₦airaland Forum

lol.. if na for that side... thanks though

Icon79:
You can watch it on ESPN3.com


O pari

Yea.. Rohr should have made a double sub (Ogu coming in as well) at that point.. but glad it did not prove costly..

Icon79:
Same here ... the brother was going hard! He knew he needs to prove himself. Yup, it was a midfield battle all day.

And did you notice how they overran our midfield once Joel Obi was taken off? And that's not to say that Onazi had a bad game either.


O pari

Your analogy is not a perfect one.. It's not like Poland has been exceptionally better than many teams in Europe.
I can walk you down the current ranking, and I hope you wont shift grounds at some point..

TheLoneCitizen:
No way, brother, scrap sentiments and give me an unbiased view.

Man Utd is a bigger team than Man City by heritage but not on current rankings. Would you still "forget about ranking"?

We being great last year, came from behind to defeat Argentina. We being poor this month grinded out a result against an equally poor Poland. This, my man, is the undisputed fact.

Na J.Obi surprise me.. didn't play like he was "injury prone" haha
That midfield was war..

Icon79:
KPOM! I stated exactly the same thing. This Polish team would not concede a lot of goals in Russia and they will be a handful to many team. I expect them to do well.

I have watched that friendly game 3 times already and each time I realized more and more how difficult that game was for the two teams. And I think they became a little scared of our players as the game progresses as well. It was a rough rugged game by both sides.


O pari

I dey find that game to watch.. not watched France play lately..

Icon79:
Yea, let's hope that the coach isn't under pressure to win all these friendlies because I would really want to see Junior Ajayi this evening. Honestly, if I were Rohr, I won't even bother playing folks like VicMo, Ndidi, Ekong, Balogun, Onazi etc in today's game ... those positions are settled. Let's give the other players a chance to make a case for themselves. In addition, playing our reserve team would also confuse the opponent scouts.

And by the way, I was watching Russia vs France, but I got bored to death ... still goalless when I logged off


O pari

Forget about ranking. Spain is a bigger team.. that statement got nothing to do with the latest FIFA rankings.

TheLoneCitizen:
You've given me exactly the words I expected "A Bigger Team like Spain"... Actually Poland ranks higher than Spain according to FIFA, so in other words their performance against Nigeria make you see them as a smaller team.


That only means one thing, there weren't up to par.





Very good point, but it becomes insignificant when you realize that Argentina did not play badly at all. This means Nigeria was better than them.


The case of Barcelona vs Chelsea, Chelsea played like champions to the extent that the fans were satisfied with the bashing.


In the case of Manchester United vs Sevilla, Man Utd didn't live up to expectations and Sevilla edged. Would you say United were poor or Seville were too good?


I reiterate once again, I'm in no way against my country, I'm just bringing ya'll back to earth.

I've watched that game probably for the fourth time..
What I noticed we were good at, was our pressing and our positioning. Poland rarely had clear chances. But yes bigger teams like Spain could produce something out of nothing.
Again, you don't approach every team the same way. The way we approached a physical poland was very different from how we approached a "strong passing" Argentina. That's Rohr and his team's job -- to study the opponent and neutralize their strengths. Yes, we can beat Spain (answering both questions).

TheLoneCitizen:
Be very honest here brothers; from what you've seen, do you think Poland can beat Spain, in addition do you think Spain can beat Nigeria?

Nigeria has nearly 180m coaches – The ‘Oyibo Wall’ Interview
Calvin Emeka OnwukaCalvin Emeka Onwuka
March 27, 2018 Football, Interviews, News, Super Eagles, World Cup

https://www.aclsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1522146568944.jpg

In March of 2014 in Atlanta, Nigeria’s Super Eagles were playing a pre-World Cup friendly against Mexico. At half time a player with Fortuna Dusseldorf, Leon Balogun came on to make his debut.

Not long after coming on in the right back position Balogun went for an aerial challenge, got nudged mid-air, landed right foot first into the advertising hoarding by the sidelines. He eventually limped out of the match shortly after. He was later found to have broken his foot so he missed out Brazil 2014 World Cup.

A year later and in June of 2015 during an AFCON qualifier vs Chad in the heat of Kaduna, another debutant; this time it was the Dutch born William Troost-Ekong. It proved to be Stephen Keshi’s last match in charge of the Super Eagles. Balogun was right-back that afternoon with Kenneth Omeruo alongside Troost-Ekong.


Leon Balogun inside Stadion Wroclaw
It was Sunday Oliseh, now the Super Eagles head coach, who first played Balogun and Troost-Ekong as a central defence partnership in a friendly vs Congo, October 2015. The team lost 2 nil and Troost-Ekong lost his place for the next friendly – a 3 nil victory over Cameroon.

Following many barnstorming performances together in central defence as the Super Eagles qualified for the world cup from a seemingly tough group, they were christened “The Oyibo Wall” by Nigerians.

In Wroclaw, Poland both of them sat down together to talk to www.aclsports.com exclusively on playing for Nigeria.

Troost-Ekong: It is huge. There are nearly 180m coaches also who are ready to tell you what you have done wrong if you don’t do well. It is an absolute honour though. I am so proud of playing for Nigeria as is my dad and the rest of my family.

Leon Balogun: It is massive playing for the Super Eagles. We have been lucky – William and I – that we have not had too many criticisms. We understand that it is a higher level than our clubs when we are playing for Nigeria that is why we try to maintain our focus all the time.

Troost-Ekong: The support you get when playing for Nigeria is so huge and so you don’t want to disappoint anyone at all. We also know how important a Super Eagles win is to Nigerians as in how happy it makes everyone so that is why we try very hard in each match.

Balogun: I agree with William. Take these friendlies we have now; I would be looking for the performances as we prepare for the World Cup but we know Nigerians would want us to win them so we must try to get it.

Q: When did you know this was going to be first choice partnership for the team?

Troost-Ekong: When I made my debut Leon was the right back (even though he is a centre-back) but the first time we partnered was under Oliseh – before he kicked me out of the team. However, during the World Cup qualifiers it was just us and we got better with each match.


William Troost-Ekong at the Presser as skipper Vs Poland
Q: What has the success been down to?

Balogun: We got on quite well right from the first time we met in camp but on the pitch it has been more of communication. We talk to each other all the time and we understand what the other might be doing so that has helped us.

Q: You remember your debuts and now you are on the verge of playing at the world cup..

Troost-Ekong: The heat of Kaduna and the physicality of the match vs Chad I still remember very clearly and it was a proper welcome to African football. I genuinely did not think I would play as Omeruo and Oboabona were the first choices at the time but Keshi believed in me and gave me the start. Yes, it is great that three years down the line and it is World Cup time. Really looking forward to it.

Balogun: I try to forget my debut but yeah it is fantastic that William and I and a few others who I met in the team will be going to the World Cup again.

Q: Has it sunk in yet?

Balogun: It started sinking a month or so after we beat Zambia to qualify. From that time I started getting well wishes and then seeing the World Cup campaign messages with Nigeria involved then you know “yeah, we are going to the World cup”

There will be much more from this interview with The Oyibo Wall as the World Cup draws closer. And the videos are here

ACLSPORTS

Did you oversee their preparation in camp?

MetalJigsaw:
Ighalo and Simon should have started the game

He is one versatile midfielder.. let's see how he fares as AM tonight

Well said.. let the subs be made like a typical friendly.. Lets see as many as 6 early enough. And let's see Agbo for once

Icon79:
Correct! Sorry for the typo. Yes, I have seen Joel play LWB a few times when he was at Inter Milan.

And I agree with you on making change early as well. Against, Poland he left the changes come way too late into the game. I was expecting about 3 changes immediately before kickoff of the second half and 3 more about 10-15 mins later.


O pari

The difference is he didn't "hide" prior to then.. lol.. nice try at sarcasm

andrew444:
Just the way he was hidden at the last World Cup and super eagles won them and they crashed out of the group stages.

OGN on their roles tonight:

Ogenyi Onazi ( Defensive Midfielder)

Wilfred Ndidi ( Advanced Defensive Midfielder)

Joel Obi ( Creative Midfielder)

Hence, J. Obi as AM. A moniker once argued with me here that J. Obi can't play as AM because no records ever showed he did.
Coaches make these decisions with various factors in consideration. I can watch a player and suggest areas they could also excel

MetalJigsaw:
There should have been a john Ogu in DM

Rohr on Uzoho:

''I think you should be more impressed than me because I know him already. So I saw also that the 40,000 people in the stadium in Poland were impressed,'' Rohr told omasports.com when asked if Uzoho will be the first-choice in Russia.

''He is 19 years old, we already had the youngest team before he came and now we are even younger.

''We are the youngest team in the world with Germany as No 2 and this goalkeeper, has just played 2 games, the last 45 minutes against Argentina, he had a clean sheet, now he has recorded another clean sheet against Poland.

''It's good for his confidence.''

ANS

did you mean LWB?

I think Rohr is trying to maintain the shape and chemistry of the team while making few changes at a time.. may pay off for us that way. Let's hope he starts to pull players off the bench early in the second half.

Icon79:
Good line up. The player I really wanna see today is Ebuehi. And it looks like Joel Obi would be playing further up as well. And by the way, does Rohr know that Joel Obi can play the RWB position? Just in case the current crew can't deliver the goods.

I would've like to see the likes of Awaziem, Uche Agbo, Kenneth Omeruo, and Aina start this game but I guess Rohr doesn't wanna lose the game so he chose not to experiment too much.


O pari

ANS confirms:

Trabzonspor's Eddy Onazi returns to the starting line-up and will protect the back four, Wilfred Ndidi and Joel Obi will play slightly ahead of him in a three-man midfield.

Ahmed Musa will lead the charge for goals and the CSKA Moscow striker will be flanked by Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses.

The friendly in the English capital will start at 2000 hours Nigerian time.

Nigeria Starting Lineup Vs Serbia (4-3-3) : Uzoho - Ebuehi, Balogun, Troost-Ekong, Idowu - Onazi, Ndidi, Joel Obi - Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa

OGN confirms Serbia line up. But, Ndidi as AM?

Echiejile was there when he thought we had a problem at LB abi. I think he wants to drop an experienced player gently.

Like I've been saying, competition is always a good thing. Then he didn't have one, now it seems he has 3.

maidaboi:
this one wey he mention elderson last
who is thinking what i am thinking.....

Read what that poster said slowly.

isan:
But at least he got invited ahead of dessert and co that u guys said are miles ahead him

After he said red carpet then slumped haha

maidaboi:
lol
which day you become anti tega?

"Tega" still thinks he will make the world cup train.. I can't control my laughter.. everything will start donning on him in 2022.
Onuoha part 2

” I am not confused about who to play in the left back. I am never confused, I have the choice and it is wonderful. When I arrived in Nigeria, we had problems in the left back position. We found Tyron Ebuehi, Ola Aina and Brown Idowu and that is a big competition, it is no confusion. It is a competition and that is very fare”, he told Omasports.com

Against Poland, Brian Idowu did very well, he plays in Russia which could be a big advantage for him. Ola Aina is doing very well in Hull city. We also have Elderson Echiejile, a very good experienced player. So it will be a difficult choice for us but the coach is happy when he has more”. -- Rohr

OGN

Hahaha like people revere u that u are full of wisdom.

forgiveness:
Oga, you don't have anything sensible thing to say.

maybe u are komekn after all lol

forgiveness:
Is he the only one? Check well.

You have a point. But it also has its advantages. Chances are he may also be picking the best from training.

Dedebanky85:
I was referringto starts. He hardly gives more than 2 fresh starts except the occasion warrants e.g. (injuries, absentees)

Good u get the point. Honestly I wish these players in question make the train and play at a high level that they never have before. It's all for the good of the team. But as it stands some players clearly don't deserve a place.

TheSuperNerd:
And I can honestly tell you that Echiejile tops that list... It used to be Akpeyi but Ezenwa and Uzoho have since displaced him.

I understand why it seems that way but I really don't find it healthy in the long run shaa... I may laugh about it when I see how a few go about it. I remember even Safari was like, "Mehn, it berra be Echiejile who picks a knock biko to save us some embarrassment"... It all looked funny yeah... And I laughed too but honestly ehn... I believe Rohr will take the best regardless of everyone being fit.

We should just wish the players the best and hope most especially that our key players stay fit. Nacho is among our key players which is why Chief Icon4s obviously pointed out what he observed (I observed it too but kept quiet).

Well done sir [quote author=Kog45 post=66192435][/quote]

Aina would come in for either Ebuehi or Idowu. What's conservative about that. Don't forget Aina debuted before Idowu. What do you have to say about Joel Obi?

Dedebanky85:
This goes to show that Rohr is a very conservative coach. He doesn't just change his teams for the mere fact of changing it. That's why i fear for Aina breaking in. Now he's trusting Idowu, it's gonna be tough for Aina. I even thought an Awaziem or Omeruo would have started in place of Balogun. Well things could still change in 7hrs before the official starting list is out but I doubt it as he tends to start with his last training team.
I just feel for Aina and the other CBs.

Uppercut hahhahahaha

TheSuperNerd:
This guy is really a clown I swear... Loooollll.....bia Elyte Endorphin.... oya face front....

I don't see Akpeyi as one who will get the #1 slot. But if handlers are too stubborn sometimes life corrects the situation.
And this is true in other spheres of life. In reality I don't wish any player bad. If I do I will say it straight up.

TheSuperNerd:
You are talking Echiejile... I thought some will even bring up Akpeyi here... Lol...

I recall when this became a matter, I was very careful about it... I cannot wish Akpeyi injury. But at the same time I want the best for us in goal. It is truly a matter of how we value these players as humans too.

It's not a wish. Yes it's true some people wish that players get injured.

Icon4s:
You see what I am talking about?

Because you don't like a player the next thing is to wish him injured.

lol U always have to consider context.
If Echiejile is injured, is it good for his career? No. Is it good for SE? Maybe yes lol.

Icon4s:
The last time I saw that kind of like or even more was when Ikechukwu Ezenwa was ruled out for 3weeks following the injury sustained in that CHAN semi-final.

The other day komekn attacked someone here for allegedly rejoicing over the injury of Okazaki of Leicester, but I defended the fellow as I saw it as being born out of patriotism for a Nigerian player - Iheanacho.

How some people would rejoice over a Nigerian player's injury is worrisome to me.

For those that have cleared the air on why they clicked like on that comment, no wahala but just be sincere about it.

I am not being a judge or a Police here. I mean... people have the right to like whatever they chose to or not. But let us remember that our overall target and expected is for us to contribute to the development of Nigerian football.

Lol at least I no cover up say na Joel dey pay me to post.

asha80:
na you comot am na ..maybe you no want L for life