₦airaland Forum

Mujtahida:
The bolded is precisely well put. There's a kind of cheap tactics some are using on this thread: we take any category like youthfulness, team spirit, experience, clubside, performance, old legs, homebased, foreign born to set up totalitarian criteria. When you call for Martins team youth will attack you, when you call for young players, team experience will attack you sometimes with valid reasons but most times with emotion and sentiments cos they simply just love their category.

Do you know I once argued strenuously against the invitation of Martins but I had to re-evaluate my stance for four reasons: 1)we need at least one more attacker(2) Martins was performing at par with Ighalo in the same league (3) it's just an invitation for God sakes (4) the overall goal of glory for the team should override my personal preference and sentiments.

You see those categories I mentioned above? There are our equivalents on this thread of the tribes and tribalism issue that has bedevilled us as a nation. Tribe of youth doesn't agree with tribe of experience etc. Meanwhile we forget that what should guide our discussions is performance. Will youth help us post quality performance? Will experience help us? Will the home based help us? Will the foreign born help us? A team is not youth, home based, foreign based, team spirit solely as criterias in themselves but all of these criterias in good measure but performance trumps them all because football is a performance sports and that's what will be recorded not all the other criteria. If we like we take all the youths, if they fail to perform we will feel the pain like we did after the SA defeat. If we like let's take all the experienced players, if they fail to perform experience will not give us any satisfaction like it has never done in tourneys we took experienced players to and failed to perform. If we like let us swoon over team spirit, about chemistry if we don't perform that team chemistry will turn sour in our belle.

A team is a pot of soup being cooked for public consumption not personal consumption. It needs many ingredient to make it sweet. Let's those who love salt not say oil is not good and let those who don't like pepper say onion is all we need to make the soup sweet.

All categories must be carefully filtered through the sieve of what will give us optimal performance.

Spot on.

All aspects should be considered holistically.

Kai ma na!!!! Enyeama dey go am for wolu cupu.

GERNOT ROHR NOT GIVING UP ON VINCENT ENYEAMA

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Dec 11, 2017. 13:30
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr still wants to have Vincent Enyeama in his 2018 FIFA World Cup squad and has opened the doors for the experienced goalkeeper.

Media reports suggest that the former Super Eagles skipper, who announced his retirement from international football in October 2015, had ruled out a return.

However, Rohr says Enyeama could earn a recall as he faces a goalkeeper crisis after first choice Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with leukemia.

"Coach Rohr had a productive chat with Enyeama and made it clear that he should focus on getting fit and enjoy a playing run," team spokesperson Toyin Ibitoye told BBC Sport.

ZAMBIA FACE SWAZILAND IN MUST-WIN U20 COSAFA CUP MATCH

"Contrary to local media reports, the professional talks between both of them remains unchanged, there are conditions involved and as long as it's adhered to, Enyeama stands a World Cup chance."

The BBC reports that Daniel Akpeyi has failed to impress and his replacement Ikechukwu Ezenwa lacks composure, while young Francis Uzoho is inexperienced.

"It's very important to respect those who are currently with the team. The likes of Akpeyi, Ezenwa, Alampasu, Uzoho and Ajiboye all need the support of our fans," Ibitoye added.

"Coach Rohr insists we should not let the talk of Enyeama deprive others of their deserved respect. With these goalkeepers and Carl Ikeme we achieved World Cup qualification.

"We appreciate what Enyeama has done in the past and he also needs our support right now. His experience is good for the country and only coach Rohr has to make the final call when the time comes."

http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/914738928?-21310:11479:1

SerVik:
Away from the Enyeama issue, Victor moses' chelsea have been drawn to face Barca in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Barca typically attacks from their left side, with Messi typically looking out to pick alba. This would be moses' biggest test yet, he has to be disciplined enough to stop those passes. Going forward, he'd also come against alba and umtiti, this should give him a taste of what to expect at the world cup.

Barca, bye bye!!!!

tbaba1234:
Nwokolor has not played a single game this year.

Are Jan, Feb, March, April and May part of this year?

Because most of the 26 matches he played were during these months.

If Enyeama gets small playing time and agrees to come back, it will be thing of joy for me because I know he is a reliable and trusted hand. WC is not u19 or amateur tournament where you can take risk with untested and inexperienced GK. It is for the best in the world hence the best must be used and the best is Enyeama. EOD

Sebi na with mouth em take retired? Make una no worry, na the same mouth em go take come out from retirement.

Kog45:
kai wahala dey Akpeyi dey jittery,Ezenwa full of basic errors,Uzoho team B(div 3)keeper,Alampasu bench warmer,Ajiboye not rated,Aiyenugba not wanted,Nwokolor not seen,Maduka real dilemma,Ikeme health issue,and Enyeama tested but retired.

Rohr should wake up or else this goalkeeper issue would be our undue at WC

Hahahaha!

soetanoreoluwa:
This is not about rubbish... This is about us... Our love and passion.. How can someone be holding us to ransom..

We made mistake and we accepted and we took a bold step to beg and make you see reason we need you then you still believe we are nobody... What else do you want us to do again?

Enyeama is a good goalkeeper in doubt but he cant hold to ransom..

May I ask you which club is enyeama playing before he man the SE post in 2002?

Uzoho was trained in aspire academy one of the best in Europe and immediately find himself in depotivo team b.. Keeping regularly every weekend ...its not a joke!

How many nigeria goalkeeper playing in top clubs in Europe ?

How many nigeria goalkeeper currently playing regularly not bench warmer for team B in Europe?

Dele Aiyenugba and Nwofolor. Soon, Enyeama go join and Dele Alampasu go start.

maidaboi:
yea

Ok

maidaboi:
yea
youtube helps too

Not through YouTube.

maidaboi:
i rate felix ahead of those two

Have you seen them all play?

Humility017:
o[i][/i]
his father didn't do him well.....
just take a look at how chuka iwobi parted way for his son...
he was in the best position to advise his son......same route ojokolo and his son are plying now...I checked the starting list for hertaberlin today and the lanking LB was not there....

ilorfa is a senior man in Benue State FA board...his selfish desire to have his son play for England cost him this world cup...slot.

I just pray he gets invited after the world cup....

K


Let us not harbour any personal vendetta against the boy or any of those boys that latter resended on their decision to play for us. After all, Vicmo also shunned us many times before but now he is our best player.

I rate Iorfa and Tiago Ilori highly than Felix Ukpobai.

.

komekn:
He never rejected, AT ALL He needed to sort out his long term future which would be easier as a potential future England full international. When considering potential clubs.

He Explained he would commit when he turns 23. That never changed what changed is the NFF and it's lack of transparency and integrity.

When Omeruo was near anonymous at Middlesbrough Iorfa a teenager was winning MOTM and best young player awards in the same league and in the same season. Somehow there has not been any competition
for the CB position in the SE. Not sure why

I will leave it at that you can guess the rest.

You are right. Just dat people are not happy, he didn't agree when approached him.

I think I rate him highly than Felix Ukpobai.

TheGoodJoe:
The same Iheanacho who played on the side against Argentina, Puel wants us to believe he can not play there.

Iheanacho played false 9 in that match.

junnyjake:
I don't think so, with France, he has hope. I mean that team is dominated by African origin players. No one knew about his Nigerian identity until he was an established international for France.


He got his debut, at the age of 19 right? I'm not sure we could have capped him at that young age.

We never can tell anyway.

Joebie:
We've become quite deadly in counter attack, irrespective of our formation.

I think the game will be won in the midfield. I will have to study the Croatian's defense line to come up with which strikers will fare better against them.

Ok.

Humility017:
let's pray NFF secure another friendly.

let all the prospects be tried....
especially onyekuru, kayode and success....
alhassan, Joel obi...those who have been sitting on the bench for sometime now...should play one of the match just to get a clue of their qualifies and who to add to the team...

Yes! All the prospects should be tried including Martins.

baby124:

Are you minding her? The woman doesn’t even have a straight story. What a fantasy. She doesn’t want her family to be seen as interlopers. I think the Obaship of Lagos Island might be threatened in some way. So they are planting useless stories everywhere. Eyo is from Ijebus.

You are right about your last sentence and to be precise, Eyo originated from Iperu. I even saw a statue of Eyo at Iperu on my way to Lagos.

As soon as read Eyo originated from Oba of Lagos, I knew she is a revisionist.

'E so ru n Ku RU' does that sound Awori? [i][/i]

As soon as read Eyo originated from Oba of Lagos, I knew she is a revisionist.

'E so ru n Ku RU' does that sound Awori?

tbaba1234:
Rohr's recent interview with a french paper. He is playing Poland for Croatia. Talks about find a keeper that satisfies them fully.

CC: Icon4s, joebie, komekn, Mujtahida, Joseph1013, Kog45, certitude, humility017, safarigirl, forgiveness,

NIGERIA / GERNOT ROHR: "A SUCCESS AT THE WORLD CUP WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL" [EXCLUDING 365]
POSTED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H10 - UPDATED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H19 PATRICK JUILLARD

Gernot Rohr, hot after the draw for the World Cup, you said "It's going to be a physical challenge against the Icelanders, a technical challenge against the Croatians, and a challenge to the Argentineans." Can you detail? What is your opinion on these 3 opponents?

Rohr: This draw is a difficult draw, with three good teams. Our first opponent will be Croatia. The match will take place in Kaliningrad, an eccentric place with a bit of jet lag and a former German city that I already know a bit. Croatia is capable of great things with a team of stars playing in the biggest clubs. They are able to beat the biggest, but also to be surprised by less prestigious teams. It will be up to us to question them. Their technical qualities are huge but we also have a quality game. This is the most important match, and we hope to prepare it, against opponents similar to Croatia. So we will play Poland at home on March 23rd.


Iceland remains more difficult to define ...

Rohr: Iceland has worked hard for ten or twelve years with extraordinary structures to play football all year long despite the harsh weather conditions. Domes of football, where you can play at any time have been installed, with a dozen per region. Work is done from an early age. Today, it is a team that knows how to play football but who remains very physical and supportive. It is expected for this match that takes place in Volgograd to a very difficult game. Supporters will come in large numbers in charters to win their team. It will be an unprecedented match in the history of the World Cup, which adds spice. In this group, it is amusing to see that the four teams know each other very well in pairs: Croatia knows Iceland well,


Nigeria will meet Argentina for the fifth time in the finals, a record. How to finally take points against this opponent?

We will not make the mistake of thinking that we already know them. We beat them in friendly Krasnodar last month, but Argentina played without Lionel Messi. And Argentina without Messiit's not the same team. They have four goals, they may not have changed much defensively, but offensively they can change everything. Argentina is still vice-champion of the world, and had not passed away from the coronation in 2014. This team is perhaps at the end of the cycle, but it can make it all the more formidable, with players eager to prove that they can win. I met Jorge Burruchaga in the draw. He told me "we are coming to win the World Cup. They have chosen a magnificent base camp and will put the package to make it happen.

Do you have an idea of ​​the ideal preparation program?

We chose a base camp that we visited in southern Russia, between Sochi and Volgograd, in the countryside, in a region of mineral and spa baths. We will be far from everything, with opportunities for care and excellent conditions of recovery between games. At 500 meters altitude, it will not be too hot.

On which points do you think you can make the most progress by June?

I think we can always progress on all levels: technical, but also tactical and physical. Tactically, we must be able to adapt according to our opponents. For example, we tried against Argentina, we tried a defense to three, which can turn into a defense to five. We can still do more. Physically, we will be ready. We will take a second physical trainer, in this case Bernard Ginès, I had in my staff in Nice, between 2002 and 2005. We will receive FieldWiz, which are GPS to work better in detail. We will have to progress in the detection of our own players so as not to be mistaken on the list of 30, then that of 23. We will strengthen the scouting team.

What about mental preparation?

We have already shown that we are mentally tough, but it will be even more for the World Cup. We already have a mental trainer with Nabil Trabelsi. Do not flood the group with too many foreign faces. We are not sick, we do not need psychiatrists (laughs).

Does Nigeria have the means to become the first African team semi-finalist of a World Cup?
It's a dream, it's a wish. To think we can do it would be pretentious. We will first try to pass the chickens. Then, it is another pair of sleeves, we will advise from match to match depending on the opponents. Nigeria today has the youngest team in the World Cup with 24.9 years of average age. The figure may be even lower in Russia, as we spotted a 19-year-old goalkeeper in La Coruna . We also come to learn: the life of Nigerian football does not stop after the World Cup. I sincerely believe that we have players who share my ambition to go very far and who have the technical means.

As a technician, is participating in a World Cup the best challenge of your career?

Yes, it's for me the most beautiful. It has been fantastic to qualify in this difficult group with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia. To have a shot at the World Cup would be exceptional. I prepare myself as best as I can, personally. Every detail counts in the preparation and the choice of the players. We found young people at certain positions. The last challenge is to find a goalkeeper who satisfies us fully. We are working with my guardian coach, Enrico Pionetti. CHAN will be important to take stock. Ikechukwu Ezenwa will participate, under the direction of my assistant Salisu Yusuf. I will follow things closely.

On a personal level, several media announced your extension to the position of coach. What is it really ?

The verbal agreement was reinforced by an official handshake. We met in Moscow with representatives of the executive committee of the Federation. We agreed on a two-year extension. I thank my leaders for this trust. Beyond the World Cup, the goal is CAN 2019. We want to come back and win.

http://www.football365.fr/nigeria-gernot-rohr-reussir-coup-a-coupe-monde-serait-exceptionnel-exclu365-7021852.html

Hmm! I hope Rohr is not just thinking about
the youngest team at the WC?

Anyway, I am really impressed with his plan for the team. He is being careful to choose the right players. Hopefully, he gets it right else na failure be that ooo.

kennysville:
Hmmm... learn sha? What is he supposed to learn? How to do the basics? Was he having that problem before pep? This is a guy that was sooo confident playing no 10 position. For you to play that role, you must have a good degree of ball control and distribution. I think the awe of Guadiola took all that away from him. The need to please a manager who doesnt even rate him. You are saying was I not amongst those clamouring for his exit from Man City?. My answer is an emphatic yes! I was and I still stand by my statement. Iheanacho got frustrated out of Man city. Would we say Sterling fought for his shirt? Like seriously? Sterling was crap when he got to City. Much worse than Iheanacho. Yet he played week in week out. He got some right , he got a lot wrong.

Sterling is putting up good perfomance because he had chances upon chances given to him by his coach . Same cannot be said of Iheanacho. Lets call it what it is. His confidence took a hit when Guadiola arrived. If Iheanacho got half the minutes that sterling got by virtue of his coach confidence, he would be firing on all cylinders.

This takes me to his leicester team. Everyone wants this guy to have scored at least 10 goal by now but the reality is he got injured before the season even started, bear in mind also that he did not participate in any form of pre season tour whether with City or Leicester. I dont do sentimental analysis. Those who know me know I do objective analysis. The dude hasnt had much starts since this season began. The dynamics in the leicester team is not the same as what we have in Man City.

I dare you to bench Jamie Vardy for the next 6 games and start Iheanacho in front. Pair him with Okazaki and ensure Demarai Gray is in the mix as well and lets see who will return better goals ratio... Until that happens,those saying he isnt quality should stop talking. Thank you

Disclaimer: I dont hold any brief for Iheanacho, I rarely sing his praises. I only pointed out areas in his games where he seems lacking and needs to improve upon. The dude needs game time. End of story

Sterling was crap, what?

You must be joking, sir.

I got to know about Sterling Raheem when Liverpool bought Jordan Ibe. Prior to that time there was one other Nigerian at Liverpool called Amoo who was promising but later faded away.

Raheem was too good for the academy that he was rapidly promoted to the main team within a year.

He was just 16 years then but he had started training and playing with the first team at 17 years.

I watched some of his games when he was unplayable at the acedamy. He would seldomly dribble from the half field to score many times then and that was why his style was compared with Owen.

He didn't disappoint after he was promoted to Liverpool's first team. We saw the replica of his solo goals at acedemy in the EPL too. That was to show that his performance at the acedemy was not fluke..

Even, Vicmo sat on the bench for him at Liverpool.

Bros, if Raheem was scrap, do you think Man city will buy him in the first place?

Bottom line is Raheem was no scrap at Liverpool.

mazimee:
Leicester City Boss Refuses To Rule Out Selling Kelechi Iheanacho In January
Published: December 09, 2017


Leicester City boss Claude Puel has refused to rule out the possibility of selling Nigeria star Kelechi Iheanacho four weeks before the winter transfer market opens for business.

The Foxes have six strikers in the first team consisting of Iheanacho, Vardy, Ahmed Musa, Slimani, Okazaki and Ulloa, and the former Man City starlet has found game time hard to come by after making only two starts in the Premier League from a possible fifteen.
''Kelechi had an injury and after, for the moment, we have competition,'' Puel was quoted as saying by Leicester Mercury


''I am happy with Jamie for example. Kelechi or other players cannot play on the side.
''It’s difficult for them, but for me also to manage all these players because we have six strikers so there is no place for all the players.''

Puel added :: ''I try to respect them. Kelechi arrived this season and we will see. With all these games in this busy period, we will see.

''Time will tell. The window is not open, we will see. For the moment, we just look at all these games. We need all the players.''
Iheanacho penned a five-year contract with Leicester City in the summer for a fee in the region of 25 million pounds.

I think it was not long I point out the @bolded as regards Iheanacho.

Humility017:
that march friendly will tell to a large extent those who will be goin to Russia....
let's wait till then...
I pray NFF make it two friendlies for that month...

That's true. Until then.

Humility017:
you're right about elderson...just that I will appreciate he sits more on the bench..while in the SE

Haha! Bench kwa!

Humility017:
I think many a time it will depend on the team we're playing....

I meant his preferred attackers he wishes to take to the world cup.

EEGA:
Utilized all?

Iheanacho should have passed to Iwobi twice but was selfish with the ball.

He was wrong to have done that twice.If we ignore the first, what of the second?

Yeah! You're right. It was not all we utilized.

Joebie:
I think you've made a good point.
Onyekuru combines though when he closes in to the box. If he is not combining he is going all the way.
He can be very tricky as soon as he gets to the box. Which is why they have to shield him to retreat.
Nevertheless Onyekuru can still go the world cup to play that role when we need it most. As a starter? no!
I'd rather bring him in when we need to kill the game... just my own opinion.

I see.

So, which players will you choose for attack positions?

Mujtahida:
Are you serious? I never knew oo

Yes, I am. Really? But someone posted the article here sometimes ago.

Mickael2:
France actually does not play like Iceland. Frankly if you play Onyekuru in a counter-attacking team he may not perform so well, he needs a game where he will get the ball time and time again so he can dribble which is his strongest assest, ofcourse you know players like Onyekuru will lose the ball 4times out of 10 atleast so he needs 10 passes per game for example to complete 4dribbles and it is in games that we have enough possession that he can get that and against Iceland we will have enough possession. VicMo, if he plays, will be running into traffic a lot because VicMo dribbles with pace, that is why he plays at wb for Chelsea where he will have enough space to beat his man. But if(IF) we play the 3-5-2 then the two forwards will not have space to run into and this is going to be a compact Iceland team. Putting in another midfielder was what Croatia did against them, Kovacic is a nice midfielder who can dribble but when he came in in the first leg he was largely inefficient because being a midfielder he would almost always have two players on him, but a striker can be in such an advanced position that nobody(bar his actual marker) would keep up with him hence my preference for an actual forward that can dribble IN TIGHT SPACES.




Against Croatia we will need two things, first chase the ball like mad, then when we get it, move it straight away or shield it for a while to regain our composure. In that case we need one workhorse only and one guy who can shield and play quick passes, ofcourse if Joel Obi is there he fits perfectly with Ndidi(or Onazi because say na you ask me ooh) but otherwise I would bring Mikel back there

Maybe you should take a look at Onyekuru's goals again. You cancan do that via YouTube then you will see 90%, if not 100% of his goals came from counter attacks and dribbles with pace. Pls, try to see it.

On Joel Obi I stand.

But I want to see more of him in our friendlies.

komekn:
Absolutely correct, but I wonder why

It maybe because he rejected initially hence the reciprocal.