₦airaland Forum

zicky:
I don't really understand this latest campaign against Ndidi, waa yesterday the first time he's playing as a make shift cb for Leicester. All of a sudden Ndidi is now the reason Nigeria don't play well. Some people are trying to push a narrative to portray Ndidi as not good in his role as a dm anymore.

Joebie:
So how does K. Nwakali rank so far?

7th (joint) in accurate passes per game
3rd (joint) in accurate long balls per game
27th (joint) in key passes per game

TheSuperNerd:
Meliforme to Citizen:

TheSuperNerd:
Chidera Ejuke: Highlights vs Dortmund

Courtesy: EaglesTrackerNG


Twitter link below:
https://twitter.com/EaglesTrackerNG/status/1564291222260391937?t=uBZB9sHuUg0n2VY28XT3GQ&s=19[/quote]Good understanding of the game of passing the ball.
Counter attacking threat.
Creating scoring chances for others is now on the increase, as evidenced in his key passes per game, and attempts at crossing the ball, unlike before.

TheSuperNerd:
Chidera "The Dazzler" Ejuke FT Stats for Hertha Berlin SC.

Hertha BSC 0-1 Borussia Dortmund - Bundesliga Matchday 4.

90mins+ played.
2 chances created.
65 touches.
32/40 accurate passes.
80% passing accuracy.
14 recoveries.
10/18 ground duels won.
9/13 successful dribbles.
1 corner taken.
2 shots off target.
1/3 accurate long balls.
Was fouled once.

*Ejuke completed the most dribbles/Take-ons in the game (9).

I love the way Ejuke's game is evolving.
He attempted 2 crosses of the ball, this is something i kept longing for in his games.

Also this is the first time, I have seen Ejuke take corner kicks.

Samueltemi337:
I don't think osimhen has ever started any game against Juventus before


The one he came from the bench he won a penalty in that match


I think he also won a penalty against inter Milan last season (I might be wrong)


Also won a penalty against Barcelona


His first serie a goal was against Atalanta


He scored two goals against Leicester city


And he has a goal against Lazio

TheLoneCitizen:
That brother's gone.

Danielnino00:
Awazeim's talent isn't in doubt.. However,it appears he isn't so keen on staying at one club. I may be wrong,but it looks like a lack of ambition...For somebody that played in the Portuguese,Spanish and French top tier, moving to Croatia isn't a good move... These kind of frequent loan moves aren't good for a player development..

TheSuperNerd:
Chidozie Awaziem FT Stats for HNK Hajduk Split.

Hajduk Split 0-2 Villarreal CF - UECL
*Aggregate score: 2-6

90mins+ played.
62 touches.
44/50 accurate passes.
88% passing accuracy.
9/13 accurate long balls.
6/7 ground duels won.
2/3 aerial duels won.
100% dribbing success (1/1).
5 tackles.
1 interception.
1 clearance.
Was fouled once.


*Awaziem won the most duels in the game (8 ).

*Very Solid Defensive and well-rounded display from Chidozie Collins Awaziem today. Unfortunately no European football for him and Hajduk in 22/23. UECL Group Stage Ticket goes to Naija Robben and Villarreal

Tolulopefinest:
Chidozie Awaziem is very good.

One of Nigeria's most underrated defenders.

Just unlucky not to be playing for the big clubs in Europe

TheGoodJoe:

I understand your point. However, developing his ball-playing skills will increase his value to us. Also, the reason of this argument is why top clubs skip Ndidi despite his quality. It has to do with his passing limitation.

mostob:
I just pray his performance this season will be a stepping stone for Kelechi. The talent is there, he just needs to work hard more.

Call me whatever you want, I really wish to have Ndidi, Iwobi and Nwakali manning our Midfield.

But till then, Sultan, Onyedika and the likes should be invited for next friendlies.

TheGoodJoe:

Watch the passing ability of Kalvin Phillips and you will understand why Guardiola insisted on getting him. If Ndidi is to play with the big boys, he must transform into more than a destroyer.

He has the ability. He just needs to change his mentality to a passer and see his game improve by miles. Open for passes. That is search for space where his teammates can find him. Then pass to players in space. Study Xavi and Paul Scholes over and over again. The Defensive midfield role is changing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i77EsprjHE

TheGoodJoe:

It is okay now, more like manageable. Did you watch Manchester City vs Newcastle? That was one hell of the fiercest pressing I have seen. That was Rodri and he literally found it difficult to build play. Rodri is one of the best in the World.

Now think of having someone like Ndidi in such system. It will prove Catastrophic. Ndidi needs to work on his passing and movement game.

That is why top clubs are overlooking him. When they check his passing stats, they don't stand out.

TheGoodJoe:
Ndidi has the work rate but he needs to develop his passing. A deep playing pivot is becoming key if you must play possession football.

You need a deep player that can combine with the defenders to play out of the back. I am seeing potential in Samson Tijani for that role. Ndidi might have to fall to defence but his passing might still prove a liability.

mostob:
I just pray his performance this season will be a stepping stone for Kelechi. The talent is there, he just needs to work hard more.

Call me whatever you want, I really wish to have Ndidi, Iwobi and Nwakali manning our Midfield.

But till then, Sultan, Onyedika and the likes should be invited for next friendlies.

TheLoneCitizen:
Tell me you didn't watch the match without telling me you didn't watch the match.

TheLoneCitizen:
Better goal threat.

Hit the woodwork.

More incisive dribbling. The big chance he made for himself saw him dribble from midfield to the box.

Ejuke's biggest highlight was when he went through four players before forcing a strong but easy save from Yan Sommer from long-range. Other than that, all footwork, no goalmouth action.

TheLoneCitizen:
Don't agree. Lukebakio it was.

mostob:
He actually has a point. We finished that game with 4 strikers on the pitch, two of which are tall yet no crosses from the FBs. Addo, realizing we surrendered the Midfield for attack brought in midfielders and changed formation. He stopped chasing the game and started pulling us around. Egu really fumbled that day.

Jojodjo:
Apt!!
I always liken Ejuke to Gray during his Leicester days.
Dribbles well yet is poor in making decisions.

Safe to say his football is yet to mature.

TheSuperNerd:
Good point LoneCitizen. But take into context that it is f**king Manchester City's Rodri. That team is almost always on the front foot against most teams (several of which are weaker than City) and Rodri's heatmap won't read that way much in some games against tougher and almost equally matched opposition.
Take the heatmap below... It is Rodri's as well vs Chelsea at the Bridge in 20/21. 3-1 win for City but Rodri didn't venture forward so much.


Meliforme, permit me to come in and say this. Citizen is right as regards you probably making use of a Better and more elaborate heatmap showing Iwobi's offensive propensity.. and you could easily reference heatmaps from 16/17, 17/18, 19/20 and last season as well.

In all, heatmaps aren't black and white. It still has subtle interpretations. One must consider the in-game phases throughout the 90mins or more.

TheLoneCitizen:
TheSuperNerd broke it down for you, brother. Heatmap can be obscured by how possessive a team is.

Regarding Iwobi, eye test shows he isn't eager to join the attack but prefers effecting the game from deep. Even when he is player higher up the pitch.

That's eye test, sir, but I'll back it 100% with numbers.

TheSuperNerd:
Courtesy of EaglesTrackerNG: K. Nwakali full highlights on his Ponferradina debut

Twitter link:
https://twitter.com/EaglesTrackerNG/status/1559888139216453633?t=pRF5j8_NSi5Wj7Qy2WdKIg&s=19

YT link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POg0Aslp3ws


I don dey laugh already. Lol


Note: YT Video may not play here thru NL due to La Liga copyright restrictions, but the video is still available on EaglesTrackerNG's YouTube page. If you are interested.

TheLoneCitizen:
Then why are you using it, since he has been deployed as a holding midfielder in both of his appearances.

Why not use data from last season, where he was deployed as a winger to prove your point?

How can you be shooting yourself in the foot like this, my good man?

You as an expert should know that heatmap doesn't show attacking or defensive ability, just workrate and versatility.

This is Rodri's heatmap. From your deduction, he is an attacking maestro.

TheLoneCitizen:
Bro what does this map teach you? That the player likes to be high up the pitch?

TheLoneCitizen:
100%, sir. Has low propensity to join attacks.

TheLoneCitizen:
The propensity of a player to join the attack.

TheLoneCitizen:
Iwobi doesn't have the attacking aggression of an AM..
And just as Mourinho once said. You will be wasting a good CM for a poor AM.

To push Iwobi higher up the pitch at best will be a box-box, anything further than that is overkill.

TheLoneCitizen:
You ought to know, brother, as a self-professed analytical kingpin that three deep-lying midfielders cannot function in the same team without compromising balance.

TheSuperNerd:
I have been avoiding suggesting this here until Nwakali hits 10 games this season showing same form and quality in the middle.... but the hint is this and I have long mentioned it as one of the options on twitter.

An Ndidi-Nwakali-Iwobi Midfield, with all in form, will be a near perfect mix of Steel and Complete cruise control. I know you have mentioned this too before (I just nodded at that post and smiled).

It is also similar to what I expect in an Ndidi-Alhassan-Iwobi MF Trio. Another near perfect trio from tactical POVs.


But these will hopefully take place with time...

For now, I want to see an Ndidi-Iwobi-Aribo MF trio first. I know its couple of tactical imperfections but that is the midfield combo that, I believe, has earned a chance to be seen properly when next we meet for international games.


Eguavoen really messed us up at the Afcon. You talk of long balls yet kept Nwakali benched despite seeing what he could do in that 3rd group game...and then he kept Iwobi benched too and when he played him, it was wingwards towards the right for most of the Afcon tournament.
Ofcos Iwobi in turn didn't do himself any favors by flunking in that role. But it still all falls on Egu.

Thanks goodness for Lampard who got Iwobi going again and finally moved him centrally (as already suggested beforehand by me via twitter) for about 6-9 games or so before finishing with him as RB last season.

Before this new season began, the question arose on twitter about where Lampard should play Iwobi and I said, he should simply use him exactly how he did when Iwobi began playing under Lamps.... As a deeplying CM.

The best part is that Peseiro understood from the first moments he resumed the Super Eagles job that Iwobi is the man to properly oil the wheels of our middle game and keep things rolling from deep.
I guess he saw that we were lacking that deeplying conductor and it shows in the way we have been playing under him even though it is still early days.

Iwobi is our main central midfield playmaker and one who can also play further forward as a number 10 if another deeplying midfield player is assigned that deep conductor role.

What we have here is an opportunity to lift the face of our middle game dynamics. It is up to the SE crew to take things further.

TheSuperNerd:
Video Clip: K.Nwakali's Assist

pic.twitter.com/JdHNYgMTcF

— Nwakali25 (@nwakali25) August 16, 2022

P.S: *For those interested abeg. Don't quote me saying nonsense. Thank you.

TheLoneCitizen:
Etebo.
Bonke Innocent
Azubuike Ikechukwu.