski,April 17 away to Citeh and finally April 25 @ home to the spuds in which I hope and pray they drop @ least 7 points

Finally the lone match day in March and three in April that Chelski has;i.e March 27 @ home to Villa,April 3 away to Manure,April 17 away to Spuds and finally May 1 away to Liverpool in which I hope and pray they drop @ least 10 points

That done,then hmm hmm hmmm

Who's with me on this?

GO ARSENAL

The true defining moments will be what arsenal does if/when others drop points, not just the fact that others will drop points.

Liverpool needs to score 3 goals to even be in contention for a result. Anything is possible in football but miracles do not happen simply because we wish so.

Chelsea will go through even if they don't win.

@Mancs,
Another scary match in a soap opera that is running way too long for comfort. So far only Liverpool and Fulham have been able to punish to full effect a trend that has been observable for sometime.

First the good news:
1. It's a 2 legged tie. Which means there is still one more leg to play to decide the winner.
2. United players must now know that whatever else we might win this season will not be handed on a platter. Team talk will be so easy for SAF
3. We kept our unbeaten run in the UCL. Even if only just , that can be the basis of some confidence.
4. We have been known to overcome such disadvantage against more illustrous opponents



The bad news;
1. We look jaded. And not just this game.
2. We have failed to take advantage in our comfort zone
3. If we couldn't beat a clueless Inter at home it's gonna be tough.
4. It is us who need to score. We have scored in only 1 away game this term.
5. The Porto of 2004 was similarly unfancied

Verdict:
Anything can and will still happen. But I think United will go through( sorry sneak through). I think the team still has the character and men to neutralise Porto and sting them.

@Mancs,

I didn't watch the match so I'm in no position to comment about the details.

I think my stand has been vindicated. Simple. That 2 bad results can pretty much change a season! Our season has changed because all of a sudden everyone (at least Chelsea and Pool) now seem to have a shot. (What they do with it is another thing altogether) Those who thought this was not possible then I'm sure have now opened their eyes . I also hope the quintuple crowd will now keep quiet and let the Press ALONE do all the talking!!

Losing yesterday is hard but as always when you lose the others MUST win to make it COUNT. United is top today because while Chelsea and Liverpool were wobbling we were MAKING IT COUNT! It makes little sense to rejoice when United loses if you do not win or at least draw. Chelsea couldn't make it count. If Liverpool doesn't today then all ejaculations would have been premature.

Sad that we did not win but I think United fans who recently have started behaving like Arsenal fans of last year or Chelsea's of 3 years ago will learn AGAIN that the League is NEVER won BEFORE MAY unless you have an UNASSAILABLE LEAD. Pole position is NOT the same as being Champions. If Liverpool wins today then we would be under pressure to win our so-called game in hand. Just like our game in hand Pool has to WIN to make anything count )

I can make no analysis cos I didn't watch the game. All I know is we lost. Again I prefer losing today than losing to Porto and not moving on. Or losing to Everton . Or on the final day if the title is still at stake. The beauty of our position is that even after 2 straight defeats our destiny is very much in our hands. It says a lot about our rivals that after 2 consecutive losses we could still be ahead by as much as 4 points . That's telling.

But our guys now know they are human afterall. 

Real, not Real Madrid

2006 still hurts and now is the time to right that wrong

Dr Kit,
Take care of Villareal first

Guys,

A dream draw for United  but we would do well to remember Bayer Leverkuson and Porto .

We are favourites on paper but it is what happens on the night that counts not the stats. We never lost to Leverkusson or Porto like our form then suggested . But we didn't progress either. The tie will be decided at Old Trafford just like those other 2(Leverkusson,Porto). We must do what we have to do at OT. Then we can ttempt to cruise later.

Yes we can

@Sauron,

We lost. We lost. When you do you look at reasons for the defeat. It does not mean you are not good. But that is what happens when you lose. Ferguson and Ferdinand agree with my comments. After the Vidic error I told the United guys around me that NO ONE should condemn Vidic. But that DOES NOT MEAN he did NOT make the error in today's game. Evra? Great guy too but today wasn't his day. So we should not talk about it. Ronaldo(World Player of the Year) . Wrong passes. So we should ignore. Even if you do the manager wouldn't. Talking about their off day today does not mean they are shit. It only wakes everyone up to know that the job is not finished and any slip can be punished.


"But we have to turn this into a positive. This game will have torn out any sub-conscious complacency there may have been. We got a rude awakening today that if we don’t go out and work hard as a collective unit then we won’t get the results.

This quote is not mine but from today's captain Rio Ferdinand.

Nuff said.

@Sauron,

We will lose games no doubt. The manner of our loss today was questionable. We conceeded 3 goals from school boy errors. I do NOT blame the players per se. They've been good all season so far and are bound to stumble at some point .They are human. Shit happens. But even SAF was gracious enough to say if you win 4-1 at Old Trafford you deserve it!

My complaints again are simple. SAF has also mentioned some his in post match analysis in the last 2-3 games.

1. Trying to play "no result " exquisite football. Passing into space, etc.

2. Allowing teams to get into the game and riding your luck. If Inter's frame efforts had gone in we might have had a real game on our hands.

I have always insisted on cautious optimism about our chances in all competitions. No hindsight there.  

Nothing has been won yet. We are in pole position no doubt but I have seen enough to know that all you need is 2 bad results and your season will be staring you in the face. Even Fergie has been preaching that for weeks now.

This is not disastrous . Only a wake up call that there's more to be done than has been done

Keep scoring
Keep winning

WAN UNITED

@ALL,

Humiliating defeat in the hands of Liverpool today. For a side that we seem to have married in the last few seasons this double is a confirmation that their Arnfield win was no fluke. Yeah we would not do them in forever but Liverpool thoroughly deserved their win. Defensive bluders? Rubbish! Does every team score from such opportunities. Bad game for Vidic? Who cares? Add Evra, O'shea, and the increasingly narcissistic Ronaldo. Again who cares . We were disgraced at Old Trafford and we need to learn the hard lessons of today and move on. No excuses!!!  

1. Let us STOP talking of the QUINTUPLE!!!! Even the League is not yet won. It may be lost in March but is ONLY won in May! Unless you have an UNASSAILABLE LEAD!!!! Just think if we do NOT win against Fulham then everything no longer looks done and dusted.

2. United is a feared team at home and in Europe. But Newcastle and Inter showed that we can be stretched . Liverpool has shown we are beatable. We have gotten away with murder in some games, not this one.

3.SAF made what looked like the best selection for this type of game . The players however fizzled out after approximately 8 minutes. Why?

4. Liverpool played like the side with a mission, like the home side. We were outplayed by players of arguably less overall quality. Misplaced passes. Lazy tackles except for a few spells. O'shea, Evra and Ronaldo actually thought Pool players will not tackle . Even when we were down there was NO DESIRE!!! We only had spells, and not enough.

5. If our guys have been reading newspapers about the quintuple now they know that it will NOT be served on a plate for them . They have to SNATCH it and even that is NOT guaranteed.

6. Our guys looked jaded but if we trumpet about how solid our squad is and our strength in depth we should not give excuses about too many games when we mess up.



Now the good news:
-West Ham, Arsenal and City have all done the double over us in the past 2 seasons . We still won the prem + the UCL last term.

-SAF can now dish out the treatment  to these guys. He has been talking about this for 2-3 games now. I recall his comments after the Inter game. I specifically said SAF is getting fed up with the primadonna side stepping no look passes . SAF has been there and he has been struggling to highlight the mine fields ahead. Now the players can now appreciate(if at all they didn't). He will be brutal!

-If anything United comes out stronger from this type of blips. This is only the first loss after the Arsenal game! And only 1 draw in between. I pity the next set of opponents. As it is even if Liverpool win ALL their games it is OUR GAMES that will determine if they can challenge for the title. In other words OUR FATE IS VERY MUCH IN OUR HANDS.

-United have done enough not to be under UNDUE pressure in the run in. We have lost our 3 points today. Others will surely lose theirs.

-Better this wake up call now than later or in the UCL .

- I hope the Quintuple chasers will now temper their expectations. Such dreams can be shattered with just 2-3 bad games. We've had one today .
-Let us remember :Nothing is ever won until it is won. This is only a blip and will remain so when our ruthlessness returns. I'm sure it will.

We've lost today's battle. Now let's wrap up the war. Let us bludgeon the next rabbits to pieces!!!!!!!!

Keep scoring
Keep winning

WAN UNITED

@Akin,
Maybe so . But they were not stylish or trying to be cute. Just a bad day at the office  
Ronaldo needlessly gives the ball away or makes unnecessary or exaggerated manouvres to pass the ball to someone 4 metres away. It's most annoying when he loses possession as a result and does not track back.

Like I said SAF does NOT make these statements lightly.

@Sauron,
What's up?

Congrats on winning the bet but know you did not do it alone

Did you notice SAF's post match comments on "passing into space and side flicks". If the man says that in public he is definitely going to change a lot of things.

Say bye bye to meaningless showboating. Ronaldo is guilty of that in VIRTUALLY ALL GAMES. He is skillful but does a lot of meaningless moves in games. Compare that to Berbatov's assist against West Ham. That is how to put your skills to effect. SAF was not too impressed and he rarely goes public with it

Keep scoring
Keep winning

WAN UNITED

@tkb,
i will send Aunty Dora to you if you do not highlight my name in [b]type 46 [/b]bold   at the beginning, middle and end of that clip. My eyes are everywhere  

JK 47,
You have joined me in these cameo appearances. You should be called Larry "JK" Blackmon

MK2,
How far will your jazz take your guys. Almunia did some incantations touched his gloves and used his right finger to point up and the Roma guy shot into the air. Watch the replay I fear you guys .  

@Eastbay and Debosky,

Thanks from ,   .

The blushing one

@Debo,

The next titles will be bloody. Already in the studios for the weekend's concert. There's intense work on Rafa's Rant Reaps Real Regrets . It's a duet where one person holds an A4 paper containing the lyrics while the other sings  

@Mancs,
Another successful European night and the painful memories at the San Siro in 07 are but a distant memory. An unbeaten run of 21 games is formidable. If we remain unbeaten in our next 5 UCL games we are Champions again! These are the best of times to be a United fan and we will have an equal share of glory hunters and haters.

Snippets:
1. In 2 legs Inter could not score a goal even with "the best player in the world" according to the Confused One  
2. Now we know that you also need luck to win UCL games. (source the unLucky One) .
3. The ominous thing is that United still does not look like a side that has moved into full gear. This is march! Opposition fans are probably now the Prayerful Ones  
4. SAF's selection could have cost the match if Inter could take advantage.   They are probably the Respectful Ones
5. Inter is still a nobody in Europe , not even with The Humble One
6. People are now grudgingly beginning to accept that there is something special about SAF's 4th generation of players. But they are still The Sceptical Ones
7. If United extends their lead in the EPL it may find it easier than most to reach the latter stages of the UCL   We will be The Dangerous Ones
8. I guess Ronaldo now shows up in big games. - He is now The Show-up One
9. Rafa is probably regretting scoring 4 against Madrid. He wished he had  saved some for Saturday to be on the safe side. FACT      from  The FACTUAL ONE  
10.Qunituple Let's wait till may before we have any hard ons. Or I am just The Cautious One

Let's just

Keep scoring
Keep winning


WAN UNITED

@All,
Great stuff by United yesterday. The boys will be buoyed by this hammering. I desire the Lip's head on a platter and I hope we get it on wednesday . Too many champions have gone out at this stage in recent years. I hope we turn the tide this time with another hammering

Word of Caution:
Let's talk less of a treble,quadruple or quintuple . That's the job of the Press so let them do so . Those who really know should know that just 2-3 bad games can wreck that dream. Ask Chelsea last season where 3 bad games vanquished the dream (Spurs, Wigan, United). Or united in 07 (Milan,Chelsea) where a treble was staring us in the face and we went with just one(even if that was the preferred)

Trebles and the likes are special things. You never set out to achieve them. Neither do you get them SIMPLY because you have worked hardest or were the best. They are things that the god of soccer SEEMS to bestow on the few great teams he is pleased with.

Trebles & co are a mixed bag of everything from good football to fixtures to opposition to form to good fortune to context, etc. It's special and should really be talked about after the fact.

As supporters we put undue pressure on ourselves and expose ourselves. Never count your chics before they hatch.

Let's simply focus on winning ; records will be created by default


Keep scoring
Keep winning

WAN UNITED

medikhelp:
Guys thanks for this thread. Let's really go down the memory lane. Pre-pre Westerhoff.  I challenge anyone to name the Green Eagles line up that trashed Egypt 4-0 in Lagos in 1977 and the Bendel Insurance line up that destroyed Mighty "Shootin and Rangers" in 1978 Challenge Cup.

Hints:
1977 Eagles: Annas Ahmed, Patrick Ekeji, Of course, Africa's best outside right EVER 'Segun Odegbami, Chief Justice Adokiye Amiesimaka, Kelechi Emetiole. Mathematical Odegbami destroyed Egypt on that day.
1978 'Bendel': Joseph Eghareba, Christopher Ogwu, Felix Agbonifo, Left legged and blockbuster Henry Ogboe.

Any takers? Post westerfoff fans, log off now!!!!

Nice thread.
Please add:
Moses Otolorin, Idowu Otubusen(slow poison?), Ogbein Fawole, Samuel Ojebode, Ifeanyi Onyedika, Godwin Odiye, Patrick Ekeji, Alloy Atuegbu, Emma Okala, Kunle Awesu, Haruna Ilerika, Ogidi Ibeabuchi. More?

Great victory guys.
Might signal the beginning of another great run as the ripple effect can only be positive.

We must accept that the midfield formation was a risk(some risk)and might not have worked if (Ballack/Cole) were in the game   In addition , Chelsea did not know what to do with the ball with all of the possession they had. Possession on its own has never won any football game , ever. A lot of Chelsea fans were happy to see stats of 75-25 possession for Chelsea but United looked the more likely to score whenever we had the ball. VDS did not make any decent save throughout the match

Now everyone is scared. A news report called it an OMINOUS WIN

@Emperoh/tkb,
I noticed it as well. I dislike the badge kissing brigade(most players that do it are usually fake. The people that should really do such, the Maldinis and Giggs actually don't). He does not need the show. It's not him. The fans will forever be grateful to him for his spirit, resilience and commitment. Tevez should watch it. 

tkb417:
prediction
2-1
Rooney and Tevez. Tevez to get the winning goal dieing minutes of the game!!

i think we'll score for them too (own goal)

Are you sure O'shea or Gary will play

WAN UNITED

@Prayer Warrior Emperoh,
Na wa o.

@A4 ,
Only when the need arises. Try these:

1.Alex in Wayne's World The untold story of a disastrous own goal
2.No way Jose               6 steps(overs) to disvirgin your bride


Expect more in the days to come


WAN UNITED

Mk2,
Your bad belle caused the defeat. I will go to my village and studios to checkmate you. Come Sunday Gene Hackman will star in another 3rd rate, low budget , documentary titled "How did it happen?"

JK47 + Debo,
Happy birthday guys. A tale of 2 brothers.  with different destinies

WAN UNITED

Hi guys,
Mukinazza- Derby has opened your tongue Don't worry Bolton(plus x; x being any number of premiership sides yet to taste chop carve Arsenal thyis season ) will soon take you back to where you belong(store filled with toy guns and water pistols )We have Derby today. Yeah , we count on one finger. . , take of your shoes you might need your toes soon.

But really , poor performance by our guys and Sauron/Criz I agree with you that it's sometimes better for your season to get eliminated in some of these Cup ties early on. It helped us last season whether we admit it or not(out early in Carling Cup and omitted 2 other gruelling FA Cup ties after Portsmouth knocked us out) It left us less bruised for the real McCoy(s)

Derby played quite well but we made them look much better with inept passing, ball watching, loose marking, and lack of vision. Defense was tentative , midfield was unconvincing and attack always looked one step behind . I must single out Nani as one player who does not seem to be improving at the rate his potential had promised . Too many average games.

For our sake I hope this will be our worst game all season. Better forgotten

We will see a different United against Chelsea. The motivation to go (potentially) 5 points clear of the Chavs is just too tempting to pass. May it not

@all,
season's greetings and more trophies in the new year

@Moderakina and all goons,

season's greetings .

may your cabinet continue to gather dust.

Amen

With hindsight , maybe the fixtures were to OUR benefit

If our home form is anything to go by(lost 2 points all season) i fear for the visitors to OT next year.


WAN UNITED

Glory Hunter

Guys,
I think these fixture thing must have been looked at by all clubs before the season starts.

If we had no complaints then we can't be doing so now. We can't be doing what the Lip excelled in while he was here.

WAN UNITED

dayokanu:
40, Did you read what Mourinho said? He never doubted that CR7 deserved the awards based on what he won last season.

Kaka and Messi are more talented than CR7. No questions about that.

Zlatan is a very emotional player. On his good days which are very rare, He can destroy any defence but on his off days which are usually more, you would prefer Peter Rufai as a striker. Zlatan had opportunities to destro Liverpool both in Juventus 2005 quarter finals and Inter 2008 second round the legs played in Italy but he messed it up and his teams were eliminated.

Zlatan makes things difficult for himself He does not do thing simple he prefers the complicated and stylish methods.

Instead of scoring a tap in, He would rather do a Jet li and Van Damme style and miss the ball but when u think something is impossible, Zlatan would pull it off.

As a coach Zlatan is a guy that would vex you a lot of times but [b]his occasional moments of Magic [/b]would want to make you stick to him.

Why would anyone compare this type of player to Ronaldo.  

WAN UNITED

The Lip is back!!!!
When he was at Chelsea Drogba(or was it Essien?) was the best, now it's Ibrahim. When he moves to Stoke Olofinjana will be the best.


He's not through yet . He will have something to say on virtually every United team member from now till February.

Samples:

1. Tevez should not be allowed to play as contract issues are still hanging.( goal.com Jan. 09)
2. FA should do a review of Rio's ban as there are unresolved issues . (espn Jan 09)
3. Rafael Silva is 19 years and not 18 ( bbc Jan 09)
4. Anderson is Italian (Complete Football )
5. van der Saar was not originallly Dutch (Ovation magazine )
6. Sir Alex is unfair to Gary for his loyalty. He MUST repay his services with full 180 minutes against Inter.

More to come


WAN UNITED

Manchester United : Champions of England, Champions of Europe and now Champions of the World.

United, arguably the biggest club in English football appear to be entering an era of domination of European and even World football.

With a man down for most of the second half, United displayed excellent football creating  a thousand and one chances chances with breadth taking skills(from Ronny) and a rejuvenated Wayne Rooney goal to oust the South American Champions. Even with 10 men United appeared for large parts of the second half the side with the advantage.

Presumptive World Footballer of the Year winner showed again why he and no one else should be considered for the top spot. Again he may have silenced his critics who insist that he does not show up in big games. If Ronaldo had not shone so brilliantly in this game this would surely have been another big game he did not show up; minus the Champions League finals and other such games his critics conveniently forget  . Since he was outstanding (and United won) then this would not count as a big game.  Quito though South American Champions are not a big side and did NOT show up. 

For the Messi "mob" I hope this puts paid to your dreams. No ONE has performed as BRILLIANTLY, SUCCESSFULLY and CONSISTENTLY as C. Ronaldo this year. A fitting end to a brilliant year.

From this performance peeps should be scared if as SAF claims that his side is NOT yet in top gear.

Campeones!Campeones! Ole Ole Ole! Campeones! Campeones! Ole Ole Oleee!!!




WAN UNITED

Platini's draw.  

Like WWE some of these things are pre-arranged to satisfy certain ends. United/Inter. Roma/Arsenal.Juve/Chelsea. Plain luck right? You wish.

Too early to make ANY meaningful(nay realistic comments). But these are mouth watering clashes, add Pool/Madrid.

Like Bola Ige I will siddon look for now

WAN UNITED