₦airaland Forum

dyabman:
We can't go all season long with Fab while playing a 3-4-3 formation , Kante go wreck .

dyabman:
Dayo keeps shooting himself

Anyway,

Make una wait first , Nihilist , has matic been poor from the start of this season or you just feel fabregas should be playing ahead of him ?

Ibime:
That's because we are less open this season. No need to dive into tackles in a congested midfield this season. Had he had Fabregas alongside him and less numbers at the back, he would dive in to prevent breakaways. Now there's no need for that.

Ibime:
His stat in 15/16 is close to 14/15 but his 16/17 stats are way behind. Would we say he was better in 15/16 than this season? Like I said, these are distbin stats. I pay them no mind. Why should he tackle you this season and risk a card when he can easily guide you into the path of Cahill, Kante or Alonso to rob you of the ball?

I hope you know that small men tackle more. Everytime a big man goes in for tackle, he cops a card eg Wanyama. A big man will just step across your body and lever you off the ball.

Ibime:
Midfielders are the most dribbled players in any team so telling us he is one of the two most dribbled players means nothing. He is one of only two midfielders!

Running stats was only to counter Bigkesh assertion of him strolling. In Matic case I know that's how he positions himself from visual observation.

That aside, we have to be more intelligent on the meaning behind stats. There are pertinent stats and there are stats meant for the dustbin. Tackling, Interceptions, Dribbling is meant for the dustbin because there is no high volume and you don't know how they record the stats.

For example, a whole team between all 11 players might record only ten tackles in a game yet the opposition lost the ball 30 times. If you are running at me and I put my body between you and the ball and rob you of it, do you know they don't count that as a tackle?

So tackling stats etc only tells you about a players style of play, not the efficiency of his play. While players like Kante, Ramires may go to ground to tackle you because they lack size, someone like Matic or Mikel will just step across your body and block you from the ball. The outcome is the same but tackle wont be recorded for Matic or Mikel.

So we have to be intelligent about our use of stats. Personally the only stats I consider are goals, assists, kms per game and passing stats. Let us not bring dustbin stats into the arena of intelligent discussion.

As another example, you will see a winger dribbling all game, yet when you check the stats you will see only 3 dribbles recorded. Tell me, what are they recording, do you really know?

I personally watch Messi dribbling 20-30 times per game, yet Opta will be telling me he only completes 3 dribbles per game. Tell me in all sincerity why I should bring dribbling stat into a debate as a metric for comparison?

Griffon:
Some minutes ago you were hailing Makalele for his defensive prowess whilst dissing Lamps for his inability to help out defensively. Just right now, you're hailing Cesc for his attacking prowess only to be dissing our defensive aegis of 2015, Matic.

How funny?

Ibime asserted that, Matic was carrying Cesc in our title winning season. And I informed you that is true 'cos just like Maka, someone needed to do the dirty job.

I don't see why you still don't get it. Did Cesc at any point post a higher number of tackles, clearances and interceptions over Matic in 2015? If your answer to that is a yes, then I promise you, I'm aint arguing any further.

Ibime:
Maybe you prefer Mikel who would be blowing gasket and leaving holes all over the pitch.

What do you prefer looking at? Tackling stats that tell you someone makes 1.2 tackles per game vs another who makes 0.9 tackles per game? How una dey reason sef?

That running is the reason why Matic is in position. 90% of DM and defender work is positional, not telling us Makelele makes 0.7 tackles per game while Ramires makes 2.3. That is meaningless.

I told you many years ago and repeatedly since that the only stats I look at for defenders and DMs is running and passing. The bulk of my assessment is visual cognisance of their positioning

The best one on one defender in the world is not the best defender in the world. He may be horrible positionally.

Ibime:
I have posted running stats. Did you miss them?

Matic makes more passes per 90mins than Kante.

Ibime:
Matic is making more passes and assists than Kante. You are comparing two different styles of players.

Your squawka stats is weighted to tackling, even interceptions. Those are no matrix for looking at DMS cos if they were Ramires would be the greatest DM of all time.

Ibime:
Squawka defensive stats is based on tackling.

A DMs job is to press and make the opposition pass sideways till they run out of options.

He is doing his job perfectly defensively.

We dont want no Lee Cattermole or Granit Xhaka in our midfield making slide tackles.

A central midfielder stays on his feet.

So what is the purpose of comparing with wingbacks whose job is to isolate wingers on the touchline and tackle them. That's an inane comparison.

Makeleke never tackled anybody. His squawka defensive stats would be rubbish.

Central midfielders defensive job is to stay in formation and press as a unit, blocking space for throughballs. He is doing that perfectly.

DM is in your team last 16 matches and you can count the goals conceded on one hand. One hand, not two hands. And you are still carrying 2015 matter on your head, typing God knows what.

Those of us who know what to expect from DM are satisfied. Conte who took the team from 10th place to 8 points clear is satisfied. Do you think you know more than him on midfield play?

Ibime:
Those squawka stats don't apply to DMs. Strength of DM is not in making tackles.

Matic just strolling in midfield according to Conteddicted.

Griffon:
Pfft. I'll rather run to Libya for safety than to spend a night in Sudan.

How Is Cesc better than Matic defensively? Reel out the stats; number of interceptions, clearances and tackles.

Maybe then I can pay attention to you.

afrodoc2:
But he is right. We need more all around pace in the team. Lack of pace is what has blunted to a degree Zlatan's impact, accelerated Rooney's decline and limited Mata to being at best a tier 3 player all his life. Lack of pace is why Blind is a potential liability in almost every position he is played in. Pace is why i would choose Mikki over Mata.
We are not saying we should go for egun ori players without technique like David Odonkor but we need a nice combo of technical ability and physical attributes IN THE SAME PLAYER.

BushWickBill:
As usual, dribbling away from the real issue.

Yes I will clean my dane gun according to you.

But you sir are a barefaced hypocrite. That is the real issue.

Deal with that.

And the temporary cataract that has affected your eyesight.

PS: No MNF report from you this week?

BushWickBill:
The resident INEC official won't come and scream PDP..

He has temporary glaucoma now after Hull were denied a clear penalty.
But if it is united he will come and start showing his sanitary pads from his last period. Screaming like an owl on cannabis and drawing line like a technical drawing student in ss1.

And his temporary blindness won't let him watch Monday night football to be parroting updates because United is not involved.

As for the refereeing these days it's simply shocking. Just expect the unexpected.

airmark:
Ake can be introduced gradually. I don't think conte will be so comfortable with him dealing with aerial balls. If hull switches to that .

donjazet:
Sure. na you be my inspiration send am to chelseajazet47@gmail.com

Meanwhile I really need your opinion on this slip I wan place. Especially the corner. Anyone please.


cc nihilist, ibime, Nateevs.

chic2pimp:
Dude I could not believe the scores myself. I thought It was a dream. Forget the biggest club in England, you guys were ruling europe not that long ago with the likes of Martin Johnson,Ben Kay and Neil Back. That performance today was shambolic.

Whatever happened to Tuilagi? Dude seems to have regressed. I remember when He was all the hype 3 years ago. Hopefully Leceister does not get run into the ground. I love seeing them and Wasps do well in Europe.


NB: How do you get all this tickets? If I simply turn up at these grounds, will tickets be available?

chic2pimp:
Nihillist my G pele o. Take it easy ehn. The thrashing Glasgow melted out to you guys at home was just unfair. Your Boys took one helluva beating. The game was pretty much over by halftime.

adebayo201:
And Lampard

kokaneprodigy:
Scummies new LOGO

Phoenix619:

PietroRico:
Someone needs to smash mata's laptop on his head if he blogs again before this month ends

sinizia:
Another hand ball. Nihilist, keep counting them.

Obere4u:
Congratulations in advance... everything working good in your favor

sinizia:
Well, we've been robbed.

sinizia:
Nihilist, I know you won't see this blatant foul on Rashford? Shebi, United robbed themselves again? What about the hand ball which is a pk for United? I'll be here to remind you when next you arrive with your PDP complaints.