₦airaland Forum

eterisan:
it all boils down to fifa rating, work permit issues... Bla Bla Bla... Probably Im going too far... But trust fifa standard they rule the game.... If we africans want to be the best... We beat the best... Besides we leave our country to go play there and you say they are not the best.... It's harder for black players because we are not the best... It's simple.... No inferiority complex here... Else why don't African teams run over Europeans nd Americans at the world cup.... We should change the way we think.... Accept where we are in the grand scheme of things and strive to grow from there....

@first bold, how many Nigeria players were signed by top teams in Europe in 1995 when Nigeria was ranked 5th by FIFA and despite the 94 performance?
There are more to this things than the eyes can see.

I don agree with you On the second bold-A resilent mindset.

LZAA:
if pep manages a non league side he will struggle
same for mourinho and klopp
top players make coaching easy
as per nationality wow i didn't know that drogba,salah,weah and eto'o were europeans or south american
and as for sumtin gud coming out of nigeria then kanu,amuneke,okocha and oliseh were bad then?

understanding the context in which the message is been relayed will help. You can go over it again.

eterisan:
lol.... Quality is quality irrespective of nationality... Ask George weah or toure, Drogba, eto to name but a few.... If you don't measure yourself against international standard how do you develop.... We go meet for world cup na.... It is not rocket science why s. America and Europe dominate the world cup.... They are the best in terms of football.... Take it or leave it. . That is the reality.... To be the best you have to beat the best.... For ndidi to be rated a top quality dm he has to perform better than he's American and European counterparts... O pari

wait... Question for you.
How do you know a Quality player?

LZAA:
joel obi has really improved at torino
sone aluko shld get a look in

JOEL has always been there. Injury has always been his problem.

Happy he is getting over it. Thanks to Torino F.C. They're doing a great job in managing his injury woes

tbaba1234:
Ola Aina with an assist today

good one there!

I have learnt to stop comparing our players to their foreign counterparts. Simply because they're not on the same WAVELENGHT and so I can never judge them by the same FREQUENCY.

The difference is clear and obvious. The difference is NATIONALITY and NATIONALITY ALONE.

We're always trying to compare Nigeria players with those players from S.America, Europe etc when we all know that the FIELD OF PLAY IS NEVER FAIR AND EVEN.

A certain coach came on board and gave a relatively unknown player from S.America a call and the next was history.

If Ndidi was to be a European or a S.American, no one will be here discussing this. The Main Stream media would have pass their verdict on his quality.

To those who never believe in the quality of our players, I say put other top DMs(the Kroos, the Casemiros, etc) in leicester and let's see if they'll churn out the same numbers Ndidi is producing week in week out.

I have come to appreciate the work our boys are putting everyweek in Europe to keep the our flag flying.

I know someday, verysoon, we'll silent every doubters. Those who never believe any good thing can come out of NIGERIA.

I rest my case

Glad to hear that Ebuehi and Joel Obi will be making the friendlies.

Kudos man. You're doing a great job here.

Ademola lookman: another Alexander Pato?

*Debut wonder players*

ChrisKels:
What's Iheanacho's best position on the pitch again?

Honestly I saw a glimpse of Iheanacho of 2013 this evening. Threading good passes in the midfield, assisting and scoring.

Some people won't like his

Nacho is getting is touch(the touch that brought him to limelight) back. I 've always said this: All he needed was time and patience. That was why I wasn't in support of another move.

So much of his game was left undevelop and left to regress during his later days at city. The major focus then was on his finishing ability...

He is beginning to rediscover his old self but SLOWLY. So I won't want us to place too much expectation on him now.

One thing is certain, he'll get back to his best-
the very best we've always known him for. But we(his club, his coach, and the fans) must exercise PATIENCE AND GIVE HIM TIME.

Sir Chriskel and Elyte89 don de form bad ass partnership for their comedy show.

Thumbs up to Sir Gbosaa for taking it lightly.

Couldn't help myself but laughed out.

tbaba1234:
Otigba could have played in the Olympics... When we were managing useless defenders like Ndifreke and playing Sincere Seth, a right back at center back.. The boy was passionate about Nigeria..

you're absolutely right. We were busy making use of make shift players at the Olympics when we have players like Otigba who could have partnered Troost then at heart of the defence had it been Sia1 extended a hand gesture to him and that could have changed the whole story just like that of Troost...

Loogan:
Yeah he did wait man! I'm sad he didn't get to play for Nigeria because he looked like he wanted it so bad, but I'm also happy the competition in the defence is so fierce a player of his caliber dosent get a look in, show we have real quality.

The young man's attitude towards us earns him my respect.

Imagine, If a player like Alaba had waited half the time of this young man, we would have been singing a different song today.

I know Otigba's decision to switch allegiance was a tough one he had to make for the sake of his career-which isn't a bad one.

olapluto:
Nigeria in Group D with Germany....

NIGERIA and group D Sha...

But this group take style tough. A bit tricky.

Kenneth Otigba's change of alliance is welcome.

I think he needs to be commended. Dude waited so long for a call-up from Nigeria that'll never come.

I salute his courage and endurance and I'm wishing him the best with the Hungarian National team.

Icon79:
Omo, have you seen them play together before? So how did you reach this conclusions


O pari

One question @ Opari Master.

If both players play in the system I stated above, who among them will sit deep to cover the defence?

Is it Ndidi who is a ball fighter or an offensive Joel who is a box to box player?

Note: I am not writing their combo off as you're insinuating, I am only trying to forsee what could happen-just like anyother analyst will do(I might be wrong or right as my assumptions are base on what have seen-the players style of play.

My first statement tells u about my admiration for the combo and the last statement suggest possible measures that can make the combo work.

Icon79:
Omo, have you seen them play together before? So how did you reach this conclusions


O pari

One question @ Opari Master.

If both players play in the system I stated above, who among them will sit deep to cover the defence?

Is it Ndidi who is a ball fighter or an offensive Joel who is a box to box player?

Note: I am not writing their combo off as you're insinuating, I am only trying to forsee what could happen-just like anyother analyst will do(I might be wrong or right as my assumptions are base on what have seen-the players style of play.

My first statement tells u about my admiration for the combo and the last statement suggest possible measures that can make the combo work.

Truidstar:
Mikel, Joel and ndidi midfield combo.

This has always been my dream Midfield combo.

It's appealing but only on PAPER.

Playing both Ndidi and Joel as DM and CM respectively in a 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 formation will lead to gaps been created in our midfield...

But I expect team tactic(s) and strategy to fix this.

Danielnino00:
Egypt not Tunisia Sir..


But honestly, what some people here don't understand is that Ajayi callup was more of a formality.. He made the CAF XI(not on merit self) and is in good form in Egypt. If Rohr didn't call him up,the Nigerian media might start criticizing him..
One thing is for sued though,if Ajayi doesn't impress well enough in camp,he mayn't even make d 30 man list... Chidi Nwakali was invited last year and some people said he was d solution to our overdependence on Mikel.. where is Chidi now??

Rohr already has the list of at least 80% of d players going to Russia.. save for the GK role,he might just b looking for backups for d other roles..

thanks, I've corrected it.

Let's be patient. The friendlies are not far away. I only hope he gets to play.

Daejoyoung:
8 goals and 9 assists in 23 games in Al Ahly Egypt l guess.
Let's wait until the friendlies though, l like lghalo, but is lghalo a consistent finisher? lghalo is good but he is the only true no 9 in the team, and he is not the most effective under pressure. [b]Ajayi could be a good substitute for him[b], if Ajayi proves himself in the friendlies.

Ighalo may not be consistent when it comes to goal scoring... But he is all head and body above Ajayi.

The bolded agrees with my earlier post where I stated that Ajayi's performance can only get him the 3rd spot in d CF and not to displace Ighalo as some are already foreseeing...

But as you say, let's wait till after the friendlies.

Ajayi wey never kick one ball for SEs na him some people think go displace Ighalo.

It's either he grabs the only slot for the 3rd CF(that is, if rohr is considering taking 3 CFs) or wait till post world cup.

8 Goals in 30 games in Egypt(Moroof comes to mind) is good but not enough to convince someone like me...

Abusule007:
Rohr invites Mikel, Onazi, Moses, 25 others for Poland, Serbia friendlies



Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has listed captain Mikel John Obi, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and playmaker Victor Moses in his 28 –man squad to battle Poland’s fellow Eagles and Serbia in pre-FIFA World Cup friendly matches this month.




Home –based goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who stood between the pipes for the very crucial last four World Cup qualifying games (home-and-away to Cameroon, home to Zambia and away to Algeria), leads the goalkeeping section and will be joined by new boy Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi.



Former junior international Kenneth Omeruo is back among the defenders, as Joel Obi among the midfielders, while Eagles’ B stalwarts, defender Stephen Eze and forward Gabriel Okechukwu, are also handed opportunities.



Russia –based Brian Idowu, who scored against Argentina on his debut in a friendly in Krasnodar in November last year, and Al Ahly of Egypt’s Junior Ajayi, who earned an Olympic bronze in Brazil in 2016, are also called.



Three –time African champions Nigeria will trade tackles with the Bialo-Czerwoni (White and Red) or Eagles, as the Senior National Team of Poland is known, at the 43,000 –capacity Stadium Wroclaw on Friday, 23rd March 2018.



Four days later, the Eagles will take to the pitch against the Senior National Team of Serbia at The Hive, London - home ground of Barnet FC and London Bees.



These are the first two in a list of six friendly encounters planned for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of the 21st FIFA World Cup finals in the Russian Federation this summer.



THE FULL LIST



Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)



Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)



Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy)



Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United)

God bless Rohr

no sentiment what so ever. Perform and get called up.

tbaba1234:
What is Nigeria's strongest position?.

Goalkeeper

Defence

Midfield

Attack

I vote Defence.

Midfield

lexyman:
i will not be surprised if Moses plays the Chelsea position in the Super Eagles

why?

ChrisKels:
I actually thought I was alone on this. I don't see why that guy shouldn't be playing in the he championship. He is so poor. I would pick Omeruo ahead of him seriously

that guy can't trap ball one time. How chelsea spend that much on him despite having better players baffles me.

Football is all about OPPORTUNITY. Rudiger is an example. I don't think Omuero plays bad than this guy. He is Chelsea's version of Akpeyi.

Moses was solid defencely today. Shuts down city's attack from the left on countless times.

But was average going forward. He had a chance of turning the game around. But his decision let him down.

I don't know if this is a blessing in disguise or the other way round.

*QUESTION FOR ALL.*

If we are to line-up with a 3-man Defence, which of the following formation will you pick and how will you line-up your team?
Note: all things been equal. All our best regulars makes the team. No fantacies pls!

3-4-3
3-5-2
3-6-1

If I'm to make selection of players going to the world cup, I'll pick the best 23 men along this:
3-GOALKEEPERS.
7-DEFENDERS.
6-MIDFIELDERS.
7-ATTACKERS.

As much as we all love to have some of our favorite players make the world cup list, the truth of the matter is: IT WON'T HAPPEN. Some will be picked while others dropped.

No matter how long the fans keep suggesting names to the coaching crew, the squad number can't and won't exceed the conventional 23 men.

What then is expected of us is to support the team and the coaching staffs irrespective of who is picked for the competition.

I was shocked when I saw a list of names compiled by a new moniker. He is right in his own way. He sees those players as the best. The final say lies with the coach.

Truidstar:
Was watching Poland games during their world cup qualifiers early this morning. Be it Shehu or Ebuehi, whoever has work to do. Kamil of Poland loves to cut inside and cross to Lewandoski. They are very good at set pieces. For some reason they got a lot of penalties in their favor during the qualifiers. Poland also has a good winger on the right Lucasz. They revert to long balls when midfield is choked. Lewandoski is gonna be a handful.

thanks for this.

This friendly will be a good test for our team. It will help expose some of our weaknesses and give us time and opportunity to fix it proper before the mundial.

I'll love to see how our team will fair/respond once again to a better side that plays long balls. The Zambia second leg game gave us a taste of longballs and we didn't do well...

tbaba1234:
Rohr visits Musa

Musa on Rohr's visit:

"Words cannot express the gratitude I am feeling for what you did. I appreciate your generosity.
What did I ever do to deserve you? You are amazing!A great teacher inspires and you have inspired me to excel in the game of football. I stumbled and failed but you taught me to never give up and keep on trying. I just want to say THANK.. THANK FOR THE VISIT”

Rohr is truly a blessing to our football.

His Man Management skill is top notch. He is one the reasons the players are committed to the course.

I hope our local coachesare learning...