₦airaland Forum

Kakamorufu:
I still don't feel good with iheanacho play top 9. I feel we need a backup striker in ighalo mould to be around in the team.

So who is that player that is in "Ighalo mould"?

tbaba1234:
Nwakaeme usually plays from the left at club level so he might be on the left with Iwobi on the right.

A good one then. Maybe Iwobi will play AM and Etebo from the right.

But I still fill Mikel should start.

tbaba1234:
Based on reports, i suspect that this could be the starting line up

Ezenwa
Aina
Shehu
Ekong
Balogun
Ogu
Ndidi
Etebo
Iwobi
Nwakaeme
Iheanacho

Hmmm a 4-4-2.

OK o the next couple of hours will tell.

Naijaphobia:
Barring any last minute change(s) our line-up against Algeria below:


Wilfred Agbonnibare


Eguanvon. Okechukwu. Okafor. Iroha.


Amunike. Oliseh. Adepoju. Finidi.


Amokachi. Yekini


Coach: Clemence Westerhof

Fifa 1994 Worldcup qualifiers

Venue: Algiers

Time: 8:30pm

Hmmm...this game.

Algeria was also already out then. The ticket was between Nigeria and CIV. We lose, we are out. We needed at least a draw in that last game.

The Algerians played their best game of the campaign. We were not at our best and managed to escape with a draw. Our first World Cup ticket!

MetalJigsaw:
That guy is the backbone of our midfield. We need another of his kind badly.

Alex Iwobi is stepping up. He is expected fully step into that AM position once Papa Mikel is ready to hang his boots.

Mickael2:
Check these.....

Nigeria vs Zambia, 2-1 Mikel was instrumental.

Nigeria 3-1 Algeria, Mikel was instrumental, even scored.

Nigeria 4-0 Cameroon, Mikel was instrumental, even scored.

Cameroon 1 vs 1 Nigeria, Mikel was okay.

Zambia 0-1 Nigeria, Mikel was instrumental.

This is a guy that makes the team play well, if he isn't there then that list makes no sense. VicMo missed a lot of games

If this is coming from you then no one else needs to be convinced about Mikel's abilities and input in the team.

That is why I call him "the orchestrator".

robosky02:
2018 world cup:"Nigeria is a team of benchwarmers,"- Rabah Madjer Algerian coach

Algeria’s new coach, Rabah Madjer has described the Super Eagles as a team of benchwarmers, which has only one regular player in its squad.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, Madjer, who was one of the stars of the great Algerian side of the 1980s, said the Super Eagles should not pose any threat to the North Africans because it is a team with many players who don’t get to play for their European clubs.

“I have studied the Nigerian team, apart from Iwobi, every other player is mostly a substitute for his team in Europe, but that doesn’t mean they will not be at the level to face us.
“The game against Nigeria is not a friendly match for me…to me it is the first game of the qualifiers for the 2018 African Cup of Nations in Cameroun,” he said.


cc: lalasticlala,mynd44
nigeria-is-a-team-of-benchwarmers-says-rabah-madjer

Haha, talk is cheap.

Bench warmers?

Bench warmers that demolished the African champions 4-0 and also beat the same Algeria 3-1 in Uyo.

(In Obasanjo's voice): I dey laugh o. He obviously does not know our team.

Danielnino00:
I think Mikel should sit this one out...
I really wanna see Iwobi being tested in the AMF role...It could be the ultimate solution!


But if Mikel starts, let him he subbed for Onyekuru while Iwobi drops to AMF...


#My2cent

Mikel will need to start.

We are likely to present a young frontline, the way we presented it against SA. And so we need a leader (Mikel) in their midst. Those young players still need an experienced back to ride on. Onyekuru may be introduced later in the game depending on how it is progressing. Onyekuru may come in for Mikel so Onyekuru goes to the wings while Iwobi plays behind the CF.

My starting line up against Algeria:

Ebuehi..Balogun..Ekong..Aina

.............Ndidi
...................Etebo

Musa..........Mikel...........Iwobi
.................Iheanacho

Alternatively:

Ebuehi..Balogun..Ekong..Aina

...........Shehu
.................Ndidi

Etebo.......Mikel......Iwobi
..........Iheanacho


Let's see Shehu transfer that his high level of discipline and improved passing ability to the DM position so we can free Ndidi to roam(box to box).

tbaba1234:
Made up story...

You dey mind them?

Icon79:
I think it's called the Global Nations League. I read about it on the BBC website yesterday.

Let me see if I can still find something ....


O pari

They better not over-load the calendar. The current football system is loaded already.

Icon79:
And by the way, what do you think of this so called World Football League that FIFA (and UEFA?) is proposing?


O pari

Just hearing this.

What will the format take?

So what happens to the world clubs competition?

Icon79:
Bro, I think it's presumptuous of you to assume that you'll understand the current Super Eagles team, based solely on watching some of these players on TV, better than Gernot Rohr who has trained them, interacted with them, watch them play and video analyzed their games over the past several months. Here's one thing you'd understand: watching the game on television is dramatically different from watching it live. In addition, coach Rohr has a video analyst who helps him breakdown each player's game - frame by frame. Talking from experience, it would open your eyes when a coach goes over your game frame by frame.

And if you think that experience doesn't count when it comes to coaching then I really don't know what else to say. Yes, Jose Mourinho may had dabbled into coaching with zero experience (if that's the case), but that's the exception NOT the rule. Not many of us here is Mourinho.


O pari

Go also to those EPL and UCL pre-match analysts that watch from the studio screens and tell them to stop analysing tactics as they don't know better than the coaches on the field.

Icon79:
Yes, Rohr was totally outcoached by Stuart Baxter but I still think that he's got more resources at his disposal (coaching experience, playing experience, video analyst, assistant coaches, taking them thru drills etc etc) than most of us here in the forum.

Again, like I explained to Icon4s, I wasn't trying to say that nobody should question Rohr or that we shouldn't engage in discussing tactics and techniques. However, I was just asking our members to tone it down a bit. The people who are doing the job are no fools .... they people understand most of these things better than most of us.


O pari

Just a little hint. Some of us here have coaching certificates.

I am not bragging, I can plan and execute our tactics against Argentina if I am made to tutor the team for that game.

Those coaches are not super humans.

People should be free to discuss tactics here. It is our passion. And since it is our passion please don't hinder us.

safarigirl:
this looks like an everyday polo, nothing like a Jersey.


The diamond shape sef is reminiscent of the designs on a sweater. I don't like it

Argentina's jersey looks no different from how it always looks. Same old, same old

Colombia, nice, I mean, when you don't factor in the power rangers thunder bolt on it

Japan, I like the color, not sold on the design. It's decent though

Russia, angle is not too clear, looks plain sha

Germany, easily my best. Love the abstract shape on it


Can we have ankara on ours? Like Ghana had kente on the collar of theirs. Still love that 2014 jersey

We don't need any Ankara design jare. Before you know it one group will cry marginalisation and will want an adire design, another one would want a buba design, and another Isiagu.

Let it just be the normal conventional jersey design jare. Uh design epp sef?

Mujtahida:
Okay. No wahala with that. It won't be tagged a petition though. By the way whatsup with our suggestions for making our Russia 2018 World Cup a success? Where's Goke7. Baba Icon4s, we've not put finishing touches on the thing oo

Yeah still on track with it.

Just that I have been very much engaged of late.
Just sneaking in to make comments.

More suggestions are welcomed.

We'll streamline and summarize the points.

No going back on the intended recipients of the message.

Danielnino00:
Then how far do you think we will go??

If this team plays in the round of 8 I would say they have achieved.

Icon79:
Guys, can we just leave the technical decisions to the guys who are paid to make those decisions. Here's why:

1. Gernot Rohr played the game at a higher level than any one of us here
2. Gernot Rohr had coached the game at a higher than anyone of us
3. I stand corrected but Rohr and his crew can read the game better than everyone of us here
4. Gernot Rohr knows these players better than everyone of us because he trains them and have watched them up, close, and personal.



O pari

In other words, we should just come here to read football news and go. Huh?

aodis:
This is so hilarious.

Leon Finished Ogu. Chai!!!

terzurum5:
What about Onyekuru?

The Gernoth Rohr that I know is likely to start Musa ahead of Onyekuru.

tbaba1234:
Not true, some players best qualities come out when you are defending.

When you are under pressure, Ogu is not the best tackler around.

That is what I am saying that we don't need such a play.
We expect to be under pressure for the most of the world cup as we are considered among the under dogs.

We need players that can hold their own irrespective of the nature of the opposition.

If John Ogu cannot perform when under pressure sorry we don't need him in the world cup.

There may not be more than one opponent that we will dominate in terms of play all through our campaign. We expect to face oppositions that will put our midfield and defense to serious test.

We need players that can still give their performance even under pressure

terzurum5:
Iwobi can as well come in for Mikel.

With Simon and Victor Moses out we are now limited in the wings position. So Iwobi will definitely start from the wings. Mikel maintains the AM position.
The other wing position will likely go to Ahmed Musa.

tbaba1234:
Ogu works best when you are dominant and keeping possession

For a big guy, he really does not put his weight about or get stuck in. His passing is fairly limited. He is not the type to hit a 50 yard long pass.. It is always short and simple. Good for keeping possession but not a creative outlet.

You are correct on the positives.

Ogu will probably work best with a battler and a creative person. He can help with the transitions.

Every player works best or plays better when his team is dominant and are keeping possession.

We don't need players that only perform well against a weak opponent. Instead we need players that can swim against the direction of the tides thereby getting the team going against all odds.

Danycrusoe:
Keeping up with the players from the 2013 and 2015 sets of youth internationals

Mustapha Abdullahi Yautai joins Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi ahead of the new Nigeria Professional Football League 2017/2018 season.

Safarigirl, thegoodjoe and icon4s please is he the one u used to call picture abi camera boy? Always present in every camp pictures bk then.

Yes. That is safarigirl's picture boy.

TheGoodJoe:
By the way, Oga Boss, Icon4s, I owe you an apology. After a long thought and careful consideration, I think I might be wrong in my assessment of Garba Lawal. He might have been atrocious when it comes to his creative attributes. Especially his passing and crossing.

However, there are other attributes that can make coaches stick to particular players despite their creative weaknesses. Attributes like defensive positioning, covering gaps, strong mentality, discipline (Garba Lawal always showed up early to camp), work rate and depth in understanding tactics.

Apology whole heartedly accepted. You are a great man for this step you took.

Sure you know Garba well.

He started off as a DM but also played the LWF and LB positions.

It is even difficult to actually pin down which particular position he played most for Nigeria as he played several positions nearly in equal proportions.


I was not just happy when you tagged him a beneficiary of political zoning. Ikpe Ekong, which was the subject of the debate, could not make the kind of contributions Garba made. For about 10 years, Garba Lawal was almost irreplaceable in that team until age caught up with him.

tbaba1234:
Watching Chidi Nwakali, feedback on his game later

I always trust your judgment and assessment.

oloriooko:
What is happening to Nacho
He left City and they blew up
He came to Lei and got glued to the bench

He will be deputising for Vardy in the EPL but will get more game time from cup games.

safarigirl:
lol...what he wanted to say was delusions of grandeur...couldn't have been dilution in that context

Finally, I get to gauge meanings based on 'context'

Hahaha I was just kidding.

safarigirl:
uncle. Go and borrow sense.
You can't even spell correctly, how will you grab the joke?
Meanwhile, the word is DELUSION, not DILUTION.
You never spell finish, you wan come teach certified coach work
Clown

Haha maybe he really meant 'dilution' from the word 'dilute'.

Joebie:
I became a fan of Nwafor instantly . I find it baffling that he didn't go to the WC.

Who is Nwafor?

Or you meant Nwofor?

If it is the same Uche Nwofor, he was in the last World cup and even came is as sub against Iran and Argentina.

Kog45:
Pls can u list your possible 35,now 25 invited 2 on standby 2 out through injury making 29,pls add 6 remaining, let's brainstorm.

CC:Icon4s
√√:Humility 017
√√:Michael2
√√:Joebie
√√:tbaba1234
√√:thegoodjoe
√√:goldfish80
√√:safarigirl
√√:junnyiake
√√:forgiveness
√√:koemn
√√:enomakos
√√:omabanla
√√:elyte
√√:Joseph1013
√√:do4luv
√√:tgloba
√√:soetanoreoluwa

Yeah, a good one. But I would rather wait to see the Algeria and Argentina games first.

We still need to do some little weeding in the current squad.

soetanoreoluwa:
And some people will still think Rohr is biased.

No. It will not be an issue in this case.