₦airaland Forum

The reasons behind our loss to Rwanda

Some of the players are playing together for the first time, especially the midfield players.

Poor interpretation of player strengths and roles
Deploying a flat midfield three that has FDB occupying the left side of the field. This is a tactical mistake borne out of a very poor interpretation of FDB's skills and how he wants to play. Midfielders plying a flat three are excellent in tackles and duels with good vision and nice distribution of plays.

Kelechi Iheanacho has not really clicked when occupying wider areas in attack. It is looking like a failed venture. It was tried at Sevilla to no avail until he was switched back to his conventional central position.

Poor player drills
Our interpretation of space, positioning and quick decision making, needs lots of work. Ekong's long passes needs to be curtailed, Onyedika and Alhassan are good at long balls. Our long balls should come more from the midfield.

The defence should understand the importance of positional discipline, and allow the midfield to shoulder more of pushing the ball towards the more advanced areas of the midfield (Ekong should take note of this). The defenders should understand that their primary role is to defend.

The Amavubi have more mentality and urgency,
They showed no sense of inferiority, we were even little in their eyes. With all our exposure and transfermkt value, we fail to assert mental superiority. We need to understand that mentality is more powerful than skill.

Ppogbae:
WC ticket is gone. Removal of Peseiro was the death of this team's rise. That man took us all the way to finals when everyone doubted us.

Why remove a system that was clearly working for everyone?

Peseiro won't take us to the world cup.

TheSuperNerd:
He said his thoughts with Onyeka in mind.

He didn't know Onyedika was starting at the time.

And yes, Onyedika-Alhassan midfield partnership will be very sleek today. I expect a good midfield clinic from the duo with FDB operating further forward. Funny how two talented lads who used to produce solid midfield battles back in Belgium (Brugges vs Antwerp) finally get to play together on the same team from the start at the same time.

Okay.

Let's see how Onyedika-Alhassan patnership will pan out.

Subzerooo:
This team is so makeshift, weak central defending partnership no ball retention in midfield, lazy attack. I'm not watching

No.
You should expect a game of sleek passes.
Onyedika and Alhassan are very good in the game of passing,

Onyedika and Alhassan are also good at duels.
Expect them to cover grounds and win duels.

Also expect some creativity from the duo.
Their partnership I have for long hankered.

Iheanacho and Fisayo will not do much defensively, but offensively they can be handful.

Nwakali did well and that it is.
I have seen better performances while he plied his football in the Portuguese top flight.
It is just that his actions in defense is becoming more impressive.

Nwakali is technically gifted. Those words were said by his coach.

elyte89:
Eguavoen must start alhassan in dt midfield…we don’t want redundant players again abeg …

Na so mikel agu and d oda guy no play shi shi ,yet Dey kept getting invite from rohr

Ndidi is yet to give a good reason as to the why he shouldn't be starting games.

Ndidi keeps impressing me with his performances.

lbrichman2:
Good line up
But I kinda think Osimhen should sit this one out
Lets see other strikers play and show what they've got

As long as he is fit and available, Osimhen should be starting.

TheSuperNerd:
Iwobi to the right here but at Fulham, he plays more from the left. But yes, his last 2 games saw him play from the right so to make this work in this fantasy setup, he is to be utilised just as effectively as we saw him used on the RW vs Crystal Palace last weekend.


Boniface in the SS role is possible. He just has to keep it simple and only take the necessary risks where possible. Also, not too many touches to avoid being frequently dispossessed.

Onyedika to sit deeper than Ndidi and orchestrate plays, receive from defence and transit vertically.

Ndidi to bring his Leicester role to this setup. Roam, advance and break lines vertically to provide passing options in advanced areas.

So yeah, a fine experimental fantasy setup. Let me add, one that I know Eguavoen will never try (Shock me).

Iwobi believes himself a midfielder, I won't argue that with him, but his best performances are predominantly on the wings of the pitch. If he can at least continue his ascent along that roles, maybe the world will appreciate him better.

Yes, Boniface's occupation of the AM role seems like an experiment, but he has technique to thrive there, at least on paper.

My fantasy line-up against Rwanda.
[color=#007700]From midfield to attack[/color].

[color=#007700]Ndidi, Onyedika, Boniface[/color].

[color=#007700]Lookman, Iwobi, Osimhen[/color].

[color=#007700]Lookman[/color] and [color=#007700]Iwobi[/color] to occupy the left and right wing respectively.

[color=#007700]Boniface[/color] to play behind[color=#007700] Osimhen[/color] as an attacking midfielder and secondary striker.

Kog45:
Onyedika need to replace Iwobi.... AE should give us Onyeka-Onyedika-Bashiru

Onyedika and Iwobi are complementary,
I think both should be starting in a midfield three.

Bannedlargejr:
Ndidi is not a better player than Onyedika or even onyeka and is only starting due to seniority

Ndidi is very good, I mean very good, and his starting berth is well deserved.

TheSuperNerd:
Ejuke apparently. 😁

You are there, TheSuperNerd.

This video showcases George Illenikhena skills,
but if you look closely you will notice the real reason for sharing it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsgm8f5Y-JU?si=t1mDnxF8hDqQOP29

BankyGee:
This video has been there for a while tho, I think his 3rd or 4th game last season

Funny stuff 😂😂

Alright.

It continues for Mr Boniface
This got me bursting with laughter.

https://youtube.com/shorts/SYNUPE2gwN8?si=rNXRTDYu9FMVobdk

typicalgamer:
That is true i went overboard there on that one

Alright.

typicalgamer:
Bro end that topic there’s nothing you’re going to tell me about ejuke that i don’t know I don’t follow stats or whatever I watch with my 2 eyes before he came to Sevilla i was watching him week in and week out not just him any 9ja player especially our boys at slavia Prague

Oga there’s no way you want to quote it, ejuke has not even scratched his potential self not to talk of being euro best 🤣 una let fugazi praise get to his head 🤣

You see how productive marhez is even without the pace or physicality he can assist and score for fun

The moment ejuke learns to assist and score for fun and forget about all these best dribbler rubbish then he’ll be making real waves

As of now he’s just average with nothing exceptional to show for

I decided not to reply you further when i read your last paragraph.
You made sentiments your advisor.

You said there is "nothing exceptional" about Europe's top dribbler.
You can criticise him all you want, but saying there is nothing exceptional about him, is denying facts.

You did not even read what i wrote.

typicalgamer:
These guy needs a better technique coach
Which can improve his productivity because all these talks about dribbling na for him pocket only stats that matters is G/A nothing else

Make we stop to they hype the man abeg so he fit increase his productivity

Or we have a 5 star ⭐️ dribbler on our hands and we’re ok with him just dribbling wtf 🤬

Bro should learn synergy with his teammates and become either an assist merchant let top 9 have the finishing touch

Or be a cut in and strike like robben

Wtf is dribbling compared to the talent he has at his disposal his productivity is very very very very poor
And that’s the truth

He became Europe's top dribbler playing for Sevilla.
And he is their most creative outlet.

Don't ever think he is not productive.
Don't let a poor study determine your conclusions.

He should have had three goal by now,
I saw those goals.
I have also seen his shooting.

His goal chances creation is not poor.
I have seen his team.
And I know the quality that surrounds him at present.

Don't let a poor study determine what you make of him.
He has always been a fantastic dribbler, but became Europe's best, playing for Sevilla.
Improve the quality around him and see him shine the more, football is team sports.

And finally...

Don't think that his branding as highly technical has got only to do with his dribbling skills.
His shooting, his passing, are also included.

In another news Chidera Ejuke wins Sevilla's player of the month award for September

Europe's top dribbler

We have insane quality in the final third.

charlesemeka85:
Ademola Lookman has been announced as Atalanta's POTM of September.

Well deserved 👏.

This is good.
We have insane quality, especially in the final third

Our players keep putting up top performances.

Mujtahida:
I think you like being contrarian perhaps because it makes you feel intelligent. Not necessarily from this post but there's a clear pattern where as people dey go right, you dey go left, as dem dey say black, you dey say white. I like dissident thinkers oo but this your own get as e be.

My intelligence is without doubt.
Following the crowd can be many times good, but not at all times.

If the crowd is heading to sudden death, Mujitahida will join the procession.
Each man for himself.

Mujtahida:
I think you like being contrarian perhaps because it makes you feel intelligent. Not necessarily from this post but there's a clear pattern where as people dey go right, you dey go left, as dem dey say black, you dey say white. I like dissident thinkers oo but this your own get as e be.

Ademola Lookman did more offensively and defensively, and had a more spectacular display than Moses Simon.
It is not difficult to understand.

Mujtahida:
How will he impress you with his tactics when from your first sentence it is obvious you misinterpreted his tactics. He played 4-3-3 not 4-2-3-1. Iwobi played his natural AM role, Onyeka was the CM and Ndidi the DM.

He will only impress you when he plays Ejuke 😏😏

I did not mention Ejuke, you brought him into the conversation.

I am not the only one who reckons Ejuke's technique to be above average.
A lot of independent analysts are professing it.

Football technique is not all about dribbling, as dribbling is not the only skill in football.
We don't currently have a winger who is better at passing the ball compared to Ejuke, that is why he is labelled very technical.
Our wingers are not that excellent at the game of passes, especially when it comes to using long balls to switch plays.

In my assessment of the game, Ademola Lookman was our best player yesterday and not Moses Simon.

Lookman did more both offensively and defensively.

How many clear cut chances did we create, we created few.

I will say things the way they are, and hope to see improvements.

Eguavoen did not impress me with his tactics.

Mujtahida:
How will he impress you with his tactics when from your first sentence it is obvious you misinterpreted his tactics. He played 4-3-3 not 4-2-3-1. Iwobi played his natural AM role, Onyeka was the CM and Ndidi the DM.

He will only impress you when he plays Ejuke 😏😏

Oh my God.

It is so clear that Eguavoen played 4231.
Iwobi played very close to Boniface that sometimes you will think it is 442.
Iwobi sometimes pressed the Libyans alone especially in the first half.

How do you guys watch matches and interpret so little.

Eguavoen was poor, some said he wasn't conservative, but he was to some extent. Our wingers sat deeper, off the ball.
We had more of the ball and looked like we were doing most of the attacking, because the Libyans were very poor, so so poor, with a mediocre game plan, and Eguavoen did not take advantage of this to utilise our players that are in form.
Our wingers played deeper than they should and weren't pressing the Libyans.
Our wingers got few shots.

It was clear Eguavoen did not expect a low defensive block from the Libyans.
The 4231 setup left Boniface somewhat isolated and suspended among the sea of defenders, there were no space for him to do anything.
The setup also saw our wingers playing very close to the touchline isolating Boniface, early at the first half.
Off the ball our wingers played very close to the midfield, and weren't pressing the Libyans.
The setup also saw our wingers not attempting shots at goal because they played deeper.

While it is true that Eguavoen did not expect the Libyans to go ultra defensive. What happened to tweaking your tactics to commit more forwards closer to the 18 yard box.

Eguavoen is yet to impress me with his tactics. I pray that someday he will.

komekn:
I'm my opinion which you can disregard, he flatters to decieve limited end product too much dribbling with nothing very little to show.

How many goals has he scored in the past four seasons in 80 league games he has scored 9 goals. That's poor with all his unnecessary dribbling 😞

I am looking towards the day you will break your record of lies and utter bias.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/chidera-ejuke/alletore/spieler/500067

Kog45:
Na one player I dey use one eye look and na Boniface…if he failed to step in very well in place of Osimhen then he is not for eagles….Ejuke deserves the call up but if given the chance he must show he is ready this time around

Alright, elder Kog45.

I watch Sevilla games because of Ejuke, but his Super Eagles performance is more important.
He will deliver in S.E.

TheSuperNerd:
Yes Meliforme, Yes. But now let us hope he can translate that to the Super Eagles. That is the whole point.

Alright, TheSuperNerd.

Mujtahida:
Nothing concern me with Sevilla fans because my concern is SE. Like TheSuperNerd said if he's given another opportunity, let him waste it playing monkey post.

Opportunity or no opportunity, Ejuke is very good.
Currently Sevilla's most creative outlet.

Mujtahida:
Lookman even has end product. But Ejuke, na just waste man

Sevilla fans will come for your head for this.
They won't be chanting his name as he was subbed out at 89 minutes, if they think like you that don't even watch him.

Dude made 3 key passes and a had a disallowed goal because of a teammate that was fractionally offside.
In one of the key passes he made to Lukebakio, he could have gone for goal, but was selfless.