₦airaland Forum

Jodera:
Lol, na like play like play oo. Even White is quality too. Saliba com be another baller on him own

Las las e fit be say white go chop Bench cos even Tomi get that RB on a lockdown

You see why I said no need for Holding? I can't see him play this season if both Saliba and White stay fit. Anyways, let him stay because of my friend Mostob.

Gabriel Jesus just as much as doubled the quality of our first team. Massive signing. The new recruits are forcing the best out of the old guards.

Xhaka for example was simply exceptional. The more you want to bench him, the more he proves you wrong.

ObaIgwe1:
I am wondering who will bench Saliba even when all our defenders are fit.

See how he shifted White to RB.

mostob:
Not really. Selling Holding will just create unnecessary hole in our squad.

Ok brother.

Jodera:
Well, na still Sambi go enter loan or settle for Europa/Carling cup.

He'll never be above the pecking order among all those other Midfielders. ESR too will know say him no reach to compete there too

It will be Sambi Vs Elneny as Partey's backup. There is no drop of idea that he will go on loan.

ESR needs to stay healthy to compete in any role. He may be Arteta's joker this season.

mostob:
Squad depth spy... Squad depth. I gave Man city and Liverpool as an example. I don't know why you feel we should sell Holding.

Lol.

Ok. Na your MCM? Sorry.

Jodera:
Balogun and Nketiah LW??. I've not seen dem sha

Balogun played there in Europa last two seasons with Lacazette as CF. Nketiah also aged there last season in one of his substitute appearance. In the last friendly, Nketiah played there when Jesus came in as sub.

mostob:
Well... Holding has always been playing LCB. Na Arteta Sabi.

When we didthave Saliba, he was the third choice on RCB. Now, he isn't. There's no point keeping a player we know won't play. Defenders are hardly changes during a game. And even if there's a change it is to add to those already on the pitch. Even at that, only one defender is added.

Jodera:
Lol, then we'll use Martinelli till ESR comes back na. Abi na 4months injury ESR go?

Either Jesus or Nketiah can play there. Balogun self.

Jodera:
Nope.. that he can play Lcb.

Well, my thoughts is that selling Holding now is not necessary. I read he even paired with Saliba against Orlando and improved unlike when he started with Mari. He can be a good squad depth and can be sold next season or two. We need fill other crucial depth first

A backup for Gabriel is crucial as well. This can easily be got without extra cost. Just sell Mari, Bellerin, AMN, Torriera, Pepe, Nelson and Holding. We can get a decent leftie CB and a RW to compete with Saka.

The listed players will hardly play with the level of talent now available. So why keep them?

Roland17:
No way are we paying 35M pound for Zinchenko to be a back up, right?

Straight to first team. Tierney or Xhaka to bench. Both should agree who will go first.

mostob:
If Holding being rightfooted is what is worrying you, relax...he has played as a LCB during Wenger days. I'm not hyping Holding...it is what it is. The only reason White is starting ahead of him is because of ball playing ability. That's why anytime Arteta needs a solidity in the middle to close a match, he would bring him on. And how sure are you that Saliba will perform well in EPL? This one you wan sell Holding because of him

Arteta insists on having a leftie at LCB. That left leg is the only thing keeping Mari.

mostob:
Like I said, Tomi is injured and White may probably play RB till he comes back which makes selling Holding a big mistake

We have Cedric at RB

Jodera:
Thank you for this.

Spy, this is exactly my thoughts too

That Holding is our best defender?

mostob:
Sell who? Holding Abeg No. I'll rather we sell Mari.

Sell both Mari and Holding and get a decent leftie CB to backup Gabriel.

mostob:
Come on Spy, why are you talking like this bro? Man City have Laporte,Dias,Stone and Ake. Liverpool have VVD,Matip,Konate and Gomez. And you think we don't need a 3rd CB? Especially with Tomi's injury woes, we need Holding more than ever because White will be playing RB. Then when you think of the fact that we're playing in Europe this season, we need Holding.
@ the bolded, I'll disagree. Based on Ruggedness,pure defending and physique, Holding is our best defender. You forget he started manhandling Costa since he was 20 years old or so

I already said we need a leftie CB. Mari is not good enough to backup Gabriel from what I have seen in preseason, Holding is right footed and so is Saliba and White, and Saliba has been showing far more promises than Holding. Even I am tipping him to drop White, if care is not taken. It is on this premise that I suggest rather than keep Holding we should trade him and other fringe players for a marquee signing. With the presence of White and Saliba on RCB, Holding will hardly see games at all.

I think you are overhyping Holding. He struggles in a back 4. He is slow and rash in his decisions.

ObaIgwe1:
I understand. But Arteta has not said or made any move that suggests he would wanna convert Viera, so rather than speculate what we are not sure is in the Manager's thinking, we should just indicate that we are lacking in term of depth in the RW. The only other tenable option now is what Jodera suggested about Jesus playing in the R. wing if Saka is not available, while Nketiah plays the CF position since we already know Jesus can also play in the wings.

But I am looking at a situation where we need to play a complete Team B for some lesser matches while we rest most of the regular starter Team A... in that case we need a new strong RW player if Pepe leaves, except we wanna manage Marquinhos or one of the Academy players.

Arteta has already said Vieira can play on the wings.

Jodera:
I don't know why you feel we should sell Holding sha. There are some players that are good squad depth and can see out a game when you need them to. Holding is one of Such players.
A good Squad doesn't need all players to be world class or sort. It also needs the ugly players who can help a team in terms of different tactics and Holding seems one of such players. Maybe the loss to tottenham is still playing on our mind since that's what made us lose the top 4 and Holding was at fault, but we should remember that the match against tottenham was Holding's only big flaw that season. He was very instrumental for us seeing out most of the wins last season.

Mari for me needs to be loaned/sold as well as the others you listed, then if we can get a decent winger, then it's perfect.

GK: Ramsdale/Turner

CB: Gabriel/Saliba, White/Holding/Walters

Lb : Zinchenko/Tierney/Tavarez (if not loaned)
RB : Tomiyasu/Cedric

DM : Partey/Elneny
CM : Odegaard/Viera/Zinchenko, Xhaka/Lokonga/Tielemans*

RW: Saka/Viera/Marquinhos/new player*
LW : Martinelli/ESR

CF : Jesus/ Nketiah

So that's 26-27 players in the squad (including Tielemans, Walter and new player)

Take away Tavarez loan and academy Walters and we'll have 24-25 players. Fit and ready to rumble

With what Saliba is dishing out this preseason, I strongly doubt Holding will see game time. Saliba is seriously threatening White's position and even if Arteta wants to lock shop, it's Saliba he will use instead of Holding.

I don't want players warming the bench. I want players who can compete and attract even games. We cannot keep Holding if he is a third choice CB. Third choice is OK for strikers not CBs.

I like the way you trimmed the squad. That should be the way to go for Arteta. Any player in that list should be good enough for a starting berth. If not, they go leave ASAP.

ObaIgwe1:
I don't think it is worth converting a natural AM to a Winger, I know it is working for ESR but it's better to let people play in their natural position. It s either Marquinhos matured quickly to play in that Saka's wing or as soon as Pepe is sold or loaned out we should get another great Winger.

I agree that players should play their natural roles. But a coach who sees that 'natural role' better can rearrange the player. Henry was a winger, Bale was a FB, same as Gerrard, Drogba was a defender, Toure was a striker etc. If these players were not converted, they probably would never have reached the peaks they accomplished.

Jodera:
Did he play in one of the double 8s ystdy or the Partey role in the 433?

In such friendlies, it's hard to pinpoint. But he was alternating with Elneny from CM to No 8 (as it should) but it seems to me that Arteta didn't use a no8 at all in the formation. He had all CMs swinging in a zigzag manner. Lokonga was mostly on the left- the Xhaka role.

Jodera:
I'm having a good positive feeling about this upcoming season.

So far so good. But more work needs to be done.

The squad is bloated with some areas of weakness still noticeable.

We need a back up for Gabriel. If we can sell Holding and Mari then get a decent left footed CB, that will be good.

Also, we if can offload the following- Pepe, AMN, Bellerin, Nelson, Torriera, and say Leno then use the proceeds to do a marquee signing especially in RW position. This would be 100%.

Jodera:
Well, let's see how the season unfolds and how Viera will play in that wing if given the opportunity cos I thought he's a Midfielder

Vieira plays as an AM or CAM. But we know that such technical players can play on the wings too. I feel Arteta wants to convert him. This would be confirmed if he sells Pepe and signs another CM instead of a RW.

Jodera:
You didn't reply my question on Sambi ystdy abi you no see am?

Sambi played as a CM. He is not a DM if that's what you are about to argue.

Jodera:
Lol, Turner that is just recently bought, you want him to be loaned or Sold? E be things ooo

I agree with your list too except Turner tho. I believe Leno will be loaned/permanently sold.

Thank goodness you didn't include Xhaka sha. We need all the depths we can have and Xhaka will be a very good squad depth player.Remember the season is long.

If we can get all those people sold or loaned and get Tielemans and/or a good winger, then we'll be really ready for this season.

I'll prefer a Saka deputy to Tielemans if I'm to choose between the two. I think we're already stuck up well in Midfield

Vieira may compete with Saka.

ObaIgwe1:
Arteta on getting rid of fringe players that causes bloated squad:

⚫️"We have to make some decisions as well on the players that we're not going to be using consistently"

⚫️ "We have a big squad and now we have to make things happen"

⚫️ "That's a process that is going to start very soon"

I guess we have to rid these excess to requirements players before any other signing...

Those I want to leave either on loan or permanent sale:

Runarsson
Turner
Mari
Pepe
Tavares
Belerin
AMN
Nelson
I heard Torreria left US to Italy on personal request already

I don't think Lokonga will leave.

I would have included Xhaka but I know he is also going nowhere. Especially after reading his recent interview on how he was at the verge of leaving us to Roma last season but it was Edu and Arteta that persuaded him to stay and he got a new contract on top of it. There is probably something about him we fans don't see but only his managers see or his juju strong gan ni.

After sorting these, we can bring Tilemans and another good RW. That will give us about 25/26 strong squad members.

Why include Turner?

Xhaka is an enigma. I see what he brings. He brings leadership, confidence and stability. He is slow, but with a good partner, he can be quite good. He is naturally intelligent which makes he good in any position he plays. He will make an excellent football manager.

Like I have said before, Lokonga is a very good player with high IQ. His challenge last season was his weak frame which made him lose midfield battles. He needs to bulk up just as Nketiah has done. Once this is done, he will easily replace Partey whenever he gets his usual injuries. He is better than Elneny.

iamoyindamola:
spy360 come teach me na
How do i start
I am looking for one antenna sef

Lol.

You will need a satellite dish, lnb, coaxial cables, f-connectors, and a decoder. The dish and decoder type will depend on what you want.

Simple FTA, requires 60-90cm dish size, and an h265 HD decoder like cast c8 pro.

More complex FTA will require bigger dishes and more sophisticated decoders, and also more money.

Let's take it from here.

Jodera:
For clarity, I never said Lokonga was the worst player, that was Pepe. I said he was the 2nd least rated player after Pepe while you argued otherwise.

Meanwhile, it's not continuum. Have you ever see a match rating or season rating that is a continuum?? Where are you getting that from bikonu abi you just wan see W were e no dey at all?

Partey for example gave himself a rating of 4/10 as at December which means that he acknowledged his time here (before December)) was very very very poor and below par. Does that mean he's a bad player or doesn't have a higher ceiling? Didn't he turn to beast mode immediately after that interview?

I don't know the beef you have with Tavarez cos it's definitely looking as if you do. Nobody here ever called him world beater or potential world beater neither did I say Sambi doesn't have the talent to excel here, so I don't understand you thinking I meant Tavarez would turn to prime R.Carlos this season

I'll reiterate it one more time an : TAVAREZ HAD A BETTER PERFORMANCE THAN LOKONGA LAST SEASON.

If you have points to tackle it, let's hear it. Anything outside that in relation to the bolded is another discussion entirely which I'm not a party to.

Your opinion. Cheers!

Jodera:
My point is simple. I gave rating of last season and it was solely on performance based on last season only. We never discussed/debated who'll have a higher ceiling or who will be better. So telling me about Lokonga now doesn't mean anything in this context.

You said Lokonga was better than Tavarez in terms of performance and influence last season and I said otherwise. Bring facts in what Lokonga did last season and stop telling me what he did in preseason or what he'll do this coming season cos the latter is not our contention here.

It's simple

I agree it was for last season. But any argument/differences about last season can be solved this season because it is a continuum and performances are cummulative . Tavares won't turn to Roberto Carlos this season after what he did. Even if so, it will take a gradual process.

Recall that I also said Lokonga was the second worst player, so it's not like I am hyping him. You said he was the worst player remember?

Jodera:
Lol... This is a new season not last season.
Btw, You see how you quickly brought how Lokonga dominated Midfield as a point to prove that he was good without bashing Tavarez?

Why didn't you do so last season for him?
You see say you no get any case for lokonga last season shey?

That's the point I've been trying to make since

It seems you are assuming that players transform each season. So that a Tavares last season can automatically become a Cafu this season. Bros it's just 30days apart. If Tavares is poor now, it is an offshoot of last season's performance. The same can be said of Pepe.

As for Lokonga, having studied him, I made a bold claim that he will do well because he has the talents and football brain but only lacks stamina. It is the same mind that I used to convince you of Nketiah. Have you seen how he is dragging starting position with GJesus?

iamoyindamola:
Btw zinchenko is around for medical
If we can get a midfielder (tielemans) and winger(sane)
Omo we Dan hammer
Nelson is confusing me or thunder

Arsenal are stalling on Tielemans because they may feel we are OK with Zinchenko, Elneny and Lokonga as backups to Partey. Where I feel we need backup more now is LCB- Gabriel and RW- Saka.

Roland17:
1-1, 40th minute

You can see why Tavarez needs to go.

I told Jodera he was our worst player last season him dey argue. He said it's Lokonga, see how Lokonga was dominating midfield alone that first half

Treepower2000:
So God died. Who was Jesus crying to then to take away the cup from him?

First we must accept that God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

Also God is infinite, that is He can take infinite forms and still remain the same.

Jesus always referred to God as Father. This is because He proceeded from Him. As in God became man in the person of Jesus with the intention of establishing the strongest relationship with mankind and also to serve as an example for man to follow. That person He became is Jesus- totally striped of His powers but yet maintaining His divinity.

Let's see a little illustration though not perfect. Take the number 1, square it, you still get one. As in 1x1= 1. You can even take an infinite square and still get the same thing. It's not a perfect illustration but can still serve.

See the following...
John 10:28-30, 38
John 14:8-11
1Timothy 3:16