'Super' Eagles OR just Eagles???

Every word that has the prefix 'Super' in front of it always shows to some extent that there is something quite special about them. Take a look at Superman, Super Mario lool but all these characters have some super abilities. Superman the powerful super hero who is always out to save Mary Jane, Super Mario who is the mushroom eating character that had to save some female character like that and defeat a dragon or what ever it was I can’t remember right now but the point still remains that the Mario has something special or unique about it hence the name super Mario.

After listening to the interview by the Liberian Coach about the ‘Super’ Eagles basking in old glory I couldn't but just think about the whole issue. Are they really still super? Is Nigeria still the giant of Africa when it comes to football? For all the Nigerians reading Abeg when was the last time you watched Nigeria play and actually expected them to win? Even against seemingly smaller African teams to even get a draw takes a whole lot of effort. Has African football developed beyond where Nigeria is today? Or Has the Nigerian standard of players dropped so low? They are still playing in the top leagues in Europe actually now Nigeria has more players in Europe than in the glory days. So what exactly has changed?

Back in the day people stayed up to watch the ‘Super’ Eagles play but now not so much. Abi were their wings clipped that they cannot fly anymore that they are being destroyed lions, zebras, squirrels and other creeping things. I love my country Nigeria and its football team but I can’t remember the last time I looked forward to a Nigerian match with the zeal as a Barcelona or Arsenal game. Just even a visit to the bar tells you all you need to know. Visit the bar when Arsenal is playing  and you would not even find a standing position but come back when Mikel and Yobo are playing together and you have a handful of people falling asleep at regular intervals.

I guess my point is this are the days of Yekini, Amokachi, Amunike and the rest gone for good? Or is there a renaissance on the horizon? I mean its very worrying that the Palancas Negras of Angola meaning Antelope are outrunning the ‘Super’ Eagles of Nigeria or are the Chipolopolo(Copper Bullets) of Zambia gunning down the Eagles?

At least be rest assured that if the team doesn’t qualify for the Nations Cup Keshi would be sacked and a new coach would be appointed and hailed as the savior of the national team and don’t be surprised if the new coach retains the services of the dynamic duo of Amokachi and Sylvanus Okpala. Atleast we have the best supporters club of any African Nation or has SA taken over with their Vuvuzella? Well???

Till the next time Remember to Stay TRUE 2 SOCCER…

Make a choice......

Hmmm....the weekend is fast approaching and I can't wait for it,although nothing special is happening....Anyway last night I was chilling at a Joint(bar) with friends and the El Clasico was still the issue on many people's lips three days after we saw the world's two best players showcase their scoring abilities and the debate was still on,who truly is the best?.... Messi or Ronaldo?

Now We are in a free world where everyone has a right to voice their opinion whether its right or not and that does appear to be the case in Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate. And Last Sunday's El Clasico hasn't helped many in ending this particular debate.

Both star players scored a brace, putting their goal scoring skills on display with Ronaldo's second,a lesson on how to score in onev one situation which was his 8th goal in 3 games (astonshing) while Messi's second was exceptional. He bent the ball into the corner, putting his dynamic scoring ability out in the open and that was also his 17th goal in his El Clasico career.

A brief look at their statistics shows that Messi has 287 career goals so far. That's in all competitions, but does it really matter? He's an incredible talent, capable of impacting the game even without finding the back of the net while Ronaldo has 309 career goals, but he's also had over 100 plus more games to make it happen. That's not taking away anything from his ability but it has to be considered in the argument.Both players bring enourmous amounts of skill to the table, and they almost do not disappoint people watching. On any given night, either player can bang in a hat trick. Ronaldo's personality is all superstar things with his numerous model girlfriends and TV presenter ladies plus not to mention but to feel...Paris Hilton.... Messi is the complete opposite. 

Ronaldo is almost just about his goal scoring ability for his Madrid team, but Messi seems to set up his team mates as often as he does score. Ronaldo has better air control as he is good with headers but Messi has shown his heading ability when he has to, as his goal against united in the 2010 Champions league final and his winning goal against benfica in this season Champion league match is a proof of that.

Only few players can dream of matching their talent and as I said earlier Sunday's El Clasico hasn't help many in ending the debate over who is better.....as for me....I would take Messi for his all round artistry plus goals but everyone has their preference and just to mention..Ronaldo is truly a stunning goal machine.......I would like to know Who truly is your choice???????

Act like a man/woman,Think Like a fan....

Its been a long week and considerably slow compared to the weeks before it.....aww well..the weekend is here now and its not a football weekend i am really looking forward too as its International football weekend.Its the only time in the year that you hear about certain countries and their funny names(names i dare not call) but in all its good education.The best thing about International football is that it is the only time a player actually kisses the badge of his jersey and actually means it...As they say, there's no greater privilege and honor playing for your country....

Anyways i don't know if any of you might have read the book,Act like a lady think like a man?And if you don't read, there's a movie about it..act like a man where Steve Harvey has deceived women that there's a blue print in getting the right man with certain questions and actions.and in turn the mans response and answers to all the questions and actions determines if hes the right man for you.I watched the movie,good movie but the funny thing now is that,women out there now are asking certain questions from the movie.My friend went on a date and he was asked particular questions from the movie.......i was laughing at him but i have decided i will use those questions and get some answers from four different dates...dates with Arsenal and Chelsea...hot dates right?First of all i will tell you the particular questions i am picking from the movie...

Question 1-What are your short term goals?(at this point i am laughing already)

Question 2-What are your long term goals?(i wanna go to heaven-still laughing)

And there's a point in the movie where a girl tells the guy,i wont get into a mans car unless he opens the door for me...(what if he rides a bike?).so i got my question 3 and last question from there.

Question 3-Would you compromise on your standards?

so i have put my questions to my dates and these are their answers.....

Date with Arsenal...Answer to Question 1...

To continue to  play entertaining football and try to use our version of tiki taka to out play most of our opponents.And we hope to reduce Olivier Girouds allergy to goal scoring and get it to a good level as we finally did for Gervinho.

Answer to Question 2...

Over the years we have produced quality players.We see potential in young players and make them recognizable by other clubs and of-course the world.We have had issues with keeping our key and good players,so we hope to continue to produce these good players,end our trophy drought so the man that keeps the trophy cabinet clean can keep his job.

Answer to Question 3...

All we can say to that is,in Arsene we trust...year in year out we have kept our standards by qualifying for the champions league and finishing with financial profit..and when we win a trophy,it willa step up in our standard.

Date with Chelsea...Answer to Question 1...

We aim to mix our tough muscle playing football with flare and entertaining football.With recent buys like Hazard and Oscar....we are producing good football for our fans.and we are hoping to get hypnosis for Fernando Torres and make him believe he is still playing for Liverpool against Manchester United for every game.That way he can score lots of goals

Answer to Question 2...

With steady flow of the Russians money,we hope to be the top team in London for years to come by first of all breaking Arsenals record of premier league titles,getting rid of Mikel Obi and using skill instead of luck(yes we worked hard as well) to win the Champions League.

Answer to Question 3...

Ask Ashley Cole and John Terry....we will create new standards every season..whether we will compromise on it....only time will tell.

From this,i don't know if i will get to date any of them again or if they will want to date me but i am happy i did get to date them...in sometime to come,i will date the two Manchester clubs and see the answers to those questions.till then act like a fan and just think...

In more words to come..Sabi Boi..

State the Obvious.....

I went to the bar(was in a pub) to refill my glass at half time during the West Ham v Arsenal game,the pub was full and of-course had more men than women,a lot of more men trying to get more drinks to be geared up for the second half.At half time,as the pundits gave their opinions and tried to analyse the game,so do we fans...everybody giving their different reasons and opinions for all the details they could manage to capture during the first half......as the arguments went on,then popped up an advert on TV ...I am not sure for what product...but it had beautiful woman...the words that came out of her mouth,not many of us remember as we were all glued to the TV in a trance...at that point during the advert,the pub was in complete silence.i don't know if it was Garnier or Lorreal(doubt if i spelt it well) but she was definitely worth it.....as the advert finished,somebody said out loud..."My God, that's a beautiful woman"...i would say that's stating the obvious but there are no complaints because he just said out loud what most men were thinking....

Now a lot of you are probably thinking it or some have even said it but Arsene Wenger said out loud and am sure was very proud as he said...Santi Cazorla was an absolute delight to watch.Once again stating the obvious but we don't mind hearing it.Over the years,Arsenal have had strong and creative midfielders and even when Cesc Fabregas burst into the scene,there were no questions asked as he continued in the footsteps of all the wonderful players before him.There were a lot of questions asked when Cesc left for Barcelona,although Arsenal still finished 3rd in the league,he was still missed.I am pretty certain he is not going to be missed for too long as Santi has shown or is showing us the simple definition of creativity.when you have produced a high level of midfield...that level should always be maintained.and that is what Wenger has done.its obvious but lets state it...

Moving up north to Manchester, Manchester United.....questions are being asked as to who will replace Paul Scholes as he remains the best attacking option in midfield for United.And you wonder,even if there is no replacement for Scholes,they should be someone of almost that same quality that can make Paul Scholes realize that if i retire,i don't have to come back.A lot of talk has been said about Tom cleverly but since we are here to state the obvious,lets state it.....Tom Cleverly cannot replace Paul Scholes.As a midfielder,you are either creative or defensive.....tom is neither.....so i ask...what is his role?Is he only playing for England because he plays for Manchester United?He is not known for his Goal scoring abilities as he has only scored 2 goals for the senior side and both goals against Newcastle United...a team like Manchester United...a world class player is needed in the middle especially based on the quality they have had in the past......Tom cleverly may eventually become great but for now,is he good enough....he is not...i think it is obvious...so am stating it....

There is only one team in the world that have earned the right  not have a plan b...they have just one plan or should i say one way of playing and regardless of what happens on the pitch,they do not change it...yes yes am talking about Barcelona. Their style of play is to pass you to death.Barcelona maintain their style of dominating the play from their defense right to when the ball gets to Messi. Yes they have lost games and on rear occasions,their tiki taka doesnt flow but they never change their style.you might say that as a team you should have options but if option 1 is still good enough to kill off any opposition then i will state the obvious....the other teams in world football are still a long distance behind tiki taka.......

There are probably a lot of more things i could state but i thought i will wait and get your opinions about what we can all see but refuse to state..one more thing....England have called up Jonjo Shelvey ......who?yeap,the Liverpool player that got sent off against Manchester United.....so i will state the obvious....England wont win a major competition in a while........

In more words to come..Sabi Boi..

I need answers...Unanswered Questions 3

Good day people,whats happening for you at the beginning of this week?.......for me..its okay,a bit wet and cold but there are a few options of what to do to get warm....coffee,tea,Jack Daniels....some loved one....but am warming up myself by letting you know the latest Unanswered questions based on last weekends football activities....you see..who says i don't love you guys?

Signing of the season?and do you miss Cesc Fabregas?

Santi Cazorla,hes probably one of the shortest footballers right now but lucky for him,he doesnt have to spike the ball or make a dunk....he has settled so well in Arsenal and with English football,you would think he has been in the EPL for years....i know its just been 7 matches so far but is there any signing better than him?and do you miss Cesc?

Arsenal,Juventus.......Chelsea?

I am one of those that has tipped Chelsea to become champions at the end of the season.They have started the season on a high and have a midfield combo of Mata,Oscar and Hazard that penetrates other teams easily...but the question here is....like Arsenal and Juventus,can Chelsea go unbeaten the entire season?

Mr Giroud...

Finally after 6 matches,Olivier Giroud finally scored.A lot of people have said he will deliver goals this season and even as he has not been scoring,people do say he has good movements and his positional play should help him get a lot of chances.So is this the beginning of more goals to come?or will the break because of international football stall his flow?

Striker or Winger?

I know,i know ,just answer the question.....what position would you play Theo Walcott?striker or winger?

Clever or just lucky?

If u were watching the Newcastle v Man United game yesterday,in the 71st minute,Tom Cleverly played a magical ball from outside the 18 yard box and it curled into the top right hand corner beating Steve Harper.If u saw it and if you haven't,try and see it.....but did he mean it?

Is Wayne Rooney slowly Becoming a midfielder?

He started as a winger,a lot of people may have forgotten but his eye for goal quickly transformed him to a striker.we all know he can drop back and help in the midfield.his last two games for United,he has played as the link between the Midfield and the attack.....is a role slowly being made  for Wazza?

Okay i have one more question and as much as you might think i am joking,i am not....like a lot of people,i was glued to my TV to watch the El Classico......it was a good game,the world 2 best players both scoring twice to make it 2-2.A lot of people compare  Messi and Ronaldo but my question is this......

How much better is Ronaldo as a player than Iniesta?(think carefully)

In more words to come..Sabi Boi..

Victory to the North West...Newcastle 0-3 Man Utd

There was a lot of talk about the in form strikers before this game kicked off. Demba Ba,the Premier leagues leading scorer and Robin Van Persie who has scored 7 in 7 games(all competitions) for Man United... but two early goals from Johnny Evans and Patrice Evra in the 8th and 15th minute respectively and a magical shot from Tom Cleverly(did he mean it?) in the second half(71st min) gave Manchester United a well deserved 3 points.

The game started with Manchester United in total control,they played a diamond shaped system that allowed free flowing football and passes to connect well as Wayne Rooney played as the link between midfield and attack.A system that Newcastle found hard to deal with.In the 7th minute of the game,Manchester United got a corner and Johnny Evans headed in an in swinging cross from Robin Van Persie to make it 1-0.Manchester United almost doubled their lead when Danny Welbeck chased a back pass to Steve Harper,the striker put the goal keeper under pressure and managed to get the ball but shot wide even with the option of passing the ball to Robin Van persie.Manchester United continued to dominate and Demba Ba brought down Tom Cleverly just outside the box,Wayne Rooney played the freekick forcing Steve Harper to make a brilliant save but corner to Manchester United.Wayne Rooney takes the corner and finds an unmarked Patrice Evra in the box,the left back heads the ball in  to make it 2-0.Manchester United has now scored 5 goals from corners this season,more than any other team in the division.

Newcastle sat up after going down 2-0 and tried to get some attacks in against a solid Man united side.And with a couple of unconvincing David De Gea plays,there was little pressure on Man United.Patrice Evra was holding on to Papa cisse shirt as a Newcastle set piece was taken,it could have easily been a penalty but Man United held on to take the 2-0 lead into half time.

The second half came with Newcastle trying to create a chance to get back into the game and once again the story of goal line technology has come into play.A cross from Shane Ferguson into the box for Demba Ba,the striker headed the ball after David De Gea completely missed clearing the ball,the ball hit the bar and came down as Cisse headed it towards the goal,David De Gea made a brilliant save but the ball is said to have crossed the line(or did it) but no goal was given.

In the 71st min Tom Cleverly put the game to an end after he curved the ball from outside the 18 yard box to beat Steve Harper...3-0 Man United and definitely the 3 points.Manchester united got their second clean sheet of the season and a defense that has been called into question did enough to keep out a Newcastle strike force of Demba Ba and Cisse.Man United go back to 2nd on the league table and Newcastle are 10th on the table.

In more words to come..Sabi Boi..

tough walk in the park

Pheeeew! That was quite a close one; one that could have had a different ending if it wasn't for the clinical prowess of theo walcott, and the brilliance of santi cazorla. Olivier Giroud has finally scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal as the Gunners came from behind to beat West Ham. This  was the perfect response from the Gunners' after suffering their first defeat by Chelsea last weekend .

Arsenal piled up the pressure during the early exchanges,so when West Ham's goal came in 21st minute, it was a bit of a surprise. Diame was fed by George McCartney down the left and the he skipped past Aaron Ramsey before curling a glorious effort into the far corner for his first Hammers goal. Giroud equalized just before the break when he poked in Lukas Podolski's cross at the near post. Giroud almost scored in the first two minutes when Jussi Jaaskelainen tipped his shot round the post and Carroll blocked the French striker's goal-bound header later in the first half.

Carroll had caused the gunners defensive pair all evening, winning most of the aerial duels, and constantly providing a physical foil for the likes of kevin nolan  and carlton cole to run into the spaces.The west ham striker almost made it 2-1 but his header from a long diagonal ball was just wide with Vito Mannone beaten to the delivery, while Nolan wasted a great chance when clean through on goal.

Having got themselves back on level terms, Arsenal took time to continue with the same attacking verve as the first period.The gunners were on top for large parts of the game, and it came as no surprise that  Arsene Wenger's team deservedly extended their unbeaten record against the Hammers to nine games and moved to fifth in the Premier League table. West ham had to defend tirelessly throughout the game as they came up against a midfield again marshaled by the impressive Santi Cazorla. Walcott and Cazorla's late goals in the space of six minutes sealed an impressive comeback for the gunners.as Arsenal began to assert their superiority on the game. Walcott latched onto Giroud's well timed through ball just 16 minutes after coming on to score his fourth goal of the season with a precise near-post shot. Another chance fell to Nolan, but he fired over from the edge of the penalty box, and that miss proved costly once Cazorla smashed in Arsenal's third from 20 yards to cap a superb individual performance.

So its back to business for the emirates outfit, with their only worry being the loss of the impressive kerian gibbs to injury.

Till next time.......