₦airaland Forum

4 things I don't expect Rohr to do today.

1. Starting Iwobi. I expect Rohr to be wise enough to drop alex to the bench to protect and keep him safe from any injury. That Guy almost pulled an harmstring in our last match. It'll be unwise of him to start him.

2. Starting Ndidi. Ndidi should be introduce later in the second half. 20mins of football will be okay.

3. Playing 4 at the back. Perfection of the 3-5-2 formation should be his priority now as we're only 10days to our opening match.

4. Starting Ighalo. I'm expecting Rohr to Re-assess Simmy once again as Ighalo has shown that he can not be trusted to deliver goals...

ChrisKels:
I concur wholeheartedly, Iwobi is exactly what we need behind our strikers and the strikers should be players who play for the team and not one smelly rat urine that thinks he's bigger than the team.


Left for me I would drop that vicmo boy

left to me I'll play him as a LWB. He is more solid than Idowu

Iwobi's development as a footballer is outstanding.

He is becoming deadly at the edge of the box with each passing game. Prior to our goal, after he laid that pass from 30-35yards out, I wasn't expecting him to be the one to take that rebound. His positional play and awareness in the final third is second to non.

How I wish Rohr can try him as an AMF behind a front 2 comprising of Iheanacho and any other forward(Ighalo, Simmy, Victor or Musa) with Mikel playing deep alongside Mikel. His understanding with Nacho will be telepathic!

TheSuperNerd:
His reaction and jump celebration to his goal was very very passionate indeed.

I saw real Eagles fire in his celebrations... That "we are champs and don't give up" attitude... That moment was it... The moment the stuff of a player ready to lead the way shone through...

JUST IMAGINE 7 of our starting 11 having that kind of believe and passion.

I still find it hard to understand why we took our feet off the gas after scoring. The English were in total disarray immediately we scored. I was expecting us to capitalise on that... But our players went on to sleep and left Iwobi all alone to run the show...

The psychologist needs to help the entire team BELIEVE again... They need to see themselves again as champions. They need to understand that the whole of Africa is looking up to them. Beating Zambia, Cameroon and Algeria enroute to qualification no be beans... They must not FAIL.

safarigirl:
some of the technical staff are also versatile, kini?

If the players are versatile, I am sure one of the technical staff or more, would be a good enough psychologist

hahahaha... Even baba Rohr too is versatile. In short, our team is a team of versatility!

safarigirl:
of all our players, Ogu is the only one who always seems extra grateful, extra passionate, it's like this World Cup means more to him than anyone else

That is why I was surprised when some people were suggesting he gets dropped, like anyone who knows John Ogu and half his story, would NEVER say such a player should be dropped. He has made the most sacrifices to be in this team, he FIGHTS for his opportunities, he is the kind of man you need on a pitch, some people keep harping on about pace, what is pace without passion? Pace without fight, pace that is only for self-aggrandizement.


John Ogu earned his position and he and Balogun, are the two most passionate guys on that team, in my opinion.

Add Iwobi.

Icon4s:
The England defeat must have humbled them.

No twitting, no Instagraming, no facebooking etc.

Time for close camping and full concentration.

Hahaha

the perfect word. But Baba you tough o o o. Couldn't stop laughing.

A part of me keep telling me that our recent performances are blessing in disguise.

I see the whole team sitting up. I see them coming back stronger. I see us making it out of that group without calculator and finally I see us surpassing our previous outings.

Naughtytboy:
keep shot, ur Fucking black stars couldn't qualify

IRAWO won ti wokun ni.

KK555:
Yes Iwobi is creative. He is confident with the ball on his feet, he moves well, positions well, does not indulge in unnecessary dribbling runs, he passes the ball and is also good in 1-2 passes when he wants to navigate some tight and intricate obstacles set by opponents, if people like Ighalo makes the right move when he has the ball, he passes.

Yesterday his pass to Ighalo was surreal, watch it again, it flew over the English defenders in a horizontal projectile manner and when Ighalo hit the bar, he was quick to react. He also dribbled well, sent a diagonal ground pass in the path of on rushing Idowu but awkward Joel got in his way and spoilt what would probably have resulted in a goal or at least a well taken shot would have unsettled the English keeper.

Creativity is not flicking the ball over peoples head needlessly, or nutmegs when your mates are better positioned waiting for you to pass to them. Those are beautiful nonsense.

If you have another understanding of creativity, pls share it.

can't believe this came from you? Never knew you were this loaded.

Thumbs up. You've been criticizing constructively too.

komekn:
Sitting in Anfield watching Brazil give Croatia a football lesson. Up close and personal.

From what I can see WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR from Croatia they have no pace.

Our weapon of destruction will be PACE.

Getting in behind them will not be problematic.

We just have to playing game with focus pace skill and good finishing

I hope Rohr and his boys are watching

mikron:
Moses was a shadow of himself ystdy. Dude played below par. Little wonder the team struggled up front ystdy against the 3 lions. With a more mobile and attacking Moses, and a midfield of steel in mikel, ndidi, etebo and john ogu, we should be good to go.

EXACTLY. We just need the midfield to cliq.

Icon79:
I actually think that this is a very good formation, bro. If (and that's a big IF) Rohr can get VicMo to play with the same discipline he plays at Chelsea; this would definitely be the most effective formation we can try starting with our last friendly match. I mean, in Ebuehi, we already have a solid wingback ... the only thing missing is the LWB.

But the other big question is, can VicMo play LWB?


O pari

YES! MOSES CAN PLAY IT. The problem is getting him to play and to put on a tactical discipline just the way he does it for Chelsea.

Bolowolowo:
Suppose Naija lost to Norway like the way Iceland did to them . This thread don explode

I think we should not read so much into these friendlies most especially when it's between a WORLDCUP BOUND TEAMS AND THOSE THAT DIDN'T QUALIFIED. The unqualified ones are fighting for FIFA rankings and have nothing to loose if their players pick up injuries. So it's not on a level ground.

I think it's hi-time Rohr sits V. Moses down and let him understand the Mission of the team in Russia. Moses needs to see and put the team first ahead of any personal glory.

If Moses can assure him(ROHR) and the team to be discipline in any role given to him, I don't see a reason why he can't be played as a WB most especially a LWB(though have been against this all this while). Going forward, we need to have all hands on deck.

We can then Line-up this way. Still 3-5-2

UZOHO

EKONG(RCB)-BALOGUN(CB)-OMUERO(LCB)

EBUEHI(RWB)-NDIDI(DMF)-IWOBI(AMF)-MIKEL(CMF)-MOSES(LWB)

IHEANACHO(CF)-IGHALO(CF).

With this kind of set up, we should be able to stand our own ground against anyside. IDOWU can always deputise for both WBs.

Cc: TheGoodJoe, Kog45, Zuchyblinks, Mickael02, Joebie, Mujtahida, ChrisKels, Tbaba1234, Icon79, Mikron etc...

Mujtahida:
The boy needs space to flourish. Being a starter is not the key thing. Whether he starts or not does not matter as much as deploying him where he can be effective.

Iwobi is undebatebly our most outstanding outfield player today. His ball reading ability has improved. I saw him pull some long and lobbed defence splitting balls. One of which led to a goal.

Iwobi should be given a free role in the team. He needs to be free to roam about to dictate play..

Iceland 2-3 Norway.

Any update from camp on Iwobi.?

edi287:
But Ebuehi is too soft na. Na achebo him be. Him resemble person way breeze go blow. Shehu is strong and understands the African game.
Shehu is our best rb. It doesn't matter if Ebuehi played well. He didn't play well against Serbia. Injury is not an excuse.
Rohr will RIGHTLY start Shehu in the WC because Ebuehi is weak. Na technical ability we go chop??

SARCASM!

joseph1013:
I remember vividly when tbaba was saying all these. Tyrone is a well-schooled footballer.

you are absolutely right... Then it was arguement on who was better between Ebuehi and one guy like that Ehizubie(hope I got the spelling right). It's been long o. If I'm not mistaken, it should be before this thread was birthed.

klexycole:
He seemed to me that he appeared rude to our players. Might be the reason for the "booing."

can someone remind me the highlight of his game? He won't be happy about his performance.

EEGA:
It's not booting.

It's just that Rohr didn't select his best XI.

If Ebuehi,Etebo and Ogu started the game we would have controlled the midfield.

So,it was a problem of choice of players not booting.

If you say booting, how come three introduced players didn't take time to boot or gel?

i think it goes beyond team selection. It's an innate thing that needs to be corrected with our national teams and this attitude toward play in the early part of any match(first 20-30minutes) has span for over a decade and all our opponents knows this.

Mujtahida:
Didn't you see how Iwobi was rousing after he scored. This team can do it if they believe. Iwobi had believe, it showed in his efforts, in his movements, he played with urgency and determination. He stood out of the pack. Imagine if all of them rose up to the challenge as he did.

During the WCQ the team used to boot for 20 minutes now it's 45 minutes. Too bad.

this calls for quick action and be treated with matter of urgency.

bengine:
I remembered when Mujtahida and I were crucified here when we were defending Ebuehi in that game against Serbia...sir Kog45 was ready to finish the guy then..I hope you guys have seen it now..

When I see talent, I know right away..Ebuehi would give us a better chance with that RB position..

dude shutdown the english left attack. He pocketed young in the second half.

zuchyblink:
Big teams Will struggle against us if we play 3 at the back and 2 wing backs

hmmm... Food for thought.

Here is my proposition. 3-5-2

Uzoho

Ekong-Balogun-Omuero

Ebuehi-Ndidi-Iwobi-Mikel Idowu

Ighalo(Kelechi, Simmy, Musa)-V. Moses

*Iwobi plays behind the top 2. While Ndidi plays the DMF, Mikel the CMF(he can easily inter change with Iwobi Depending on the flow of the game.

Zanas:
After what happened today, maybe we should remove the super for now and just call the team eagles

typical of a Nigerian fan.

zuchyblink:
I have been singing like a bird that if it is not 3 at the back, forget it. We played well in the second half because of the change to 3 at the back.

Rohr should start seeing reason to this.

By Now, Rohr should know his first 11.

Mujtahida:
What is killing our coach is not this so called average team bullshyte some trogs are crying up and down here. The coach is damn too conservative. He only tries new things when the situation is gone awry. He did it against Argentina, he was saved. Today again same thing.

That players that played first half were basically chosen in accordance with the-you never - change - a - winning-team mantra. Winning team bawo?. I say the times have changed. This is not the age for mantras. This is not the age for formulas. You have to think and rethink your strategy.

Even with these set of players if the coach is a bit radical we can hurt teams and win games.

you don talk am finish. Na d same thing I wan spill before.

sontoly:
I repeat Onazi and em brother joel should be dropped they offered nothing , and rohr shouldnt try playing ogu in the left side of three man defence again, it worked today doesnt mean it will work tomorrow, ogu is not a defender he is not that fast.

Ogu , ndidi and mikel is the perfect midfield combo, if rohr dont see this am sorry he is fool then. Iwobi is better in midfield than wings. when playing 3-5-2 iheanacho n iwobi shld play together just like against argies.

But when playing 4-3-3 vic mosses- simy/igalo - musa should play preferable simy so he can connect with the crosses cos ighalo was useless with the crosses sent to him today, though most were wayward.

onazi n joel shld go abeg.

As much as I hate to admit it. Joel has been poor. He is not the same Joel I watch play for Torino. I won't be suprised if he is dropped.

AIG07:
you get the gist jare. I'LL be suprised if Rohr starts Onazi ahead of this guy. Ogu brings some kind of calmness to the midfield and his passes are spot on... I hope Ndidi comes back strong and get back in shape for our match against Czech

these were the posts I made 3 days ago on our midfield generally. That some folks here came for my head. Hope una don see am for yourself.

Sir, I understand that Onazi is a core member of this team.
But he is loosing his touch and fast becoming the shadow of his old self.
Dude looks overweight and does not look like someone ready to lay claim to his starting shirt anytime soon.
So for now. I'll rather/prefer to pair Ogu and Ndidi as our double pivot In a 4-2-3-1 formation than having Onazi and Ndidi's partnership.

and finally, Ebuehi has finally silenced all nay sayers. Dude is shoulder above Shehu. Clean Tackles, well timed Interceptions, excellent positioning, good crossing and finally pace. It doesn't take so much time to Identify a gem.

Who saw that pass