Kog45:
Lookman as at today has proved that he is not a player to be benched in eagles….three goals in Afcon proved that,yes Boniface if he does it like he is doing it in Leverkusen but Iheanacho I disagree

I got your angle when you highlighted Ademola Lookman's form and goalscoring abilities. If goalscoring were to be the yardstick, Lookman may still not get the nod

However, the criteria i used for the considerations were based on positioning and the abilities to work with the midfield which are very key to what an SS does.

In my appraisal Ademola Lookman can be rightlfully benched for the likes of Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho because the duo interprets the SS role better.

Finidi is a good coach, even though my support has Amunike predominantly at its front and i saw criticisms hauled at me as a result.

Nevertheless, i rate Finidi, below lies one of the things that i said in defense of him after the match against Mali.

Meliforme:


Thank you so much, Finidi is sound, i mean very sound.

The problem is the playing personel, if Finidi was the one who compiled the list of invited players, that's when i would have come heavily on him.

TheSuperNerd:
To be fair... across his stints as assistant in 2013 U17, Head coach in 2015 U17 and Head coach in 2016-2017 U20, we have:

Currently in the Eagles:
- Kelechi Iheanacho
- Wilfred Ndidi
- Taiwo Awoniyi
- Francis Uzoho
- Victor Osimhen
- Samuel Chukwueze


Others (have played for the Eagles but not recently):
- Chidera Ejuke
- Kelechi Nwakali
- Isaac Success
- Kingsley Michael (made his debut under Rohr but has faded from the scene now)

Thank you, TheSuperNerd.

Truidstarr:


My brother it is beyond that. Can he command respect if the players? Can he effectively manage egos in the team? That’s my fear.

That is what i am not sure of.

Do you think he cannot?

comodo:
To get a coach for SE don take 3 months. Ordinary check person records. Check his philosophy, ask am questions about his formation. Ask am to know how much he knows about Ng SE players strengths and weaknesses. 3 months don pass. Too much interest don enter d selection process. Press & bloggers & some govt money bags dey support Paul. NFf officials dey support Apollos. Sports ministry dey support Onesimus.

From the criteria you listed, Amunike is the man, he has a better understanding of the culture that formed most of our players, and even had stints coaching some of these players at the grassroot level.

typicalgamer:


Chidera is like doku

He needs a team to just let him play

With little defensive responsibilities just let him play and let the attackers get into the right position finito

While we appreciate Ejuke's defensive works of late, it is also true that this is an aspect he needs the most improvement together with the creation of goalscoring chances.

TheSuperNerd:
He spoke about this recently in an interview on how Mark Van Bommel helped improve his defensive side as a player.

Let me drop the quote and extract from the aritcle...


Mark van Bommel has further instilled that winning mentality. He has ensured that Ejuke also takes his defensive duties to heart – the winger recently recovered ten balls against STVV

“One hundred percent correct! The coach gives me advice about that and I have to say: I even enjoy defending now. You help the team, and stealing a ball from someone also gives you a boost. It gives you a feeling of superiority over your opponent. Very nice.”

Thank you, TheSuperNerd.

Chidera Ejuke's game has seen improvements under Mark Van Bommel.

In Royal Antwerp, possession won in the final third per 90 has Chidera Ejuke at the top of the list.

This is very impressive.

TheGoodJoe:


Amazing player. Deserves the praises he is getting. Can't wait for him to shine brighter.

Thank you, TheGoodJoe. You have eyes for quality.

Ejuke's is very technical, a quality that has seen him play as a defensive midfielder, even though he is predominantly a winger.

Having wingers that can also operate as midfielders is great gain especially in the game of control and retaining the ball.

This is what we need in S.E, not just wingers who are just strikers that operate from wider positions.

Kog45:
Oga Meli,Nigeria wingers will not start any match in Antwerp? Haha kilode gan,wetin gan sef….Antwerp of all club,wahala dey o….just cuz of Ejuke.

I gave reasons.

TheSuperNerd:
Deserved. Like I said several weeks ago, the lad has surely shown certain sound improvements in his gameplay. Another player I need back in the Super Eagles with time.

But your take on none of our wingers worthy enough or tactically qualified enough to start for Antwerp. I still no gree.

Ok, you are free to have your opinion.

Let me make my opinion clearer; with the likes of Balikwisha present in the team, and used as wingers, considering how Antwerp likes to play, none of our wingers will start any match, because they lack the skills required to thrive there.

Chidera Ejuke named player of the month for march by his club.

TheSuperNerd:
Amunike utilised a Deep lying playmaker model at U17 level. A bold and risky move that paid off. He played a lad with the skillset of a #10 as a deep-lying maestro. That is the man you say don't know how to experiment??

Onyedika's CDM profile is similar in certain attributes to that of a DLP but the difference is that a DLP is far more eagle-eyed, far more creative, dictate plays better and less concerned with defensive duties compared to the Holding MF CDM Onyedika-type.


So there is no way Amunike won't see the need to utilise Onyedika's skills set either as a single pivot or in a double pivot or even a false double pivot as he exhibited in the U17s and U20s.

Good understanding. Good exposition.

I have done my own studies. Amunike deserves the reins.

I have seen the shortlisted foreign coaches, Amunike is still ahead of those coaches in: pattern, innovations and discipline,

The all that i see is bias, imagine the clamor for Herve Renard that is not even available just to diss Amunike.

typicalgamer:


Bro I’m sorry I no rate amunike one bit

I no rate any of our home base coaches one bit

None of our Npfl teams can play free flowing football and you want me to trust the coaches ??

In my opinion i think our current crops of players are more tactical inept and educated than our local coaches plain and simple

Honestly none of our local coaches is up to super eagles standard unless you guys want to drag us back 600 years

Come on guys we’re in a World Cup year and you all expect amunike to give us a good run ??

At least i rate Finidi ahead of Rohr and Peseiro.

elyte89:


My man forget amunike …I am above him presently,u no Dey hear.

You are already doing well at comedy.

typicalgamer:


My only wish is for a non Nigerian coach to hold the super eagles head coach job

Simple

I’d prefer any Npfl coaches that had managed to reach the final of caf champions league instead of these great pretenders we’re parading up and down

You want a coach that has reached the CAF Champions league finals?

TheSuperNerd:
I would ask them in this thread what the Ivorian interim cum substantive coach's pedigree or achievements were prior to him taking over and leading CIV to the title just few months ago. What had Emerse Fae achieved?

Amunike is obviously the best choice for the Super Eagles (both from economic and football philosophy/tactical angles, etc) and even has a better CV than the Ivorian Fae who didn't boast much until he went ahead and won the Afcon.

We can kid ourselves all we want and shout or argue but if we are not hiring a top sound foreign coach, then it is better we hand it to Amunike and stop all this rubbish time wasting.

Period.

BankyGee:

I checked the man's managerial stats as a head coach. E no to sharp like that o. We can just hope he does well but his win % is below average (41.71)

Even at Galatasaray, he played 20 games, won 7, drew 5 and lost 8...

I have examined philosophies of play, choice of players, etc. I have done my findings, i think that of all the coaches interested in the job, Amunike deserves the nod.

I said it earlier that most of our wingers will not start at Royal Antwerp because of how Royal Antwerp likes to play.

Royal Antwerp is a team that loves to keep possession of the ball especially in the opposition's half. To achieve this you need as one of the requirements: wingers who are not limited in their passing and can keep the ball. With the exception of Ejuke none of our wingers meets the aforementioned criteria. This is nothing but the truth.

It is only in the striker role that we have depth, we don't really have excellent wingers. We have wingers who can only dribble and shoot, but what happens when the opposition seats too deep and uses zonal marking, you will require tactical wingers who are not limited in their passing to break down the opposition.

lbrichman2:


I'd rather he was recalled to the SE than Ejuke

Both have different applications and or uses.

Dennis is a player who understands defending from the front, he does that better than all our strikers. He is a player that likes to win, he carries Osimhen kind of vibes. He is a fantastic dribbler. He seems to have redefined himself especially in the striker role.

However his passing, holding on to the ball, are areas he needs to work on, those deficiencies limits his role as a winger, but he excels well as a striker.

elyte89:



I am even higher on d pecking order Dan amuneke …Dey play

Not yet.

Coach Emmanuel Amunike is my top pick for the S.E coaching job.

jihday:
I hope you are happy now

Yes, and very happy with the defenders chosen to play.

The defenders were not really the problem, the problem was with the midfield.

You can't indulge a play focused on possession without working extensively on your midfield.

Real defending begins in the midfield, even when the midfield is bypassed may be by long balls, the midfielders are are to track back to help the defense.

In the same manner, real attacking with the ball begins in the midfield, if the midfield is bypassed maybe by long balls, the midfielders are primarily responsible for sustaining the attack through proper communication with the forwards.

The midfielders did not help the defenders in the manner they should, and the defenders while trying to maintain possession of the ball, drew a lot of pressure to themselves.

chuks404:
I don't really understand how we watch football. The only thing that is making us not winning this game is the personnel. A nigeria team possessing the ball is phenomenal. I love the way the guys play though some players didn't help with the set up. Besides this is a friendly match. Finidi is sound.

Thank you so much, Finidi is sound, i mean very sound.

The problem is the playing personel, if Finidi was the one who compiled the list of invited players, that's when i would have come heavily on him.

viccy12:


When you guys analyze football you expressly think you are some high and mighty that could just walk into the field and handed victory.

Firstly , the Malians have a good team.

Secondly, the SE have no creative midfielder. Who is that player that could hold the ball and soak up the pressure from the Malians.

Ejuke, Nwakali, Ifeanyi Mathew, are some of those players.

The midfield takes the major chunk of blame. They don't open up to receive passes from the defenders and drive forward with the ball.

The defenders back pass a lot because of how poor our midfielders have been.

Subzerooo:


Will like to see them too for their lack of pace against Mali's forward line

They have good pace for a CB.

viccy12:


Can I ask you a question. Why are you so obsessed with foreign people ? Like white coaches , foreign born players etc ? These foreign players you are always clamoring for are they better than Nigerian players?

Shouldn't we be pressing the NFF to develop our league? Why is it that you always look for a stop gap solution instead of solving the whole problem?

Don't you think investing and developing our local league will put rest to all these problems with our national teams. Don't you have the ability to think for a second ? You are always here dragging our indigenous talents including coaches and players calling them corrupt as if you will do better if you find yourself in that position. For instance, you are barely 40yrs with a pot belly that look like you are pregnant! Who tha f..uck do you think you are. You are simply a white worshipped obese pu..nk

You stopped making sense when you started body shaming him.

Calvin Bassey is another guy, i would have loved to see, if not for injuries.

I hope to see the combination of Awaziem and Omeruo in tomorrow's game, not just for the defensive duties they provide, but for the crisp passing and seamless transitions to midfield.