₦airaland Forum

TheGoodJoe:
Onazi should not make it look like a one day thing. It is a regular occurrence from him. He should get ready to shield and protect the defence or step down.

Well said .

owbabs:
That midfield combo was not stellar in these games but it was still better than the Onazi - Joel combo we have seen recently.

Against Algeria and Senegal they played without Mikel so it's understandable.We have never lost a match with that combo.

We lost against SA and Serbia by two goals to nil with Onazi-Ndidi combo.

I don't know why it's too difficult for us to accept that Onazi-Ndidi combo doesn't yield the best of results and is not better than Ogu-Ndidi.

The test for the two combo is the absence of Mikel.

How have they fared without him?

Martz101:
Ndidi with ogu is just 2 matches....Argentina and Algeria, onazi with Ndidi can you count?

It's 3 including the Senegal friendly where Ogu's introduction turned the game to our favour after Onazi got injured in the 20th minute.

In the first 20 mins, Senegal controlled the midfield till Ogu came on to replace an injured Onazi.

Martz101:
how many matches have Ndidi partner ogu ??
keyboard coach

3 matches, Senegal,Algeria and Argentina.

princfred:
Its the best the team has so far. Any better pairing?

Ndidi-Ogu is the best because we have never lost a match with the combo.

I'll like to see Ndidi-Etebo combo against Czech.

Eligreat247:
Concerning the England Friendly, I think the main aim of playing friendly matches was achieved.
The aim is to see how prepared you are, but it has been crystal clear that we still have so much work to do.
In spite of the defeat what gladdens my heart is the midfield combo of Joel-Onazi; how the duo have been exposed. It is evident that we cannot depend on the duo and this will inform Rohr's decision going forward. See how much playing time Rohr has given Joel since rejoining the team hoping he can get it right.
Another puzzle that this match solved is IWOBI's Midfield role which many people have advocated for on this thread. In as much as he does well as a winger, I think he will do even better in the midfield.... His creativity is top notch. Apart from Mikel, I think Iwobi is next in terms of creativity (I stand to be corrected)

Bottom line:
Joel - Onazi combination is bullshit
Iwobi more essential in midfield

Even Ndidi-Onazi combo doesn't click.

BascoVanVeli:
Who captained against DRC?

My bad,I meant the SA and Serbia games.

TheSuperNerd:
Not so fast with the bolded Mister... I am mad at Onazi but no way am I dropping him from the team. Not happening. At least not now. I only need him to sit up and show us again why we rated him so highly in 2012 when Keshi gave him that chance in that Liberia game before Afcon 2013.


Now, First of all, Onazi is not old. He is just 25-26. He is just approaching his peak years. Right now, he is just not in his mojo zone.

Also, Onazi is still relevant to this team for the time being but I feel complacency has set in somewhat as he feels relaxed. He feels like no matter what happens, he will always make the team. He needs to sit up and understand that as a leader, he leads by example and before he can criticise he must ensure that he himself is doing his own job well.

Double post.

TheSuperNerd:
Not so fast with the bolded Mister... I am mad at Onazi but no way am I dropping him from the team. Not happening. At least not now. I only need him to sit up and show us again why we rated him so highly in 2012 when Keshi gave him that chance in that Liberia game before Afcon 2013.


Now, First of all, Onazi is not old. He is just 25-26. He is just approaching his peak years. Right now, he is just not in his mojo zone.

Also, Onazi is still relevant to this team for the time being but I feel complacency has set in somewhat as he feels relaxed. He feels like no matter what happens, he will always make the team. He needs to sit up and understand that as a leader, he leads by example and before he can criticise he must ensure that he himself is doing his own job well.

How can someone who calls himself a leader try to cause division in camp.

Martz101:
Etebo trump onazi after just one match, shebi na thesame Etebo we all wan kill with mouth...the truth remain that the whole team had a bad game and mikel positioning should be corrected...there is not sacred cow.

mikel was to forward in that match even when we were having issues, was expecting him to come deeper and settle the game with some passes but rather he was even ahead of Ighalo.

Drop deep? What is a player like Joel Obi who starts for Torino doing there? If we are to excuse Onazi that he plays for Trabzonspor.

Experience is really overrated.

We need Ndidi back to starting line-up with Etebo(where pace is necessary) or Ogu make those two wey dey look for who go cover them go rest.

Mickael2:
Finally someone else has seen it.

not to mention that this was an English team that was already two goals up, a poor English team none the less. If we play that same second half again against Croatia we will have nothing to show for it. Everybody is hailing our second half performance as if it was a very good performance but then it wasn't, it was just better than the shitshow we produced in the first half.

Iwobi was already tired by then and need to be subbed by another creative player.

Martz101:
onazi listed among those guys ain't fair...apart from these England friendly, please remind me of a poor game he had.

naming Echiejile,akpeyi and Onazi together is really not fair and makes collin right about us wanting new things always.

Etebo and onazi who is better since Rohr took over or becAuse of one good game he now becomes a saint

Etebo played the CM and DM position well against Algeria in Uyo, but Rohr wanted him as a back-up to Mikel, that's why he played him as a 10 in subsequent matches.

Etebo has never been poor as a CM or DM.

BascoVanVeli:
The last part caught my attention.
Onazi: some people cannot be running for the team while some people are just standing looking.

Onazi is not ready for the WC.

He has also forgotten that we lost the last two matches he captained.

asha80:
is he firing shots at mikel? Hope no crises in camp oo

Onazi should be dropped after the WC.It looks like he wants to cause division in camp.

After our game against SA, I never wanted him to be starting games for us.

We left Etebo and Ogu on the bench to accommodate him.

He expects Mikel to play his position for him.

I'm certain that we wouldn't have beaten Argentina if Onazi ,V.Moses and Joel played.V.Moses because he will hold- on
to the ball instead of passing.

We need to drop most of this old players after WC.

We need a young and hungry team who can play for each other and can accept responsibility for their errors, not blaming someone else.

Onazi's time with the Eagles is Up.

tbaba1234:
He did not get the goal. I am not convinced by his movement.

He was caught offside so many times even from routine passes in the first half. Even though Iheanacho is not best as a CF, I trust him more to get a goal than Ighalo. I hope we get to see Simy against Czech.

Simy is my no.9 in a 4-2-3-1.

Iheanacho and Ighalo has failed many times in that position.

TheGoodJoe:
I have already addressed it and the point is so simple. The Algerians decided to cage Iheanacho, with that passing to him will be Limited. Iheanacho's movement also kept them distracted which created room for us to cause damage. It is so simple. That is why I said you are burying your head in a sand of lies to hide yourself from the truth.

Also with iheanancho's pressing, he took away the building strength of the Algerians. Jam body is out of vogue. How many top European teams rely on that. That is why I started with Mertens for you to know Jam body is not the only way to go.

Gerrit?

Iheanacho is not an out and out striker.Finito.

TheGoodJoe:
Different is not the same as most effective.

You mean Simy is not effective.6 Serie A goals in his last 8 games.

Rohr started Ighalo today and subbed Iheanacho because both play are used to English players.

TheGoodJoe:

And you feel playing Simy upfront alone is not an experiment. Na wa.

At least Rohr confirmed he(Simy) offers something different.

TheGoodJoe:
The coaching crew should get serious and make the right set-up for the team. Nacho should lead the line. He offers more bite, mobility, finishing ability, shooting from range and also has the creativity to drop deep to assist the midfield. It is a no-brainer he should be a starter.

Onazi should never start ahead of Ogu again.

Finito.

Which Nacho?

I can only start Nacho in a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 but as a lone striker Mbanu.The days of experiment are gone.
We also have Simy to deputise for Ighalo.

lexyman:
have you considered other aspect .

Sheu is a versatile player , he can get better, and dont forget , his performance were top notch during the qualifier... not until recently when he started experiencing dwindling in form , but this is not his best

So, against Croatia you will start Shehu?
We hardly learn from our mistakes.African football is not WC.If not Vicmo's selfishness would have earned him a goal today.

Any full back that doesn't attack subjects the team to pressure.

kennysville:
No let Oga Icons4s cat h you with that statement o! Drop our only "weapon of mass destruction"? For what na?

No be all of una dey talk say him be the only attacking threat una get?

Not when he is selfish.

lexyman:
Ebuehi VS Shehu is more like technicality vs physicality ... alot has to be considered by Rohr to make use of either of them ...but i am begining to like Ebuehi ... he does his job effortlessly .but he need to learn somethings as he grows into the game .

After the Dr Congo game you still went on to type this.

Is it not crystal clear that Ebuehi is miles ahead of Shehu?

AIG07:
this calls for quick action and be treated with matter of urgency.

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?

isan:
I hope Joel obi and onazi don pack their bag already

Those two are old and can't play against fast mid-fielders.

Mujtahida:
Me I have not recovered from the jitters with which Balogun ended the WCQ. Till now I don't trust him. He's not as assured as Ekong.

Bro na the same match wey I watch you watch.Balogun cleared a lot of balls in the first-half.Ekoong was just averag

If not for their long Oyibo wall partnership, I will prefer Omeruo and Balogun to start.

goldfish80:
OGa this is football. If you cant hold your goalkeeper accountable for letting in a cheap goal under his arm, then we might as well give everyone on the team a free pass including Onazi.
Why do you think the goalkeeping spot is the most sensitive in the team hence, the call for an experienced head to "man" the post. A goalkeeper can make 20 good saves but one error can undo the good he did all game, especially if it costs his team vital points.

My brother the midfield was very poor in the first-half.Poor DM and CM.

Onazi shouldn't be starting games.I expected Joel to show his quality in this match but he failed.

Both Onazi and Joel made Mikel poor in the first-half.They subjected our defence to so much pressure,but Uzoho was calm,made saves and commanded his area well.

Uzoho was very very good today.

At a time a guy at my back was like this keeper na Dea Gea ooo.

Stop criticising the young man.You want us to bring back Enyeama and repeat the same mistake we made with Rufai.

An Enyeama that now keeps for the U21's.Do you think he will still have that zeal players are known for?

At least Uzoho can keep with hope that a top club can sign him.Can such be said of Enyeama.

The Uzoho I saw today is ready for the WC and deserves the Eagles no 1 Jersey.

Having Kept against Argentina,Poland and England,he is ready for the big stage.
Uzoho will never be as poor as Marius was in UCL finals.

I love Omeruo, he showed today that he is miles ahead of Awaziem, but he should remain a back-up to the Oyibo wall.

Who and who still dey see Shehu as first choice?

Ebuehi proved again that he is too good for the bench and deserves to be first-choice RB.

Iwobi oo,without him their is no Russia for Eagles.Who and who will still start Simon ahead of him?

Vic.Mo and selfish football, this is the same reason he was subbed against Iran and only returned to starting line-up due to injury to Babatunde.We just need one more winger or even Lokosa if vic.Mo fails to play the "one-touch two go football" we played against Argentina.Vic.Mo should learn to pass the ball and stop being selfish.A man at my left said "Moses just dey play like this because nobody fit bench am".

Kudos to the boys they played well .

Ogu and Etebo is going to Russia.

Icon4s:
Joel is up against Ndidi and Etebo(Box to box Midfield position) and not Onazi
Onazi is up against Ogu (DM position)
Mikel Agu is up against all of them. The most likely to be dropped.
Why Etebo is highly favored to make Russia is he is also back up Winger and AM.
If Simon doesn't make Russia Etebo deputises for the wingers.
cc: EEGA

But Onazi started from the Bench against Poland.

Icon4s:
Nididi is out injured so Joel is favored to start. Simple.

With Ndidi present Joel will still start ahead of Onazi.No mid-fielder apart from Mikel and Ndidi can keep Joel on the Bench.

asha80:
one gets the feeling rohr fancies Joel obi no matter what

For Joel to be starting matches for Torino in Serie A speaks a lot of his quality.

solonnachi:
LESSONS TO NIGERIA FROM THE UCL FINAL 2018
1. Super Eagles should play safe during these friendlies and trainings. No injury please
2. Rohr should check our goal keeping department again and again against immature and school boys mistakes
3. Watch that boy Luka Modric from Croatia. He is a threat.
4. Watch out for game changers like Gareth Bale.
GOD HELP NIGERIA

For me I would say a quality bench.

Who and who are our back-ups?

Especially back-ups for the CBs because we tend to struggle there without Balogun.

The central defence of the Super Eagles requires attention.

safarigirl:
in defense of the likes of Uchebo and Nwofor, it wasn't like the established players gave a good account of themselves either. After all, Emenike was in that team and he was useless.

If Rohr thinks he needs another striker, he can get the Simy fellow. I still think his role is dependent on what he does against England, I an really not concerned about him though.

Emenike had two assists in the WC as a no.9. One was the cross that qualified us for round 16 against Bosnia and the other was an assist to Musa's goal against Argentina.

Mujtahida:
That's why I said it's not clear cut. Iwobi is even more effective coming in a sub.

If not for his injury he would have played the three matches.

Mikel and Iwobi needs to start all games, their passes can be instrumental to unlocking sturbborn defence.