₦airaland Forum

Odunharry:
For the free kick though, the people in front of the GK didn't do well.. The red card too affected them despite playing with 10men, was expecting Brazil to score more than a goal but they didn't.

Doubt Sweden can take the Netherlands.. The reason I like this Dutch female team is because they know where the back of the net is..
Gold medal can go anywhere. Let's just watch.

US and Brazil isn't leaving up to expectations so far...

I’d say US and Brazil are the flop of the tournament, given the level of performance expected from them, US especially.

The Swedes haven’t been blowing their opponents away like the Netherlands have but I think they’ll give them something to think about if they meet. They also know how to score goals and their defense is tight.

The Netherlands haven’t faced any serious opposition apart from Brazil and the game between them ended in a 3-3 stalemate.

It’s going to be a tight game and I believe the winner will be who has a better defense.

Griffon:
Two things i'm always on the lookout for; great positional awareness and anticipation skills, these are traits Kounde has in his locker. I'm sure some of the ninjas here who are complaining about his height haven't seen Jules leap.

I'm a big fan of Kounde, and im sure he would thrive in TT's system, be it as a CDM, CB or RB. Boy is just smooth, just the way Tuchel wants his team to play.

I suspect that TT is sticking to his 3 CBs formation with Kounde's chase. You could see how he tried to use Reecy in that RCB position late last season. Kounde will execute it well.

Ibime:
Let's not forget that Rudiger refused to sign new contract and has only.one year left

Well his aerial stats that were posted earlier were pretty impressive, so perhaps he compensates with a very good leap.

Still, I wouldn't want to see him vying for a header with Chris Wood

Griffon:
Azpilicueta is equally 5ft10. With Jules preferring the right centre-back role, and Azpilicueta hitting 32 later this month, we may have found a replacement for the skippo in TT's three at the back setup.

James was already a ready made replacement there.

Kounde in the centre should be fine

airmark:
I suspect that TT is sticking to his 3 CBs formation with Kounde's chase. You could see how he tried to use Reecy in that RCB position late last season. Kounde will execute it well.

My thoughts exactly. It seems the three man defence is here to stay.

Guess this is a case of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it,.

Ibime:
James was already a ready made replacement there.

Kounde in the centre should be fine

This lad has mad stats. Just check this out:

''He was the highest rated centre-back in La Liga last season according to WhoScored with a rating of 7.01 - a greater score than Raphael Varane (6.85), Jose Gimenez (6.78) and Gerard Pique (6.80).

Furthermore, within the Sevilla squad, Kounde ranked highest for passes into the final third (165), aerial duels won (118), ball recoveries (312) and interceptions (42), demonstrating the roundness of his game. Across all u23 year olds in La Liga last season, Kounde also ranked highest for headed clearances, passes into the opposition half, and most possession won in the defensive third.

Whilst Kounde exhibits the skills of a ‘complete’ defender, he particularly excels at playing out from the back - a valuable trait in Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-3 setup. When compared to other centre-backs in Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues, Kounde ranks in the top 10% for progressive passing distance per 90 (432m), short passes completed per 90 (21.1), and pass completion rate for medium passes per 90 (95.8%).''

What this ninja lacks in vertical presence he sure makes up in aggression!

Ibime:
Kounde is 5ft10 for fücksake. Good player though, but EPL will target him in the air

what can we do na, Chelsea are already after him let's hope his jump stats don't leave him when he signs and he does win aerial balls, I am more concerned also about his defensive work on the ground, he isn't what I would call a hard or smooth tackler. If he comes, hope he comes good, especially making other teams focus on aerial balls in their attack since it seems to be his area of strength

Griffon:
Superb tackling and man-marking skills, let's not forget that he's technically adept too. He can do a Wilfred Ndidi.

superb tackling? Really? Yes man marking skills but you see that tackling area well he is 22years old

airmark:
Fabrizio stated it might be a swap deal involving Zouma.

EXCLUSIVE: Jules Koundé agreed personal terms with Chelsea until June 2026 and it could be a swap deal!

- Kurt Zouma has been discussed in the last few hours as part of the deal. He could join Sevilla in the Koundé deal. �

- Contract until June 2026 agreed as Koundé is open to join Chelsea as he wants Champions League football.

Its good business. Zouma not good with the ball. Only mou I think will use a player like Zouma in a top club. I’ll miss his personality though.

Griffon:
Kane, Tchouameni and Kounde would have been my preferred order.

Kane, 28, at £160m and it's not like 30goals can guarantee a trophy plus his annual hospital bed rest, better still not sign a striker. I would pick Rice at less than £50m, may £55m above Tchou at £30-£40m.

Kounde that will soon announce this week, better choice no dey

hensben:
Its good business. Zouma not good with the ball. Only mou I think will use a player like Zouma in a top club. I’ll miss his personality though.

at some point in... zouma was our best defender under Lampard

BlueAngel444:
what can we do na, Chelsea are already after him let's hope his jump stats don't leave him when he signs and he does win aerial balls, I am more concerned also about his defensive work on the ground, he isn't what I would call a hard or smooth tackler. If he comes, hope he comes good, especially making other teams focus on aerial balls in their attack since it seems to be his area of strength

He will be good against top teams. Small teams rarely put pressure on us so he will have lesser work defending.

Amoto94:
Only if we can get Philips of Leeds Utd then I will say we should forget about Rice but as it stands now Rice is better than the alternatives we are linked with.

Philips not be alternative to Rice o, except we want to replace Kante

BlueMann:
My thoughts exactly. It seems the three man defence is here to stay.

Guess this is a case of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it,.

True. We can only play 424 in some games.

Disturb:
at some point in... zouma was our best defender under Lampard

And how was our defensive set up under Lampard.

Disturb:
at some point in... zouma was our best defender under Lampard

Zouma also has that period when he is a rock at the back but soon after for whatever reason he begins to quake and fall apart

airmark:
I suspect that TT is sticking to his 3 CBs formation with Kounde's chase. You could see how he tried to use Reecy in that RCB position late last season. Kounde will execute it well.

Yeah. Azpi will less game if James hold his side well in that RWB

Ibime:
Words mean nothing so long as no contract is signed. Could just mean he is staying for 12 months

he is not the only player that's offered renewal that either hasn't renewed or they haven't announced it like Giroud's own.

If he leaving free was the case I doubt Marina wouldn't ship him instead of Zouma

Griffon:
Azpilicueta is equally 5ft10. With Jules preferring the right centre-back role, and Azpilicueta hitting 32 later this month, we may have found a replacement for the skippo in TT's three at the back setup.

lol see the way your lineup replace 32year old yet one 37year old still dey there

Barcelona are yet to receive any official bids for Antoine Griezmann amid interest from a number of clubs including Manchester City and Chelsea.

Ibime:
Sevilla have been doing a lot of swap deals. They swapped Gil for Lamela with Spurs

They are only balancing the squad and the books too.

Sevilla is a very nicely run club, they do not have the deepest pockets, but they are probably the most financially strong club in Spain. I just love the way they go about their transfers.

While many teams were posting losses during the pandemic of last year, Sevilla were busy increasing revenue. Transfers no dey give them headache, if dem price your player within their budget, you say NO, you want more mils, dem go leave you enter Ligue 1 go carry a younger decent player. If you price their player and your money no reach their asking price, dem go ask you to add one decent player from your team for the transfer. Na weed blower dey run that club, dem no get wahala.

Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of Donyell Malen from PSV on a contract until June 2026. #BVB #PSV

BlueAngel444:
lol see the way your lineup replace 32year old yet one 37year old still dey there

We still need that ninja this season honestly. Who can fill Thiago's void in our current squad? Who exactly?

BlueAngel444:
Philips not be alternative to Rice o, except we want to replace Kante

Philips is a better DM than Rice he has more in his locker than Rice; his passing range is good, faster, better spatial awareness and he isn't similar to Kante in playing style.

Amoto94:
Barcelona are yet to receive any official bids for Antoine Griezmann amid interest from a number of clubs including Manchester City and Chelsea.

Griezmann availability changes the game for CF purchase especially for City, if they buy him and afford his salary it makes Kane available and possibly at far lesser than £160m. Infact Dortmund and Tottenham have to reduce their asking price so as to sell well or keep and lose.

Griffon:
Wetin be that one problem?

Lampard alienated him, the club didn't intervene, people were discussing his sale here 12 months ago, tuchel system has improved his form and standing, he will seek a very lucrative contract or leave for free next year, if I had my way, I will sell him.

Griffon:
We still need that ninja this season honestly. Who can fill Thiago's void in our current squad? Who exactly?

Christensen that you put in LCB

BlueAngel444:
Christensen that you put in LCB

I don't trust that guy.

Amoto94:
Philips is a better DM than Rice he has more in his locker than Rice; his passing range is good, faster, better spatial awareness and he isn't similar to Kante in playing style.

still Chelsea are not after him, not even united that need him more, nor City that renew Fernadinho. If you ask me I dunno but Tuchel likes Rice so they should feed him Rice in peace

Griffon:
I don't trust that guy.

Tuchel does, at some point Christensen was one of the best CBs in German league.

BlueAngel444:
Chelsea could be announcing Jules Kounde this week or next, along with a new midfielder.

Some of us (Me) knew since that this signing was happening

Go hard or go home.