₦airaland Forum

Has he even played this season?

forgiveness:
Where is Kingsley Madu?

He has that kind of speed and he needs room to make them, that's why the wings could seem more suited for him.

tbaba1234:
He played a few games as number 9 for Eupen. Showed some flashes but i think his best postion is from the wings.

Well if you say you have personally gone to watch these players, that I can understand. But you have not also gone to see the likes of Torunarigha or other Nigerian players in Holland etc. You see what I mean? So let's be a little balanced here.. Granted the EPL is the most competitive and the Championship may be at the level of other top leagues. But you can't just say any championship player is better than the others. I consider that quite extreme.


Modified
And thanks

komekn:
Firstly, I commend you an award should be given.

This us the longest post I have read and read again and found myself captivated completely. It was that indepth.

However, self assessment is very hard so I do not think my views can ever be considered EXTREME. On that one point I disagree.

oh in that sense. Well like I said he Onyekuru said #9 is his preferred position.
Doesn't he show potential of #9 when you watch him?

Because I've noticed that even before he spoke about his preferred position.

tbaba1234:
He plays from the left but drives inside instead of crossing.

He is an inside forward.

PERFORMANCE: TALKING TACTICS AND POSITIONAL PLAY

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Angel Di Maria: The art of wing play
PSG's Argentine wizard Angel Di Maria shares the secrets of bossing the flank
Sid Lowe

Always be inventive

“When teams are defending deep – ‘parking the bus’ – it’s important to stay relaxed and focus on keeping the ball moving and searching for the gaps. As a winger you have to keep doing what you’re there to do: run at someone, create a chance or draw a foul and deliver a cross into the area for the strikers. For wingers it’s important to try to be inventive: to do something different to beat the defenders and create a chance for your team.”

https://images.cdn.fourfourtwo.com/sites/fourfourtwo.com/files/styles/inline-image/public/creativity-is-why-youre-in-the-team3.jpg
Creativity is why you're in the team

Drop in when you can

“At Madrid the three forwards always have freedom of movement. We can swap places and look for spaces whenever we want. If you’re out wide, you watch what the others are doing: if one player goes outside, try to drop inside to fill the space. You’re always looking for room. Me, Ronaldo, Benzema, Adebayor – whoever plays, Mourinho asks us to do the same thing: to be mobile and when near the area, to take people on and take our chances.”

https://images.cdn.fourfourtwo.com/sites/fourfourtwo.com/files/styles/inline-image/public/seek-space-when-your-team-mates-move3.jpg
Seek space when your team-mates move


Remember: track back

“Mourinho wants us to be aggressive, with and without the ball, so I’ve had to adapt defensively to what he wants from us. I knew if I was going to be in his team that I’d have to run and put my foot in. It’s because of this that I’m playing and getting better. My position is different now [to when I was at Benfica] so my mentality is a bit different. I know the coach wants us to run and pressure but still have ‘air’ left to attack, so I have worked with that in mind.”

https://images.cdn.fourfourtwo.com/sites/fourfourtwo.com/files/styles/inline-image/public/get-your-foot-in-and-help-the-defence3.jpg
Get your foot in and help the defence

Creating chances is key

“Some wingers may be happy with dribbling past a few players but it’s important to remember you’re in the team to make chances for your team-mates. If you can make space for the forwards or play a pass for them to put them one-on-one with the goalkeeper, that’s when you’ve really done your job. Fast wingers can beat defenders. The best wingers make goalscoring chances.”

https://images.cdn.fourfourtwo.com/sites/fourfourtwo.com/files/styles/inline-image/public/its-not-all-about-beating-your-man2.jpg
It's not all about beating your man

Accept you’ll get kicked

“At one point this season, I got kicked so often that I got frustrated. But after a while you realise that it’s something you have to endure when you’re dribbling past players. Some kicks I can accept; when it’s one of those that the defender has no choice because otherwise you’re through on goal, that I can understand. But when it’s a foul that’s unnecessary and can really hurt you, that’s still difficult to take.”

https://images.cdn.fourfourtwo.com/sites/fourfourtwo.com/files/styles/inline-image/public/getting-kicked-its-in-the-wingers-job-description1_0.jpg
Getting kicked: It's in the winger's job description

Keep evolving

“Every year, you grow in all ways – in a football sense, in a mental sense. And the older you get, the better you understand football; the better you know it. You come to learn things that you did not know before and I’m still trying to evolve now. For example, I’m trying to improve my positional play: when to pressure and when to back off, when to open up the pitch, when to close it. As an attacker, you can’t just be happy to beat players. You want to make an all-round contribution to the team.”

Source: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/performance/training/angel-di-maria-art-wing-play#7s2te0zYlc0fjUIJ.99

outside forward?

I mostly saw him at left forward. But those number labels don't restrict these players.
Read my previous post again.

tbaba1234:
He is not a number 9.

I watch most of his games last year and a few this season.

He is more like an inside forward.

Just seeing this.. I actually meant to say AM not CMF. we talking #10 now

Good. So Yannis Anastasiou deployed Ajagun at RM, although he never played Ajagun there for an entire season at Roda. Why did the coach do that? It's not only got to do with versatility, but also the strengths of a different set of teammates. Also buttresses my point. Did Ajagun need 4 to 5 games to adjust back to a RM? What's the big different between RW and RM? A midfielder who is offensive minded can play as an AM (Attacking midfielder)

A versatile player is versatile.. How long did Victor Moses need to adjust to a wing back?

But you would have said VicMo is not a wing back prior to then, just because of what you saw on transfermarkt. My friend, listen to people who study players strengths.. don't just go by what one coach did.

forgiveness:
Ajagun only played for a season at Roda fc and he played mostly as an AM.

Point of correction, he has been with the same coach for 4 years counting. from Panothiakios to Roda and now belgium.

Besides, there is no where he hasn't played Ajagun on the field save CB.

You can not find a utility player of Ajagun's caliber.

Onyekuru always cuts in to score. Sometimes he drifts there and scores. He's scored a couple headers from the 9 position as well. Don't forget he said #9 is his preferred role.
Hence, I consider him a #9 as well. These players are more versatile than we think. Most times you guys just check the formation and run with it.
Many of today's forwards can adapt.

TheGoodJoe:
Keep in mind Onyekuru is not playing the nine role at Anderlecht. Also, not because he is scoring in Belgium ticks him ahead of others. Remember that Everton also did not fight to keep him.

Either way, I feel we have a special talent in Onyekuru and I expect him to have a blast when he gets a run in the EPL.

ENGLAND: Championship - Round 12

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Bristol City 0-0 Burton (FT)

Forgotten Super Eagles midfielder Hope Akpan helped Burton secure a point away to Bristol City.
+Stats(whoscored): 6.4 Rating ; 2 Aerial Duels Won (5th Best)

1-4 at half time.
Full-time scores Mechelen 3-4 Anderlecht

terzurum5:
Everton Loanee Onyekuru Welcomes New Coach Of Anderlecht With Brace Against Mechelen

On loan Everton forward Henry Onyekuru continued his rich vein of form for his loan side Anderlecht by scoring twice in their 4-2 win over KV Mechelen.


The game was the first for coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck who was appointed by the team to help rescue a poor start to the season for the team who are representing Belgium in the UEFA Champions League.


Onyekuru wasted no time in introducing himself to the manager by scoring twice within a space of seven minutes in the 30th and 37th minute precisely to put his side 3-1 up before the half time break.


‎He now has six goals in ten games for Anderlecht, a form that has already lead to talks about a possible return to Everton in January, as they are struggling to score goals.


Last season he scored 24 goals in all competitions for modest side Eupen, and he is in line to better the tally if he maintains his current rich vein in front of goal till the end of the season.

Daniel Martins

owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/13/everton-loanee-onyekuru-welcomes-new-coach-of-anderlecht-with-brace-against-mechelen/

haha.. It would be great Tammy making his debut against England.

komekn:
WHEN WILL WE PLAY ENGLAND OH

I want to paint Wembley Green.

Noted! I will forward your requests to Rohr

komekn:
Seyi Ojo

No there is no conspiracy.

What we have here is someone putting a gun to your head and asking you to do things in a civilized manner. Government funding our football is the major reason why we have been backward. We love the centralized system where we run to the center for everything, and say that's our way of doing things?

Well how about now? Don't you like the new look NFF? Visit thenff.com. visit npfl's website. Go to twitter and tweet @npflstats any npfl question. How about private investments in NFF now? Sobyou also smell conspiracy in FIFA asking FG not to interfere with the NFF?

My friend there is corruption everywhere, but let's catch up with civilized way of doing things. Get the private sector involved. In life your outlook determines your attitude. And "your attitude determines your altitude". Stop believing all those conspiracy stuff. If we are really serious about growing, we wil. But most times we lack the will power.

kennysville:
Wow! Bravo!! I must commend your efforts at trying to school me but errr..... it is your opinion. I mentioned sometime ago about a system we are used to in Nigeria. And I cant remember who it was, but the dude tackled me like I committed sacriledge. I am not going to go over that again. Nairaland is a sensitive place and so I dont have the need to respond to every point you made so we dont get derailed from speaking about football.

That said, time will tell if I am right or wrong. But just to pick on one of your points, who are the people in court of arbitration for sports that you mentioned? Exactly my point. If you dont sense conspiracy, then its cool.

Most of the stuff you commented on are stuffs that require a face to face chat and not typing cos that practically requires me being articulate, taking things point by point which unfortunately, I dont actually have the time for.

Lemme fire a parting shot. Fifa makes a rule that No government should interfere with the runnings of their football associations but when there is cash crunch, these FA are quick to run to the govt. You do the math.. . . .

I know many of us follow these players to camp. Rohr always gets criticized for believing in Osimhen.

blueto:
6 minutes of football for a guy that “scores the most goals in training?” well, letz hope things get better for him

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New Wolfsburg Coach Tips Osimhen To Shine This Season – He Scores A Lot In Training
October 13, 2017
0
38

Newly appointed coach of German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg who gave Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen his first Bundesliga game this season has backed him to finish the season on a high.

Martin Schmidt replaced Andries Jonker who was fired after a poor start to the season by Wolfsburg, and played the Nigerian for six minutes in their 1-1 draw against Mainz 05.

Speaking to Wolfsburger Allgemeine, the coach praised the Nigerian for hid efforts in training which according to him earned him the chance to play against Mainz 05.

” It was a decision for Victor. He trained very well and scored the most goals. He is the most effective runner and I wanted to reward him”, the coach said.

Osimhen consolidated‎ his chances of playing again this weekend when they take on Bayern Leverkusen by scoring in the pre season game they played as part of keeping players who didn’t travel for international games in shape.

http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/13/new-wolfsburg-coach-tips-osimhen-to-shine-this-season-he-scores-a-lot-in-training/

All we are doing is monitoring their progress. Many things can happen between now and then. Onyekuru is in the current SE set up. And that's a good thing.

Humility017:
read my comment well...moreso, the dude has been consistent...
should he head back to Everton January next year....Mark my words he will likely make the world cup squad....

I didn't think it was an intelligent question though. Honestly I would have ignored it if not that you quoted me first. Siasia VS Rohr debate. Seriously?

Mickael2:
you did not answer the question

8 months to the World Cup some of us can't wait to cry foul. Relax una blood too dey hot.

Humility017:
this guy may likely take out musa from the world cup list.....

it will be great injustice should this guy be ignored by rohr if he continues this form

If the goals keep coming for Iwobi, this will no longer be a debate.

TheGoodJoe:
Definitely, Iwobi will be good in AMF. Nacho gets my pick because I prefer an offensive ten and the midfield staying compact than a conservative ten who will join in defensive duties.

Musa's reign is gradually coming to an end

tbaba1234:
Onyekuru's second goal

Check out @Scott_MorrisEfc's Tweet:

http://twitter.com/Scott_MorrisEfc/status/918919532923715585?s=09

Terrific goal..

I think at this point Rohr needs to just tell you guys whatever, and do what he wants. People will always talk. I'm not going to the WC to watch Nigeria entertain. We want to move past the second round jinx for once. For those of you who want to see everything fall according to your expectation or watch your preferred playing style, good luck!

For me, I just want to see us win. So far I'm satisfied.

Mickael2:
what of Keshi?

I love Tiki taka, so you should know my perception of pure football.


Ok, watch that goal Iheanacho scored against Zambia, is it in anyway related to Ighalo's goal? I could also mention other goals scored by City but you would argue it isn't club football.

Anyways for a coach that says he likes one touch two go, but somehow he keeps Iwobi, who is unarguably the best we have in that department on the bench or out on the wide for who? Moses Simon!!! Tor, it does not add up

He should have released it earlier but dragging out two defenders gave Shehu a wide range of space to place a perfect pass to Iwobi. I personally would have called for VicMo's head, had we not scored. However, we have seen times without number how his darting runs have unsettled opponents. The "headless chicken" have made the difference for us time and time again.. how I wish we were still chasing qualification. We have gotten so use to our old ways of struggling to qualify, that even when it comes easier we still look for ways to criticize. Of course, that's the easiest thing to do, else we will all be coaches in the NPFL at least. If we truly crave perfection, we should be happy we have taken a step towards it as we have only dropped 2 points so far in the qualifiers. But not the case here. we want to give all the credits to a few players. Same players that have always been with us.

Ok tacticians, what would u rather have done with this team?

Mickael2:
if he wanted to pass that ball the collision would not have happened, you can see he still wanted to continue chasing the ball. His run drew two defenders yes but he should have released the ball earlier, thank God the ball did not hit that defender

And the ball just flew by itself towards Shehu's path.. Ironically, he played a huge part in that build up.
He was aware of Shehu's presence he two players on him but manage to roll the ball forward. His reaction after the collision is a proof. He looked straight to Shehu as the latter delivered the cross. That shows awareness. Look at the 6th second.. You have to look at the situation from different camera angles. Spectator side view does not tell the story.


Take note of the 6th second.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r02pWvPQ-1s

Mickael2:
that goal we scored, did you see how Moses ran into that Zambian player as if he wasn't there? Definition? Headless chicken move

Although I had opined that Moses is our best player since 2016, I've given him a fare good number of criticisms here. Go back and read my Half-time and Full-time analysis of the Zambia match in Uyo.

However, nobody can take anything away from him. Even Rohr himself said VicMo was his best player in the qualifiers.. Someone is talking about headless chicken. You can take whatever you want and run with it. it's always a choice.

Mickael2:
if I say this now they will say I am highly critical and that VicMo was playing to instructions by not passing the ball, sure beats me

We've seen so much of Siasia, than Rohr, who is barely 14 months at the job. I still maintain that Rohr maintained a conservative approach during the qualifiers because what we had was working for us. We have been winning and was always on top of our group. Much is yet to be seen about Rohr in other situations. Did he say something like we will be shopping for a lot of new players? I'm not sure. I want to believe he sees the World Cup challenge as a whole different ball game.

Siasia has made some bad decisions tactically. I like his all attack playing philosophy but that does not always guarantee victory. Siasia has proven himself more at the junior levels.

Mickael2:
Simple, we are here arguing the truth instead of looking for things to do about it before the world cup proper.


For all the members of team Tactical Rohr could y'all please answer this question- is/was Siasia a better tactical manager than Rohr?

Cc Joebie, Mujtahida, MilitaryControl, Chrismario, Icon4s

I agree

tbaba1234:
I think the whole Giwa-Pinnick fiasco contributed to missing the nations cup. The nff is more settled now.

I've been in support of Pinnick most of the time. But for his handling of Tammy's issue, most of the time he has been on point with his decisions. Today, we are a force to recon with in CAF -- many thinks to Pinnick. However he's been blamed for Nations Cup miss. He has time to right a few wrongs and even surpass his predecessors' achievements. Pinnick should get credits for getting it right with the choice of Rohr. Rohr should get credits for taking us on one of our best world cup qualifying journeys. And he too should get credits for great player management skills, and tactics (YES).

Modified
Oh and the way he's building the SE brand, with lots of sponsorship, and less reliance on FG. Shehu Dikko gets some credits too

terzurum5:
We need to recognize the inputs of the Amaju P. led NFF, they have done a wonderful job.
If we had not qualified for the World Cup. Criticisms would have been flying left and right.

Yes Oruma was very direct and a result driven #10. But Okocha was a phenomenon, sometimes to our own detriment.

I will have to watch Josh. I'm sure their U21 coach had a vision -- good for us.

komekn:
He remind me of Wilson Oruma who was highly under rated over a much more skilful and flamboyant Okocha who was quite often not that effective in occasion.

Of course. I'm sure I mentioned that earlier. You have to be full of running when the opponent's CBs have the ball as well. I see lots of forwards to that. It's not necessarily a strength.

Mujtahida:
Didn't you see him do that to Mweene?

I'm not still very comfortable with Awaziem. I want to see him more in SE colors. That will have to apply to Iorfa as well. For now it's just Balogun and Ekong. But yes I think we have some good set of players. Hopefully we get the kind of bench that also deserve to start.

PDPGuy:
I would also deploy him to the RB position cos we know that he is actually a natural RB. My full-backs to the WC would be Aina and Echiejile (at LB), and Shehu and Iorfa (at RB) Awaziem, as the specialist CB, would be back up to the Oyibo Wall.
Of course, if both Balogun and Ekong are unavailable, then Awaziem could partner with Iorfa at CB.

In fact, I like how the team is brimming with current and future talent.
With appropriate tactics and luck on the side of the team, a World Cup quarter final isn’t out of the question.

A few caps may not be the reason.. there are many reasons not to be proud of Nigeria. you know that. We have no idea of their personal experiences besides just having a few caps. If I had a son that was good in football. Would I want him to play for Nigeria. Hell yea! Because I'm not only passionate about Nigeria football, but I hardly support other countries when it comes to football. So different strokes for different folks.

Well Iorfa snr and Ojokojo are different. They have walked different paths and have different experiences. We can't be mad over people's personal decisions or how they choose to advice their children. That's why it's theirs, and we have ours.

Mujtahida:
It depends jare@few caps cos that might not be the reason. Iwobi's Dad wished he(as in the Dad himself) played for the Eagles. He never got the opportunity and so therefore when the opportunity came for his son, ooohh Joebie the man gave it all his support. Read this article on this link from 2015 and you'd feel the man's overweening support for his son to play for us. http://opera.pulse.ng/sports/football/alex-iwobi-arsenal-youngster-keen-to-play-for-nigeria-father-insists-id3516087.html

On Dominic Iorfa I think he said that he wants his son to play for England at the youth level and that when the guy is 21 or so then they'd know which direction he'd pledge his international career. That to me is better than Ojokokojo who discouraged his son point blank. But we are all human beings and we do change our minds, don't we?

You've made a very good case for Salah.

Moses has World Cup qualifying performances and his immense contribution towards Chelsea becoming EPL champions, to his favor.

Salah's nominations will come to mind but Roma's achievement will also be checked
Salah also has Nations Cup appearances to his favor, and he coincidentally, single-handedly denied Moses from participating.
Salah single handedly made Egypt qualify for the world cup since 1990.

At the end of the day it will all come down to voting. I personally thought Auba should have won the last APOTY ahead of Mahrez. But Leicester made a whole lot of noise because it was a fairy tale run to the crown for them. Mahrez played a huge part. And he was crowned the player of the season? Auba only had goals and AFCON participation to show for it.

In a nutshell, it's who makes the most noise throughout the calendar year that would likely take it. For me, it's looking like Salah. But I hope it would be VicMo. if not this time, I believe a good World Cup showing for Moses will earn him the prize.

goldfish80:
No doubt Moses had a good season with Chelsea but when you consider his achievements compared to Mohamed Salah, it becomes very difficult to see how Moses will take the gong.

For starters Aubameyang was at the Nations cup with Gabon to start with. Moses wasn't with Nigeria in the year under review.

Yes he won the Premiership with Chelsea but for the super Eagles he basically played 3 good games in the year under review. Hang on, Moses as good a season he had was not nominated in the Premiership team of the season.

Now, when we compare notes with Salah. It becomes very clear he is 2 paces above Moses.

First of all, Salah has been nominated in the Seria A team of the seaon back to back. He single handledly bundled us out of the nations cup party and was one of the stand out players of the tournament.
At the world cup qualification series, he has stood out for Egypt enroute their qualification for the World Cup after almost 30years absence.
Egypt also played up to the finals of the AFCON.


According to FHIS Salah was the bargain buy of the season. As a matter of fact Liverpool got him almost 3 times less than his actual value. So far in the Premiership, he has won several man of the match awards and on multiple occasions, he have been in the Premiership team of the week.

I understand out pan Nigerianism on this thread. But I cannot leave the truth and buy the lie.

Mo Salah will take home the gong. You can take it to the bank and cash it out through the atm come January 2018 at the glo gala night in Abuja.

Very good points..

komekn:
I had this discussion with you sometime ago but you still do not get it.

The EPL is unlike any other league across Europe. It is a completely international league in which English players have become the minority.

When you look at the top 6 on a lot of occasions they may field a first 11, with no more than 1-3 English players in the team. On some occasions not a single English player. That will never happen in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, France etc.

So although the EPL us the most competitive league in the World you it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO LARGELY with national team prominence and or dominance.

On the other hand there is no top 5 ranked nation by FIFA that will not have at least a number of thier highest performing and or top playing in the EPL.

I ask you directly. Can you say that of the Turkish, Belgium, Austrian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Swiss, Ukrainian, leagues, etc to name a few.

The comparison that you make is not substantively underpinned just mere sentiment.

Shehu is an exception and far very far from the general trend. Better players play in top leagues full stop and the best in the best teams and best leagues.