edi287:

Yep I agree. Ighalo has seriously been thrash. Movement has been poor. Can't take players on. If he isn't doing any of that, then we might as well play Nacho because at least Nacho is a much much better finisher

Ighalo has his strengths and pace is not one of them. A type of Giroud, Ighalo puts pressure on defenders using his superior strength and power.

Fans hardly see the importance of hold up play as coaches do. We love to see pace and dribbling, but there are other skills strikers can possess.

Ask why Giroud made the French squad against the likes of Martial and Lacazette.

Humility017:
It seems the old coach still havent learn from his mistakes...always looking for an excuse to give for his incompetence

Rohr Explains Why He Didn't Employ 3-5-2 Formation Vs Croatia

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has explained why he played four at the back for the entirety of the Super Eagles 2-0 loss to Croatia, discarding the 3-5-2 formation that worked well for him, especially in the second half, during the pre-World Cup friendlies.

The former Bayern Munich defender has pointed out that the loss to the Balkans was not as a result of the formation but due to the inability of the team to defend set-pieces.

''I think the organization was okay, we didn't concede the goal in normal play, we conceded the two goals from set-pieces and it is not a question of tactics or system,'' Rohr said at the post-match press conference.
''Our system was okay, we cannot play with three (defenders) when there is only one center forward, so we played with four because they were three strikers and the Croatian strikers are very strong and I was satisfied about the organization of the team.
''What we are missing today is to be more professional with set-pieces to avoid the two goals coming from these situations.
''Each game is different, we know we can play with three center-backs but it was not a good day to do that today.''
Rohr added that the young players in the team, thought to be Oghenekaro Etebo and William Troost-Ekong, made mistakes which led to the two goals conceded by the Super Eagles.

''We are disappointed, when you lose a match it is not a good thing for us but we must recognize Croatia had the better team tonight.
''My young players made some mistakes especially from the corners we worked so much. The first goal came from a corner, the second one also from a corner, a penalty.

''There were also so many fouls in the other box that could have been a penalty for us. but we have to accept this defeat and now we have to win against Iceland.
''All is possible still because we have only one point to win to win against the two other teams. If we win the next game, all is possible for the qualification.''

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

source : ANS

I totally agree with the organizations and system of play was spot on. It really confused the Croats because they never expected us to play that system and to be even organized.

They expected 3-5-2 formation though they had planned for the 4-3-3 Formation too but they never expected us to cover up for our weak wing backs with our wingers because they knew that was our weakness and planned to utilize the wings.

However, it was tasking and tiring for our wingers to defend and attack at the same time. That was why Iwobi got tired easily.

It could have been better he played Etebo who has the energy to burn like Simon Moses on the wing, play Mikel from the deep and then move Iwobi behind Ighalo as soon as he realised Iwobi tire. At least, em go rest small and later pick up.

Iwobi didn't have that energy and he couldn't offer upfront on the wings hence the reason we saw only Victor Moses doing all the attacking moves.

This is why wingers are very important in our game.

Anyway, we blocked that place well until Ahmed Musa came on and we saw the only chance they had on the wing.

Apparently, he was tasked to do more of attacking and less defending because we were in search of goal.

The only problem was the AMF and wingers save Victor Moses, didn't come to the party.

They left Ighalo to create chances by himself. If Ighalo had the support of Iwobi yesterday, we for score.

I rate Ighalo 8/10 because he did his job well. He drew fouls, won balls, created half chances by himself etc.

He should start the next match with either Iwobi or Simy.

Russia 2018 WC updates


Germany 0-1 Mexico

FIFA's Budweiser MOTM went to Hirving Lozano, the goal scorer.

The FT stats too are below...

lexyman:



i think that was done intentionally , cos he kept hammering on why Iwobi was played out of position ...

You know I never thought of it from this angle.

Spy360:

Ighalo has his strengths and pace is not one of them. A type of Giroud, Ighalo puts pressure on defenders using his superior strength and power.

Fans hardly see the importance of hold up play as coaches do. We love to see pace and dribbling, but there are other skills strikers can possess.

Ask why Giroud made the French squad against the likes of Martial and Lacazette.

Actually a peak Ighalo is much more mobile than Giroud. He takes players on and creates. I actually think he isn't that great as a lone striker. His best period with Watford was when he was paired with Deeney in a 4-4-2.

I just hope shehu and ighalo dnt start against Iceland.
Those guys no dey pull Deir weight at all... Shehu didn't set a foot ryt in defense
.ppl were just breezing past him like he wasn't der...

Humility017:

every one is angry bro...including me...
I don't mind canvass for the sack of rohr should he make same line up in our next two match and we get to loose....

don't wanna call him a serial failure not until then...

Hopefully he will do the right thing come 22nd..

We have no choice but to attack in that match, we dont win, we go home.

Mujtahida:

na wa. you are really a nigerian.we do not see the world as it is but as we are. nigerians see sentiments whether in the form of tribalism or favoritism in everything to the extent that they even use it to interprete the actions of other countries. go and read 'Das Reboot: How Germany Won the World Cup' and you will find that right up to their first match Germany had fears about the fitness of this same Neuer(i dont understand this talk whenever a goalkeeper is scored and you guys come out to say all this things. now this is not Uzoho yet you basically saying the same thing. dem no go sccore goalkeeper again? haba) Lahm, Shweinsteiger, Khedira,Klose all had fitness concerns and yet they went ahead to win the WC.

here's an excerpt from the book on the above point

---

But the ‘no compromise’ line was quietly shelved as key players Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger (all Bayern Munich) and Sami Khedira (Real Madrid) turned up in northern Italy in varying states of unfitness. Doubts over the physical shape of veteran striker Miroslav Klose after a season with little football at Lazio added to the pervading sense of uncertainty. Instead of being able to rely on his team’s spine, Löw was staring at a team sheet full of question marks. Neuer, the outstanding goalkeeper, had hurt his shoulder in the DFB Cup final and missed the first days of the training camp, along with the consistently excellent and versatile Lahm, who was nursing a complicated ankle injury. ‘There were days when I couldn’t run in straight lines,’ recalls the captain, sitting in his agent’s office in Munich’s fashionable meatpacking district. ‘The team were already in Italy, yet I was still with the doctors in Munich. They were saying that they couldn’t really tell me anything because the scans looked so strange. Everything was swollen.’

---

i dont trust the analysis of most of here abeg. the most shocking is:when a goalkeeper concedes one will hear all sorts of unreasonable. for you to narrow germany's defeat to sentiment on the part of the coach shows that you know nothing about the German character. Germans are the most unsentimental people. you are just projecting nigeria into germany.

Since you're very vast in knowledge of German football, can you tell me when last Neuer played competitive football for Bayern Munich and how many games he played last season.
Also tell me the rationale for playing an out of shape Boateng who have struggled this past season. The same Boateng Bayern have placed on transfer.

See, in all human endevour, there's always favoritism. Favoritism is not a Nigerian word. If not for Lowe's sentiment, he wouldn't have dropped Leroy Sane. No way an out of shape Neuer gets into the team ahead of the Barcelona keeper. It is all sentiments,nothing Nigerian about this.

Lucque:
I just hope shehu and ighalo dnt start against Iceland.
Those guys no dey pull Deir weight at all... Shehu didn't set a foot ryt in defense
.ppl were just breezing past him like he wasn't der...

Wetin we no go see for this thread

Russia 2018 WC updates


It is the turn of Five time World Champions, The Samba Boys, the Jogo Bonito Kings, Le Seleçao.... BRAZIL.

BRAZIL VS SWITZERLAND...

This game features Nigerian Born Manuel Akanji and also The man that downed Nigeria U-17s in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World cup final, Haris Seferovic, the Swiss no.9..... Remember him?


The lineups... And formations lineups...

Spy360:

Your understanding of football positions is obsolete brother.

Xhaka is not a DM. He is a playmaker for Arsenal. Wenger does not usually deploy a DM, which !explains why his team is so defensively exposed.

What superned is trying to explain is what most managers apply today.

Mikel would have easily bossed that midfield had he played deeper.

Iwobi is better off as a CAM that a winger as he tends to play with the ball close to feet.

A 3-5-2 formation without Shehu but with Iheanacho could have matched the Croatians better.

LMAO! @edi287 Abeg come see oh..

Is there any country that hat not line up a 4-2-3-1 so far in this World Cup?

If only the world cup started after the Argentina friendly, that team on display that day, had a die hard attitude, not willing to concede defeat, the spirit to fight for their country, you could see the zeal in iheanachos's eyes as he took that free-kick, the passion in ndidi as he slam the the ground when we equalized... The beast mode of iwobi, and the class if mikell

Where did all that go?,
we accepted defeat like a bunch of cowards yesterday, surprisingly, the only players that showed that fighting spirit, IMO, were ekong and Moses (though was selfish), and Iheanacho later..

This team is not bad, it's a talented team, but they need to do some soul searching, and get back their winning spirit, their big heart, the passion, the "we die here attitude "..... the "who una be attitude ?" they showed all that in the qualifiers and in that friendly..

The eagles looked limp yesterday, they looked like a scared chickens, we scampered in fear.. I don't know if all this pessimists and their pessimistic attitude transferred to the team, we looked scared last night, I don't know if the inexperience and the stage contributed.. I dunno

But i want to you all, and the eagles themselves to remember thus, they looked like they were scared of the storm and wind yesterday, so they decided to limp like a chicken, they should remember, their strength is soaring through the storm, the eagle soar the the highest when the storm is great, they should rise and show their strength in the midst of this dark storm

We are Nigerians, not cowards who give into our fears, we face our fears...

phreakabit:


This is absolutely ridiculous!
The terms you use are just terms created by Italian tacticians!
They do not apply generally.
Elneny plays as a CM with Xhaka in the absence of Whilshere!
When Xhaka is absent Elneny becomes the 4!
Okocha played as a 10 in a 4-4-2 formation, but was always deep in the midfield and pushed the attack from the depth!

Just to illustrate

=======================9
=================8 (SS/CAM)
====11 ========================== 7
============10

=========================4

PS: You might want to check Arsenals forum goonersworld.co.uk to ask what Xhaka actually plays as. He is a DM, a piss poor one though.

Oh and to end this debate, read this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playmaker

Advanced Player - " The most complete and versatile playmakers are often known as advanced playmakers, or free role playmakers, as they can operate both in central, attacking midfield positions, as well as in wider positions on the wings. [/b]The attacking playmakers are sometimes called the "number 10" of the team, as they often wear the number 10 jersey[b]. The attacking midfield playmaker will sit in a free role between the midfield and the forwards, either in the centre of the pitch or on either flank. 
They are also usually quick, agile, and highly technical players with good vision, shooting, passing, crossing and dribbling ability; they are known for scoring goals as well as providing assists, through-balls, and initiating attacking plays. In Italian football, as creative, technical, advanced playmakers are known not to be reserved to a single position, they are often described as the "fantasista" or "trequartista".[2] In Brazil, the offensive playmaker is known as the "meia atacante",whereas in Argentina, it is known as the "enganche". Diego Maradona and Zico are notable examples of attacking midfield playmakers.

[/b]Deep-lying playmakers, who often wear jersey numbers 8, 6 or 5 (in particular in South American Football), operate from a deep position, in or even behind the main midfield line in a seemingly central or defensive midfield role, where they can use space and time on the ball to dictate the tempo of their team's play and orchestrate the moves of the whole team, not just attacks on goal. Deep-lying playmakers are often known for their vision, technique and passing. Many are also known for their ability to switch the play or provide long passes that pick out players making attacking runs, as well as their striking ability from distance[b]. Although several deep-lying playmakers are not known for their tackling, work-rate, or defensive skills, it has become more common for a box-to-box midfielder with good passing, technique, vision and ball-winning ability, such as Xabi Alonso, to play in this role, since it is in a similar position to that of a defensive midfielder, and the role allows them to break down plays and subsequently create scoring opportunities themselves after winning back possession. In Italy, the deep-lying playmaker is known as a "regista",whereas in Brazil, it is known as a "meia-armador".
Xavi, Andrea Pirlo, Luka Modrić, Michael Carrick, and Pep Guardiola are some examples of deep-lying playmakers.

God, I miss the tenacity and grit shown by the afcon 2013 winning side. I miss that team.
Now we have boys who think they're playing netball or monkey post.
So limp and tepid.
I tire abeg.

obaaderemi:
But Ighalo was lonely up there with no chance.

Thats why they called him lone striker... what did you expect? Well unfortunately he was tooo lonely lolzzzzzzz

goldfish80:


Since you're very vast in knowledge of German football, can you tell me when last Neuer played competitive football for Bayern Munich and how many games he played last season.
Also tell me the rationale for playing an out of shape Boateng who have struggled this past season. The same Boateng Bayern have placed on transfer.

See, in all human endevour, there's always favoritism. Favoritism is not a Nigerian word. If not for Lowe's sentiment, he wouldn't have dropped Leroy Sane. No way an out of shape Neuer gets into the team ahead of the Barcelona keeper. It is all sentiments,nothing Nigerian about this.

vast or no vast:that is not the point. dem dey score goalkeeper. finish. its not everytime a goalkeeper is scored that we should be making up reasons why he was scored. didnt you see the saves Nueur made? so those days when he used to play regularly and was fit(according to you) he no dey chop goals abi?so what were the reasons then?

dem must score goalkeeper.even the best!!!

i repeat germans are not given to sentiments. look for another reason to ground your points.

The Super Eagles played their foundational 4-3-3 formation against the Croats and it backfired.

★We should go back to our big game magical 3-5-2 and we should stick to our most balanced formation because we attack in numbers with the aid of eight players having at the back of their mind that they have defensive responsibilities.

★Playing less pacy Mikel and Ighalo together bumper to bumper in a fast tempo game of this magnitudes won't bear goals.

★Why do we have to play a lone striker who seems to lack some movement and pressing prowess or some bullish traits you see in Costa or Drogba?

Why can’t we have Iwobi and Kelechi combination like against Argentina?

The problem is this formation leaves no room for Moses, almost like we are accommodating Moses and Mikel this world Cup to the detriment of the team.

At the last World Cup,Moses didn't live up to expectations he sat for Ahmed Musa or Michael Babatunde but now,it appears there’s no competition for the big guys like Odion Ighalo,Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel.

★Moses and Mikel will both be valuable assets to the team if they are instructed to pass faster than usual rather than slowing the transition and allowing oppositions to regroup.

★The Midfield was more balanced with Ndidi-Mikel-Etebo and the combination of Iwobi-Iheanacho further forward will be full of visionary passes,they will be simple,precise and business oriented than the present forward combination.

★Iceland are compact and it takes tactically disciplined and a serious attacking team play to break them down unit by unit.

https://www.nigfooty.com/2018/06/the-right-approach-to-icelandic-tie.html

Mujtahida:

hahahahaha hahahaha. i guess there are many goldfishes in the french football pond. na joke oo

Maybe oh! The French are usually crazy about their team. They are tracing their lack of creativity to Pogba and unavailability of creatives like Payet and Rabiot.

JoebieII:
Is there any country that hat not line up a 4-2-3-1 so far in this World Cup?

I noticed that too.

Nobody has played the 3 backline.

Seems coaches are afraid of that formation.

edi287:

Oh and to end this debate, read this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playmaker

Advanced Player - " The most complete and versatile playmakers are often known as advanced playmakers, or free role playmakers, as they can operate both in central, attacking midfield positions, as well as in wider positions on the wings. [/b]The attacking playmakers are sometimes called the "number 10" of the team, as they often wear the number 10 jersey[b]. The attacking midfield playmaker will sit in a free role between the midfield and the forwards, either in the centre of the pitch or on either flank. 
They are also usually quick, agile, and highly technical players with good vision, shooting, passing, crossing and dribbling ability; they are known for scoring goals as well as providing assists, through-balls, and initiating attacking plays. In Italian football, as creative, technical, advanced playmakers are known not to be reserved to a single position, they are often described as the "fantasista" or "trequartista".[2] In Brazil, the offensive playmaker is known as the "meia atacante",whereas in Argentina, it is known as the "enganche". Diego Maradona and Zico are notable examples of attacking midfield playmakers.

[/b]Deep-lying playmakers, who often wear jersey numbers 8, 6 or 5 (in particular in South American Football), operate from a deep position, in or even behind the main midfield line in a seemingly central or defensive midfield role, where they can use space and time on the ball to dictate the tempo of their team's play and orchestrate the moves of the whole team, not just attacks on goal. Deep-lying playmakers are often known for their vision, technique and passing. Many are also known for their ability to switch the play or provide long passes that pick out players making attacking runs, as well as their striking ability from distance[b]. Although several deep-lying playmakers are not known for their tackling, work-rate, or defensive skills, it has become more common for a box-to-box midfielder with good passing, technique, vision and ball-winning ability, such as Xabi Alonso, to play in this role, since it is in a similar position to that of a defensive midfielder, and the role allows them to break down plays and subsequently create scoring opportunities themselves after winning back possession. In Italy, the deep-lying playmaker is known as a "regista",whereas in Brazil, it is known as a "meia-armador".
Xavi, Andrea Pirlo, Luka Modrić, Michael Carrick, and Pep Guardiola are some examples of deep-lying playmakers.

I have seen that before, I even went ahead to check on reddit, but didn't use it due to the point I will state below.
But you are missing the point here by miles .
I stated in my other post, nobody plays 4-4-2 anymore.
It is pretty much a generational tactical thing.
Football is evolving and things are changing.
Take a look at the redened in your post quoted above and tell me what you notice.

It's one thing to make the team, it's yet another to have the right mental strength when the occasion calls for it.

TheSuperNerd:
You are thanking him now but when we mention such a super talent with BIG HEART playing in same Odogbolu he will remind us that he has not played top level football in the top 5 leagues and does not deserve an invite to the national team. Funny... Very very funny.

He mocks top young Nigerian talents like K.Nwakali and S.Chukwueze.. Players with the heart and the talent to add value in future to the team and plays down their quality. Now he is here talking Odogbolu and you sef dey thank am... I am just watching you all.

forgiveness:



I totally agree with the organizations and system of play was spot on. It really confused the Croats because they never expected us to play that system and to be even organized.

They expected 3-5-2 formation though they had planned for the 4-3-3 Formation too but they never expected us to cover up for our weak wing backs with our wingers because they knew that was our weakness and planned to utilize the wings.

However, it was tasking and tiring for our wingers to defend and attack at the same time. That was why Iwobi got tired easily.

It could have been better he played Etebo who has the energy to burn like Simon Moses on the wing, play Mikel from the deep and then move Iwobi behind Ighalo as soon as he realised Iwobi tire. At least, em go rest small and later pick up.

Iwobi didn't have that energy and he couldn't offer upfront on the wings hence the reason we saw only Victor Moses doing all the attacking moves.

This is why wingers are very important in our game.

Anyway, we blocked that place well until Ahmed Musa came on and we saw the only chance they had on the wing.

Apparently, he was tasked to do more of attacking and less defending because we were in search of goal.

The only problem was the AMF and wingers save Victor Moses, didn't come to the party.

They left Ighalo to create chances by himself. If Ighalo had the support of Iwobi yesterday, we for score.

I rate Ighalo 8/10 because he did his job well. He drew fouls, won balls, created half chances by himself etc.

He should start the next match with either Iwobi or Simy.

Apart from the rating you gave Ighalo, i agree with everything else, was discussing this with the guys we watched the match together as soon as i saw the line up. This would have saved Iwobi from tiring out too early, the few times he came to this position, he had attempts at goal which got blocked.

Insisting on playing 4:2:3:1 would have worked much more better if he deployed the right legs on the right positions.

Exactly and still part of my points in a broader view. But you can also identify players with the Heart and big-game fearless mentality too. It is not something hidden for certain talents.

JoebieII:
It's one thing to make the team, it's yet another to have the right mental strength when the occasion calls for it.

edi287:

Actually a peak Ighalo is much more mobile than Giroud. He takes players on and creates. I actually think he isn't that great as a lone striker. His best period with Watford was when he was paired with Deeney in a 4-4-2.

True.

He is the best we have for a lone striker. Another player is Nwankwo. But I'd prefer a formation that allows Ighalo to pair with another big forward(like Nwankwo) in a 3-5-2 formation.

Use Moses as RWB, with Mikel dropping deeper. Unfortunately, Etebo's position would be sacrificed.

.............Uzoho................
Ekong, Balogun, Omeruo
Moses, Mikel, Ndidi, Idowu
...............Iwobi..................
......Ighalo, Nwankwo.........

Spy360:

Your understanding of football positions is obsolete brother.

Xhaka is not a DM. He is a playmaker for Arsenal. Wenger does not usually deploy a DM, which !explains why his team is so defensively exposed.

What superned is trying to explain is what most managers apply today.

Mikel would have easily bossed that midfield had he played deeper.

Iwobi is better off as a CAM that a winger as he tends to play with the ball close to feet.

A 3-5-2 formation without Shehu but with Iheanacho could have matched the Croatians better.

Bros Xhaka IS our DM. At Arsenal, he has more defensive responsibility than he did at Mochengladbach.
I can't say he played him as a Regista - look who he paired him up with - RAMSEY!!

Sir have we seen any other formation besides the 4-2-3-1? I have missed some games, which is why I am asking.

Icon4s:


I noticed that too.

Nobody has played the 3 backline.

Seems coaches are afraid of that formation.

phreakabit:


LMAO!!!!! You guys keep clowning yourselves.
Check my last post yes, not all formations have CAM. Check what i wrote!
But for your info I have been a Barca fan for well over 18 years, I am even a member of their forum and I can tell you Iniesta is a CAM
Coutinho was bought to play as a CM and displace the unskillful Rakitic, but he couldn't play the role, because he kept attacking, hence his switch to Iniesta's role... In the forum we all refer to Don Andres as a CAM..

Rakitic?! guy at least if you read newspapers you would know that Rakitic was brought in to replace Iniesta. which formation did Barca play this season?

this is not a player vs player thing.. we are talking about the team as a unit, and that's the reason why I'm thanking komekn. I am not against or for any particular moniker on this thread. I can share your post today, but totally disagree with you tomorrow.

TheSuperNerd:
Exactly and still part of my points in a broader view. But you can also identify players with the Heart and big-game fearless mentality too. It is not something hidden for certain talents.

And to all the pessimist, hope you guys are happy now?

Croatia is this, modric is that, rakitic is this and that, Nigeria is so untalented, iheanacho is a bench warmer, we are average, we have no world class player, Africa is this and that.. Bla bla bla..

Enjoy the reward of your pessimism. We are loosing to the "world class " teams.. You all must feel like great prophets of dooms l, be proud of yourselves.. You must feel so good, now you all can be Brazilians and Germans, not the mediocre Nigerians, we forced you to support..

Atewo

Spy360:

True.

He is the best we have for a lone striker. Another player is Nwankwo. But I'd prefer a formation that allows Ighalo to pair with another big forward(like Nwankwo) in a 3-5-2 formation.

Use Moses as RWB, with Mikel dropping deeper. Unfortunately, Etebo's position would be sacrificed.

.............Uzoho................
Ekong, Balogun, Omeruo
Moses, Mikel, Ndidi, Idowu
...............Iwobi..................
......Ighalo, Nwankwo.........

Great formation. With Ighalo present lack of Mobility, I'd play him with Nacho instead. At least he's still better on the ball than Simy. Then again, we could play Iwobi with Simy and bring in Etebo. It all depends but this is the template for us to go.
Rohr doesn't have the balls to play Mikel deeper; I doubt he'd dare play Moses as a LWB.

somehow:


Apart from the rating you gave Ighalo, i agree with everything else, was discussing this with the guys we watched the match together as soon as i saw the line up. This would have saved Iwobi from tiring out too early, the few times he came to this position, he had attempts at goal which got blocked.

Insisting on playing 4:2:3:1 would have worked much more better if he deployed the right legs on the right positions.

Etebo is not a winger. Shehu should not be on the starting line up.