₦airaland Forum

Gabriel Sara is something else.

Subzero0477:
This does not even make sense, I told you that I watched every minute of the match (and 90% of city's matches this season) and this is your argument, it's better to concede that you were deceived by Sofascore or live broadcast (whatever that means) than arguing that you watched the match and saw O'Reilly or Bernardo Silva as a lone dm

And these broadcast companies actually set these line ups based on what they think managers would play which may not always be the case

How did you know that i got my info from Sofascore?
The truth is that you are the one who seems to be quoting sofascore.
Stop accusing me

You claimed you saw the match, and yet couldn't easily see that Mancity clearly maintained a 4-1-4-1 shape.
My last words to you on this matter is that you need to have your eyes washed with pure water

The image below is a screenshot of Manchester City vs Galatasaray lineup taken at UEFA.com
Every info posted on that site is throughly checked by top football analysts employed at UEFA, and they can't be wrong especially on issues like this.

Subzero0477:
Like I said you get your stats from Sofascore and tv lineups, I'm a city fan and I watched every minute of the game, so you actually don't know what you are talking about

You are the one using Sofascore as your main source (it seems like you have visited there to bolster your misinformation).
I only visit these stat sites (many of them) to get different perspectives in order to make a more informed conclusion.

A live broadcast from Etihad revealed a 4-1-4-1.
The shape maintained by the players as they moved across the pitch revealed a 4-1-4-1.

You said that i am quoting the TV lineup.
If you cannot believe what you saw on the TV, maybe you should believe the one in your dream, or the one in your fantasy.

Subzero0477:
Man city played 4-2-3-1, I know you got your stats from Sofascore but that's how they actually lined up in the match

Which sofascore (Just laughing at you).
The image is a screenshot i made as the players lined up.

You keep using the adverb actually like you have made your proof beyond reasonable doubt.

mank1234:
Melforme come and see o

Moses Simon is good, but i prefer Chidera Ejuke.

Subzero0477:
Guardiola actually played a 4-2-3-1 with O'Reilly and Bernardo Silva at the base of midfield, a high press meant leaving AbdulKarim against Haaland in a one on one situation which led to the first goal, Gala were then more compact to block central areas in the second half but were still carved open by dribbling of Reindjeirs and Ait Nouri for clear chances which were missed

I wanted to abandon this discussion when you included the adverb "actually", indicating your assuredness, but at a second thought, i changed my mind.

ManCity deployed 4-1-4-1.

Subzero0477:
What Guardiola wants is for you to press him btw to pick you apart, Galatasaray came with a game plan and executed it well.

Guardiola was afraid of a high press, believe me.

Guardiola adopted a 4-1-4-1, similar to the Moroccan 4-1-4-1 in order to curb Galatasaray's intensity and high press.
Guardiola anticipated it, Galatasaray should have gone ahead with their style of play, they have the players to execute it.
They shouldn't have held back.

The second half of the game told everything.

BankyGee:
You really watched the match, Lucas Torreira that was benched because the coach wanted Gundogan to start was the problem in the first place. Lucas Torreira does not hold back against any opponent. He's the engine of Galatasaray's midfield but a silent worker, Okan benched him to start Gundogan as, I don't know, maybe a gift or something. Gundogan was too slow in that game. Immediately Torreira came on in the second half, Galatasaray started pressing, but Man City's defence was compact and organized.

Again, chances were not created for Osimhen because there wasn't/isn't a proper creator in the game, apart from Sane, the remaining attacking players prefer to dribble and lose the ball than attempt to find their striker in the box.

Galatasaray should try and secure Ademola Lookman, It will boost their attack.

Subzero0477:
They should have pressed against an attack of Haaland, Doku and Cherki so that they'll be walloped 5:0 and miss the playoffs, they played the reasonable way a team of Galatasaray's stature would play against Man city keeping in mind that a respectable loss still takes them to the playoffs, Man city took their foot off the pedal in the second half but still created 2 clear chances that would have been goals if not for poor finishing

A good press will do a lot.

It will make sure the ball doesn't get to those players you mentioned.
They will have to drop deeper to get the ball and that is good damage control

Subzero0477:
They didn't hold back they were outplayed, remember that Man city were playing with Doku, Haaland and Cherki in attack, they tried the best they can

They had respect for Man City and did not press high up the pitch. They were a tad conservative

Did you watch Galatasaray against Ajax and Bodo/Glimt, especially against Bodo/Glimt.
They were all about intensity and adrenaline. Very few teams can match up.
The game against Man City in the second half, came to a point where Man City iwanted to tone down the game's pace.

Galatasaray should take advantage of their team's intensity and stamina.

Galatasaray gave Man City the respect that was uncalled for.

A team that has illkay Gundogan and Gabriel Sara which are finer midfielders in my reckoning when compared to Man City's Benardo Silva and Nico O'Reilly, shouldn't have held back in the manner they did against Man City in the first half. Man City's wingers were the real magicians that did the work.

Galatasaray players have the stamina that can unsettle any team and yet in the first half of the game they appeared a bit held back, not pressing as required, they shouldn't have allowed Man City the psychological edge.

Galatasaray really came out to play in the second half, and Man City became blunt.

Goke7:
You guys should stop saying stuff like this. Ndidi has been written off even before Afcon as having nothing to offer anymore but today it’s a different story. For as long as a player hasn’t retired he can still be useful to any team on a lucky day.

Imagine Nottingham saying Awoniyi has nothing more to offer before yesterday’s game. Let’s stop all these our arrogant takes please!

No, Ndidi was never written off.
The ones that wrote him off are the ones who watch either absent minded or are still honing their skills in football analysis.

Ndidi is a player that i have studied extensively. Ndidi is a player that i kept referring to as the tactician, because of his ability to understand and play according to instructions and also due to his ability to read his opponents.

At some point it looked like i was the only one on this platform rooting for Wilfred Ndidi.

semid4lyfe:
Okay, let me concede that you love the Super Eagles and did not discredit the team, players and the coach

BUT

you are still skirting around the major thrust of my post which is the Grade A coach (best hands) you want appointed as coach of the Super Eagles because you are unconvinced by Eric Chelle who has no Plan B according to you.

So I have some questions for you and I'd appreciate it if you can give direct answers this time.


🔸Who and what is a Grade A coach? Which metrics determine a Grade A coach?
🔸Do you think a Grade A coach will want to coach the Super Eagles given the dysfunctional nature of our football administration?
🔸Do you have any Grade A coach in mind that you'll want to be appointed for the Super Eagles? If YES, who?
🔸Is the Super Eagles having a Grade A coach a guarantee for winning the AFCON 2027 ,& 2028?
🔸Has any Grade A coach managed the Super Eagles in recent years? If Yes, who?
🔸Do you consider Emerse Fae, the Ivory Coast coach to be a Grade A coach?

Those are the kind of questions that I take so much delight in giving answers to, as this will broaden our perspective of the game and give more validity to my stand, but you have soiled the entire discussion with your fingers pointing at me, saying things that are completely false, I don't like it when people say things that i did not say.

Maybe for the next time when this type of discussion comes up, i can lend my voice with good insights, but for now. I am done.

semid4lyfe:
Have you ever played or coached at any level of football? I ask cos your reading and interpretation of the game is too theoretical and not based on reality. As a former aspiring footballer and a former assistant coach of an amateur football team, I'll tell you for free that coaching is not black and white.

Even the best and most accomplished coaches have had moments of tactical mishaps and failings. Pep Guardiola arguably the best coach of this decade fumbled the Manchester City vs Chelsea 2021 UCL final. Pep inexplicably benched Rodri and Fernandinho, and played without a CDM. In addition, he unfathomably played without an out-an-out striker opting to play KDB as a false 9 instead of in his natural AM role in the biggest game of his Manchester City coaching career then. Pray tell, did Pep's tactical gaffe in that UCL final make him a bad coach? What of when Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 4 nil in Munchen under Peo? The Man City's 0 - 4 drubbing by Tottenham at Etihad nko? Should we now regard Pep as a tactically poor coach with no Plan B?

You seem to be in the same whatsapp group with TGJ to me. Your football expectations are built on theoretical fantasies. In your fantasy football world, there are no bad days and a team must play well all the time.

The fact that you'd mention employing a "Grade A" coach for the team tells me you like building castles in the sky. Who or what is a grade A coach? Were Clemens Westerhoff, Bonfrere Jo and Stephen Keshi who won our biggest football laurels Grade A coaches? Bora Milutinovic, Lars Lagerback, Berti Vogts, Thijs Libregts who were the biggest profile coaches in our football history, what did they achieve? No be use and dump dem do us? What the Super Eagles need is a young (40-ish) dynamic coach with a playing identity, who is eager to coach and do well with the Super Eagles to make a name for himself.

I have been watching Super Eagles since '94, and I daresay only 2 coaches have brought something uniquely different to the team.

1. Philippe Troussier - played a 3-5-2 which was considered strange by many Nigerians at that time because 4-4-2 was the in-thing, and he was sacked for his "unfamiliar formation" despite qualifying the team for the '98 world cup. Now the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation is quite common and we all know Troussier was ahead of his time.

2. Eric Sekou Chelle - He plays a diamond formation in midfield which relies on the attackers pressing from the front, quick transitions and progressing the ball through the middle, and the wingbacks playing high, and providing width through the flanks.

You want Eric Chelle to move on right, no problem. Who is the grade A coach you have in mind to replace him? Can the NFF/NSC afford the remuneration of your so-called grade A coach? I challenged you to drop names over a week ago, till date nada you never drop.

In case you've forgotten Eric Chelle is unbeaten in regulation + extra time with the Super Eagles and his only losses have come via PSO.

You talk about me discrediting Eric Chelle, i responded by showing you a post where I highlighted the positives about him. If i can talk about Eric Chelles positives, I also retain the position to talk about his not good parts.

You talked about me discrediting the team (an unfounded and completely false position). I dare you with your conscience (if you have one) to point out a single instance where I talked down on the Super Eagles brand or players. My criticisms always border on player deployments and never on the player. I have stood against people that have talked down on our players calling them average.

What is wrong in positing that our players deserve the best hand.

I was the one who first pointed out Eric Chelle's overreliance on his fullbacks and that is a testament to how sound my interpretation of the game is. My insights are undeniably sound and many of you know it. I studied Eric Chelle's game tactics as every other analyst will do, now the big question that should come is, how will a coach respond when his game pattern has been figured out, what are his other plans.

I criticised the deployment of Raphael Onyedika in a position that has better fits. My stand took validity when Onyedika started losing especially his aerial duels.

I see no wrong criticising a coach that did not convince me.

You will have the same thing to say about me regarding my stand on Austin Eguavoen even after he won all his matches at the group stage of the last AFCON that he oversaw.

It is my love for the Super Eagles brand that engenders me to insist that the Super Eagles deserve nothing but the best.

Meliforme:
My observations on Eric Chelle's tactics

Player movements and transitions
To me, this is the most salient improvement in how we conduct our plays. We now move in sync, players spot and run into open spaces as their awareness of space is now on the increase, players are now more open to receive passes ensuring a faster transition into attack.

Tweaks in tactical formations
Eric Chelle has deployed a 4-3-1-2, a 4-1-2-1-2, and a flat 4-4-2 in the four matches that he has overseen so far.
In the match against Tanzania and Mozambique he deployed a 4-3-1-2, and in the matches against Tunisia and Uganda, he utilised a 4-1-2-1-2 and a 4-4-2 respectively.

Tweaks in personnel deployments
It appears Eric Chelle's initial idea was to deploy two wingers who can play as midfielders on the left and right midfield respectively as seen in the first match against Tanzania where Iwobi and Chukwueze started in those flanks, and also in the match against Uganda where Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze started in those flanks as well. The use of Frank Onyeka on the right midfield was also an important tweak as Frank Onyeka has been a right winger before his conversion to a DM. The use of Frank Onyeka has given Iwobi the freedom to roam more offensive areas of the pitch.

Ingenious discoveries and deployment of players
Ademola Lookman broke into limelight playing as a secondary striker, but playing behind two strikers as a #10 is the best of his deployments. It has given him the freedom to roam, shoot and create chances.

Alex lwobi is a player that can play and has played in almost all positions in the field of play, but his strengths lie more in possession football, stability and creativity. Deploying Iwobi deeper to help bulld and distribute play, making pre-assists from a deeper postion and making assists from a more offensive position is an ingenious intervention.

This is me commending Eric Chelle's contributions to the team, highlighting his most salient of contributions.
I wonder how this post skipped Semid4lyfe's eyes, for someone that is the thread's moderator.

Growth is possible for anyone, change is possible, but as far as what i have seen, i am not convinced yet.

semid4lyfe:
There is no formation without weaknesses. There is no system that cannot be countered. Relying on wing forwards also means weakening the midfield and progressing the ball mostly through the wings which concedes the middle game to the opponents.

Also, this thing you've been going on about bringing in wing-forwards like it's one big bright tactical adjustment, Eric Chelle did it. He brought in Moses Simon on the left wing to shore it up and support Bruno due to the way Hakimi and Diaz were double-teaming on him.

In all your criticism of Eric Chelle for the Morocco game, you have never acknowledged the biased officiating. The Moroccans foul-baited the referee for the entire 120 mins duration of our game, and he fell for it every time. He gave them soft fouls but turned a blind eye to the blatant fouls they committed against us, and even refused to card them, and this impeded us from playing our game.

By the way, do you know what winning the Bronze medal in the AFCON means for Eric Chelle, the coach you're not convinced with? The implicit implication of that finish is that Eric Chelle was the third best coach out of the 24 that participated in the competition, and on the African continent.

Also, given a choice between Walid Regragui and Eric Chelle, I will pick Chelle from a tactical standpoint. The former's team huffed and puffed throughout the competition and were never convincing even in victory despite the officiating-help and home support, and that's the reason many Moroccans are calling for his sack.

Eric Chelle on the other hand gave the Super Eagles a playing identity. A press from front playing style that chokes the opponents, does not allow them time on the ball and results in lots of turnovers and dominant possession In addition, he brought new nicks to our game by moving the ball through the middle, and not the wings like we're used to playing.

The Super Eagles played with fluidity and almost psychic understanding. Another often underappreciated but important mark of good coach which Eric Chelle exhibited in this AFCON but does not get enough credit for is the personal improvement he brought on the players. Bruno, Osayi, Bassey, Ajayi, Ndidi, Iwobi and Onyeka raised their games and were all unplayable this AFCON. That's what Eric Chelle has brought to the team. Is that the coach who has not convinced you?

It's almost like you're on a paid "agenda" to discredit the coach and the team because your stance fails by every objective metric. Lest I forget, I asked you to suggest a good and convincing 50k/month coach for the Super Eagles but since then na radio silence. I still dey wait....

The truth is not with the majority anyways.

I was trying to make some sense out of your positions, until you said the following "It's almost like you are on a paid agenda to discredit the coach and the team"

I am very sorry for you for using the words: paid agenda, you should have just said agenda, and even at that I have no agenda against the coach, i have pointed out previously in my posts Eric Chelle's good points, I have hailed his good contributions. Inspite of his good scores, I have also highlighed his shortcomings and insisted that i am not convinced.

On Eric Chelle, I am simply not convinced, and that is a glaring fact. I pointed out his failings, and every single point touted has a sound underpinning.

I have never called for his sack, I simply opined that if he gets a better offer that he should move on.

You also said that i tried to discredit the team.
I have always defended the Super Engles brand. I have always labelled the Super Eagles the best team in Africa. It is because of the potential that I see In the team that engenders my clarion call for a Grade A coach for a good harvest of the talent pool.
Many on this thread have labelled our players as average, a notion that i keep refuting. I simply don't know where you got the idea of me discrediting the Super Eagles brand.

Eric Chelle plays an attractive brand of football, his kind of football is flashy and can hide tactical flaws. There is everything good when those flaws are picked and exposed. That a coach is not as flashy does not make the coach tactically poor. A not-so-flashy coach might be more tactically sound with a better reading of the game than a coach that likes to keep the ball.

Kog45:
Inter vs Pisa and Morocco vs Nigeria abi continue baba Meli

What exactly is your point?

Hardrive:
What did the Senegalese do differently ? They contained both full backs using both their wingers and their full backs. The game is such that both sides would create chances to score, the team that takes theirs wins the game. It is for us to create more chances than our opponents. It doesn't matter if it is Morocco or any other team.

Thank you so much for your insight.

You are wonderful.

Hardrive:
Can you guys see the importance of a good coach. He saw that there was no fluidity in the game and so he brought in di Marco on the wings and everything changed within 5 minutes. Same thing I was saying when we played Morocco . Where we needed chukwueze and lookman on both flanks to supply akor and osihmen.
If you notice something is wrong in the first half there is nothing stopping you from making changes in the first half.

Please tell them ooo.
I said that i wasn't convinced off Eric Chelle, they came for me.

I had previously submitted that our overreliance on fullbacks to provide the needed width to stretch the opposition's defence is one of the things that cost us. The Moroccans read our game and clipped our forays.

At some points in a game, depending on the flow, you might need wingers.

NasirIbnLaAhad:
All things being considered, we shouldn't be celebrating a bronze medal. I was miffed about that as well. We came to win it all, not settle for third and pat ourselves in the back for getting a 9th bronze. We have enough of those already, winning another one should be an insult. Especially knowing we don't have a World Cup to participate in. That being said, yes, Oliseh did make a whole lot of bizarre assertions in his inglorious tirade, particularly with regards to why the team lost. Nigeria lost because of two reasons: 1) poor officiating that killed our momentum, 2) Chelle not having a solid plan B. Even if he did have a plan B, it was clear the players had not soaked it fully enough because the execution was practically non-existent. That's all. Any other reason is largely in Oliseh's imaginations.

We should celebrate every win.

Before the moroccan match, i was never in support of Raphael Onyedika playing the DM role.
Frank Onyeka or even Tochukwu Nnadi should have been considered. I have done my studies on these players, having Onyedika feature in the DM role when Frank Onyeka and Tochukwu Nnadi were available revealed a fault that cannot be neglected.

In that match, Frank Onyeka won 5 out of 8 duels, Raphael Onyedika won 2 out of 10 duels. In addition Frank Onyeka made 3 interceptions, and a vital block in a very central area. Frank Onyeka made 4 recoveries of the ball, Raphael Onyedika made 1. Considering that Frank Onyeka moved even deeper to make a vital block in a very central area tells that he is capable of providing a more defensive cover.

When Raphael Onyedika performance was not to impress, the good thing to have been done should have been the introduction of either Tochukwu Nnadi or Samuel Chukwueze. I preferred Samuel Chukwueze because he is more creative and better at winning defensive duels when compared to FDB and Moses Simon.

elyte89:
Onauchu and ejuke might not make chelles list again most especially ejuke ,dessers run well na

Ejute might not make Eric Chelle's team not for footballing reasons.

Samuel Chukwueze was neglected by Eric Chelle not for footballing reasons
In the match against Egypt, Samuel Chukwueze won defensive duels 3x more than the entire midfield combined and made more contributions to defense 3x more than the entire midfield combined. We are talking about a midfield that has a designated DM.

Players with the highest number of chances created in a single match:
Alex lwobi (6 chances) in the match against Tanzania.
Samuel Chukwueze (5 chances) in the match against Uganda.
Ademola Lookman (4 chances) in the match against Tunisia.

These stats reveals Chukuneze's creative role and contributions to defense.
Even if Samuel Chukwueze won't start matches, give one reason why Samuel Chukwueze will not be the first to be subsituted on when changes are considered in the more offensive areas of the pitch.

Tochukwu Nnadi was neglected not for footballing reasons.
In the indices that can be used to qualify a good DM, Tochukwu Nnadi is ahead of Raphael Onyedika.
Both players feature in the Belgian Pro League.
In statistics such as Tackles per 90, Blocks made per 90, Interceptions per 90, Clearances per 90, Nnadi is ahead of Onyedika.

It is very clear that Eric Chelle clearly doesn't know his players and can wrongly drop or feature them.

Blueelf:
I see your point actually

Thank you.
Even though I don't agree with your pessimism all of the times, but according to you, you are staying true to your calling.

SymphonyRad:
Egypt had only ONE shot on target vs our 5 on target. Since you're impressed by ball possession that leads to nothing, we also had more possession against a whole Morocco (host team) but they had 5 shots on twrget against our 1.. so I ask again..so which superiority did the coach show? or you just don't understand how match stats work? Bros no dey embarrass yourself like this...

You are the one embarassing yourself.

They created more big chances and had more possession.

What hope is their for the NPFL teams and their CHAN twin if their big brothers from Europe needed to go into penalty shootout to win players from Al Ahly, Zamalek, pyramids. With a sound coach, big brother are supposed to flog these guys.

This was how many of you came after me when i complained about Eguavoen and Finidi.

We are yet to land a Grade A coach.

I think I have to end this discussion

mank1234:
Keep posting agenda until NFF hands you another Finidi.

Agenda my foot.

Whatever the NFF can afford.

Let me end this particular discussion here.

BankyGee:
To argue just dey sweet you.

More big chances created.

They dominated us.
I don't know how that site came about that stat.
I hope they weren't including one of the disallowed goals.

Odunayaw:
Egyptian coach?

The Egyptian coach made good use of the quality that is available to him.

He took our team to penalties.

SymphonyRad:
Egyptian coach showed which superiority? Abi you dey troll?

Egypt had more possession of the ball and created more big chances.

Eric Chelle did not fully utilise the quality at his call.

do4luv14:
How much you good contribute for a very good coach salary

Someone took over a sinking ship, steady it,
Play 16 games
Won 10
Draw 5
Lose 1

You still no convice, who your conviction epp, if he easy go Coach for NPFL

You are yet to consider the quality of the opposition.

Believe me, with the quality in our hands, we can compete at the world stage.
We need a very sound tactician.

If we cannot afford one, then let's exercise some restraint in the manner we handle our hopes.

Well, there is nothing wrong in being optimistic even we you are courting average.

BankyGee:
Exactly, and na just 1 year and 8 days the Moroccan coach use become the "master tactician and guru maraji" of the continent with a little touch of cheat tactics too.

Walid Regragui took Morocco to the Semi finals of the 2022 World cup, the same year he started as their coach.

Odunayaw:
Not what I asked.

The good coaches that showed their superiority over him are...

The Moroccan coach.
The Egyptian coach.

With the quality in our hands and with a sound coach, we should be the best in Africa.

AndSunGorilla:
Agreed. Make we sack am?

There is a recurring theme in Eric Chelle's style that is highly limiting.

I have never resonated with the crowd in all my stands.

Eric Chelle is not yet the man.
When the right man shows up, you will witness my unwavering validation.

I am not advocating for his sack anyway.
All that i am saying is that we should not raise our hopes in him.

If Eric Chelle sees a better paying job let him take it and continue his growth.