₦airaland Forum

Joebie:
I made it clear winning is a possibility but my prediction is a loss via penalty. I’m not afraid of the outcome. It’s not like u guys can flog me here if we won.

I dey come for all the mentions. Just had to check here quickly.

I would second that.

I am hoping for a slim and highly contentious 2-1 win for Nigeria

drDoom3:
I've been literally screaming this since. I watched Osimhen in the U-17 World Cup and Belgium Pro League last season, and I can confidently say that he is the most talented and endowed number 9 we have at the moment. He has Ighalo's strength and Onuachu's height to an extent, he is faster than both of them and more slippery. He can take on two to three defenders at a time and is too versatile to be caged the way Ighalo is. The guy had 20 goals in an average Chaleroi side and was their player of the season. Plus, Seedorf won't expect it and the last minute inclusion may shatter Cameroon's game plan. I just hope Rohr has the balls to try this out.

How many goals did he score in the Belguim league a total of 11. He wasn't the best on that league and he is not in the top 5. He is not the best young striker in that league, he is still a very goo top player. But keep matters in context.

Cup games against mediocre opposition give the impression that you are a lot better than you are. So I take cognisance of league games not cup games.

This was a guy that was completely dead in the Bundesliga and now in his first competitive season in football you have turned him to Drogba.

He is not physically imposing he does not have anywhere near the strength of Ighalo or Onuachu. You are over exaggerating and taking players on is not his main strength. But his finishing is good. positioning and he has a good eye for goal.

Finally you can not rely on past youthful glories to decide a player is good enough for the SE.

Truidstar:
When some folks say Osimhen is unproven, I am really at a loss for words. This is the same Osimhen fresh from an U17 World Cup, whose introduction in an U23 nations cup semifinal against the hosts Senegal changed the game and we won. Every team needs a player with that X Factor. The Zambians in 94 prepared for Yekini. Westerhof started Amunike who won that game for us.

You really don't understand football.

U23 football and senior team football are miles apart. To bring context l can assure you the entire Libyan U23 team will struggle against Fulham U23. It's very easy to look good when the opposition is mediocre.

Even the Nigerian Uncles sorry U23 team bar a few players was not that outstanding.

IMO Osimhen is very lightweight for the kind of physically intensive high impact fast game thay Cameroon will bring.

The only two forward players that can make an impact first is Ighalo, then Onuachu although his lack of pace is a big handicap.

Osimhen could come in for the last 15 minutes so that his feet will touch Egyptian grass. Because I have my doubts if we can win this game, if we do it will be close. Cameroon will be seeking revenge from the last whipping we gave them.

OMANBALA1:
Agreed ,but you also have to take in account that some of our current players are still young. Osimhen, Onyekuru, Aina, Chukwueze and Iwobi are still very young.

How old was Oliseh, Kanu, Babayaro and Amokachi when they started making waves.

Poor excuse.

darkelf:
Only Ndidi would make the bench. The rest won't make the team

Agreed without one iota of reservation.

See how we have PROGRESSED Chei !!!

Meanwhile our Expectations have increased astronomically some even believed we had a chance to win the World cup.

Truidstar:
The right word is our football has evolved not regressed. Brazil used to have Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho in a Generation. They don't have that anymore they have evolved to cope with their limitations. That's what we need to do too.

I am complete loss to make any rational of your comments and the use of the term EVOLVED.

But let me indulge you, first of all the term EVOLVED is intrinsic to PROGRESSION not REGRESSION.

But it's not that important the use of diction here.

Now let's look at what Brazil has evolved too in comparison to our golden age.

In 2009 we hosted the U17 football tournament we almost won it. Brazil didn't go far, however in thier team.

But let's look at where a good number of those players are now from that 2009 squad . Alison is the current Liverpool goalkeeper, arguably the best in the world. I will name 5 players from that set that are household names, Coutinho, Giovani, Casemiras, Neymar, Willen, all played for the Brazilian national team and or the best top teams in Europe.

Compare our 2009 set where have they progressed to Turkey and obscure teams or even retired or playing local football in Nigeria. That's REGRESSION there is no Evolving component here.

Fast forward and you can add to that list Gabriel, Firminho, Thiago, Felipe, Gustavo, Marcelo, Alves, Luiz, etc, etc.

There are a bunch of Brazilian teenagers that the top clubs are fighting over with crazy money, I will not mention them that would be overkill.

The correct reference is that Brazil had evolved to with even better players and Nigeria has REGRESSED COMPLETELY.

So consider what you want to say before making it public and opening yourself to ridicule.

Icon4s:
There is a lot to learn.

In fact if you didn't follow football up to 2000 then it means u missed the Golden era of Nigerian Football which has been the yardstick with which our performances today are compared. .

We are what we are today in football because of our successes in the 1980s and 90s.

A lot of young people were too young to follow football then but through various means they have partly made up for it by learning about what happened in that era. So there is a lot for you to learn about that era bro.

Once again agreed.

Very few if any of the present Eagles would displace the 1996 - 2000 set.

For instance as good as Ndidi is he is not as good as Oliseh.

Who can stand with Taribo

Who can stand with Yekini, Ikpeba

Who can stand with Finidi.

Too mention a few, unfortunately our football has regressed but our enthusiasm and expectations have INCREASED. As a result we are going to be disappointed � for some time to come.

darkelf:
Many have advocated for this but stubborn Rohr won't listen

Ighalo is very predictable and can be caged. He is a one-dimensional kind of player

I watched him week in week out at Watford and he had a storming season then he lost form and went for bags of money in China.

But predictable he is not and certainly not one dimensional.

The service that he gets in the SE determines the way he plays. Service from the midfield has not been very good.

Ndidi is an exceptional DM but he is not a playmaker and his passing range is limited and as such he struggles to turn from defensive to offensive.

Our team is limited and that limits what our strikers can do. Above average in the African context but not much beyond that.

Icon4s:
In a tournament I will take winning Matches to beautiful football any day.

Agreed without reservation or question.

Better to win ugly than to loose beautifully.

Curtisaxel7:
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the end of the road. If we miraculously survive Cameroon, we are up against Egypt on home ground. And there is simply no bloody way we're getting past them. Not with a dumb archaic septuagenarian at the helms. From this moment, I don commot mind from SE and AFCON, I just dey wait make season start.

I only pity the young talented players (Osimhen, Henry et al) who are being robbed of the opportunity to use this tournament as a launching pad for thier careers. It's such a pity.

The upside to this is that the NFF will be forced to sack Rohr for disgracing us before the world. Bye bye Onigbinde!

First of all I don't think Rohr has done badly he may not be adventurous.

But let's be honest do we have any real top players in our team, none of our strikers are game changers.

Considering the players available to Rohr he has done well. I don't think the inclusion of Osimhen and or Onyekuru would have made any major difference.

I am sure the coaching team have seen the players in training and used that to make thier selection.

Joebie:
We can lose to either team.. but I can't bear a loss to Ghana. The way SE has played so far in this tourney, I won't put my confidence on them. no sentiments

Bitter painful truth

Joebie:
Can Sol be diplomatic and at the same time not scared to say his mind?
I agree with some of your points though, but do those coaches tick those boxes below (especially the 3rd and 4th)?

Yes l would say but more so with Sol Campbell.

I have my concerns with Chris, in all of my interaction in football he is the most trusted worthy man of integrity I have ever known in football. Can l add humble he will put many of our pastors and GO'S to shame. He is the complete gentleman.

But he is very quitely ASSERTIVE little talk more action
.but I still think.he can deliver.

Earthquake3:
You listed qualities to succeed as SE manager but you didn't list the most important one which is the ability to stomach non payment, bribery and corruption and unwarranted influence from certain personalities

Any manager that does not have that capacity will resign within the first month of getting the SE job

The manager l.have mentioned Chris Houghton and Sol Campbell are not poor and have wealth of experience of football knowledge behind them.

Bribery and corruption will come under integrity.

Unwanted influence will come under Assertive Intelligence.

Non payment will come under Passion for the SE.

All those questions you rsised are comprehensively answered under those required character traits.

Joebie:
I've been doing my research. Are there proven former national team coaches out there who are without a job?
I'm speaking of coaches who can play the kind of football we want.

One name comes to mind, Juan Carlos Osorio. Let's build a list.. any more suggestions on our next handler?

modified
my bad, it seems the oga is taken. He just got a new job.. maybe we can snatch him from that club

I think our approach should be to ask ourselves first, what are the 3/4 or 5 essential character traits required to succeed as a manager of the SE considering our peculiar circumstances as well as organisational culture and values.

For me it would be as follows :
UNCOMPROMISING INTEGRITY
IN-DEPTH EXPERIENTIAL FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE
INTELLIGENT ASSERTIVENESS
DIPLOMACY
PASSIONATE EMPATHY FOR THE SE.


With this in mind there are somethings that you ca understand but only if your black can you experience, the manager has to be black.

From a perspective of personal interaction, my first choice would be Chris Houghton and my second choice may seem a bit of a maverick but he will throw his entire being into the job and is not scared to say his mind, SOL CAMPBELL.

You may indeed have your own approach that is different from mine it will be interesting to see it and your rational too which allows for better appreciation.

TheGoodJoe:
Pinnick should stop the crap and give Siasia and Amunike the job as coach and assistant. Give them room to deliver.

Finito.

I would give neither of them the job they carry all too much baggage allowance of political alliances, favoritism and corruption.

Curtisaxel7:
I am not surprised. Pinnick is a passionate Arsenal fan and has been in constant touch with Wenger for years now. As a matter of fact, it was Wenger that recommended Gernot Rohr(who is a good friend of Wenger's) to Pinnick.

Though I'm very skeptical about the chances that Wenger will agree to come out of retirement to coach a team in faraway Africa at his age. Most probably, Pinnick is reaching out to him for another recommendation, if that is the case, then we should expect another French coach soon.

How many years

From when he was Running Warri Wolves or before.

I very much doubt if he has any substantive relationship with Wenger.

OMANBALA1:
Nobody is over hyping them. We know what can happen if you have these youngsters and use them very well. Not playing Chukwueze as 10 or Iwobi a winger while Onyekuru is there.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

But I can tell you what they can not do.

First of they are not the best team players, Onyekuru and Chukwueze will not back track and give any defensive cover. There off the ball movement is not good.

You will not get any quality crosses for your light weight forward Osimhen to receive.

Chukwueze will hug the ball trying to dribble everybody. Onyekuru is a bit more mature but similar.

There will be no HOLD UP PLAY.

As a forward line it would be disastrous causing the entire team to loose cohesion. With too much pressure being put on the midfield they may resort to Long ball police game. To get out of trouble.

IMO in this very physical based game in the AFCON, I would play Onuachu and Ighalo.

Mikel or Ogu but never the both just too slow and lethargic and can't keep up with the pace of the current high paced game in this AFCON. I would prefer if both were dropped to be honest as subs.

Which is our best winger at crossing the ball He would be first choice. But l really don't know which one. Nobody has been impressive, one of the primary function of winger and or wing back is to cross the ball. But we seem to have forgotten that.

Earthquake3:
Sterling is not better than Zaha he's just playing in a better team with a better coach

I'll agree with the other two though

You need to make s distinction between dribbling technical skills and even general show boating and the most IMPORTANT THING which is. END PRODUCT.

In this regard irrespective of team Raheem is a better player.

Earthquake3:
I think it's time Musa retires from the national team he doesn't have the technical ability to break down defences

And when he's not afforded space to run he doesn't contribute much

I don't agree with you.

But l would say that an astute, forward thinking and intelligent coach. Will tactically structure his team to bring out the best of the attributes of his individual players. That's what he is there to do to create effective team cohesion for competitive advantage.

Musa is possibly one of the fastest forward players in Africa.

We should set the team up to play to his strengths not the other way round. Expect him to play like Zaha when that's not his unique skill set.

It's a failing of the management of the team not the player.

Curtisaxel7:
Kelechi Nwakali and Lukman Haruna for the SE? In this 2019?.

Some people analysis sha

How can anybody with half � common sense suggest Kelechi Nwakali.

The basis for SE selection is your club performance not past youthful glories. This boy is not even a first team regular for the reserve team.

He was demoted essentially from the Eredivisie to the 2nd tier of Dutch football. Then further regressed to play youth football in Porto B and then to he further diminishes because he is not first choice.

The SE is for professional first team players irrespective of the league that are putting in consistent continous and out outstanding performances not youth players.

Let's not degenerate the standing of the SE.

Humility017:
your ighalo has not played anything since..
never use sentiments to discuss football.

Ighalo has had no SERVICE we lack quality in our set pieces, the few crosses have been very poor.

We simply are not showing the quality needed to get the breakthrough.

Be patient and expectant this game can change once we score one.

There is still a lot of time

At last Iwobi has come in Mikel has been absent to.put it diplomatically.

Earthquake3:
Ighalo is as erratic as anything

I disagree he is pressing but in isolation, our front line is not pressing in unison as a collective.

The Madagascar team is working hard and pressing as a collective.

I want to add that Awaziem brings nothing to the table.

Balogun is asleep he is now making school boy errors see that very silly school boy error. AGAIN.

What kind of school boy shambolic defending did Balogun do just now.

To concede such a stupid goal.

NUTTIN spoil we will score very shortly IGHALO is not asleep.

It seems we really don't have a free kick specialist in the team.

That was very poor by Musa.

Meanwhile these Madagascar guys are very rough.

Ighalo sef

The way he's rolling on the floor like say d guy use hammer knock him leg.

ChrisKels:
Bravo komekn, Bravo. I know say I no dey too agree with u, but, in this case, my hat's off. Agreed without any iota of reservation.


The list seems to be doing wonders already

Who give this guy Morocco Igbo smoke and Sapele ogogoro take wash mouth.

Something must be wrong oh.

daveP:
Osimhen Onyekuru, Chukwueze


I imagine all 3 starting vs Madagascar.


With Iwobi behind them


And leaving whoever is behind Iwobi to dem mendem.

Madagascar will be physical and l cam not see Osimhen dominating the forward line. He is a bit too lightweight.

My preference would be for Onuachu and tell our wingers to quickly learn how to cross. How can you have such a man mountain and you don't feed him with quality crosses in the box.

In addition for Chukwueze to look up and find his team mates and concentrate on end product as opposed to hugging the ball and dribbling unnecessarily.

Earthquake3:
Osihmen is the most clinical of our strikers I agree with you

How did you come to that conclusion ❓

Osimhen has played effectively one season of first team competitive football. He has scored 11 goals in the Belguim league and is in the top ten top scorers. The top scorer in that league had 20 goal.

Osimhen did very well but he his not the best or youngest striker or in the top 5 in that league. It's a VERU GOOD start for his first real season of first team football.

Now he has to build on that performance his next club is very crucial. He must not follow the €€€€£££ signs. He is still developing so needs to get a lot of game time and not become a reserve striker in a big club and therefore stagnate his progression.

In one sweep you have dismissed Ighalo, Onyekuru, Musa, etc Players who have been tested and tried over a few seasons and have performed in thier respective clubs and leagues.

You show no respect to these players.

Humility017:

I never expects onauchu to score any goal in that match because his positioning was poor.... you can't expect players to Give you the ball when you always position in between the defenders. ...

nothing beats good positional awareness...same is working for Ighalo only that he is not too clinical and selfish also in front of goal.....

I have watched oshimen play and I can tell he is clinical and also have good positioning sense.

so let's give him 80-90 mins to prove his mantle

I am quite SHOCKED that after all you have read here and exposure to informed substantive commentary.

You made the proposition in bold.

Onuachu is quite possibly the tallest player in AFCON. Because he has height and most importantly aerial dominance. He has positioned himself in that area cohere has the most competitive advantage.

A ball crossed to him in that area is not 50/50 but more like 70/30.

Its a big shame that our wi gers lack capacity and cannot cross q ball properly. Pin point accuracy is simply not within thier ability.

A ball delivered correctly to Onuachu has a good chance of being a goal.

Onuachu has good positioning and spatial awareness. However can any of our wingets cross the ball accurately, with pace and pin point accuracy ❓

In his last game l don't think he got any accurately delivered cross.