₦airaland Forum

2005-06, 17 Nov 2005 precisely - the El Clasico at the Bernabeu. . .so impressive was Barcelona and Ronaldinho in particular that Real Madrid fans had no choice but to put sentiments aside for once and applaud them. Truly special moment of commendable spirit and sportsmanship!
Also memorable was Samuel Eto'o's raised fist gesture towards the VIP box where the Madrid president was seated.

For very different reasons. . . it just felt good to see the usually smug and haughty Jose Mourinho humbled.

Will never forget the night Avram Grant said to the world and all Jose Mourinho fan-boys. . . "The Special will come and watch Chelsea in Moscow" - and indeed, it came to pass!

On a night when the world remembered victims of the holocaust, on a night Grant remembered his father's traumatic travails during WW2 and for Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, it was a time to commemorate his late mother. . . they squared up against Liverpool, two-time stumbling block of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in previous UCL meetings. Such was Chelsea fan's love for Mourinho that they never gave Grant a chance all through his time at the Bridge, as if it was his fault that JM was fired in the first place. Mourinho himself even tried to stoke the fire a bit by hinting that Liverpool held a slight advantage. But on this "magical" night, the stage was set as usual; but the outcome, different.
At the end of 90mins of a pulsating action, Avram Grant, barely a year as a licensed, professional manager - scorned, disrespected, even disregarded by the same supporters he was sweating for; went down on his knees, teary eyes raised to the heavens in supplication. . .he'd done it and more! He'd taken The Blues one step ahead of where the so-called, self-styled "Special One" couldn't - he'd beat Liverpool and taken The Blues to the UCL final for the very first time in their history.

I shed a tear everytime I see that image of Grant in sadness and then joy for the man. In that gesture I saw a symbol, a message to all the doubters and naysayers - "I have done what your Special One could not do".

That was his "magic moment" and I am sure nobody can take it away from him!

To the best of my knowledge; for the now, Nigeria and Nigerians are losing big.

Indigenous suppliers/contractors cannot bring in the HP, IBM, Toshiba to their partner companies here and there are no local alternatives that meet the standard/requirements of most companies' operating environment (note: I am talking big, large-scale establishments here). That's a couple of folks shorn off their means of livelihood and some organizations somewhat stuck in a rut with respect to their I.T needs.

Furthermore, because there is no importation; a source of revenue is blocked or shut off for now (not that we ever see the monies anyway) until the whole "Nigerian Content" thing is properly reviewed and correctly implemented.

Esejojo: .
You guys must have missed the part in the report that stated that the ban is specifically for PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS aka Government institutions

Wrong. I know for sure it is in force in several multi-nationals. . .especiallyly O&Gs!

Its just tragic that in Naija, we cannot identify with 1 party - I mean, why would someone vote ACN at the Guber polls and PDP at the FG polls. . . doesn't that already spell a conflict of interest, ideologies and utter chaos eventually!?

Where are the other alternatives. . .the other competent persons; the fresh young faces. . .where are we, when do we get our shot at the top-job!!?

Geomac: You people are wicked, to be the 3rd wife or not to be married at 36 years of age, what do you prefer?

Congrats Funke!

Is it compulsory to marry!!?

Next manager up for the axe, next club to 'lose' big - RDM, Chelsea.

Lets face it; moral of the story here is. . .hire a manager, cut him enough slack to do his thing - Liverpool never gave Roy Hodgson ample time or resources; same applies with Chelsea's handling of AVB - not enough time to pass judgement.

@ Sisi Kill.

You nailed it!

Me, born and bred in Naija. . .didn't own a phone till I got into College. I can't even recall ever being pressed into needing it before College sef!

So I guess a lot of it is dependent on where you reside and probably even social status. But the average Nigerian 10yr old, living in Nigeria, doesn't need a cellphone!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2145014/Harry-Gregg-testimonial-Manchester-United-stars-aside-title-despair-Fergies-hero.html

Guess this goes to show the lads have rapidly left behind the sad memories of last Sunday!

I'm a dinosaur, I'm an absolute dinosaur but what I am,
I'm a winner. And I want all these players and I said
it to them yesterday, when we lost the league to Leeds
United in 1992 the young players came out that day and
the Liverpool supporters were asking for their
autographs, Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Beckham, and they
were tearing them up, tearing their autographs up. And
I said to Giggs and the boys 'remember this day', and
exactly what I said to them yesterday - those
Sunderland fans were cheering for city, remember the
day. We won't forget that, I'm telling you. So well
done to the players, a fantastic group, they will be
alright, don't worry about them, a great bunch of lads,
brilliant, well done boys."

Oh ho ho. . .boy, is SAF is FIRED UP or what!!? This is the spirit Baba. . .this is the spirit; me and you are now connected in the spiritual - leave any gad'dem church, mosque or stadium!

And I agree with you Sir, just a bit more good ol' fashion battling passion and we don't fecking need no dobovorsky, NaKagawa, goodijunsson or Tsunami. Yes!

usbcable: Hamdan
Kasiran
Tayiban
Mubarakan
I finally resurrected a dead amdahl forgotten thread

HALA MADRID

You try. . .you no see as I dey hail you join put!

twinstaiye: Apology to Giggs, but I dont think he deserved it. Why not Alan Shearer the highest goal Scorer in the EPL and the one who won the best player of EPL in 10 years?. When has staying long in Manchester United the criteria for the best Player in 20 years? Goals, Goals and plenty of it, that is what Shearer brought into the game, what has Giggs brought? [/b]He isnt even the Captain for those long years that would have guide us to say he led Man Utd through those years. [b]Methinks the likes of Andy Cole, Thierry Henry, Robbie Fowler etc who ignite the EPL with goals even comes before Giggs.
As if that is not enough, those voters are so biased that they prefer Rooney's goal against Manchester City to that of Dennis Bergkamp against Newcastle United.

Your apology to Giggs first-first contradicts everything else. . .what has he brought you ask and yet still apologize!!!?

Maybe they should have given Aiyegbeni too afterall he too score goals, goals and plenty of it for that matter!

What kind of parents would lose their biological child(ren) and not cry out for help even if Jesu' Christi' himself came down and told 'em to chill out!!!?

Nicklee: I am so sad for this generation of Nigerians. We are certainly worse than our parents' generation. Ride on Nigerians, ride on to your destruction. There is no country on this planet with youths that have shown so much ignorance, selfishness and bigotry as the Nigerian youth. We fear revolutions, yet hope things will work by magic. Kidnapping, fraud and outright robbery is the order of the day. Yet we are proudly stupid, proudly hopeless and proudly clueless. We are a failed nation, failed youths and hopelessly failed individuals.

Until there is a semblance of a strong political administration ready to tackle the menace of corruption (which is the bane of ALL OF NIGERIA'S PROBLEMS), there is no way on earth we will make any economic progress. Meaning the youths will continue to get worse education and look more stupid to the rest of the worlld and ofcourse more ignorant. It also means NO foreign investors will put their money into this economy (energy, refining, infrastructure, etc). I have had the privilege of being a part of a number of high-end US Africa business fora and there are only three African countries getting the attention of the world - Ghana, Rwanda and Botswana (ofcourse SA already has it). Nigeria is feared like a plague and right now, only the Oil companies can survive in our business environment because of their peculiar business model.

Grow up Nigerian Youths, grow up. I challenge every Nigerian youth out there to do a simple exercise before hitting the internet with posts that reek of bigotry and sheer ignorance. In the comfort of your home (hopefully with electricity), write down everything you think makes up Nigeria's problems and what you think can be done to solve them (from your limited understanding). Put it down in ink and paper (don't just think it up). Write it down in bullet points - problems and solutions. Then step back, remove all ethnic, religious and socially bigoted cap and make a sane assessment of all political organizations and persons in our current political space. Which person/group of persons/organization has the capacity to fix the problem's'? Mind you, don't count yourself out of the equation because you could be the one person that can fix Nigeria. Write down your choices and begin to support them.

We have a responsibility to the next generation, to build a country that will look out for them.

The most stirring, most sensible comment thus far. . .I am going to do exactly as you have just said, to the letter!

mbulela: SAF hands were forced by Lindegaard's injury.

Whatever it was that caused the consistent run of games for De Gea, it's certainly helped! Now I don't even bat an eyelid when the likes of Stoke come with their yeye aerial bombardment!!!

coogar: you talk too much.
do the deed already and stop boring us.
most chic do these without even voicing it out.....
at most, he jabs you 1000 thrusts n he ejacs......zing, the do is over!

Baba. Spot on there!

lashontae: Lol. I used to have a crush on this guy when I was sharing a flat with his girl. Cool guy, got swag, fresh n clean...everything I wanted in a guy, except that he was dating my witch of a roommate (now former-roommate).
Last Saturday, I ran into him as I was handling some travel stuff and it turned out, we're gonna be in the same city for a week, (I'm staying a week, he's staying longer).
When I sighted him, I was like 'Dayum, give me this guy for breakfast'!
He looked so so yummy! Lol!

And I also didn't miss the fact that this man was literally drooling over me.
Shon, he exclaimed, encasing me in a close hug. Where u been? Missed you! (well, he didn't use the exact words, but close enough, lol).

As a sharp girl and a naughty one too, I noted that the dude was really feeling the girl! Hmmn interesting, I said to myself....
He also told me he's on a break with ex-roomie and he doesn't think they're compatible.
I ain't gonna lie. I feel him too, I've done for a long time. Now, I'm here, unable to concentrate and occasionally glancing at the phone number he scribbled.
To meet up with him or not to?
I know what's gonna happen if I do. I want what's gonna happen if I do...I'm so so tempted but again, I'm a little bit hesitant. Because I really don't want to join issues with my former roommate who BTW is a sadistic witch!
Gosh!

Its 50-50. . .a bit of touch and go.
He's on a little break from his relationship with your ex-roomie; they haven't quite broken-up - so you have to be wary there. If you intend on getting serious with him, then you're placing yourself "in the line of fire" so to speak. Otherwise, you're good to go!

Personally, I think the guy is just playing you with the line about his relationship with your ex-roomie - I think already he knows you've got a certain attraction to him and is looking to see if he can cash in on it!

Scholes to play on for at least another season. . .hmmmm!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18066863

Huntelaar. . . thats another very DEADLY SOUNDING name

@ Coogar.

De Gea has come good; he'll be as fantastic as VDS no doubts. Thumbs up to SAF for sticking with his man and absolutely reassuring to know we also have a reliable number two, as against the days of Carroll and Howard!

Phil Jones - has immense potential for CB and DM positions with a bit more exposure, he'll be a great prospect in those positions and could well be our new O'shea. RB is just not his forte, best we leave that position to the Da Silvas!

Ashley Young - started well, scored fantastic goals but ultimately I am disappointed; I expected more. But he can and will produce more from what I've seen; he's certainly more reliable than Nani that is for sure!

Do you see the point I am trying to make about names - Phil Jones, Ashley Young - sounds like Soul music artistes to me. Compare that to Zamorano, Litbarsky, Hristo Stoichkov, Bu-rru-cha-gga or Canniggia - meeen, see defenders are already quaking in their boots at the sound of that. Its all in the mind, but its part of the game

So which one do AIRTEL collect N3000 per month for. . . thats the one I suscribe to.

coogar: big boyyyyy!
i won't be buying it. i don't buy any united shirt without the champions badge!
the glazers can feck off to where the sun don't shine

And there you was earlier. . .telling me not to complain!

Well, me I buy oh. . . champions badge or not, at least one every season.

I think I like the sound of "Le-vando-ski". . .sort of name that paints the picture of a deadly, goal-scoring machine; I can just hear the commentators scream out and drawl on the name when he's got the ball in and around the box or scores a goal

coogar: ruudie, have you pre-ordered your new shirt?

[img]http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/man_utd/123684/man-utd-unveil-new-201213-home-kit-the-gingham-monstrosity-photos.html[/img]

Not yet. . .I usually get one of my colleagues at work to order and "hand-carry" 'em back to naija for me. I pay him in Naira.

And the cat+mouse transfer games begin. . . .

Sir Alex Ferguson wants to sign no fewer than three Borussia Dortmund players after watching their 5-2 German Cup final win over Bayern Munich on Saturday night.

The Manchester United manager is favourite to land attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa but is also lining up moves for Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored a hat-trick, and Germany defender Mats Hummels.

Contract talks with Lewandowski have broken down and his agent Maik Barthel said: 'The offer from Dortmund is not enough and I can confirm there is interest from Manchester United.'

It is also understood Hummels's father Hermann, who acts as his agent, has been invited to Manchester for talks.

United would have to pay close on £50million for all three, but Dortmund managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke struck a defiant note by saying: 'We expect Kagawa to go, but no amount of money will persuade us to sell the others.'


[url[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2143918/United-chasing-50m-Dortmund-trio-Sir-Alex-eyes-Kagawa-Lewandowski-Hummels.html[/url]

I disagree with people that say "City deserved to win". . .UTD deserved it more - with a squad many have labelled as the 'poorest' UTD side in EPL history; should we still even be in with a shout in the dying minutes of the last games of the season!!?

Espanyol 1-1 Sevilla

No European adventure next season!

Funny. . . this last two games, we seemed to have by the scruff of the neck and had chances to score a bucketful of goals - I could have sworn we had the potential to score 12 or 13, but the lads just looked like they had that belief!

afrodoc: JOEY BARTON! et tu Brute! so u havent forgotten ur Man City roots? as intentional a red card as Gerrard's infamous back pass

Barton should have just bowled over when Tevez struck him on the shoulder. . .interesting to see what the ref would have done there. I wonder how the assistant saw the elbow but didn't see Tevez's blow!

Summed up in one "adjective-packed" sentence - A gentle, relaxed, quiet, composed, confident demeanor catches my eye anytime.