₦airaland Forum

BascoVanVeli:
Oga i do not agree, he could have easily cleared that ball with his leg. U can go back to the first half he did the same thing and conceeded a corner kick. He should have know that he could take no chances, just clear the ball.

How could he have cleared a ball that bounced off about 7-8 feet in front of him. That would have even led to a penalty bc that would amount to raising his leg too high against Mbesuma.

I accept that was a costly error on his part but we should also look at the other sides of his game. Over all he was fantastic.

TheGoodJoe:

I say Etebo walks into the team. We need his work rate in the middle. Onazi, Mikel, Etebo combination will make a solid midfield. Iheanacho goes upfront. That finish today by Iheanacho shows he deserves to strike.

I think i agree with Rohr on the role Iheanacho plays in the team: Just behind the main striker. He contributes a lot to the build up of attack and equally has the ability to finish off once in the position to do so. Watch the build up to our second goal and u would understand.

Ighalo can still remain as the man striker.

As for Etebo, we cannot adjust our formation just to accommodate him. He would have to unsit any of Iwobi, Iheanacho or Moses. This is no longer that mediocre Super Eagles where any player walks into the starting line up.

You saw even our ever starting Ahmed Musa come in as a sub with just abt 6mins to go. This a new and better Super Eagles.

Congo 1-2 Egypt. FT.

Egypt no gree o.

Algeria vs Cameroun @ 8:30pm.

tbaba1234:
Errors lose games when you are a centre back. He made the same kind of error against south Africa. It take one moment of switching off to lose a game.

Ekong was by far the best CB.

Do you know how many we would have conceded but for Omeruo's timely interceptions?

Go back to the replay of that error. If you actually played football, i dnt mean PS, real football, especially on a bumpy pitch then u would understand what happened to Kenneth.

jotey:
0
...the complete Nigerian football portal
Etebo Scores First Competitive Goal Since His Double
Brace Vs Japan At Olympics
Published: October 09, 2016
Oghenekaro Etebo opened his goalscoring account for
the 2016-2017 season as CD Feirense thrashed
Tondela 3-0 in the League Cup on Sunday afternoon.
The Nigeria international last played a competitive
game for the Portuguese Primeira Liga side on August
28 before his appearance today against Tondela at
the Estádio Marcolino de Castro (Santa Maria da
Feira).
He had returned to the treatment room after picking
up injury when he landed awkwardly during training,
and this ruled him out of the World Cup qualifier
against Zambia plus the absence of his residence
card.
In the 65th minute, Etebo, who was named in the
starting line-up, doubled CD Feirense’s lead, his first
goal in an official match since he bagged four against
Japan at the Olympic Games.
Igho Kingsley





ETEBO IS BACK


this team is just 2 star studded

If Etebo can hit form before the Algeria game, he would be a great addition to the squad. However, i am not sure he would break into the starting line up. Reasons:

1. He has never played under Rohr and may need to be integrated with time.

2. Rohr seems to have gotten a winning frontline:

............ Ighalo

Iwobi.. Iheanacho..V. Moses

Etebo may be introduced if we need to switch to 4-4-2. Iheanacho joins Ighalo and Etebo plays behind the duo.

This is looking good. I like the competition in the team. I am really earnerstly looking forward to our next match.

TheGoodJoe:

I have watched football for a while but today, Omeruo made me understand a term you use. Marshall the defence.

He was every where around the defence. Even helping Ndidi. He chose to lead that defence and helped Ekong stay tidy. The error just ruined his performance but he gave Leon a big challenge for that role.

I would not lie, Omeruo is now my first choice in defence. The big fear is his fitness. He is a liability when he not fit.

Omeruo brings a lot to the defense. U saw how many stops he made. That error was as a result of the bounce of the ball on the bumpy pitch.
Ekong dey learn for where Omeruo dey na.

I am just curious to see how Rohr would sort out the RB problem. I think one of Omeruo or Balogun would play that RB. I prefer any of those than experimenting a "green horn".

TheGoodJoe:

Very nice points. At the bar I was, someone screamed. This Ikeme is playing like Man City keeper. I laughed.

I think we have a big problem at the left back. There was too much gap there. The coach needs to sort Echiejile's positioning. Omeruo's work rate covered the gaps.

As for the changes, I felt the coach wanted Iwobi and Iheanacho to learn how to cope with the running under the sun. It was obvious they needed a midfield support. When the goal entered, it was time to protect the lead.

I Noticed that gap at the left Back too.
Had Omeruo not made that error, he would have been our best defender for the game. Omeruo really worked very hard to cover for Echiejile's lapses. Also the LWF(Iwobi) should also do more to support the LB when under pressure

goldfish80:
3 points in the bag and a heart warming victory for the eagles.
I can't remember the last time the eagles started a world cup qualifier with an away win.
All the components of the team came together nicely.

For once, I noticed Carl Ikeme getting out of his line quickly to sweep and nullify threats. I was surprised by his agiilty and his burst of pace to do this because I never really saw him Athletic enough to win short sprints like he did today.

In defence, Omeruo was very tidy today bar the error which leads to the goal. He won almost all duels he engaged with against a bigger and stronger guy like colins Mbesuma. Of all our defenders today, I believe he had the most defensive actions and came out tops.

Moses Simon, for all his running and endeavour should really do alot of shooting practice. Most of his shots went straight out of the stadium.

The only suspect position was the right back, manned by Ndidi. Rohr will do well not to experiment playing him at right back again. The ndidi I know, played at CB, his club converted him to a midfielder and the national team is playing him as a right back, this sort of constant change will definitely affect his game as he will be like a Jack of all trade and master of non. Shehu is a better right back by a country mile, Rohr seems not to trust him, I don't know why.

Finally, from my observation, Rohr made his substitution 4mins late. I believe we would have walked away with a clean sheet had he pulled in Anderson Etisi earlier.
Immediately Etisi came on, the wave of Zambian attacks stopped as Eddy Onazi played slightly further and suffocated the Zambians in their own half. He is always at his best when he does this.

The partnership between Iwobi, Ideye and Iheanacho was breath taking at times.... All hands must be on deck to win the Algerians in our next game.

Top notch! I couldn't agree any better.

TheGoodJoe:


The Competition is tough. I am also stuck. Is it better we adopt a midfield system like Spain. With the large number of midfielders at our disposal. Even Abdullahi, Ndidi, Awaziem can play in midfield. Agbo can play there. We still have Nwobodo.

Yet we have some brilliant strikers like Success, Obaje, Eleke and many more.

Hmmm Obinna Nwobodo. Raw talent. I watched a few of his games in the NPFL especially the last 2. Who is his agent. That guy needs to leave our shores ASAP.

TheGoodJoe:

We have a video analyst in the team and he studies their tapes. I believe all players will get better chances now. I believe if the coach feels he needs him, he will call him.

But Odubajo has not been playing this season.
He could be another good prospect.

tbaba1234:
Esiti settled the game when he came on... vital sub..

Yeah great addition to the midfield.

TheGoodJoe:

I agree with you but if the coach adopts an offensive approach in one of the games, like the Tanzania game, we still need Musa Mohammed because he is good Offensively.

I think the coach acknowledges the strength of the opposition, that is why he opted for Ndidi today.

I feel without much club action, a player of Musa Mohammed's quality needs to work with the team to stay sharp. He looks the future for that role.

In this group there would be no opponent as cheap as Tanzania.

Please what happened to Moses Odubajo of Hull City?

Napoleon55:
Why do we always complain about the bad pitch,then i ask,is our opponents immune to bad pitches but us,if the bad pitches affects us,it should also affect our opponents to our advantage sometimes,not the other way round.
n don't tell me our boys r professional,that's main reason why they should adapt to any situations.

It affected both sides.

TheGoodJoe:


We need to see the coach plans for Musa Mohammed. Rohr has contacts in Germany and France. I believe he will help him secure a club to allow him grow. Just like Westerhof used to do.

If we can put in some strong performances and qualify early, the coach can give Musa Mohammed a run.

One thing, I hope the coach keeps calling Musa Mohammed and make him keep training with the team and experienced defenders.

I believe this qualifiers will be intense till the last game. Algeria and Cameroun are our strongest opposition in this group. Our last game is in Algiers, Jeez.

After the game in November, the next qualifiers game would be in August 2017. There would be so many International breaks between March and July next year. That is enough time for Musa Mohammed to put his club career together. We expect some good friendlies between March and July next year. Rohr can do some experiments from those friendlies.

profmathsland:
A question to all. When was the last time the Nigerian National teams (junior and senior), female inclusive won their games on the weekends and Sundays at any international game or competition?

What kind of a question is this?

TheGoodJoe:

I believe Omeruo would play the Right Back role if Balogun was on the pitch. With Balogun back for the next game, Omeruo is the best option.

As for Musa Mohammed and Ndidi. I do not know but the dribbling Ndidi received does not have part 2. I am not sure Musa Mohammed would fare better.

Exactly, we would bank on Omeruo at RB in our next game. They should focus on training Ndidi as a DMF while Musa Mohammed should settle his club issues.

Moses Simon has not done himself good with this game. He has given Victor Moses a starting shirt if he is fit.

Ahmed Musa has finally been relegated to a sub.

TheGoodJoe:

I agree. Big hero with some super saves. Without him, we would not celebrate today.

Apart from his brilliant saves, he looks a fine gentleman with a good attitude.

Yeah true. However, need to also put him on his toes with another fantastic goalie. Competition for shirt from Ejide and Ayenugba made Enyeama better

TheGoodJoe:
As for that commentator, I am not ready for him. Called Ikeme, Ezenwa repeatedly and called our defence, South African defence. If not Terzurum5 is holding the official Plank, that commentator would see action.

Victor Ikpeba annoyed me the most. Down playing the performance of our boys untill we scored 2 goals.

TheSuperNerd:
Onazi's presence became more noticeable in the second half especially... He stepped up big time... I was so proud.

He was everywhere in midfield indeed.

And yes he did have misplaced passes oooo... And was poor a few times in decision making when with the ball in the first half.

That is why Rohr prefered "The big experience players for a game of this magnitude".

joseph1013:
Ideye to me has not been the type of guy to get goals, that's why I'm surprised when I see him topping the goal chart in Greece. What I know him to be is a guy who makes his goal partner shine. Look what he did to Emenike. Once he stopped been invited, Emenike started to fade away in our team. Kelechi goal was his doing. He distracted his defender and laid the ball to Iheanacho perfectly.

It's odd, but I prefer him that way. Some people are not meant for the spotlight. They just work hard for the team.

So much for the talk about "players playing week in week in the Greek league".

I knew all those talks about him being in form is jst babash. Most of us here have been following this crop of the Super Eagles(particularly the older players), we should know by now what each player can bring to the table.

daveP:
I'm I the only one that feels that Echiejile may not have a good game against Algeria? Communication weakness.

He was severally out of position. Omeruo really covered up his ass.

daveP:



Seems to find striker since Emenike na problem o. Don't you think we need Emenike back?

Not only Emenike. We should also call Yakubu.

tbaba1234:
If it was a home game, rohr might have started Musa but we needed solidity in the defense today.

It is not an issue of home game. It is about the nature of your opposition.

Just like you suggested, Omeruo can fill that RB position against Algeria. Musa Mohammed vs Slimani alternating with Mahrez?

Did anyone notice Brown Ideye never had a single shot on goal today?

Even the one he was set up to score, that was rules offside, he missed and started blaming the ref for ruling offside.

Thank God Ighalo has successfuly buried his Dad yesterday.

daveP:
Well, I'm glad the mind games which I sense Rohr is playing worked. Ndidi was/is an experiment to me after I discovered that Rohr can't be that stupid.


Algerians will watch this game and try to exploit that angle, Musa Mohammed would be back I pray by then cos Slimani...., Mahrez. .....


Glad no goals came from Ndidi's mistakes though.


You're right on that Chidi Odiah stuff. we've been using makeshift, but Musa played that role@ u17 and won the title so I can reason his intor right into that position. Enough of makeshift defenders. He's our Bellerin; pace, strength, crosses!



Besides, Mweene the pitch dancer should go and retire.

Musa Mohammed needs to keep busy at club level first.

joseph1013:
You think Musa is not ripe?

If Rohr thought he was ripe he wouldnt have fielded a DMF at RB.
I love Rohr's players selections. Just perfect.

dkay51:
24' Congo 1-0 Egypt

Mohammed Sallah makes it 1-1.

tbaba1234:
Why not omeruo at RB? I think he is more pacy than Balogun.

That is still another good option.

daveP:
We don't need to shop again. Rohr experimented with Ndidi and he's gotten a good verdict. Musa Mohammed owns that spot and I think he just wanted to see if someone else can contest in case of emergency.


I keep wondering why the flash in tha pan Shehu keeps making the team. The guys proves his worth during training, but in a live match......




Did you see the way the Nigerian guys on the technical team besides Rohr celebrated? Rohr didn't even celebrate both goals. I guess their peeps were part of the 50 shades of stupidity on Flight 72 to Ndola.


We need to start working on having stronger 2nd half.

Musa Mohammed never faced this kind of opposition.

And u are leading Zambia 2-0 in Ndola and u dnt expect them to come all over you like a swam of bees?

I personally expected that kind of pressure on our defense in the second half. But for Omeruo's error, the boys coped well.

joseph1013:
Chai...it was not a good shift o, it was a disaster. We need to find a good defensive right back fast.

The last Recognized Natural RB we had in the Super Eagles was Chidi Odiah.

Ambrose tried. He did creditably well but he was converted RB.

Ndidi started out as a CB in his early career. This could be y Rohr started him instead of Shehu Abdulahi(who i feel would have coped better) @ RB.

I once suggested Leon Balogun at RB but that suggestion didnt go down well with analysts here.

The truth is we dont have a RB in this team.
For the next game I would still suggest Balogun as the RB while Ekong and Omeruo play CB.
We have Mahrez and Slimani for our LB and RB to deal with in that game.

joseph1013:
The errors I see Omeruo make astounds me. For a player of his experience, his school boy errors are unacceptable.

Go back to the replay. It was a spinning cross and the ball bounced abt 7-8ft in front of Omeruo and changed direction towards his left of which he just managed to give it a side header. Such balls are difficult to nod directly.

Nevertheless, an error is an error. That was the only wrong touch he made in the whole of the game and that led to d goal.