₦airaland Forum

TheSuperNerd:
Uhmmmm... Sir Goldfish.... where did you see Valdivia?

It was Charles Aranguiz, Arturo Vidal and Marcelo Alfonso Diaz in the middle of the park for Chile.

I thought Valdiva was the guy on no 6 Jersey. Himself with Vidal were the key men for Chile.

Mickael2:
Oga arrogance is not the way to go. I remember before we met SA it was 5-0, going into the second half of that game we started saying 2-0, by 70 mins we were singing ' he is a miracle working God '

That was how they told me "South Africa is our wife" when I tired warning about how improved they have become.
Our people sabi make mouth, no be small.

Humility017:
why are u trying to Dodge the question?

You want me to start talking about players I last saw in 90 minutes of action about 2- 3 years ago? What exactly do you want to hear from me?

Icon4s:
After watching the intensity with which the Chileans attacked Cameroon yet the first half ended 0-0. Men fear catch me o.

It took the brilliance and artistry of Substitute Sanchez for both goals to be scored.

Creativity is the only way to beat a team like that.

Creativity and athleticism is the way to go. We also need power players in the defence. The pitbul Gary Mendel and co matched the Cameronians for pace and power which shut down their attacks.
Valdiva was the key man for Chile in the middle. He was too hot to handle. I wish Etebo could be something like that. But I have to be honest, Cameroun played very well.

They matched the Chileans all over the pitch till the last 8 minutes,the game was heading for a goalless draw.

Icon4s:
What will you say of players like Osimhen, Yahaya, K. Nwakali, Awoniyi, Success that were tearing defenses apart at U17 level. Why are they not still tearing defenses in such manners. Or have their skills also been coached out?

Me I can't say much about these names you're calling oh. I don't even know their club Jersey numbers.

Icon4s:
Haha haha what will Goldfish80, their prophet, say this time.

We have to be at our very best to beat these Camerounians.. Anything less, won't end up good.

If Rohr picks those lemon players like Awaziem, Osimhen and co against Cameroon.
They will beat us over 2 the legs, trust me.

Icon4s:
@ your last paragraph. You expect the competition at the U17 level to be same at senior level?

Let him go back and play against U17s and let's see if the skills have been coached out of him by City.

In other words you're saying he found his level at the U17's?

TheSuperNerd:
No need calling out the games one by one. I know the positions he played for each game.

Against Corsica, I saw a large part of the game myself. But it is sad no highlights exist for it except the less than two mins clip provided by The Radio Corsica page on Facebook which everyone else took and posted on their channels on YouTube and shared on twitter by a few.

No need telling you what I saw of Nacho as a lone striker that day because you won't believe me. You didn't see the game as much as I did.



On Togo... we didn't even see the game or see the highlights. So that alone is what you will use to knock that game out of the discussion.

But reports has it from different quarters and various sources which spoke about the Togo game that Nacho was menacing upfront... had a couple of shots on targets which drew good saves from the goalie and did good in opening up for passes from midfield. But hey! no video evidence.

Against Corsica... From the less than two mins video, it was clear Nacho was impressive enough even though that didn't tell the whole story. The large part of the game I saw showed Nacho's contributions to even setting up his team mates twice for very good opportunities. He also had a close shot saved by Penneteau after the keeper rushed out and narrowed the angle from where Nacho got the ball and tried to place it beyond the keeper. Nacho was impressive as the lone striker. It is a pity those matches were not shown to all for easy public view.




Against Algeria... Lemme cool on that. We have been there before.

Against South Africa.... I already gave the thread what I saw. He was below par but cannot shoulder the bulk of the blame for it. The Midfield was damn poor and just didn't click on the day.



And Finally... overtime... Nacho has shown again and again at Man City that as a lone striker he still strives.... it is not his best and most influential position but he still delivers the goods in that role as a lone striker no.9. He is not blessed with the muscles and strength to play with his back to goal... But he improvises the best way he can and he still finds a way to shine in that role.

Kelechi is not Useless as a lone striker... there are more games establishing this fact as against just The Algeria and South Africa games you hold onto so much.

Besides... against Algeria... his movements and high pressing were menacing and Leekens also said so. For the South Africa game, you keep quoting Baxter... and what he said. But you refuse to honor Leekens' words... That man said, "Kelechi was one of the reasons we lost to Nigeria". Well, putting it in good context.... Go figure....

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/11/13/algeria-coach-iheanacho-made-it-easy-for-victor-moses-to-punish-our-defence/

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2016/11/14/algerian-journalist-explains-how-iheanachos-movement-disorganised-algerias-defence-for-moses-to-pounce/

Why don't we talk about what we witnessed and not what Leekens said.
Kelechi did not stamp his authority in that game. You thought he was limited in that game, that was the reason you said he's better off as SS

TheGoodJoe:
Iheanacho beat the highline and offside trap repeatedly with acres of space to cause damage. Unfortunately the keeper did not need to do any thing but wait for the overweight passes to come to him. Simply put, if Mikel was there, we would have destroyed him. So talking all these are storyland.

Sterling has played against a highline and played fantastically. Suarez plays the nine role and does not need to hold up play with body strength. Instead he uses intelligence and trickery.

I guess you have not heard of Giuseppe Rossi who despite his small stature and lightweight can play as a lethal lone striker.

I cannot keep repeating myself why those balls couldn't/ wouldn't get through.

You said Suarez doesn't hold up play? This is the kind of things you come up with just to defend Kelechi. Suarez is a highly skilled forward who is very hard to disposes with his low centre gravity. Once he's in the ball, you may need to chase him with a cutlass to disposes him.
You want to really compare his hold up play with Kelechi's?
Rantie is a smallish forward but he's a bit like Suarez with his low centre gravity making it hard for people to take the ball of him.
Same culd be said about Rossi.

Kelechi unfortunately, have lost some of those skills we saw at the U17s. It appears they have been coached out of him at Man City.

TheSuperNerd:
@bolded... now you are the one not getting it. Who is talking about his most favorable position?

Haven't I already tackled, spelt out and Explained that Nacho's best/finest/most influential position is as a no.10 or no.8??

So why taking me back to "most favorable position"?

We are talking " Is Nacho useless as a lone striker?? Has he or has he not delivered the goods on a good number of occasions as a lone striker??"

That is the issue here... not most favorable position.

I have already said what his best positions are but I am not blind to the fact that he also delivers the goods in a less favorable position.

He has been entirely anonymous for the Super Eagles as a lone forward.

Against Tanzania, he had a good game and scored a tantalising goal, I think cnn goal of the week. Odion Ighalo provided a foil for him that day and he had time and space to take shots.

Zambia, he played top with Ideye and influenced the game in the first half and got a goal. When Ideye left the pitch, he barely touched the ball till final whistle.

Senegal friendly, he came alive when Kayode or was it Success came on. Prior to that he was anonymous.

Algeria, he didn't do anything to influence the game. I can't recall him doing something really threatening as a lone striker on the day.

The less said about South Africa the better.

Togo*( nobody watched that came so can't say)

Corsica*

Against Leicester City, he touched the ball just 13 times before being substituted. On the day he played as a lone striker. Huth and Morgan easily isolated him without breaking a sweat.

So yes, I still stand by my assertion that he's useless as a lone forward.

TheGoodJoe:
Please, you played Organized football. When there is a highline, there is a lot of space at the back and the best way to utilize it is to get well timed runs into that space.

Or in your organized football, there is no space behind a highline?

It will be difficult for a striker to beat that high line and offside trap. Even when he does, the keeper is usually trained to keep an eye out and play the sweeper role.
That is why you need a big striker to hold the ball up and flick to very quick wingers and midfielders to run into the space left.
That is how to break down such a setup.

TheSuperNerd:
He played lone striker a couple of times for City and still delivered the goods on certain occasions. So He is not Useless.

Having a good game here and there in such a role does not mean that's his most favorable position.
Just like when Fabregas was played as a 9 by Barcelona. It doesn't mean he's not useless in that's position leading the line.

TheGoodJoe:
The problem is you saying USELESS as a lone striker. Haba. That is so off tangent that someone can miss road in Ojota.

Yes he's absolutely useless playing as a lone striker. He's not blessed with the body and strength to hold the ball up and fight 2 CBs on his own.
I have no problems with him paired up with someone in a twin strike force.
I hope it sinks in this time.

TheSuperNerd:
I am not caught in any dilemma. Don't even think of making it a thing of emotional allegiance coz that is so lame.


I still maintain that Nacho is best utilized and in full beast mode when played behind the striker as a no.10 (AMF) or in partnership with another as a no.8 (SS) But.....

...... I am also open-minded to the fact that Nacho has shown good enough impressions as a no.9 and thus cannot be termed "Useless".

" Useless" is a huge and heavy word to use on a player who took the EPL by storm playing as a no.9. It is not fair on the lad. You saw my analysis on Nacho vs South Africa and I bashed him too.... but calling him useless is way off the mark.


And the day you or anybody call Iwobi "Useless" or "rubbish", then you will know that Iwobi's attorney is around. I guarantee it. Just do so. And Alex was not in Nacho's shoes all game. He had his own battles to fight out wide... Iwobi is still one of the top ballers and Super class acts of the team. That day was just bad for all our players... sad day but we dust ourselves up and move the hell on.


And who is scared of having you pull out what I said when I have always and always called Nacho a super hybrid?

I am not denying my stance but only stating that a fair analysis be given concerning Nacho. Terming him useless is the height of you ignoring what he still brings as a no.9 even when that is not his best/finest/most influential position.

P.S. : Even my first post quoting you saw me mention again my stand on Nacho's best/most influential position. Take a look back at it. My points and angle of discussion are put in perfect perspective here.

There's a difference between playing as a no 9 and a lone striker. You still don't get it.

TheGoodJoe:
Made something when there was enough room in the midfield for the South Africans to cause damage. As I said, misreading.

Do you think we would not cause South Africa damage if they gave us such room?

Which room? Alot of people bash our midfield on the day but truth was that they pressed South Africa out of the pitch especially in the first half. Even the South African commentators were glad to go into the break tied goalless. They kept complaining how our midfield were quicker to the first and second balls. How much our midfield closed them down and limited their team to little time km the ball.

So which room exactly are you talking about.

Truth still remains the team was unbalanced because the top striker couldn't hold the balls up and dominate the SA defence.

TheSuperNerd:
Things guys like you say just to make your comment sound credible. Looolll


It is okay. Keep yapping what you wish about the lad Nacho. Time will prove you wrong.


About Alex.... you obviously were never going to over-stress it where you? But on Kelechi... you can take on his matters for days or even weeks.... just to prove he is not top quality. The internet never forgets.


And where you mentioned 3balls... you said 3 balls. You never cited it as one offside and one where he was outpaced. Then all of sudden... in a another post, you made it two balls. You are just doing the best you can to give your statement credibility.

Carry on... maybe you should go watch the game again to have a proper count of how many over hit balls they were after all.

If only poor Alex had a defence attorney who tried to prove he made good runs in the game but passes weren't finding him, I would have exhausted a week arguing how terrible a game he had.

I have always said from day 1 that Kelechi is not best utilised as a lone forward but in a strike partnership, he will be good as a second striker. You even share the same view with me. After the Algerian game, I recall you argued against TheGoodJoe that Kelechi is better playing as SS.
Today somehow you're caught in a dilemma, you're caught in the middle of supporting your friend TheGoodJoe or standing firm on your belief.

Yes, the Internet never forgets. I can pull out your earlier affirmations that Kelechi is better as SS.

TheGoodJoe:
Why the hell should I be interested in how many poor final balls the South Africans made? I am interested in goal scoring opportunities we missed. We had the chance to create loads but they were over hit. Simple. Talking winning balls in the air as if those are creating goal scoring opportunities.

Your points are so over the place because you are trying hard to bury the truth. If a forward wins a goal scoring opportunity, there is still work to create goal scoring opportunities. The long balls we over hit were chances to create direct goal scoring opportunities. Get it.

I used Rantie as an example of a forward who still battled gamely for his team even when the passes weren't getting to him. He still made something happen.
If every intended pass found strikers it was intended for, football matches will be ending with scorelines like 40-52.

TheGoodJoe:
Please the scenario between the Algerian game and South African game is in total contrast. Against Algeria, their defence was very organized giving Iheanacho few chances of getting clear room to cause havoc.

The South Africans left room behind and Iheanacho had space to cause damage. Unfortunately we did not have a creative midfielder on the pitch to make use of the golden opportunity.

How someone who played organized football can equate both situations beats my imagination.

The sceniors weren't different. I still have the Algerian match in my laptop. We employed same tactics and formation with a difference in personnel Moses, Balogun and Mikel.
Kelechi huffed and puffed in that match. He couldn't win anything in the air, he couldn't bring others into the game. He was totally MIA. His poor game cumulated in the last minute when he missed a sitter after set up by Musa.

When the Algerians were in search for a goal, they threw caution to the wind and left genuine gaps behind when Kelechi fluffed his chance after being set up nicely.

TheGoodJoe:
They launched countless balls into the attack but they were over hit. Keep that in mind.

So overhit that some went to the keeper. Store that too. If anyone was in that position to receive the ball, it will be offside because the South Africans played a highline defence.

So how the hell do you want a big man to receive those balls in an offside position. Do you see you are just saying what comes to mind without considering the match conditions?

An attacking change was the wrong call. We needed to make a change to get someone in the hole who could deliver tidy passes.

Haaa.

In the first 10 minutes alone, I counted about 3 ariel balls which the SA defenders won. If I'm to take a total some of those kind of balls in the first half, we will be looking at more than 10 ariel duels Kelechi lost.
I wonder why you're holding on to just 2 balls which didn't get to Kelechi.

If we are to count passes which didn't get to players, then Rantie would have killed his team mates. I can count more than enough passes which the SA midfielders couldn't thread pass our defenders in the first half to find Rantie. Yet Rantie came out the game with his reputation in tact. The failed passes didn't define his game, he brought fight, hold up and anchored his team in attack.
You get the picture now?

Mickael2:
Let me even add something else. You correctly pointed out that theGoodJoe hasn't played organise football and I think you may be right.

When I was small we had a system we used to call 'forward press', I think it's in computer games. In that system if the opponents defence is tight then the striker falls back into almost a midfield position so that instead of him to be looking for runs in behind the defence which will never come, he will come into midfield and join forces with the attacking midfielder so the defenders will not know who to look out for since there will be two players attacking their backline once we move forward but Iheanacho just remained stagnant like a tree trying to make runs in behind a water-tight defence, that never works.

A target man would have been the perfect fit for that game. The SA adopted a highline, the target man does not need to start running in behind the defence. Let's use a scenario, a defender clears the ball(the AMF has started running slowly gathering pace), the defence line of the opponents is almost close to the center circle so the target man wins the ball and holds it up(by now the Amf has gathered pace and is running in behind the two defenders already occupied by the target man and he is still in an onside position), all the target man needs to do is flick the ball behind the defenders and the Amf will have enough space to race on to the ball because he has already accelerated before the defenders even start to accelerate. I mean a person who plays football will know that a target man works wonders against high-pressing defence lines na, that's why Drogba used to murder Barca with Chelsea

This is exactly the idea. If I may add, Chelsea used to employ this method when playing Arsenal. Drogba with his hold up play and flicks usually tore Arsenal into shreds. Alex Ferguson dealt with Arsenal and their high line, using Berbatov's hold up play to tear them into pieces.

If Kelechi is to be used to good effect,he should be playing the Griezman role, while someone else plays the Giroud role. Against Zambia, he played this to good effect and influenced the game. Algeria came, we saw a stuttering performance by Kelechi. Some of us highlited this, instead TheGoodJoe defended him, saying something like he was pressing the Algerians. That performance against Algeria, snowballed into the catastrophe against SA. Moses who was bailed us out against Algeria was not available against SA and we saw what happened.
Breeze, fowl yansh and all that.

TheSuperNerd:
From three balls in one of your posts it has reduced to two balls ba??

Sir Goldfish80.... You are really amazing when you try to cook up some fallacies just to drive home a point about Nacho being very useless as a no.9.

Anyone who watched that first half with a keen unbiased mind would easily count up to four balls that were over hit all the time after Nacho had opened up and subtly evaded his marker.


I am the one person on this thread who have always described Nacho in full in terms of his playing positions and his best playing position.

We both agree that Nacho is far more and most effective and super influential in games as a no.10 (Dynamically roaming AMF) or a no.8 (SS)... But As a no.9 it is absolutely fallacious to term Nacho "Useless".

He is good as a no.9 and has shown that already BUT is far better and far more effective as a no.10 or no.8... Chikena. That is the true analysis.

Your choice of words when it comes to Nacho have always been noted from time immemorial on this thread. So I am not surprised.

Coming to the second point. I have given a break down of those 4 balls.
He was caught offside in 1,
Outpaced by the South African goalkeeper in 1,
Making it only 2 balls which were "over hit". I put it in parenthesis because I had earlier given a breakdown why those balls will look over hit for most spectators.

About my choice of words, I don't have a special choice of words for any player. The same way I called out Kelechi was the same way I called out Iwobi. Unfortunately for Alex, he didn't have an attorney to cook up propaganda to defend him with.
Where I come from, we say it from the belly no matter whose ox is gored.

TheSuperNerd:
From three balls in one of your posts it has reduced to two balls ba??

Sir Goldfish80.... You are really amazing when you try to cook up some fallacies just to drive home a point about Nacho being very useless as a no.9.

Anyone who watched that first half with a keen unbiased mind would easily count up to four balls that were over hit all the time after Nacho had opened up and subtly evaded his marker.


I am the one person on this thread who have always described Nacho in full in terms of his playing positions and his best playing position.

We both agree that Nacho is far more and most effective and super influential in games as a no.10 (Dynamically roaming AMF) or a no.8 (SS)... But As a no.9 it is absolutely fallacious to term Nacho "Useless".

He is good as a no.9 and has shown that already BUT is far better and far more effective as a no.10 or no.8... Chikena. That is the true analysis.

Your choice of words when it comes to Nacho have always been noted from time immemorial on this thread. So I am not surprised.

I said he's useless as a lone forward not a no 9 and I have been giving get points based on that. Being a lone forward and a no 9 are not the same thing.
And yes he's wasted as a lone forward.

R

TheGoodJoe:
You are just talking story. You said bring in target man from your organized football history in a high line. Show us how especially now you agree the balls were coming.

2 balls where the balls coming?

If the midfield had someone to aim at, they would have played the ball into the the big striker who will flick the balls to unrushing midfielders and wide men to the gaps left by the offside trap.

I saw them launch countless balls up to Kelechi which the South Africans didn't have problems dealing with. Kelechi never won a single ariel ball in the game. The CBs didn't even have to jump too high to deal with those balls.

TheGoodJoe:
You are talking story. I have made my point clear as swimming pool water. In a high line and with our striker repeatedly beating the Offside trap, how can you in that situation call for a target man.

Explain because you played organized football.

One of those said passes had khune out sprinting Kelechi to the ball, he was caught offside in one, and the other 2, the ball couldn't get to him.

Those 2 "misplaced" passes have become the highlight of Kelechi's 70 minutes appearance?

You have gained cyber fame for defending the indefensible, but at least on this one, do your self a favour and admit Kelechi had a poor game. The South African coach said so, Rohr have admitted as much and Kelechi himself have raised his hands and admitted he was below par.

TheGoodJoe:
Another story. You are the one talking of the South African defence set high up and using an offside trap strategy. Iheanacho beat the strategy repeatedly but the final balls were poor/atrocious.

So in that situation, bringing in a big striker will do nothing unless you change strategy.

I repeat, an attacking change in that scenario was the wrong call. South Africa was there for the taking. If Mikel gave those passes, we would have slaughtered South Africa in that first half. Not bring a target man.

It's obvious you never played organised football. Not strange my explanations were lost on you. Either that, or you're just being willfully dense.

TheGoodJoe:
You said useless as a lone striker. You are wrong there. Simple as that.

He has been MIA in a lot of games hes played as a lone striker. You can't blame me. Excuse my French.

TheGoodJoe:
You are the one telling tales by moonlight. You are totally wrong when you said Kelechi is useless as a lone striker. There are games he played very well as a lone striker. If that is your definition of useless, then you need to recheck the meaning of the word.

If we are to analyse some of those games strictly on his game outside the 6 yard box, we will find some inhibitions and hiccups.
Especially his hold up play, and playing with his back to goal. Which is a key ingredient in the locker of a typical lone forward.

TheGoodJoe:
You are the one who is confusing your self. I said Kelechi is more lethal in the box than Mbappe. Mbappe has other qualities he uses to surpass Iheanacho.

Also I said, judge Iheanacho after he gets his run of games. I wonder why simple things like you is so hard to comprehend. It is too basic.

How that equates to Iheanacho better than Mbappe is baffling. Judge after Nacho gets his run.

You dare me to put out your post which you rated Iheanacho ahead of Mbappe after the Manchester City vs Monaco first leg champions league tie?

TheGoodJoe:
So to you, if a ten holds the ball and makes a bad pass to the forward repeatedly despite the forward making good runs, you will remove the striker for a target man to cause nuisances.

Haaa.

I don't know your football background. But I will be surprised if you played organised football and still come up with some of these opinions you push out.

Kelechi played close to 70 minutes of a game and all you could muster to defend his poor output was about 3 misplaced passes which didn't get to him from midfield.

I never knew players were judged by the number passes which didn't get to them.

Let me explain this to you again. South Africa had their defence well organised. Their defence was set up high up the pitch which translated to an offside trap strategy. Balls over the top from midfield will look to have bypassed the defence which will mislead a spectator into thinking the ball was over hit.

The defence was so set up like that to deceive midfielders to hit those type of passes,which wouldn't come through anyway.
It is a dangerous strategy but if it works to perfection, what you saw last Saturday was about the result you will get.

This is the technical breakdown of what went down against Bafana.

TheGoodJoe:
Do you have an idea there is a thing like strategy in football? If you think just bring in big striker then you miss a big picture. When you have a smallish mobile forward like Suarez, the strategy of play is totally different from when you have someone like Benteke.

In the game against South Africa, the build up worked but the final balls failed.

Saying Iheanacho is useless as a lone forward also shows the height of ignorance. I will explain.

Did you watch Iheanacho during the beginning of last season when Aguero injured? He was on fire. Fantastic. I remember his dummy against Stoke City or the counter attack I think against Bournemouth or his goal against Celtic, I think Monchengladbach with an assist from Sane. Or the one he dribbled the keeper and gave a brilliant pass to Nolito.

He did these playing as a lone forward and you use the distasteful term as USELESS.

FEAR GOD.

You're attempting to compare Suarez to Kelechi. Do they have the same skill set? Apples and oranges

If Kelechi was this awesome as a lone forward, I don't think Man city would have had him on transfer list.
I have seen plenty of anonymous games from him down the centre. I wonder why you dint mention the game against Leicester which he touched the ball just 13 times before being substituted.

Why didn't you mention the game against Algeria, which he was anonymous, he barely touched the ball all game.
How about the Senegal friendly? Save for the penalty, what else can you point out was his highlights?
How about the Zambian game, how many times did he touch the ball after Ideye was substituted?

I'm saying this for posterity sake. I'm not trying to convince you. It will be a total waste of time to try convince a delusional fellow who thinks Kelechi is better than Mbappe.

TheSuperNerd:
Just as I predicted.... the thread went into a bashing tone just because of one loss....

I could easily predict who will bash who....

Sir TheGoodJoe... thank you for your invaluable analyses. You tried to be objective and you were to a great extent.... but when it came to Akpeyi. Lemme say this.... That guy is a nightmare... yeah... but he is better than an Agbim at least. "Slightly Better"... lol. That first goal have beaten a good number goalies I know and have seen on TV in top leagues. Besides... there is the saying that a "Header on target is 9 out of 10 times a goal".... that saying was back in the days when I was a junior forward in secondary school. I just recoined it...


And On Awaziem... wow! I remember being among the first to say His partnership with Ekong will likely feature against South Africa. I said so after the Togo game.... honestly when I saw him in the line-up, Initially I was happy... lad is good quality no doubt. But well... the occasion was too much for him and yes he had a game he wouldn't wanna remember but I wouldn't blame him entirely. Our Midfield was the problem >>>>> MIGHTY TRUTH... IF NO ONE HAMMERS ON THIS, THEN THAT PERSON IS TALKING ABSOLUTE TRASH.

I remember when I dropped a post here warning that that game will be lost and won in the midfield. I listed Furman and even a Zungu as men to be wary of but also said if our midfield three of Onazi, Ndidi and Etebo clicks.. then it would not be an issue. But On Saturday I saw The New Revelation of St. Eagles....

It seems Onazi and Ndidi cannot play together... On paper that midfield three looks really good and solid... but when played out... what did we see?? too many overhit passes to the forward line especially the center forward line... Iheanacho suffered Majorly from poor service and too many over hit passes and through balls... Up to about four or five times in that first half, My Goodness, Had it been Mikel or lemme say An Ajagun (WHERE IS FORGIVENESS?? He hasn't even taken advantage to make case for Ajagun since Etebo as a 10 just didn't click...), Iheanacho would have gotten those balls well hit to him and he will do the rest... and wreck those Southies.... but it was not to be..... Even a few minds who saw the game with me were always asking "Plsss, who is the person in that midfield hitting these rockets to outer space when the no.9 is just there and have opened up??" smh...

... But Hey Iheanacho also didn't have a great game.. he was simply below par but ofcos the best Eagles Chance of the first half was created by Him... Etebo flunked it!!! if Nacho had missed that we will be seeing new tones from the prosecuting attorney of Sir Goldfish80 and Sir Mickael2 pointing it out with the "I told you so" and "Nacho is not top quality" sticks.... loollll

Well... they both have been doing a good job of it lately. Kudos to their "Attorneyship"


It is amazing how Iheanacho became the center of the blame here when the midfield was the Eagles' problem all game!!! All the players were poor.... most especially all the midfielders.... Onazi (love him when he tries to make amends but in doing so some times, he ends up scattering our midfield organization), Ndidi (my favorite MF in the team after Mikel... lad was all over the place and no where at all... lol), and Etebo (our beloved workhorse.... was just confused as the guys watching and wondering who the hell is hitting those poor balls from the CMF/AMF positions to Kentucky when Nacho was in Baltimore) were all poor....... buuuutttt Simon Moses gave me the best response I expected from the other players when we went one nil down.

Simon moses showcased the fight and hunger in him with his daring plays...... but ofcos his end product is still lacking but at least we saw the fight in the lad.

I didn't see this fight in Iheanacho.... sorry... I Love him but he should have taken the bull by the horn also... seeing how scattered our midfielders were... Nacho should have talked to Etebo and Onazi (captain on the day and one of two most experienced players on the field that day)..... boned the tactics that were not working and simply taken matters into his hands... Like Dropping deep and allowing Etebo take up advanced positions upfront while he Nacho under chameleon effect takes over the No.10 role... he is still good at that (the no 10 role) God Dammit!!!!!

That way Ndidi and Onazi will adjust and Maybe.. just maybe we would have salvaged a draw.... who knows?

NOW THIS IS ME TALKING FROM A PERSONAL ANALYTICAL STANDPOINT... BUT STILL, HE IS NOT TO BLAME... His primary duty as the no.9 was well defined and he stuck to it... but the passes from midfield were always Overhit and "overcooked" (Mind if I borrow that word Sir BascoVanVeli... thank you )

So in all.... I could go on and on.... But let me commend Sir Joebie for trying to bring back that science of the game talk.... gosh! our team really needs to be looked at and let us decide on the one formation that suits us... and the players best for that formation... Even if it means Iheanacho benches... then so be it mehn! I just Want the Super Eagles to grow into world class competitive level... but you see a player like Nacho?

I see him occupying a big role in this team's future.... we have to be fair when analysing the lad. The act he pulled when dragging his feet and being almost non-challant to the sub situation he found himself didn't actually mean Disrespect...... nooo... Nacho was not disrespecting anyone... neither was he just being Stupid.

Truth is this... from a keen psychological point of view... I have it on good authority that Nacho's attitude that day was the reaction you see from " Winners" or "Players with winners' attitude".... Champions beat and blame themselves even when the bulk of blame is not theirs to bear...

Nacho sees himself as one of the team's saviors when it matters most and HE JUST DIDN'T COME TO THE PARTY. He was just BELOW PAR. Yes we can talk on and on about the Over hit passes but truth is... Champions make the best out of any situation they find themselves and Nacho knew within himself that he didn't do enough. So he was right to shoulder the blame.. because that, right there, is what Champions (or players with champions attitude) do.




Teaser: Do you know that The June 10 historical loss to South Africa was Iheanacho's First Loss as A Super Eagles player when on the pitch?? He has only known Victories and draws... He was not even involved in the 1-0 loss in Alexandria, Egypt under Siasia...

That should tell you more of the psychological wave of guilt that swept through Nacho's mind when he saw himself being substituted... Imagine when you are nicknamed " Goals" and the coach takes you "Goals" out.... loolll... that is game over for you and for the team. Nacho knew that and he was indeed Below par in that game. Case Closed on Nacho. He will bounce back stronger I am sure... but let the best and most suitable start against Cameoroun... if august comes and it is still Nacho... then fellas... sorry... Nacho must play. Gbam!



Lemme end it here....
or should I?

From now, let's move on forward... one loss cannot suddenly rubbish the fact that we indeed have a golden generation on our hands....

We just have to get things right and utilise the very best we have... NOT BASED ON WHO PLAYS FOR THE BIG CLUBS... NOPE! BUT ON WHO IS TOP QUALITY EAGLES MATERIALS....

Sir JOEBIE DROPPED A LIST OF THE CAMEROONIAN TEAM THAT CONQUERED AFRICA... I remember Sir Goldfish80 talking about the quality of that team... he was right about them and we saw how they roared to the title...

It is not in glamorous clubs that we must base our analysis of the team's Line-up....... it is in actual top talents and what these players can bring to the team...

When I talk for Iheanacho for instance, it is because I know what that lad brings and we all here know it too... we know his talents and his growing reputation... IT IS NOT because HE IS IN MANCHESTER CITY.... NOPE!!!

It is because Kelechi is truly a class-Act.

When I called Mikel World class... people said I was stupid... and just crazily sentimental... you see now that he is the one world class quality that would have won us that game against South Africa and even made Awaziem's debut look so good sef... I bet you that had Mikel been on that pitch leading that team... we would have won and Awaziem will be hailed as Omeruo's quick super replacement...

Mikel's quality alone covered for the team's loop holes... but many didn't know... yet Some time ago... some of you wanted Mikel out... it is okay... sebi I am still mad to call him World class...See as i just dey look all of una....

The only invasion the thread ever experienced was becos I called Mikel World class... Some even termed him useless and a non-entity.... chaiiii... Now guys are saying... Ohhh Mikel is so important to the team... he was greatly missed. Shut up joor! Na now some people dey know... Loolll










Bottomline:

We need to move forward and do so wisely... WE MUST NOT BE OVERLY REACTIONARY because OF ONE LOSS... Like Sir Jospeh1013, I too am not bothered we lost... To be honest I kinda saw it coming after seeing Baxter's last batch of technical interviews before the game. He got our team spot on and knew we wouldn't be fielding a Mikel or moses or balogun or Ikeme... he played on our subtle weaknesses and exposed them... and that was my biggest silent fear... and our midfield made matters worse than worst....

I just didn't wanna be seen as suddenly "Pessimistic" which is why I stayed away long before the game began but coincidentally I also fell sick (wasn't feeling too good in the week leading up to the game)... so I'm back... and it is for us to move forward...

Enough of the bashings... Let's move forward...

Enough of "Experience vs Youth..."

Truth is Both failed us that day... But we have the chance to make things right.

We still have a new golden generation on our hands people... this is the gospel truth... let us not blow it.... we can see this through...

come on now... let's do this okay... come on y'all...

Let's make a come back...

My opinion about Kelechi is very clear. I have always advocated that he's more of a second striker than a top striker.

Playing him as striker have reduced his influence to a six yard box striker. This is exactly the reason 90% of his goals are tap-ins and sure for him to do this on so many occasions shows he has a great instinct to be in the right place at the right time. But with such a player to be at his best the team as a whole needs to be tailored around such a player.

To get the best of Kelechi, the team have to play for him and make sure he's the last man in every move.

Unfortunately against South Africa, all these couldn't come together. The team was crying out for a target man. A top target man who could cause a nuisance to the South African defence. The kind of target man who will hold the ball up and bring others into the game. This was the reason the midfield failed. They basically lacked someone to bring them into the final 3rd of the South Africans.

The team was not set up to have a poacher who will wait on the shoulder of the last defender for something to fall for him. This was exactly the reason Kelechi had no influence in the game.

France for all the talents of Griezman, Mbappe,Dembele, Lacazete, etc still start a lesser talented Giroud because they need that imposing figure to bring others to play.

Football people in the country have all submitted that the big strikers should be recalled. It was very obvious that the team was unbalanced because we couldn't hold the ball up in the final 3rd. Even Rohr have admitted to the recall of Ideye and Co.
The whole country cannot be wrong at the same time.

Kelechi is useless as a lone forward. I can say this before any Oracle.

Icon4s:
Akpeyi, Ezenwa, Alampasu, Daniel not good enough So now which other goalies can you recommend. Whether home or foreign based?

You're putting me right on the spot. But if I'm to make a case for anybody in the absence of Enyeama and Ikeme, I will choose Dele Aiyenugba and David Nwokolor.

Dele Aiyenugba had a good season in the Israeli top division. He emased 2,790 minutes for his club which totalled about 31 games. In the relegation play off, he had a shot out in 2 games out of 7, conceeding only 5times in 7 games.
For me, he's an upgrade on anything we have at the moment.
Lets not forget he's 1yr younger than Vincent.

David Nwokolor on his part had a decent season in Bosnia. Played a total of 23 games, emasing about 2300+ minutes. Definitely one for the future. A massive upgrade on Alampasu who couldn't hold a place in the Portuguese 3rd div.

At the home front, I will go for Nwabulu, Okeimute Odah and the Enyimba keeper, his name eludes me.