₦airaland Forum

EEGA:
Ha ha ha, it's not like Argentina used to dash us 3-0 and above in our previous meetings.

They have been lucky, the last two times we met them, always escaping with just a goal.

In 2010 WC,it was 1-0 and In 2014 WC, it was 3-2.

We should admit that we have a very weak left-side for the 3-5-2 formation.

Did you not say "most of our goals came from the right?"

What if a team decides to pay special attention to our right side,shutting down our attacks and attacking our right just to stop us from attacking?

What then will be the reaction of our weak left-side if they decide to "defend" at the left and wait for the right to initiate both attacks and counter-attacks?

We should work on our left-side starting from the LCB.Balogun is slow and right-footed(I stand to be corrected) and shouldn't have played in that position.

I've already talked about that of Idowu.

If we could get a good left-footed player.We can play him in the LCB and probably draft V.Moses to the LWB.

Doing the above means bossing the both flanks.The opposing team might have no choice but to try the middle where they will meet both Onazi and Ndidi.



With this, even Germany go confirm say Nigeria sabi ball.

We can now say go!!! Super Eagles.

And who says we no fit win world cup with this formation and the right players?

First off, for the national team if you don't have players of certain qualities you don't go and purchase like clubs do. If you don't have you don't have.
If you have a left footed CB that can replace Balogun please recommend to us.

Secondly, our attack can also be effective from the left. Players like V. Moses, Iwobi, and Simon alternate between left and Right of the attack.

We have found more joy from the right of our attack due to a seeming lack of quality in the left of the teams we have faced.

Any team that chooses to concentrate their attacks from their left just to foil our attack from our right would have themselves to blame as we have what it takes to also sting them from our left.

Talking about the technical competency of Argentina there are not more than 2 or 3 countries in the world above them. So we have tested ourselves against one of the best technically and we came out tops.

Incest!

Mujtahida:
Ha! 3-5-2 is not our main formation oo. If we perfect it, it would be just one more weapon in our arsenal in addition to our traditional formations. I don't think it's a bad idea for our national team to have at least 3 formations. Germany has at least 8.

Yeah, we should have our regular 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 but should also be able to switch almost effortlessly to 3-5-2 with some vital players substitutions.

Oasis007:
You've said it all in the bold Part Bro. Always looking for Excuses to console ourselves. The same Puel was sacked by Southampton in the on-going Season for failing to meet up the Expectations.

He gets the second Chance at Leicester, and some Dudes think he's gonna compromised it by being racist - in the sense that he's not playing Iheanacho.

When Shakespeare was relieved, it was celebrated on this Thread, Dudes were hoping Iheanacho gonna get enough playing Time under a new Manager. So are we envisaging the Sack of Puel too, coz he's not playing him?!

The worst part of is; some Dudes are beginning to eat their Words, regretting Iheanacho left the drilling School for a first Team football. That's really not funny! Iheanacho is not god of Africa Football, he should buckle up, fights for shirt simply by improving his Game and lives up to his Potentials on the Pitch.

I have said my own about Iheanacho here from the start but almost got stoned for it.

The hype was too much.

I share Kog45's thought on that 3-5-2 formation. We may not maximise the full potentials of the team.

I will still prefer the variants of 4-5-1 or 4-3-3.

Victor Moses is a major attacking threat for us. We need him amongst the forwards. But a 3-5-2 will put him at Wing back.

With a 3-5-2 a good number of wingers and Full backs would be surplus in the team and additional CBs would be needed as backs ups meaning a player like Uche Agbo would be almost guaranteed while players like Ebuehi and Aina may not make the final selection. What chances will players like Simon and Musa have if wing backs would be featured in this formation instead of natural wingers.

With the 4-3-3, I would prefer a 3 man attack of Iwobi, Iheanacho and V. Moses with Mikel the orchestrator playing behind the trio. This will also give room for our regular Full backs to feature and a chance for Simon and Musa to feature as substitutes if need be.

That 3-5-2 will not be maximising the full potential of the team.

My thoughts. Anybody with a contrary opinion? Let's discuss this.

realpoacher:
The way some of you talk here sometimes is mind boggling,.... At first and second bolded I see you contradicting yourself. What is the essence of building up play?...is it not to attack and score?... Isn't the same things idowu is doing, defending, attacking and scoring? why can't you give the young man a break

FYI, every football player on planet earth definitely have some form of deficiency including Messi and C. Ronaldo . The onus is now on us to manage the deficiency that we can manage and explore the strength of the player that we have. Idowu already have good defending and good attacking play, we can manage that, build up play might have never been his thing. I don't know what else you want the poor guy to do.

Of what use will a ball holding build up player be if it doesn't translate into goals?,..the last time I check football is a game all about goals... For so many years, Nigeria and Africa at large always suck at scoring goals on big occasions, friendlies, Nations Cup, and world cup proper, with matches always ending with 0-0, or 1-0 score lines, all with teams made up of ball holding, ball juggling, build up players, all for what,?.. All for matches ending with barren draws.

This present crop of Super Eagles team are showing signs of the next best free high scoring team from Africa, and you now want to kill that?...Guy behave o!

Goals win matches, this team scores and can score lots of goals....infact to me, the more the merrier

The more goals you score the brighter your chances of winning matches while the less number of goals you score, the more the pressure on your team and defence.

......................................

Also you all should stop the bickering about better technical teams beating us,... Cos as for me apart from Brazil and Germany, we can comfortably take on any team in the world right now without fear, including Spain, England, France, Portugal etc,... Bring them on!.... Though I am wary of teams like Denmark, Croatia, Peru who are dark horses.

That guy and his analyses tire person.

Brian Idowu reminds me of Ben Iroha. A player that often joins the attack yet there was hardly gap at the back. That was how Taye Taiwo also was at his earlier stages.

Brian Idowu has stayed longer in the game than Ola Aina and Tyrone Ebuehi and it showed. Experience always matters as a defender.

Izen:
Sit down there and keep up with this negative mindset. Pessimism never got anyone far. I just got a great job offer on merit, no connections, superb company. It was advertised same way this is being advertised. I applied just like everybody else on NL. Please stop discouraging others.

Thumbs up bro.

You Gerit.

They are already giving excuses for their failures.

ct2:
don't even bother to apply, they already know who they are given

Stay there and be consoling your self.

Those who will apply will apply

korlahwarleh:
These Nigerian players are not strong. A very physical team will beat them
Nigeria 4:0 Cameroon (Physical team)

Oh, the players just possess raw strength, football is not just about physicality, a very technical side will spank this team

Nigeria 4:2 Argentina (technical side)

Waiting for the next line..


Abeg drink water joor

Na so we dey here since.

Joebie:
I am going to perform another mock draw for the FIFA World Cup. I just watched the procedure on YouTube and coincidentally I followed the right procedure in my earlier attempt.
I want to do this a second time to see if I will arrive at a similar result for Nigeria. The other time I had France, Croatia, Iran and Nigeria in Group H.

Bros December 1st is not far again naa

EEGA:
Ha ha ha."Back of TV". ;DHa ha ha."Back of TV".

What's the duty of a LWB?

Did we build-up from the left?

Did we attack from the left?

A more technical team will punish us for that because to ward-off attacks you have to do both defending and attacking as a WB.

Since he kept them quiet, was he able to build-up and attack from the left?

It's the WC that we are preparing for oo.

Or you care more about goals rather than a players contribution to the team's formation?

You can watch the game again with what I've said in mind.

.double post

EEGA:
Ha ha ha."Back of TV". ;DHa ha ha."Back of TV".

What's the duty of a LWB?

Did we build-up from the left?

Did we attack from the left?

A more technical team will punish us for that because to ward-off attacks you have to do both defending and attacking as a WB.

Since he kept them quiet, was he able to build-up and attack from the left?

It's the WC that we are preparing for oo.

Or you care more about goals rather than a players contribution to the team's formation?

You can watch the game again with what I've said in mind.

Which kine a more technical team will punish who?
That is what we have always been hearing "a more technical team will punish us".

Name the footballing teams in the world that are more technical than Argentina.

EEGA:
I disagree because Idowu is not left-footed and is kind of careful with his play when he plays as a LWB.

Some said Pavon was quiet, but my question is "how many times did we build up from the left?

Did he(Idowu) boss the left-flank like Ebuehi?

How many times did u see him running with the ball from the left and positioning in our own half to initiate attacks from the left like Ebuehi?

At a time it was even Ogu who tried to run with the ball from the left, but was stopped because he lacks pace.

Idowu is mainly good at defending and positioning himself in scoring positions.

These are too different things running(without the ball) to meet-up with the ball infront of goal to score, which Idowu does and running down the flank to defend , pick the ball and launch attack with the ball on one's feet which he didn't but was seen in Ebuehi.

A wing-back should be someone who is able,comfortable and ready to play the ball like V.Moses and Ebuehi. It's not just something of defending and running up to meet a cross without building up from your flank.

Am not saying Idowu is a bad player, he has two good qualities, when he plays on the left which is his positioning for a cross and his good defending.

The same thing(being right-footed) limited Aina on the left, that most times he used his right foot.

If Aina sat deep, defended and ran to meet a crosses to score like Idowu, he won't be replaced in the second-half.

He(Aina) made the mistake of trying to play the LB comfortably, forgetting that he is right-footed. He also failed to boss his flank in that game.

If you watch the match again you will see that he became cautious after we conceded the second goal by defending well.

Am just saying that for the 3-5-2 system, we need wing-backs who can comfortably go forward,build-up from their wings and be very good defensively like Ebuehi and V.Moses.

Idowu is a kind of careful while playing as a LB which is right because he is right-footed.

Teams come to the WC prepared tactically and technically.

Anyone who watched our match against Argentina will observe that the Argentines biggest mistake was concentrating their attacks on the right.

If they did what they did on the right to the left Boss we go concede because Idowu no be ball player for LWB.

But we can wait and see sha because wing-back should be ball-players.

If ball-players are not that important why is Rohr still searching for a CB?

A player that defends well and still joins the attack, how does he get to the attacking positions? Does he varnish? Does he not have to run along with the play to get there?

Yes he was not much involved in build up to the attack compared to Ebuehi but we have already discussed it here that majority of our attacks come from the right. We always have more mobility in that side of the pitch. 3 of the 4goals against Argentina came from the right. The goal against Zambia in Uyo came from the right, 3 goals against Cameroon in Uyo came from the right. Build up of our only goal against Cameroon in Yaounde came from the right.

That is the way the team is structured. We are more gifted with right footed players. Who are the left footed players that will play build up with Idowu from the left?

If all Idowu would do for us is defend well and then make meaningful impact in the attack, I am OK with that.

Idowu taught Aina how to play that position. Simple.
Idowu may be new to the team but his general level of experience of the game showed that day.

realpoacher:
Brilliant display by nwakeame , what tied his leg against Algeria?...

This is what I keep saying, when you get your Chance, utilize it. If he had played something close to this against Algeria we wouldn't have discarded him so fast.

Do you want to compare the strength of the oppositions?

Football is not 1+1=2 o.

Loogan:
Russia sha, I though the whole point of hosting the World Cup was to appear less racist and still they don't want black players in thier squad even if that player is Russian and merits a place in the team. It's surprising Russia let such a budding talent in idowu go. they even waited for a Brazilian fullback(Mario Fernandez) to change his nationality to Russian before choosing an available idown! Big mistake from them.
Make idowu go jam them for World Cup, them go hear am!

Have you ever seen a Black Russian?

That is their mentality.

Germany and Italy were also like that until of recent.

Mujtahida:
Well said. An article I read shortly before match said Idowu has an aggressive style and that he likes to attack. I stressed the fact that defensively he was solid. Di Maria was putting crosses through the right wing where Ebuehi was but none came through Pavon on the left.
Idowu has the advantage. Rohr has almost said he'd be part of the team.

Our LB is settled.

Kog45:
No he was part of the team but mostly on the bench.

Yeah. I recall now.

nelszx:
Nigeria going to the World Cup Russia 2018 with the youngest squad.

Nigeria: Flying high at a young age ��

Not bad.

But by the time those calling for Martins, Ike Uche, Taye Taiwo, Osaze and Enyeama have their ways the average age will clock 30.Hahaha.

Certitude:
Easy...na game wey I play ..just having fun before the draw...

I hear.
But 1st December is not far again.

Mujtahida:
I'm also not convinced about Idowu although I'd read before his debut that he likes to join the attack. Note that our left flank was mute that day. Nothing for him to link up with unlike on the right where Ebuehi was linking up with Ndidi,Mikel and Iheanacho.
And I noticed that crosses came flying in through Ebuehi's wing on the right but none through the left. In fact the commentator said Pavon was quiet in the second half.

There are certain players I will watch and will need to see them again in one or two other games to give them the nod. But there are some I would see for just 15mins or less and give the nod.

Brian Idowu has my nod.

Go back and look at the maturity in his game. He didn't play like a debutant. This could be connected to him being based in Russia where that friendly was played. And this we can also exploit at the World Cup. He needs no acclimatization.

For a defender to score on his debut! Go back and study the build up to his goal. So much confidence and maturity.

And hardly would you notice any gaps at the LB despite his movements up and down the pitch.

If Rohr would want to adopt the 3-5-2 formation for the WC, my wing back options are V. Moses and Brian Idowu.

And as for Ola Aina, I need to see him again in another game.

Certitude:
could this b our WC group?

Abeg you guys should stop posting all these mock draws jare.

Let's wait till the real draws.

Tomorrow now there would be claims of manipulations.

[quote author=Certitude post=62774639]

BascoVanVeli:
He went to the olympics if I'm not mistaken

Really?

Yeah. It was Osimhen and Awoniyi that were dropped. Can't remember any game he played though.

nelszx:
Victor Moses and Jnr Ajayi makes the 10 man cut
#APOTY

Hmm happy for Junior Ajayi.

I didn't like the way Siasia dropped him from the Olympics team.

Kog45:
Icon4s said we are Nigeria,truly we have Nigeria factor but also individual factor on the part of the players.

Hope you have hear name like Haruna Ilerika,Segun Odegbami,Tarilla Okoronwanta,Etim Esin and Austin Okocha,i will not mention KANU cos he did not belong to this class.These are complete player who have every potential to be the world beater but some couldn't make it cos of Nigeria factor and personal factor.

Haruna Ilerika was a complete footballer who should be running shoulder with elites of footballers in his days but Nigeria factor did not help his career,he came out when Nigeria was finding it difficult to go to WC then just two slots and professional football was not in vogue.Haruna Ilerika did not know how good he was,just playing the game for fun but highly talented player.

Segun Odegbami should have been one of the world greatest if he find his way to Europe early but then they are satisfied with playing in local league.This was a player am always likened to CR7 cos their play pattern is similar.Odegbami was a very solid all round player,23 goals for Eagles as a winger should tell you how good he was as a player and till today he remain 2nd all time highest goal scorer.Nigeria factor was the bane of Odegbami he retired unceremoniously when his is team was disbanded for losing Africa cup in the final,he say bye bye to football that night.

Tarila Okoronwanta remain one of the players that his potential was cut short coz of indiscipline.This was a player that paint Nigeria league red with his amazing skills,full of energy and pace,very good player to watch but highly indiscipline.He was one of the players that absconded when his club went to Europe.

Etim Esin was one of the great thing to happen to Nigeria football named Etim Esin maradona cos of his style,too much of skill,powerful,very fast but highly erratic.This was a player that would have shake the world of football in a special way but personal factor rub him the glory.He was shot by armed robber and dispossess of his car after sneaking out of camp and later ran away from Belgium cos of rape.Etim never fulfilled his potential as a player.

Austin Okocha has everything at his s disposal to become a great player worldwide,he has the opportunity his predecessors were lacking,he was able to escape Nigeria factor and he was highly discipline but still remain strange how Okocha couldn't fulfilled his full potential as a player,funny enough he couldn't win African best despite his talent.I can attribute Okocha shortcomings as not ambitious as a player to become extra legend of the game.Honestly he was the real diamond of Nigeria football but the glory belong to KANU who was far behind Okocha when we talk of talent.If Jayjay managed his career like KANU,Okocha would have won the best player in the world

Generally i w say Nigeria factor as Icon4s said cos we have the talents but how do we manage the talents,sometimes i see Neymer as over hype but of recent i realized he was not cos Brazil project Neymer as rival to Messi and Ronaldo but can we have the same in Nigeria,i doubt it cos we have not reach that level and poverty has been the major issues,well talented Nigeria players are ready to sign for any club even in Vietnam

You have spoken well like an elder you are.

If you have followed Nigerian football long and well enough you'll understand where that "Nigerian factor" has taken us.

Mujtahida:
I still don't understand ooo. Are you suggesting bias against our players? Is that the reason we've not had players in the ilk of the greatest?

I hope I will not be read as denigrating the long stellar army of excellent players we have produced over the years.

Another variant of the question I posed earlier is: why can't we win the World Cup? Would it answer such a question if someone were to say 'Because we are Nigeria'?
Undisputable excellence is what I am looking at here. My initial question was prompted in my heart just now as I watched Neymar.
I could as well watch Germany celebrating their WC win in 2014 and ask if Germany, why not Nigeria?

A lot of things are embedded in the Nigerian factor. No bias at all.

If there was a player of late that would have launched himself into the class of Neymar, Ronaldo, Messi or something close to that, it would have been Kelechi Iheanacho.

But it is not just looking like that is going to happen. Some may say it is too early to conclude on that but ask your self what those great players were already doing at Iheanacho's current age.

Expectations on Iheanacho was so exceptionally high but I chose to go conservative on my expectations. Why? He is a Nigerian. If it was a Brazilian or Argentine player that had the kind of Iheanacho's performance at U17 I could have put my neck on the line that he would been a "world beater" by now.

See what is happening to Isaac Success. What happened to those Mercurial skills of Yahaya? The way Yahaya played at U17 you'll think by now 4 years later he would have replaced Iniesta at Barcelona.

Bro it is a complex mixture of organization/system, individual abilities of the players, players attitude and it is as if Village people too dey follow many of our players.

Mujtahida:
'Because we are Nigeria' is a parable I cannot decode in this context. Pray tell, what does it mean?
Or does it mean because we are Nigeria we cannot produce excellence like Neymar or Ronaldo or Messi? I don't understand.

Pep saw more future in Gabriel Jesus with City ahead of Iheanacho even before Jesus kicked a ball for City. Why? Jesus is a BRAZILIAN while Iheanacho is a NIGERIAN.

Mujtahida:
Doesn't explain anything. I mentioned three players from different nationalities. I really don't get your point. And its not necessarily a Neymar or Messi or Ronaldo thing. I could as well have mentioned other players but my point is why can't we produce players of such distinguished caliber. At least Liberia had George Weah.

Again, because we are Nigeria.

George Weah was not a product of the Liberian system.

That phrase "because we are Nigeria" explains a lot.

Mujtahida:
Why can't we produce players like Ronaldo or Messi or Neymar?

Simple.

Because we are Nigeria.

SerVik:
You cannot fault Rohr for the dearth in talent, if we really had defenders better than the ones in the team then reeling out their names shouldn't be hard for you. That you are trying to avoid it tells how scarce they are. Talent no the hide o

Leave that guy. Him just one say something.

oloriooko:
Ask Rohr, that's why he's paid in millions

Then sorry you are not in a position to criticize Rohr's team's structure

oloriooko:
It will be a big joke ig Rohr thinks he has a formidable defence to take to the WC
Our defence will be our biggest undoing if we don't overhaul the back 4
We have more than enough in other departments

List the defenders with which we will carry out this overhaul you talk about.