₦airaland Forum

Ibime:
Good

Enzo does not have legs to boxcrash and do normal midfield duties

Xabi already with a political problem off the bat, wondering where exactly to play this 100m plus rated asset without devaluing it. I don't like this. Political problem don become tactical problem for team.... yet again.

I see him more as a defensive liability in the deep role. Xabi plays with the gegen press and high line, ball recovery with Enzo in it is always going to be double wahala for Caicedo. And if pressure burst and we lose Caicedo because he's working incessantly for two, season don finish be dat.

Plus he's not press resistant with his back to goal. This is serious wahala close to goal against quality opposition. I prefer him losing the ball when there's still 50/60 yards off recovery opportunity.

popizaino:
“Enzo Maresca gave Chelsea two trophies.”

Time to give City ordinary Community Shield now, and he’s chopping 3–0.

You people still don’t understand that Chelsea is a club that wins trophies for managers, not the other way around.

#Copied

Where was your favourite manager Poch when Chelsea was sharing wins for Managers?

Incoherent Alakori.

Griffon:
Chelsea new numbers in the squad:

#2 - Marco Palestra (previously: Disasi)
#3 - Wesley Fofana (previously: Cucurella)
#4 - Valentin Barco (previously: Tosin)
#5 - Max Lacroix (previously: Badiashile)
#16 - Dario Essugo (previously: Ugochukwu)
#17 - Morgan Rogers (previously: Andrey Santos)
#23 - Geovany Quenda (previously: Chalobah)
#29 - Pep Chavarria (previously: Fofana)
#39 - Mike Penders (previously: Mathis Amougou)

Can we comfortably say Tosin, Disaster & Badboyshile are history?

Defenders deemed good enough for the club by our Ikotun pundit.

I believe Bodashile already set to join Napoli. Tosin and Disasi will not be in the team, even if they don't find moves away this window.

Kimbeast:
We are all in agreement the team is stacked. No excuses or kini kon when the season starts. League or bust.

We are not complete yet. We are nearly empty in midfield. We should not go into the season with Enzo. We need to let him go, so we can make the necessary additions in midfield. One injury to Caicedo and we have a massive problem, no matter what formation.

popizaino:


I will defend him shamelessly.

I don dey wait for you,come outside.

Are you running madt? You think we are mates when it comes to these matters? I defended shamelessly, a manager that took us to second on the table, 3 points away from the top, save for the dropped points at Everton. Highest table position by any manager under Clearlake as yet. One that won us two trophies - one of said trophies against all odds, against arguably the best team in Europe at the time.

Even with an average season performance, City were looking his way to replace the almighty Pep.

And you think we are mates in tactical understanding and discernment.

You better sit in your lane.



You backed a Poch that led us on a path of extreme regression, losing a final to Liverpool children. No defined tactics, no pattern. Dude had to go pick up a job with the USA in the end because nobody wanted to employ him.

You then moved on to hurriedly back a PE teacher claiming he will do all Maresca didn't do, and ended up having to walk that back.........again.


The others on your list were Glasner and Ariola, while I am putting my full weight again, behind Alonso and his back 3, after careful analysis of his tactical set-up, adaptability and understanding of the game

Here you are again rushing into conclusion...... again, because of one single event you waited all your life for. Even if Maresca does not win a single trophy at City....... as Chelsea manager, I backed the right horse for the job. You backed phuckall that works.

You think City did not see Poch and Glasner there before they chose Maresca? You are clowning.

You and I are not on the same level. This is not 4-4-2 5h1t and playing Madueke from the left aburo.

Phuckoff to the left side..... please!

Skimpledawg:
Where you dey watch abeg

Dem no wan share.

Match stream dey? It looks like Sporty TV is not showing this one.

Delaappuuu. How you go miss that?

Delap don win penalty.

BlueMann:
Anselmino's hamstring gone?

Damn! He's upset. I was rooting for him. Very technically-astute player.

See Tosin dey jog like snail.

That counter was fire!!!

drisham:
You see Jackson is not a true goalscorer, but he is a better footballer than delap , he brings something to the table, his turns, linkup and ball carrying
Sad that he is F9 when it comes to scoring

palmer and JP would benefit if he stays

Palmer, JP, and Rogers will all benefit.

Griffon:
Well nateevs, shortly after the Milan game, Alonso made your point and prove my suspicions right that he actually intends setting us up looking unpredictable.

His speech was built on tactical versatility and unpredictability. Hence the incoherent styles of play at our friendlies.

Funny enough I just listened to the interview and was coming to say the same to you. It is indeed what we were saying.

Enzo5:
yes o, I agree

You see how that palestra played lwb ⭐, I enjoyed that 3 atb today

Don't let Popi and Ibime catch you liking a 3ATB. . They

I never understand why the default sentiment towards 3ATB is regressive and ultra defensive. People go dey see personnel, starting positions of players and the intricacies in the set-up, but still close mind.

Make una praise the Lord, Lavia play 90 mins o.

I still have hope.

Skimpledawg:
Egbon, how you see this Mudryk?

This ship sailed long ago. We should loan him, because nobody go buy am.

FBS:
Quenda - positive minded. I like.

Now see Quenda and Estevao together.

Alonso already has a problem, because my boy Quenda must get minutes.

AirBere:
Alonso and Chelsea would be first or second by December. Amorim on the other hand, gosh that man woulved relegated Manunited.

Alonso that is setting up to win the league. E go shock many people.

Let Chavaria, Rogers, Lacroix, James and Wharton/Scott join the team.

Wow! Great strike Caicedo.

Training ground stuff.

hensben:
Honestly, we have not be playing well since Alonso came in, we play like average country side. It’s not about the result for now but the pattern of play is not convincing. We are even playing against seria a sides that play slow football.

Playing well during pre season has no value. Fitness and cohesion matter more.

It's pretty much conclusive now that we are playing 3ATB for the season.

popizaino:
Tinubu be killing me with diesel ⛽ prices.

“Fuel is way expensive here in Nigeria compared to Europe” — White tourist touring Nigeria shares his observation pic.twitter.com/O1yFf7nXFF

— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) August 6, 2026

You and OP are wrong. People dey here wey dey live for Europe, just ask them directly.

I can tell you diesel per litre in the UK is N3,400/N3,500 per litre on motorways.

Enzo5:
Between Raggie Watson and Mahdi Jazuli-Nicoll, who do you think is the bigger talent?

Strasbourg supposed to be eating good with these talents, there's loan limit but not purchase limit

I was just about to address this same. For the pivot role, I think Watson just edges Jazuli. However, as an all round player, Jazuli is better.

Interesting fact about Jazuli, he can play 6, 8 and 10 with nearly equal effectiveness. And he started out playing in defence for a while.

Enzo5:
makes Chelsea signing Europa player of the year a good deal now.

This summer market is crazy, we are seeing many players going for 80m+ I think like up to 10 players

Diomande, Rogers, Elliot, Tolani, Fernandes, Gordon, I think Summerville went to Saudi for 70m+, Bruno

Tolani bawo?

Sportsweb:
He loves Xabi Alonso right now. Wait till Alonso wins a trophy

You can pretty much wipe Alonso of the list. Alonso played 3ATB today.

Griffon:
TBH, I’m still trying to wrap my head around Alonso’s style of play.

Is he working with a possession based strategy, counterattacks or playing the channels?

Nothing is quite defined so far.

As far as I know, he wants his teams to do all 3. It might be the reason why it all looks very incoherent at the moment. It's a lot to master in only 4 weeks.

zeusis:
There is a similarity in how olise and quenda moves

You get eye. They have identical football intelligence, with Quenda packing more pace.

Quenda and Palestra are lighting up this right hand side.

Well well well. 3ATB is finally here.