₦airaland Forum

goldfish80:
Players on the standby can only be called to fill in if someone gets injured before the first game.
It will be a rush job if we need to replace someone for the second leg 3days after the first one.

1st game on the 1st next on the 4th. If the decision to invite a stand-by player is taken on the 1st (shortly after the game), that is a good enough time for the stand-by player to blend especially if he is an old regular

How many days do you even think the team has to prepare for the game of the 1st September.

goldfish80:
Kayode not even on the standby list? That's quite chilling. A sucker punch to this list.
I have this feeling he will open his goal account this week in the La Liga, if and when this happens, Gernot Rohr and the Nff technical committee will look quite silly.

Why is nobody complaining about Victor Osimhen being excluded? I thought we wanted young light weight players to run the Camerounians to the ground.

It's high time people get to understand and live with the fact that Aluko is not on the radars of the national team handlers. Sad but true

Finally, I see we are one defender short. 7 defenders instead of 8 leaves the list one CB short. Since this game is a double header in quick succession, if we loose either of Ekong or Balogun in the first leg, we will be travelling to Yaounde with no extra CB on the bench.
I know Ndidi can fill in there but.... God help us

I know who his attorney is but won't tell you

chrisooblog:
alternatively i could go like this

ezenwa/alampasu


aina ekong balogun elderson

etebo ndidi

v.moses mikel s.moses

iheanacho

*whispers* Akpeyi is favorite.

goldfish80:
Kayode not even on the standby list? That's quite chilling. A sucker punch to this list.
I have this feeling he will open his goal account this week in the La Liga, if and when this happens, Gernot Rohr and the Nff technical committee will look quite silly.

Why is nobody complaining about Victor Osimhen being excluded? I thought we wanted young light weight players to run the Camerounians to the ground.

It's high time people get to understand and live with the fact that Aluko is not on the radars of the national team handlers. Sad but true

Finally, I see we are one defender short. 7 defenders instead of 8 leaves the list one CB short. Since this game is a double header in quick succession, if we loose either of Ekong or Balogun in the first leg , we will be travelling to Yaounde with no extra CB on the bench.
I know Ndidi can fill in there but.... God help us

That's Omeruo and Uche Agbo are on stand-by.

chrisooblog:
i trust ezenwa. he has kept in a couple of our last matches admittedly chan games but he has grown in confidence and has been playing regularly. akpeyi on the other hand hasn't played much for his club of recent plus saying that his last matches for the national team have been jittery is an understatement

Ezenwa has been receiving some love.
Just because of that Benin game.

This was a goalie that was totally washed here and some didn't give him a chance to even make the CHAN Team.

Interesting.

chrisooblog:
please we don't need uncertainty and high blood pressure. if he wants to ''redeem'' himself i know many redeem churches around

So who mounts goal?

TheGoodJoe:

I will always wait for reports. They are validations to selection. Not relying on past data but current ones.

So in which case you should just jejely withdraw that list you have posted there and wait for match day to post it.

TheGoodJoe:
Because we believe in Victor Moses and his quality. However, if reports from camp comes and Osas is doing far better, I will want Osas to start.

Yes we believe in Victor Moses' qualities because he has been doing it since "1949" as you put it.

So don't tell me you would want to wait to hear camp report to predict if Moses will start ahead of Osas Okoro.

That is my point

TheGoodJoe:
The best bet to know who will click in match day is from camping performances. That is the closest yardstick. Not 1949 hattrick.

Off course yes.

But you cannot have Victor Moses and Osas Okoro in camp and you are asked to predict who Rohr starts and you say we wait until we hear reports from camping.

TheGoodJoe:
As I said earlier, I do not agree with everything Pep does, contrary to people's belief. Bernardo Silva should have started. His abilities will cover his lack of familiarity. Also, Nwakeme's camping report is critical to him starting or not. If he clicks in camp, it is a go.

Despite the familiarity of the players with Ighalo, he still hit a brick wall playing for us.

Una marriage don dey go sour o.

joseph1013:
My lineup:
Ezenwa
Aina Balogun Ekong Echiejile
Ndidi
Mikel
V. Moses Kelechi Etebo
Ighalo

Why Ezenwa?

TheGoodJoe:
Nope. We were discussing if a player can start for his National team without familiarity with the players.

So, the reason why Nwakeme should start or not should rest on ability. Not that he has not played with the team before.

Hahaha the two bro.

So are you ready to take him off your list now or you still have a point to prove?

TheGoodJoe:
Clicks in camp. Why risk a player who can not click in camp to perform miracles on match day.

A player that "clicks in camp" may not click on match day so why even fielding a player who does not click in camp at all.

What matters most is clicking on match day.

TheGoodJoe:
On 10 August 2010 Neymar made his debut with the national team in that game, aged 18 years old, starting the match and wearing the number 11 jersey. He scored on his debut after 28 minutes, a header coming from an André Santos cross in a 2–0 win for Brazil.

This is National team football. He did not need familiarity. Neymar was good to go. This is from U17 to National team.

Didn't I mention that Neymer is a player with exceptional qualities? This is Anthony Nwaekeme we are discussing here.

TheGoodJoe:
Nice point. Still feel the pace is a priority. if Nwakeme clicks in camp, it is a go for me.

'Clicks in camp'.

You don't know if he clicks until the match itself. So no coach would want to risk that.

TheGoodJoe:
My elder brother says Barcelona plays Tiki Taka while Arsenal runs Kata Kiti.



Well Osimhen did more than run. He blended seamlessly with the team. That is what I am pointing out. Lots of coaches make it look as if it takes time for players to sync with teams but I disagree.

The recent case of Bernardo Silva highlights this. He would have still played in sync with the team if he started. Just as he did coming in as a sub.

Also we have seen players who have played a long time with the team still get lost on the field during games. The time is not a determinant. It is the quality of the player.

Look at how Neymar walked into the PSG side. He did not need to blend.

Osimhen blended seamlessly? Tell me something.

You can see even your Lord Pep didn't start Bernardo Silva. Talking about Neymar. He is a player with special abilities. We had seen him play over and over even before he went to Barça. But he also took part in the pre-seasons preparations.
So cannot be said of Nwaekeme.

One more thing, try to minimize the comparison of Club football with national team football. It will help.

TheGoodJoe:
Nice points and duly noted.

However, I think a pacy approach will be more effective than preparing to go against the Camerounians with a physical battle in mind. Also, I feel a pacy approach will be more important than a balanced cohesive unit.

I feel also the blending talk is overrated. When Osimhen came in against South Africa, he did not need to blend. He came in and immediately was in sync with the team. Also, see the last game City played, Bernardo Silva came in and was in sync. I think coaches complicate things with a bit of sentimental touches in their opinions.

Select a strategy and the best.

Osimhen did not start likewise Bernardo Silva.
That is what I am talking about. They study the situation alongside the coaches from the bench and go in to fill in whatever gap that needs to be filled.

But wait o. Which blend Osimhen blend against SA. I just only saw him making kati-kati at the far side. That blending be that?

Talking about pace, and cohesiveness they must go together. That's why I want Iheanacho and V. Moses in that 4 man forward line. I expect Mikel and Iwobi to work out the magic touches and passes to those two to finish.

TheGoodJoe:
You are forgetting the gaps are too dangerous. It has cost us a lot of games and I do not see the logic in making the same mistakes.

I still opt for,

......................................Nwakeme
Musa.........................Nacho............................V. Moses
...................Mikel...................Ndidi

Because this gives us our most pacy attacking set-up and a balanced central/holding midfield.

Now the gaps.

If you are to condemn and drop Onazi because of that SA game then you must also drop Ndidi, Iheanacho, Etebo and Iwobi.

TheGoodJoe:
You are forgetting the gaps are too dangerous. It has cost us a lot of games and I do not see the logic in making the same mistakes.

I still opt for,

......................................Nwakeme
Musa.........................Nacho............................V. Moses
...................Mikel...................Ndidi

Because this gives us our most pacy attacking set-up and a balanced central/holding midfield.

But why the sudden preference for Nwaekeme?

Why I don't think Nwaekeme will start that game as our CF:
He is a debutant.
The philosophy holds sway all across. Except if there is a competitive warm up game before a match of this magnitude you don't throw in a debutant striker in from the start. If we are to play a 4-4-2 formation it probably makes it easier for that debutant striker to fit into the rhythm and flow.

But for 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1. The lone striker really needs to play in rhythm and resonance with the 3 players behind and flanking him. The striker needs to know when to run into position likewise the AMs and wingers need to know when to release the balls to him. They need to know his favorite foot and the height of balls he finds easiest to control or utilize. The other forward players need to also know how fast a striker can run as this informs on the speed of the pass you lay to him. Just to mention a few.

This type of rhythm is achieved and improved upon with every passing game that the team plays. You don't achieve those just on the training ground.
A team like Cameroon suffers with a cohesive attack.


Giving the number of days the team will have in camp I don't think Rohr would want to perform that experiment.

With Mikel behind iheanacho and Moses and Iwobi at the flanks. We have enough creativity and rhythm to unsettle the Cameroonian defense. And as I proposed earlier on if need be Nwaekeme may join the attack force as a CF and Iheanacho the SS. Here we switch to 4-4-2.

I still maintain that creativity, sleek movements and cohesiveness are the vital keys to outwitting these Cameroonians. We already have a crop that can COPE with the physicality the Cameroonians would bring.

mumemma:
Yea....But I dont even know him...abeg where has he featured?

He is a 21years old RB that plays for ADO den Haag in the Dutch league.

mumemma:
take out Ehuabi.....who dat guy be sef

Lol at Ehuabi. He probably meant Ebuehi.

safarigirl:
dazall

Haha haha. meaning?

TheGoodJoe:
Nice.

I lack trust in Akpeyi and Onazi.

If Nacho plays ahead and Mikel plays behind him, then I will opt for Agu over Onazi. I just have nightmares thinking of the gaps he leaves. Especially after complaining about the same thing for years.

I feel Agu will do a better job shielding the defence but camping reports will give us more insights to what we will expect.

You want to risk with an untested Agu in a match of this calibre. I would rather We played Etebo in that CM position than Agu. No room for wild experiments.

Mickael2:
there is no point there. so what if we have two super dribbles on the same team? forget about the dribbling for a minute, Kayode is the best we have in the forward position when it comes pressing the opposing defenders, I see you understand that Mikel has to start as the AMF, we agree on that but that means we will need a CF WHO CAN PRESS ALONE AND A CMF WHO CAN PRESS FOR TWO. we saw just how well nacho pressed in the last game, forget the golden boy tag when Renato Sanchez stopped performing, Portugal quickly changed him, that's the thing about football, if you are relevant you come, if not you go.

back to the primary matter though, playing Onazi as the CMF will not work . let me just leave it there.

Then talking about the list. remove our starting eleven, do we still have another threat on the bench? if Musa plays like I know he will, is it Moses Simon that will come on when you are looking for a goal? or will Iwobi be brought on when we need a goal? why is Onyekuru on standby? look at that list of midfielders again, we have four DMFs vying for one spot, only two bona fide CMFs(Etebo and Mikel) and factually no authentic AMF just some strikers and wingers who can play that position on a good day(Iwobi and Iheanacho, both not really that good in that position, I guess you know this and that is why you want Mikel to start there) so now we only have three wingers, one of them will just continue dribbling without any end product and these are the players we are taking to a double header, one injury and this team is gone. I understand that this is a top match but balance should be maintained, we have young wingers everywhere who could at least make up the number of wingers to about four or five (since we are playing a formation that depends a lot on our movement on the wings)

You know why I don't have issues with Kayode's exclusion? He is not a starter.

Iheanacho is likely to start. Why I feel Rohr gave Ighalo and Nwaekeme the nod ahead of Kayode is what if the game really goes physical that we need a bully of a striker to create havoc? Kayode is not much different from Iheanacho I terms of build so this is where Rohr may introduce Nwaekeme or Ighalo to play as CF and Iheanacho goes to SS.

As per your stance on Onazi I am not surprised

And your comment on lack of "young wingers" on the substitute bench. First let me ask, are Iwobi, Simon, and Etebo not young wingers/AMs. Ow! these ones are too old now or what? You want to flood the team with wingers that do not have any form of international experience.

Henry Onyekuru for now deserves the spot he got as a stand-by. The coach obviously saw him in the France Camp and if he feels Iwobi, Simon, Moses, Musa and Etebo are ahead of him then so be it. I am with him on that one.

TheGoodJoe:
..................................................Nwakeme(CF)
.S. Moses(LMF).................Iheanacho(AMF).................V. Moses(RMF)
................................................................Mikel(CMF)
............................................Ndidi(DMF)
......Echiejile(LB).....................................................................Aina(RB)
.........................Balogun(CB)....................Ekong(CB)
...................................................Alampasu(GK)

My preliminary starting eleven. There will be fluctuations in my list as camping reports filter in. Nwakeme got the nod ahead of Ighalo because of his skills and pace which I feel is a critical factor to break down the Camerounians.

S. Moses also breaks in over Iwobi based on the same criteria. He just needs to focus on working with his team mates. Iwobi needs to do lots of stamina training if he is to make it with the team. Based on stamina, speed and skills, Simon gets the nod.

Aina comes in based on his training with Chelsea and getting the nod to play under Conte. That is a big plus.

Alampasu gets my nod due to previous reports of his performance in camp. But, Ezenwa is a huge challenge.

Onazi dropped because of the gaps he left in the last game.

Nwaekeme: I don't see him starting. He may be introduced later in the game depending on how the game is progressing. Iheanacho is favorite to start as CF.

Mikel: We need his creativity more in a more advanced position like the AM. He is favorite to start in that position.

Onazi and Ndidi: Likely to swap between positions they played in the last game.

Aina: I don't know whether Rohr can trust him enough to start at RB considering also Awaziem's outing in the last game.
Aina stands a good chance but let Rohr decide.

Alampasu: Akpeyi is favorite to start.

TheGoodJoe:
..................................................Nwakeme(CF)
.S. Moses(LMF).................Iheanacho(AMF).................V. Moses(RMF)
................................................................Mikel(CMF)
............................................Ndidi(DMF)
......Echiejile(LB).....................................................................Aina(RB)
.........................Balogun(CB)....................Ekong(CB)
...................................................Alampasu(GK)

My preliminary starting eleven. There will be fluctuations in my list as camping reports filter in. Nwakeme got the nod ahead of Ighalo because of his skills and pace which I feel is a critical factor to break down the Camerounians.

S. Moses also breaks in over Iwobi based on the same criteria. He just needs to focus on working with his team mates. Iwobi needs to do lots of stamina training if he is to make it with the team. Based on stamina, speed and skills, Simon gets the nod.

Aina comes in based on his training with Chelsea and getting the nod to play under Conte. That is a big plus.

Alampasu gets my nod due to previous reports of his performance in camp. But, Ezenwa is a huge challenge.

Onazi dropped because of the gaps he left in the last game.

You with this your Alampasu sef. OK o.

safarigirl:
if Victor Moses is there, I honestly don't see the need for Kayode , all these ones about pace and dribbling on counter, that's Musa's forte.

The list is fine IMO, it's not like we are missing one prolific goal scorer.

He he he he. You have a point.

Joebie:
I Cant WAit!!!

Roma Nura Abdullahi Believes He Is Now Ready To Solve Super Eagles Full Back Woes
August 22, 20170109

‎As the day when he could potentially make his first team debut for Roma draws near, 19 year old Nigerian defender Nura Abdullahi has stake a bold claim on the Super Eagles right full back postion.

Nura who could make his first team bow for Roma this weekend against Inter-Milan following the injury Bruno Perez sustained in their first league game, the 1-0 win over Atalanta.

The right full back who is well known for his pace, marking and overlapping runs from his full back role says all he need now is game time at Roma, before he can lay claim to the Super Eagles right back slot.

“I honestly believe I can be the solution to the Super Eagles right back issues but I need to get games at Roma, that is my aim for now and not the national team.

” Roma is the right place for me to learn and grow in my position as a right back or winger. I have never been this fit in a while so this could be my breakthrough season at Roma, the season is just getting started so the hard work starts now”, Nura exclusively told Owngoalnigeria.com.

I pray you live up to the expectations son.

But me I have learned not to be so excited or get carried away. Cement your place in the Roma first team first and come and do the talking on the pitch.

Nigerdeltaboi:
Ola Aina may have issues with positioning nevertheless the less he is a quality player.
No player is 100%
It is also refreshing to have him and ebuehi in contention for the RB slot, both players link well with the attack something shehu also lacks in his play.

Shehu is not a natural RB.

BascoVanVeli:
Moses Simon was the tormentor in chief against SA. I guess the only thing that was missing was the good fortune Victor had against Algeria especially for the first goal.

We need a strong defense, we cannot depend on scoring goals we have to be steady at the back.

Nobody is saying we don't need a strong
defence. Seek other alternatives to strengthen the defence and not to sacrifice a major attacking threat.

Famocious:
List of invited players for Cameroon games
THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers:
Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa);
Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)
Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal)

Defenders:
William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey);
Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus);
Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany);
Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (Sivasspor FC, Turkey);
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France);
Ola Aina (Hull City, England)

Midfielders:
Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China);
Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey);
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England);
Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal);
John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel);
Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey)

Forwards:
Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England);
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England);
Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium);
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England);
Odion Ighalo (Chang Chun-Yatai, China);
Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England);
Anthony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

STANDBY:
Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium);
Henry Onyekuru (Anderlecht FC, Belgium);
Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea FC, England);
Aaron Samuel (CSKA Moscow, Russia);
Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United);
Stephen Eze (FC IfeanyiUbah);
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United)
Source: NFF twitter handle

I wanted to raise eye brows on Kayode's exclusion. But when I saw the other strikers on the list I saw reasons with Rohr.

BascoVanVeli:
Mikel was the most missed against SA. Iwobi gave just about the same performance against Algeria(barring his flick) and Simon Moses was no slouch against SA. The only player that could not be replaced was Mikel or are u guaranteeing that ViMoe would have scored a brace again?

I just feel that we need to put more emphasis on our defence. We can't be expecting to go blow for blow with countries all the time. We need a real back 4, not makeshift. Victor Moses would be a monumental upgrade to our back 4.

Victor Moses would have made a lot of difference against SA.

I don't need to remind of how he demolished the Algerian back wall to score that first goal against Algeria. That penetrating ability typical of Moses was lacking against SA.

As I have said before we don't have enough fire power upfront to confine Victor Moses to a Right Full back position. We need him attacking the opposition for 90mins.

I don't have worries about our back line. The quartet we know that will likely start I know will be fine.

We just need a disciplined midfield to take the pressure off the defence.