₦airaland Forum

Mujtahida:
I really do wish that Echiejile is better than he currently is. That defence needs an experienced hand to guide the them.

Bro experience with no quality naa useless experience..even at echiejilile's peak, how many quality crosses did he make..he can't really pass well under pressure..taking echiejiele to the WC is just taking a liability there..I have paid special attention to him and watched his game intrinsically, he is a true liability..

And all the experience campaigners should tell us truly what echie would offer this team!!! Its so unfortunate we have no natural lb other than him..

elyte89:
But personally ,I like his style of play most especially when deployed as a RB,he sabi play d role well

Efe was a defensive RB when he use to play that position, this limits attacking play cos you can't really use him as an outlet to open any defence up..too be honest he was just ok, nothing special the way he played it..he just helped the defense be more compact..

Shehu/Ebuehi is what a real RB should be doing.

Joebie:
Every forumite on this thread should watch this video again and again, and they would understand how this game of football have evolved.. and how we don't just do a two way comparison of players as if that's all the story.
some players are better suited for a specific game plan -- simple.

Coaches must select players with dynamism in mind as well.

God bless kingphillip for posting this video..isn't this what we have been saying Regarding dynamism..do u really think Chelsea would play this way against smaller teams!!

At a world cup game that is a tournament, there is nothing wrong bringing a player in to suit your tactics..if u truly have a quality bench, this should not be a problem or affect the balance if the team..

Mujtahida:
Would you field Shehu in a 5-3-2 formation just because you cannot change a winning team?

The point is simple: your first eleven remains SUBSTANTIALLY the same. One or two players just for dynamism doesn't change it if you have a good bench

This is all I'm trying to point out..one or two really good player with a slightly diff skill set shouldn't change the team..

Icon4s:
Club players selection is different from national team players selection.

For clubs you typically have more options and alternatives which are rarely so in the national team set up.

Besides, what is so different about the way Chelsea set up today? Same same team naa.

I would give you a classic example sir, would you be using 100% of the same personnel if we played our 1st 2 games with a 4-2-3-1 and we switch to a 3-5-2 for the Argentinean game, this is part of the dynamism and unpredictability we have been talking about..

Keep your opponents guessing what your approach would be..if they know all we are good at is 4-2-3-1, they would have planned well before game to neutralize this..

Icon4s:
Club players selection is different from national team players selection.

For clubs you typically have more options and alternatives which are rarely so in the national team set up.

Besides, what is so different about the way Chelsea set up today? Same same team naa.

I explained earlier there is 90% first team and there is room for one or 2 player to add dynamism to the team's play..I wasn't suggesting even 50% change to the team..a team needs to have 1or2 player come in during the tournament to make them unpredictable.that's what I have been saying..

Regarding Chelsea, I think ppl are getting it confused the fact that Chelsea deployed the same 3-4-3 formation..the tactics was totally different.Chelsea was relying on pure counter attacking today Nd maximizing the individual dribbling skills of its forward players, that's why in this setup, Morata or giroud wouldn't work..

Isn't Morata a first team player also? Thou his form has dropped this past couple of weeks..or how would you explain dropping bakayako for fabregas if its not pure tactics..the former doesn't just have the passing range to make their tactics work..

Icon4s:
The problem is Chelsea cannot afford another night of bus parking at Nou Camp. That must come out to play. And that will lead to their massacre.

The fact is Chelsea is not gonna beat Barcelona to possession game and if they open spaces up, this Barcelona would kill you..this Barcelona team is very space efficient. They would have to know when to come out to play..its all in the tactics sir, Chelsea can play the way they played today and still nick one or 2 goals at camp nou..

forgiveness:
Na still Chelsea first team Conte use dis night. Nothing special

The coach used a false 9 bro, no natural striker inn the team..I know he used this formation on some of his premiership games when morata got injured..

You can't change the fact that its still a totally different tactics..did u wonder why the coach used fabregas instead of bakayako that has been playing most of chelsea game..its all part of the tactics to suit what Chelsea wanted to do tonight..

Mujtahida:

Look at how Conte adopted the false 9. That's what we saying. Dynamic approach based on your assessment of your opponent's game. That's modern football.

I hope Sir Kog45 watched that game to see what we are talking abt..in a tournament, there is nothing like 100% first team..this day you set up your team aaccording to the opposition..

tbaba1234:
Look at how Messi has been kept quiet..

Pure tactics bro..if not for that mistake, there was no way Barcelona getting a goal today..

I think Chelsea can still go to camp nou and get a result..but it's much harder now with that away goal..

Kog45:
Now you are talking.

If you want to base it on similar style,fine one can be dropped and absorbs a player with different style that would give the team balance,meaning Ndidi-Ogu would be our starting combo irrespective of opponent.

Sir Kog45 I understand you talking from your vast experience and I understand your opinion is formed on how team should be selected..the game has just evolved so much that we need to evolve with it to stay competitive

Mujtahida:
They limited England's game.

Perfect example...the kind of form Gerard and lampatd had then, you would expect England to beat players from the moon..I think that lack of dynamism affected England so much during the peak of those players

Mujtahida:
Imagine if a team presses him on the ball and neutralises him we go dey shout say Mikel no play well. No! Science has only been applied on him. But if we are dynamic enough we find another creative outlet and surprise the opponent. Or another strategy that lessens Mikel's role.

You get am bro...if I could notice this without data, now imagine what our opposition already knows...

Kog45:
Pls try and read my comment very well then you will understand my point.

Pls go and do your research on our Atlanta 96 team of Olishe - Okocha combo,it took a card before Lawal came into the picture,pairing Okocha in the semi final

In the final Olishe came back and paired Okocha, meaning Okocha - Olishe was the first team combo irrespective of the opponent formation.

Throughout Atlanta 96 our combo was Olishe-Okocha except semi final when Olishe was ruled out.

Sir who else on that team had the unique quality of Oliseh and okocha on the bench...they would always be first choice in that midfield just like mikel would always play in that midfield regardless of the opposition and tactics we deploy..in fact the way Ndidi is going, it seems he is unstoppable which leaves one spot left in the midfield..that is what we have been talking about with the dynamism we are suggesting in the midfield..

Mujtahida:
Field the same players, use the same tactics for every opponent and get roasted like hot suya. Go watch a clip on YouTube tagged 'numbers game' to understand how football has changed. They study every player to the minutest detail. Based on that book I shared here it was said that Germany broke down Ronaldo's game and gave Boateng to study. The guy watched the clip so much that he noticed some peculiarities about Ronaldo when corners are being played.

Shebi Croatia has deployed a scout to watch us. Was it merely down to great tactics that we resoundingly beat Cameroun last year?Remember Rohr had been tracking Cameroun for a long time at least from the Afcon 2017.

My point is a good team must have some measure dynamism if it's to survive the kind of ruthless and rigorous analysis that has become the hallmark of modern football.

Thanks bro for your wonderful post..I would sure check it out on YouTube..if you field the same 11, you would get roasted so fast..

Even Mikel that is currently our general and the only guy that dictates the pace of our game for our team is being watched already and I won't be surprised if our opponents are already planning to neutralize him..Even me as a Nigerian fan, I know Mikel doesn't like to be pressed when on the ball..if I can notice this, don't u think our opponents already know this..

Only Dynamism and unpredictability can make us survive in this day and age of intensive data collection.. everybody dey collect data, if it was 25years ago, ppl won't really know how high ndidis's tackle rate is..but thanks to data, we can see the kind of monster he is developing into..

AIG07:
na so my bro.

Imagine a bench that has:
Idowu/Aina
Balogun/Awaziem
Ebuehi
Joel
Etebo
Musa
Moses Simon
Kelechi...

That kind of bench is rich in it's own way/class and you know you're covered compare to what we paraded in Brazil...

Yes oo..truly competitive bench..we just need to pray for luck..I have seen games where the team plays well and there is no luck..they chop like 4bars in a game..

Kog45:
My man there is nothing like having best combination for each opponent,your first eleven must be able to withstand any opponent,so no need to distort team just based on opposition,it's not done that way though sometimes it might be necessary,just like joker.

I disagree sir..In a world cup that is a tournament, there is always best combination to neutralize your opposition..and that's also part of the unpredictability in a team..

If your team is really good, you can only have probably 90% sure bankers for first 11..one or two players can be injected for tactical reasons..this is how u know a good team..

That is the reason why I'm really hopeful for this team because of the competition in the team

Mujtahida:
Yeah, for certain games it would work especially one where we want to apply a choke hold to the opposition's midfield.

You get it bro..having 2 engines like that would make it difficult for teams that play in the middle..

Too be honest I haven't watched Croatia recently but I suspect they are a team that would like to play from the middle looking at their top talents..

MetalJigsaw:
True talk. And I equally doubt if Rohr would ever move Mikel away from the AM role. He's simply the best AM in the team at the moment, with experience on is side. Kelechi and Iwobi aren't ripe for such responsibility yet. They have very little ability to hold the ball.

You are 100% correct, iwobi and nacho not fully matured enough to play that amf..that's why I said a team that just wants to sit back and not really attack...

The only thing that nacho and iwobi would excel better at in the amf role than mikel would be their movements and finishing ability..but we all know that is not all that is required for that and role..

Kog45:
....meaning Onazi is a problem and Ogu is a solution to Ndidi level of performance on the field but national team is not a place where one player determine the functionality of other player.

They are professionals and no matter what they must be solid irrespective of whom they are paired with,so the issue of Onazi - Ndidi combo is becoming over flog and we need to take it cool on these guys especially Onazi.

Ndidi had a slow start in eagles and Onazi is not the issue,no need to blame any player for others,even in Leicester we are seeing greatly improved Ndidi,let's see what would come out of upcoming friendlies,then Rohr would decide on his team but for now it's Ndidi - Onazi combo.

Its true they are professionals but there is team chemistry also..some players just play better with some set of players around them..sometimes its difficult to point out why but some combinations always make the team better and balanced..

Mujtahida:
Being professional does not mean a player can play just about everywhere or that a player doesn't have a position that brings out his best.

I disagree too that Ndidi has had a slow start. He flourishes when he is allowed to rove. And incidentally that's the same position Onazi plays. How can Ndidi be the tackling machines if he sits to cover the defence?

I deliberately raised the Ndidi/Onazi debate cos the thread was threadbare as if we are on holiday. We are just robbing minds.

I don't think anyone's blaming Onazi. It's clear to see that that combination doesn't gell. Recall in the friendly against Senegal. Ndidi came alive when Onazi was injured and Ogu came in. Again in the friendly against Argentina he really posted a superb play. In fact I used to be like this Ndidi is holding back his Leicester game when he plays for the Eagles but in that game I saw how good he is. I am not by this blaming Onazi or saying he should make way for Ndidi. It's about having the best combination for each opponent and it's been opined here that for some games Ndidi-Onazi combination might be the best.

This is not a for Ndidi or against Onazi debate. It's a debate about our best midfield combination. To look at it from that angle of blaming Onazi is to give an entirely different cast to our discussion.

You just nailed it bro..no one is blaming any player..we are all just robbing minds about our best midfield combo

MetalJigsaw:
True talk. At least we'd have one of our best DMs on the bench if Rohr decides to withdraw Onazi to the bench.

The question is has Rohr actually acknowledged the incompatibility between both players?

Trust me bro, if we can see this, the coach definitely sees more than us..they have more info than we would ever have..

I think he would go for the best after playing a lot of European opposition during the friendlies..if any of those guys go to the bench, we know say naa quality we get for bench..

Kog45:
....meaning Onazi is a problem and Ogu is a solution to Ndidi level of performance on the field but national team is not a place where one player determine the functionality of other player.

They are professionals and no matter what they must be solid irrespective of whom they are paired with,so the issue of Onazi - Ndidi combo is becoming over flog and we need to take it cool on these guys especially Onazi.

Ndidi had a slow start in eagles and Onazi is not the issue,no need to blame any player for others,even in Leicester we are seeing greatly improved Ndidi,let's see what would come out of upcoming friendlies,then Rohr would decide on his team but for now it's Ndidi - Onazi combo.

My brother, I'm not blaming Onazi..I really love Onazi's work rate...too be honest I would rather us have this kind of headache..this issue truly shows how competitive our national team is getting..

My brother, 2 years ago, would we ever argue who fits in the midfield..we already know say naa mikel-Onazi..
Now we have headache and I rejoice we have this..

In fact I'm sure the coach is having more headache than us..

AIG07:
*smiles*
Mikel don de enjoy the romance with him attackers. You go even see am for im face. The guy go de use one kind style de smile de ball most especially when he has Iwobi and Nacho in his front.

Baba Ibeji too like sweet things. He go para if dem deploy am back to DMF.

I know man..you can see it in his play, he truly enjoys that position..the only thing I can say, he never had a manager throughout his club career that would trust him with that position..what surprises me the most is the fact that Mikel can finish now.

Mujtahida:
Over the five friendlies and the camping period Rohr should see what works.

Onazi impedes Ndidi or rather perhaps when Onazi plays Ndidi has to play in a position that limits him.

In that friendly against Argentina I really appreciated the guy's game. We must look for a way to maximise this tackling machine we've got.

Yea that is true, too be honest, I don't want the coach to set up a formation that would limit Ndidi..the guys work rate could unbalance any opposition..popping up in every areas that need personnel..

In fact against some opposition that might even just sit deep and not really attack through the centre, I would suggest a double pivot of Mikel and Ndidi...mikel sits deep and dictates the pace of the game, Ndidi roams as usual and Iwobi or Iheanacho does his thing has an amf or ss...but I don't think Odogwu would wanna play dmf..he has been enjoying that amf so much, its hard to take it from him..

MetalJigsaw:
I would like Rohr to try them both once again to attain a conclusive result.

Its really surprising seeing both players that boast of enormous tackling abilities, work rate, energy and stamina struggle to produce a compact partnership in the Midfield.

Have you ever wondered probably one just need to take that defensive positional responsibility instead of roaming...looking at Ogu's last 2 games, he seems to have a better passing range than Onazi, i think that's what make the team look like it has better chemistry and balance with the ogu-Ndidi combination...

There might be games the Onazi-Ndidi might work better depending on the opposition...well we are glad to at least have this kind of headache unlike the last world cup where after the first 11, no real quality sub!!

Icon4s:
I don't see him as one for the WC either, but I think he still deserves a place in the squad in one of our friendlies or the 35 man list.

Talking about Sadiq Umar benching Ajayi. That was quite some time ago. How has Sadiq's game progressed since then?

After all Manu Garba dropped Etebor and Ajayi from his 2015 U20 squad. Today where are the likes of Bulbwa, Mathew, Awoniyi and Sokari who made the team. Compare Sokari with Etebor who are like a like for like to each other

Several factors influence players selection. So because Sadiq benched Ajayi at Rio and Sadiq is not being considered yet doesn't make Ajayi not good enough for a consideration.

Sadiq that I watched live against PSG last year in Detroit is better than Ajayi, the only problem I have with Sadiq is not reading the game and playing with his brain instead of using his body..i know he could improve on this aspect with proper coaching and I'm sure that's one of the reasons that kept him on the bench at torino..

He is a really talented and skillful lad, a tall guy like that but yet prefers the ball to his leg..i hope he sorts out some of his perceived weaknesses, he could really be a good asset to any team with his height..

Kog45:
Sir,apart from Deji and Maduka who are willing, hope you know how these FBs behaves when it comes to switch allegiance,so no need waste our times in begging players for U 20 when we have pool of talents at home.

If they are ready for us no issue but i believe U17 or any age group teams should be for home grown especially 80% home grown and 20% for FB cos focusing more of our attention on FBS would be suicide to our grassroots development.

Super eagles foreign based and now Fly eagles foreign based then what remains for our young ones at home trying to have breakthrough through underage tourney better to make it HG 80% FB 20%.

Modified* pls why Germany based guys centre of attraction.

Isn't this a sentiment that won't ensure us get the best talent..why don't you say good scouting and selecting the best regardless of where you are from.. By limiting to 20%FB, you are already setting up a quota system..

The fact is most of this foreign born have a good platform and can be nurtured easily at this foreign clubs..by getting them to commit early with a U20 tournament, Nigeria senior national team can only benefit from it..

I'm not against grassroots players, if there are that good, they should be able to displace any foreign born since most FB are not full time professionals yet at 18yrs..its this kind of thinking that made us loose Alaba!! Today we can't even boost of an above average truly left-footed left back on our national team.

I just dont like the idea of setting a quota system for the U20 team..

kennysville:
Have you seen Iheanacho's penalty kicks? No play O! That is like iheanachos one on one with any goalie.... Dude go finish any goalie wella! I am not hyping but to me, he is better than VicMo in PK

Actually his coach at man city then pellegrini confirmed it...he mentioned his spot kick prowess when there was a tussle for pk btw him and sterling, zabaleta had to take the ball from sterling and give it to nacho..

Pellegrini said there was a way he plays his pk that makes it difficult for goalies to guess right..

tbaba1234:
Oliseh's behavior has caught up with him again. 'Suspended" for non-footballl reasons.

Classic Oliseh!!!

Icon79:
Good observation. In fact, they have started discussing the subject here in the US.


O pari

Football without heading won't work, its like taking one of your tires out and expect a nice comfortable ride..

I hope they don't come to that in the states cos i don't think fifa would adopt that..

They might as well tell every player to wear helmet because we are playing soccer..lol...in any sport, there would always be risk...

TheGoodJoe:

What about Gundogan and Zinchenko. What of Delph? I tire for this Blistering pace issue.

Abi on current form, won't we qualify debruyne has one of the 10 best players in the world currently..