₦airaland Forum

Their WNT have very few FB players. Contrast that with their MNT, which has a higher percentage of FB players.

isan:
24 home based

I'm sorry, but she was piss poor on the day.
Very low energy and just walking around the pitch for the most part.
Can't believe I wasted my time this evening watching the match.

Schemerkhiz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3aIJcwv3Aw

Superfalcon Midfielder Amanda Mbadi in action for her Clubside Atasehir Belediyesispor, Turkey.

I think it would make sense to set up how we did against Canada, with Ohale - Ebi - Plumptre as the back 3 in a 3-5-2 formation. If Randy decides to go with a back 4, then it will be Alozie - Ohale - Ebi - Plumptre. Nicole Payne can play on either wing as a left or right back (since they decided to dump Opeyemi Sunday for the clubless Okeke).

Deltamani:
AkinDS how do you see our defence lining up?

With Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale, Ashleigh Plumptre and Akudo Ogbonna at Centre Back?

Michelle Alozie, Opeyemi Sunday at RB
Glory Ogbonna, Nicole Payne at LB

We need to start ignoring people like Izilien, who have nothing tangible to contribute but only want to stay relevant.
He should be asked that when he had the talent at his disposal back then, what did he do with it?
Mr. "we will beat you silly" Izilien should please go and sit down and enjoy his retirement. His comments aren't relevant in today's football.

Schemerkhiz:
One of the reasons I didn't raise voice, Let the Coach take whosoever he thinks fit his team...

This strikes me as fishy…
Last day of season and the person in second place (a polka) Al of a sudden, scores 4 goals to move up top scorer list
Not only that, her name is listed first, even though alphabetically, Macleans name should be first.

Schemerkhiz:
It's a tie in Poland McLeans Chinonyerem and Kopinska scored 20goals..

Kopinska scored 4 today both finished with 20

In as much as I think Oparanozie has outlived her value to the SF (my opinion), don't think Monday Gift is ready to bench her.
She still has a lot to learn. Her current game is hit or miss, when it comes to her field performance.
Sometimes she shows up, sometimes she is MIA. No consistency.
That simply is not good enough at the international level.

isan:
[b]Monday will bench oparanozie [/b]and maclean its simple

That was discussed previously...
The issue is she was largely anonymous for the greater part of the game, in spite of both goals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Gf2xYOfw4

isan:
Did you forget her 2 goals in the Aisha cup ?

But wasn't she a part of the extended camp in Austria? Wasn't she a part of the Aisha Buhari Invitational team?
The experience she gained there didn't translate and thus, the coaches looked elsewhere.
AWCON is about those who can add value to the team because of the mission at hand, not an avenue to 'gain experience'.

lovewins:
You'll notice I didn't advocate for her making the final team list. The ladies I believe will camp for 2 weeks after which the final 28 team roster will be selected. There's no harm in ensuring she gains some experience camping with better established players even if she doesn't make the team. It's a win-win situation in my opinion

Schemerkhiz, I will add to Isan's comments and state that one key attribute that Rash has which exceeds all the people you listed, including Oshoala is her technical skills. Her ball handling is second to none on the team.

isan:
Ajibade will bench KANU , ordega and okoronkwo , she's faster and more clinical than any of the 3 players ....Ajibade scored 10 league goals this season despite not playing regularly how many league goals did KANU , ordega and okorokwo scored this season ? Despite they play in a lesser league

To the writer...
NO, she has not demonstrated that she is any better than those chosen by Waldrum.
Selections were based on previous international performances, not flash in the pan domestic performances.
She still has a ways to get to international level.

Schemerkhiz:
COPIED

Monday Gift is currently the hottest NWFL striker but unfortunately, she was not named by Randy Waldrum in the provisional AWCON squad.

Super Falcons and Bayelsa Queens' Monday Gift has scored 6 goals at the Super Six in Benin

She scored the winner against Rivers Angels, hatrick against Ratels, and two goals against Edo Queens

Dear NFF and Randy Waldrum, can she still be added to the list? She deserves the opportunity to fight for a place in the squad

So, let me get this straight...
Ajibade, who has successfully benched the Brazilian striker Ludmila and the South African Kgatlana, hasn't proven she is a better striker than midfielder? . Ajibade, who is currently Atletico Madrid's top scorer this season is, according to you, is not a better forward performer than being a midfielder?
Really I bet Oscar Ferandez, the Athletico Madrid coach will disagree with you.

Schemerkhiz:
Thank you, Ajibade performs better as a Midfielder than as a forward. If I were to be her, I will stick to the Midfield position as a Central or Attacking Midfielder she does well there... She isn't bad as a forward either but as a Midfielder she looks exceptional..

Kanu has been a better forward than Ajibade right from U17 till date!!

This is the one that is a head scratcher for me. Was not impressed with her performance in the 2018 WWC. Both she and Ajibade were the newbies brought on by Dennerby at the time - Ajibade went on to become a superstar and Anam, well,...

She just struck me as too sluggish upfront and really didn't utilize her frame to gain a physical advantage against defenders. I hope she has really improve, cause there are several players who are miles ahead of her - Esther being one of them.

Ihezuo - the less said the better.

Schemerkhiz:
Anam Imo is currently inform and Play every position upfront but currently playing no.9 for Pitea IF, Sweden

I did.
She came on as a sub and scored two goals, one was a tap in.
Again, really didn't see anything from her that made me go 'Wow'!

Now, compare her impact on the game vs. Ikechukwu's impact against SA. Her strike was fantastic and her overall drive and passion when she came on was superb! For me, that was a 'Wow' moment.

Didn't see that in Gift Monday.

isan:
Go and watch Nigeria vs Mali in Aisha cup then you will see monday has a lot of potentials right now i will say she will be a better option than oparanozie , ihezuo and macleans

Like I had previously mentioned to you, Okobi seems to be on her way out of the WNT. She really hasn't lit up the stage recently and her bench-warming the last 2 yrs at her club didn't help much.

I think our midfield looks solid (with or without Okobi). Agree with you about the opportunity to rotate some of the players and give the older players like Rita and possibly Halimat (considering she is coming off a major injury) some respite. This should enable Ucheibe and Otu to log some valuable minutes in the midfield. The AMs could then be Rash and Toni - this is a good thing.
Not sure about Mbadi - she looked completely lost against Canada and I don't think she is mature for that critical MF role yet. Flicks and tricks are nice BUT you need to know when to do them, not when it leads to the detriment of the team (against Canada - lost the ball when trying to dribble in the SF third of the field, leading to a goal against us). She has some growing up to do.

I really had hoped Esther would be a part of the squad. Her injury is a bummer. Wish her speedy recovery, as she is an important part of the SF. Will miss her physical play and strength up front.
No comments on Oparanozie, Anam Imo and Ihezuo's invites - I strongly believe they are past their 'sell by' dates and have nothing tangible to offer this team.
Noticed Rinsola Babajide was not part of the England Squad for the Women's Euros. Does this mean her switch is being processed? Guessing...

Lastly, really shocked at why Patty and Zogg were left out, considering they have been playing consistently in the Women's Bundesliga. Nigerian coaches are part of the problem with our underdeveloped national teams - too many incompetent people feeling they are important, when they shouldn't even be anywhere near our teams.

Schemerkhiz:
My Little Observation on Coach Randy Waldrum Midfield Set up!!



The key area of the pitch is the centre. If you can control the centre of the pitch this will most likely result in you controlling the game.

Without Ngozi Okobi in the provisional list for the AWCON it's now very certain that either Rasheedat Ajibade or Tony Payne will take up the Midfield role.
If you observe very well you would notice that Coach Randy Waldrum love's playing a Double Pivot Midfield. E.g during the Turkish Cup last year, against the Ivorians during the AWCON qualifying game, against Canada and so on

A double pivot is the deployment of two defensive midfielders, who may be used to protect the defence in a deep block, to prevent the opposition space for counter-attacks, to keep possession by overloading in the first phase, the reasons are almost endless, the double pivot can be very useful at times.

The standard duties of a double pivot are as follows; to operate in the space between the defence and the attacking midfielders, to initiate attacks by distributing the ball in an intelligent fashion, to be key players in circulation and to prevent dangerous opposition attacks, being disciplined in positioning and limiting space in between the lines.

The double pivot is often labelled as a clear indicator of a team that plays ‘boring’ football.

Without Okobi in mind how will the Superfalcons line up in Midfield??

Let's take the friendly game against Canada as a case Study.. In Midfield Coach Randy Waldrum Played, Rita Chikwelu, Christy Ucheibe and Rasheedat Ajibade. With Chikwelu been the Pivot Midfielder who barely moves out of Position, and Christy Ucheibe doing the pressing Box-to-Box Midfielder leaving room for Ajibade to enjoy herself in the attacking Midfield position.. With the availability of Halimatu Ayinde who have started having game time at Eskilstuna United there's surely going to be a swap in the Midfield.

However, if and when Chikwelu plays in a double pivot, her poor defensive attributes can be masked by a more defensive minded midfielder; the other midfield player can do most of Chikwelu’ defensive duties allowing Chikwelu to focus on dictating play from deep positions without the worry of losing the ball and putting her team under pressure, as she has a supporting midfielder alongside her which is exactly what happened against the Canadian side in the last Friendly game.

If i where to be Coach Randy Waldrum there wouldn't be any need for me to start up Rita Chikwelu when I already have Regina Otu, Halimatu Ayinde and Amanda Mbadi in the Squad, he should also note that playing a double pivotal Midfield requires a lot of running which Rita Chikwelu can not offer as age is no longer on her side.


Who to pay in Midfield??

With the way things are going, it shows that Halimatu Ayinde is fit already. It would be okay to move Christy Ucheibe to Chikwelu Position as the main defensive midfielder, giving Halimatu Ayinde the space to operate in her usual Box-to-Box way just like Christy Ucheibe did against Canada with Ajibade enjoying herself behind the Strikers.. Even bench there's also Regina Otu who can as well do the Job of Ucheibe or Ayinde.

Chikwelu as we all know is a veteran in the game, a 5 to 10 minutes appearance in a game won't be a bad idea giving the fact that we have more younger, hungrier and faster midfielders in the team..

This is solely my opinion and I understand some here may disagree, which is okay...
I haven't seen anything from Gift Monday that has made me raise an eyebrow and say that she is one to look out for in the future.
For me, her performance in the African Women's CL was a let down - I really expected a whole lot more, considering all the hype.
I am therefore not the least surprised she didn't make the cut.

Schemerkhiz:
Let's me be sharing with you guys....

By the way can Monday Gift bench any of the invited forward playing same position with her?

Oh boy...you shouldn't have gone there
You will definitely draw the ire of Schemerkhiz now

isan:
Monday is definitely better than that lady from poland

Are you saying Toni is not quick?
She's got a good set of wheels on her and would hold her own against any of the other three you mentioned.

Schemerkhiz:
You say??

Michelle Alozie, Patricia George and Nicole Payne are far far quicker and skillful than Glory Ogbonna [b]except Tony Payne [/b]who's a more experience and excellent Player...

The First two can start with Nicole Payne substituting for either of them when the need arises..

Its unfortunate (and strange) that you found my response funny - strange because you seem to be the only one laughing.

Your statement was an allegation and we asked that your provide evidence (a Nigerian example) but you opted to provide the alleged case of Odoi and Ghana (relevance) and that it 'MIGHT' happen in Nigeria (speculation).
In the case of Ghana, didn't Kevin Prince Boateng (a much higher profile than Odoi) try and pull the same stunt? Wasn't he promptly dropped and has never played another international since then? Hasn't Ghana taken in others who want to play for Ghana, like Djiku, Wollacott, Dennis Odoi, Andy Yiadom, Kwasi Wriedt, and others. Obviously, your so called 'bad' message didn't resonate with these guys, did it?

Finally, Nigeria was not 'lacking' in defense, hence the Plumptre 'acquisition'? The likes of Chidinma Okeke (Madrid CFF), Faith Michael, Tosin Demehin, Akudo Ogbonna, Patricia George, alongside Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale were considered the main defense players. Zogg was a late add on to the list, by way of the US Summer Series. So, regarding Plumptre, considering the options listed, a case could be made that we went with increasing the available talent pool with a quality player and not if she was a 'Want' or a 'Need'.
Regarding your comments on Zogg and especially Ariyo, the issue with Ariyo's club (# of games playable in the Iberdola) is a non-issue, as she has played several games for Betis 'B'. Unfortunately, both ladies are currently recovering from injury.

Your last comment buttresses my initial statement regarding Nigeria having a robust intake mechanism, which we currently lack.

mostob:
I really find this response funny. My statement was not an allegation so I don't know why you were asking for evidence. Read it again please...

The only case where I think we should reach out is if we need (not want) the player because some of them do make ridiculous demands at times.

The fact that those we have added so far or still pursuing so far didn't make demands doesn't mean it doesn't happen...a recent example is Odoi who said he will only pledge allegiance to Ghana if they qualify for world cup. Talking about bad message...now, if the coach decided to drop those who partake in the qualifiers for the FBs in the tournament list, how do you think those who get dropped will feel? That is the problem of making demands.
And the fact that it has never happened in Nigeria doesn't mean it will never happen in future especially when we start getting desperate by going after every eligible FBs. We were lacking in defence and now we have Plumptre and Zogg (club issue)...that is the difference between wants and needs.

As for your last paragraph, Ariyo has an issue with her club and I'm sure you will even raise an eye brow if she is called up...Fatuga has not being called up either due to the pecking order or the coach doesn't fancy her..if the latter is the case, that means we want her not that we need her. So I don't know how the two scenarios have any effect on Plumptre's switch sir.

And going after the FBs is not the only solution, we need structure..good coaches too. We need to make our team attractive.

I suspected that your counterpoints were based on your misunderstanding of the point I was trying to make. I will try to be more explicit:

1. HB Players - I have no objection to HB players, in as long as they can compete with the FB. At the senior level, evidence has shown that, at least, over the past decade, FBs have proven to be better exposed and better attuned to the demands of the global game - tactically and strategically.
Is it the role of the Nigeria WNT coach to bring the HB players up to international standards? Or is it the job of the players club coaches to do that? The late Stephen Keshi once expressed his frustrations about having to teach HB players in his national camp how to 'trap ball' - code for understanding the fundamentals of the game. Do we as a nation have the time to be 'grooming' players at our WNT (who should otherwise have been groomed at the club level)? Or does it make more sense to pick players who have been groomed already and have expressed a tacit interest in playing for Nigeria? Afterall, these FB kids have at least 3.4% of Nigerian blood running through them (statistically). They ARE Nigerian and the responsible thing to do as a nation is to explore that 'tacit' interest (there is no embarrassment or shame in doing so). The shame is in not doing anything and letting an opportunity pass by.

2. Quality - While there are HBs worthy of a look in, they are only a handful. We have seen the likes of Tosin Demehin not measuring up to standard. Another example is Stella Mbadi, who seemed like the part with her flicks and tricks, but was a complete bust against Canada. The sad truth is most of our HB players are simply not up to par. Considering the very small number of games they play each season, as well as the lack of basic fundamentals, facilities and growth opportunities (outside of going abroad), one can safely surmise that FB players are more of a safer bet than HB players. That is the sad truth!

3. Wants & Needs - 'Needs and wants' are pretty irrelevant when you have a player willing to be a part of your program and the coach feels they are a good match. Such player(s), at a minimum, will make your team stronger (you have more quality players to pull from - i.e. more squad depth) OR it may make your team better (your new player increases the quality of your team). Either way, it is a win-win for the team. There cannot be too many strikers or midfielders or defenders or goalkeepers in your player 'pool'. Any decent coach should be intelligent enough to leverage the overall talent on their team - i.e. Rash Ajibade plays as a striker with Athletico Madrid, but plays as a CM in the Naija WNT. Toni Payne plays as a winger for Seville FC but has played as CM, LWB and LB in the Naija WNT. What matters is how you can harness the resource talent at your disposal and use it to your advantage. Any decent coach in the world can do that.
My point being: it will be quite silly to pass on a player 'A', because player 'A' is a striker and the team already has 8 available strikers at its disposal, so you believe an additional striker is not 'needed'.

Hope this helps you in better understanding my stance.

mostob:
I understand your point and I agree especially the bolded. But AkinDs want us to go all out for these FBs which I what I'm countering against. He even said if we approach them and we lose, it's ok. That doesn't make sense.
Like you stated above, we need to have an integrating plan which is why I told AkinDs that part of this plan involves differentiating between wants and needs and again he said it make no sense.
Take our U17 for example, those girls have not concede a goal since the start of the qualifier (correct me if I'm wrong) which is a testament that there are quality players among them. Nothing bad in picking from home and at the same time picking outside but our oga want us to go all out which doesn't make sense.

I'll repeat the question I asked you: "Which female footballer that we were in pursuit of, either actively or tacitly, made demands to Nigeria? Bad message to who or for who ?"
As the forumer Lovewins also stated earlier, you have yet to provide proof or evidence to back up your claims about FB demands. You simply cannot continue to cast aspirations about FBs that are patently false and completely baseless. It is not only wrong, but dangerous to fans and especially the FBs themselves (because people start having wrong impressions about them).

In answering your other question below which I highlighted - my response is absolutely!
FACT: Roosa Ariyo (Real Betis, SPA) was invited to the 2019 US summer series and has not been invited since then. Adekite Fatuga Dada (Watford, ENG) was invited to the training camp in Austria and has not been invited since. That has NOT deterred Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester FC, ENG) from coming aboard the SF team. Also understand that Rinsola Babajide (Real Betis, SPA) might be in the process of joining the SF. So you point (or concern) is completely lacking in merit.

mostob:
Listen....some of these foreign borns do make demands sometimes ranging from a place in WC squad whether they are better than the rest or not, some may ask for chance to boycott any match as they like...
Think deeply, the issue of want and need should make sense to you... it's not about squad depth, if you invite one of the FBs and you drop them to bench or stop inviting them after a match, do you think others will want to pledge allegiance to you?
The fact that other WNTs are going for FBs doesn't mean it will work for us also..

Which female footballer that we were in pursuit of, either actively or tacitly, made demands to Nigeria? Bad message to who or for who?
We Nigerians really need to get off our high horse and realize we are NOT all that. If we were the US or France or Germany, then we can make such a statement. We haven't won anything worthy of note outside the continent and we are acting like we are world champions. Jeez! I beg!

Your statement about needs and wants makes no sense to me. Squad building is about DEPTH, period. You build your squad based on players who would add value to your team, so that the level of competitiveness is either same or better than what you have. With the state of affairs in Nigeria, we are in no position to be picking and choosing. I would rather have a big pool of decent players to choose from (what Waldrum is doing now), as opposed to a small pool of decent players and a boat load of very average ones (which is where Nigeria was, pre-Waldrum).
That is the common trait with the top 10 WNTs in the world - massive squad depth! Nigeria is not anywhere close to having that and NO, we cannot wait around for some HB player to reach the apex of their learning curve before we start to compete. The time is NOW and we need to get any young kid out there who has a drop of Naija blood in them, or else, we will be left behind, even on the continent.

mostob:
No...I disagree. If we make an effort and we lose, it will send a bad message.
I think it should be the other way round, anyone who is interested in playing for us should reach out to us.
The only case where I think we should reach out is if we need (not want) the player because some of them do make ridiculous demands at times.

I see that as a testimony to Toni's immense versatility, which makes her indispensable to the team.
She will thrive in a 3-5-2 formation, where she can play as a wingback. She can also excel as a wide forward (a role she currently plays at Seville F.C.)

Schemerkhiz:
E nor easy at all...

But the truth is that Wether Foreign Born or Home Based they all deserve equal opportunity to play for Nigeria, but right now we mainly work with the Home grown at the U17 level and like 2 to 3% of the Foreign born too at the U20 level...

Right now am confused as to where Coach Randy Waldrum would play Tony Payne in the Superfalcon starting 11...

He already tried her out in over multiple positions for a Year..

Wing Back, Left Back, Attacking Midfield and as a forward..

At least, make an effort to get them and if you lose, you lose.
Not that you fold your arms and do nothing, and expect to get the best talent out there - which is the stance Nigeria has adopted all these years and we have paid dearly for it.

mostob:
Ok....fact is we can't call everybody. We will get some and at the same time, lose some. A lot of Nigeria eligible players are littered abroad but when you consider the upcoming talents currently I'm our U20 and U17, wetin man go do

This kid is a superb player. Watched her play this past weekend and she just reminded me of a more refined and skillful Ordega in her U20 days.
Another one that slipped thru the cracks for Naija.

Schemerkhiz:
This Gamero too is another super talented striker good with both feets, Half Nigeria and Half Spanish but US don ready grab her....

I remember one player who recently debuted for Netherland at the Senior level, she was open to play for 3 top counties Spain, US and Netherland but she went with the Dutch..

Like I stated, it will be a tall order for her to play for Nigeria - I believe that ship has already sailed.
Naija lacks a well defined intake process and that has been the problem for us.

We have too many myopic and uninformed administrators who simply are incapable of seeing the big picture.
With the potential talent we have globally, there is absolutely NO reason why we shouldn't be a top 10 country and be able to make it to the Semi finals of the WWC. Absolutely NO reason.
But then again, its Naija with all its failures and inability to forward think.

Schemerkhiz:
Anyway Sha... My Big eyes are on all of them, Following them up bumper to bumper especially Vicky Lopez, Spain must not get her at the Senior level, She's still very much interested in playing for the Superfalcons, Her father too wanted her to play for Nigeria in honor of her late mother but Spain don ready grab her like dis...

Eseosa Aigbogun - Swiss player who we chose to ignore even when she had aspirations to play for Naija by way of her dad.
So many kids we could have had.

Similar will happen to the young Vicki girl in Spain. There is absolutely no way Spain will let her go. No way, considering she is a precocious talent who could become world class.
Naija dropped the ball here - big time!

mostob:
I bet that girl in the second picture is also Nigerian. .Aigbogun.

Its a pathway to Canadian citizenship. She qualified by donning the Canadian colors.
Those Canadians are very serious and don't horse around.

Schemerkhiz:
But this Simi case is just intriguing to me, Both Parents are Nigerian, born here in Nigeria before moving to the US, I wonder how she became a Canadian without living there for the stipulated number of years.. Not even US but Canada.... hahaha ��

We need to do more than just keeping tabs - we need to be more intentional about getting them to play for Nigeria.
It is obvious that just relying on the HB will not get us anywhere and we will soon be left behind, not only in the world, but in Africa itself. Look at the composition of North African countries, if you don't believe this.
We really need to be serious about what are intentions are as a footballing nation, or else, we will soon become a nonentity.

Schemerkhiz:
So many Nigeria talent spread all over the World... There's one also who Plays Right Back for the Netherland U20 Women's team, hopefully i will be monitoring all of them during the various tournament proper..


Posted them here so you all we also keep tabs with them...


Nina Iyobosa Nijstad .... DUTCH U20

Canada is very actively poaching players globally. The Canadian FA and the Canadian govt. are working together on this.
It is not by happenstance that their MNT qualified for the world cup and doing so decisively, winning their CONCACAF group ahead of powerhouses Mexico and the US.
They are slowly but steadily amassing a powerhouse of quality players for their WNT (evidenced by winning the Olympics) and will very soon start to compete for the WWC.

Schemerkhiz:
I don't understand why Simi Awujo has recently represented Canada W U20. The very Canadian Soccer Association says she was born and raised in USA to Nigerian parents (born in Nigeria). If she and all of their parents and grandparents were not born in Canada and she has not lived in Canada the required time, she is not eligible to play for Canada.

I beg, no vex.
Na work wey no gree me chance.

Schemerkhiz:
Hahaha.... na post i post ooo


Anyways where have you been all this while?
I miss your contributions, do well to help us keep this group busy and updated...

Please forget this lady - she underwhelms everytime she plays for Nigeria.
That's why she fell out of Waldrum's plans after she put up a very poor display during the Turkish invitational.
Time to focus on more exciting prospects.

Schemerkhiz:
Meizhuo Hakka FC Striker Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo

Disappointing performance.
Was not impressed with Alexis Putellas (current WFY). Expected a whole lot more - her decision making sometimes was disappointing.
Anyhow, on to the finals.

Schemerkhiz:
First loss for Barca after 48games played... Asisat Oshoala had to do some more defending unlike the usual attacking..