₦airaland Forum

TheGoodJoe:
Not ready to start digging. In 2008-09 Season, Inter Milan had strikers like Julio Cruz, Adriano and Crespo. It was not like every game they set up with Zlatan up front. However, Mourinho's style stinks for me where you defend and lob the ball to tall strikers. That is not the strategy Rohr is going for.

To the best of my knowledge, Mandzukic at Bayern had Olic working with him and keep in mind Guardiola dropped Mandzukic also. If you like that style, that is you. Me, I am more into creative forwards. One of my best set was Rooney, CR7 and Tevez of 2007-08 season. Not all this puff puff football.


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

Throughout his career. Mourinho have always favoured playing a lone striker. At Inter Milan, he played Ibramovic up front with Balotelli but Balo will always miss games due to his problems. This made Zlatan play mostly alone up front. Even when Zlatan left, Mourinho played Eto on the wings and Milto as the lone forward.

Ivica Olic mostly sat on the bench for Manzukic. When he played, he came in from the wings. I followed Bayern with keen interest at the time. Rewatch their champions league finals against Dortmund and see.

zicky:
sorry bruv, football is no mathematics not permutation. I'm still wondering why you guy refuse to see the problem with our SE against SA and keep calling out Iheanacho, the midfield was the problem, if you bring in a big 9 this
Same midfielder will still hit the ball beyond the reach of the big9.

Atleast the midfield will have something to aim those long balls at. I mean the one off time Kelechi held the ball up properly, he set up Etebor for the best chance of the game. Imagine if we had someone who was doing that all game.
You get the picture?

zicky:
I agree wih you, how can someone prefer Etebo to Iheanacho as false 9 if not bias, where did he watch Etebo deployed as a false 9

It's not bias, Karo Etebo can play multiple positions on the pitch. DM, CM, Wings and striking. Ask any Warri wolves fan if Etebor can play up top. Even for his Portuguese team last season, he played up front in some of their games I followed.

Funny how nobody want to hear about Karo Etebo. This same guy was seen as undroppable after his heroics against Algeria. BascoVanVeli don't even want him invited for Cameroun.

BascoVanVeli:
Pls if anyone should be dropped it should be Etebo. He missed our best chances and offered zero creativity against SA. I can only agree to drop Nacho if the coach wants to punish him for the stunt he pulled.

If we should be strict in dropping players using the SA game as the yard stick, we will have to drop everyone who wore the green white green shirt on the day and Gernot Rohr with his technical crew will be served their termination letters.

TheGoodJoe:

Modern day strategy with a 4-2-3-1 formation, the team still plays as a unit. They attack as a unit and defend as a unit. That is why forwards with mobility and ability to play multiple roles are needed. That is why Iheanacho is a better fit than the Anichebe and co. you want. Also he is our deadliest in the box.

If you want puff puff striker, it means you want our football based on sitting deep and huffing the ball to tje puff puff striker.

Those runs are meaningless if he can't hold the ball up against Cameroon.
If Kelechi must start, a strike partner should be deployed for him.

I honestly will prefer Etebo played as a false 9 in that game than Kelechi. Honestly speaking.

TheGoodJoe:
If you want a big rigid man, Kelechi is not your man but if you want fluidity I've you see in Suarez, Tevez and co, you need Kelechi. Simple.

Ibrahimovic played with a certain Cavani and Lavezzi. Berbatov had Rooney and Giggs and Ronaldo. You are just mixing up what you are arguing and dispelling nothing.

If you like a big rigid man, Good for you. I prefer a fluid player. I was against the Berbatov buy because Tevez was the bomb. I prefer Suarez over most of the big men you hail. It is your choice.

You want Adi and Anichebe. I want Nacho because he brings us more movement upfront. Just like the Algerian game. Your big hold up play would have failed woefully if Rohr wanted to implement that strategy but it worked flawlessly with Nacho.

Most modern day coaches prefer mobility. That is why Klopp preferred Firmino to Benteke. Nacho is more a Firmino than Benteke. Garrit.

Speed, Skill and mobility.

You're just quoting and typing without reading what you're replying.

You can clearly see I did not mention Ibrahimovic at Psg.

Drogba >>> Chelsea
Ibrahimovic >>>> Sweden, Inter Milan, Man Utd
Cavani >>>Napoli, Psg last season.
Diego Costa >>> Chelsea, Athletico
Benteke >>>Aston Villa
Lukaku >>>> Everton
Belloti >>Torino
Manzukic >>Bayern Munich and Croatia

Now take a glass of water. Chill, carefully read my post and reply.

Icon4s:
I also believe in Big Centre forwards.

But mention one now that you feel deserves a starting place that will put Iheanacho on the bench against Cameroon.

For me, before I consider starting Kelechi as the no 9 in that game, the likes of Success, Adi, Ideye, Anichebe must have been kidnapped by Evans.

It appears you guys haven't realised that Vic Moses will be missing in the double headers. As a matter of fact he will be MIA for Chelsea pre season.

His absence blunts our attack by a considerable percentage.

If we don't try a different combination up front. What you saw against SA will play out. Might even be worse because the Camerounians are better than bafana.

I wonder the miracle that will make Kelechi to hold the ball up better than he did against a smallish Bafana team to the gaint and more imposing Camerounians. If you can't handle ordinary algebra, is it laplace transforms and fourier series that you will solve?

TheGoodJoe:
I can start listing Tevez, Rooney, Immobile, Forlan etc. I listed those ones to show that it is not about size but movement and skill. Most of them play comfortable in different forward roles. Today you can see Osimhen can play on the wings and forward, Same with Nacho. However a player like Bony is mostly restricted to playing as a forward. We can not imagine playing Alan Shearer or Crouch on the wings. Same goes to Andy Carroll or Benteke.

However, Firminho is almost flawless moving into different forward roles.

By the way, did you not see Suarez in that list?

This is something out just don't get. All those guys you listed never played or plays up top in a lone striker role. I stand to be corrected!

Rooney partnered Tevez, Berbatov, Welbeck to name a few.

Suarez at Ajax/ LiverpoolFC never played up to alone. At Ajax he paired up with Klass Hunterlar while at Liverpool he had a certain Sturidge/Sterling for company. Now in Barcelona, he regularly switch positions with Messi and Neymar in a fluid front 3 while for his national team level, he had Forlan and Cavani for company.

Diego Forlan at Athletico played up top with a certain Sergio Aguero.

I go further to list Greizman another small forward I like. With Athletico, he had a fruitful season in partnership with Torres. At Real Sociedad,he played ip top with Carlos Vela.

Now less juxtapose this with these big strikers who played alone up front for their various teams.

Drogba >>> Chelsea
Ibrahimovic >>>> Sweden, Inter Milan, Man Utd
Cavani >>>Napoli, Psg last season.
Diego Costa >>> Chelsea, Athletico
Benteke >>>Aston Villa
Lukaku >>>> Everton
Belloti >>Torino
Manzukic >>Bayern Munich and Croatia

I crafted these examples attached with names and teams so you get the point that big men are suited for the lone striker system while smaller forwards are usually deployed in pairs for better efficiency.

Sunderland threatened to save themselves from relegation whenever Anichebe was fit to pair Defoe in attack.

I hope this put a stop to your propaganda to have Kelechi start as a lone forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation when he doesn't have in his locker the requisite skills for hold up play and aerial dominance.

TheGoodJoe:
If I throway Suicide Picture they will blame me.

You should be thanking me with a bottle of wine for clearing it up to you that by no 10,he meant playing behind the top 9 as SS.

TheGoodJoe:
You want to argue with Lewandowski!


When I left after the second season, I wanted to take the next step - but suddenly I was playing in a No.10 role... Lewandowski

Chai, learn and move on.

From the same article you are quoting here's an except;

Part of the reason might have been because Klopp, now in charge of Liverpool, opted to deploy the Pole in the hole behind Paraguayan forward Lucas Barrios, who bagged twice as many league goals as Lewandowski that season.

Obviously, the no 10 role they are talking about here is just a more elaborate way of saying he played as a second striker behind Barrios. This on its own shouldnt be such a surprise because almost every striker in the world world have at one point played as a second striker. Even Drogba in his first season with Chelsea played behind Crespo. The average Nigerian refers to the ten role as the Jay Jay Okocha / Zidane kind of role.

You run into these sort of glitch when you copy everything from Google hook line and sinker.
If you had actually watched him play, you will won't run to town shouting that Lewandowski can play the 10 role. You would replaced the no 10 with SS.

TheGoodJoe:
Yet Lewandowski has told FFT that, although he was not happy about it at the time, operating in the No.10 role helped him become a more rounded player.

Speaking exclusively in the December 2015 issue of FourFourTwo, he says: “Borussia first expressed an interest after my first year in Poznan. When I left after the second season, I wanted to take the next step - but suddenly I was playing in a No.10 role. I was quite mad because I wanted to play up front.

It was only in the following year that I realised how much I had learned in that position. I told myself: ‘You have become a better player.’ Then I realised why the coach had asked me to play as a No.10; he made me a more complete player.”

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/lewandowski-i-was-mad-klopp-over-no10-role


Keep lying to yourself. Show me what you posted that I left out in the earlier post I made. Keep putting your ego in front of the truth and not learn.

Rather kill yourself than commit suicide because accepting the truth is a No No for you.

Here is another part you left out

Part of the reason might have been because Klopp, now in charge of Liverpool, opted to deploy the Pole in the hole behind Paraguayan forward Lucas Barrios, who bagged twice as many league goals as Lewandowski that season.

He played behind the more established Lucas Barrios for a few games not exactly the stereotype no 10 midfield meastro like you want to make us believe. In this sort of formation, during game situation, he will be right up top with Barrios. Dont try confusing us that he can play the 10 role like Jay Jay Okocha.

Loogan:
It seems you choose to twist other people words to support your claim because you understand English I would have thought that was the problem.....the Nigeria South Africa game you came out to say iwobi has been poor, I said he had impressed with the little he saw on the ball, that was the first half of the game(that was an opinion I had in the first half)...but because iwobi was removed you started shouting sentiment, you can criticize iwobi for having a poor game but didn't say anything on others who had a poor game to like ndidi&etebo and you be preaching.

Obviously you haven't been following the thread. I have criticised every single player in the team who had a poor game. I don't worship any player.
I have called out Awaziem, Etebo, Ndidi, Iwobi, Kelechi and the 2 full backs on the day. You can go back and check my game review after the match.

If you can't handle my criticism of Iwobi I help you. Sorry

TheGoodJoe:
Jumping in circles.

He did not say he can not play the ten role he said he wanted to play upfront. As I said, you are not deceiving anyone here. Learn and move on.

You did not know he has played the ten role or could play it. Playing ten for Dortmund is not beans. You can keep trying to deceive people.

You did not know, now you know.

Rather take a slug to the head than accept the truth.

What circles? You're not happy because I highlighted the part you edited out in the interview quoted.

Lazyerudite:
Not to support him but he gave you facts. You can learn a few things. You dey have to win all arguements

He claimed Lewandowski can play as a no 10 citing an interview. He highlighted the part in the interview which fitted into what he wanted to sell, while carefully editing the part Lewandowski said he hated Klop for playing him there.
If he was comfortable playing there why will he be mad at Klop?

TheGoodJoe:
You are not deceiving anyone here. My point is simple. Can play the role. That is no way saying that is his role.

The point is too simple. Learn and move forward. You did not know Lewandowski could play the ten role and can play the ten role. Now you know. Finito.

If he can play the role why was he complaining in the interview?

"I wanted to take the next step - but suddenly I was playing in a No.10 role. I was quite mad because I wanted to play up front"

It's obvious Klop wanted him to learn something specific at that point which was the reason he deployed him there not because he could play as a 10.

TheGoodJoe:
Stop the cries. The point is a simple as accepting the truth. Lewandowski has played the ten role and can play the ten role. Simple. Modern day forwards can play multiple roles. That is why Lewandowski can drop into different pockets off spaces during play. That is what makes him exceptional.

Finish. You can continue arguing forever or learn and move on.

Loogan, do not mind some of them here. They will rather take a bullet to the head than learn if it means they were wrong.

Going by your allusion, one can say Drogba is a right back, Thomas Vermalen and Rio Ferdinand are strikers because they played those positions at some point? Aren't you tired of cooking up propaganda after propaganda just to serve an agenda? Congratulations anyway, you have succeeded in misleading a few people here with your half truths and misinformation.

TheGoodJoe:
Yet Lewandowski has told FFT that, although he was not happy about it at the time, operating in the No.10 role helped him become a more rounded player.

Do you want to argue with Lewandowski too? Learn and move on. You did not know but now you know. Simple. I once learnt about this too.

Players at some point in their careers are made to play in unfavourable positions. Drogba at sone point in his career played at right back and later a right winger. Rivaldo fell out with Van Gal when he made play from the wings at Barcelona against his preferred position as a no 10.

It is wrong to label Rivaldo a winger because Van Gal forced him to play there or call Drogba a right back except you have an agenda.

Lewandowski is a proper centre forward. Playing him at no 10 is like asking a plumber to paint the sisten Chapel. Its not going to be pretty.

Loogan:
First you quoted me on a stupid argument now you are taking things personal your problem. And stop that sentiment thing, don't just assume everyone talks based on sentiment. I'm here to share my opinion, don't quote me if you know we are not going to learn from each other...you argue to attack personalities and do not see other people's opinions, you the sentimental one here.

Me sentimental? Coming from a guy who believes Iwobi was having a better game than Moses Simon and I'm the one being sentimental.

Loogan:
No one cares if you love iwobi the most or not but guy are you watching this match? Like the other guy said iwobi has been impressive with the little he has seen on the ball he's Just not getting it enough, Simon has been the least threatening oga

I think this thread have indoctrinated some people wrongfully into the belive that some players must not be criticised at all cost. Anyone with a contrary view to such performance by such a player is called out which often ends in name calling.

This is not a women's support group, this is a football thread. Objectivity,criticism, truth and tactical analysis backed up with facts and data should be sold here.

Labelling Lewandowski a no 10 is just an elaborate desperate bid to save face and down play the calls to have a more powerful centre forward for the Super Eagles.

TheGoodJoe didn't even realise that his lewandoski comparison with Batistuta and Shearer points to exactly the big, strong, classic centre type we have been clamouring for to suit our formation.

TheGoodJoe:
That's what makes him so good. Lewandowski is a combination of every single kind of forward player. He finds space and can outmuscle defenders like Alan Shearer, has the eye for goal of a Batistuta or (Brazilian) Ronaldo, the quickfeet and vision of Sergio Aguero and links up play like Yaya Toure.

What Lewandowski does so well is all of the most basic of things. He is strong and powerful in the air, which suits being the target man, brilliant on the ball and under pressure in the area; capable of finding that one yard of space he needs to get a shot away, and plays with a vision and understanding of teammates required of a creative number ten.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bayern-munich/11928742/Robert-Lewandowski-how-he-became-the-most-prolific-striker-in-Europe.html


Arguementator. Lewandowski is a thorough modern forward. Not a huff and Puff-puff player you are trying to make him.

The writer figuratively described his link up game like that of a creative midfielder. He didn't say he was or could play as a creative midfielder. I know English is not our first language but these sort of figurative comparism shouldn't be lost on someone like you with a decent level of education.

By the way, I never in any of my lost advocated for a battering ram kind of striker in the name of playing a big man ala Emile Heskey. I have always emphasised on someone who can bring other players into the game with a good hold up play. You cannot be decent in hold up okay without being good with your feet.

Drogba is not as skilled as Okocha but he just has about enough in his locker to get past his maker and he's deceptively quick. I recall Vidic highlighting this part of his game.

TheGoodJoe:
Why do you think Klopp dropped Benteke on the bench? Hope you saw the kind of players attributed to Lewandowski, Shearer, Batistuta, not Drogba and Benteke.

Alan Shearer and Batistuta aren't old fashioned strong centre forwards? This man, you make laugh.
You think you're talking to a Y2k kid?

Loogan:
This is why I don't waste time arguing on this forum, do you know the meaning of an old fashioned target man? And I did not say lewandowski is a 10 I said he can play there because he has the ability..please read what wrote before you quote someone anyhow

Your gut feeling told you that he can play as a no 10 and you basically want to impose your opinion in a public forum, which isn't guided by any laid down fact but merely on your gutt feelings.
However, I'm not surprised. You're the same guy who tried to shout me down with an unfriendly comment when I said Iwobi was having a bad game against SA. Not until Rohr substituted him that you ate your humble pie.

Seriously friend, stop making sentimental judgments. Don't run opinions on just how you feel. At home, it is cool but in public? You should be more calculated and screwed on.

Loogan:
You just shot yourself in the foot lewndowski is not just a target man if you don't know he has mad workrate, link up play, dribbling skills vision, speed and defensive contribution, why do you think guardiola always advices iheanacho to learn from lewandowsi, you think when pep was in Bayern he would have bought him if he didn't fit his system?

Nobody is saying a old fashioned target man is not needed but Morden day coaches priorities technical dynamic forwards, not just some target man with no foot work, una no dey even try understand the coaches tactics and game plan but we be shouting for target man....the isak you are saying has good technique, which target man do the SE have that is technical and buries his chances? The one you have you are not appreciating, and please stop pulling that sentiment card it's just lame we equally want all your players to be successful so that our country can have something to be proud about...players will always have bad games that's part of the profession, but it seems some people here are and waiting for some players to underperform so they can just Criticize them....our young players are not there yet but that dosent mean we undermine them, we don't hype our youngsters as much as a lot of countries do.

Who told you big strikers aren't dynamic and skillful? Have you watched Berbatov play? Ibrahimovic? Cavani? Luca Toni? Kluivert? The list is endless, these guys are the proper decision of centre forwards who are dynamic, skillful and all that.

I wonder where you guys got this idea that lewandoski is a no 10. Cam you mention the game he played as a no 10 for club or country? Can you list any stats website that lists him as a No 10?

I don't know how you guys come about some of the things you say here.

TheGoodJoe:

Em, I doubt Lewandowski falls in line of the Benteke and Drogba kind of players. Lewandowski can play the ten role, skill and intelligent on the ball. Also very quick and mobile. Benteke and Drogba are not in that mould. Keep in mind Guardiola asked Iheanacho to study Lewandowski.

An attacker who can play the ten role are the modern day strikers. Ask Van Persie.

Lewandoski is a big centre forward in the mould of Benteke and Drogba. Yes!

Ask anyone who watched Benteke at Aston Villa where he shouldered the goal scoring responsibility oft the team. He was a proper target man with quality skills on the ball to get past CBs. Why do you think Liverpool paid £35M for him in the first place if he's some clogger.

You have to step it down a bit before making comments against having a big striker up top. Even Germany had to recall Mario Gomez for their world cup campaign.

By the way, did I read your say Lewandoski is a no 10? Abeg, abeg stop.

forgiveness:
Diego Costa doesn't want to go to any other club apart from Athletico Madrid else e for go bigger clubs. Facts.

Besides, what type of striker is Bayern Munich using?

Lewandoski is the real definition of target man. Big, strong, good shot to booth, win headers, brings people into play and all that classic no 9 move.
Where people are getting the idea that a good all fashioned, big, strong striker model is going extinct defiles belief.

Not when one of the hottest players in the transfer market who clubs are falling over themselves to sign up with about £80M transfer fee quoted in the person of Torino striker, Belloti is the definition of a proper big centre forward.
Amongst the top rated teenagers in Europe is Alexander Isak of Dortmund. At just 17 he's imposing figure stands at 6ft 3.

It's not like I'm at loss why people are running with the view that the big centre forward type is not fashionable. Obviously all in view to make a case for Kelechi starting for the eagles at all cost.

Just read a report on whoscored that Guinean Intl, Nabil Keita could be moving to Liverpool for £70M.
I'm gobsmacked to be honest. An African player being quoted for such silly money while the best of our overrated players struggle to attract suitors for +20M.

If Guinea, a country of about 12 million people can quietly produce a player worth 70M, I hide my face in shame that our dear country cannot produce someone half that prize.

Factor in, Aubameyang from Gabon could be moving from Dortmund for more than £70M, while Mo' Salah switched from Roma to Liverpool for 40M.

I think we should be humble enough to admit that we don't have super star players in our team. The earlier we understand this,the better for everyone.

komekn:
Ultimately Systems don't win matches good quality exceptional players do.

I agree with this totally.

Imagine a scenario where opposing teams play the same formation, let's say 4-3-3.
Team A get walloped 3:0 in the game. One will have no option but to say the better players on the day won because they both were playing with the same strategy with difference in personnel.

It is my humble opinion that coaches are generally overrated. Players are the major actors not the coaches.

Guys like Mourinho and Guardiola have spent more than a billion dollars over the last 5 out together on player purchases which explains their success.

As bad as his crime is, the judge was not lenient at all in his judgment. Getting a life sentence for rape is overzealous by the judge, knowing fully well this same country approves marriage of minors.

TheSuperNerd:
Akwa Ibom Commissioner Demands Apology from NFF

https://i0.wp.com/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/leadersandco/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/19221951/Charles-Udoh1.jpg


Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh, insisted on Tuesday that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should apologise to the government and people of the state, if reports in the media that Super Eagles next home match has been moved away from Uyo.

Speaking in his office on the reasons advanced for the purported moving of future Super Eagles matches away from Uyo as a result of the recent 2 – 0 loss to the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Mr. Udoh described them as weak and baseless.

The Commissioner maintained that Eagles had the best of support from the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, and that the NFF should not have contemplated such a move, it at all it did.

According to him, “the 30,000 capacity facility in Uyo remains the best maintained stadium in Nigeria and ranks among the best in the world.”

He stressed that “at no point in time were the Nigerian players booed throughout the duration of the match against South Africa, as would have been the case in other venues.”

On the distance from Le’Meridien Ibom Hotel to the Stadium, as one of the reasons for the poor result posted by the Eagles, Mr. Udoh said it could not have been, because the Bafana Bafana team was also lodged at the same facility and covered the same distance before the match.

He stated that on the contrary, the Ibom Le’Meridien Hotel & Golf Resort was a nice environment for good team bonding.

According to Mr. Udoh, “if truly the next Super Eagles Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Cameroon, earlier scheduled for Uyo, has been moved to Port Harcourt, as reported by a section of the sporting press, then the NFF would have to apologise to the government and people of Akwa Ibom.”

He recalled that it was at the same stadium in Uyo that the Super Eagles played brilliant football and defeated the Fennecs of Algeria, stressing that the support from football fans at the magnificent stadium has always been massive.

The Information Commissioner emphasised that instead of throwing blames in the wrong direction, the NFF should critically analysis the last match, with a view to identifying lapses and make adequate preparations for the next matches.

However, feelers from NFF’s Glass House in Abuja revealed that no decision has been taken on moving the Nigeria versus Cameroon World Cup qualifier from Uyo to Port Harcourt.

“I don’t know where the story of moving Super Eagles match against Cameroon from Uyo coming from. This is news to me. As far as we are concerned no decision has been taken to move the match from Uyo,” a top level NFF official told THISDAY last night.


Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/06/20/akwa-ibom-commissioner-demands-apology-from-nff/

Nigeria is a 3rd world country. The hallmarks of a 3rd world country is superstition and faith that God will intervene in all of their affairs.
People should be looking at bringing the right players and preparing adequately for the next game,instead they want to blame the stadium.
Africa man

Kog45:
Did I hear John Mastoroudus saying he was impressed with Onazi but here to some guys reversed is d case,

Some people just want to give the guy a bad name so they can protect their favourite Ndidi who had a game to forget.
I remember saying that Onazi had a better game than the rest of them midfielders. Funny enough, some said he was the captain, that he should have made the whole team played better. I can't understand what that means.
Could it be he was supposed to use a cane and flog Ndidi and Etebo to perform better?

TheSuperNerd:
They have stamina and power but so also did the Camerounians.

The difference physically was clearly size and Height since they are both matched in stamina and power. So Chile did play an evasive game but ofcos their defenders had to be both physical and technical with the towering Camerounians.

In the attacking third, Chile were all about technicality and evasive techniques. In midfield, Vidal did most of the physical fights... in addition to his box-to-box dutiee allowing Aranguiz and Diaz focus more on orchestrating Chile's plays from the middle.

In all, it boils down to Character and resilience from each and every player who will dorn the green and white for Nigeria to execute our game plans coz Cameroun will want us to play to their physical tunes all game and we must not allow that.


P.S: Speaking of battle hardened players... This where the likes of Mikel, Moses, Balogun and even Success come in... Mikel can play physical and technical... Moses' stamina is world class bad-ass... Success is a beast.... Balogun is our best and most battle-hardened defender.... So the generals will be back to lead the young troops.

What I'm saying is that we should field players who will be able to match them for power. They will give us a rough rugged and raw type of game.
If we play ajebo players because we want to out maneuver them. It will be bye bye to Baghdad for us.

When a football man talks, you cannot help but listen. Respect to you Mr Mastoroudes.
He talked like someone who followed the after game analysis on this thread.
.................

Mastoroudes : Super Eagles Have Capacity To Overcome Bafana Setback; Must Fight Cameroon ‘Fire To Fire ’

By Nnamdi Ezekute:
Veteran Nigerian football administrator and onetime boss of Leventis United FC of Ibadan has predicted that the Super Eagles will stage a strong comeback following a disgraceful 2-0 defeat to Bafana Bafana of South Africa in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
Nigeria host Cameroon in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier on August 28, looking to win and extend lead in the Group B of the African qualifying zone.
Mastoroudes, slams Gernot Rohr's team for confronting South Africa without grit and losing disgracefully at home, but believes
the Nigerian side has the capacity to bounce back on winning note if the coach and players get back to work with the hard lessons learnt.
"I am still optimistic they will bounce back. Yes, we lost the first match of the AFCON qualifiers, but we haven't lost everything. There are still many matches to play. We were wounded but we're not out yet," Mastoroudes tells Completesportsnigeria.com.
"Cameroon is the next game. We must resolve to stand up to them fire to fire.
"I saw Cameroon against Chile at the FIFA Confederations Cup. They have speed, great physique, height and power. It is a very important game to play, and we must win it to qualify for the World Cup.
"I am convinced that Nigeria can fight well and win when they have their back against the wall."
The Greek-born Mastorodes continues on his desire to see the national team his adopted country bounce back from the loss to South Africa.
"We did not play well in that match against South Africa, so losing it was inevitable," reckons.
"I felt that the players approached it like a friendly match. It's like they didn't realize the importance of of the game. I was very disappointed with their performance. Like I've always said, the new crop of Nigerian players coming through have the capacity to go far, but unfortunately they didn't show that promise against South Africa.
"I notices too many weaknesses in the team against South Africa. For example, the two full-backs were so much below par.
"The Eagles initially held the game but lacked creativity to to last the distance and then allowed South Africa to come up in the match.
"Going forward, Moses Simon was holding the ball, doing all sorts of tricks, but his final touches were so pathetic. Ahmed Musa was a disappointment when he came in. Most of us believe Musa is fast, but many African defenders are faster than him. His speed was completely neutralized by the Bafana defenders.
"Iheanacho was played completely out of position. We need a top class centre-forward. The forwards were substandard against South Africa. I did not see one Nigerian forward that I liked in the match.
"I was also very disappointed with Arsenal boy, Alex Iwobi. He didn't play well in that match.
"The only player who impressed in the midfield was Onazi. He fought like a lion, but unfortunately, he was on his own.
"I think we missed players like Mikel Obi in the midfield. And of course, we missed Victor Moses. He is such an important player for us. Without him against South Africa, the Super Eagles lost 50 per cent of his capacity.
"Going by the selection that played South Africa, I can say we don't have a team. We should just forget that match and concentrate on the future games.
"I have confidence in the capacity of the talents Nigeria have. We need to work very hard going forward. Hard work is the alfa and omega of every team. I believe we can improve. We should look for and get the right players to man the positions we have found to be weak. We have the players."
He also challenges Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr to brace up with the lessons he must have picked from his howlers against South Africa.
"Yes, the coach is to blame when the team loses, but it's a very good lesson for him. When people talked highly of him – about having not lost a match, I said good, the team must play more matches to test him properly. He may not have expected the players to play badly like they did even with his selection lapses, but it's a lesson for him going forward," he says.
"It's up to the coach now. He should get the right players for the positions. We have them out there. The team must work harder and play African football. This is important. They must play African football, not Oyinbo football. We have the talented players who will play that brand of football and make the difference."


http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/mastoroudes-super-eagles-capacity-overcome-bafana-setback-must-fight-cameroon-fire-fire/

TheSuperNerd:
Yes, that creative spark..... Creativity plus possession-based mobility in our plays.

We must starve them of the ball and play an evasive game where we don't have to clash with their physical might. We have more technical players than physical and we must utilise that to great effect.

Quick possession-based passing and Creative mobility of our forwards and midfielders will be greatly needed in that game and we got the players to execute that plan.



Coming to set-pieces.... You are spot on with your observation.

I must say that the Oliseh Era saw us make good improvements from set piece situations. We had an Efe Ambrose who was always winning those aerials in the opponent's area and scoring goals from them. Now in as much as I really don't like how Oliseh handled the team, I must give that short era of his kudos for making us a little more dangerous from set pieces.

Now under Rohr... we need to get that back. We have the likes of Ekong and Balogun and a few tall midfielders like Ogu or Ndidi... who can always be aerial threats in the opponent's box when we have freekicks or Corners in our favour.

So I really hope Rohr brings this back coz we saw it play out good a few times in the Oiliseh era. We haven't really seen such under Rohr.


Truth is.... we need not approach the Camerounians with pressure. They are the ones under pressure and need more points than we do... our Job is to frustrate them and drag the game by keeping possession and hitting them with fine through balls from Mikel and also quick passing interchanges in cameroun's half so as to penetrate by evading their physical approach and bringing in our speed via our forwards in behind their muscular defenders like we saw Chile do.

Chile's forwards and midfielders were all of average height and some quite short yet they outclassed Cameroun by avoiding going physical with them. They utilised their superior technical depth. We must do same and Sir TheGoodJoe in a reply to Sir Dedebanky85 just put in nicely in a nutshell comment. Similar to what I just tried explaining sentences ago.

We have two big battles on our hands but we must realise that the aces still lie with us. Firstly, Let them come at us...... and let us just focus on controlling the game and starving them.... when they realise they really need to badly get on the ball, they are prone to break a chain in their defensive organization .... and then, that is when we hit them big time.


Well shaa.... not as straightforward as it seems but we can work with this and its many branched scenarios.

Just a quick remark @the bolded.
The Chileans might appear smaller than the Camerounians but they have incredible stamina and power. They aren't shy to go physical and fight the towering Cameroun. Its not all about height and physic.
The pitbul Gary Mendel is just about a tall dwarf (if there's anything like that), but I will put my money on him killing Vincent Aboubakar in a UFC cage fight.

Inasmuch as we suggest quick and elusive players to battle Cameroun, due consideration must be given to battle harden players, who will roll up their sleeves and fight the Camerounians. I don't expect a pretty game, this is African football. Anything less, my hand no dey am oh.