TheSuperNerd:
See am... Doom.... U don dey smile naa... Abi?

So u still dey ask if omeruo and Troost get injured huh?? Na u wan injure them or redcard them... Huh??

If The coach wanna call a replacement, he'll do it... Otigba is one I have also held good grounds for. He's good... Very good.
But wait first let Rohr make the decision...

I know u would prefer Omeruo or Troost to be injured also to drive home a point. Not cool man... Not cool at all....

TheGoodJoe:


Some people rely on just numbers. Some people can watch and tell. Balogun was refreshingly brilliant against Tanzania. He held his high line well and was great ball playing.

So relying on numbers do not add up. Please, passing is not the only ball playing attribute of a defender. Balogun is a good dribbler too. Why not talk about that?

TheGoodJoe:


The groups were instructed to initiate attack from one part of the field to the other, and specifically told to keep the ball in flight, failure to do so we result in the group doing push ups as punishment.

” I don’t want the ball on the ground, if it touches the ground, your group will give me five press up, now that is the instruction, start” Gernot Rohr roared.

William Troost Ekong, Leon Balogun and Chidozie Awaziem were by far more comfortable in carrying out the instructions, which saved their team from been asked to do press up.

FC Porto youngster Awaziem got the German coach nodding, when his cross field pass to Balogun reached the Mainz 05 defender who in turn cushioned a well drilled header to Ekong.

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/08/31/balogunekong-awaziem-top-men-details-of-how-gernot-rohr-first-training-session-unfolded-in-uyo/

Lordabas:
Has Kelechi improved on his first touch?

goldfish80:

His dribbling stats isn't great either. The figures say 0.2% while Omeruo's stands at 0.5%

Leon balogoun for all his qualities is no Franz Beckenbauer, am sorry.

goldfish80:

Anyone can do anything in training. On match day it's a different ball game.
I've seen plays who play like demons in training but are sh!t on match days. Training is training, match is match.
His 75% pass completion rate for a well coached, ball playing, high pressing side like Mainz isn't enough for me to make back flips. Sorry.

TheGoodJoe:


Squawka Football
@Squawka 8 months

Aleksandar Kolarov's first half by numbers:

56% pass accuracy
0 crosses completed
0 interceptions
0 aerial duels

This was one of Kolarov's stats 8 months ago. I guess with that, you will say Kolarov Is not a great ball playing defender. Meanwhile he is a brilliant one.

You can not pull out a stat and say he is not a great ball playing defender.

When we talk of ball playing, it is not just about passes but comfort with the ball. The ability to express with the ball and making incisive runs to help build up play.

In the Tanzania match, Leon Balogun was exceptional with the ball. I have not seen a defensive pair that good on the ball since I started watching Nigeria. (Sir Icon4s do not attack me, I did not watch the late eighties flying eagles)

You can not say Leon Balogun's ball playing ability is myth. He plays comfortably as a right back.

goldfish80:

Anyone can do anything in training. On match day it's a different ball game.
I've seen plays who play like demons in training but are sh!t on match days. Training is training, match is match.
His 75% pass completion rate for a well coached, ball playing, high pressing side like Mainz isn't enough for me to make back flips. Sorry.

Icon4s:


You, TheGoodJoe, are the originator of this "Ball playing defender" thing. This is just one of those hasty conclusions you made after that Tanzania game. The others are: " Rohr is a 4-3-3 coach", "Rohr is like Pep Guordiala", "Rohr plays a high defense line". Let us play Zambia and Algeria before we conclude on all those.

Goldfish80 has brought up a very enlightening stats and you went to dig up the stats of one of your man city "idols". Goldfish80's stats is average passing accuracy while yours is for a particular match. You did not even state the opponent as you know nature of opposition affects players performance.

Goldfish has said it all. We should not have any issues with Omeruo in that defense.

Talking about Flying Eagles of the late 80's o boy you missed o.

If you did not watch our youth teams of 1985 to 1989: Nduka Ugbade, Philip Osondu, Victor Igbinoba, Mutiu Adepoju, Chris Ohenhen, Chris Nwosu, Dimeji Lawal, Victor Ikpeba, Jonathan Akpoborie, Benedict Akuegbu, John Zaki, Godwin Okpara, Peter Ogaba, Samuel Elijah, Lemmy I say. Then you missed a lot. They were all "Ball playing ballers" o.

Icon4s:


You, TheGoodJoe, are the originator of this "Ball playing defender" thing. This is just one of those hasty conclusions you made after that Tanzania game. The others are: " Rohr is a 4-3-3 coach", "Rohr is like Pep Guordiala", "Rohr plays a high defense line". Let us play Zambia and Algeria before we conclude on all those.

Goldfish80 has brought up a very enlightening stats and you went to dig up the stats of one of your man city "idols". Goldfish80's stats is average passing accuracy while yours is for a particular match. You did not even state the opponent as you know nature of opposition affects players performance.

Goldfish has said it all. We should not have any issues with Omeruo in that defense.

Talking about Flying Eagles of the late 80's o boy you missed o.

If you did not watch our youth teams of 1985 to 1989: Nduka Ugbade, Philip Osondu, Victor Igbinoba, Mutiu Adepoju, Chris Ohenhen, Chris Nwosu, Dimeji Lawal, Victor Ikpeba, Jonathan Akpoborie, Benedict Akuegbu, John Zaki, Godwin Okpara, Peter Ogaba, Samuel Elijah, Lemmy I say. Then you missed a lot. They were all "Ball playing ballers" o.

Icon4s:


You, TheGoodJoe, are the originator of this "Ball playing defender" thing. This is just one of those hasty conclusions you made after that Tanzania game. The others are: " Rohr is a 4-3-3 coach", "Rohr is like Pep Guordiala", "Rohr plays a high defense line". Let us play Zambia and Algeria before we conclude on all those.

Goldfish80 has brought up a very enlightening stats and you went to dig up the stats of one of your man city "idols". Goldfish80's stats is average passing accuracy while yours is for a particular match. You did not even state the opponent as you know nature of opposition affects players performance.

Goldfish has said it all. We should not have any issues with Omeruo in that defense.

Talking about Flying Eagles of the late 80's o boy you missed o.

If you did not watch our youth teams of 1985 to 1989: Nduka Ugbade, Philip Osondu, Victor Igbinoba, Mutiu Adepoju, Chris Ohenhen, Chris Nwosu, Dimeji Lawal, Victor Ikpeba, Jonathan Akpoborie, Benedict Akuegbu, John Zaki, Godwin Okpara, Peter Ogaba, Samuel Elijah, Lemmy I say. Then you missed a lot. They were all "Ball playing ballers" o.

goldfish80:

Anyone can do anything in training. On match day it's a different ball game.
I've seen plays who play like demons in training but are sh!t on match days. Training is training, match is match.
His 75% pass completion rate for a well coached, ball playing, high pressing side like Mainz isn't enough for me to make back flips. Sorry.

Icon4s:


You, TheGoodJoe, are the originator of this "Ball playing defender" thing. This is just one of those hasty conclusions you made after that Tanzania game. The others are: " Rohr is a 4-3-3 coach", "Rohr is like Pep Guordiala", "Rohr plays a high defense line". Let us play Zambia and Algeria before we conclude on all those.

Goldfish80 has brought up a very enlightening stats and you went to dig up the stats of one of your man city "idols". Goldfish80's stats is average passing accuracy while yours is for a particular match. You did not even state the opponent as you know nature of opposition affects players performance.

Goldfish has said it all. We should not have any issues with Omeruo in that defense.

Talking about Flying Eagles of the late 80's o boy you missed o.

If you did not watch our youth teams of 1985 to 1989: Nduka Ugbade, Philip Osondu, Victor Igbinoba, Mutiu Adepoju, Chris Ohenhen, Chris Nwosu, Dimeji Lawal, Victor Ikpeba, Jonathan Akpoborie, Benedict Akuegbu, John Zaki, Godwin Okpara, Peter Ogaba, Samuel Elijah, Lemmy I say. Then you missed a lot. They were all "Ball playing ballers" o.

Icon4s:


Thanks bro. I have been preaching this same message to TheGoodJoe. "Training conditions are different from match day conditions".

TheGoodJoe:


How can a team that relies on long balls and are VERY WEAK IN KEEPING POSSESSION be a ball playing team to you?

This might be why Balogun has a 75% pass completion rate, when the team relies on long balls.

That is why relying strictly on one part of the stats to pass a judgment is not good. If you watched the game against Tanzania, you will easily tell that Balogun and Ekong are brilliant ball playing defenders.

TheGoodJoe:


I did not say Coach Rohr is a 4-3-3 coach. I actually said 4-4-2 attacking formation, similar to Arsene Wenger's invincible team. Remember, it came up during what role Iheanacho played. I said he played as a support striker and you said he played as a ten.

We say we will understand him more with more games from him. I wonder how you find that a problem.

goldfish80:


Mainz philosophy is not a the kick and run as you seem to suggest. They aren't a heavy possession side as well, obviously they don't have the resources to play that way. However they are far from the long ball team like your data seem to suggest.
It may interest you to know Mainz is like the farm house of German coaches. With Kopp and Tuchel cutting their teeth at Mainz.
You can see the same traits of high energy and hard pressing style of both coaches.
Martin Schmidt the current Mainz boss has the same playing style to Tuchel and Klopp. He was infact brought to the club by Tuchel.

The bottom line is that Leon passing and ball playing abilities are exagereated by you. Period.

TheGoodJoe:


Did I say training conditions are the same? It is a good way to screen and select players. Just like the drill I highlighted there. If a player can not do it in training, he can not do it in match conditions.

Just like our U17 screening starts with drills before match settings. Just like a team must train before the coach releases his starting line-up.

Training drills are important. I prefer a coach who has drills in his locker to select his squad.

Icon4s:


Nops! I dnt find that as any problem.

Let us not just be carried away by that Tanzania game.

Icon4s:


I am sure you know the root of this our particular argument.

TheGoodJoe:


Where the hell did you get me equating Leon Balogun to Beckenbauer? Your fund of doing this. Jumping from a point to making an unrelated statement as mine.

I said, among our defenders, Ekong and Balogun are our best ball playing defenders I have seen.

From the game against Tanzania, he was brilliant on the ball.

How many defender in the history of the world that is as good as Beckenbauer?

TheGoodJoe:


Come on. There is no need for that write up. You hang on stats and you want to evade it.

The image below shows it. Long ball, poor in keeping possession. I wonder how you want a defender to have high pass completion under those conditions.

goldfish80:

Have you given it a thought that because the Mainz Centre backs aren't so good at ball retention, hence they result to long balls?

TheGoodJoe:


Yes, I started the ball playing defenders talk here. I watched Ekong at the Olympics and that was what impressed me. The way he helped the team build up attacks and the way he helped the team keep possession.

If we hang on just the stats, goldfish80 dropped, then we will say Ekong's ball playing ability is a myth. That is not true.

Omeruo is a ball playing defender but his passing stats is lower than Balogun. So we should say Omeruo's ball playing ability is a myth?

From what I see, it relies more in the set up of the team. The post I posted earlier showed a ball playing drill Rohr carried out. It shows he wants control and play from his defenders. That is enough to show I was right pointing out his preference of ball playing defenders.

I do not think anyone should not like someone trying to understand how a coach plays. I am trying to understand Rohr, so I can know what to expect from him.

My assessments might be wrong but how can I know if I do not try to understand him.

As I said, we will understand him with more games. I have said what I have noticed so far.

If you notice different, you can share. Just as you said Iheanacho played a deeper role. I did not see me questioning you suggesting that.

Icon4s:


Thanks bro. I have been preaching this same message to TheGoodJoe. "Training conditions are different from match day conditions".

forgiveness:
Joel Asoro and Joshua Maja should be invited to the National team with immediate effect.

TheGoodJoe:


Have you given it a thought that Balogun is good on the ball but the strategy adopted by the coach reduces the stats of that ability?

Did you watch Pogba against Manchester City In a long ball strategy? Then look at him in a possessive strategy with Mata and Herrera on the field?

You did not put that in context before your ball playing myth talk.

Strategy can affect playing style.

forgiveness:


Bros, I have experienced how we could not progress in the world cup because of injury and lack of competent replacement.

2010 and 2014 world cups come to mind.

In 2010, we never envisaged any injury but it happened. Likewise, the last world cup.

What I am saying is, in football anything can hence we must have quality and reliable replacement for each positions.