₦airaland Forum

somehow:
The same anywhere belle face Danny shittu? I can't forget our game against Ghana in Ghana. He kept parachutting all the balls that came his way. BTW, where is shittu now?

I rate defenders based on how they handle attackers or balls that come their way. Any defender that is only good at bashooking balls into the thin air, corner, throwins or to his opponent's halve isn't a good player IMO.

I have what I use in rating defenders and to me, Danny shittu at his best is not as good as Kenneth Omeruo at his best.

somehow:
Shittu ke? Shittu was never one of our best defenders. I even prefer Omeruo at his best to Shittu's best. Nobi by muscle.

Omeruo isn't that bad (at his best), and he's gradually getting back to his best.

somehow:
Shittu ke? Shittu was never one of our best defenders. I even prefer Omeruo at his best to Shittu's best. Nobi by muscle.

Omeruo isn't that bad (at his best), and he's gradually getting back to his best.

BascoVanVeli:
I don't think so, the best they can do is loan him like Everton did with Deulofeu.

Humility017:
the painful thing...is that the lad don't mind keep sitting on that bench...
he is someone that is ignorant of potentials.....like Henry does..

don't be surprised he is comfortable and happy wit this condition.

BascoVanVeli:
Selling him would be complicated because of the clause that Man City has.

ChrisKels:
Vincent Enyeama played his first match today, though for the U23s. Expect him with the main team soonest.

My choices remain Enyeama, ikeme and uzoho. It will never change. I will never give up on Ikeme

komekn:
He never rejected, AT ALL He needed to sort out his long term future which would be easier as a potential future England full international. When considering potential clubs.

He Explained he would commit when he turns 23. That never changed what changed is the NFF and it's lack of transparency and integrity.

When Omeruo was near anonymous at Middlesbrough Iorfa a teenager was winning MOTM and best young player awards in the same league and in the same season. Somehow there has not been any competition
for the CB position in the SE. Not sure why

I will leave it at that you can guess the rest.

realpoacher:
Then at what point do you stop trying new/fringe players for the world cup?

If we are talking about post world cup its OK but discussing about the team we are fielding at the world,?.. Then they will be a problem if we keep testing every dick and harry.

I will keep saying it, the players that have featured for is so far are OK. We need to work on our cohesiveness, stability and plans. 4 friendly matches to the world cup is not enough to keep trying fringe players.

Working on team mental strength and tactics or strategy executions should be our major priority now.

Total number of players who executed the qualifiers are probably up to 35 so far, these should be at our camp from where the final 23 will be selected.

Success, Joel Obi, Alhassan as it is should be far away from this team.




With all due respect sir, I think you all should stop involving Akpeyi name in our Goalkeeper discussion henceforth!... Isn't glaring to the blind and audible to the deaf that Akpeyi is a total flop in Eagles jeysey?

Of what use has he been to us that you guys want to take him to the world cup?... Oh! You want he him to fully disgrace us in the eyes of the world right?... Honestly I am disturbed when you guys keep mentioning his name.

Before Olympics, he was a flop for the SE. ...at the Olympics, even as one of the overage players, he was a flop

Nations cup qualifiers against Egypt, he was a flop.... Against South Africa he was a big flop

He even went as far as taking his incompetence to Krasnodar against Argentina and displayed his biggest flop of all... Yet you guys keep mentioning his name here. Its baffling.!!

To me, I will forever call his name Akpeyi basket

If Akpeyi will man our post in the world cup, I will rather we play without a keeper.

He transfers his jittery and lack of confidence to the team

Let him stay far away from our team else he will get the Escobar's treatment!!.. We don't want him..

I suspect that you guys calling his name here wants the downfall of this team.

My goalkeepers are

Uzoho
Ezenwa
Ajiboye
Alampasu

Heck, anyone else apart from Akpeyi

tbaba1234:
Rohr's recent interview with a french paper. He is playing Poland for Croatia. Talks about find a keeper that satisfies them fully.

CC: Icon4s, joebie, komekn, Mujtahida, Joseph1013, Kog45, certitude, humility017, safarigirl, forgiveness,

NIGERIA / GERNOT ROHR: "A SUCCESS AT THE WORLD CUP WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL" [EXCLUDING 365]
POSTED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H10 - UPDATED ON 9 DECEMBER 2017 AT 12H19 PATRICK JUILLARD

Gernot Rohr, hot after the draw for the World Cup, you said "It's going to be a physical challenge against the Icelanders, a technical challenge against the Croatians, and a challenge to the Argentineans." Can you detail? What is your opinion on these 3 opponents?

Rohr: This draw is a difficult draw, with three good teams. Our first opponent will be Croatia. The match will take place in Kaliningrad, an eccentric place with a bit of jet lag and a former German city that I already know a bit. Croatia is capable of great things with a team of stars playing in the biggest clubs. They are able to beat the biggest, but also to be surprised by less prestigious teams. It will be up to us to question them. Their technical qualities are huge but we also have a quality game. This is the most important match, and we hope to prepare it, against opponents similar to Croatia. So we will play Poland at home on March 23rd.


Iceland remains more difficult to define ...

Rohr: Iceland has worked hard for ten or twelve years with extraordinary structures to play football all year long despite the harsh weather conditions. Domes of football, where you can play at any time have been installed, with a dozen per region. Work is done from an early age. Today, it is a team that knows how to play football but who remains very physical and supportive. It is expected for this match that takes place in Volgograd to a very difficult game. Supporters will come in large numbers in charters to win their team. It will be an unprecedented match in the history of the World Cup, which adds spice. In this group, it is amusing to see that the four teams know each other very well in pairs: Croatia knows Iceland well,


Nigeria will meet Argentina for the fifth time in the finals, a record. How to finally take points against this opponent?

We will not make the mistake of thinking that we already know them. We beat them in friendly Krasnodar last month, but Argentina played without Lionel Messi. And Argentina without Messiit's not the same team. They have four goals, they may not have changed much defensively, but offensively they can change everything. Argentina is still vice-champion of the world, and had not passed away from the coronation in 2014. This team is perhaps at the end of the cycle, but it can make it all the more formidable, with players eager to prove that they can win. I met Jorge Burruchaga in the draw. He told me "we are coming to win the World Cup. They have chosen a magnificent base camp and will put the package to make it happen.

Do you have an idea of ​​the ideal preparation program?

We chose a base camp that we visited in southern Russia, between Sochi and Volgograd, in the countryside, in a region of mineral and spa baths. We will be far from everything, with opportunities for care and excellent conditions of recovery between games. At 500 meters altitude, it will not be too hot.

On which points do you think you can make the most progress by June?

I think we can always progress on all levels: technical, but also tactical and physical. Tactically, we must be able to adapt according to our opponents. For example, we tried against Argentina, we tried a defense to three, which can turn into a defense to five. We can still do more. Physically, we will be ready. We will take a second physical trainer, in this case Bernard Ginès, I had in my staff in Nice, between 2002 and 2005. We will receive FieldWiz, which are GPS to work better in detail. We will have to progress in the detection of our own players so as not to be mistaken on the list of 30, then that of 23. We will strengthen the scouting team.

What about mental preparation?

We have already shown that we are mentally tough, but it will be even more for the World Cup. We already have a mental trainer with Nabil Trabelsi. Do not flood the group with too many foreign faces. We are not sick, we do not need psychiatrists (laughs).

Does Nigeria have the means to become the first African team semi-finalist of a World Cup?
It's a dream, it's a wish. To think we can do it would be pretentious. We will first try to pass the chickens. Then, it is another pair of sleeves, we will advise from match to match depending on the opponents. Nigeria today has the youngest team in the World Cup with 24.9 years of average age. The figure may be even lower in Russia, as we spotted a 19-year-old goalkeeper in La Coruna . We also come to learn: the life of Nigerian football does not stop after the World Cup. I sincerely believe that we have players who share my ambition to go very far and who have the technical means.

As a technician, is participating in a World Cup the best challenge of your career?

Yes, it's for me the most beautiful. It has been fantastic to qualify in this difficult group with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia. To have a shot at the World Cup would be exceptional. I prepare myself as best as I can, personally. Every detail counts in the preparation and the choice of the players. We found young people at certain positions. The last challenge is to find a goalkeeper who satisfies us fully. We are working with my guardian coach, Enrico Pionetti. CHAN will be important to take stock. Ikechukwu Ezenwa will participate, under the direction of my assistant Salisu Yusuf. I will follow things closely.

On a personal level, several media announced your extension to the position of coach. What is it really ?

The verbal agreement was reinforced by an official handshake. We met in Moscow with representatives of the executive committee of the Federation. We agreed on a two-year extension. I thank my leaders for this trust. Beyond the World Cup, the goal is CAN 2019. We want to come back and win.

http://www.football365.fr/nigeria-gernot-rohr-reussir-coup-a-coupe-monde-serait-exceptionnel-exclu365-7021852.html

Mujtahida:
Are you serious? I never knew oo

Mickael2:
Will he go to Dortmund and start begging them? Or you think Dortmund will be looking for a player who cannot trap the ball effectively? Iheancho should have made the right move, Leicester city has exposed him, if he leaves now no top team will want him, it's Turkey from here

mazimee:
Leicester City Boss Refuses To Rule Out Selling Kelechi Iheanacho In January
Published: December 09, 2017


Leicester City boss Claude Puel has refused to rule out the possibility of selling Nigeria star Kelechi Iheanacho four weeks before the winter transfer market opens for business.

The Foxes have six strikers in the first team consisting of Iheanacho, Vardy, Ahmed Musa, Slimani, Okazaki and Ulloa, and the former Man City starlet has found game time hard to come by after making only two starts in the Premier League from a possible fifteen.
''Kelechi had an injury and after, for the moment, we have competition,'' Puel was quoted as saying by Leicester Mercury


''I am happy with Jamie for example. Kelechi or other players cannot play on the side.
''It’s difficult for them, but for me also to manage all these players because we have six strikers so there is no place for all the players.''

Puel added :: ''I try to respect them. Kelechi arrived this season and we will see. With all these games in this busy period, we will see.

''Time will tell. The window is not open, we will see. For the moment, we just look at all these games. We need all the players.''
Iheanacho penned a five-year contract with Leicester City in the summer for a fee in the region of 25 million pounds.

TheGoodJoe:
Coach, I will stone you salute if you sell Nacho. Honestly. It is not just about Nacho not playing regularly but Puel style does not give me excitement. Let see hat happens. But, if Nacho will leave Leicester City, my advice to him is to look for a club with a history of creating chances and also have a history of free flowing football.

If there is no chance for a sale, I say he seals a loan deal to Dortmund if he has secured his passport.

Dortmund is in need of a finisher. Playing as a sub to Aubameyang will work because in the limited time Nacho gets, he will have chances to score. Keep in mind the current boss of Dortmund, Bosz was the same manager who handled Traore at Ajax who is currently with Lyon.

Mujtahida:
I try as much as possible to be realistic in my analysis. If you go back and read I said 'he bested Shehu in THAT MATCH'. and I have opined before that he needs to be seen more before definitive statements are made about him. Everything is dependent on preparedness, timing and opportunity. What I do not understand is how in the face of his performance against Argentina we can opine that Shehu should play as RWB but nobody says that Aina should continue as LWB. so it's perception I am tackling. And you need to read me carefully if not you'd think I am supporting or hyping a player. For example it was argued that Ighalo was better than Martins. I challenged it because it didn't look like a valid assessment to me not necessarily because I support or don't support Martins. All I wanted is a valid accessment. Same thing now with Ebuehi. Moreover remember Vicmo is a standard RWB and might just play it for us.

Odunayaw:
better thread like this even de. Hope am welcomed

OMANBALA1:
Even in Super Eagles Kelechi is still struggling to keep the ball in his feet. It so sad. If you cant do something as primary as trapping a ball then you are finished.

OMANBALA1:
Which means Echiejile is the only natural LB we have. Not a good development and people are setting him up for wing back.

OMANBALA1:
I dont understand what you mean by " not a natural left back but a solid right back". Are you saying he is more comfortable playing at RB or that he uses both legs equally well ?

blueto:
He dazzled with all these attributes against African teams in Afcon, but how did he fare against world cup teams with quality defenses in 2014?

To unlock sturdy defenses, you need quick incisive exchange of passes like what we saw against Argentina, not the acts of holding the ball for long and making excessive dribbles. A good defense may keep such a player from scoring or causing major havoc.

We have friendlies coming up, so the coach should play him as a wing back in one of those games or more and lets really see how he will fare before the world cup proper.

OMANBALA1:
Aina is not looking too sure for Russia contingent unless if Rohr will try him at right back. As it stands , Ebuehi is ahead of Aina , Idowu is a natural left back and I can bet you Rohr is not dropping Echiejile.

junnyjake:
Which club would take him as their No1 immediately?? That's another question.

safarigirl:
I can draft a 23-man list with eight defenders and it would work.

The World Cup is just eight games at most at a stretch, so, I don't see what is counterproductive to anything.

Petrobros:
If you think Moses will play that WB position exactly as he plays for Chelsea then you are on a long thing. In the green and white jerseys, his level of discipline drops, becomes more selfish and may not be able to recover quickly to join the defense as he does for Chelsea.
I go with icon4s we need Moses in a more attacking position. Either Aina or Shehu can play as Wing Back or Full back, depending on which formation the coach adopts.

rabzy:
i fear the argentines because they are not clean footballers like the brazillians. if they cant win you fair, they cheat.

forgiveness:
Do you know Victor Moses is also injury prone?

Joel Obi is better.

junnyjake:
Ryan Sanusi vs Mikel Agu

Oasis007:
When TheGoodJoe warns, we ignore...... this is a repetition of what Dudes were saying before Iheanacho left Manchester City for Leicester City.

Ndidi shouldn't leave Leicester for Chelsea or any other big Teams at the moment. Let him continuing his Development at Leicester City.

mazimee:
Those are the players of my prefrence

junnyjake:
Don't you know Rorh is from Anambara state? Gernot Chukwuebuka Rorh

CityJoe:
Ndidi should not think of Chelsea. With Ngolo Kante, Bakayoko, Drinkwater, the competition will be too much for him.

Oasis007:
Teams Scout Report

The below are the present Players of the Croatian National Team. I hope we can analyze them one after the other. Figure out their Differences and how it can be exploited.

Goalkeepers

1. Dominik Livaković (age 22) Dinamo Zagreb
12. Lovre Kalinić (age 27) Gent
23. Danijel Subašić (age 33) Monaco


Defenders

2. Šime Vrsaljko (age 25) Atlético Madrid
3. Ivan Strinić (age 30) Sampdoria
5. Matel Mitrovic (age 24) Beşiktaş
6. Dejan Lovren (age 28) Liverpool
13. Zoran Nizic (age 28) Hajduk Split
14. Marin Leovac (age 29) PAOK
21. Domagoj Vida (age 28) Dynamo Kyiv
22. Josip Pivarić (age 28) Dynamo Kyiv


Midfieders

4. Ivan Perišić (age 28) Internazionale
7. Ivan Rakitić (age 29) Barcelona
10. Luka Modrić (age 32) Real Madrid
11. Marcelo Brozović (age 25) Internazionale
15. Marko Rog (age 22) Napoli
18. Filip Bradaric (age 25) Rijeka
19. Nikola Vlašić (age 20) Everton
20. Mario Pašalić (age 22) Spartak Moscow


Forwards

8. Ante Rebić (age 24) Eintracht Frankfurt
9. Andrej Kramarić (age 26) 1899 Hoffenheim
16. Nikola Kalinić (age 29) Milan
17. Mario Mandžukić (age 31) Juventus

Cc

TheGoodJoe, Tbaba1234, Icon4s, Komekn, Kog45, Forgiveness, Joebie, Mujtahida, Mickael2, Goldfish80, ChrisKels, blueto
and others.