₦airaland Forum

Icon79:
Sorry ... my bad, you're right. Yes, KC scored one and created one and Benga scored one goal. But overall, KC had a better game on the day. And, if anything, that proves that if KC is good enough to start for Sevilla if Banega is arguably one of their best player.


O pari

but Banega is a CMF na. You saw Ben Yedder yesterday right? He got less than 30mins and scored 2 goals, back then we used to say that 30mins cameo isn't enough for Kelechi to score for Mancity, but someone actually did that for Sevilla against Manchester United. It is of course very very possible that Kelechi if given the chance can bench that Muriel guy no doubt but saying that he will be a certain starter for Sevilla isn't true

Mujtahida:
My issue is that when another player does these same thing that person becomes a standard. When a Nigerian does it they say he should keep improving. Omo, improvements in a player's life is good but in this case their call for his continued improvement without recognising what he's done so far is fraudulent. I no gree for such talk abeg.

do you know that at some point last season a Southampton player had the highest number of interceptions and tackles as a midfielder but who cares? I sure can't even remember his name. Then there was Krychowiak when he was the top tackler too but he is in West Brom now. My point is tackling isn't everything, if you are a super tackler you will make a steady living in a mid-table team that loves to chase the ball, when you make that leap(like Krychowiak going to PSG) you discover that that isn't the only necessary tool.


By the way you know how much I fancy Ndidi, in fact Goldfish and I had a misunderstanding because I was blaming Onazi for our midfield issues instead of Ndidi who was understandably having a tough time then. The simple truth is that Ndidi is brilliant at what he does, but potential wise I would advice him to remain in Leicester or move to an underdog type of European powerhouse(like Monaco) but not Mancity or Barca were possession is everything

edi287:
Nacho first touch is better than Mbappe??

this matter never tire you?

Daejoyoung:
But what's really special about mbappe? lhenacho may not be living up to his full potential yet, but he is a more creative player from my angle. Abi na only me dey see am like dat?

you need to be watching the current PSG match right now. Mbappe is on his way to a hattrick and the boy is just good

edi287:
Mbappe football IQ is lower than Nacho?? Ok oo.

Bloda Mi, how do you start replying this kind of comment sef

Kog45:
Well said TheSuperNerd but sometimes you put rope on the ground for people,to them Mikel is not world class but Matics is a class now just to belittle suoer growing Ndidi who have showed me this season is better than Matics

Apart from Makele, I am not sure you can grade any other Chelsea DMF(past or present within the said time) as a truly World Class player. There is World Class, there is the next category beneath World Class and then there is the long list of good players. At 21, Matic was sitting on Chelsea's bench, true, but at 21 a lot of good players were sitting on Chelsea's bench including De Bruyne so nothing there really. At 23-24 Matic was leading Benefica to Europa league finals, that is not exactly an easy thing when you consider the teams in the Europa League back then. Matic has played the most games for Manu in the league than any other player and ManU currently has the best defensive record, I am not sure who should take the glory except Matic(and De Gea to some extent), when Matic is bad Manu will be bad but then they are currently second meaning they have been good way more times than they have been bad. Putting Ndidi within his bracket is.... I don't even know how to put it. Matic isn't world class but saying Ndidi is close to him? Come on.


On another day I would have taken up this Matic-Mikel comparison but let me just let it slide.

TheGoodJoe:
The point is so simple. When it concerns the defensive side of the DM role, Ndidi rules the planet of football. That makes him World Class especially when it concerns shielding the defence and breaking up plays.

Gerrit?

this kind talk tire me. So having the best tackling stat is what defines a world class DMF? I wonder why Busquets is still a football player as at now.

realpoacher:
House look at this man running riot making false accusations without concrete evidence yet he is allowed to run a mock..., he is allowed to create hate speech,... He is allowed to create a toxic atmosphere with his numerous one-sided, loop-sided and baseless accusations.

Yet no one is calling him to order, everyone is turning a blind eye.


Someone should call him to order before i pounce on him o!... If I come hard on him, he won't like it.

Must @forgiveness always insult the whole nigerians and NFF here before he pass his points?....

Must he always throw baseless accusations and indictments at us?...

Are they no longer honest men and corrupt free people in the system?

Why must he label everyone corrupt whenever his players doesn't make the cut?

Must kayode play in the Super Eagles before we know that Nigeria is not corrupt?

Must Martins be called back before we know that Nigeria is not corrupt?

Must Otigba or whatever his name is play for us before we know that Nigeria is not Corrupt?...

Must Sheyi Ojo, Sone aluko etc play for us?

Must @forgiveness have only his players in the Super Eagles?

He has suggested Ebuehi, Aina, onyekuru, jeol obi, Iwobi, etc to the Super Eagles and all of them currently in the team..., must all his other players be brought to the team too?.... Is this the Super Eagles meant for Nigeria or the Super Eagle of Sir forgiveness?.... Why must it be only the players he suggest to be in the team are to be in the team else we are corrupt?

Is @forgiveness the only knowledgeable person on football matters in Nigeria that has to have only his players in the team or else we are all corrupt?

Is the SE meant for you and you alone?

Is every thing about bribery?....

If players pay pressmen to sing their song in order to get the coaches attention, do you then turn around to say the coaches are corrupt?....

Why accuse the coaches, NFF and the whole Nigerians for money paid to the press to blow some players trumpet just like every press house is doing for this world cup season?

Somebody should call this old man to order o or else i will show to him that no one has the monopoly of abuse, insults and false accusations.

You can't call me corrupt and expect me to keep quiet. No i won't!

Listen mr forgiveness, behave yourself and respect yourself like an elder. Learn to live and let live, take a cue from your brother sir Komekn and learn to keep quiet on matters that you have no prove.

This will be my last sane advice to you

he just gave you Otigba's stats side by side with Ekong's stats too and we saw the better player, counter him with your own facts too

forgiveness:
4-2-3-1 can change to 4-5-1 when defending and also match the 3-5-2 in the midfield. The 3-5-2 formation is meant for dominating the midfield and it can change to 5-3-1 when defending and 3-1-6 when attacking.

So, the 4-2-3-1 will help you contain their midfield and attack when it changes to 4-5-1.

As you can see, it will change to 4-3-3 when on the counter attack or 4-1-1-4.

It's very flexible.

How can a 4-2-3-1 change to a 4-3-3 when you naturally have two DMFs in a 4-2-3-1?

KevinDein:
Ndidi.

Joel is more of the box to box guy while Mikel plays further up the pitch as the play maker. The coach should be able to make it work.

Ndidi will sit in front of the defence? Recipe for disaster

And who among them is going to sit in front of the defence?

Truidstar:
Mikel, Joel and ndidi midfield combo.

somehow:
Most of our successful GKs actually went into first team football from the NPFL. Seems GKs are seen clearer from first team football in Africa than being 3rd choice in Europe.

that is the way it is. In the GK department all that is required is your ability to pull off top saves and your ability to distribute the ball well. Just because we said Maduka is playing for the U18 does not mean he is playing against the best U18s in Germany, if you are good as an U18 you go straight to the first team, he is playing against people who are still learning the drill, strikers who can barely make clean contact with the ball, if you ask me I'd rather take Ajiboye that atleast faces fierce drives from a 40-year old Rabiu Alli without blinking. Then you have Uzoho who is almost in the same dilemma, division Three, as in division one, two and three, that says it all.

Humility017:
you see why...you always have my respect.
your knowledge of this round leather game is top notch....

sir...I will still advise uzoho to still remain in deportivo reason because he still has much to learn and moreover his team is in top 3 in Spanish division 3 meaning there is the possibility of promotion for his team...

I believe if he should play good football in Spanish division 2 he may get noticed by a good club not just in Spain may be elsewhere in Europe....he still young and there is still much he needs to learn.

and regarding alampasu....he should seek for a move elsewhere....probably in Europe or go for a loan may be wit a Nigeria club side....

I still believe right there in nigeria league we have good goal keepers....alloy agu and co have not really done their homework well...

I believe if we can get the likes of enyeama from the local league likewise we can get other good goalies too.....they abound...
all the managers need do...is to search with an unbiased mind.

you probably don't know how this system works.
There was a nigerian who was the captain of the Barca B side when they were having a bad run of form around 2013(?), when Barca B managed to gain promotion what happened to him? Kicked out and I think deported, do you know what it means to be the captain? Yet he was kicked out. If Deportivo's team B gets into the second division, they will sign players into the team, Uzoho's continued stay there is not something we can bank on

Mujtahida:
Lawd, Lawd!!

if you actually wasted 34mins just to watch your countryman when your colleagues were having fun somewhere, you'd understand how I feel. Infact, if anyone says that he was impressive that day you fit chop the person alive

Kog45:
What an insightful comment.I never thought of this and to be candid you are not far from truth.

1.Peter Rufai was the first keeper to travel out for professional career,first with Dragon of Benin and moved to Lokeren in Belgium later Go ahead eagles in dutch league, fareinse in Portugal and Deportivo LA coruna in Spain.

2.Wilfred Agbonavbare moved from BCC lion of Gboko straight to Rayo Vallecano as number one and had a great time in la iga,remain the best Nigerian keeper in LA liga history followed by Peter Rufai who also had a stay with Deportivo LA coruna.

3.Alloy Agu moved from ACB if am right straight to starting eleven of MVV Maastricht in dutch league and had a great years before moving to Turkish league.

4.Ademola Bankole moved from shooting star to English championship club as number one and was damn good for his club,remain only local breed to move to England and command regular shirt as a keeper.

5.Ike Shorunmu moved from shooting star straight to swiss giant fc grasshopper as number one and was very solid for the club

6.Murphy Akanji the father of Dortmund and Switzerland CB Manuel Akanji moved from Julius Berger straight to Malta as number one and almost keep for Malta national team but already cap by Nigeria.

7.Willy Opara moved from Nigeria league straight to Orlando pirates as a starter for long before he quit the game.

8.Peterside Idah moved from Iwauyanwu nationals straight to south Africa league as number one

9.Greg Etafia moved from here and team up with marrowka swallo as number one before he quit the game now one of the technical member of the team.

10.Vincent Enyeama moved from Nigeria and command a regular shirt for his club in Isreal for so long before moving to French league also as number one.

11.Austin Ejide left Nigeria straight to Do sahel as number one and later to Bastia in French division two before moving to Isreal,in all these sojourn he was a regular now in Isreali second division.

12.Dele Aiyenugba moved from Enyimba and replaced Enyeama in his former club as number one for so long and still active as number one in Isreali league till dates.

13.Sunday Rotimi left plateau united straight to Isreali second division league as number one and came back home when the team got relegated meaning no space for thorough professional in division three.He came home spent a season and moved back and spent another three seasons before returning to NPFL and still remain solid.

14.Daniel Akpeyi moved from Nigeria league and straight as number one of chippa united in South Africa league,presently eagles keeper.

15.Dele Ajiboye from Nigeria to Spanish division three and command regular shirt until he moved back to Nigeria and sort his career out with shooting star,Nasarawa united and now with Plateau united, presently one of the five Rohr is considering,good decision for him to come back instead of wasting in division four league.

16.Ghanian international Edward Ansah was so solid with Leventis United for many years but went straight to claim Ghana number one keeper ahead of his Europe based counterparts,just to tell us talents abound in Nigeria league.

17.Fataou Dauda another Ghana international in Nigeria league and doing well with Enyimba.

Mike,truly Nigeria goalkeeping future is bleak with our keepers keeping for reserve teams and youth teams in Europe.

Presently Uzoho is number four cos Deportivo recently got another keeper on loan from Russia league instead of promoting the young lad to the main team.

Alampasu third keeper in Portuguese league after some years with the club not encouraging.

Well Maduka is still growing cos we don't know what future hold for him being a German which will definitely shape his future.

Honestly i don't think these guys are better than what we have at home but do we blame Rohr cos Alloy Agu failed to produce a solid keeper for the team if not how on earth will Super eagles be chasing goalkeepers who are under tutelage for Eagles.

Excellent Sir, I had this argument with theGoodJoe when he said we should have done more for Dele Ajiboye, the truth is that the best place we can develop our Gks is here at home! The Gk department can easily be filled by anyone who trains intensively for a few years and most times the Europeans will fill up their Gk positions with Europeans. By the way what is the difference between a Gk in the Npfl/CCL and an Epl GK? Doesn't he also face 'second-bar' shots? One-on-ones? Penalties and freekicks and corner kicks? The solution to our GK department is in the local league. If someone like Alampasu is the first choice for Enyimba for example, he would have had enough exposure and if he makes it to the super eagles camp he would show what he can do, but in Portugal he has a permanent wooden seat, funny enough he is one of the best we have over there.

Oasis007:
Uzoho, Alampasu and Maduka are certainly the future of the Super Eagles (Qatar 2022). They should be capped and getting Games after the Russia 2018.

Future future future, the future of Goalkeepers is not written that way at all. Deportivo is still going out of their way to purchase goalkeepers showing lack of faith in their feeder team, so in 5years Uzoho's best position at Deportivo might still be a second choice or third choice, and presently no team wants him, is that the future? Or is it Alampasu? Personally these guys have gone through the academies abroad, I would have adviced them to come to Africa, look for a good team, maybe even a nigerian side frequently in the CCL and pitch their tent there. I mean Enyeama started from the local scene, Aiyenugba too. If we go through the history books we would see a lot of nigerian Gks who at one point or the other were first choice Gks for feeder teams all over Europe but how many of them got as far as Enyeama?

Certitude:
No b say I watch the match but I kept thinking of what other possible reason could be responsible for him being pulled off early.

the first ball he got he completely goofed it, that was when I started monitoring all his touches. Out of the first 10 passes he made(without pressure) he only completed 2, TWO! He was playing against Sevilla, the 5th best team in the league and he was more concerned with trying(unsuccessfully) to beat his man when the tactics was quite clearly to play off Ideye and ok, when he managed to cross nko? Simon Moses' crosses would have been a joy to behold

tbaba1234:
Isaac Success pulled off after 33 minutes.. Could be an injury... Bad if it is tactical.

Isaac Success was absolutely and intensively poor last night

Mujtahida:
I agree without hesitation.

I wanted to sue you on his behalf but..... Go and sin no more

Mujtahida:
Dem no dey do. Agreed. Why? Is there a reason whether scientific or legal as in FIFA policy?I really don't know and would like to be enlightened.

I don't know if the MRI scans are accurate or not but I do know that they have significantly helped us from taking Chrisantuses to the u17

I am only talking about what is possible given the kind of society we live in but from your first response to this second one you have interpreted what I posit as possibilities to be fact.

Granted I don't know even any of those players but I know Nigerians and what we have been doing and what we do and can do.

I don't discuss players ages. I only strayed today. I cannot debate where for instance somebody says Nigeria is corrupt. It's not perception. I might not have evidence but many, the overwhelming majority of our players are age cheats cos if they are not we won't always gripe about players ages.

Oga, Chrisantus is 27, EOD

Loogan:
Dude sorry to disappoint you but I don't think you really understand football. This same Moses gave morata an assist with a wonderful cross against newscastle, your complaining he dosent go forward a lot, it's seems you fail to notice Chelsea defenders overlap to the wings and push up further, when they are caught on the counter Azpi, kante and Moses are tasked with recovering the ball because of thier pace, Moses is the faster, stronger and more defensive of the wing backs, it's only logical for the slower wing back to push a lot of the attacks because he push further with knowledge he is being protected! Haven't you ever wondered why Moses who is a natural attacker converted to a wing back is always sitting deeper than a trained left back.
To you he had a bad game because he didn't do enough in the final third, I was frustrated to but that dosent rule his overall game as BAD, if you know the role of a wing back you will know Moses did his job very well, his coach values him, he must be doing something right and I'm damn sure Conte is a better coach than you.
It's guys like you that appreciate hazard for all the dribbling and flair but desist guys like matic who has an unflashy style of play, bro that's not how coaches think.

Actually it is the quicker wingback who is tasked with joining the attack. For example you have Alba who is faster than Roberto, Roberto attacks timidly but Alba has the freedom. You also have Marcelo and Carvajal, Marcelo has more pace and is allowed to attack more. I used Madrid and Barca because both teams run a 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 formation when on the ball.

Mujtahida:
Yes you did say emphatically that Shehu would not do well in a 5-3-2 prior to the Argentina match. I tried to argue against you but you stuck to your point. I had to say well let's see. You were proven right. He struggled to find his rhythm in that match.

Without putting Onazi down, Ndidi is the best tackler in the EPL as we speak. If we cannot maximise this then I don't have anything to say.

Fernandino is the best DMF in the Epl(easily) and Casemiro isn't even close but hey, Casemiro is the starter until further notice. Point is the national team does not operate that way. Y'all know I'd easily choose Ndidi over Onazi but don't forget that at some point Liverpool also wanted Onazi, he must have been doing something good.

Meanwhile, I thought it was the highest number of interceptions that Ndidi has? That does not make him the best tackler, just that he plugs spaces well

Icon79:
Thank you! Ernesto Velverde was totally outcoached last night. Even the changes he made were clueless at best. I mean, he made the correct changes but the players he decided to bring in were head scratchers! How can you bring in players like Vidal and Gomes when you have the likes of the $200m man, Ousmane Dembele sitting on the bench!

The man was totally out of his depth yesterday, for real.


O pari

Dembele just hardly returned from an injury, I wouldn't even deem it wise subbing him in when we have the return leg in a forthnight, he will get his chance.


On Messi though, it sure beats me how people think he was quiet. I mean I can give 4 instance:
1) There was a one-two he did with Iniesta and if not for the fact that Suarez appeared as if he wanted to touch the ball Messi would have scored.

2) There was a cross to Paulinho which he would have scored normally and that would have been an assist.

3) There was a pass to Vidal towards the end of the game which left Vidal one-on-one with Christiensen, Suarez would have gotten a shot on goal if he was there and may have even scored.

If I sit and watch the game again I'd probably see more, not to mention that he hardly lost possession all game long

Icon4s:
Sorry, your first sentence, was it before or after the Argentina friendly?

before the friendly of course. I had the conversation with Mujtahida

Mujtahida:
Thank God you can see that that combo doesn't work.

Nobody is beating or blaming Onazi. Not at all. I have harped on the fact that the best combination is the one that brings out the best in the both of them. Whether it's Ogu combined with Onazi or Ndidi and Ogu or even Etebo. What I do know is that that combination doesn't work seamlessly and we cannot for the sake of doing the done thing or that this is the way it's always been never try something different.

Let me ask you a simple question:do you think that playing the same tactics suits all the players? And can or should we play the same players with the same tactics all through the tournament?

I believe I was the one telling everybody that Shehu has no business in a 3-5-2 except as a DMF remember? So of course teams change when tactics change. I mean Spain came to the Euro final and decided to play a 4-6-0 and changed one or two first team players in the final oh. I also remember that in Luis Enrique's first classico he decided to field Xavi who was no longer part of the first XI, it backfired sha but I get your point totally.

However, I am not ok with the fact that everybody has been pointing out that we need the best from Ndidi etc etc. What about getting the best from Onazi? I mean getting the best from Onazi gave us an Afcon winners medal as well as a world cup round of 16 berth. Getting the best out of Ndidi gave us a stalemate against Senegal and one of the poorest first period in recent memory against Argentina

Mujtahida:
Being professional does not mean a player can play just about everywhere or that a player doesn't have a position that brings out his best.

I disagree too that Ndidi has had a slow start. He flourishes when he is allowed to rove. And incidentally that's the same position Onazi plays. How can Ndidi be the tackling machines if he sits to cover the defence?

I deliberately raised the Ndidi/Onazi debate cos the thread was threadbare as if we are on holiday. We are just rubbing minds. Nothing much was up for discussion so I raised this up.

I don't think anyone's blaming Onazi. It's clear to see that that combination doesn't gell. Recall in the friendly against Senegal. Ndidi came alive when Onazi was injured and Ogu came in. Again in the friendly against Argentina he really posted a superb play. In fact I used to be like this Ndidi is holding back his Leicester game when he plays for the Eagles but in that game I saw how good he is. I am not by this blaming Onazi or saying he should make way for Ndidi. It's about having the best combination for each opponent and it's been opined here that for some games Ndidi-Onazi combination might be the best.

This is not a for Ndidi or against Onazi debate. It's a debate about our best midfield combination. To look at it from that angle of blaming Onazi is to give an entirely different cast to our discussion.

Have we actually ever paired Onazi with Ogu to see if Onazi will outperform Ndidi? True Onazi-Ndidi does not work, I have been saying that since the first leg against Algeria, but then why should we just decide that Ogu-Ndidi is better than Ogu-Onazi? Let's look at this critically.

Onazi-Mikel was working wonders why? Mikel as a DMF sits, he doesn't move and you could see Onazi doing wonders in that Afcon. Then he gets injured at the world cup, he returns and he has had to pair up with Etebo(who roams more than him) and Ndidi as well, forcing him to try to manage his game. If for anything I think we should actually praise Onazi because in most cases he is usually the DMF who sits to defend closer to the box despite the fact that it isn't his position. So why not try out Ogu-Onazi combo to see if it's as good as Ogu-Ndidi or even better. I mean let's not be fooled, that first half against Argentina was a pure lesson on utter domination so I don't know how we have decided-entirely from just 45mins, that Ogu-Ndidi is our best combo. If they post that first half performance against even Iceland we have a problem. So my simple point is that Onazi deserves the benefit of the doubt. He is the vice captain and since we have been here harping on how to utilise Ndidi best, why don't we also ponder on how to utilise Onazi best?

Ndidi-Joel is going to be the worst combo. The only way Joel can work is if Mikel decides to go back to Dmf which probably won't happen

tbaba1234:
I understand the list was for living legends

the fact that Enyeama is not there tells me everything about the politics that was played there

jerrythafinisher:
Good morning house. sorry to derail, how is this kind of match decided?

hahahahahaha. I need a youtube link please

Mujtahida:
It's no surprise. Actually very believable. The person in question has a history of high handedness, rashnes and stubbornness. I refrain from getting into this Oliseh debate because I don't have facts. So I cannot speak for or against him.

exactly!!! No one has the facts right now so why are some painting it as if they are already sure he is guilty of everything levelled against him? That's my problem

profosa:
If rohr invites either of the german guys akpoguma or touriningha for the friendlies then omeruo is out

because Omeruo is a volleyball player?

joseph1013:
I'm big believer in Oliseh. Long before he got the Eagles job, I had wanted him. While I did not believe in the superstitious stories during his Eagles campaign, I still believed the end would have justified the means if he is still at the helm of affairs today.

But there comes a time when you have to realize that talent is not enough. If you do not have human relations skills, you can only go so far in life. It is said that technical skills will get you into a job, but your ability to work in a group will determine your length of stay.

Even if Sittard suspended him unfairly, there is a way to leave the job respectfully and professionally, in such a way that other clubs would find you attractive. You cannot go accusing a club about engaging in illegal deals on social media. What in the world! What message does that send to other clubs. It does not just have the potential to hurt him, it has the potential to have hurt other upcoming black coaches.

He was a hothead during his playing days. He was a hothead during the Eagles campaign. He has left a sour taste in the mouth of the owner of his last job.

If everywhere you go, you are seen as problematic, believe me, the problem is not with the world. Perhaps you should just look at the mirror to see where the problem lies.

Oliseh should go for help. He is a brilliant tactician, no doubt, but he needs to learn how to work with people.

not everybody will be like Mikel that will decide to rot in the teams' parking lot without coming out to voice out his frustration. I mean when you have been sacked you have no more emotional attachment whatsoever to the club, this is not me supporting Oliseh(personally I probably wouldn't have done what he did) but we also have to understand that the club's accusation would have tarnished his image even if he decided to keep quiet

tbaba1234:
False, as far back as last year, Oliseh's behavior was described as a ticking timebomb

by a homegrown, dutch reporter, what a suprise