₦airaland Forum

Experience will come to bear especially in the later stages of the World Cup. Can the inexperienced stand the occasion and the tension that the play off stage brings in a competition of that magnitude? Until France hosted and won the world cup in 98, it has been the usual winners that win it again and again. Reason -- partly experience.

tglobal:
@goldfish, Chidi Nwanu didn't have AFCON experience before USA 94 neither did Taribo in 98

Like safarigirl pointed out, our AFCON winning CB pair didn't even have a lot of national team experience before the tournament and we are not even going to win the world cup next year anyway.

Regarding the bolded, 23 or the 24 teams in the tournament came up short. Nigeria had one of the best defenses at the stage we went out of the competition and they kept out the bulgarian attacking force. Our vulnerability was set pieces which was responsible of for 3 of the 4 goals we conceded!

#SuperEagles Radar: Ndidi Score Cracker. Simon, Onyekuru Fire Brace. Etebo Too. Agbo and Ekong See Red
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SPOTKIK TEAM OF THE WEEK (APR ’17 WEEK 1)



AUSTRIA (ROUND 27)

Austria Vienna 0-2 Admira
Austria Vienna continued their recent poor form by losing at home to Admira. They had suffered a humiliating loss away to leaders Salzburg penultimate weekend. Olarenwaju Kayode, fresh from international duty failed to put the homers in the score-sheet.

BELGIUM
(Championship Group ROUND 1)

The Championship Group is a mini league format reserved for the top six placed teams, after 30 round of matches in the Jupiler League. The six clubs engage themselves home and away once again, continuing from HALF of the accumulated points (rounded to the nearest integer) they garnered from the regular season. The eventual winners of this mini league will get the sole automatic spot to represent Belgium in the UEFA Champions League next year. The runner up gets the ticket for the UEFA Champions League qualification round. This year, three of the top six clubs that made the the Belgian championship group are represented by at least one Nigerian player. Here is a review of their performances:

http://spotkik.com/2017/04/04/supereagles-radar-ndidi-score-cracker-moses-onyekuru-fire-brace-agbo-and-ekong-see-red/

Hopefully Conte gives him a chance next season. We need him to further develop.

goldfish80:
I think that's the reason Rohr have been calling for Enyeama. He would have brought a fine balance to the CBs.
Omeruo is a key man in the defence. It will take an unrealistic fellow to write him off.

Yes I realized that lol

Icon4s:
We are saying the same thing then.

That wasn't my point. I was talking about the long run if that means Russia 2018 proper. For the qualifiers, if Ola Aina can make his way into the team, why not Idowu if he can prove he is better than Echiejile? I think Rohr's mentality is to keep on building.. Not saying any newbie will just displace the regulars. The likes of Echiejile will keep their place for the meantime not because they are the best option but because they have been dependable. You don't change a winning team too soon.

Icon4s:
No be matter of manage Super Eagles. The guy was worried abt LB options.

The fact is from the available LB players we have now. Both home and abroad Echiejile is the best option.

Or can u suggest for us a player u would feel comfortable to field as LB against SA and Cameroun.

I am talking in the light of the available players we have presently.

If u think Rohr is gonna field any debutant LB in any of our next 3 games then u are on a long thing.

gbam!

TheGoodJoe:
There is always room at the top. We must continue an aggressive search for better players in every role and not replacements or second fiddle.

Be like say na manage manage SE you go like make Rohr build oh. Though it may be too early, I'm already thinking Brazil. Not playing Brazil but i'm talking about standard wise. I'm sorry Echiejile is not good enough. We are not looking for a back up, but a better option. This is also applicable to the RB and Central Defense.

That reminds me. Rohr said he has a good feeling, he wants to raise a team than can beat any team in the world.

Icon4s:
Chairman, we dnt have issues with our LB IMHO. Echiejile is there.

When Iroha was the LB boss who were the other options? When it was Babayaro who were the other options? When it was Taiwo who were the other options?

Lets not make the mistakes of the more recent past that we were focusing more on 'the other options' rather than focusing on how to maximise the abilities of the main player. Oliseh fielding Onobi ahead of Mikel, all in a bid to create an option for Mikel, comes to mind.

If Echiejile is not in the team for any reason, we have tried Madu and Amuzie in that position before and heaven did not fall. Echiejile is nt too far better than those 2 IMO.

As for Torunarigha and Uduokhai I cant rate them yet for very obvious reasons. Though they may be good additions to the squad if invited.

Our next 3 games for the Super Eagles are very very crucial. Echiejile is first choice. Madu is 2nd. I dnt see Rohr parading any debutant in that LB position for any of those 3 games.

Let's compare Simon to Musa (on his best day).
Think about this.

How about we just focus on current form. Hence, I agree with you

tbaba1234:
Why not? Moses spent half a season in Gent in his first year and was a major factor in their title win.

Onyekuru has taken a newly promoted side and almost singlehandedly saved them from relegation, comfortably.

The level of competition is the same.

Onyekuru has a higher goal rate of 0.5 compared to Simon Moses (in his first season) 0.411
Simon moses had a slightly higher assist ratio of 0.235 to Onyekuru 0.219

Simon Moses form has drastically fallen from his first year.

At this point, Onyekuru is performing better.. Let us see the progress in the coming season.

very true

Icon4s:
Emmm.. the comparison u are making between Okon and Mustapha is that of comparing a player at U17 and another player at U20. That is nt a fair comparison.

For eg, the Musa Yahaya of U17 and the Musa Yahaya of U20 who seemed better?

The Iheanacho of U17 and Iheanacho of U20 who was better.

What Chidi Nwakali of U17 vs Chidi Nwakali of U20?

The thing is the competition at U20 is far more than U17. Most exceptional players at U17 become average at U20.

You need to close that gap in the team by introducing some professional 19 and 20 yrs olds in the team.

I had always said that the U17 is for cadet or academy players while the U20 is for young professionals. Players with mostly 2 to 3 seasons of professional football. And nt for academy players.

I personally thought Edwin Okon was better than Mustapha Abdullahi. Okon reminded me of Babayaro at UAE. He joined Akwa United after the U17 WC. Chigozie Obasi never signed with Deportivo. There were also rumors about a Bastia move at the time..

Lazarus.. I dont know.. Have you asked about Makanjuola Habeeb? Still with Chelsea?

I think Manu Garba did the right thing. But some of these forgotten players we have mentioned may topple others eventually. It's just too early to say.

Icon4s:
Exactly.

I have always maintained that football development is not arithmetic. Some players development is in multiples, some +vely arithmetically progress while some will even regress.

MOST players after U17 do not progress well.

It would be a big error to assume that all graduates of U17 will keep improving. There are some players you will not jst hear them names any where again.

For instance I asked a question yesterday: WHERE IS JOHN LAZARUS? No answers yet.

What of Chigozie Obasi or Edwin Okon?

Why didnt Manu promote those two along with the others?

But Amuneke promoted all his players.

I will not buy that argument that what if all of them have progressed to be U20 materials.

I have been long enough in this game to know that that is very unlikely.

That's football for you. Development and other factors is crucial. Look at Brazil at the U17. Look at Brazil again at the U20s. Some stars in the U17 disappear never to return. Remember Sinama Pongole of France? So Muazam now may not be as good as Iheanacho, and may never reach his level even when he moves to Europe. Take note I said MAY. Rating him higher at U17 does not mean he will be a better player eventually. The likes of Onyekuru didnt pass our youth system, but MAY end up getting a higher rating than Iheanacho. Let's keep our fingers crossed and watch them play through their 20s.

Icon4s:
Prio to the CAF U17 I also rated this guy including Benerd Bulbwa ahead of Iheanacho.

Iheanacho was warming the bench when this Al-Hassan and Bulbwa were running things in that team. Awoniyi was initially the main CF before Success broke in.

Another player I rated and still rate highly is Ifeanyi Mathew. Complete baller.

That selection process is suspect

Icon4s:
TheGoodJoe said he called over 600 players to an open camp and yet only one new player joined the first team from among the 600.

Well Amuneke should take the blame. Plus he should have considered other boys that were not part of his former U17 set up

Icon4s:
Amuneke and his boys needed to have consulted from Siasia and his boys on how they did it when they were not being properly catered for en-route qualification for the 2005 AYC. Amuneke's boys were not mentally matured. They lacked the Nigerian spirit. Period.

I think it's a combination of factors. Our boys are used to that terrain. However, Amuneke should have instructed them to change tactics. Overall, they came into that game already at a disadvantage psychologically.

tbaba1234:
Most of those boys were amateurs. Pros worry about pitch not amateurs. The pitch had no bearing on their performance, they were just not prepared mentally for the game. All other excuses are void.

Rotational policy na. U know sef. But did not feature in Europe I think

Icon4s:
Yeah.

He is goal-bound..lol

goldfish80:
Etebor scored? Or he's playing in goal?

Since after his loan spell?

Icon4s:
Have you been following his club performance in the last 6months?

The Championship Group format employed in the Jupiler League is a nice format I think NPFL should adopt to determine the league champions.
The top 6 teams play each other again, but without resetting the points they had garnered.

He's been pretty good at the qualifiers though. Solid in Rio

Icon4s:
His overall game play. Including the Super Eagles. Nt jst bc of this red card incidence.

Are you saying that because of the red, or his overall game play?
Troost has been steady for SE.

Icon4s:
Troost Ekong.

His game has nt been impressive of late.
He was never a first teamer both under Keshi and Oliseh. Rio catapulted him.

Hmmmm... I remember the debate we had abt him and Omeruo. Who is better.

We need to reopen that discussion. Jst thinking.

it's been a while we've seen those kind of crosses in SE play. Reminiscent of Finidi George.

TheSuperNerd:
That Kalu is very good.... I mean very very good... ofcos he still has weaknesses but that can be worked on with time. He is just 18 or 19 I think.


Good To see Him and Simon Moses combining nicely...

lovely assist..
Kalu is an SE material already

tbaba123456:
Golazo by Simon Moses, Assist by Samuel Kalu

Next time read slowly and carefully. "You cannot rely on our school system ALONE"

goldfish80:
You speak as if you can't find talented kids in school. Have you heard about the Principal's cup? Have you heard about shell cup? Do you know most of our cadet players in the past came through those competitions? Stark illiteracy won't get anyone to the top in professional sports in 2017, except you prefer to live in delusion.

Your last sentence though. It's funny u fail to realize that the issue of illiteracy is not due to kids refusal to school. They are too young to make that decision or themselves. I believe many of us educated ones were prodded at one point in time to go to school.

A super talented kid only needs to wear the kit of a company to promote it. There are gray areas my friend. This thing is not black or white. You cannot shut the door to kids in the streets because of poverty or their parents' failure to give them basic education

goldfish80:
Dedication and talent is not just enough sometimes. Lack of basic education could be a major hindrance to their careers. An illiterate boy from Africa is unsellable. Football is more than just kicking the ball around.
You have to sign contracts, engage the media,fans and your team mates. How do you expect addidas and Nike to sign up an illiterate to represent them.
Kids must be made to understand football cannot be divorced from education. That is the hard truth.

You have to wake up to the reality tht millions of kids in Nigeria do not go to school. You cannot rely on our school system alone to produce the next Messi. This is unique to us. This is not England

goldfish80:
You have to wake up and smell the coffee. Not every talented kid in the street will end up playing for Nigeria. Everybody cannot meet the standard. That's the gospel truth.

I won't lie, he is that one player that has done well for the Super Eagles. How did he lose his place in the team? Oh Oliseh's stupid policy. Now he is a coach in the 2nd tier. What an irony!

BascoVanVeli:
I try to watch on friday nights. There is a game on supersports every week, plus they have an highlight show that gives a good part of the matches.

I hope you get my sarcasm

TheGoodJoe:
Most of my views of Aluko are from his games with the Super Eagles. When he played for us, the difference of how we played was too much. Sad Oliseh missed out on that continuity. I watched some of his games with Hull too but he played on the wings some times.

I have not watched his games with Fulham. Only goal highlights but my judgment of Aluko's playing style comes from his few Super Eagles appearances.

where una dey watch championship match?

TheGoodJoe:
Creativity. Aluko is more creative and his style of play attracts players to him and create room for other players to shine.

Better! I dont like seeing Mikel as AMF.
I still won't bench Etebo for Success. Etebo can definitely go the distance. Success can bring power later on

TheGoodJoe:
Nice update. Rohr call him up.


With Aluko in our side, we may set up like this..

..............................Iheanacho (CF)

...Success (SS)...................................... V. Moses (SS)

................................Aluko (AMF)

..................Mikel (CMF).......Ndidi (DMF)

Echiejile (LB) ...............................................Aina (RB)

....................Balogun (CB) .................Ekong (CB)

.......................................Ikeme(GK)

yes he did

Icon4s:
Sebi Ndidi failed MRI.

I think we are still yet to see his best. Before he turns 25 he will be dreaded.

Icon4s:
I dnt think it has much to do with his social media life. I think It has more to do with his attitude. He takes things too easy. He believes he is a world renowned star already.

He arrived at stardom on a plater of gold. His game improved exactly when Arsene Wenger wanted it if not even faster.

He is a boy with plenty of abilities. He will bounce back i believe.

He is one of my favorite players.. But I doubt he's played a full game in a long time. Plus he needs to lose some weight a little. I think that's why he is losing his steam as the goal scorer we once knew. I like the Success back then who was a great forward all round. Great provider and scorer.

TheGoodJoe:
After Isaac Success impressive and Brilliant debut, I doubt Rohr wants him on the bench in the near future of the Eagles.