₦airaland Forum

I'm surprised at how some posters are actually vexed that the Edo State Governor took such a proactive approach to calm frayed nerves. An action that will most probably save the lives and properties of thousands of Southerners living in the North.

I've seen so many times in the past how these things go down in the past no to see how wise the Governor was in taking the action he did.

That's not to say he shouldn't be held accountable if he didn't do enough security wise to prevent the deaths of Uromi indigenes at the hands of kidnappers in the past.

Deborah that was killed in Sokoto the Governor then didn't do anything.

Ibime:
The people the mob killed, are they Fulani or Hausa?

A lot of disgusting bigots on this section busting an artery over their hatred for Fulani and cant even make simple distinction between the people they hate and others

Cameroon don't have the same level of players but for arguments sake let's say we're even at par with them yet they beat Libya 3-1 same Libya we scrapped through with a scrappy 1-0 win.

Mujtahida:
Beautiful post. I agree with all you said especially the bolded. But the essential point is that Peseiro was pragmatic to adopt a strategy that got us as far as the finals but like you pointed out, he too became stuck to the system and the personnel.

A coach must be flexible. Chelle should know when to tweak his formation and at this point I don't believe we have to play the same first eleven in every match. The guys who played against Rwanda were tired. We should have maybe started with Iwobi and Onyedika in midfield.

Do you know that Chelle invited only two wing forwards?

Point noted.

If Eric is to succeed he needs to avoid the mistakes of his predecessors of leaving yourself lightly manned in different departments of his squad invites i.e. not inviting enough defenders or right profile of player for midfield or attack.

Like the attack why call up 4 tall target men in Victor, Tolu, Boniface (to some extent), and Sadiq when you freshen things up with guys who rely on movement and pace or even 18-yard box specialists.

Mujtahida:
Beautiful post. I agree with all you said especially the bolded. But the essential point is that Peseiro was pragmatic to adopt a strategy that got us as far as the finals but like you pointed out, he too became stuck to the system and the personnel.

A coach must be flexible. Chelle should know when to tweak his formation and at this point I don't believe we have to play the same first eleven in every match. The guys who played against Rwanda were tired. We should have maybe started with Iwobi and Onyedika in midfield.

Do you know that Chelle invited only two wing forwards?

I hear what you say it's about the flexibility for me. Had we converted all our numerous chances against Equitorial Guinea last AFCON and beat them with a wide scoreline maybe JP would have stuck with that particular formation.

Yes player profile matters but I think against the lesser opposition we should be dominating with overwhelming attacking threat that by the time you hammer them 3-4 goals it wouldn't matter if they get the odd goal. Except for the madness that was the Sierra Leone game under Rohr

Nigeria against African opponents hardly concede more than 1-2 goals which to me is more of a attack than defense issue.

The Zimbabwe game yes the away team had their chances but we at least had about 5-6 chances on target. If we had a conversion rate of even just 50% it wouldn't have mattered if Zimbabwe got the odd goal.

Moniter0:
there's no formation that doesn't have it's own flaw, but as of now, the kind of defense we parade now needs that kind of formation to survive. If not for JP acknowledging and adapting to the formation at AFCON in the first place then maybe the SE won't have made it past the group stage. And consequently, you won't be talking about the final.

When we have the likes of Ramos and Rudiger then we can talk about playing without a formation that provides a more defensive cover. We were also lucky against the Zimbabweans as they also had some very clear cut chances that if were converted would have probably resulted to the SE getting worse than a draw in the game due to that defense.

D'Law I you're allowing the fact that we got to the finals of last year's AFCON cloud your judgment as to the efficacy and suitability of that formation to the SE general play.

For all the it's defensive functionality the 3-5-2 formation has inherent flaws which our opponents exploited.

Rather than adopting a dogmatic approach to how the team should be set up I always prefer being flexible enough to choose a formation that will gift you the best chance of beating an opponent depending on their style and make up.

Using Chelle's example the approach adopted against Zimbabwe was ok but for whatever reason we were not clinical enough. Now the mistake Eric made not reading the situation to say you know what 1 goal will be fine let me lock up and maintain this lead.

Flip it to JP against CIV part 2 being ultra defensive facing a team with quality players to unlock your defensive was always going to be trouble. Iwobi himself said it that the Ivorians were clever to come up with a strategy that gave them extra numbers in midfield meaning Alex and Onyeka were busy curtailing the Ivorians cutting off our forwards. JP should have been flexible enough to alter the set up but he was too many scared to change something that worked most of the tournament.

Mujtahida:
Thank God you are seeing the pragmatism of Peseiro. Even at that our play was lively, strong and vibrant. It wasn't boring at all. Our match with Cameroun was high Octane, Angola nko, hot hot. The match against South Africa was ballistic. Filled with tension. We played well.


Instead of building on that, we dismantled everything. This Chelle style of attack, attack, attack. Hmmmm like somebody said most coaches are deceived by our attack ooo. See how they struggled against minnows. A coach has to be pragmatic.

Bad performances don't always remain static. If you judge a team's future performance strictly on past awful results then we might as well pack it in and not support any team because I'm sure every fan has a story to tell.

Goke7:
If you can’t win at home what the hell are you going to the word cup to do?

Forget banter SA are no longer the team you could just wake up and rollover.

Mentally they are tough and are desperate to get one over us after so many painful defeats.

Remember they beat a solid Moroccan side in the last AFCON so they are far from being softies.

I just feel once we get our player selection and tactics we will still be slightly better than them but it will definitely be a battle.

yinkeys:
I never thought it would come to a day when Nigeria would be afraid of SA when it’s sports related
Poor administration & corruption lingers everywhere in Nigeria
Last time we beat them in 90 minutes was 2019
They have improved ever since
The fear of SA is réal these days

Egbon dem still cry that year oo especially for Garba Lawal who wasn't flashy but still delivered.

Too much agenda when it comes to making what should be straight forward logical arguments.

Kog45:
That thought get as ebi o my brother....having Alhassan and Sadiq na the issue but nobody cried having Tijani and Garba Lawal then and I remember only Teslim Fatusi made Japan 93 team from SW but who care, result be Koko.

Learned guys are losing their sanities just cuz of tribalism, reading meaning to things in tribal lines.

Well,I want Onyeka and Uche Christanus in the next list.

Chelle sef why give call ups to players you obviously don't trust.

All our coaches annoyingly do this invite players from the get go you don't trust and have no intention of using. That if your first choice was injured you will rather field the assistant coach rather than them.

Samueltemi337:
Uche and Onyeka should be starting in that midfield
The same Papa Daniel and Aribo he didn't give a single minute
So why call them up
If you don't trust them to play

Inspire to aspire to Harry Macguire

Goke7:
😂 Eagles matter don turn you to motivational speaker!

Ndidi and Chuks should be given seatbelt for bench duties until further notice. Osayi no be am. Need to find a reliable backup for Aina.

daveP:
Do you see Chelle using the Peseiro approach with a little tweak vs SA? Massive defending and counter attack. For what it's worth, 3 player have earned their place on the bench and it is up to Chelle to find replacements aspa before September comes.

Chuks
Ndidi
Osayi


He should stop wasting that 9 slot abeg and get more midfielders in the fray. If anything happens to Iwobi, e no go good o. But play that guy advanced and scream down his neck to get back his shooting at goal boots. Guy wan dey do like low budget Odegaard when it comes to shooting. Very annoying.

My guy hope always springs eternal.

Nigeria was far off the log to qualify for 2002, 2010 WC yet we inexplicably made it. Doesn't guarantee it will still be the case now but we can only hope (that word again )

I learned lessons from CIV in last year's AFCON out for the count in the group stages yet rode their luck to win the whole thing.

Goke7:
All of Una still hoping to qualify for the World Cup Una get mind o, I hope to be like you when I grow up. With the way Una players no really care you still believe in them. You should be studied 😂

I agree with the spirit of your post D'Law but like I commented earlier the coach playing Aina at LB looked seemingly justified with his assist for Victor's goal.

So maybe it might be the pain of the result making us say he's not 'tactically sharp.

Funny thing is if he had used his subs exactly how he did against Rwanda we would have gotten a result in the Zimbabwe game.

Mujtahida:
I generally maintain a position of giving every new coach a chance. You see that playing Aina at LB, keeping Bruno on the bench and Osayi as the RB? the error showed itself in the first game against Rwanda when Yusuf, as in Yusuf came in for Osayi.

At that point he should have realized the error of using the two RBs at the same time.

Then shockingly he repeated it in the match against Zimbabwe. The entire right hand side of our game was flat. Zimbabwe had a free day running up and down that track. No be there dem take score us?

I doubt his tactical nous oo. Doesn't mean I will not give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, it's Finidi who finished us, not Chelle

If you're up in your feels that's your problem not mine.

Simon gets his fair due of criticism and praise from me but I won't act like a wicked step mother and blame him for all the ills bedeviling the team when there's lots of blame to go round.

Iwobi is not a sacred cow that thou shalt not criticize. I'm just saying he's done enough to earn some grace. Ekong messed up yesterday and Nwabali to some little extent but people are not camping on their social media pages cussing them out because of their heroics last AFCON why can't that same level of respect be given to Iwobi who's even the highest scoring midfielder in the SE currently.

Let me repeat no one is begging for your validation so rest abeg.

Blueelf:
Yes, I dragged osimhen because he wasn't scoring which was his primary duty as a striker

If you like disagree. If you like, let my opinion be itching you. That's your problem not mine

Calvin bassey isn't world class, neither is ola aina or onyeka but they hardly put wrong foots forward

But iqobi will play nonsense and still would be untouchable. Who the Bleep is he that he cannot be criticised?

Why don't you defend moses Simon the same way? Is iwobi significantly better than moses simon? Yet mos3s simon gets criticised and you guys don't cry on my mentions like when it's iwobi

No amount of your abuse will stop me from calling out a player who should be held to a higher standard than his peers

Why don't you go on tiktok and twitter and attack those criticising iwobi there? Am I the only one critiquing him?

Iwobi is mediocre. I said it!

If nobody likes it, that's their headache and not mine

And if tomorrow osimhen plays nonsense, I will call him out. Nobody is God that we can't criticised. Even Messi got criticised by argentinw fans at some point before the world cup win

Abeg make una getat!!!

Iwobi like I said before may not be world class but has been decent for the SE to at the very list deserve our respect.

dude is the highest scoring midfielder we've had in decades yet all he gets is abuse.

For the past two games neutral observer didn't fault Iwobi's contributions but you're here hyperventilating.

The day a more talented midfielder enters the SE I will be the first to say that Alex should chill on the bench until then I will appreciate what he brings to the table.

Nobody is begging for your positive opinions I'm just stating the facts as they are.

Plus your opinions have shown to be all over the place. Abi no be you dey drag Osimhen during AFCON the same guy that has been carrying the team on his back.

Blueelf:
I never gave Ndidi a free pass.

Go through my earlier comments

Okay, when Iwobi was on the pitch, tell me something extra he added to the field of play

Tell me a notable significant impact he has had

Tell me (since group stages of AFCON) when Iwobi's passes proved dangerous for the opposition and it led to a goal for Nigeria

Oga, when someone is the fulcrum of the teams midfield, he must be able to get blamed. It's a requirement of the job.

The truth is Iwobi is an overrated player. Same with Ndidi. Same with Moses Simon and definitely Chukwueze

Left to me, it's either these set of players should yansh down on the bench or not even get a call up again

It's called am opinion and I'm entitled to mine

Our alternate strikers no try at all.

Even in the hey days of baba Yekini as the SE goal king Amokachi and Siasia could still be counted on.

minfelix:
I for just put 10k over the two matches that Osimhen will score🤦🏼🤦🏼….That away against Benin, e sure me Osimhen for score, the home game against Lesotho e sure me Osimhen for score, the away game against Zimbabwe e sure me Osimhen for score…at this juncture if Tinubu wants to go and coach us no wahala, just put Osimhen on the field abeg we must score…
imagine All other strikers 6 games 0 zero goal
Osimhen 2games 3goals
only iheanacho cam just sneak in his big belle to claim 1goal……
Osimhen belongs to the super eagles of 1994 to 2004.
Players Like Amokachi,Amunike,Yekini,Ikepba,Oliseh,Okocha,Martins,Aghahowa,Siasia,Uche Okechkwu,Babngida,Osaze,utaka and OSIMHEN is what we want in super eagles…

To be fair na the same Aina for LB give Osimhen assist for him goal.

Odunayaw:
Moses many time was on his own. Him against 2 defenders. Chelle no try as Aina de LB. Terrible

Guys don't want to further dash hopes but I think as far as the yellow card brouhaha is concerned it might be a case of otilor.

Apparently the complaint ought to have been made 24 hours after the match.

Worth exploring anyway

https://businessday.ng/sports/article/world-cup-qualifiers-south-africa-may-lose-three-points-for-fielding-ineligible-player/

Thing is I've seen this movie before can't give myself BP will strictly be checking notifications and final results of our qualifying games till it finishes.

Might resume live viewing for AFCON.

Mujtahida:
Nooo. They should not deduct it. I don't want South Africa to be "robbed". They deserve it.

When a team gets to the point where home or away does not matter, you know you have a good team. That's where SA is now.

For us in Nigeria, we aren't sure anymore. Home oo, dem fit wipe us, away oo, the same thing.

Let SA go. I wish them all the best.

I don go collect all the sacrifice I offered the gods. I don untie afobear wey I wanted to offer the gods yesterday. The werey run

Iwobi is not the second coming of JayJay and Ronaldinho but scapegoating him whenever things go south is unfair. Thank God he wasn't on the pitch when Zimbabwe scored.

As 'below par' as Alex has been if other midfielders have been dropping even just equal of his performances we won't be in jam we're in.

Every time Iwobi Iwobi was he there when Ghana qualified ahead of us for 2022?

Was he on the pitch when CIV scored the 2nd goal against us in the final?

Was he on the pitch when Rwanda beat us in Uyo? A game that Onyeka played o!

Yes I desire top tier talent to feature in our team but I won't lambast someone who's always there rain or shine trying his best even if sometimes inadequate while giving others a free pass.

Ndidi even though I like him has never dropped great performances for the SE yet we seem to give him a free pass.

Blueelf:
Sir, till today, it beats me why uche and onyeka were left out

There's no justification at all.

I don't understand why certain elements are he'll bent on imposing their mediocre players on the National Team because of sentiments

Iwobi shouldn't be starting if we had a better option. I haven't seen the hype around that guy and I don't know what he actually contributes to that team. We keep on changing his position to accommodate Jo's strengths when the truth is that the guy is an average midfielder on his best days whose only concern is social media and Snapchat.

I just saw a clip of Ndidi wasting a chance and the vex just rehook me.

semid4lyfe:
This is a gem of a post

Ndidi last good game for Nigeria was the AFCON 2019 Q/Final against South Africa.
Since then, his performance in our jersey has declined.

His absence due to injury at the last AFCON was a blessing in disguise because Alhassan Yusuf and later Frank Onyeka interpreted the DM role better and made us realize that they're an upgrade on him.

Truly, if Ndidi had been at the last AFCON, and was the starting DM, we may not have gotten to the finals

I know hindsight is 20/20 but lai lai I would never have started Chukwueze or Osayi yesterday. I said that much that the two looked suspect when reacting to the Rwanda game.

Personally you only keep a consistent XI when most of them have done enough to earn your trust and right now it's only 5-6 guys I can trust in that team now.

minfelix:
sir do you think its easy for a coach to just wake up after 4days to refresh his team?….a team that showed mad impressive game in an away match…..let us all put ourselves in this coach’s shoes….if na you b coach bro you go still start same starting 11 again that dismantled Rwanda away…lets be frank here

Chelle has his faults for yesterday's results but the damage was done way before he came. Eric is a decent manager who I think will improve the team but he needs to remove players who can't deliver asap.

How can a group of supposed experienced players not have the sense and urgency to lock things down in the 89th minute!!? So all the Haram football they learned last year counts for nothing?

SMH again!

Goke7:
Anyone blaming Chelle is unfair, and this is what we always do. Am one of those who never wanted Chelle but what happened yesterday has nothing to do with the coach. The players let us down like they did against Rwanda in the same Uyo, why is this difficult to understand?

Well here we are. 1 win in 6 matches against very beatable opposition is simply not good enough.

I personally feel bad for outstanding talents like Osimhen who give their all.

Ordinarily setbacks like this will everyone humble enough to learn and fix the structural defects in our football but we dey ever learn.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory FC. SMH

True true.

Goke7:
Reason I want us win our match today first then by tomorrow morning we can fire on with this yellow card issue. I know our players they can easily be distracted. This was how siasia missed out on Afcon qualification looking for more goals when a draw would have seen us through, he and team had the wrong info. Let’s make our team win today’s match abeg. These players are always on their phones!

if this ends up aiding our eventual WC qualification NFF should sponsor Car321 expense free to next year's WC for the duration of the tournament.

Samueltemi337:
Car321 👍

Don't yellows count for all compettitive matches (AFCON, WC qualifiers, Friendlies) or it's only WC qualifiers in this instance?

minfelix:
screenshot 1 vs Benin
screenshot 2 vs Zimbabwe
screenshot 3 vs Lesotho

Game day

Looking forward to another positive result from the SE.

Let's continue to stay hopeful and get behind the players.

God willing another 3 points will be in the bag for Nigeria today.

LET'S GO SUPER EAGLES.

Thanks for the link D'Law.

Another insightful analysis by Solace. Considering how even the lowliest of teams were dominating the SE in midfield it made sense to clog up that part of the pitch with numbers. Plus from the description of the diamond formation and profile of midfielders we have at the moment it helps to deploy a tactic that will reduce opponents having a free rein at our defense.

However it seems we will have to be careful when facing superior opposition who have the talent to hurt us on the wings.

At the end of the day I just want a manager who is flexible enough to shuffle things around quickly when things are not going your way tactical wise something our previous coaches foreign or local were guilty of.

Praying for another win and positive outing for Nigeria against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

Mujtahida:
https://chaosdigestbysolace.substack.com/p/mi-chelle-in-stars?manualredirect

Chrisooblog, TheSuperNerd, charlesemeka85, ChrisKels, BankyGee, elyte89, Joebie, Truidstarr, and all forumites

Osimhen

Followed by any of 2-3 below options


Moffi, Dessers, Awoniyi, Orban, Akor, Boniface, or Tolu.

semid4lyfe:
My three strikers would be

Osimhen
Akor Adams
Taiwo Awoniyi/Elijah Adebayo

Yes he's very direct but not as fast or good in the air like Victor.

I'm happy Moffi has started first team training because for me he looks like the most likely reliable option for goals in the SE.

Mujtahida:
He's the closest to Osimhen in terms of style of play.

Taken on the captainship role like duck to water. International poise tinged with local understanding of how things work.

Remember back in the day before the 2018 WC he alongside Mikel represented the players during meetings with NFF officials over bonuses. Didn't understand why then but I get it now.

Mujtahida:
Ekong na gem. I look forward to seeing him as a coach of the SE.