troy20:
nice observation but if you were more keen you would observe that mikel had freeier role to play in the group stages of the last AFCON .he was only positionally deployed deeper against ivory cost which worked superbly cause it was a cautious tactic.we kept possession and control of the game leaving yaya and tiote confused and little to do(tiote).they had to come deep to get the ball which anoingly often stayed longer in the long legs of mikel and while they did, they exposed their backline for emenike and moses to run at their wing backs.it was a risky system and required confidence and comfort with the ball from deep.which mikel had.very few players play from deep this well.pirlo,xavi...execpt these two play more mobile.we won against ivory coast because we kept the ball away from them not because we won the ball more from them in midfield.my point exactly is, mikel would play to his talent if given a freeier role with better tacklers and ball distributors.you know... a better complete package like xabi basquet,montilivio,rossi...Haruna,azeez and maybe onazi are the best we have.so that we control games better.wining the ball in midfield as soon as we lose it.therefore putting less pressure on the defence.pirlo,gattuso,ambrosini where the best midfield combo in the world once with that tactic.pirlo, vidal pogba still one the best version today.mikel needs to be giving more mobility to give his ALL.

The group stage was purely experimental. That was not the winning formular. Even Onazi was used as a Right back against Zambia remember?

The winning formular began against CIV when Mikel and Onazi sat deep, and Mba ran around the midfield. Moses was the one given the free role and he too came to the midfield to pick up the balls.

Those are the moments when we were a complete team and Mali wouldn't want to play us again anytime soon.

Mikel has shown us already that if you use him as a play-maker, he would run out of gas soon, plus our defensive midfield would not be up to par with what it was at the afcon. We even conceded 6 goals in 3 games at the confeds.

Rather, Mikel is always a beast for us when he sits deep and and does his thing with Onazi from the defensive play.
Using him as a play-maker should be a last resort if we don't find a suitable AM, but this is unlikely with Haruna, azeez and iheanacho showing potentials.

Besides, we are not going to be facing ethiopia at the WC. We do not have the luxury of throwing people forward carelessly if we bargain to go very far.

breezy047:

The group stage was purely experimental. That was not the winning formular. Even Onazi was used as a Right back against Zambia remember?

The winning formular began against CIV when Mikel and Onazi sat deep, and Mba ran around the midfield. Moses was the one given the free role and he too came to the midfield to pick up the balls.

Those are the moments when we were a complete team and Mali wouldn't want to play us again anytime soon.

Mikel has shown us already that if you use him as a play-maker, he would run out of gas soon, plus our defensive midfield would not be up to par with what it was at the afcon. We even conceded 6 goals in 3 games at the confeds.

Rather, Mikel is always a beast for us when he sits deep and and does his thing with Onazi from the defensive play.
Using him as a play-maker should be a last resort if we don't find a suitable AM, but this is unlikely with Haruna, azeez and iheanacho showing potentials.

Besides, we are not going to be facing ethiopia at the WC. We do not have the luxury of throwing people forward carelessly if we bargain to go very far.

the mikel gassess out after 70mins is over exagerated.playmarkers like him have special talent which help them conserve energy and that talent is because the ball is always on there feet.you are less likely to get tired quick when you control a game.have you watched xavi, pirlo.have you closely watched how iniesta covers so many distance almost effortless? thats because barca dont chase games and also cause he has the highest productivity in a team with the least energy dispensed more than any other player in a big team over 90min IMHO.the purpose is to control play right? Cause thats how we play.you consided 6 goals because you dont have a good defensive midfielder plus your poor defence.onazi is barely average i've watched him for lazio.he gets games though and you watch where lazio is on the table.you becareful how you place faith on a 17yr old with raw experience.the 3 games we play wont ask for anything less.playing mikel from deep only restricts him to mainly defensive play which is not his strongest talent.(unlike when he took us to the under 21 final against agentina)thats why chelseas midfield is crap.fast attackers bearing down on him usualy ghost past him on counter and trust me the likes of messi will live him for dead.thats where he gets tired in your 70mins.this is the world cup.the average european or south american team is better than your best here.get haruna,azeez...to do more dirty job.we play 433.thats our formation

troy20:
the mikel gassess out after 70mins is over exagerated.playmarkers like him have special talent which help them conserve energy and that talent is because the ball is always on there feet.you are less likely to get tired quick when you control a game.have you watched xavi, pirlo.have you closely watched how iniesta covers so many distance almost effortless? thats because barca dont chase games and also cause he has the highest productivity in a team with the least energy dispensed more than any other player in a big team over 90min IMHO.the purpose is to control play right? Cause thats how we play.you consided 6 goals because you dont have a good defensive midfielder plus your poor defence.onazi is barely average i've watched him for lazio.he gets games though and you watch where lazio is on the table.you becareful how you place faith on a 17yr old with raw experience.the 3 games we play wont ask for anything less.playing mikel from deep only restricts him to mainly defensive play which is not his strongest talent.(unlike when he took us to the under 21 final against agentina)thats why chelseas midfield is crap.fast attackers bearing down on him usualy ghost past him on counter and trust me the likes of messi will live him for dead.thats where he gets tired in your 70mins.this is the world cup.the average european or south american team is better than your best here.get haruna,azeez...to do more dirty job.we play 433.thats our formation

Mikel does not do a dirty job when he plays deep for Nigeria. He protects the defence, and controls the midfield. he wins balls, sends long passes, through-balls and often comes forward depending on the situation of play to try some shots or feed strikers. From the defensive midfield position, Mikel actually does a lot for us.

Between if Mikel is slow, is Haruna any faster?

breezy047:


Mikel does not do a dirty job when he plays deep for Nigeria. He protects the defence, and controls the midfield. he wins balls, sends long passes, through-balls and often comes forward depending on the situation of play to try some shots or feed strikers. From the defensive midfield position, Mikel actually does a lot for us.

Between if Mikel is slow, is Haruna any faster?

For Nigeria Mikel plays the central midfield role for Nigeria, he doesnt screen or protect the defence, the reason why he puffs after 70 minutes is that for Nigeria he has to do more running and moving unlike Chelsea where he screens the defence.

omar22:

For Nigeria Mikel plays the central midfield role for Nigeria, he doesnt screen or protect the defence, the reason why he puffs after 70 minutes is that for Nigeria he has to do more running and moving unlike Chelsea where he screens the defence.

He actually plays more as a defensive midfielder under Keshi except that he is allowed to venture forward depending on circumstances.

That's why he can't be our play-maker. He will puff after 70 mins.

Me think our best bet at the world cup is for Mikel to sit deep and play the game simple just like he does fo Chelsea. Him and Onazi should be our lead defensive midfielders among the pack

Haruna Lukman? I dont know that he is that great a player. Between now and Worldcup we need an attacking midfielder, if we cant find one let us use a striker who can pass the ball as our number 10. the likes of Sone Aluko, Imoh Ezekiel, Lukman Haruna, or Uche brothers should be tried in that role to see what happens.

But if no one shows promise I think Nosa Igiebor should be used. I think Mikel, Nosa and Igiebor will form a very good midfield 3 against very technically gifted teams like Argentina, Spain or Germany

mikeansy: Me think our best bet at the world cup is for Mikel to sit deep and play the game simple just like he does fo Chelsea. Him and Onazi should be our lead defensive midfielders among the pack

Haruna Lukman? I dont know that he is that great a player. Between now and Worldcup we need an attacking midfielder, if we cant find one let us use a striker who can pass the ball as our number 10. the likes of Sone Aluko, Imoh Ezekiel, Lukman Haruna, or Uche brothers should be tried in that role to see what happens.

But if no one shows promise I think Nosa Igiebor should be used. I think Mikel, Nosa and Igiebor will form a very good midfield 3 against very technically gifted teams like Argentina, Spain or Germany

haruna lukman is more like xabi/arteta kind of player.