₦airaland Forum

kokaneprodigy:
This fixture few years ago would have had Liverpool running riot on our defenders with the midfield looking non-existent.

Today we have a stronger attack and midfield, playing against a weaker Liverpool.

Just one small chance we concede.

Same bullshit in most games.

You seem to come alive whenever we suffer any setback. We are leading so I hope you won't see this.

iamoyindamola:
Omo thank God you are not the manager you will relegate PSG, Bayern and city with all available resources which kind formation is this

I was only trying to find out the manager's plans. But Tomi has not been too bad at LB.

afrodoc2:
He is not as good as Tierney on that left and won’t offer Martinelli the same quality of support.

IMO the way to go is to put pressure on Salah and TAA as they are both weak defensively. Tierney and Martinelli would rock them.

I don't think the formation displayed is what will transpire. I think Arteta wants to use wingbacks to neutralise Liverpool midfield and expose their defensive frailties

BlueRayDick:
Tomiyasu on the left

I don't see how Tomi fits there. Unless there's another formation with Xhaka at LWB.

................Ramsdale................
White........ Saliba ...... Gabriel
Tomiyasu.. Partey....... Xhaka
............... Odegaard.................
Saka........... Jesus...... Martinelli


This is the best I can think of. Arteta want to show us magic. Let's see

Ibukzy:
Hot boy Tinbs

City boy doing all he can...

But Nigerians are wiser

Jodera:
When I meant physical, it was the footballing and technical challenge I meant not the physical part.

They're more technical and tactical than Tottenham and I don't believe they'll be more easier than Tottenham. Their main players are back(aside Robertson) and they'll be revved up to mark their stamp back so we need to be careful and expect a very open game unlike Spuds that was very very defensive

Also, the bolded are the reasons why I feel we might nick it but it might be a close affair.

If we can control possession we can easily beat them. The absence of Robertson is their biggest blow as TAA depends on his side of defense whenever he pushes forward. If we start attacks with Saka and are able to switch to Martinelli quick enough, their defense will open. GJ will be too hard for their CBs to keep quiet as he will drag them out of position. I am relishing this game the more I analyse it.

Jodera:
The game against Liverpool is much more than the physical one, it also includes the mental challenge. It's been long we won/drew against Liverpool in the league and last season is even one of the worst where out of 4 meetings we couldn't even score a goal.

The good thing is that as long as we're all fit (which I believe we are), we are very very better than last season and previous seasons in terms of skillset, personnel, confidence and most importantly mentality. Tomorrow won't be a work in the park certainly but I believe these boys will give a very very good showing.

Second leg against Man city and Liverpool last season elevated the confidence I had in this team and it's undeniably clear how much we've improved from last season. Arsenal fans who followed our games consistently from last year December know the kind of good football we played during those times till May. It wasn't a surprise seeing us go a notch higher this season with this displays we've been performing this season when you factor in the quality new signings included(Saliba included)

I believe the boys can do it.

COYG!!

I feel Liverpool will be easier than Tottenham. Liverpool are not physical like you said, and on the defensive part they are very susceptible especially with their fullbacks. This is one area our wingers especially Martinelli will be relishing.

Also, with Partey and Xhaka both available and we are likely to dominate the midfield as we are at home. Add Saliba in defense, that's the salt.

Finally we also have Jesus.

4-2

RenaissanceGuy:
OK, explain to me what you mean by multiple exchange rates, if you can. If govt fixes ₦400 per dollar and black market decides to sell for ₦500, how's that multiple rates? Will Obi force the marketers to start selling at a certain rate? Because you people keep on shouting mulitiple exchange rates without even taking time to know if that term should even exist in the first place.

OK I get what you mean but you are not in line.

Multiple exchange rate has little to do with black market. In fact black market is a consequence of MER.

In MER, government has different rates for Forex which is determined by the type of goods to be imported. Some goods which they consider essential have low rates while others have high rates. The single rating system will make black market less profitable, thereby reducing its influence drastically.

peter8535:
Ladies which one do u want?

What do you mean by knack and how does knacking differ

RenaissanceGuy:
So CBN should switch to any black marker rate and make it the official rate? That would even destroy the currency faster. Foreign exchange cabal would simply fix any rate secretly and cause it to be popular and then voila CBN approves the rate as official rate.

It's either you nor know book or you're just being mischievous.

Upon all the explanation you see dey yarn bulls

Jodera:
Anybody that comes now will first think of being a backup before even considering of ousting Partey. Nobody will come now and bench Partey no matter how good he's. Even if Rodri or Rice comes, na bench.

It's just like Odegaard-Viera scenerio. Even though Viera is good and is competing with Odegaard, he'll always always see the bench as he's doing now until something drastic happens to Odegaard

Same as Jesus/Nketiah, White/Tomi and all others

Lokonga is a good backup but not good enough to give a like for like performance with Partey. We need someone who can give us an equal performance especially as Partey's injuries will always reduce his availability.

Jodera:
Who wouldn't be surprised. When you're always defending Lokonga to be a good Partey backup

Emphasis on backup

iamoyindamola:
I am just surprised you agree to his exit instead of keeping him around

Have you been watching House of Dragons?

iamoyindamola:
I am just surprised you agree to his exit instead of keeping him around

He is not my brother

Jodera:
I'm not against trading Lokonga for locatelli or getting a decent DM/Cm to compete with Partey. Far from it, Infact if they want to sell him for someone better it'll be very good as our Midfield for double 8s are getting choked up with better quality than him.

Why I quoted Sod with that bolded is that it's not his fault that Elneny went to injury and Sambi is now then played in Partey position in Europa Which wasn't originally the plan heading into this season

Ok. Good point.

iamoyindamola:
Exactly i am surprised this is coming from you

Why are you surprised? I have never defended Lokonga to be as good as Partey.

iamoyindamola:
If we can grow our own moller to something close he possess all these features too but not ball sense

I have not seen the guy but I hope he fits in. Because he will make a lot of sense

Jodera:
it's very very difficult for one person to have all these things. And his game is even getting more refined. This guy will just shatter records like say dem be nothing.

Just when we thought we're seeing the end of Ronaldo and Messi era

They said he is a combination of Ibrahimovic and Lewandosky. Power and ball sense. 100% striker.

Jodera:
Lol, but no be Lokonga fault na.

One thing I'm even happy is that Lokonga have improved from last season. As at last season with him in that position, we dey collect left, right and centre but this season e be like say na only big team dey beat us with him.

As long as Partey is fit, then make Lokonga dey learn the trade small small with Europa pending when we buy a good DM in January

It will be better to get someone who can not just be a direct replacement for Partey when he suffers his recurring injuries but also be able to compete with him.

Lokonga can at best be a backup (unless he improves magically), someone to keep things tidy late in the second half after the main man has done the main job. The moment he starts getting responsibility to do the main job he will begin to mess up. This is not ruling out the possibility of a big performance turnover.

Jodera:
it'll be ridiculous and scary to see if he'll keep this form till next year.

The guy's turning to one kinda beast and it's no longer funny

What makes Harland so spectacular?

Height, stamina, athleticism, power all coupled together with good ball sense in terms of movement and positioning.

It's hard to find someone so naturally blessed with all these features put together.

iamoyindamola:
I read edu want to use awilo as a lightweight deal for locatelli
Good news IMO, if you are good you are good we don't need to do fasting and prayer for you like the way Pepe lule
The guy is in ligue 1 same as fo balo and the youngster is outshining him.
Viera took and embrace his opportunity same with marquinho but awilo is looking for perfect way to shine
No time jare this a new arsenal

Good deal if they can pull it through

Roland17:
Please don't take us back to Egypt where every club in Europe pretty much were assured of getting our best players because we were a selling club.

This is the first time in nearly 5 seasons where we have been competitive and are respected by opponents as contenders for the top 4. Edu and Arteta have done an exceptional job at revamping this roster to what it is today.

Individual players having superstar status will undo all their efforts. But if a group of players are graded together then it will be a better motivation.

BlueRayDick:
Suffer no dey tire you?

It’s like Wenger days suffering is “hungering “ you … make we begin field young academy players and selling dem like Ajax and Dortmund …. Why u wan carry us go where we no know again ?

I understand the position Jodera was coming from. For a young team like ours, it will be harsh to undo the efforts made by Arteta to build a young team of hungry players.

Inasmuch as Saka deserves the pay with the talent he has, we do not want any 'superstar' in our team. I'd prefer the players are graded and those on the same grade get same/close pay. If 200k is what is agreed let them have it.

Players like Partey, Saka, Jesus, Saliba, etcWhen they don't accept, we get ready their replacements.

BlueRayDick:
If Saka's contemporaries like Halland, Sancho are rumored to be earning 375k and 350k respectively ( being very important players for their respective clubs like saka is for Arsenal) ; tell why u think Saka's agent would not be out to.get something huge for his principal in this contract negotiations.

I wouldn't mind us giving him the 200k if it will include add-ons like u rightly said o. Afterall the pepe wey we carry big money sign and big money salary no just dey Enjoy proceeds of his fraud at the club

If we finish top 4 then he will deserve his wages. Again, such situations happen when your best young players gets poached. The main thing is to always get ready replacements.

You see clubs like Ajax, Dortmund, RB Leipzig etc that have perfected that structure and still remain competitive.

Jodera:
I believe we're done with this talk since you said we should let it slide..

My own is that I've learnt it's good for a defender to recklessly slide a player inside 18-yard box and that causing penalty is good. So let's just leave it laidat

Please don't learn bad thing

Lush100:
Oga,
Gabriel was closer to Ricarlson than Saliba,
Gabriel position was in a more defence position to our own goal than Saliba.
Gabriel was on the same left hand side than Saliba.
And you say Gabriel should stay while Saliba should go and meet Ricarlson.
The tackle did not work yes.
The tackle led to penalty yes
But the correct thing was for Gabriel to ENGAGE Ricarlson .
How he now does it may be contentious.
Saliba was a in secondary position to defend that ball but Gabriel was in a primary position to defend that ball.

Thanks for being objective and constructive.

Jodera:
My perspective? I dropped link for you to see for yourself.

Anyways, It's good we let it slide.

The link you dropped was the highlight. We all watched the game before the argument started, so the highlight won't change anything.

Lus.h gave a pictorial representation yet you refuse to accept that the positions of the Tottenham players were dangerous enough to lead to goal. I can't make you see further than that, so I accepted it as your own perspective.

Afterall perception is not reality.

Jodera:
It's the rule of defenders that you don't slide inside the 18yard box until you're 100% sure that you'll get that ball.

That situation was never even 50% for Gabriel to slide that ball plus it is not a very dangerous ball the way you're painting it. Even Roland mentioned that Saliba was already positioned to engage Richarlison same way I was saying too. Someone who's reading all these your talk would think Xhaka gave Richarlison free run to the keeper with Kane already stationed for a tapin reason why Gabriel acted that way but it's very very far from it. I dropped a link up and If you watch it carefully, you'll see that Saliba was already positioned to engage Richarlison while Partey and Zinchenko was already positioned to cut out any passes to Kane and Son. This probability of Spurs scoring was greatly reduced until Gabriel increased it to 99% with that foolish lunge

This is your perspective. But it's not correct for me.

So I'll simply let it slide, probably until something similar occurs again.

Roland17:
Let me also state that outside of the rash tackle for the PK, Gabu had a good game.

He was very physical, imposed himself in the air and read Spuds right side attack very well.

There were occasions when Martinelli dribbled us into counter attacking situations with Zinny high and Gabu snuffed it out.

The tackle was rash but necessary. It's only unfortunate that the penalty was scored. With three Spurs players in good positions to score, he did what he had to do. I believe you won't deny this.

Jodera:
Of course, without Xhaka's error, we wouldn't have been talking about Gabriel's own cos it was Xhaka that put that defence and Gabriel under pressure so it's normal for him to apologize since he started it.

Two things are clear
Xhaka made an error
Gabriel made an error

That Xhaka apologized for his obvious error doesn't mean that Gabriel didn't act foolishly too.


Anyways, we won that's what matters.

I don learn new thing about penalty from you. I believe it'll come handy one day

That's what I was saying. Xhaka placed Gabriel under that situation. He acted and it led to a penalty. If he hadn't acted it would have still ended with a goal or at least an attempt at goal.

I won't blame a mistake that was induced. It's similar to blaming someone who poured water on an expensive material while trying to quench fire. Or someone hitting you while trying to kill mosquito on your body. It's neither objective nor constructive.

About the new thing you learnt- a penalty is better than a goal. It's funny you're just learning it.

mostob:
Technical foul is only advisable when there is 99% chance of conceding a goal. As at the time Richarlison had the ball, there is still a sizeable chance a goal could be avoided. Gabriel went too early in the challenge .... That is my point.

You may have a point on the bolded but then it's Richarlison inside a box. The challenge failed but what if it worked? How would you have felt if Gabriel had allowed the player a shot on goal with your belief that he was not in a dangerous position (inside the box)?

Jodera:
Who wants to scapegoat Gabriel?

So if he does something clearly wrong, we shouldn't criticize him again?

Everyone mostly reading my posts on Gabriel knows I like him and I never had any Agenda against him but once something is wrong and foolish, we should say it the way it is. We should thank God we have a striker like Jesus who hustled that second goal early to calm the players nerve cos after that penalty Arsenal was losing control of the game. If to say na Laca and arsenal ended up losing that game, we for know how far.

Criticisms are always allowed but they MUST be constructive and objective.

Your criticisms of Gabriel this time did not meet those criteria. Just as the way you criticised Lokonga but later admitted it.

With time you will come around as you usually do. Xhaka has apologised for his error, you are still mentioning Gabriel.