₦airaland Forum

SweetyZinta: Eyaa how sweeet! MAY GOD Reward you abundantly. God will protect you frm all those deadly sicknesses

Naija sha, we too like religion and na we sin pass. No offense though, peace.

vislabraye: I think we are saying the same thing. Whenever one says the Mikel is disappointing, people start defending him vehemently by stating statistics of the passes he made, tackle and so on in the WC. But if he was so valuable, Chelsea wouldn't sell him for such a price

Mikel is an average player and that price is not far from his true valuation. Simply put, Mikel is not ambitious enough, forget about Chelsea playing him as defensive midfielder. Makelele, essien, and even yaya toure all played as defensive midfielders and they made their mark known dominating games. But Mikel just disappears in games and content with side and back passes, afraid to shoot or move the ball forward.

If Ashley young and Nani are average players, then Mikel is a below average player to be sincere.

vislabraye: . So is it a good thing for Mikel to be valued for £5m ? Those players you mentioned apart from Torres are overhyped. Are U now saying Mikel is over hyped ? ( Dat of Torres is different because he plays for Chelsea )

If the players I mentioned are over hyped, then mikel's case is even worse because he didn't really cut it at the highest level. He was a promising talent when Chelsea bought him but he never stepped up and he never dictated the game in a way that would wow the audience.

Of all the players I listed, I would say only Anderson didn't wow the audience, the rest did. Nani was phenomenal in 2009-2011 season, ashley young was a beast at Aston villa, Torres was top scorer at Liverpool, David luiz has this wow factor that fans love even though he is not a very good defender, but no denying he has great attacking prowess. What qualities does Mikel really have?

If Chelsea wants to dispose him for £5m, that is not mikel's problem, its Chelsea's and if they feel Mikel is not more than 5m, who cares? It just shows how Much they want to get him off their payroll. But to be sincere, judging by mikel's performance for the last 1 year, is he really worth more than £5m?

What is the big deal in offloading Mikel for £5m? Players lose form and become surplus to requirement, and sometimes clubs buy players at inflated fees. Mikel was a promising talent when Chelsea bought him but unfortunately he failed to improve. You people are just making a meal out of it because he is Nigerian. Mikel is not the first player to lose form or face an exodus.

Manchester united paid a total of £35m for Nani and Anderson but today both players are not worth more than £10 million collectively. They paid £17m for Ashley young but today he is not worth more than £5m. Liverpool bought Carroll for £35m but today he is not worth £10m. Chelsea paid £50m for Torres but trust me of they want to sell him today they won't get more than £15m. So how is mikel's case different?

Ibrowski: The EPL is fast approaching and clubs are strengthening their squad but it won't go well for some players as Chelsea are set to offload our legend to serie A clubs for just £5m(CAN YOU IMAGINE?).
It beats my imagination to know how bad Mikel is priced. Well,the obvious says it all about his performance @ the just concluded world cup..................who wanna help our Mikelis Obilis?

What is the big deal in offloading Mikel for £5m? Players lose form and become surplus to requirement, and sometimes clubs buy players at inflated fees. Mikel was a promising talent when Chelsea bought him but unfortunately he failed to improve. You people are just making a meal out of it because he is Nigerian. Mikel is not the first player to lose form or face an exodus.

Manchester united paid a total of £35m for Nani and Anderson but today both players are not worth more than £10 million collectively. They paid £17m for Ashley young but today he is not worth more than £5m. Liverpool bought Carroll for £35m but today he is not worth £10m. Chelsea paid £50m for Torres but trust me of they want to sell him today they won't get more than £15m. So how is mikel's case different ?

Even PSG that bought David Luis for £50m last month, judging by his performance at the world cup, if they want to sell him today no club will pay more than £20m for him.

Op u are funny. Maybe u didn't know that Luis figo moved from Barcelona to real Madrid. That is what looked like an impossible transfer. Also Ronaldo de lima played for Barcelona before moving to Madrid. Yes some transfers might not seem possible like Ronaldo to Barcelona and messi to Madrid. Also Rooney to Liverpool might look impossible. But aguero to Manchester united is very possible. Didn't tevez move from united to city?

If Luis figo can move from Barcelona to Madrid then it is very possible for iniesta to move to Madrid even though he came from barca academy.

Frank lampard to Manchester united? Very possible... Michael Owen was was a cult hero at liverpool before coming to united.

Why would someone buy a Nissan sentra over a Toyota Camry. Nissan sentra is a 1.8 liter sub compact car (except the SE-R model that carries a 2.5L engine.) 2006 Camry on the other hand is a mid size family car that comes with 2.4 L I4 or 3.0 L v6. In fact the only area Nissan sentra beats Camry is in terms of fuel economy which is very very negligible .

2004/2005 Camry has the following advantages over a 2006 Nissan sentra

1. Camry interior is better, even though it is called big for nothing, the materials used are still superior to the sentra.

2. Leg room: Camry has more legroom , the entire cabin of the sentra is very crampy and leg room is almost non existent in the back.

3. Camry is faster and performs better. There is even a v6 option which performs better than the SE-R model to sentra ( and I'm sure op is considering the 1.8L model).

4. Front seat of sentra is very uncomfortable compared to the Camry.

5. Toyota reliability which cannot be taken away. Also high second hand value. @op, if u have a family don't even look the way of the sentra, its too tight in the cabin.

The only condition I would recommend the sentra is when lots of city driving is required because it gets a little more mpg than the Camry. And also if u feel like u want to drive something different, something not too common at a good price.

jayyungg: Thanks alot big Bro. That was the argument between me and my friend. Without sentiment Bro, as you have rightly stated that Messi plays a free role. Now between him and Ronaldo who is suppose to score more goals base on their role(Ronaldo-wing&Messi-centre forward, attacking mildfield, infact everywhere except the defence). In a nutshell Bro, who is suppose to score more goals? Anticipating your response. Thanks

This is a tough one really. On paper Messi is supposed to score more goals. For Barcelona he plays cf, cam, right forward.. in fact everywhere. Barcelona don't play with a natural CF because of Messi. Ronaldo on the other hand plays alongside benzema who is a natural CF.

striker9: kudos to you bro,you are now one of the few people I respect on here.To add to your beautiful analysis, people need to know football has changed.The role of number 10 is not like What is it in the era of okocha,zidane,scholes ,mbami,del piero etc

Thanks bro. Yes people need to understand that football has changed. I can't believe in modern era people are still looking for a no 4, no 8, etc. Most formation now does not require a number 4 , jeez even wingers swap wings so u can't say someone is playing no 7 or no 11. That is why a good football analyst would not tell u someone is playing no 4, he would rather say CM or CDM, no 10 is called CAM, no 7 and eleven are simply called wingers or forwards depending on the formation.

jayyungg: Soccer fans, who is suppose to score more goals between a winger and an attacking mildfielder.(like that of Messi)

It depends on the players, the formation and tactics. In a 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-2-1 formation, the wide mean are no longer called wingers, rather they are called Left or Right forward. That is the case with Ronaldo, he plays as left forward and he is very good in front of goals, that is why he scores more goals. Messi plays free role, he can be an attacking midfilder and next minuted he's a centre forward. Wingers are more accustomed to a 4-4-2 formation, they don't score much because they are required to track back and help the wing backs due to 2 man midfield. In a 4-3-3 formation however, there are 3 man midfield so the wide men don't need to track back much like wingers in a 4-4-2. The main work of wingers is to cross the ball, but wing forwards seldom cross the ball.

I think a wing forward normally scores more goals than an attacking midfielder (unless in rare cases like messi who plays free role and very talented), while attacking midfielders generally score more goals than wingers.

Syenite: Look, traditionally Mikel has been playing the central mid field role which is popularly called no 10.
Now, it depends on d nature of the opposition and d formation d coach wants to play.
In a typical 4-4-2 formation eg against Argentina Mikel was made to play d central midfield or no10 role. In a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation like against Iran We started d game with 2 blocking 4 ie Onazi and Mikel while Azeez played 10.
Against Bosnia where we also played 2 blocking 4 Mikel and Onazi played dat position with Babatunde in front of them (10 position).
Against France u said Moses playefd 10, how? So because Moses replaced injured Babatunde who played 10 against Bosnia u now blive it was a like for like switch? Against France, Moses and Musa both played as wing forwards in that 4-4-2 Formation with Osaze playing what we call 8 or supporting Striker. The other 2 midfielders in dat formation were Onazi who played 4 and MIKEL WHO PLAYED 10!.
Depending on d Formation Keshi adopted Mikel played either 4 or his traditional 10.

MIKEL IS OUR TRADITIONAL 10 IN THE PRESENT SUPER EAGLES.

Mikel didn't play no 10 at the world cup. In fact the last time Mikel played as a no 10 was against Burkinafaso in the first match of AFCON 2013, he also played as no 10 briefly against Zambia. Both games ended in a draw, since them Keshi returned Mikel to central/holding midfield role.

To understand this topic, first we need to understand the meaning of a no 10. A number 10 is a team's playmaker, he is the player that plays in the hole behind the main striker. Now this can be very confusing depending on the formation. Some no 10 even start from the wings and move to the middle when they get the ball, this is different from a traditional winger that runs down the wing to cross. Again it depends on the tactics. A number 10 normally plays in front of 2 central/defensive/holding midfielders who cover for him.

Not all formations require a number 10. A 4-4-2 formation traditionally does not require a no 10. 4-4-2 formation relies on the wingers to feed the 2 strikers.. that is the formation manchester United are used to playing and that is the main reason kagawa couldn't fit in. You need to have 2 Central /defensive midfielders and Kagawa can't play there. kagawa is a natural no 10 and for him to flourish, a team, has to play 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-2-1 . To play a no 10 in 4-4-2 formation then the no 10 would have to play from either of the flanks and drift to the middle when he gets the ball.. not very practical unless the player is multi talented. This is what Valbuena did against Nigeria. A very good example is in the formation below.

https://images.press.co.uk/source/8e1b60e30668f1182b97c22c67366f78.jpg

Mkhitaryan is the no 10 playing behind sturridge while Gerrard and Lucas are the central midfielders ( similar to Onazi and Mikel). Lucas is defensive midfielder while Gerrard has freedom to move a little forward. A number 10 is a player that dictates the game and connects the midfield with attack. Unfortunately we do not have such player in Nigeria.

Against France, Moses played in front of Mikel and Onazi and that made him the no 10 as shown the the picture below.

https://outsideoftheboot.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/France-Nigeria-Tactics.png

So how would u tell me that Mikel played a no 10 in this formation when he is not the one sitting in the hole?

Icon4s: Moses played 10 against France?
Haba, u sabi wetin u dey talk so?

@ Syenite good analysis.

Yes Moses started as a no 10 against France, he later switched with Odemwingie when he didn't get much of the ball in the hole.

Syenite: Now I know that u dnt understand football.

Below is Nigeria's line up and formation against Bosnia. Tell me does it look like Mikel is playing no 10 to u? watch and learn.

Syenite: Now I know that u dnt understand football.

Pls don't make me laugh, u that understand football. So because Mikel wears no 10 that means he plays no 10 for Nigeria? Let me guess, zidane also played no 5 for real Madrid and gallas played no 10 for arsenal.

traware: @Rossikki

lol, perfect picture to describe him

Rossikki: SHUT UP YOUR DIRTY STINKING TRAP, YOU DUMB SLAVE. How many ''white men'' exactly do you know or have you met? The vast majority of ''white men'' spend most of their time between the workplace and the PUB or BAR, where they spend far more than ''2 hrs'' drinking themselves to a stupor, not ''spending 5 minutes praying and working to success'' as your slave brain imagines. So don't come in here crediting them with bullshiit just because you feel inferior. Idiatt.

You are one angry black man, just typical but i don't blame u, I get this a lot. If u think u can get anything in life by spewing rubbish my friend u need to have a rethink. You spewed rubbish without making any point, now when u fail u will still blame the white man.. this justifies my point. If u don't agree with my opinion, state ur own like civilized people do.. and just maybe I might reason with u. But u have just shown ur very low level of intelligence. It makes no sense arguing with u because u are just going to bring me down to ur low level.

Van persie's header is definitely the goal of the tournament. Match of the tournament for me though is Brazil vs Colombia.

Ashantiking: Damn you make too much sense. I wish more Africans were like you. Religion is their bread and butter, instead of hard work. Cosign a billion times. Love this comment, with people like you Africa will rise.

True bro. Didn't u see how the Nigeria team were praying on the field. They pray before kick off, pray at half time, pray before start of second half and pray after the match. Lwkmd.

Ashantiking: Exactly, whose name gets called more than Ballotelli on the italian team. Even their best pirlo don't get mention as much as Ballotelli.

And yaya toure will probably win Manchester city's player of the year. With hard work comes success.

traware: He blames himself,learns from his mistake/s and improves himself for future successes.Unlike ...... You need proof?Just look at the plans the Germans laid-out and strictly adhered to after their failures at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004.Now those are a people who possess a world-class mentality.Compare them to Nigerians whose plan is to win the world cup via luck and prayers.I dey laff

Ha ha ha, I couldn't stop laughing when some Nigerians were actually thinking we can win the world cup with average players. Ask them why they think so they would tell u through prayers. We pay too much attention to religion and superstitions and that is why we are backward. A white man that introduced Christianity to us would pray silently for 5 mins and then spend most of his time working towards success. A black man on the other hand will pray for 2 hours and less time working expecting a miracle.

Why must we always have someone to blame? If we don't blame the white man we would blame one old woman in the village.

For the umpteenth time, Mikel NEVER played number 10 at the world cup. Just because he wears number 10 doesn't make him a number 10. Against Iran it was azeez, against Bosnia and Argentina it was babatunde and against France it was Moses. Mikel played central midfield, he was supposed to be the holding midfielder while onazi plays box to box but he was just strolling on the park.

let me help u

https://38.media.tumblr.com/650b1ee9cc19ef3f5c70256ed9b4bc5a/tumblr_n8o9pbGfRc1rdshk0o1_500.jpg

traware: Sir,no be only you the thing tire.I still don't understand why Nigerians give so much importance to white people and by the way,what stopped Nigerians from planning and working hard to reach the final and win the trophy so that they'll be so many Black people on the field,the 'racist' cameramen and journalists wouldn't be able to 'ignore' them?Excuses,excuses

Since we like blaming the white man whenever we fail, so who does the white man blame when he fails?

TheCongo: I find this part to be ignorant and racist.

Anyway, I guess you don't live in the West.
If you live in the West and you never experienced racism, it is EITHER you are extremely lucky OR you never amount to anything.
Have you ever heard of subtle racism or everyday racism? I guess you haven't.

Have a nice day.

Bros, I've lived in the West for many years. Yes racism does exist (I never said it doesn't), but it is not as much as we make it look. The reason lots of people think this way is they have it in their head, like they are always looking for a racist situation and strike at every slight opportunity. If a policeman stops a white man speeding above recommended speed limit and asks for his papers, ITS ALL GOOD. But when the same policeman stops a black man for the same offense it becomes RACISM.

I'll give u an example.. let's assume a poor man suddenly gets rich overnight, and after a few months his child dies. An average Nigerian would conclude he used his child for money ritual without even trying to investigate. A white man on the other hand would carry out an autopsy to find out the cause of his death and if they can't find anything it is an act of God.

Another example, I have seen an innocent Nigerian give a pregnant woman a lift to her destination and along the way the woman died in his car. The mob practically lynched this innocent man and almost set him ablaze but for the intervention of the police. They claimed he used the woman for ritual... I mean that is the way we reason in this country. We act based on the first thing that comes to our minds, without having a re think.

A thread was opened on nairaland yesterday after FIFA gave awards, the topic was 'No golden boot award'? and the OP was so confident FIFA didn't give golden boot award because it was not shown on camera. Someone even commented that FIFA was trying to secretly give the award to Messi. I mean who reasons like that? Everyone knows James Rodriguez won golden boot, he wasn't probably around and that was why they couldn't capture the presentation.

chucky234: And why do you think Juup Hyncken was furious with Kagawa being played out of position?
May I also remind you that willian is also being played out of position at Chelsea, thats if you watched him play for Shakter Donesk and Anzi.
There is no formation without a number 10, except you want me to believe that Okocha was a DM in our 4 4 2 system.

Kagawa found it difficult to fit into manchester united because Unuted are used to playing 4-4-2 which gives no room for a number 10. At Dortmund they played 4-3-3 or 4-1-2-2-1 with Kagawa playing in front of Vidal and another CM that protects Kagawa. At United, they don't have a good DM or holding midfielder, playing kagawa in the middle of the park will expose the team. Kagawa will fit in a 4-2-1-3 or 4-2-1-2-1 which is just another form of 4-3-3 formation.. with Kagawa sitting behind the striker which is where a no 10 plays. Mikel for example plays holding midfield for the current super eagles, not no 10.. Babatunde played no 10 against bosnia and argentina while azeez played no 10 against Iran. Against France it was supposed to be Moses but he lacks the tactical discipline of a natural no 10.

A 4-4-2 formation does not require a number 10. In USA 94 against Italy, Okocha started as a central midfielder with Sunday Oliseh (Oliseh being defensive minded while Okocha has freedom to move forward). Amunike played left wing, finidi right and Amokachi and Yekini as strikers. Later Amokachi was subbed and Mutiu Adepoju came in. This allowed Okocha to advance to play no 10 while Adepoju supported Oliseh in central Midfield. Okocha is more versatile and he can play as a no 10 and also central midfield, just like Tony Kroos. Kroos had to play CM along side sweinsteigger in the absence of Khedira against Argentina because Ozil was playing number 10.

In France 98 against Spain, Okocha played number 10 behind Mutiu Adepoju and Oliseh in something that looked like a 4-2-1-3 formation.

Ashantiking: I don't know what you saw but he looks pretty happy. How more can one celebrate. As you can see Gotze and his girl are holding jerome kids. Don't know why people like to scream racism.

Bros, some people on nairaland really have light brains, that is what I have noticed. Racism this racism that. Huh

Ashantiking: Blacks are too sensitive. We scream racism every chance we get.

Bros the thing tire me I swear. Its like the average black man has a ready made excuse whenever he fails.... RACISM. This has made us very lazy. Instead of working hard and inventing things, we sit down and whenever the white man succeeds, we shout RACISM.

chucky234: Seem you want to teach me my job, your Manchester has playing 4 4 2 ever since Fergie took over the reign.
You had Dwight Yorke and Andrew Cole occuppying the 2 in 4 4 2 with Ryan Giggs and Beckham occupying both flanks, Paul Scholes occupied the number 10 with Roy Keane sitting deep in a four-man midfield and was the DM.
Nigeria also played the 4 4 2 formation with Okocha occupying the number role while Oliseh occupied the number 4 role, in the field of play formation doesnt appear the way the draw it on paper or on television the kick of games.

U also can't teach me what I know. There is no true number 10 in a 4-4-2 set up. So u expect 2 strikers , 1 number 10 and just one central midfielder? Dude that team will leak a lot of goals. You need at least 2 players in the middle of the park. 1 holding/ defensive midfielder and one box to box/cm.

Why do u think Manchester united play kagawa on the left or Mata on the right when they play 4-4-2 while carrick and cleverly play CM? Kagawa and Mata are natural number 10 but the can't play CM that is why cleverly or fellaini or fletcher partners carrick in CM, carrick being the holding midfielder. Same thing with united of old, Roy Keane plays defensive midfield while scholes plays box to box. Whenever scholes plays no 10, there must be 2 CM behind him and that is when butt/veron plays along side Keane, that formation is no longer 4-4-2 but 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3 or 4-2-1-2-1. U need to have 2 players in the central midfield. Same thing with Chelsea when they switch to 4-4-2 while looking for goals. They take Oscar off who is the no 10 and bring on ba to partner etoo or Torres in attack. With willian and schurrle on the flanks and 2 CM in matic and lampard/Ramirez.

ThiefOfHearts: You have no idea what you're talking about

seeing one self as being equal doesnt mean one should dismiss racist situations, but if you like continue deluding yourselves

johnny just comes stay yarning dust.

LWKMD. Jonny just come u say? You are seeing racist situation because u have it in ur head. But if u have a free mind like me u would see clearly there is no racist situation.

ThiefOfHearts: who is this defensive oyibo on NL? "illusion from black people" what are you? were alaso

I watched the game and I didnt see Boateng til the end. Not once did the commentators mention him either

Defensive oyinbo u say? I have learned that the white man and I are equal so I never look down on myself. Try it for uself u will see its very nice. I don't see things negatively the way u see it.

If u did not see or hear boateng then u definitely need to have ur eyes and ears checked.

chucky234: The only match Oscar played the number 10 role was third place match against Holland, he played the right wing with Hulk occupying the left wing in a 4 4 2 formation.

4-4-2 is a classic formation that does not require a number 10. It requires 2 CM and true wingers. The wingers are required to cross the ball to the 2 strikers. This is a formation that Manchester united has used well in the past with the likes of David Beckham, Ryan giggs, Valencia, Nani supplying the strikers, it doesn't require a number 10. This is one of the main reason kagawa found it difficult to play well at united because they are accustomed to a 4-4-2 formation.

Brazil on the other hand has no true wingers, hulk is a right sided forward, not a winger, neither is Oscar. So no way they would play a 4-4-2. It has been 4-2-1-3 with Gustavo and paulinho in midfield, Oscar as number 10, hulk right forward and neymar left forward.

chucky234: Oscar only played as number 10 against Holland with Luiz Gustavo playing the defensive midfield role, Gustavo is a DM and not CM, at Bayern he sit just in front of the back while Bastian occupied the number role.
Gustavo lost his place in the Bayern team to Javier Martinez who is also a DM, Martinez later lost his place to Toni Kroos.
Have you ever seen Gustavo (both for club and country) in opponent's 18 yard box scoring goals? The answer is NO because he task is to help the defence and keep possession, Paulihno in the other hand has scored many goals going forward from his number 10 role.
Coutihno only played from the left when Gerard and Sturridge were out injured while Joe Allen slotted in as number 10, when Gerard and Sturridge returned from injury Coutihno was moved back to midfield with Suarez on the left wing, Sterling on the right wing and Sturridge in the middle in a transitional 4 3 3 formation. Liverpool had Gerard, Henderson and Coutinho in a three man midfield with Gerard playing a deeper role while Jordan Henderson did all the running and tackles, Coutinho pull the strings just behind the front three of Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling.

Can u show me in my comment where I said Luis Gustavo is a CM? And paulinho has never played no 10 for Brazil. Paulinho does for Brazil what Henderson does for Liverpool, he is box to box midfielder. If u think paulinho plays 10 for Brazil then where does Oscar play?