₦airaland Forum

Wish I could fast forward time. . . My two cents for tonights game:
My preferred CB pairing would be Abidal and Milito. They're our most experienced pair after Pique and Puyol. After the Valencia game, I doubt Pep would ever play Busi as CB. Asides the fact that Busi's poor as CB, the truth is we've often struggled when he doesn't play in midfield. Against Valencia, it wasn't until Pep pulled out Masch and put Busi in midfield that we started to make a headway in the game. Before then, Banega and Tino Costa had entirely drowned our midfield. Against Levante, it was the same story. We won 2-1 but we were unconvincing. It was also the same against Bilbao and Zaragoza.
Busi is much better on the ball than Masch and in a game like this where we are going gungho on Arsenal, Busi has got to be in the middle and orchestrate play from deep.

proudly9ja:
Good News

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/van-persie-in-squad-to-face-barcelona

Van Persie in squad to face Barcelona

Robin van Persie has been added to the Arsenal squad for their Champions League clash with Barcelona.

The Dutch forward was substituted during the Carling Cup Final on February 27 after suffering a knee injury. But he trained with his team-mates at London Colney on Monday and has travelled to Spain.

Arsène Wenger has named a 19-man squad. This will be cut to 18 ahead of Tuesday's game at the Nou Camp.

Arsenal squad:
Manuel Almunia
Wojciech Szczesny
Johan Djourou
Gael Clichy
Emmanuel Eboue
Kieran Gibbs
Laurent Koscielny
Bacary Sagna
Sebastien Squillaci
Cesc Fabregas
Andrey Arshavin
Jack Wilshere
Tomas Rosicky
Samir Nasri
Abou Diaby
Denilson
Nicklas Bendtner
Marouane Chamakh
Robin van Persie

Oh my word! We are so scared. . . We didn't have him in our plans. . . shior. Baba Wenger still resorts to this obsolete tactics. First he said Nasri wouldn't make the first leg, now it's van Persie, how pathetic! Dude was always okay. The plan here's to alter Pep's strategy at the 11th hour and its indeed very laughable. We've got our ears' to the ground, we've been watching y'all and 'we dey laugh'

Under Pep, Barca hasn't lost a home game in the k/o rounds of the CL plus we've only drawn once.
I advice y'all get a crying bowl beside you if you're watching better yet, don't watch!

eyoniggar:
^^^^ You all shall return home with your rifles with all bullets loaded.

Are you kidding me, eyo? Those guns aren't loaded. . . They killed a bird with their last bullet back in 2005.

Manita

davmor:
thank you so much brother, I am glad. please can you highlight again on Midfielder number 4. his duties and aim thank you I will also like you to advise me on which position to choose between the defender and midfielder and also what i can do to get strenght/energy.
thanks and God bless you.
The reason of all these my questions is because I want to make football my career.

A defensive midfielder? It's about the same skills but I'll add the following attributes:
1. Decision making: This also applies to defenders and every other position. The role of the defensive midfielder has evolved over the years. Box to box midfielders are more appreciated these days. In addition to shielding the defence, defensive midfielders are also expected to go forward and help the team's attack. Essien, Song, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Lassana Diarra, are classic examples of box to box midfielders. Decision making applies here in the sense that, you have to know when to sit back and defend and when to move forward and help the team attack.

2. Passing: A defensive midfielder must be very good at distributing the ball. Of what use would it be if you win balls in the midfield but can't effectively distribute it to team mates in advantagious positions? So a defensive midfielder must be a good passer.

Results of matches played yesterday

Crown FC 1 vs Sunshine Stars 1

Kaduna United 1 vs Bukola Babes 0

Warri Wolves 1 vs Shooting Stars 0

Niger Tornadoes 1 vs Enyimba 0

Lobi Stars 1 vs Kano Pillars 0

Heartland 4 vs Ocean Boys 0


Dolphins are now 7 pts clear off Sunshine who are second but have a game in hand.

I wonder if Ade will be signed permanently at the end of the season.

dominique:
^^^ abi o only Enyimba couldn't capitalise on the awoof jos points
what is being done about the 3sc player that was banned for an entire year? how i wish the public can get involved somehow. we can start an online petition or something.

Here's a thread about an online petition as regards the ban


https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-608702.0.html

Pharoh:
So during those nine years, mourinho has not won any trophies?

Of course, he has My point is, if he hadn't been winning trophies, we won't remember how long he's been unbeaten in a home game. The record on its own is impressive but not a big deal.

Truthfully, NL is one of my major escape routes when I'm bored.

Suarez. . . hmmm

It's been so long since I last did this. . . Anyways


skills at a whole new level cos I raised the bar//
niggas still below par/ punches leave no scar//
I quit the game now I'm back/. . . It's a fight  night/ and the price's right/ Imma show these lames that their peak is below a knight's twilight//
I got in the game/ took ma mind off fame/ niggas in it for awards/ their eyes set on the reward/ now they lost/. . . they blame it on the surprise(saw prize) element//
reign's over/. . . they gutted by my flame// no insurance, they gat no cover/. . . they make false claims// now they lying in wards/ for lying in words/ this niggas is flawed/. . . no sentiments//
all I see is weakness Everyday People. . . put y'all behind these bars for Arrested Development//
my rhymes make loonies out there go in sane//
even in Manama they don't make such bar rain(Bahrain)//

1025:
@prophet of doom,
what if it does not end? even if it ends, do u see anyother coach achieving such in anytime soon? why are u wishing such to him? cld it be u don't like better things or are u saying jose does not deserve ore than that?

I'm just being realistic here or have you forgotten the 5-0 ignominous defeat at the hands of Barca? As far as I'm concerned, this is a meaningless record, impressive nonetheless. Do you think this record would have any meaning if it's not accompanied by trophies? The most important thing still is winning trophies.

Aggression: Be aggressive against attackers.

Strength: This is the most important physical attribute of a defender. You need to be strong because defending involves a lot of pushing, running, harrying, and what have you.

Heading: Good aerial ability to deal with crosses and aerial threats.

Bravery: That is, when getting into tackles, you shouldn't be afraid.

Positioning: This is one of the most important skills of a defender. The ability to be at the right place at the right time. It also means being able to read the game.

Creativity/ flair/attacking instinct: Back in the 90's, this won't be considered an essential attribute of a defender but now the game's change. Some teams, Barcelona, for example, like to build their attack from the defence. You hardly see them clear out the ball, rather, they turn defence into attack. The defender sometimes is required to help bolster the team's attack especially when the team is desperately in need of a goal. Countless times, we've seen Pique, Vidic, etc, score crucial goals for clubs. Truth is, centrebacks nowadays must have some attacking instinct in them.
It doesn't have to be only at set pieces that they go up front. Everybody, defenders inclusive, must contribute to the team's attack.

Tackling: Be good with your tackles. Know when to go hard or otherwise.

I see this run ending after the next el-classico at Bernabeu.

4llerbuntu:
mumu + mumumity =mumunich!. i don tire to dey do parry 4 here abeg. munshit, we go open condolence 4 una sef. ki lo de, wetin? una nor dey tire 4 bonanza?

lol. Dayo na yahoo boy nau. Where you think say him for see money to dey throw these lavish parties everyday. Even for Las Vegas, dem no party reach like this.

AjanleKoko:
Actually a poor display by both teams.
Messi tried to do it all by himself - and didn't even come close. Xavi, Masch, and Keita were not really playing together, as Barca most times chose to play off the flanks. Good individual movement from all three, but I didn't see any of the scintillating midfield passing and running we're used to.
I thought Keita was very solid though. He plays with his head in the game, and he shows himself able to get into the box and cause all kinds of problems. He was a lot better than the other two guys in midfield.


Masch didn't really do anything - hold up play or link up well with the forward line, which is what we expect a holding midfielder to do. I wonder sometimes if his so-called Liverpool reputation isn't a myth. After all, a certain Xabi Alonso also played in that midfield, and as soon as he left, Liverpool looked a lot less imposing.

Zaragoza played with a packed middle - 5 players, and were mostly too afraid to come out, preferring to defend their goal instead. Though Sinama-Pongolle worked Pique well, and forced him into not a few errors. Milito is rather static, don't you guys think? He doesn't seem to cover ground much as Pique or Abidal. Once Pique is caught out, the attacker has sight on goal. It happened a few times

At least they bagged the three points, and still kept Madrid chasing our tail. One thing though. I think Pique's absence may not matter much, we can even play Fontas and Abidal at CB if Puyi can't play. Busi will have to stay right there in the middle, and the wingbacks had better work their flanks well. I think the Arsenal game will be won by playing them in midfield. They have good solid DMs in midfield, but those guys can't stop Xavi or Iniesta.

Milito's case is understandable. Last night was just his fourth league start. He needs a massive amount of games to get in tip-top shape.


Zaragoza just came to defend. They put all their men behind the ball so chances were limited for us despite our near 100% domination. They hardly tested us, the only time they broke clean, Valdes was on hand to stop them. I think Xavi did well and of course, Keita. There's gotta be something about Zaragoza that turns his screws because it was against the same team he netted a hatrick last season. I think Bojan, atypically, looked sharp. He's been a dud all season.

We won, Arsenal drew, it was the reverse before we met in the first leg. Now that's a + sign.

FT: Barcelona 1 Zaragoza 0.

Can't believe Messi's played all 90 in this one.

Now, I'm sure what matches will be played tomorrow and I don't know when they rescheduled the Heartland vs Rangers for. It was supposed to be played lastweek but it was postponed due to a number of Heartland players involvement in the Obama Cup.

The fixtures for this weekend were once again altered at the last minute, the usual NPL disorganised style.

JUTH FC 1 vs Dolphins 3
Kwara United 3 vs Zamfara 0
Gombe 1 vs Plateau 0
Sharks 1 vs Rangers 1

goooooooalllll Barca 1 - 0. Keita. . . well placed shot

We played on Wednesday and are playing now. I hope JM is seeing that.

^^ I'm as stunned as you are. Nice to see Milito on the pitch again.

Thank God he didn't die. Nothing must deny me the spectacle of winning the double on Mourinho's head.

dayokanu:
Van Gaal would be lucky to have a job this time tomorrow

Won't at all be surprised. It's been a long time coming.

kelvin:
If we don't blame yakubu, who can we blame.

Do we have to blame someone?

ROSSIKE:
WORST MISS IN FOOTBALL HISTORY


[flash=450,450]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1y6snKoFqs&feature=related[/flash]


That guy does not deserve the shirt on his back.

If he'd actually just left the ball it would have scored. What an iddiot!

You definitely didn't see Maxi Rodriguez's miss in the Chelsea vs Liverpool game. I think we made too much of a big deal out of Yakubu's miss.

Yet another party. . . I love this place mehn

We should see off Zaragoza with ease in today's game. We always have it easy against them. I guess key players will be rested in this one, however, I'd love to see Pep or Villanova(Pep might not make it to this one) introduce Puyol in the latter stages of the game, say 10 or 15 minutes to go, so he could taste some action. I'd love to see Jonathan Soriano play in this one too. He has been scoring with ease for Barcelona Athletic; 5 goals in last two games. He's yet to make his first team debut and he's 24 already.
Good luck to the lads in this one.

We should see off Zaragoza with ease in today's game. We always have it easy against them. I guess key players will be rested in this one, however, I'd love to see Pep or Villanova(Pep might not make it to this one) introduce Puyol in the latter stages of the game, say 10 or 15 minutes to go, so he could taste some action. I'd love to see Jonathan Soriano play in this one too. He has been scoring with ease for Barcelona Athletic; 5 goals in last two games. He's yet to make his first team debut and he's 24 already.
Good luck to the lads in this one.

Emperoh:
Ol boi these Dortmund guys are something else!!!
Jeez!!!

Goetze, barrios, Luwendowski, Sahin, Subotic and Santana!!
Also missing the injured Japanese!!!

They are a pleasure to watch!!

I'm looking forward to seeing how they'll perform in next season's CL, until then I'm reserving my praise. They didn't do well in the Europa League. They were knocked out in the group stage in a group that had an Atletico Madrid that've been out of sorts all season and an unillustrious Aris Saloniki. I just hope they don't end up like Wolfsburg that huffed, puffed and fluffed and ultimately were nothing more than a one season wonder.

Ether vs Takeover? I'd go for Takeover. It was really straight to the point and Jay did Nas some major damage in the third verse. That part where he dissed Nas, his albums and his music career is more than everything Nas said on Ether. "One hot album every 10 year average" - That was a really wicked line.


One hot, slept on beef was Fat Joe vs Papoose. Fat Joe has a predilection for getting into trouble with peeps that are lyrically superior. As expected, Papoose murdered him on 'A Fair One'. Dem no born Joey Crack well make him reply. He's yet to recover.