₦airaland Forum

maidaboi:
Na on friday the list go comot and tammy dey there

No na Sunday. Lionel Messi name sef dey

MetalJigsaw:
Spotlight On Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup Group Foes: Iceland Goal Machine SIGTHORSSON
May 13, 2018

With A Goal Every Two Games, How Can Nigeria Stop Iceland’s Recovering Kolbeinn Sigthórsson?

Kolbeinn Sigthórsson, out injured for the better part of the last two seasons, has chosen the perfect time to overcome his injury woes and staged a return to the Iceland team preparing for their debut at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Though the Nantes striker missed Iceland’s last two friendly games against Mexico and Peru, it would be unfair to keep Sigthórsson out of the World Cup-bound team given his intimidating international scoring record of 22 goals in 44 games, averaging 0.5 each match .

He was one of the stars of Iceland’s fairytale run at the 2016 European Championships in France, scoring the winner in the Round of 16 game against England and his team’s solitary goal in the 5-2 loss to host country France in the quarter-finals.

He ended up as joint-highest goal scorer for his country at their first-ever international championship.

The 28-year-old first came into prominence when he scored five goals in AZ Alkmaar’s 6-1 defeat of VVV Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2011.

For Sigthórsson, however, scoring in bulk is nothing new: “I once scored ten goals in a match for the youth team,” he said. “Of course these five goals are fantastic for me. It gives you a lot of confidence. As a striker you need to score – I am always looking to score goals – so I am very happy with this tally.”

BEST POSITION : Sigthórsson plays mainly as arrowhead of the attack but, when occasion demands, can also play in a withdrawn no 10 position although he prefers the no. 9 spot.

STRENGTHS: Quick with the ball,Sigthórsson is deadly in aerial duels and also able to contribute a shift in defensive duties when the need arises. Has an eye for long surprise shots and can quickly transit from his own half into the opposition area within the twinkle of an eye.

WEAKNESSES: Slightly built but his all-action style of play makes him injury-prone, like the long lay-off which set him back since 2016 but when fully fit, he’s almost unplayable.

STYLE: Skilful, creative and classy, Sigþórsson makes as many goals as he scores. He likes to do flick-ons and turns on the style with little pieces of magic unusual for an out and out attacker like him.

NATIONAL TEAM STATS: Since his debut for the national team in 2010,Sigthórsson has just 44 caps with 22 goals, placing him second on the all-time record goals scorers list behind former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.

DISCUSSION: Which Super Eagles defender do you think is capable of shutting out Sigthórsson?

DO YOU KNOW?
Iceland is the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup.Iceland is the first country in World Cup history to have less than a million people and successfully qualify to compete on soccer’s biggest stage. Iceland’s population is a mere 334,252, with approximately one-third of the island’s people living in the capital of Reykjavik.

Their Coach is a Dentist. Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson is a part-time dentist…and a World Cup coach. When the Icelandic team isn’t practicing or playing, Hallgrimsson tends to be found at his dental practice, which he says he runs mainly so he can keep up with his patients and the people he misses.

To connect with fans, he started a tradition where he’d meet with supporters at a pub in Reykjavik before home matches and discuss the team’s lineup and tactics. That tradition continues to this day — and Iceland hasn’t lost a competitive match at home in four years, going 10-3-0 since its last home defeat in a qualifier.

The lack of stars outside of Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton, the team’s leading goal scorer, fits perfectly with Iceland’s reputation for getting the job done with their work rather than with their talent. More than that, it’s how they’ve made history.

Iceland’s goalie, Hannes Halldórsson, began his professional career relatively late as he had long been battling a shoulder injury. Hannes is also a film director and directed the television series Atvinnumennirnir okkar, which follows some of Iceland’s professional sportsmen

Gylfi Sigurðsson, Iceland’s star player, is currently the highest paid Icelandic footballer, receiving around 40 million ISK in salary per month. Gylfi plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Swansea City.

Iceland’s supporters are called “Tólfan” (The Twelve), as they are the “twelfth man on the field”. The club was founded in 2007 by a small group of supporters who felt the Icelandic national team needed to be cheered on by spectators. The club has since grown and, as has become evident during Iceland’s games, is extremely supportive of its team.

Did we not stop Lewandowski?

Joebie:
Rumors has it that Omeruo missed out for little known Obilor

On Rohr's List or where?

Joebie:
See another case of corruption. Croatia coach release only 32 instead of 35.

Oya forgiveness over to u

Me I have never seen the essence of that 35 man list. Unneccesary distraction IMO.

Me I have said 25 and maybe because of unforeseen injuries I can add 3 or 4 players.

Truidstar:
Make the list come out make you see

I don't envisage too much surprises and controversies.
But at the same time, my fire extinguishers are ready. You never can tell.

Next round opponents watch:

Mauritania 1-0 Guinea

Truidstar:
This place go soon catch fire.

Na you wan set the fire?

solonnachi:
That flying Eagles defense is too porous. Even coach Maikaba complained about it. It really needs to be worked on. The Guinea Bissau guys are no push overs. About 9 of their players play in the Portuguese league

You also saw the team they paraded at the last AFCON. Their football is obviously on the rise. I saw this as a tricky tie.

The 2-2 away draw is already to our advantage.

I hope our boys can finish the job in Calabar.

Alfryd:
can't wait to see simly & kayode in rohr lists TO Russians

Is Rohr sending the list to Russians?

Lala's favorite.

TheSuperNerd:
I think Sir Metallic just dropped in from a parallel universe... Maybe Nacho didn't score in that parallel universe.

Character. I had always adviced him to stay off social media when he is on "Monkey level". But him no dey hear.

TheSuperNerd:
In fact, they were the one team in the EPL that EPL fanboys ans some analysts subconsciously use very well in argument to show the "physical power" and "absolute ruggedness" of the English league...

YOU HEAR statements like...


"Messi never jam! Make him go play Stoke for Britannia stadium... Him no go see ball play! That mazy run he dey do for LA liga, Stoke and their henchman, Shawcross go scatter him tibia and fibula!!!"


Or...


"Madrid's Ramos and Barca's puyol dey shine for Spain abi... Make them come EPL come play Stoke... Dem go know say gra gra pass gra gra ....."


Or maybe even....


"The EPL is the toughest league in the world... Can't you see Stoke?! They are diehards !"



Below is Arsenal and co happy to see them go down for once make the league get small breathing space from their absolute physicality....

Na so. That's why Arsenal with their fanciful football always find it hard at the Britannia.

Who will ever forget Delap whose throw-in was like an indirect free-kick!

They decided to change their style of play but got relegated.

TheSuperNerd:
Hahahahahahahahaha.... Dad That was so gentlemanly savage of you...

How can someone be asking me why Iheanacho didn't score today?

TheSuperNerd:
So Long Stoke.... The "leg breakers" of the EPL...

Arsenal's perennial nemesis.
Perennial spoilers for the top teams.

Humility017:
Lolllllllzzz abeg nor use laugh kill me

That guy is something else.
I had always suspected but I confirmed it today.

lexyman:
YOU MEAN REAL AGE

Na wetin me sabi I dey talk

MetalJigsaw:
Alright then. How u doing bro? How do you asses Nacho's game today? I'm a bit surprised he didn't get a goal despite the four scored by Leicester.

Don't worry.

Go in and rest. Tomorrow morning we talk better.

MetalJigsaw:
This post got likes?? Some hard liquor made me post this sh!t!

Hmm... little wonder.... Not to worry.

Well to some as long as it is Uzoho..... no matter what you post they will hit "like".

charlesemeka85:
after the world cup i urge rohr to inject few players into the team most especially in the defense and midfield. felix uduokhai and kevin akpoguma should be re-approached, i believe one of them will succumb, Dominic iorfa jnr should be given a chance to see what he brings to the table, ifeanyi mathew i believe will be a great addition in midfield, spurs on loan youngstar joshua onomah should be approached (though i know his major focus in the international scene now is making the England team to 2019 u21 euro competition), eberechi eze's integration into the team should commence and in the striking position the trio of simy nwankwo, paul onuachu and taiwo awoniyi should be looked at. i believe from the start of next season in Europe alot of unknown Nigerian players will be discovered

Injection of New players into the national team is not an issue. Because it has always been the case.

When it will be an issue is if players who do not merit an invitation get invited.

We only need players that will add value. Simple.

Also any foreign born player who is not interested in playing for us, we leave him out. After the WC we will not be in any desperate situation to be begging any player to play for us.

charlesemeka85:
those people are agents masquerading as fellow forumites here. few are even saying that the likes of Henry onyekuru, Samuel kalu and olayinka are miles ahead of musa this is a seasoned international player who have proved him self in europe both in the russian league and in European competitions (the Europa league and ucl). in the international scene he has been one super eagles top performers since his debut in 2011 till date. such experienced players are not just discarded when they are still in top form just because few bright prospects are springing up. the likes of onyekuru, olayinka, samuel kalu etc will definently have there chance to fight for a place in the current set up

Correct.

tbaba1234:
Breaking news:
Away win in the NPFL today.. MFM lost at home to Abia Warriors..

Haha, e reach breaking News.

charlesemeka85:
good one for him but am not sold out on this our local league player because they seem to flatter to deceive alot. atleast his current form will attract suitors from the far east that will change his life financially. he should keep :ooff from the super eagles mbok

That is it. He has just earned himself a chance to be assessed by foreign clubs.

Congratulations to him in advance. An opportunity to make life better for him is here.

Next season we will see another player rise again. That has been the trend for some years now.

enomakos:
we need more experience u 20 players in the team

an experience team will not concede twice after taking such lead

I have seen experienced sides lose 4-0 leads.

Away games in West Africa are typically difficult.

We hope the crew will put things right to ensure we get the needed result in the return leg.

charlesemeka85:
one of iheanacho or iwobi will start from the bench and the former seem likely.

Exactly.

TheSuperNerd:
Chief honestly I love that forward line but you and I know we cannot have a player like Victor Moses and start him from the bench.... Highly improbable, it is.

4-4-2. Not 3-5-2.

This formation also accommodates both wingers.

Of course you should know I am the last person to propose that Moses should sit on the bench.

We can start with a 4-5-1 but can switch with a substitution to 4-4-2 if the need arises. It is just an option.

lexyman:
i hope he will get a club that will shape him up to become the kind of striker we will need in the coming future ....

Well, at 24 going to 25.

I can only wish him Luck.

lexyman:
this one wey Junior Lokosa dey score week in week out , i hope he would gate crash the list ahead of one of our strikers

Good for him.

He has earned an opportunity to get a look in by foreign clubs.

Even if he makes Rohr's 35 man list, his chances of making the 23 is very very slim.

tbaba1234:
Yahaya did not play that tournament.. Bulbwa was poor.. Infact, from the first match against Brazil, you could tell that Yahaya and Iheanacho were ahead of Bulbwa offensively.

Yahaya and Iheanacho's forward play depleted our midfield and forced us to play 4-2-4 even when we were leading Brazil. We conceded 3 goals subsequently which was why Manu changed tactics to introduce players that could support the midfield.
That is just it.

TheSuperNerd:
Uhmmm... Chief... Yahaya didn't play AYC U-20 2015. He was not available at the time.

OK. Thanks for the reminder. I got it mixed up then.

tbaba1234:
Oga, i knew about that goal before saying that.. Where is Bulbwa today?

He did not have a great AYC even with that great goal.

It is not about "where is Bulbwa today". Where was Bulbwa then compared to the players you are comparing him with?

If it is to ask where is this or that players today you know the list will be long.

Yahaya was also in that AYC right?

If you say Bulbwa did not have a great AYC what will you say about Yahaya?

My 3 Stand out players from that AYC were Musa Mohammed, Obinna Nwobodo and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Last week of the EPL season:

For those watching games involving Iheanacho and Iwobi please some of us are not watching and we will be needing your UNBIASED assessments.

We thank God both players are currently injury free. We will unleash them against Croatia. I still dream of that Iheanacho-Iwobi forward line. With Mikel behind them.

tbaba1234:
Bulbwa had not progressed. He was not better than Yahaya or Iheanacho offensively at that point.

Bulbwa had not progressed? Sir tbaba, I hope you followed the 2015 AYC?

Now, this is the point .
Bulbwa often fall back easily to support the midfield while Yahaya and Iheanacho were more on the offensive.

Manu needed a players that could also support the midfield and Sokari and Bulbwa fitted in.

Please go and re-watch that final: Senegal Vs Nigeria. Just review that Bulbwa's goal.