₦airaland Forum

Roland17:
Baba, I Dey watch from TV

ok boss

Make someone drop link abeg...

Even if na YouTube

Jodera:
Lol... For first match of the season with all the whole positives??

Shake it off Man!!

ok

I hate to sound negative but we might just lose today.

I wouldn't be surprise if it turn out so. We have the knack to always start slow.

Subzero047:
My premier league top 4 prediction

Liverpool
Man city
Arsenal
Chelsea

Tottenham might make it this time. With the Conte factor and their squad depth.

TheLoneCitizen:
Aso ebi? To where? Farmers union?

This looks more like JSS2 tie and dye practical gone wrong.

Roland17:
Last season, I observed some of our opponents utilized the long ball tactics for two reasons. One was to evade the press when it was effective, secondly, they used it to by-pass our midfield, especially when it potent in staying compact, closing passing lanes and pushing high along with the press.

We would have to be competitive aerially and more importantly, win those 2nd balls.

we now have some heights at the back now. Gabe,Willi, white and partey ...so we should be able to take care of that

Roland17:
Hey guys, as we approach game day, I'd like for us to discuss/ scout Crystal Palace.

Lets discuss their tactics, style, formation, players including new player acquired, best players, coaching and what to expect from them.

I'd like to read from everyone.

I've read different views here and let me add the long ball tactics too. I believe we all remember that man city game where we lost 2-1. Before the referee decided to play the script, we were hurting city from the wing. Guess how.. Saka and Martinelli stayed up and wide and all we needed was to get he ball to them. Our goal came from their FB marking Martinelli (a decoy) even without the ball which gave Tearknee the space to drove forward and assist Saka.
I believe if Palace tries the high press tomorrow, what I just explained above could be our plan B. Partey,Xhaka,White and Zinchenko are all excellent passers.
Infact, we could employ this tactic within 15 minutes to tire them out which will most likely make them retreat and we will perfectly build up our ball.
On the physical side, we should be able to match them... whoever is playing CF for them better swallow plenty akpu...With a strong and towering Saliba...hmmm

codemaniacs:
this is the most important in all your comments..

Its about taking the continent's best minds out of Africa not just in sports but in other areas too and weakening Africa and Africans in Africa.

When Tobi Amusan shattered the World Record they said it was due to snickers she wore..

If most countries in Africa had strong currencies then the players will not be too interested in playing..

r:ussia and u:kraine are fighting and because some eastern African countries buy wheat from r:ussia and u:kraine the european mainstream media is saying the entire Africa's food supply comes from r:ussia and u:kraine...

It's just so sad.

TheSuperNerd:
Yep. Same set at U20 level with Ifeanyi Matthew and the U17 Class of 2013 who also played in 2015 at U20 level.

Was at the U20 Afcon in 2015 which we won thanks to Bulbwa's winner in the final.

Was also at the U20 WC same year.

alright thanks

Danielnino00:
This kit has been circulating on social media as our rumoured new kit to be released next month....

If it's true, then it's an overkill... It isn't necessary.. Nike need to stick to the traditional green colour...

if it's true, then it is simply rubbish. When did aso ebi became NT jersey?

lovewins:
That's why you'll notice I said the Napoli president is just a symptom of the problem and I ensured FIFA was identified as the root of this. CAF is a member association of FIFA so the responsibility isn't primarily theirs (even though their passivity is in itself complicity), FIFA has to wake up to her responsibilities. We don't need them to kneel before al every game disguising as allies when they'll rather fold when the time comes to make the tough decisions.

Don't mind them. Taking the knee every game yet their heart speaks otherwise.

M7even:
Yep. There was Ifeanyi Ifeanyi. You are right.

Ok... I remember seeing that name both during WAFU and CHAN

Danielnino00:
This your idea of constructing stadiums with traceable roofs is quite funny, you know...
Okay, let's say African countries spend millions of dollars to build stadiums with retractable roofs just for the purpose of hosting AFCON and protect the game from the rain, then how about the people outside? Imagine you are in Lagos, an AFCON game between Nigeria and Ghana is going to take place around 5pm at the "state of art retractable roofed national stadium" in Surulere, but it's raining heavily.. How do you get there? you will brave the rain?
I'm very sure the air conditioned Stadiums Qatar built for the world cup can stay cool even in June,but for very obvious reasons,they still moved the tournament to November.
No matter how much we try, we can defeat nature ..It's the fact..

In my opinion, the best suggestion is for CAF to make the AFCON a 4 year tournament! I've said it severally..There's no need for a 2 years AFCON. When something is too available,it's value reduces..... It will also give the host countries more time to prepare.. Since 2010, no AFCON tournament ha taken place in the designated host country due to frequent last minute changes. .
We can introduce something similar to the nations league to cover for the period of no AFCON...It's a win win for everybody..

I was actually thinking of a way round it. Even I, who made the suggestion know it sounds ridiculous. I mean Nigeria who is one of the powerhouse in Africa is finding it hard to maintain their pitches...how we wan take build retractable roofs for our stadium

The bolded says everything....we can't defeat the nature. Unless FIFA steps in and interfere, I think Africa would be the one to adjust sadly.

Our league standard is not up to Europe's and we risk an AFCON without most of the continent's best (which will further decrease the value of the tourney) if nothing is done.

TheSuperNerd:
UECL Qualifiers Round 3: Battle of the Nigerians

Alhassan Yusuf starts for Royal Antwerp FC as they take on Lillestrøm SK away in the first leg of this qualifying round.

Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Matthew both start for Lillestrøm SK.

No Akor Adams today for Lillestrøm as he was injured in their last league game.

This battle kicks off in 42mins.

Correct me if I'm wrong but there's another guy bearing Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, both of the same U17 set right? And he once played for Akwa United.

lovewins:
We can debate this subject back and forth, what we shouldn't do is to suggest member association of CAF haven't tried to make accomodations for these clubs. Many have had to excuse players till the last week of camp just to ensure these clubs have their players for critical games. If anyone hasn't, then it's the clubs.

Discrimination exists or are bound to exist. This is why we anticipate such and make policy decisions to combat these discriminations. For instance, most employers would rather hire a male employee (all things being equal) , so they wouldn't have to deal with pregnant employees and maternity leave when the child is born. In anticipation of discriminations like this, laws were made to protect women. So as an employer you can't decide not to hire a woman because of this, or fire one when pregnant. Women also get maternity leave running into months were necessary and return back to their job when ready.

Football is a job/business. Employers would rather keep theses players (especially those from Africa) around and have them not attend national commitments, but it is the responsibility of FIFA not just to make these laws (I know some laws exist to address this), but also enforce them. You referenced Mikel's Olympics example. If I remember correctly, clubs didn't have engagements at the time, but same sentiments applied, they'll rather keep him than have him go represent his country.

Good... All you said here are well understood but thing is we can't depend on FIFA. Like you pointed out earlier, FIFA doesn't seems to care going by the controversy surrounding the upcoming world and the silence of FIFA. That's why I said CAF needs to find a way around it whether FIFA shows concern or not.
Small time now, we will be fielding Okpotu, Lokosa Dem Dem in AFCON simply because the clubs refused to release our main players. And TBH these players will rather side with their clubs if it comes to choosing.

Philosopher1979:
As long as we africans srnc our players to Europe wr have to reach a compromise with them. MOST OF The best players from Africa will end uo in Europe.
We all want our best players to play in Europe but then we cant compromise with them

Mikel decided to go for Olympics despite the threat from his coach and he was frozen out of the team.
Aina didn't play much (like in the first half of the season) after returning from AFCON.
Correct me if I'm wrong but this is not unrelated to representing Nigeria in AFCON.

If CAF fails to address this issue, it might be detrimental to the career of African footballers.

I hope not though but it might soon degenerate into threats not only from the club owners but also from the coaches and fans as well.

Cecco90:
Do what exactly?

Cote D'Ivoire is hosting next AFCON.
Kindly suggest a favourable period (that will suit the Europeans) of the year when the tournament should be hosted considering the weather conditions in the country

How about we start constructing stadiums with retractable roofs in Africa.

It might sound somehow but looking at the big picture, the players will be the one suffering for it even if we decided to dare these clubs and continue hosting in January.

Do you think only the Napoli boss shares the same view? There are many of them that's why I commended him for coming out openly to say his mind.

lovewins:
CAF needs to do what exactly? Isn't it this the reason the next AFCON was scheduled for June/July next year to make accomodation for this, but after careful reflection they realized it wouldn't work?

We need to take ourselves more seriously as Africans and call out obvious racism when we see it. Notice he started the rant with Africans and South Americans, but singled out Africans when it came to who he wouldn't sign again. The problem isn't the Napoli head by the way, he is just a symptom of the problem, FIFA is a major culprit.

Didn't FIFA change the usual period for the world cup to make accomodation for the hot Qatar weather? Won't all the leagues in the world be going on break to make accomodation for this?

Haven't Qatar insisted that persons who aren't married can't stay in the same room together (talk less same sex marriage) and FIFA has done next to nothing about it, again making accomodation for the religious sensitivities of their host? FIFA needs to do more; make accomodations for Africa by making the AFCON period a FIFA window.

Point is, Africa is far from perfect, but when we see blatant racist comments like this, we should call it out. Don't rationalize it, call it out. You'll be surprised even if the AFCON period is made a FIFA window, some clubs still won't release their players. It has nothing to do with their schedule, they just do not regard African football. We've seen it in the past so we shouldn't be surprised.

You reacted the same way I expected people would. The FIFA example you mentioned is valid but it is different from my POV. When I said CAF should do something about it, it doesn't really mean they should shift the tournament. Put yourself in Laurentis shoe, the clubs are the one paying these players and also medically, they are always the first point of call for the players so not having them available for important matches will certainly hurt the clubs especially when the players are key players in their club (Salah, Mane, Osimehn,Kouli)

Now, the issue of weather is also valid and looking at it vividly, both sides (club and CAF) have valid excuses.

And even if the players forced their way to AFCON, it might affect their career.

CAf doesn't necessarily need to move the tournament. Some sort of agreement or truce should be reached.

Jodera:
And 25m for Magalhaes. We would have been bidding 70m now for his services

Exactly

Respect to the Napoli boss for being blunt. Even though, it might seems to be an insult (to some people) but what he said is true.

CAf needs to do something

ObaIgwe1:
With the money being called and bid for quality defenders these days, it makes it looked like we should be grateful for getting White for 50m and be arrested for robbing City of Zinchenko for 35M.

Imagine Fofana going for 60-70m? I thought ManU overpaid for Martinez but looks like they were even lucky.

Abeg make Saliba sign that new contract sharp sharp or we sell for 75m

When you consider we paid 27m for Saliba, White was not that expensive.

When Alba remember what Kounde did to him.

Jodera:
Lol, I think you're going too far. We don't know the reason why he haven't updated. Who knows, he's working his ass off in training thus doesn't have time for that or maybe he's not even a Sm frenzy guy (I think Roland mentioned he's like a shy guy). We can't just assume that he hasn't gotten over it just yet just because he didn't update his social media. Ahn ahn

Yea...he is kinda shy.

Hethather:
It’s even the way he planned the next two years of Messi’s life for me

He might be his PA

OhBritannia:
Who said Lionel Messi won't return to Barcelona as a player?
Has the person been watching the news lately?

Lionel Messi is definitely coming back to Barcelona as a player to retire or before he leaves for USA.

How sure are you?

TheSuperNerd:
You know I am a Nacho super fan in here. My days speaking for Iheanacho are well documented in here but I can tell you this without bias... Ndidi has more fire than Nacho.

Nacho is crazily talented. His left foot is arguably one of the best in the continent but no real push on his part it seems. He's just okay with his talent doing the talking whenever it can. We all saw what a Nacho given a good run of games can produce in a full season as we saw in the 20/21 season.

Ndidi on the other hand at least tries to keep pushing. You can see that fire in his eyes. But my brother, one cannot give beyond what he has. Ndidi's deficiencies are clear and we must come to accept it and build a way around it by always pairing him with a true midfield conductor in the person of Alex Iwobi (My First choice Deeplying CM) while Aribo is freed up to play closer to the box.

We kid ourselves if we keep playing Ndidi-Aribo deep in midfield. E no go work in the long run when up against "true" opposition.

You got it.
I'm actually talking about their club situation. Both of them have the quality to secure big moves from Leceister...don't know why they're still staying put.

As for Ndidi-Aribo partnership, it can never work. Ndidi-Iwobi is actually better in a 2 man Midfield

BannedLarge:
There can never be an argument until Ndidi sign for a big club. NEVER. In mikel prime, he was competing for a position with the likes of makalele , ballack, Essien, lampard, ramirez who are ndidi present team mate

K

Jodera:
Lol...calm down na

For what sef... Arteta said he is in the plan...Arteta bench Soarez and play White as a RB to accommodate him. That's like offering him a position on a platter of gold unlike others who had to fight for a position. The fans are singing your name and the media are already hyping you yet you wan dey form... He better sign da tin

iamoyindamola:
We actually tried that day
We faced the strongest lfc team ever

Yea... I must admit Liverpool is the only team I'm afraid we have not been able to get something of. Man City coming close too

iamoyindamola:
His fallout with the fans was the turning point
Some of them threatened his family including new born baby
That was really bad of them, people should learn to draw the line between criticism and threat
I criticize him alot but going after his family is a big no
Same thing with Maguire making threat to his life is very wrong and stupid of the fans
Mustafi complained that is what affected him till date
These guys are human too not machine it's not their fault they are earning that much to take such

Xhaka once volunteer to meet the fans face to face so they can say all that nonsense to his face, believe me majority of those assholes are just keyboard warriors they won't show face

I still think he is still hurting or protecting his family. If he had accepted the band and we lost a match, the threats might starts trooping in again

Jodera:
Omo, I read that thing too oo.
This process wey Arteta dey cook eh, hopefully with time e go soon done and we'll become a team everyone fears to play against and also a team who fears no one.

Exactly...might have lost that match but the motive behind that decision was clear.
It's only a matter of time before we see the result especially in UCL. There are lot of fans crazier than Liverpool's. Frankfurt for example